Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks Thread!!!!!!

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is the same organization that got Versteeg in the fifth round,

 

Yeah, I meant to double-check all those. Versteeg was acquired for some nobody forward.

[UMFan83]

So we better win this thing this year.

 

The need to win now thing is grossly overstated. They will still be a very good team the next few years, at least.

 

True, but you gotta admit this sets up to be a very good shot. If we don't win a cup with this nucleus, when thinking back on these teams, I doubt there will be a better year to point at and say "that was our shot right there"

[brinoch]

The NHL playoffs can be pretty random, and they are very long. Obviously, you want to win the Cup early and often, but this is a team that has made the WCF two years in a row, and the nucleus of that team will be intact for several years. If they fail to win this year, there will be additional opportunities. Is this, perhaps, the best shot? Who knows.

[UMFan83]

The NHL playoffs can be pretty random, and they are very long. Obviously, you want to win the Cup early and often, but this is a team that has made the WCF two years in a row, and the nucleus of that team will be intact for several years. If they fail to win this year, there will be additional opportunities. Is this, perhaps, the best shot? Who knows.

 

I didn't say it's impossible that they'll have a better shot, I just doubt it. With the only 2 teams worth anything in the East going down before the conference finals, it basically turns a 4 round playoffs into a 3 round playoffs.

 

I know much crazier things have happened than the Flyers or Canadiens winning the Cup, but I'm just saying, some things have broken in the Hawks favor here that might not happen in future years.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The NHL playoffs can be pretty random, and they are very long. Obviously, you want to win the Cup early and often, but this is a team that has made the WCF two years in a row, and the nucleus of that team will be intact for several years. If they fail to win this year, there will be additional opportunities. Is this, perhaps, the best shot? Who knows.

 

I hate the whole "we're young we'll be back" stuff. They might be back, they might not. *Right now* they are up 1-0 in the conference finals as one of the top 2 teams in the league and a very mediocre team will be coming out of the East. You don't get many opportunities like that.

 

But hockey is a sport where you can be elite for a long time and get a lot of late-season shots. No reason to think this team can't be similar to Colorado or Detroit from last decade.

[jersey cubs fan]

The NHL playoffs can be pretty random, and they are very long. Obviously, you want to win the Cup early and often, but this is a team that has made the WCF two years in a row, and the nucleus of that team will be intact for several years. If they fail to win this year, there will be additional opportunities. Is this, perhaps, the best shot? Who knows.

 

I hate the whole "we're young we'll be back" stuff. They might be back, they might not. *Right now* they are up 1-0 in the conference finals as one of the top 2 teams in the league and a very mediocre team will be coming out of the East. You don't get many opportunities like that.

 

But hockey is a sport where you can be elite for a long time and get a lot of late-season shots. No reason to think this team can't be similar to Colorado or Detroit from last decade.

 

Why do you hate it? It's not like people are conceding defeat or acting as though they won't care if the Blackhawks win. It's just silly to contend that it's now or never for the Blackhawks. They are in a great position and it would be a shame to miss out on it, but there's no reason to scoff at their hopes for continued future success.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The NHL playoffs can be pretty random, and they are very long. Obviously, you want to win the Cup early and often, but this is a team that has made the WCF two years in a row, and the nucleus of that team will be intact for several years. If they fail to win this year, there will be additional opportunities. Is this, perhaps, the best shot? Who knows.

 

I hate the whole "we're young we'll be back" stuff. They might be back, they might not. *Right now* they are up 1-0 in the conference finals as one of the top 2 teams in the league and a very mediocre team will be coming out of the East. You don't get many opportunities like that.

 

But hockey is a sport where you can be elite for a long time and get a lot of late-season shots. No reason to think this team can't be similar to Colorado or Detroit from last decade.

 

Why do you hate it? It's not like people are conceding defeat or acting as though they won't care if the Blackhawks win. It's just silly to contend that it's now or never for the Blackhawks. They are in a great position and it would be a shame to miss out on it, but there's no reason to scoff at their hopes for continued future success.

 

I'm not saying they shouldn't hope. I'm saying it's hard to get this far and being young and good are no guarantees. Then again, I'm having trouble thinking of a comparable team in recent hockey history that didn't ever get past the conference finals. Maybe the 1990s Blues, but they were frequent chokers and this year's Blackhawks have been winning in the playoffs from day one.

