Blackhawks Raise the Bar
Posted 7:16 PM ET | Comments 0
Last night, Hawk Nation endured the spectacle of the Red Wings and Def Leppard cavorting with the Cup. Today is a new day, last season is now officially declared over, it is time to drop the puck. Here come the 2009 Hawks. Here's hoping "One Goal" doesn't become a snarky Comcast Sports Night tag line for our offense.
So...from the perspective of a season-ticket holder raving from the last row rafters of United Centre, here are my main 2009 questions:
Will Kaner and Tazer avoid the "Sophomore Slump"?
My money says there will be no Sophomore Slump. Toews is team captain. He is said to be serious, dedicated, responsible and mature beyond his years. With the respect of the entire team behind him, he will stay focused on the straight and narrow. He will also be a role model for Patrick Kane, so I truly doubt their second season will be anything short of breathtakingly spectacular.
How will the embarrassment of riches/rich guys play out between the pipes? How did the luxury of 4 NHL-primed goaltenders become such a challenge?
With no intention of sounding morbid, netminder injuries will determine how this one plays out. I have no doubt every GM in the NHL has Dale Tallon programmed in as #1 on speed dial. Not being psychic, all I can say is a major injury to an opposing goaltender will elevate Mr. Tallon to a position of great strength. As long as Crawford and Niemi are patient and willing to keep their skills sharp in Rockford, this situation will work to the Hawks advantage in time.
Here's a season-ticket holder question: Can John McDonough go too far?
So far, he's batting 1.000. The Fan Convention, The "Tribute" nights, Pat Foleys' triumphant return, brilliant moves with hopefully more on the way. There is, however, a very fine line between a moving, personal, memorable experience and a circus atmosphere. Some of my fellow season-ticket holders share my prayer that United Centre does not become Wrigley Field South. Fans of a team brimming with skill, promise and Cup potential do not need the embarrassing sideshows and cheap gimmicks required by the Cubs to distract their fans from the train wreck on the field. I understand the need to appeal to the next generation of season-ticket holders. Most of us, at least in my corner of the rafters, came of age in a pure hockey environment. We have powerful memories of a smoke-filled Chicago Stadium, an organ, and a pristine sheet of ice filled with hopes and dreams. That's what we grew up with, that is what we know. I'm too young to remember the scoreboard with all the dials, but I sure remember the out-of-town scoreboard behind the west goal. For the younger fans, it was manually operated and had plates with all the team names on them, and the scores were slid in and out as they changed.
It comes down to two main factors: special events can be memorable experiences. At the same time, for example, having a "special guest" drop a ceremonial first puck each and every game loses effect and impact with each repetition. The other factor is that this Hawks team finally has the skill and potential to be the main attraction. For the first time in almost a decade, the team on the ice can, and should, be the center of attention and the main reason fans are there. Blackhawk hockey is no longer the side show it once was.
So here we go again, ChiTown. Playoffs are now an expectation, not a wish. We have both the best free agent defenseman and goaltender. The Calder Cup winner and the Calder runner-up are on the same team, often on the same line. Jim Cornelison has a great voice, but I hope we drown him out after every "Oh say, can you see..." Once again, Chicago is a desired destination for free agents and should regain the reputation of being the most intimidating city to play in. And here's hoping that a year from now, Red Wing fans are enduring the Hawks and Ministry hoisting the Stanley Cup to the cacophony of "Keys to the City".
At least that's how it looks From the Back Row.
So...from the perspective of a season-ticket holder raving from the last row rafters of United Centre, here are my main 2009 questions:
Will Kaner and Tazer avoid the "Sophomore Slump"?
My money says there will be no Sophomore Slump. Toews is team captain. He is said to be serious, dedicated, responsible and mature beyond his years. With the respect of the entire team behind him, he will stay focused on the straight and narrow. He will also be a role model for Patrick Kane, so I truly doubt their second season will be anything short of breathtakingly spectacular.
How will the embarrassment of riches/rich guys play out between the pipes? How did the luxury of 4 NHL-primed goaltenders become such a challenge?
With no intention of sounding morbid, netminder injuries will determine how this one plays out. I have no doubt every GM in the NHL has Dale Tallon programmed in as #1 on speed dial. Not being psychic, all I can say is a major injury to an opposing goaltender will elevate Mr. Tallon to a position of great strength. As long as Crawford and Niemi are patient and willing to keep their skills sharp in Rockford, this situation will work to the Hawks advantage in time.
Here's a season-ticket holder question: Can John McDonough go too far?
So far, he's batting 1.000. The Fan Convention, The "Tribute" nights, Pat Foleys' triumphant return, brilliant moves with hopefully more on the way. There is, however, a very fine line between a moving, personal, memorable experience and a circus atmosphere. Some of my fellow season-ticket holders share my prayer that United Centre does not become Wrigley Field South. Fans of a team brimming with skill, promise and Cup potential do not need the embarrassing sideshows and cheap gimmicks required by the Cubs to distract their fans from the train wreck on the field. I understand the need to appeal to the next generation of season-ticket holders. Most of us, at least in my corner of the rafters, came of age in a pure hockey environment. We have powerful memories of a smoke-filled Chicago Stadium, an organ, and a pristine sheet of ice filled with hopes and dreams. That's what we grew up with, that is what we know. I'm too young to remember the scoreboard with all the dials, but I sure remember the out-of-town scoreboard behind the west goal. For the younger fans, it was manually operated and had plates with all the team names on them, and the scores were slid in and out as they changed.
It comes down to two main factors: special events can be memorable experiences. At the same time, for example, having a "special guest" drop a ceremonial first puck each and every game loses effect and impact with each repetition. The other factor is that this Hawks team finally has the skill and potential to be the main attraction. For the first time in almost a decade, the team on the ice can, and should, be the center of attention and the main reason fans are there. Blackhawk hockey is no longer the side show it once was.
So here we go again, ChiTown. Playoffs are now an expectation, not a wish. We have both the best free agent defenseman and goaltender. The Calder Cup winner and the Calder runner-up are on the same team, often on the same line. Jim Cornelison has a great voice, but I hope we drown him out after every "Oh say, can you see..." Once again, Chicago is a desired destination for free agents and should regain the reputation of being the most intimidating city to play in. And here's hoping that a year from now, Red Wing fans are enduring the Hawks and Ministry hoisting the Stanley Cup to the cacophony of "Keys to the City".
At least that's how it looks From the Back Row.