Blackhawks Season Preview
By Tim Bearden in News on Oct 7, 2011 4:20PM
It seems as though the Stanley Cup was being played just yesterday, but hockey season is upon us again. With a new season always comes new talent for teams. Some make it past training camp, others don't. Still others come via free agency. The Blackhawks were very busy in the offseason and have re-tooled the team into what they hope is a return to Stanley Cup glory.
The Hawks struggled to gel in the pre-season, winning only two of their six games, but a lot could be said of the young and fresh talent they sent to the minors. Brandon Pirri, who nearly scored a hat trick against the Penguins on Sept. 30, was sent to the minors before recalled to tonight’s season opener. Jonathan Toews brother David "Baby" Toews, acquired from the New York Islanders in the off-season, didn't make the cut and was assigned to minor-league Rockford. 18-year-old Brandon Saad whom the Blackhawks selected in the second round of the draft, landed a spot on the main roster. Saad was one of the top players for the Saginaw Spirit with 55 points in the regular season and 12 points in 12 games in post-season play.
Corey Crawford is firmly entrenched as the Blackhawks’ top goalie, but the backups have proven to be more reliable in recent years. Former Anaheim Duck Ray Emery was signed to a one-year contract and brings with him extensive playoff experience. Emery has won 20 of his 36 post-season battles and was selected above Alexander Salak, who was minor material. The Hawks also added toughness with the signings of Daniel Carcillo, Sami Lepisto, Jamal Mayers, Steve Montador and Sean O’Donnell to provide protection to the Hawks core skill players. But they come at a time when the NHL seems to be signaling a shift away from thuggery amidst concern over head injuries.
The remaining core of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions - Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp, Niklas Hjalmarsson - remain intact and, if Carcillo and company can provide more than muscle, should thrive. Coach Joel Quenneville is trying Kane at second line center instead of wing, more out of necessity than anything. Center depth is one of the Hawks’ weak spots.
Sharp, the team’s leading scorer last season, was injured for the entire preseason but will make his first start of the season against the Dallas Stars tonight.
All these moves mean the Hawks should be more competitive than they were last season. But they're still in a tough Western Conference with rivals Detroit, Nashville and Vancouver only getting bigger, meaner and more bitter in the off-season.
However, the Blackhawks have plenty of weapons in their arsenal as well. They also bring to the table a deep line-up into the minor league. The Hawks can pull talent for their team from anywhere right now. That is until the salary cap puts them in the same position after they won the Stanley Cup.