2-4-T's Postseason Wrap Up

Congratulations to the 2013 Stanley Cup Winning Chicago Blackhawks.

And what a ride Game 6 was. With just one minute and sixteen seconds left in the third, viewers all across North America were settling in for what looked like yet another overtime period in this tumultuous series when, with Corey Crawford pulled, Bryan Bickell slipped a saucer pass from Jonathan Toews just past the glove of Tuukka Rask to tie things at 2. But no, the Hawks were determined. Just seventeen seconds later Johnny Oduya would fire a point shot that deflected off of Michael Frolik's stick and land in prime position for Dave Bolland to put the puck home and the game into the history books.

Parts of this game seemed eerily reminiscent of Game 2, while this time it was the Boston Bruins pushing the play in the opening frame and picking up the one goal lead. Chicago struggled to create any worthwhile looks and incurred three penalties before Toews would capitalize the second the Hawks' third penalty expired. After this point , Chicago would gain momentum and manage to keep pace with their host team and play through the vocal Boston crowd. And much to the chagrin of home crowds everywhere, the fifth Stanley Cup in six years would be passed to the visiting team's captain in an elimination game.

After the season that Chicago had, it's not much of a surprise to see them compete for and win the big prize. But the interesting thing with this team is that in between 2010 and 2013, they had a lot of salary to drop and some significant retooling of their roster beyond the core group of players. But this time around, they have 21 players locked up through at least this coming season, two unsigned Restricted Free Agents in Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy, and just a back-up goaltender to be figured out with a hair over two million in cap space to work with. One could assume that we won't see the same jettisoning of roster players this time around although key players such as Michal Handzus, Bryan Bickell, Michal Roszival, and Ray Emery are almost certain to be donning different sweaters in the off-season. And let's not forget the whispers of a compliance buyout potentially coming Marian Hossa's way.

In 2010, Jonathan Toews was first to lift the cup as captain and also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, the award bestowed to the player judged to be most valuable to his team in the playoffs. In 2013, Patrick Kane would return home with this particular piece of hardware. This award, much like the Hart Trophy in the regular season, seems to be a perennial "what have you done for me lately" award. I say this because, while his point and goal totals tied him for second in the league for the playoffs, Kane's performance was as streaky as any other wearing an Indian Head sweater this postseason. But as much as I would argue for Tuukka Rask to receive this accolade, I do firmly believe that this could be a milestone for Kane as far as his commitment to act as an adult on and off the ice.

As someone who has watched Kane since 2008 and is far too familiar with the headlines highlighting his antics, I was still in the camp that called for a trade the moment he scored the Cup-clinching goal in 2010. I also was highly critical of his performance in the 2011-2012 season when he shifted to second line center, even though this was a decision made by Coach Joel Quenneville out of necessity. After everything my adoptive organization did to regain its public standing following the Bill Wirtz years I wanted to pick this scab of poor image off the shores of Lake Michigan. But much like any prediction I could make for a season, a shot, or a series, I look at it in a "prove me wrong" mindset so keep a bag of salt handy if I ever come out with these thoughts publicly. Patrick Kane proved me wrong this season and even though he didn't produce up to his level of potential during the playoffs, he sure showed why he is an elite-level player when it mattered for his team.

It's tough to imagine what would have been had the lockout not scarred this season but in this sprint to the Cup, things could not have ended better for this league. We saw breakout stars in Montreal, an entire city come together in Boston, a rag-tag group in Toronto give the Cup runner-up a run for their money, persistence through injury in Ottawa , and the seeds of a shake-up in Buffalo.

We saw a team throw its chips on the table in Pittsburgh, an All-Star squad attempt to play defense while a team on the cheap decided losing wasn't an option in New York, an identity struggle in Philidelphia, and a struggle due to loss in New Jersey.

We saw a last minute streak out of Washington, a fan base who could troll with the best out of Winnipeg, a team trying something new on for size in Carolina, a pair of very tall men patrolling the net in Tampa Bay, and a stellar performance from a rookie in Sunrise, Florida.

We saw a team become the 40th to win the President's Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season in Chicago, a young team haunted by an old enemy in St. Louis, a group who lost key players to retirement succeed in Detroit, a team who has been counted out for years miss the playoffs due to a tie-breaker in Columbus, and growing pains of displaced defensive partners in Nashville.

We saw jovial moments between two goaltenders competing for one job in Vancouver, an owner willing to spend money for results in Minnesota, young players take another step in Edmonton, older players take a step away in Calgary, and a front office that realized it needed a change in Colorado.

And we saw top players sign to stay at home in Anaheim, a goaltender continue to astound us in Los Angeles, a roller coaster ride of a season in San Jose, an ever-looming relocation story-line in Phoenix, and veterans jump ship in Dallas for contending teams.

I don't always enjoy drama, but when I do I prefer the National Hockey League.