From this pain, Hawks will gain

You learn nothing from easy.

Those were the words of a coach whose name I can't remember, and if I could I'd still want to curse at him for all the sideboards he had us do when our lungs were on fire.

But he was right. From easy, at least in hockey, you learn very little.

It's during the hard times that you get an education, not only in yourself but about those around you.

In the case of the Blackhawks, who have been so comfortable most of the season, this is the time that character will show itself, rats will jump, and the passengers will have to make a decision on which group they intend to join.

It has been interesting to watch Hawks employees and fans, who had convinced themselves they had a Stanley Cup contender at the trade deadline, now in hysterics, now recognizing instead a club that hasn't won a playoff series since 1996 - when Patrick Kane was in first grade.

For many of these players, it's their first time in an NHL playoff race, and they're seeing some of their teammates disappear, exposing the roster for its lack of postseason size, grit and veteran leadership.

They see teammates celebrating their own goals during games in which they're down big, and on the flip side they see those who care more about wins than stats.

No fan am I of the Dustin Byfuglien experiment - or contract - but when Byfuglien scored to make it close late in Tuesday's game at New Jersey, instead of dancing and fist-pumping, Byfuglien looked completely disgusted.

Maybe it's a bit esoteric or even a reach, but perhaps Byfuglien has bottomed out. One has the right to hope.

And while players learn about each other, relative newcomers to the organization, like Scotty Bowman, Al MacIsaac and Joel Quenneville, are getting a master's degree in the roster.

Through adversity, character is defined, and playoff-type games are separating the genuine from the phony.

Young players tend to think in terms of goals and assists in bad times. That's completely normal, but what they don't realize is this is the time they are judged by their peers and by their coaching staff and management.

So the time is long gone for being in love with the roster and refusing to sell high, losing assets for nothing.

There are some new faces involved at the top, and they are thinking long term, pondering who should get big contracts. And when decisions are made, you'll be able to draw a line back to this month of games that showed the bosses who the real men were and who ran from the fight.

So while uncomfortable to watch, this difficult period actually is quite healthy for any young club growing through the pain and trying to find the answers.

History suggests the Hawks should consider this season a success if they can win a playoff round, or at least make it a long series, while playing a second round would be a bonus and pay huge dividends in the years to come.

As we tried to caution before the trade deadline and through the best of times - as did the head coach, by the way - it's a bit early to be talking of Stanley Cups when a majority of the team has never played a playoff game, let alone won a game or a series.

But the good news is the Hawks are, in essence, playing playoff games every night this month, and though the results have been ugly, this will provide benefits down the road.

In the meantime, Quenneville - who Dale Tallon told me is the best coach the Hawks have had since Billy Reay - has the invaluable opportunity to break down the kids and build them back up, getting the ear of those players who make themselves available.

Tough weeks delineate, and those who don't fully participate in the program are making it easy for management, paving their own way out of town and driving the faithful to drink more than usual.

And yet, as soon as the Hawks win a couple of games, the panic will subside, all will be forgotten, and there will be talk of parades and rings again. Such is the nature of sports.

But as the Hawks progress over the next year or three, you may be able to look back at this month and know when they turned the corner and grew into a legitimate contender.

So, you see, easy is sometimes less than good, but bad is not always so bad.

Painful as the lesson was, and as it is today for the Hawks, there is much good that can come of it.

brozner@dailyherald.com