NHL Playoffs 2012: 5 Reasons the Chicago Blackhawks Can Win the Stanley Cup

The playoffs are here, and for the Chicago Blackhawks, it comes with uncertainty and high expectations. In a season where goaltending and special teams play were a problem, the Blackhawks still find themselves in the playoffs with a decent playoff seed.

In the first round, the Blackhawks will play the Pacific Division champion Phoenix Coyotes. Although the Blackhawks' season wasn't what many people anticipated, they still have all the tools to win the Stanley Cup.

Here are the reasons that winning the Stanley Cup is a reality for the former champions. 

Experience

If there is one definite when it comes to the Blackhawks' playoff push, it is that they have a ton of playoff experience. Their team has a number of playoff veterans, most of which have experience playing together.

In addition to having playoff experience with players like Brendan Morrison and Andrew Brunette, a number of Blackhawks players have playoff experience shared with their teammates from past playoff runs.

When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, they held on to a number of players from that roster.

These players include:

Bryan Bickell

Dave Bolland

Corey Crawford

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Marian Hossa

Patrick Kane

Duncan Keith

Brent Seabrook

Patrick Sharp

The Return of Jonathan Toews

Coming back from a concussion that has held him out of the lineup recently, captain Jonathan Toews appears to be ready to go for the playoffs. 

The Blackhawks have missed the leadership and effort that Toews brings every night to the rink. Toews is not only important for the scoring and all-around production of the team, but he brings the spark that can get everybody on the team to take their game to the next level.

Toews' return comes just in time for the Blackhawks, as he will help them challenge every and any team put in front of them. Toews' leadership could be the key that could bring the Stanley Cup back to Chicago. 

Defensive Dominance

Although goaltending has been a problem for the former Stanley Cup champions, they still have a defensive unit that is possibly the best in the NHL.

Veteran defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are the outright leaders of this group of skilled defensemen, having run the blue line for a number of years. Mix in the young, talented Niklas Hjalmarsson and Nick Leddy, as well as new face Johnny Oduya, and you have a recipe for shutting down other teams' offensive units.

If they continue consistently dominant play, the goaltending issue may not matter.

Star Power

Say what you want, but the Chicago Blackhawks are loaded with talent. Not only do they have established stars who have been in the league for a number of years, they also have a number of young players who have stepped up and shown they can compete with the best.

You could list every established star on the team, such as Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp, but what's great about the Blackhawks is that they have young guys who can hang with the best of them.

In the limited time he has been on the Blackhawks bench, Andrew Shaw has been a producer. The 20-year-old center has played only 37 games, but has put 12 goals in during that time.

Another young gun, Viktor Stalberg, has put up 43 points this season. Stalberg has been a great asset during the shootout, using his great stickhandling to open up goal scoring opportunities.

On the defensive end, Nick Leddy has been one of the brightest defensive prospects in the NHL. The young defenseman has 37 points on the season, going beyond expectations.

The Blackhawks have loaded up on young talent that will bloom and show off their skills this postseason. 

Coaching

Coaching has always been a strong point for the Blackhawks, prospering under the tutelage of Joel Quenneville. Quenneville is the man who led the team to their Stanley Cup-winning 2010 campaign. He has the skills and tools to lead them to glory once more.

Quenneville has a great group of guys to work with. His coaching style will help each individual player utilize their full potential, pushing the team to play its best.

With the man with the greatest mustache behind the bench, the Blackhawks up their chances of winning it all significantly. He has the coaching skills to push them all they way to the promised land.