Being a Blackhawks fan since the 80s means you've experienced a range of emotions that few teams can match. From the consistency of the early 90s stunted by the 4-game sweep at the hand of the Mario Lemieux-helmed Penguins in 1992, to the incredible lows experienced during the end of the "Dollar" Bill Wirtz era of the late 90s and early 21st century. Hawks fans didn't stop caring about their club as they slogged and limped through those regular seasons, missing the playoffs again and again. No, they were forced away by one of the worst ownership groups in sports history, including being named by ESPN as the worst franchise in sports in 2004.
And just like that, rebirth. Bill's son, Rocky, took the helm, and with the addition of key players like Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, and the indomitable duo of Kane and Toews, the Hawks were not only relevant again, they were dangerous. It won them a Stanley Cup in 2010, their first since 1961, but the Hawks now existed in the Salary Cap Era, and what was a team with a promising future had to dump many of its prized assets, including key performers Antti Niemi, Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg. The core was intact, but many doubted the Hawks would be able to compete at the same level after so many crucial departures.
Last night, the Hawks won their second cup in 4 years, proving they are not only the best team in hockey, but may be the first dynasty of the Salary Cap Era. For long-suffering Hawks fans, this feels like a unwaking dream.
Congratulations to my Hawks, and to a truly scary and talented opponent in the Boston Bruins. Now here are some final thoughts on the 2013 season:
- Hockey players are the toughest athletes in all of sport. Period. In the finals alone, Patrice Bergeron played with a broken rib and torn rib muscles, Nathan Horton played with a dislocated shoulder, Marian Hossa had a disk issue in his back that caused him to lose feeling in his legs at times, Bryan Bickell played with a severe knee injury, Jonathan Toews played with an undisclosed head injury, Michal Handzus had a busted wrist, and Andrew Shaw was beaned in the face with a puck in the final game. Oh, and let's not forget that in the Eastern Conference Finals, Bruins defenseman Gregory Campbell played more than a minute on the ice with a broken leg. While players in others sports take days off with sore fingers, hockey players play full out with severe injuries - because it's the Cup.
- This Hawks season and subsequent championship may go down as the most dominant in history, beginning with their 24-game unbeaten streak.
- The Hawks were the first team to win the President's Trophy (for best regular season record) and Stanley Cup since the Red Wings in 2008.
- Speaking of the Red Wings, how good did it feel to come back in that series against our greatest rival and send them off to the Eastern Conference with a loss? That is a rivalry that will be greatly missed.
- And while the Red Wings were the model hockey franchise for about 20 years, the Hawks may now possess the blueprint on how to build a team in the Salary Cap Era. Keeping that core together of Kane, Toews, Keith, Sharp, Hossa, and Seabrook (with Crawford now maybe added to that core) has produced 2 cups in 4 years. In this age, with the playing field more level than ever, it's a hell of an achievement.
- Patrick Sharp is the most handsome athlete in the world.
- Patrick Kane is the 4th American to win the Conn Smythe trophy, but the last 3 winners have all been from the U.S. (Tim Thomas in 2011, Jonathan Quick in 2012, Kane in 2013). The previous American was the Rangers' Brian Leetch in 1994.
- Alex Ovechkin is the most undeserving Hart Trophy winner in recent memory. That trophy belonged to John Tavares.
- An argument can be made for Tuuka Rask taking home the Conn Smythe even after losing the Cup, but I think after giving up those 2 goals in 17 seconds, he lost his chance.
- Nearly every ESPN hockey analyst picked the Bruins in 6 or 7 games, proving once again that ESPN doesn't know a thing about hockey.
- It sounds crazy, but I am a little bummed the series didn't go 7 games. Just didn't want this one to end.
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