Are the Blackhawks Really This Good?

Sebastian · Post #1 » by **Sebastian** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:06 am

Chicago is playing some very sharp, exciting hockey. Kane gets the pub, but the entire team has been on another level this year.

Will it hold up? Can they really match up comparably against Detroit or San Jose or Boston?

burn1down · Post #2 » by **burn1down** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:48 pm

This team is legit. Yes Kane gets pub. . .so does Toews. . .not enough to Sharp.

The thing is, this team is so loaded with young talent, they basically gave away a really good really gritty Rene Bourque. Chicago will be good for a long time to come

Post #3 » by **Snayr** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:15 pm

Now that they are receiving goaltending, and their young ones are developing nicely the Hawks are going to be very good for a while. They're good now, and they're still going to get better. An insanely exciting team to watch.

burn1down · Post #4 » by **burn1down** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:58 pm

Snayr wrote:Now that they are receiving goaltending, and their young ones are developing nicely the Hawks are going to be very good for a while. They're good now, and they're still going to get better. An insanely exciting team to watch.

Them and Boston. . .I could watch every game of either team a few times over. Just really exciting, fast, strong hockey

Post #5 » by **Mr Swagtastic** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 10:40 pm

Wings beat them 2 straight but the Hawks are a damn fine squad. Chicago fans have one hell of a future and core of Towes, Sharp and Kane and Seabrook could rivial Pittsburgh's top 4 guys.

Post #6 » by **timd1218** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 11:08 pm

Chicago is a very good team but they don't match up to Detroit or San Jose. Experience is a big reason why.

WEFFPIM · Post #7 » by **WEFFPIM** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 1:36 am

timd1218 wrote:Chicago is a very good team but they don't match up to Detroit or San Jose. Experience is a big reason why.

Yep. Right now the top tier in the West is Detroit and San Jose. The Hawks are leading the next tier with Calgary, Vancouver and Anaheim.

Post #8 » by **Snayr** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 4:03 pm

The only reason imo that the Hawks are still "2nd Tier" is only due to their age. They're a great young team, with a boatload of talent but they just have to mature a little.

sh00n · Post #9 » by **sh00n** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 6:15 pm

Chicago is going to be the scariest team in the league in 2-3 years, if they can keep all their talent on board and make the right moves.

Post #10 » by **timd1218** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 8:23 pm

sh00n wrote:Chicago is going to be the scariest team in the league in 2-3 years, if they can keep all their talent on board and make the right moves.

It is going to be next to impossible to keep Chicago's team together in 2-3 years.

Kane and Toews will be due a raise.
Versteeg is due a raise at the end of the season.
Seabrook's last year is in 2 years.
Keith will get a big raise at the end of next season.

Sharp at 3.9 million
Campbell at 7.1 million
Huet at 5.625 million

those 3 are their long term deals.

Right now, the Pens are having problems because they can't afford any good wingers. Chicago will have to jeopardize something on their team if they want to keep all of those players. Kane and Toews will get 7 million a season for their raises. Keith and Seabrook will probably get 5-6 million s season. Plus, the cap will be going down or staying the season, more than likely, for the next 2 seasons.

Post #11 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Fri Jan 2, 2009 8:55 pm

I am still pissed you guys stole Versteeg from us. Does Bochenski even play anymore? Last I heard of him the bruins traded him to ANH for Shane Hnidy.

I like the blackhawks. I am all for original 6 teams doing great, even the canadiens and maple leafs. I hope the Hawks can keep some of their young core together.

Posey H8er · Post #12 » by **Posey H8er** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 3:22 am

Detroit simply put knows how to win and they have amazingly good players. The Blackhawks have a lot of young talent but the 2nd and 3rd periods of the WC show how easily Detroit was able to take advantage of Chicago's mistakes.

SportsWorld · Post #13 » by **SportsWorld** » Sun Jan 4, 2009 8:42 pm

The Blackhawks do have Khabibulin and Havlat coming off the books this offseason and I don't think they are going to re-sign either one.

xJUICEx25 · Post #14 » by **xJUICEx25** » Sun Jan 4, 2009 9:51 pm

Post #15 » by **Crowned** » Mon Jan 5, 2009 12:26 am

Let's talk about THIS season...

Are they really 'this' good? Yes, absolutely. They've got youth, speed, depth, goaltending. They're not considered elite like a Detroit or San Jose by any means though. However, they may surprise many come playoffs. They'll be one of my few 'sleepers' in the playoffs this year.

In the future? They'll be down right scary. Let their young stars develop some more, and you've got some dangerous players on that roster. THEN they'll be considered an elite squad much like a San Jose.