Dynasty is a forbidden word around these parts, but at this point it's hard not to bring it up, just don't do it in front of any of the members of the 2013-2014 Chicago Blackhawks. "We can't think about that, our goal is to get better every game" Captain Jonathan Toews said at the preseason media day at the United Center this morning. It's a Captain like answer but the fact remains, the Hawks have won the Stanley Cup two out of the last four years, and many experts have picked them to be in the picture at the end once again this year.
This is a different title defense this time around for the Hawks as they only had to part with three members of the 2012-2013 championship team, unlike in 2011 when there were more members missing than on the ice when the banner was raised to the rafters. The players that have departed this time around were important, but the coaching staff is confident they have replacements in house. "The guys that left are good players, no question, but in times like this you can't keep everyone, we feel that their departure opens the doors for some young talent to make a difference" Coach Q said this morning. He was referring to Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, and Viktor Stalberg as the players that have found jobs elsewhere in the NHL. Everyone of those guys played a role, and the Hawks feel that some combination of Ben Smith, Joakim Nordstrom, Jimmy Hayes, Brandon Pirri, and Jeremy Morin will be more than capable of replacing them.
That will be one of the stories to follow during camp which gets under way today, the other will be how the Hawks will respond to a very short off season, one which they will take every time. "It's easy to sit here and say that we didn't have a lot of time off, but no one is going to feel sorry for us, every other team wishes their off season was this short. It comes with the territory of being a champion, we look forward to having a short off season every year" Patrick Kane said. The combination of returning a nearly full roster, and the hunger of the younger guys trying to make a name for themselves could make this year another exciting one on the West side. If everything comes together I don't think we can avoid using THAT word around here anymore....
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