Paul McCann: Deconstructing the Central - Chicago and some randoms...

The Hawks still have to get under the cap. The leading candidate appears to be Nick Leddy. This "might" make their lower pair weaker? Might make it better. Talented team. However if the playoff trend continue's to regress back to "clutch" and "grab" interference days, The Hawks are not built for this. They are built for speed and transition. If they are not allowed to use it. They will have trouble with the big, tough western playoff teams.
We also lost Handzus who was an asset on the cup winning team. This year- not so much.

The Blackhawks are definitely deep within the system, but a few key acts need to play out for this group. Bickell and Versteeg have to be better, that is, they need to be reliable contributers. Marian Hossa needs to remain Marian Hossa. He doesn't look old, he hasn''t played old, and he probably won't play old, but it is critically important that he doesn't. He is a more pivotal player for this group than he gets credit for, and I'd argue that they don't win either cup without the importance of his presence. Brandon Saad needs to continue his trajectory, which points to good things, should he manage it.

Then they need to trade someone. I love the Richards addition and I have high hopes for the group this year, but the other things need to happen for the Hawks to remain a favorite in the Central.

It would be nice, when summarizing team accomplishments and projections, if you would look at the whole picture:

Bollig is the only loss so far - but as they are currently $2.2MM over the cap, someone else (probably important) will have to go - Leddy, Oduya, Bickell, Versteeg, Roszival, (maybe) Sharp are the prime suspects.

The special teams both reversed courses in the middle of the year: while top-10 overall, the PP was terrific until January 1st - 34 for 140 = 24.3% (top of the league), but terrible after that - 16 - 117 = 13.7% (bottom of the league).

The PK, while 19th overall, was awful before January 1st - 96-127 = 75.6% (bottom of the league), but great after that - 105 - 121 = 87.6% (top of the league).

40/41 game splits are important factors when looking at a team's record.

Actually Bollig is not the only loss, Handzus is gone as well but like i've said before...

Richards + anyone >>>>>> Handzus + Bollig.

Yes, others will need to be moved and my expectation is Rozsy and Versteeg. And based on last years play those are to roster guys who's production can very easily be replaced.

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.
- predsfan97

I only half agree with this characterization. I think a lot of it had to do with the ownership of the team alienating its fanbase at the beginning of the 2000s. And while it's true that a lot (a LOT) of Blackhawk fans are newer fans, isn't gaining new fans what it's all about?

*piles on*

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.
- predsfan97

Yeah, HB is the barometer for measuring fandom.

You know when Hawk fans really started showing up on HB? When the most popular Hawks forum in Chicago was no longer free, and required a subscription...which just happened to coincide with the team's re-emergence. So we all migrated here, and you've been hating us ever since.

I only half agree with this characterization. I think a lot of it had to do with the ownership of the team alienating its fanbase at the beginning of the 2000s. And while it's true that a lot (a LOT) of Blackhawk fans are newer fans, isn't gaining new fans what it's all about?
- Sandus

The true test will be how many Blackhawk fans travel during your next down cycle. It will happen and it will be enjoyable to a lot of people here.

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.
- predsfan97

It helps when you can watch your team on tv.

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.
- predsfan97

Did you not discover hockey until 97?

Wrap your head about the fact a good bunch of their fan base, say, those 35 and older, grew up listening to games ONLY. The games weren't on TV, and the previous owner Bill Wirtz, basically told the fans he could care less, as he received a large chunk of his money through booze. Hockey is Chicago was pretty much an underground sport. It was treated as a fourth class citizen not only by the owner, but by much of the media. I for one grew up having to unscramble the signal while simulatneously listening to play by play on AM since I was 9 (I'm 45 now).

This is a team that sold out, pretty much through word of mouth, for decades. With little if any publicity.

Yeah, their are bandwagon fans, every team has them, including your beloved Preds. Nothing wrong with joining on a bandwagon, as long as you attempt to learn and appreciate the game too, and not just brag when your team wins. Believe it or not, fans of the same team don't care much for those sort of fans either. But stereotyping all fans of a team the same is rather narrow-minded.

Every team's attendance ebs and flows. While the blowhards tend to draw attention, it's the diehards that show up when things are down. The reason why attendance went down, it because ol' Bill sold off the best parts, and told the old guard fans to basically eff off.

But go ahead, and assume you know it all about another fan base.

The true test will be how many Blackhawk fans travel during your next down cycle. It will happen and it will be enjoyable to a lot of people here.
- predsfan97

The true test is a person like you realizing there was hockey before the Preds came into existence.

Hopefully the Preds will become relevant on the national stage.

Still hate the Blackhawk fans. They never showed up here until they turned the franchise around unlike the other Original 6 teams.
- predsfan97

You hate an entire teams fan base because in your opinion they all just showed up here after the teams recent success? So is it true that you have only been a hockey fan since 1997 when your team became relevant?
While true the Hawks have a lot of newer fans thanks to their recent success. There are still a large group that have been fans for longer then your team has even been in existence.

