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So 'It' Ends

April 26, 2016, 9:17 AM ET [1140 Comments]
John Jaeckel
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT



The question is, what ‘it’ is?

A season? The first post-salary cap dynasty? A set of expectations around what “Blackhawk hockey” is all about?

First, let’s all tip our caps to the St. Louis Blues. The better team won in this series. The Blues came up big when they had to last night, and played like champions throughout the series.

The argument that raged all season long in this message board is now decided. No, this was not a championship quality team. Not at any point, including when they reeled off a double-digit win streak at midseason.

The fact is, Stan Bowman had a rough offseason last summer, and he needs to do better this summer when the odds are stacked almost as high against him as they were a year ago.

Let’s look at the positives for a minute, though.

I feel as though I am generally a realist, not a pom-pom waver, not too negative. Some may differ on either. Meh.

But generally I try to be fair and take the longer view. And that said, I believe a long summer of rest and rehab for this team could have a wonderful effect on elite players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa.

I also think Bowman unearthed a couple of quality left-wingers, filling a huge organizational need, in Artemi Panarin and Richard Panik.

The center position is really solidified with Toews, Artem Anisimov (who needs to continue to work on faceoffs) and Marcus Kruger.

I don’t know what kind of NHL defensemen Viktor Svedberg and Erik Gustafsson will ever be, but they both gained a lot of valuable experience. As did Trevor van Riemsdyk, who it can safely be said has a solid NHL future.

Still none of those last three could fill the empty shoes of Johnny Oduya. None of those three ever will. The Blackhawks have an obvious hole/weakness on the blueline that must be filled if this team is to seriously contend again.

Look no further than the Blues, who could spread the lion’s share of their minutes out over 4 big, skilled young defensemen: Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Kevin Shattenkirk, Colton Parayko.

The Hawks don’t have a Parayko-type player waiting in the wings. Not even close.

They have guys named Svedberg, Pokka and Gustafsson (who is constantly confused with another “guy” named Gustafsson).

What the Hawks do have is a fairly deep, and extremely talented group of forwards. And a great goalie who has a generally solid, and at times outstanding backup.

Then you look at the obstacles Bowman faces: a salary cap that’s tight as a drum with huge salary commitments to top players, and a depleted minor league and prospect pipeline.

The Hawks can probably cobble together a decent enough fourth line next year from Dennis Rasmussen, Andrew Desjardins and, say, Ryan Hartman.

But it keeps coming back to the defense. And money. And assets Bowman can trade.

Some will look to Europe or the NCAA, where Bowman has unearthed quality young players in the past. But wait, Gustafsson and Svedberg were supposed to be “finds” from Europe, as was van Riemsdyk from the NCAA. I’m not calling them busts—I’m just pointing out that the development curve for the defense position is longer than any other. The Hawks could certainly always use more young prospects with upside. But with their “core” being paid what they are at this stage of their careers, this team needs someone who can step in and help right now as a top 4 defenseman.

Bowman almost has to make a trade. The market for that kind of defenseman in free agency is way too rich for this team’s budget.

And Bowman is not going to get the kind of defenseman this team needs for a box of type and a guy named Gustafsson, even if you threw in some other guy named Gustafsson.

Andrew Ladd, Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann are likely all gone. The Hawks will probably need to add another veteran winger as well.

So what does Bowman have that is attractive to another club, that he can somehow afford to trade? Where does he create cap room? Definitely, it’s time to cut ties with Bryan Bickell and his contract. But is there anything else that can be cut from the payroll?

Rest will help, but reinforcements are necessary. And it won’t be easy.

I’ll be back soon with some more offseason assessments.




JJ




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