Chicago Blackhawks year in review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON OUTLOOK

 

Well they were World Champions last season and returned most pieces so fighting for back to back Championships had to be in consideration.

 

 FINAL RECORD

46-21-15 107 points  5th in the West

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR

Kris Versteeg managed 10 goals in 31 games at home, but had zip zero nada goals in 34 games on the road. Patrick Kane had only 8 goals at home and 21 on the road to make up for it. Of course Jonathan Toews put in 19 at home and 9 on the road.

 

 HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR

They came back from two games down to defeat their rival St. Louis Blues in 4 straight. To me that seems to be the high point of the season, although they went on to defeat the Wild in the second round that was expected.

 

LOW POINT OF THE SEASON

 After defeating the Bruins on January 19th they sat with a 32-8-11 record, the best in the west. From then on, they were not even a playoff team, going 14-13-4 down the stretch, a very boring stretch that saw them fall from first in the West to 5th. Also the big low point was game 7 against the Kings, the Kings were clearly the better team throughout the series but the Hawks forced a game 7 only to fumble 3 leads away before losing in overtime.

 

 WHAT WENT RIGHT

Patrick Sharp (34-44-78) led the team in scoring. Marian Hossa overcame injuries to score 30 goals. Patrick Kane (29-40-69) scored a point a game. Jonathan Toews scored 68 points and was the best two way player in the game. Brandon Saad showed signs of becoming the next star for the Hawks and young Teuvo Teravainen got a taste of the NHL. Duncan Keith (6-55-61) was a power play running God. Brent Seabrook showed why he is still considered one of the best number 2 d-men in the game. Andrew shaw, while inconsistent scored 20 goals. Corey Crawford (32-16-10 2.26 .Gaa) was good in net.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG

 Versteeg was very ordinary and was a healthy scratch often down the stretch and in the postseason. Marcus Kruger (8 goals, 81 games) was bad much of the year. Michal Handzus (4 goals all year) was bad. Peter Regin was acquired from the Isles to fil the gaping hole at number 2 center and bombed. Bryan Bickell followed up his break out postseason last year with a average at best season. The club appeared out of sync for 3 months down the stretch.

 

MVP

 Jonathan Toews was spectacular. Sharp led the team in scoring and Keith ran the power play like he invented it but Toews was the teams heart and soul.

 

UFAs

Michal Handzus

Sheldon Brookbank

Peter Regin

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS

 Quite frankly they took a step back this season and still pushed the Kings to a tough game 7 which took overtime to keep them out of the Cup finals. Can they find a second line center to replace Bolland something they tried last year and never did? Can Bollig, Bickell and Shaw step up or is this as good as it gets? The stars, Sharp, Toews, Kane, were as good as it gets, who else can step up? Hossa might be bought out. If so, can Teravainen or Saad make up for the offense? Whither Crawford? Is he Osgood or can he carry the club?