What Hawks need to do to be one of West's elite teams
Three lousy points.
When the Zamboni fumes dissipated Sunday following the Blackhawks' final game of the season at Joe Louis Arena, that's all that separated them from a playoff spot.
Three lousy points.
It's of no use now to sit here and talk about the points that got away. Starting today it's time to look forward to what would appears to be a bright future for the Hawks.
Unlike the past few off-seasons, general manager Dale Tallon doesn't have much tinkering to do. There won't be 10 or 12 changes like last summer.
Tallon needs to add 3-5 players to what already is a good roster, but those moves are going to be critical if the Hawks want to be not only a playoff team but one that also can finish in the top four in the tough Western Conference.
Tallon has about $29 million committed for next season, which leaves plenty of room under the $50.3 million salary cap. And the cap could go even higher.
Some of that money needs to be spent on re-signing restricted free agents Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, James Wisniewski, Adam Burish, Rene Bourque and Jordan Hendry. The only unrestricted free agents the Hawks might want back are Jason Williams and Kevyn Adams.
That's still going to leave plenty of money for Tallon to spend in free agency on a top-end defenseman (such as Brian Campbell) and one or two forwards with size and skill.
Here are five areas Tallon and his staff likely will be examining closely in the weeks ahead.
1. Goaltending: This is not so cut and dried. The plan is to promote Corey Crawford and let him play 30-35 games next season behind Nikolai Khabibulin, leaving Patrick Lalime the odd man out.
But if Tallon can find a team interested in Khabibulin, he certainly would listen. Khabubulin has only one year left on his contract for $6.75 million, which makes him easier to trade than in the past.
Khabibulin will be 36 in January and has had to fight more and more nagging injuries. But if the Hawks are serious about being a contender next season, it might make sense to keep Khabibulin and hope for that one great year.
2. Power play: The Hawks might be getting ready for a playoff game with a better power play. It started out OK, but by the end of the season it had dropped to the bottom six or seven in the league.
Williams was adequate as a quarterback point man, and Cam Barker showed promise at times, but an upgrade is needed.
If San Jose can't re-sign Campbell and he gets to free agency, the Hawks will be waiting with a bag full of money. The problem is the price tag might approach $8 million a year by July.
3. Center: Jonathan Toews is the Hawks' franchise No. 1 center, but after that there is a hole at No. 2. Dave Bolland isn't ready or big enough to be the second-line center, and Robert Lang finished the season on the third line. It appears Lang's role for next season isn't clear-cut.
If Tallon goes looking to sign a free-agent center, the pickings are slim. The best of the lot will be Daymond Langkow, the Calgary Flames' 30-goal scorer who would be a good pickup.
4. Size: Hawks coach Denis Savard has made no secret of his desire for more size in the lineup. The Hawks aren't small, thanks to the additions of Ladd and Ben Eager to go with Toews and Byfuglien, but bigger bodies are needed if the Hawks are to compete with the biggest teams in the West such as Anaheim, San Jose, Calgary and Detroit.
5. More kids, please: Tallon is hoping two prospects from Rockford step up and make the club in the fall.
Forwards Jack Skille, Troy Brouwer and Mike Blunden would appear to be the prime candidates.
Of all the forwards coming up from the minors this season, Skille had the biggest impact. His presence next season would help fill the need for more speed and size up front.