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The "if" Factor.
Fan Commentary, by Mr. Miller
August 16, 2007
Blackhawk fans are nothing, if they're not perpetually optimistic. A new season often brings in new players, new hopes and more times than not: illusions of things that go against common sense.
Coming out of the lockout season, teams were technically on a level playing field in terms of competition and the ability to land high quality free agents. A salary cap was in place and no longer could the Rangers, Red Wings, Avalanche and Stars outbid everyone else for the services of perennial all-stars.
 In 2005, the Blackhawks signed long time all-star Adrian Aucoin, tough guy Matthew Barnaby and Stanley Cup winners Martin Lapointe and Nikolai Khabibulin. Along with a healthy Eric Daze, former 1st round pick Tuomo Ruutu and a stable of young, exciting, skilled players - some fans predicted nothing short of the Stanley Cup returning to Chicago. At the very least, many expected a strong playoff push.
The team finished 4th in the division with 57 points.
Going into the 2006 season, fans pinned a lot of hope for a rejuvenated Khabibulin. The signing of Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinksi from Ottawa were signs of better things to come. Young defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith were getting better and better. A psuedo #1 center was obtained in Michal Handzus. Finally, thought many fans, the year had come for a strong, competitive, Chicago Blackhawk hockey team.
Last in the division. Seventy one points. See the pattern?
Call it the "if" factor.
Wheel1811 demonstrated this concept quite nicely in a recent post on the Message Boards.
They are not Dynamic but if Kane and Towes live up to the hype and if Havlat can stay healthy and if Samsanov can rebound the first two lines can be scary then the third and fourth lines need to just stay in the positive numbers. Which I think that the third line can but the fourth line is a little old and slow. The big thing that is going show if this team is going anywhere is the D-men.
Every summer fans start right in with their "if" list. This is nothing new. Before it was if Fleury keeps his head on straight. If Daze doesn't get hurt. If T-blow doesnt get tired. If they get good play from the backup goalie. If Ruutu stays healthy. If Yak-me-ov and Vorobiev make the team...
The team is no doubt taking steps forward in signing new players, giving the prospects more experience, dumping dead weight and drafting solid kids. With each move by General Manager Dale Tallon, the reasons to be optimistic become stronger and stronger. Yet apparently, lessons from the past have long since gone bye-bye. Many fans seemed to have raised the bar even higher this summer when it comes to their expectations for the 2007 season.
 Rookies Patrick Kane and Jonnathan Toews have yet to play a single NHL game. By most accounts they're both going to be solid NHL players. They haven't proven it yet. Talk to Blackhawk fans right now and both those young men are going to duke it out for the Calder Trophey this season. Philadelphia's James vanRiemsdyk or Kyle Turris in Phoenix seem to be out of the running before the season even starts.
Despite a pretty good defensive unit consisting of Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and James Wisniewski - rookie Cam Barker still has to show his worth and Jim Vandermeer is coming off an awful 2006 campaign. And most glaring of all is the absence of a solid, #1 defensemen to anchor the blue line.
For 10 years now, the team still lacks a bona fide #1 centerman. Handzus wasn't the answer nor was Alex Zhamnov. Recent pick up Robert Lang now been pushed through the 'center-turnstyle' but his better days look to be behind him as well. Yanic Perreault? Kevyn Adams? Twenty-five other teams would more than likely pass on them at this stage in their careers.
Last year's team was better than the 2005 squad. This year's team looks to be better than what we saw on the United Center ice last season. On paper, there are clearly things to be excited about. Toews, Kane, Ruutu, Seabrook, Keith, Havlat, Lang, Khabibulin, Samsonov and Wisniewski should provide for a lot excitement beginning in October. Head Coach Denis Savard signed a recent extension through next season. He's a fan favorite and will have his team as ready as they can be come opening day.
Just don't allow the summer blinders to prevent you from seeing the progress taking place. For the fist time in a long time, the ship is headed in the right direction. Unless the stars align properly in the heavens and all the hopeful "what if" scenarios come into play, these Chicago Blackhawks aren't a playoff team. But they're getting there.
If only fans could understand that and enjoy the process.
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