And now, before further descending into the bizarre fusion of hockey, Monty Python, Kelly’s Heroes, and Herman Melville idiom, I will commence with a blog that sets forth the positives of this summer thus far—and perhaps to come—for the Chicago Blackhawks.
No more negative waves, baby.
The following are 5 Things to feel good about:
1) A summer of rest.
For the first summer in four years, the Hawks hit the greens, the gyms, the backyard hammocks, early. This rest should translate into more stamina this upcoming season—and perhaps betterofrmances, especially for key veterans like Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Brent Seabrook.
2) A much improved blueline
Last season, the Hawks had two significant holes, at 2LD and 1LW. 2LD has been filled with the budget buy of Brian Campbell, and further reinforced witht eh singing of Czech import, Michal Kempny. The Hawks should be deeper and better on the back end than they have been in the modern era.
3) The core remains relatively intact
Thus far at least, GM Stan Bowman has not had to deal off Corey Crawford, Artem Anisimov, or Marcus Kruger. Add those names to Toews, Hossa, Seabrook, Duncan keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Parrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, and this is still a deep, potent hockey team. How potent? Good question. So . . .
4) Bowman says he’s not done
Although the “experts” (for the most part, downplay the Hawks’ chances to land Jimmy Vesey, I have heard and reported for six weeks now that the Hawks (at least) intend to be players for Vesey’s services. Bottom line, with or without Vesey, Bowman is going to make some kind of move to add a player that either slides into the 1LW role—or allows someone else to—eg, a Brad Richards on a league minimum one-year deal, allowing Anisimov to slide up and left (where he played at times in Columbus).
5) Prospect Camp starts soon
This allows Bowman, Joel Quenneville and the hockey ops staff to really evaluate which prospects are ready or close to ready to fill what will likely be one to two remaining forward spots.
So let’s assume for a minute that Bowman is able to cobble together some kind of passable solution at 1LW—and don’t rule out the trade of a Trevor van Riemsdyk and/or a prospect to help make that happen—then this is a team, rested and with a much improved defense and more balanced (ostensibly) Top 6, that could be very formidable come playoff time. Maybe even the team to beat.
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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