Chicago Blackhawks and the playoffs this year - How would they do?

[bobholly39]

So I was looking at the standings and notice that as of this posting, Chicago is 3 points out of a playoff spot with 1 game in hand. The west certainly seems wide open - so it feels like Chicago has as good a chance as any of the other teams in that vicinity to end up qualifying for the playoffs.

Unlike all those other teams - Chicago still has a lot of their core intact who had won those 3 cups, especially the big 3 of Toews, Kane and Keith.

How do you see their chances in the playoffs should they qualify? Vote for the option that most closely matches your opinion

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[SotasicA]

They won't make it. They should be sellers at the deadline.

 

[bobholly39]

They won't make it. They should be sellers at the deadline.

You're probably right. But the poll is less about asking if you think they make it or not - then it is about asking what you expect if they do make it

As 3 time cup champions, and with the West seemingly wide-open this year after St Louis, do you see them as a legit threat to go far/all the way in the West?

 

[Muffin]

You're probably right. But the poll is less about asking if you think they make it or not - then it is about asking what you expect if they do make it

As 3 time cup champions, and with the West seemingly wide-open this year after St Louis, do you see them as a legit threat to go far/all the way in the West?

They're a 4 game sweep for Colorado/St Louis, maybe they'll win 1 game against someone in the Pacific.

 

[hockeyguru]

any team that makes the playoffs could win the cup. i don't think they will thought.

 

[stl76]

Not going to make it.

 

[Hawkaholic]

If they make it, i'd expect a hard fought 1st round series loss. 6-7 games.

 

[Section88]

If they make it they wont go past the second round. But playoff experience for the young guys would be pretty big.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Think they’d be better to miss this year and get a good pick. Just can’t see them going far with that defense if they sneak in.

 

[wetcoast]

You're probably right. But the poll is less about asking if you think they make it or not - then it is about asking what you expect if they do make it

As 3 time cup champions, and with the West seemingly wide-open this year after St Louis, do you see them as a legit threat to go far/all the way in the West?

I took option #1 but they aren't a threat to go all the way, winning a series would be a good season for them and I expected them to be a wildcard team going into the season.

 

[tony d]

I went with Option 2.

 

[Teemu]

It's hard to see them as a serious threat, but they do have good goaltending and any team can be beaten with hot enough goaltending. That WC1 spot would also get them into the Pacific bracket.

 

[treple13]

Depends on which wild card spot. I don't think any Pacific team dominates them for sure

 

[COHawk]

They're a 4 game sweep for Colorado/St Louis, maybe they'll win 1 game against someone in the Pacific.

This feels accurate.

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

They're a 4 game sweep for Colorado/St Louis, maybe they'll win 1 game against someone in the Pacific.

Colorado isn’t sweeping anyone

 

[Tkachuky]

Colorado isn’t sweeping anyone

You’re going to hurt his/her feelings.

 

[Muffin]

Colorado isn’t sweeping anyone

Well you're not wrong Chicago isn't getting swept by anyone, you need to make the playoffs to get swept...

I take it you didn't watch any Chicago/Colorado game this year? I think Hawks fans would agree they weren't particularly close.

 

[Muffin]

You’re going to hurt his/her feelings.

They'll sweep Calgary if they actually make the playoffs. They almost did last year and they're a much improved team this year and Calgary has regressed.

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

You’re going to hurt his/her feelings.

It's common for people to overrate their teams. I'm here to put those people back in line.

 

[Regal]

I think they're too far removed from the cup teams to have any sense of the "know how to win" mentality. There isn't much left from those teams and Toews and Keith aren't the same players anymore. They're a poor defensive team who can have big offensive spurts but overall are average offensively, and they have good goaltending. If Lehner and their offense gets hot, they can win a round, depending on the matchup, as the west is pretty weak, but I can't see them doing much, or beating a team like St. Louis.

 

[biturbo19]

They're such an odd duck to project. They've taken that "dreaded" re-tool on the fly approach. So they've still got the absolute core of their "modern day dynasty" core around. A lot of it is driven by very young players filling out the roster right now though.

I could see it going either way. If they fall in behind the proven vets when the pressure is on...it could work. Or it could completely implode if things start to get tense and the legacy of Toews/Kane/Keith starts to overshadow everything, with players deferring too much to their experience and wisdom.

I think one thing that works in Chicago's favour here...is that their core "leaders" from that era are all very different types of personalities. In different places and roles within the team too.

There were series in the Hawks mini-dynasty, where a guy like Toews would basically barely score at all...but he'd totally saw off against an elite opposing line. I think he's probably still capable of that when the chips are down. It'd free up their younger "scoring players" to make the difference. But again...that difference could go either way.

 

[Mickey Marner]

0% chance of a cup win. Better off with a Lafreniere ticket.