Chicago Blackhawks Will See Familiar Faces Return in 2010
The off-season period is often dominated mostly by analysts and commentators describing ad nauseum about players that have left for other teams, and all the moves that each franchise makes.
But, what about the moves that are not made?
It is always good to look at what remains from the team that provided so much excitement from the previous season. The Blackhawks definitely fit that description as they in fact are bringing back many of the players that played key roles in bringing a title to Chicago.
Sure, many players were moved, mostly to maneuver into a position of semi-comfort under the salary cap. But many of the players that did very well for the Hawks last year will be back this year.
Jack Skille
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This first round pick of the Blackhawks has been waiting in Rockford to get his chance to get consistent time with the big club, and this may be his year.
After only appearing in six games with the Blackhawks last season, and producing nearly fifty points in Rockford, along with toughness to match his offensive abilities, Skille may finally get his chance.
The Blackhawks also are looking for someone to replace the Wisconsin Badger void left with Adam Burishs' departure to Dallas along with Duncan Keith. Skille's time in Madison would fill that void.
Corey Crawford
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Corey Crawford very well could have carried Cristobal Huet's bags to the airport on his way to the Swiss League because it clearly opens up a spot with the Hawks' that Corey has been waiting to be in for several years.
To some people's surprise, the Blackhawks handed the back-up net-minder role to Antti Niemi instead of Crawford in 2009, and by season's end the rest was history.
By no way is Crawford in a Wally Pipp-Lou Gehrig situation. The promise and talent is still there, and who knows by season's end he could be the playoff goalie if Turco hits a wall because of fatigue.
Despite a lackluster performance in the minor league playoffs with Rockford last season, Crawford has shown brief glimpses of brilliance in his short tenures with the team over the past five seasons.
Jake Dowell
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Another former Wisconsin Badger player, Jake Dowell is looking to move into a full-time NHL role as a centerman with the Blackhawks this season. He will need to assume a physical role on the team.
Last year he showed in the minors that he is a tough, hard-nosed player that also has some finesse and scoring prowess. He will need to bring both elements this season if he is going to be on the checking line.
Dowell had a short run with the team last year only appearing in three games, but he did get a couple points, and got in a fight.
Basically, all that could have been asked of him in the time he was on the ice. This year he may get a more extended amount of time. Let us hope the production stays the same.
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Nick Boynton
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Nick Boynton has made news in preseason with his one-game suspension that he accrued with his throat-slashing motion in a game. This will be assessed in the opener in Colorado.
Boynton most likely will be a third-line defenseman for the Blackhawks this season. Last year the Blackhawks got the much-traveled Boynton from Anaheim in March before he was used sporadically in the remaining regular season games, and in three playoff games before winning his first Cup in his 15 year career.
This year, it is hard to say how much ice time Boynton will see. On one hand, he has a lot more experience than some of the young defensemen that are looking for a spot on the team.
But, on the other hand, Boynton has not seen significant time since his days with the Panthers in 2008.
Bryan Bickell
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The departure of Dustin Byfuglien left a bad taste in some Blackhawk fans mouths in the months that followed the Stanley Cup victory.
The team no doubt needs someone to step into the role of the big, intimidating power forward.
At over 6'4 and nearing in at 230 pounds, Bryan Bickell will be looked upon to use his hulking frame to annoy the heck out of opposing goalies this season.
Along with Jake Dowell and perhaps Jack Skille, Bickell could make up the front end of the checking line this season. This will be a very important element that will determine the Blackhawks success in 2010-11.
Jordan Hendry
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The Blackhawks were able to extend defenseman Jordan Hendry's tenure with the team for another season this past August with a new one-year deal.
It was a good move for the team because they paid a reduced price tag of $600,000 for a player that was active in nearly half of the regular season games last year, and was in the majority of the playoff games.
At 26, Hendry's best hockey most likely lies ahead of him, and this could be a breakout season for the undrafted player from Alaska.
Tomas Kopecky
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Tomas Kopecky was one of the few players going into last season that had raised Lord Stanley before on the Blackhawks, along with Andrew Ladd and John Madden.
Both of those players are gone this year so Kopecky is no doubt hoping more teammates will be multi-time Cup winners after this season unfolds.
Kopecky had his best season as a professional last year playing in 74 games and notching 21 points. When playoff time came around he was terrific in the series against the Canucks before sitting out in the sweep of the Sharks.
In the first game of the Finals against the Flyers, Tomas filled in for an ailing Ladd and had the game-winner in the thrilling battle in which the Blackhawks pulled out a 6-5 victory.
It could be surmised that Kopecky will be looked upon to play an even bigger role offensively this season on the second line.
Brian Campbell
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One of the players that some expected to be moved this off-season returns.
Ultimately, his bulky contract was far too large for anyone to acquire with the structure of the salary cap in place. Still, the Blackhawks have one of the better offensive-defensemen in the league in Campbell.
Though it is in the distance at this point, circle Sunday, March 13, 2011 on your calendar. What is that date you ask?
It is the first opportunity the Blackhawks will have to seek a little bit of payback for the vicious cheap shot that Brian Campbell suffered at the hands of Alex Ovechkin.
