Chicago Blackhawks Need Consistency - From Savard

As a season ticket holder for the Chicago Blackhawks, I am completely on the bandwagon in believing they have what it takes to play late into the playoffs.

So why haven't the Blackhawks shown anything on the ice after three games to backup this belief?

Dennis Savard is a great coach, and was one of the best players the city of Chicago has seen lace up the skates. But he has been frustrating thus far in the 2008-09 season. While I understand that he has more talent on each line than the Hawks had on an entire roster for the better part of a decade, Savard needs to get a few things together so the team can get comfortable on the ice.

In any professional sport, consistency is worth more than any salary. The chemistry between a quarterback and his receivers has been well documented, as has the understanding between a catcher and pitcher. So it is with a hockey team. Different wings get used to each other, defenders can begin to assume location on the ice, and goalies can know that specific individuals will be in their places at given times.

This is achieved in the preseason; in fact, the only reason there is a preseason is to see how players work with each other and get new faces used to how they fit in on a roster. This is where, through three games, Savard has missed the point this year.

For example, the "energy line" of the has generally included Jack Skille, Kris Versteeg and Colin Fraser has seen under ten minutes per game so far. While they are still green behind the ears, these players are indeed the future depth that will carry this team to the postseason.

Similarly, breaking up the defensive line of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith may have been made possible by the signing of Brian Campbell, but that didn't necessarily make it a requirement. I have also seen Dustin Byfuglien back on defense, where he began last season. Personally, I like the move, especially on the power play next to Campbell. Byfuglien has the size and a shot that comes at a goaltender heavy enough that a young, aggressive front line with Patrick Kane and Captain Jonathan Toews can get rebound opportunities.

But it's up to Coach Savard to figure out who, when and where the guys play and let them develop in their roles.

Here are a few things I would change before Game Four:

- Give the same full-season commitment granted to Toews and Kane last year to Skille and Versteeg. This would allow the youngsters to stop pressing and let the game come to them. Once a young player knows he isn't going anywhere, the perceived need to do something each and every time they're on the ice isn't as immediate and they can play within themselves, and the system around them, more easily.

- Put Keith and Seabrook back together, and put Byfuglien next to Campbell for the rest of the season. The familiarity between Keith and Seabrook cannot be oversold, especially on a team that has had issues with continuity. As I already stated, Byfuglien's shot and handling ability appeals to me on the power play, but playing the tandem together more frequently would give the two more time to develop chemistry.

- Move Patrick Sharp back to wing, on the same line as Kane and Toews. This line, when healthy, was what propelled the Hawks to within three points of the playoffs last year. Put the line back together and let them continue to progress as a unit.

- Finally, and this falls on the head of both Savard and General Manager Dale Tallon, do something with the goaltenders. Just like the saying "If you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one," the same applies to goalies in the National Hockey League. Not only is the financial commitment to the goal grossly out of proportion on the young Hawks roster, but the playing time debate will never end as long as the playing time prescribed by Savard is as equal as their salaries.

Hopefully this evening the Hawks get into the win column and can start to develop into a winner. But until a few things are straightened out, I'm not sure they will.