2014-2015 Review:
It was another outstanding season for the Chicago Blackhawks as they won their third Stanley Cup in six years even though they finished fourth in the Central Division. They won their first playoff round in six game against the Nashville Predators, swept away the Minnesota Wild in the second round, and then took out the Anaheim Ducks in seven hard fought games in the Western Conference Final before they moved on to the Stanley Cup Final to face Tampa Bay. Patrick Kane was having the best season of his career and may very well could've won the Art Ross trophy award if he didn't get hurt towards the end of the season. Luckily, he came back just in time for the playoffs and played well.
New Additions:
Trevor Daley: The Blackhawks acquired Trevor Daley from the Stars in the Patrick Sharp trade. Daley has been one of the Stars more reliable defenseman over the years and he had his best year with the Stars last year where he had 16 goals and 22 assists to add up to 38 points. Daley will most likely be in the top four this year after the Blackhawks lost Johnny Oduya to the Stars. Look for Daley to be even better this coming season.
Artem Anisimov: Anisimov is coming over to Chicago from Columbus as a part of the Brandon Saad trade and they got a heck of a return for him. Anisimov has been a very good depth scorer over the years and his best season came in the 2010-2011 season where he had a career best 26 goals for the New York Rangers and he also just had another 20 goal season with the Blue Jackets in the 2013-2014 season. There's no doubt he will have a very good opportunity to notch another 20 goal season as he plays for the best team in hockey.
Marko Dano: This was the other player that came over in the Brandon Saad trade and he is pretty good. Dano is a solid depth scorer and is a great addition to Chicago's bottom six. He had eight goals and 13 assists last year and that's only going to go up due to that he's a young player and only going to get better.
Key Losses:
Patrick Sharp: Patrick Sharp really had no chance at staying on the Blackhawks going into the season. The Blackhawks were up against the cap this offseason and they had to dump a ton of contracts so that they could be under the cap. Patrick Sharp has been very good over the years for Chicago but he had a down year last year for them as he failed to reach the 20 goal plateau. He's getting up there in age but Chicago will miss his depth scoring especially in the playoffs.
Brandon Saad: This is the biggest lost for the Blackhawks this summer and it came out of nowhere. Chicago couldn't come to term and money with Saad and they did what they could and got something for him in return. Saad is one of the best young players in the NHL and they will truly miss his scoring on the team next year and in future years.
Kris Versteeg: Just last week, Chicago made another trade to clear some cap space as they dealt Kris Versteeg to the Carolina Hurricanes. Just like Sharp, Chicago will miss his depth scoring as he contributed 24 goals in his two years in Chicago in a bottom six role. Luckily for Chicago, they have this great cycle where other players will come in and take these players places. It's the circle of life.
Biggest Strength:
Wingers: Chicago's wingers are arguably some of the best in the entire league. Patrick Kane is one of the best players in the league and will play this season(if he doesn't get convicted for his sexual assault case). Then you have the ageless Marian Hossa who doesn't seem to be slowing down at all after another 20 goal season for Chicago. Marko Dano, Brian Bickell, and Jeremy Morin are others to name a few but Chicago has some very good wingers going into this season.
Biggest Weakness:
Goaltending: Many will seem shocked that I put this on here but the Blackhawks goaltending really isn't that good. Yes, Corey Crawford has won multiple Stanley Cups but he hasn't carried his team to either final. It's been Chicago's depth scoring and their clutch play that has got them there. Not to mention that their defense has been rock solid during each of their cup runs. It's a shame that Chicago has so much money invested into a below average goaltender or else they would have someone that can carry them if their scorers go cold.
Bottom Line
The Blackhawks will be back in the playoffs next year again and will contend for another Stanley Cup just how they've done since Toews was their captain. They may not win the Central division this year, but they will be a team in the playoffs that no one wants to play just like every year.
Fantasy Slant
Most Overrated: Corey Crawford
Corey Crawford has been the goaltender through two Stanley Cups but he has had moments during the season and the playoffs where he had a little meltdown but then his team was right there to pick him back up. He was only 12th in wins last year but he also was at the bottom of the league in goals allowed (126). I would stay away from him until the very late rounds incase you need another goaltender.
Most Underrated: Brent Seabrook
Brent Seabrook plays with Duncan Keith all the time including the playoffs and a lot of people don't give him the credit he deserves. He's a very good offensive defenseman and he's also a great shutdown defenseman as well. He logs up minutes for them and can be relied on in huge moments during big games as well. There's no doubt he will get a nice pay raise next summer when he's an unrestricted free agent.
Most Surprising: Marian Hossa
The way that Marian Hossa keeps putting up great numbers year by year just amazes me. Even at age 36, he's still putting up 20 goal seasons and just a couple years ago in 2013 he had a very quiet 30 goal season. If he's still available in the middle rounds of a draft, he needs to be taken because it will be a huge steal.