Four seasons ago, the Chicago Blackhawks were on top of the world, having just hoisted their third Stanley Cup in six seasons. They were a power house, a force to be reckoned with.
Two seasons ago, the Chicago Blackhawks held not only the best record in the Central Division, but the best record in all of the Western Conference. Hopes were high, but disappointment was higher after being swept out of the first round by the Nashville Predators. For fans (especially young ones), things couldn’t get much worse. With their roster at the time, the Hawks seemed to be a shoe-in to the playoffs every year, so a first round sweep was devastating.