2013-14 Defending Champion Blackhawks Regular Season Thread

[kujay]

Let's get this going. Hawks raise the banner tomorrow night, October 1, against the Caps.

 

For those who could use a refresher, realignment is on. Blue Jackets and Wings, have fun out east. Our new division, which is there for the taking, includes Minnesota, Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Colorado and Winnipeg. Out of division, we play every other team home and away. Love this.

 

Gone at Bolland (Toronto), Stalberg (Nashville, but hurt for awhile), Emery (Philly, again) and Frolik (Winnipeg).

 

In are Khabi and some of the young guys getting a shot: Ben Smith, Jimmy Hayes and Nordstrom, who will apparently replace Frolik in the PK role with Kruger.

 

With all the roster turmoil after the first cup, it's amazing how steady the team is going into this season. Probable lines:

 

Bickell-Toews-Kane

Sharp-Handzus-Hossa

Saad-Shaw-Hayes

Bollig-Kruger-Smith

 

Keith-Seabrook

Oduya-Hammer

Leddy-Rozsival

Kostka-Brookbank

 

Crow-Khabi

 

A successful year to me, barring major injuries, is a deep run into the conference finals.

[Banedon]

This is really gonna be the distraction from the Bears I need this week. Gonna be happy to see the guys back out there. Yay hockey!

[UMFan83]

A successful year to me, barring major injuries, is a deep run into the conference finals.

 

A repeat Cup is extremely hard and I've already outlined the reasons I'm worried about a Cup hangover in the offseason thread, but I am not sure how a successful year for the defending champs with a fairly intact roster and a mostly young core could only be a conference finals appearance.

 

A successful year for this team is a Stanley Cup championship.

[kujay]

A successful year to me, barring major injuries, is a deep run into the conference finals.

 

A repeat Cup is extremely hard and I've already outlined the reasons I'm worried about a Cup hangover in the offseason thread, but I am not sure how a successful year for the defending champs with a fairly intact roster and a mostly young core could only be a conference finals appearance.

 

A successful year for this team is a Stanley Cup championship.

 

I'm trying to be realistic. Winning a cup takes a combination of a lot of factors, including a healthy dose of luck. The Detroit series is a great example of that. A funny bounce here or there makes all the difference. And yes that stuff can balance out and you can make your own luck, but the best team doesn't always win.

 

Given that, I think it's hard to ever be too upset when your team makes the final four. Especially since they just won it.

[Old Style]

Winning the Cup is fun. Let's do that again, boys.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Weird that the season is here already. Super pumped though.

[kujay]

Should have mentioned, game is on NBCSN tomorrow night. I'd be surprised if they don't show the banner raising ceremony. I think NBC did last year before we throttled the Kings.

[apete6]

A successful year to me, barring major injuries, is a deep run into the conference finals.

 

A repeat Cup is extremely hard and I've already outlined the reasons I'm worried about a Cup hangover in the offseason thread, but I am not sure how a successful year for the defending champs with a fairly intact roster and a mostly young core could only be a conference finals appearance.

 

A successful year for this team is a Stanley Cup championship.

 

I'm trying to be realistic. Winning a cup takes a combination of a lot of factors, including a healthy dose of luck. The Detroit series is a great example of that. A funny bounce here or there makes all the difference. And yes that stuff can balance out and you can make your own luck, but the best team doesn't always win.

 

Given that, I think it's hard to ever be too upset when your team makes the final four. Especially since they just won it.

 

Agreed. Even if they get a 3 or 4 seed and get bounced in the 2nd round, it doesn't mean it's not a successful season after just playing 72 pressure packed games in about 5 months and only having 2 months off.

 

That being said, they should at least make the conference finals and, frankly, anything short of a Cup will be a disappointment to some degree since they kept the majority of the roster intact.

[jersey cubs fan]

Agreed, calling it a Cup or bust situation doesn't really hold up.