The true test will be how many Blackhawk fans travel during your next down cycle. It will happen and it will be enjoyable to a lot of people here.
- predsfan97

Yes - the typical cry of fans of teams that have no fans: bandwagon Blackhawk fans, fair weather Blackhawk fans - show some originality, if you have the ability.

Did you not discover hockey until 97?

Wrap your head about the fact a good bunch of their fan base, say, those 35 and older, grew up listening to games ONLY. The games weren't on TV, and the previous owner Bill Wirtz, basically told the fans he could care less, as he received a large chunk of his money through booze. Hockey is Chicago was pretty much an underground sport. It was treated as a fourth class citizen not only by the owner, but by much of the media. I for one grew up having to unscramble the signal while simulatneously listening to play by play on AM since I was 9 (I'm 45 now).

This is a team that sold out, pretty much through word of mouth, for decades. With little if any publicity.

Yeah, their are bandwagon fans, every team has them, including your beloved Preds. Nothing wrong with joining on a bandwagon, as long as you attempt to learn and appreciate the game too, and not just brag when your team wins. Believe it or not, fans of the same team don't care much for those sort of fans either. But stereotyping all fans of a team the same is rather narrow-minded.

Every team's attendance ebs and flows. While the blowhards tend to draw attention, it's the diehards that show up when things are down. The reason why attendance went down, it because ol' Bill sold off the best parts, and told the old guard fans to basically eff off.

But go ahead, and assume you know it all about another fan base.
- howiehandles

beat me to it!
Probably would have been closer if I didn't have to stop and look up when the Preds came to be.

The Blackhawks are definitely deep within the system, but a few key acts need to play out for this group. Bickell and Versteeg have to be better, that is, they need to be reliable contributers. Marian Hossa needs to remain Marian Hossa. He doesn't look old, he hasn''t played old, and he probably won't play old, but it is critically important that he doesn't. He is a more pivotal player for this group than he gets credit for, and I'd argue that they don't win either cup without the importance of his presence. Brandon Saad needs to continue his trajectory, which points to good things, should he manage it.

Then they need to trade someone. I love the Richards addition and I have high hopes for the group this year, but the other things need to happen for the Hawks to remain a favorite in the Central.
- DirkGraham

All good points as well!

You hate an entire teams fan base because in your opinion they all just showed up here after the teams recent success? So is it true that you have only been a hockey fan since 1997 when your team became relevant?
While true the Hawks have a lot of newer fans thanks to their recent success. There are still a large group that have been fans for longer then your team has even been in existence.
- camfor

I have been a hockey fan since the 1970s. Don't assume you know anything about me. I have been a season tix holder here since the beginning and know it is only the Blackhawk fans that curse in front of my kids and spill beer on people around me. Classy.

I have been a hockey fan since the 1970s. Don't assume you know anything about me. I have been a season tix holder here since the beginning and know it is only the Blackhawk fans that curse in front of my kids and spill beer on people around me. Classy.
- predsfan97

And how many Blackhawk fans did that? All of them? Most? 20%? 1 group?

I really doubt that you can judge an entire fan base based on what I expect are the boorish behaviors of a few.

And how many Blackhawk fans did that? All of them? Most? 20%? 1 group?

I really doubt that you can judge an entire fan base based on what I expect are the boorish behaviors of a few.
- StLBravesFan

Now if he was referring to Oregon Ducks fans, he would be spot on.

I have been a hockey fan since the 1970s. Don't assume you know anything about me. I have been a season tix holder here since the beginning and know it is only the Blackhawk fans that curse in front of my kids and spill beer on people around me. Classy.
- predsfan97

Pot meet kettle!
And if you are indeed old enough to have been a hockey fan since the seventies Then you should be old enough to not make blanket statements about entire fan bases. I know I wont judge "all" Preds fans by my interaction with you.

I have been a hockey fan since the 1970s. Don't assume you know anything about me. I have been a season tix holder here since the beginning and know it is only the Blackhawk fans that curse in front of my kids and spill beer on people around me. Classy.
- predsfan97

You cant have it both ways... either make blanket statements about the entire Blackhawk fan-base and swallow your pride when someone takes a swing at you, or thank the Blackhawks fans for coming down and allowing your team to make it above the floor without forcing you to take out a second mortgage to pay for your season tix.

To claim all hawks fans are bandwagon fans is ignorant.

I have spent the last two years getting to know some hawks fans and I like most of the hawks fans I know.

I am marrying a hawks fan and I live in Chicago.

There are bad apples in every fanbse.

To claim all hawks fans are bandwagon fans is ignorant.

I have spent the last two years getting to know some hawks fans and I like most of the hawks fans I know.

I am marrying a hawks fan and I live in Chicago.

There are bad apples in every fanbse.
- sycsam

You're right. Probably not all Blackhawk fans are bandwagon fans.

Now if he was referring to Oregon Ducks fans, he would be spot on.
- Beaver-Warrior

Or Northwestern, with the cheer:

"That's alright, that's OK
You'll be working for us someday! "