Patrick Kane #88, Chicago Blackhawks Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The development plan is in the works and appears to be paying off for the Blackhawks. However, this year should be about more than that, and no, the goal isn’t winning the cup. This year, Chicago’s top players should selfishly aim for personal records, as well as mentor the new guys.
Watching the game against Carolina on Friday, February 19, the contrast between where the Chicago Blackhawks are now, versus where they need to be was stark. Even in the press conference after the game, or as Paul Thompson at the Chicago Tribune said,
“The Chicago Blackhawks got a sobering reminder that for all their progress there’s a reason hockey pundits aren’t yet fully embracing them as playoff contenders.