There Is Such A Thing As A Perfect World

  Could there have ever been a more perfect ending to this story? The Blackhawks end their 49-year drought and win Lord Stanley's Cup. But, my question is, when you think of the Blackhawks, who do you think of? I, personally, think of none other than Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane (Tazer or Kaner if you prefer).

  Jonathan Toews, the youngest captain in the NHL to date, Manitoba born, Hockey has been in his blood. He has wanted nothing more than just to TASTE the NHL. After just 3 seasons on the Chicago Blackhawks, he has the electrifying goals, the "spunk" and, most of all, the leadership qualities to prove he is one of the NHL's best captains. The Conn Smythe trophy winner (the MVP if you didn't know) is the only trophy that would signify such a maturation beyond players in this league. Beyond the Evgeni Malkin's, the Henrik Zetterbergs, and even the Scott Niedermeyer's of the league, the young have proved just as much as the old. 29 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, most of them being assists (22 to be exact, you can do the math from there, I hope.) he is there to help his team succeed. He might not score alot of goals in the playoffs, but he is a force to be reckoned with and the league better pay attention now more than ever.

  Patrick Kane, grew up as a Buffalo, NY native, Hockey was a big part of his life always. As the first #1 overall pick for the Blackhawks ever, their wish came true and Kaner has progressed each and every year, also his third year, a former Rookie of the year (Calder Memorial Trophy) he first came into the league with reports asking "how will he handle the pressure" and comments, such as, "Can he turn this Chicago Blackhawk team around by himself and make the Indian head become a prominent part of hockey again?" Then, critics were saying in his second season "He isn't strong enough to fight with the big boys" and "He has good skills, but he can't fight for himself man to man." Those people were proved wrong by the third season and the season that won it all for his team, his franchise, his livelihood. "Kane, of the strongest, but fast players in the NHL. Nobody can stop this guy." With 88 points in the regular season, it was shown that Kaner can put the puck in the net, he can put his teammates in the best position to score, and he can handle the puck like any of the best in the league.  Now with a Stanley cup under his belt, can anybody under-estimate him again? Can he ever be overlooked. I say no, and he may be the closest to a Gretzky we could ever find. He might not put up the 200 points a season, that will NEVER be done again, but he has the speed, he has the ability, he has the heart to be THE best in the league.

  But what exactly made this a perfect ending BESIDES winning it all? THE Stanley Cup, the most coveted trophy in all of sports, all of it's history, from the Gordie Howe's to the Bobby Hull's to the, well, Scott Niedermeyer's of the NHL...This was the Captain, the MVP and THE #1 pick overall. Growing together, playing together, eating together, talking together, WINNING together. That perfect ending came when Patrick Kane of all people would clinch that title, with that winning goal in overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in Game 6, Tazer lifting that Conn Smythe, that's all great. But that wasn't what they came for, this isn't THE prize yet. With Kane's smile going ear to ear, Toews accepts the Stanley Cup, in front of few Hawks fan in a Philly owned Wachovia Center, this couldn't have ended any better.

  Thank you Chicago, for inspiring Hockey once again. For making us believe in something, especially...because you are the future of hockey, and sports altogether.