Other than the cheap shot that broke Campbell's clavicle and a rib, he has been one of the most durable blue-liners in the league over the past half decade.
Troy Brouwer
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Talk about a player that can make a name for himself this season, if he hasn't done so already.
Troy Brouwer will get the chance to play along side two of the game's best young stars in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in many occasions, which should sky-rocket his point total from last season which was 40.
Troy was a consistent contributor for the team in the post season, and will only continue to get better at the age of 25.
With more on the possible breakout of Troy Brouwer this season check this out:
Niklas Hjalmarsson
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About two months ago the talk around Blackhawks nation was the debate on whether the team should invest into keeping Niklas Hjalmarsson or Antti Niemi.
I would say about 80% of the voiced opinions favored the young Swedish defenseman.
And thus, General Manager Stan Bowman agreed with the 80%, and matched the claim that was made by bitter Western Conference rival on the 23 year old future star.
Since that time the Sharks who must be in love with the Blackhawks after the butt-whipping they endured in the Western Conference Finals, have signed Niemi to a one year deal.
Hjalmarsson has All-Star talent and is on the brink of being a All-World defenseman.
This could be the year that he is able to prove that he was worth every penny of the four year investment that the Hawks' gave him this off-season.
Marian Hossa
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The first player who received a hoist of the Cup after Gary Bettman handed it to Captain Jonathan Toews was Marian Hossa, rightfully so.
Hossa has been chasing the Cup since he first got in the league with Ottawa in 1997, but in more recent years he has been snubbed in consecutive years with Pittsburgh and Detroit in almost comical fashion.
Karma has a sense of humor as Hossa proved that the third time was in fact a charm in being on the championship team last season.
Hossa personally contributed to the ending of the "Hossa Curse" by contributing 15 points in the team's playoff run.
This year he will most likely play with Patrick Sharp, which was a formidable par on many occasions last season.
Dave Bolland
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Dave Bolland is clearly one of the fastest-rising fan favorites amongst Blackhawk fans. The man who is affectionately nicknamed "the rat", is going to be looked upon as a valuable two-way player this season, most likely on the second or third-line.
Last year, Bolland came back to the Blackhawks late in the season after suffering a injury that knocked him out.
But, upon his return he did not miss a beat. He was very involved in all the series that the Hawks' played in, and gave an energy that was integral to the success that occurred.
This season he will get the opportunity to show what he can do with a clean slate of health and 82 games in front of him.
Patrick Sharp
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One of the catalysts to the rebound of the Blackhawks on-ice performance improvements since the lockout in 2005 has been Patrick Sharp.
Since that time Sharp has been one of the team's best goal scorers, and has provided leadership that has come to be so crucial as young players get acclimated to the squad.
His post season play last year was great as he was able net 11 goals and had an equal number in the assist category.
He will no doubt be looking to increase his career high point total, which he was able to set last season.
Patrick Kane
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The last Blackhawk, and for that matter NHL player, to touch a live puck in the 2009-10 season was Patrick Kane.
His historically memorable cup-winning phantom wrist shot will perhaps go down as the most memorable sports moment in Chicago history along side M.J's push-off shot and Dwayne Wise's perfect game saving catch.
Kane has established himself as a premiere talent in the league, and one of the most dynamic offensive performers that the game currently has.
Each season he seems to add a different element to his game, and if he continues to get stronger; it is going to be near impossible for defenses to strategize against him when he has the puck.
Brent Seabrook
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One of the core players for the Hawks is Brent Seabrook. Brent along with his line-mate Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews had the year of their lives as they won the Stanley Cup along with the Gold Medal for their native Canada.
Seabrook was on the ice when Patrick Kane scored the legendary goal in Philadelphia, and was at times dominant in the postseason as he scored as many goals in the postseason as he did in the entire regular season.
In the last four season he has missed a grand total of four games, three of which were a result of the brutal hit that he took from his friend and former teammate James Wisniewski of the Ducks.
He is a top-ten defenseman, and along with Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, he forms the best pair in the league.
Duncan Keith
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Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith is arguably and most likely the best defensive hockey player in the entire world right now.
He has all the components that a coach would want out of defenseman, and his attitude is perfect as he is a hard-nosed, blue-collar player that will do anything for his teammates.
Many remember his seven teeth getting knocked out in the Conference Finals, only for the tough Keith to return quickly.
This makes "heroic" returns such as Paul Pierce's "wheelchair incident" seem rather comical.
There is no reason that DK cannot repeat in winning the Norris; which would make him the first repeat winner of the award for the Blackhawks since Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote did it in 1963 and 1964.
Jonathan Toews
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The past six to eight months it seems as if it has been the "Era of Toews".
He has done everything that a young hockey player would ever dream of doing.
-Captain an Original Six team
-Win a division title
-Win a conference title
-Win a Stanley Cup
-Win the Conn Smythe Award
-Be a key contributor in bringing a Gold Medal to your country
-Be on the cover of EA's NHL video game franchise
-Have a hometown Lake and Community Center named after him
Not a bad year.
Let's see if he can top that.
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