"Go ahead. Pick against the Blackhawks. Everyone else has at this point. There are as many stories out there now predicting the rise of other teams and the demise of the Hawks as there were when everyone chronicled the salary-cap makeover the team underwent this summer. Of course, the two are intertwined. The Hawks' depth and size took a hit with the losses of Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd. They lost a top-six forward talent in Kris Versteeg. Antti Niemi could potentially be a franchise goalie. Brent Sopel and John Madden were great on the penalty kill. Colin Fraser brought grit, and Adam Burish and Ben Eager brought fight. How could the Hawks possibly defend their Stanley Cup with all those players gone? ''The good thing about this team is that it's still a young team,'' said veteran winger Marian Hossa, who knows a few things about reaching the Stanley Cup finals after being there three years in a row. ''There is young hunger -- you can feel it." That hunger is just one thing to feel positive about regarding the Hawks. Let's not forget where the franchise was five years ago. Until this current group of players proves otherwise, the Kool-Aid should still be passed out in pitchers. Focus is crucial The toughest test ahead of the Hawks may not be establishing chemistry with the eight new players on their current roster. It will be focusing on the daunting task at hand -- repeating. The chemistry will follow. Perhaps, it will do the Hawks some good to place their $30,000 rings in safety-deposit boxes and to send the Stanley Cup back to the Hall of Fame." http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/2780588,CST-SPT-jahns07.article
Even though they lost players, they didn't loss talent.. Each area will look different, but the skill level is still close.
