Conference Watch: Optimism high in Chicago

Thursday, August 21, 2008-9:44:pm
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Despite missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season and for the eighth time in the last nine, the Chicago Blackhawks don't look like an inept franchise anymore.

One of the league's most storied franchises appears to be back on track. Sporting some excellent young talent and coming off a season where they missed the playoffs by just three points, the Blackhawks believe they continued the momentum with a big summer.

"We felt we had to make a statement," GM Dale Tallon told NHL.com earlier this summer. "We've created a buzz in this market. We've started to sell more and more tickets, more sponsorships and we decided we'd try to make an impact to continue the momentum. Plus, we had to send a message to our young players that we're committed."

Chicago bolstered its defense by signing free agent Brian Campbell to an eight-year, $56.8 million deal. Campbell should boost the Chicago power play and provides some experience to a young, but talented Chicago blue line that already features Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

"That’s one thing we’ve lacked. Our power play has been really subpar the last three or four years and we needed to upgrade that," Tallon said. "He can log a lot of minutes and is similar to Duncan Keith with his feet, probably a little more offensive-minded than Dunc, but those two guys can play a lot of minutes.

"Now both of our defensive tandems have excellent speed and can get the puck out of trouble and up ice in a hurry."

And they added some intrigue to their goaltending position, which already features Nikolai Khabibulin, by signing Cristobal Huet to a four-year, $22.5 million contract.

How the Huet-Khabibulin goaltending tandem will work is anyone's guess, but for now the Blackhawks are committed to giving the two-goalie system a shot.

''Winning is the bottom line, and the No. 1 position to win is great goaltending. If you don't have that, you're going to struggle," Tallon told reporters in Chicago recently. "If it doesn't work out with the number of games [each goalie] plays or someone not wanting to be here, then we'll have a look at it.''

Huet and Khabibulin also eat up $12.4 million in cap space and right now the Blackhawks are just over the $56.7 million salary cap limit.  That could force a move as well.

The Blackhawks also feature what should be a strong top six forward group led by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, who are coming off superb rookie seasons that saw them each top the 20-goal mark. Robert Lang will be the No. 2 center behind Toews, and Patrick Sharp, who scored 36 goals last season, and the gifted but oft-injured Martin Havlat will also be slotted into the top six. Dustin Byfuglien, a converted defenseman, potted 19 goals last season while spending time at forward.

Andrew Ladd and Craig Adams, picked up from Carolina last season, are also in the forward mix for the Blackhawks this season.

Highly touted prospect Jack Skille, who had a so-so debut season in the AHL, is expected to get a shot at NHL roster spot this season.

The Blackhawks made a big off ice move too, luring Scotty Bowman away from the Detroit Red Wings and bringing him to Chicago, where he will serve as senior advisor for hockey operations.

"The timing could not be any better than it is today. To see the enthusiasm this team has generated is awesome," Bowman said about taking the Chicago job. "I’m really looking forward to getting this thing to where it should be."

And with some good young talent, solid goaltending and some key offseason moves, Talon believes the Blackhawks are well on their way: "I think it's clear to say that we stepped up to the plate and that our fans and the rest of the league now know that we'll do whatever it takes to get to where we want to go."