[brinoch]

I think the Hawks have a very, very good shot at winning the Cup, but I think the Eastern Conference's craziness/weakness shows that there are just so many factors to consider in determining the "best shot". The Hawks have had a very tough road in the playoffs this year. In many ways, I think they've had the toughest road of the teams still in it. Perhaps I underrate the East, but I think Nashville-Vancouver-San Jose is far more challenging than Washington-Pittsburgh-Philadelphia or New Jersey-Boston-Montreal. I also think Colorado-Detroit-Chicago is pretty tough, but Nashville and Vancouver are tougher than Colorado and Detroit. Montreal has an argument, but ignore the press focus and look at the teams -- Pittsburgh was a #4 in a weak conference, and Washington, though very good, feasted on the SE Division and stylistically just isn't tough enough on defense. (Washington outplayed Montreal and was just unlucky. In contrast, I think Montreal hung tough with Pittsburgh.)

 

Next year, the West could be weak and the Hawks could make the playoffs and end of facing a succession of teams of questionable playoff caliber.

 

First and foremost, though, they need to secure a spot in the SCF. Right now, they are tied with last year's team in terms of this being the best shot. The Sharks are a very good team. And, frankly, in retrospect I think last year's Calgary-Vancouver-Detroit was an easier road to the SCF than this year's Nashville-Vancouver-San Jose. The Hawks are definitely a better team than last year, but then so is the West as a whole. Last year's Pittsburgh, though, was much tougher than either of this year's Philadelphia or Montreal.

[UMFan83]

Dale Tallon was named GM of the Florida Panthers today apparently.

[Soul]

I think they've surpassed last year's team already. Last year's team never laid claim to a series lead in the WCF.

[brinoch]

Dale Tallon was named GM of the Florida Panthers today apparently.

 

Good for Dale. I hope all Hawks fans wish him well.

 

And we'll trade him Huet after the playoffs end.

[Flames24Rulz]

I think the Hawks have a very, very good shot at winning the Cup, but I think the Eastern Conference's craziness/weakness shows that there are just so many factors to consider in determining the "best shot". The Hawks have had a very tough road in the playoffs this year. In many ways, I think they've had the toughest road of the teams still in it. Perhaps I underrate the East, but I think Nashville-Vancouver-San Jose is far more challenging than Washington-Pittsburgh-Philadelphia or New Jersey-Boston-Montreal. I also think Colorado-Detroit-Chicago is pretty tough, but Nashville and Vancouver are tougher than Colorado and Detroit. Montreal has an argument, but ignore the press focus and look at the teams -- Pittsburgh was a #4 in a weak conference, and Washington, though very good, feasted on the SE Division and stylistically just isn't tough enough on defense. (Washington outplayed Montreal and was just unlucky. In contrast, I think Montreal hung tough with Pittsburgh.)

 

Next year, the West could be weak and the Hawks could make the playoffs and end of facing a succession of teams of questionable playoff caliber.

 

First and foremost, though, they need to secure a spot in the SCF. Right now, they are tied with last year's team in terms of this being the best shot. The Sharks are a very good team. And, frankly, in retrospect I think last year's Calgary-Vancouver-Detroit was an easier road to the SCF than this year's Nashville-Vancouver-San Jose. The Hawks are definitely a better team than last year, but then so is the West as a whole. Last year's Pittsburgh, though, was much tougher than either of this year's Philadelphia or Montreal.

 

Though I agree that Washington wasn't as well-rounded as many were led to believe, I still think Montreal has had the most difficult road in the playoffs. But that's what happens when you're an 8 seed.

 

There's no reason to believe this team can't be good for the next decade. You're still going to have your main components to the team for the next ten seasons. With the way this team has drafted recently, I don't think the loss of depth in this offseason would be that big of a deal to overcome. You have guys like Bickell and Skille that are basically NHL-ready right now. As stated earlier, we don't really have any big players in our farm system but there's a lot of depth there that we can fill our 3rd and 4th lines with. I'm really not concerned at all about what happens in the offseason. Let's just enjoy the ride we're on right now and worry about all of that after the season ends.

[Butterscup1679666578]

LOL...did anyone else notice this? I saw this on the 300 level board and thought it was worth sharing

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFCkHc7Pos&feature=player_embedded#!

 

Check out Kane's goal celebration. He draws the shape of a heart with his hands, and then makes a stabbing motion right through the invisible heart. He does it not once, but twice in the video.

 

I've seen that highlight 100 times this postseason and never realized thats what he was doing. Amazing.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Also, the "History Will Be Made" ad campaigns are so awesome:

 

http://blackhawks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=69853

[kujay]

Dale Tallon was named GM of the Florida Panthers today apparently.

