Can the Chicago Blackhawks Build Upon Their 2009 Revival Season?

Cam Barker’s situation may be the most complicated matter of all. Scoring 40 points in just 68 games in 2009 after being called up, Barker projects to be one of the NHL’s better offensive defensemen, capable of quarterbacking a top power-play unit (five power play goals this past season).

What leaves the Blackhawks in a major pinch is the gigantic financial commitment made to Brian Campbell last off-season, making it difficult to heavily invest in another offensive defenseman that will not regularly play on the penalty kill units or oppose top forward lines.

Ideally, the Blackhawks could unload Campbell’s monstrosity of a deal and sign Barker for a much more affordable rate. Reality states that Campbell’s contract cannot be feasibly dealt (unless the Hawks eat the vast majority of remaining money, which constricts the cap in its own right) and Barker may receive a strong offer from a team looking for an offensive spark on their blue line.

 

Priority Number Three: Re-Negotiating with Toews, Keith, and Kane

Already a strong two-way player, Jonathan Toews earned the Blackhawks' captaincy at just 20 years of age, and should remain with the team as long as he wants to stay in Chicago.

Mature well beyond his years, investing in Toews is a necessary move for the Blackhawks franchise to retain their newly-gained momentum—and should occur well before he hits the open market.

While not having the scoring potential of a Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, Toews projects to being a Mike Modano type of player that can reliably center on the top scoring line, lead the number-one power-play unit, and kill penalties if called upon to do so.

Starting to receive his rightful attention as one of NHL’s top defensive defensemen, Duncan Keith has become the Blackhawks' top shutdown defender—and is an emerging offensive threat to boot (44 points in 2009).

One of the league leaders in plus/minus the past two seasons (plus-30 in 2008, plus-33 in 2009), Keith and defensive mate Brent Seabrook always get called upon to stop the opposing teams’ top scoring line, and have successfully answered the challenge in stifling them.

Despite a moderately successful playoff debut (only six points in 17 games and a plus-one), Keith commands top-level money and the Blackhawks would be wise to oblige on that. Even with the Campbell contract tying up so much money on the blue line, Keith needs to be retained no matter the price tag.

Finally, flashy young star Patrick Kane sits in line waiting for his own big money deal. Unlike Toews and Keith, I think the Blackhawks' decision to sign him long term is not a-cut and-dry proposition.

Kane possesses the potential to develop one of the NHL’s top scorers annually (142 points in his first two seasons), but struggles on the defensive end and has size limitations (just 5'10", 163 lbs.) that likely keep him from ever entering the top echelon of NHL players.

In a normal situation, the Blackhawks re-sign Kane despite his flaws (which his strengths far outweigh) and let his game mature. However, the Blackhawks' sticky cap situation requires tough personnel decisions to be made—and allowing Kane to test the market may not be as foolish at it seems.

Replacing a top center like Toews or lock-down defender like Keith is near impossible, but diminutive scoring wings can be found (the Hawks already have a talented one with Versteeg, assuming they retain him). Sacrificing Kane, if he commands a top salary, could be the correct—if very unpopular—business move.

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