2010 Stanley Cup Finals: Brendan Shanahan's Take on Hawks' Chance

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks will have an opportunity to not only win a championship, but end a 49-year Stanley Cup drought in the Windy City.

When it comes to the subject of winning championships, and doing so with the burden of history and an entire city's dreams on your shoulders, there are few who can speak with more authority than Brendan Shanahan.

The current NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations and Business Development, and winner of three Stanley Cups, all with Detroit, spoke with Bleacher Report on Wednesday morning and shared his thoughts about Chicago's chance to win a Stanley Cup in Game Six.

"It's probably to their benefit that they're playing on the road," Shanahan said.

"In a game where you've got such nerves, when you're one win a way from your career dream come true, I think that being on the road, not having the distractions [of playing at home], I think it helps [Chicago]."

Though these finals have essentially been a homer's series, neither Philadelphia nor Chicago have won a road game as of yet.

Shanahan thinks that Game Six could provide a better opportunity for Chicago then that they'd face if the series goes to seven games.

"When you haven't won [in so long], as a city and as an organization, you can always feel the mood of the crowd [as a player]", Shanahan said.

"If there is a Game Seven, I think there's going to be a very nervous Chicago crowd.  So, being on the road for this game, probably helps [Chicago's chances for winning a Cup]."

Shanahan's first of nine seasons as Detroit Red Wing came in 1996-97.  Acquired in a trade with the Hartford Whalers, Shanahan provided Detroit with the pure goal-scorer and physical presence the organization felt it was lacking in previous years.

As Detroit moved through the playoffs that season and eventually went on to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals, Shanahan said that, like Chicago today, there was definitely added pressure to not only win a Cup, but end a 42-year championship drought in Detroit.

"I felt that [as a player] in '97", explained Shanahan. "But, it's somewhere stored in the back of your brain. You sort of just put the blinders on and just focus on what you have to do. It isn't until you finish that goal that you can exhale and release that energy."

Facing so much expectation, not only generated by their success to date this season, but compounded by nearly a half-century Stanley Cup drought.

"Putting the blinders on" as Shanahan put it is certainly what the Chicago Blackhawks will need to do if they are to lift the Cup, and with it, a city's pride.

"When you get in this situation [a Cup-clinching game], and you go as long and as deep as you have to go, you play so many high pressure games in the playoffs, the good teams at least develop a sense of putting blinders on, [which allows them to] shut out the outside pressures and just focus on whatever they have to do on that shift or that game."

As poised as Chicago appears to be to end their season as Stanley Cup champions, nothing is guaranteed and Philadelphia is more than capable of pulling off what many would classify as an upset.

Still, as heartbreaking as losing would be for the players and city of Chicago, time is on their side and this is certainly not either team's last chance at winning a Stanley Cup.

"It's not like one of these clubs is a team of aging players, taking one last crack at this", Shanahan offered.

"They both have great cores of young players that are going to be around for a long time, so [the chances of winning beyond this year] bodes well for both organizations."

Shanahan's assessment is certainly valid, especially considering the youth and quality of leadership for both teams. 

Both Jonathan Toews (22) and Mike Richards (25), captains for the Blackhawks and Flyers, respectively, have quickly emerged as two of the best leaders in the NHL and have only added to their reputations throughout these playoffs.

In fact, when asked his opinion on who could emerge the Conn Smythe winner (playoff MVP) this year, Shanahan picked both captains as worthy should their respective teams win.

Looking specifically at Jonathan Toews, Shanahan had this to say, "People tend to focus a little too much on his [lack of] scoring in the finals. But even when he's not scoring, he's a constant threat and he does a lot of little things well. 

"I'm sure he'd like to have better numbers and statistics in the finals, as would Richards, but I just think [that because of] the overall playoff [performances] of both players and their leadership qualities, those are the guys that stir the drink for both teams."

As Jonathan Toews is the only captain on the ice who'll have a chance at drinking from the Stanley Cup after Game Six, his leadership skills and focus will be put to the ultimate test as he deals with the immense pressure such an opportunity creates.

"It's true, there's a lot more pressure when you haven't won. Not only on you personally, but on the organization. There's a generation of 'Hawks fans who haven't seen a Stanley Cup", Shanahan concluded.

Tonight, that generation might very well be laid to rest, and, at least according to Brendan Shanahan, tonight might be the Blackhawks' best chance to do just that.