Some hockey fans are thinking that the Blackhawks would be Stanley Cup favourites in a season or two from now and that their status as Cup finalists came a little early. Well their best shot will likely be this season.
Like the Penguins over the past two season, Chicago is loaded with great young players. Many will get better over the next few years. Unfortunately, like Pittsburgh, the Blackhawks will not be able to keep this team together. Over the past season the Penguins had to let move out some pretty good secondary scoring including Petr Sykora, Miro Satan, Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa.
Chicago has 14 players under contract for next season for a total of $57.5 million. Unfortunately the salary cap will be $56.8 million in 2010-11. So Chicago must somehow drop almost a $1 million in salaries but sign 9 more players. That means some massive salary dumping. Players like Patrick Sharp, Brent Sopel, John Madden and others may have to be moved with very little coming the other way. They are further handcuffed by large contracts given to Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell.
So this looks like it is Chicago's year. Unless those nasty Flyers throw enough dirt in their young faces.
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