Blackhawks' hard work just beginning ... off the ice

If you thought the past couple of months were tough, that's nothing.

Now comes the hard part, as the Blackhawks will have to make some very difficult personnel choices this summer.

After losing to Detroit, they now turn their attention to unrestricted free agents Nikolai Khabibulin, Martin Havlat and Sammy Pahlsson, though their cap situation is headed from bad to worse, which complicates any thoughts of bringing back those veterans.

The Hawks gambled that they could win a Stanley Cup by keeping Havlat and Khabibulin, but having fallen short, they could lose both for nothing.

They also have restricted free agent Kris Versteeg (23) coming off a terrific rookie year, and he's sure to have GMs around the league pondering an offer sheet.

The sleeper is Dave Bolland (22), another restricted free agent who opened a lot of eyes around the NHL among those in the market for a center.

Both might be attractive enough to draw an offer sheet, and that concern might scare Hawks management into paying these guys more than they might like this soon.

That's what happened with Dustin Byfuglien a year ago, and the Hawks wound up with a bad contract.

Speaking of Byfuglien, you wonder if the Hawks are smart enough to shop him after a couple of good weeks that don't erase a couple of bad years.

Some players will have to go, though it would be easier if the Hawks could trick someone into taking Brian Campbell (Atlanta? Tampa?) or Cristobal Huet (don't hold your breath).

Troy Brouwer and Cam Barker also are restricted, and, while no one's likely to bite, can the Hawks afford them?

The only certainty is that after mismanaging the cap last summer, the Hawks can't afford everyone this summer, and some high-energy, UC favorites might not be back.

These are the kinds of tough calls the Hawks will have to make as they see the cap reduced a bit this summer, and a lot next summer, when they'll have to make room for the huge contracts of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.

There were whispers late in the season that because of the bungled cap situation they might be able to keep only two of the three a year from now, but that seems unimaginable.

If changes are made near the top in the next year or two, anything's possible.

Any way you look at it, the team that lost in five games to Detroit won't be the same team you see on the ice in October, and it shouldn't be.

As entertaining as this playoff run was, the Hawks displayed weaknesses that will have to be addressed before they have thoughts about a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

The biggest question is at the most important position, in goal, where they were very mediocre when it mattered most.

Part of the reason was their defense, which was exposed in the playoffs as slow and small when faced with an elite opponent.

After Brent Seabrook and Keith, both of whom had great years and great playoffs when healthy, there wasn't a Hawks defenseman who could play against Detroit's forwards, and sometimes against Vancouver's.

Barker and Matt Walker can't move their feet with players of that caliber, Campbell simply can't play defense, and young Niklas Hjalmarsson showed great potential but at least as of now can't handle the Red Wings.

Walker's another unrestricted free agent, and while coach Joel Quenneville likes his size and toughness, he may be a cap casualty.

The Hawks have proven they can scout and draft, but they've been terrible at managing the cap and leaving themselves options - it already cost them James Wisniewski - which makes the upcoming summer as important as any in recent memory.

What's certain is the Hawks will look different next year.

What's uncertain is how they will perform.

"We found out how hard it is to get this far," Jonathan Toews said before the conference finals. "You never know when you're going to get back here.

"You have to get some breaks and have health, and there just aren't any guarantees, no matter how young you are."

If their financial matters are managed properly, the Hawks could be positioned for a very long run near the top of the conference, with several chances to return and reach the ultimate destination.

If not, Toews' words could be haunting.

And the task in the years to come daunting.

brozner@dailyherald.com