Blackhawks remain threat to repeat
It’s always most sexy to identify the team that nobody is talking about and then expound upon why that franchise is a sleeper candidate to win its sport’s title.
In reality, writing about the true favorite is more fruitful and time-worthy. In the National Hockey League, there are plenty of teams to choose from when talking about who could make the unexpected run. The Florida Panthers are winning the Atlantic Division and the Minnesota Wild have rebounded following the firing of head coach Mike Yeo. There are the New York Rangers, who are more dangerous than ever with the pending return of Rick Nash and the acquisition of Eric Staal.
Yet, while the Washington Capitals and their 47-12-4 record have to be considered the odds-on favorites to hoist the Stanley Cup in the Verizon Center this spring, the Chicago Blackhawks are still the team to beat. Chicago won its third championship in six seasons in 2014-15, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Over the offseason, the team was mostly kept together with the notable exception of Patrick Sharp, who was dealt for salary cap reasons to the Dallas Stars.
Going into March 3, Chicago is in a fierce battle for the top spot in the Central Division with the aforementioned Stars. The Blackhawks are 40-20-5, sitting atop the gaggle with 85 points, two points ahead of Dallas which has also played 65 contests. The Stars have the firepower to stay with Chicago for the duration, led by Jaime Benn, Tyler Seguin and Sharp.
For the Blackhawks, though, the experience and balance leans in their favor. The blue line is perhaps the strongest in the NHL with steady stars in Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, each playing over 23 minutes per game. Then there is Corey Crawford in net, who is one of the top candidates to win the Vezina Trophy. Crawford has notched a 33-16-3 mark but as importantly has a 2.25 goals against average and a .928 save percentage with seven shutouts.
Offensively, the Blackhawks remain loaded with young, potent talent. Patrick Kane is having the best year of his career, leading the club with 36 goals, 49 assists and 85 points. Captain Jonathan Toews is continuing his terrific play as a tremendous defensive presence, a top-notch faceoff man and a producer with 22 goals and 44 points. Then there is Artemi Panarin, who in his rookie season has 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 62 games.
There will be plenty of talk about the darkhorses and the fringe contenders in the NHL come Stanley Cup playoffs time. You will hear about the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, franchises hoping to finally take advantage of all the talent on their rosters.
What you will see is the Blackhawks, rolling toward a fourth Stanley Cup in seven seasons.
