Sounding The Horn: Chicago's Attacking Corps Proven, Ready To Prove More

Despite the major acquisitions and major injuries on the Blackhawks blueline recently; causing major turnover and competition for significant ice time, the Hawks need to score goals.

And while the D-men are very important in such endeavors, more times than not, the forwards are the one's who take care of business, light the lamp and sound the horn.

Last year was a coming out party for many of the Blackhawks, all of whom will be expected to match or exceed their play from the season prior in 2008-09. If before the 2007-08 campaign the Blackhawks were full of question marks, the 2008-09 version of the Hawks are full of exclamation points.

The first line I expect Denis Savard to trot out in key situations will have two big exclamation points, fail not. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the two most dynamic rookies in the NHL last year, and two of the most remarkable talents in the game, will look to gain superstar statuses across North America.

With Toews at center and Kane on his right, Savard will rotate his top three left wings to that line. Patrick Sharp made it apparent early last year that he plays best with Toews and Kane feeding him the puck. And when Patrick Sharp is on the top of his game, the Blackhawks are a very hard team to beat.

Dustin Byfuglien also saw some ice time with numbers 19 and 88. A big physical presence, who resembles more of a NFL linebacker than a NHL winger. Byfuglien has in his arsenal deceptive speed and a formidable slapshot. Overall, Byfuglien is a hose and doubles as protection for Kane and as a decent goal scorer.

Working Byfuglien in the slot with Toews doing his magic behind the net reaped many benefits in 2007-08. But Byfuglien will see his fair share of time with the second line, a line which he also established strong chemistry and play with in last year's campaign. Despite that, expect him to play with Toews and Kane frequently this year.

Andrew Ladd also saw some time on the ice with Toews and Kane. Ladd, the enigmatic talent, played his best hockey when paired with the team's best players. He’s also a scrappy player, a grinder.

Ladd has shown that he can help establish the forecheck with efficiency, so when Byfuglien is not on his game and the Hawks need to manufacture a goal through hard work on the forecheck and strong offensive-zone puck movement, expect Ladd to jump over the wall with the no-longer rookies.

The second line is a 180 from the young, vibrant first line. Robert Lang, the steady veteran presence on the Hawks played his best hockey with the adroit Marty Havlat last season.

But alas, Havlat’s propensity to catch the injury bug over his entire career did not make an exception in the 2007-08 season. Havlat played less than half of the season because of leg and shoulder problems. If the perfect storm of injuries, one that seems to hit every year for the Czech right wing, is quelled next year, Havlat’s contributions will be significant. But, like every year, his health status is the biggest question mark on the team.

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