 

Maybe if they are an 8 seed that gets embarrassed in the conf finals you can call it a bit of a disappointment. But as long as they have a good regular season and advance of the final four, I can't complain. It will be a bummer at the time, but still a successful season.

[UMFan83]

ESPN writers picks:

 

8 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to win the Central (the other 4 pick the Blues)

6 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the conference finals

2 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, beating the Wings and beating the Pens

 

Also, Levy picks Patrick Kane to win the Hart

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9719419/stanley-cup-awards-predictions

[NewUserName]

I really am having a hard time picking someone out of the West other than the Hawks. The Kings are the only team that I could make a good argument for at this point.

[apete6]

ESPN writers picks:

 

8 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to win the Central (the other 4 pick the Blues)

6 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the conference finals

2 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, beating the Wings and beating the Pens

 

Also, Levy picks Patrick Kane to win the Hart

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9719419/stanley-cup-awards-predictions

 

Could you imagine a Wings-Hawks Cup Finals? It would be so bad ass, though after a few years of not playing as much might make it even cooler, say 3 years from now.

[NewUserName]

ESPN writers picks:

 

8 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to win the Central (the other 4 pick the Blues)

6 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the conference finals

2 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, beating the Wings and beating the Pens

 

Also, Levy picks Patrick Kane to win the Hart

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9719419/stanley-cup-awards-predictions

 

Could you imagine a Wings-Hawks Cup Finals? It would be so bad ass, though after a few years of not playing as much might make it even cooler, say 3 years from now.

I am pretty sure Dusty Babcock and Ken Hendry will keep the Wings out of the SCF by making roster decisions.

[Guest]

i'd consider it a good cup defense if they finish with a top 4 seed and win at least 1 or 2 playoff series. i'm expecting a little more than that, though.

[Banedon]

ESPN writers picks:

 

8 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to win the Central (the other 4 pick the Blues)

6 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the conference finals

2 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, beating the Wings and beating the Pens

 

Also, Levy picks Patrick Kane to win the Hart

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9719419/stanley-cup-awards-predictions

 

Lebrun picked the Blues to win the division, but the Hawks to win the Cup.

[Banedon]

It just occurred to me that Red Wings vs Blackhawks could be a Stanley Cup matchup now. :O

[UMFan83]

ESPN writers picks:

 

8 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to win the Central (the other 4 pick the Blues)

6 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the conference finals

2 of the 12 writers pick the Hawks to advance to the Stanley Cup finals, beating the Wings and beating the Pens

 

Also, Levy picks Patrick Kane to win the Hart

 

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview2013/story/_/id/9719419/stanley-cup-awards-predictions

 

Lebrun picked the Blues to win the division, but the Hawks to win the Cup.

 

Probably thinking the Hawks have a Cup hangover but get a 4 seed and then turn it on in the playoffs.

[pitchcs]

I check into this thread once a year to throw around some hate and this year will be no different.

 

How in the hell is this crap sport back again already? I will be rooting for whoever the Blackhawks are playing just so the season will end sooner.

[jersey cubs fan]

cool

[Burtonbell]

Thanks, see you next year!

[Banedon]

I check into this thread once a year to throw around some hate and this year will be no different.

 

How in the hell is this crap sport back again already? I will be rooting for whoever the Blackhawks are playing just so the season will end sooner.

 

http://i.imgur.com/lGsa2qx.gif

[SABR Gamer]

I check into this thread once a year to throw around some hate and this year will be no different.

 

How in the hell is this crap sport back again already? I will be rooting for whoever the Blackhawks are playing just so the season will end sooner.

 

What a worthless post. You sound like an idiot. I'm glad it was worth your time to intentionally make yourself sound dumb.

[rawaction]

Chills! Video recap was excellent.

[kujay]

If you told me ten years ago that a Wirtz would take the UC ice to a standing ovation and fans cheering his name, I'd have punched you in the face for being stupid.

[Guest]

Holy [expletive] what a sight