 

Good for Dale. I hope all Hawks fans wish him well.

 

And we'll trade him Huet after the playoffs end.

 

There would be some justice in that.

 

As others have said, the NHL playoffs are a crapshoot. So roll out there with a decent goaltender, stud offensive players and solid defense and you'll have a chance every year. And that's exactly what the Hawks have. I'm thinking 6-8 years of being a constant contender.

 

And they have to waive Huet. There is just no way around that at this point. And especially with all the money he is making with these many playoff home games, I don't see Rocky keeping him around for financial reasons.

[kujay]

LOL...did anyone else notice this? I saw this on the 300 level board and thought it was worth sharing

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFCkHc7Pos&feature=player_embedded#!

 

Check out Kane's goal celebration. He draws the shape of a heart with his hands, and then makes a stabbing motion right through the invisible heart. He does it not once, but twice in the video.

 

I've seen that highlight 100 times this postseason and never realized thats what he was doing. Amazing.

 

I never realized it either. I'm still surprised someone hasn't taken a run at Kane and just killed him.

[Banedon]

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/391179/63940_blackhawks_niemi_hockey.jpg

 

Am I crazy for thinking he looks like a scruffy Kerry Wood in this pic?

[UMFan83]

Dale Tallon was named GM of the Florida Panthers today apparently.

 

Good for Dale. I hope all Hawks fans wish him well.

 

And we'll trade him Huet after the playoffs end.

 

There would be some justice in that.

 

As others have said, the NHL playoffs are a crapshoot. So roll out there with a decent goaltender, stud offensive players and solid defense and you'll have a chance every year. And that's exactly what the Hawks have. I'm thinking 6-8 years of being a constant contender.

 

And they have to waive Huet. There is just no way around that at this point. And especially with all the money he is making with these many playoff home games, I don't see Rocky keeping him around for financial reasons.

 

I still feel like baseball has the bigger crapshoot in its playoffs, especially the DS, but I can definitely see how there is randomness involved in these playoffs. I mean who knows how the season would be different if the Hawks don't tie up that game 5 against Nashville and fall behind 3-2. Do they rise above it in win in 7? Or do the Preds keep their confidence sky high adn finish off the Hawks? The Hawks get "lucky" and now they are up 1-0 in the WCF with as strong cup chances as any of the 4 teams.

[Soul]

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/391179/63940_blackhawks_niemi_hockey.jpg

 

Am I crazy for thinking he looks like a scruffy Kerry Wood in this pic?

 

In that picture yeah -- he actually does look a bit like Kid K.

[17 Seconds]

i've always thought he looks exactly like this guy

 

 

http://photos.upi.com/story/t/63e34bbe9c9eeb72354a3ae242015080/Michael-Pitt-may-star-in-Scorsese-TV-drama.jpg

 

[17 Seconds]

niemi has a .918 save percentage in the playoffs

[Banedon]

The Chicago Blackhawks have been dominant on the road this spring, riding a six-game winning streak into Tuesday's Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in San Jose. As ESPN stats guru Vincent Masi points out, history suggests it would be a very good thing for the Hawks to run that streak to seven games. It would tie a single-season road winning streak at seven. Teams that have previously achieved such road superiority -- the 1999 Colorado Avalanche, the 1995 New Jersey Devils and the 1982 and 1980 New York Islanders -- all went on to win the Stanley Cup.

 

During this streak, the Hawks have outscored their opponents 27-11 and allowed just four power-play goals on 30 chances.

[Soul]

These Blackhawks are road dawgs.

 

That makes me feel more confident for some reason. Teams count on their home ice being there for them -- for better or worse. They really can't count on that vs. the Hawks, because they'll come in and beat you in front of your home folk regardless of how raucous and loud they are.

 

Now if we can just shore up our own home ice difficulties...

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Win tonight and I think you have to say there is at least a 51% chance this season ends with the Cup.

[UMFan83]

These Blackhawks are road dawgs.

 

That makes me feel more confident for some reason. Teams count on their home ice being there for them -- for better or worse. They really can't count on that vs. the Hawks, because they'll come in and beat you in front of your home folk regardless of how raucous and loud they are.

 

Now if we can just shore up our own home ice difficulties...

 

I'm starting to get to the point where I start to get worried about the home games. I was reading how the players say they try to get too cute at home, trying to put on a show for the fans. I don't know if I buy that. I think it's more or less just a small sample size. But it is weird so see them outscored so far at home in the playoffs 20-15(17-14 without empty nets)