Hawks will truly be tested next season

Don't tell the young Blackhawks, but the pressure won't ever be less intense than it currently is.

It's the difference between want and need.

"They want it," Hawks coach Denis Savard said of his players' pursuit of the playoffs. "They're competing for it."

Right now that's good enough because the sense is this is the beginning of a long run rather than the middle or end.

The feeling permeated the United Center on Sunday -- before, during and even after the Hawks' 6-5 overtime loss to Edmonton.

"They kept battling," Savard said of his players. "It was a gutsy effort. They were down twice in the third but didn't give up."

Yes, folks, for now battling, being gutsy and not giving up are all that is asked of kids like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Dustin Byfuglien.

Hawks fans are so thrilled with Chicago's hockey revival that if their darlings merely belch, an encore is requested.

The atmosphere is almost like the Hawks are an expansion team -- little was expected, less is demanded, all is appreciated.

Yes, it would be wonderful if the Hawks make up their 5-point deficit to make the playoffs. But if they don't, well, "Wait'll next year."

Very little booing could be heard around the UC on this day, even when the Hawks failed on the power play, allowed a cheap goal or ultimately lost a point in the standings they could use.

Afterward, even Savard seemed OK with the OT loss. Not happy, just not ready to check himself into the boards.

You know, as long as the Hawks play hard … as long as they're still young … as long as the future remains bright …

"I'm thinking long-term," Savard said.

Presumably that means next season, whether the Hawks acquire valuable playoff experience in April or start the pursuit all over again in October.

By autumn, Savard won't be as patient, fans won't be as understanding and the media won't be as forgiving.

"I'm sure people are going home disappointed," Savard said of the loss to Edmonton. "But at the same time they know we gave it everything we had."

Effort, culture change and general progress have become this season's mission.

It's almost as if the Hawks and their fans went on a blind date a few months ago, then agreed to go steady, then became engaged and now are getting married.

But next season the honeymoon will be over and the Hawks will be expected to begin providing some form of happily-ever-after.

That's when expectations grow, victories must grow with them and the real pressure begins.

The impression is that Savard doesn't want to stress out his youngsters just yet. Better that they enjoy the journey for now.

To their credit, the players are responding. They won nine of their last 14 games and earned points in 12 of their last 16.

The Hawks clearly are playing like they want to qualify for the playoffs and just might if they keep playing hard over the season's final 12 games.

But when you want to win, the pressure isn't as intense as when you need to win.

So again, don't tell the young Hawks that they can expect the heat to rise along with the expectations next season.

mimrem@dailyherald.com