Rozner: Aging Blackhawks knew they couldn't stand pat
The Blackhawks were seriously overmatched in the 2009 conference finals, when they outperformed their age and experience to get there, but fell considerably short against Detroit.
Still, something stuck out in that series.
Rookie defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was not only unafraid, but he was able to move his feet with the speedy Wings, looking completely comfortable against the defending champs.
Eight very tough years later, after so many miles, so many minutes and more blocked shots than anyone could have ever asked for, the gritty Hjalmarsson looked overmatched against a fast Nashville offense.
Oh, he was hardly alone. Not a single Hawks defenseman could claim to have been comfortable moving their feet with the quick opposition skates.
So there's no way the Hawks could come back with Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Johnny Oduya, Brian Campbell and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
No one likes to see fan favorites leave town, but the Hawks were old, slow and bad against Nashville, and while 2016 could be explained away, 2017 could not.
The Hawks and Wild were the only teams to lose in the first round the last two springs, and now a couple years removed from their last title, GM Stan Bowman could not justify bringing back the same team.
The Hawks had become a bit stale, and there will be considerably more life in the room with new assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson and defenseman Connor Murphy, who came from Arizona in the Hjalmarsson deal Friday morning.
Captain of the U.S. team at the recent worlds, the 24-year-old Murphy also brings youth, size and cost certainty. His contract is cheaper than Hjalmarsson's and runs three years longer.
Same for Brandon Saad, who returned Friday from Columbus in a deal for Artemi Panarin.
Saad is a year younger, much bigger and his contract runs two years longer at the same money. In so many ways a Marian Hossa clone, the 24-year-old Saad could play on any Hawks line, but figures to reunite with Jonathan Toews.
Among other problems, the Hawks were pounded in playoff series the last two years, but unlike in the past the Hawks were unable to skate their way out of trouble.
And when you're up against the cap as the Hawks always are, each move must be made with an eye toward the future. These trades at least give the Hawks the benefit of knowing Saad and Murphy will be here.
There's virtually no chance the Hawks could have signed Panarin again in two years and Hjalmarsson's long-term prognosis is unclear.
"We feel like we've pushed our franchise forward with these moves," Bowman said Friday. "You have to have a measure of youth in your lineup these days with the league getting younger and younger."
So the Saad deal was more than simply giving Toews an old friend to skate with again.
"We're not trying to look backward and replicate an old formula," Bowman said. "We're looking forward to having success as a team, and it doesn't have to be identical to the blueprint from before.
"Things change, things evolve and we have to do our best to look forward."
A wild 48 hours for the Hawks may be just the start of retooling a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations every year, but has won a total of just three playoff games since last winning a title in 2015.
As is always the case after an earthquake, it wouldn't be shocking at all if there were aftershocks to come.
brozner@dailyherald.com
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