The summer of 2013 has been a time for the Chicago Blackhawks to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The opportunity to spend the offseason with the Stanley Cup may only come around once in a lifetime for an NHL player. Those Blackhawks that were lucky enough to be on the 2010 winners might have an even greater appreciation for the 2013 prize.
No team in the NHL has won back-to-back titles since the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings. That mark could be in serious jeopardy next season as a more seasoned and mature Chicago team could very capably add another championship banner to the Madhouse on Madison.
Here are five keys to the Blackhawks chances of successfully defending the Stanley Cup in the 2013-14 season. No, keeping Patrick Kane away from the beer pong table isn’t one of them
1.Keep the Team Together
General Manager Stan Bowman learned his lesson the last time the Hawks won the title. The yard sale of players before the names were engraved on the championship trophy crippled the chances of a repeat performance. While there were some small-scale departures, David Bolland to Toronto and Michael Frolik to Winnipeg, they were designed to create cap space to resign Bryan Bickell. The core of the 2013 champions is still there, which is absolutely critical.
2. Avoid the Stanley Cup Hangover
It may be an urban legend similar to unicorns or Sidney Crosby’s playoff beard, but there is a certain amount of legitimacy to defending champs resting on their collective laurels. The Los Angeles Kings were sluggish out of the gate before recovering nicely to reach the Western Conference Finals. The Blackhawks only need to look back in time a couple of years at their own significant “hangover” in 2011 to appreciate the importance of a good start.
3. Keep Bryan Bickell Hungry
One of the breakout stars of the Chicago playoff run was power forward Bryan Bickell. By planting himself firmly in front of opposition goaltenders, Bickell racked up career highs in playoff goals and points. The big 27-year old had struggled to find a place in the Chicago line rotation before finding his mojo at just the right time. Bickell celebrated his Stanley Cup success by inking a four-year, $16 million contract and getting married this summer. Let’s hope for Chicago’s sake that the big guy can keep his game headed in the right direction.
4. Is Corey Crawford For Real?
No, seriously, is Corey Crawford really that good? Heading into this season Chicago was looking at a legitimate platoon between Ray Emery and Crawford to handle the weakest portion of the Hawks lineup. Crawford is now a Stanley Cup winning goalie, an Olympic roster invitee and the secure number one guy in the Windy City. So much for all that crack journalism about Crawford’s “weak” glove side, eh?
5. That Wasn’t the real Jonathan Toews in the Playoffs, Was It?
The captain was hardly the player we had gotten used to seeing for the first six years of his career. Toews was noticeably absent from the Chicago score sheet for large chunks of the playoffs. He finished the 23 playoff games with only three goals. There are any number of reasons that Toews was held (literally) in check by the opposition. He was also on the receiving end of some brutal hits and slashes throughout the postseason. With a summer to bask in his second Stanley Cup, let’s hope that Captain Serious will shake out any cobwebs and return to form.