Blackhawks Indian Winter
It may be chilly in Chicago and snow a possibility for the upcoming Winter Classic, but a sense of real expectation and returning pride are warming the hearts of Hockey fans in “the Windy City”. The young braves of Chicago have discovered winning ways and don’t want to let go of that sensation. Yesterday’s victory over the Minnesota Wild gives the Blackhawks nine straight scalps. The win at the Xcel Energy Center ended 4-1 to the visitors and after the game Chicago Coach Joel Quenneville said: “You have to commend the guys on how committed and how diligent they are”.
Indeed, the Chicago players have shown themselves being not only talented, but also hard to break down and free scoring. There is a strong sense of team spirit in the Blackhawks dressing room and it is showing both on the ice and in the result column. Chicago is now only four points behind archrivals, and reigning Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit. The Blackhawks also have two games in hand on the Red Wings. This will undoubtedly make the much talked about Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, yet more anticipated.
Polls show that Chicago fans and neutrals alike, believe Chicago have a real chance to break double digits against Detroit, when it comes to maintaining their straight victory spell intact. They also show a belief that Detroit will end up behind Chicago at year’s end. The optimism isn’t without grounds, but I’m sure the Red Wings won’t want to surrender the crown without a real fight for it. The first round of greater importance will be played on Thursday. The winner will take two important points, bragging rights and real confidence of success – in to the new year.
The Blackhawks had, previous to yesterday’s game, won eight straight victories two times before; in December 1971 and January 1981. The club’s latest taste of success was in the early 90’s, but the team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1961. Indeed, with the talents coming through the Blackhawk ranks, it seems quite possible that Chicago might again witness a trophy laden early decade; in the 2010s. That’s assuming the Blackhawks can keep their emerging stars together.
Of course there isn’t anything stopping the team from making Stanley Cup headway before that point, the youngsters enthusiasm can carry a team a long way down that stretch. More realistically though; the Blackhawks might need more experience before achieving such a Cinderella run in to the playoffs. After all, they haven’t made the playoffs since an early exit in 2002 and no one knows how the players will respond to the added pressure of the games.
There is however more than one way to get experience in to the lines: Adding one or two seasoned professionals with leadership qualities and familiarity with Lord Stanley, might be the right medicine.
It was therefore not surprising to find the Blackhawks sniffing around free agent Mats Sundin this autumn. In the end he chose Vancouver instead, but there are other fish in the sea. Fellow Swede and former Blackhawk, Michael Nylander of Washington Capitals, is one that there has been much talk about being traded to Chicago. While he perhaps is not in the Sundin category of players, his familiarity with the team might make him a more viable option. Other trades have been mooted, most notably goaltender Nikolai Khabilbulin and pending free agent Martin Havlat. The problem is; when you have a winning team you don’t want to break the flow, by making interruptive trades either.
It is a tightrope of present and future considerations that Chicago must balance perfectly if they are to fulfill their potential, now or in the upcoming years. At the moment the imminent prospect of mounting achievements are great and optimism will continue to follow the young Blackhawks. It is a step by step ladder to success, and the next step could be taken on Thursday – by rising to the Winter Classic challenge – that Detroit, no doubt, will provide.
