Hawks can get to Finals even if they lose the West

By my count nine teams have a legitimate chance to win the Stanley Cup, and that's being generous when it comes to Boston's title hopes.

In the Western Conference the Blackhawks' challengers are Detroit, San Jose and Vancouver. The Los Angeles Kings need another year.

Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Boston have a shot out of the East. The Caps need to show they know how to play defense in the playoffs, while the Flyers don't have the goaltending. The Flyers never have the goaltending.

Making Stanley Cup predictions in October never made sense to me, but I understand it can be fun and entertaining.

My pick almost seven months out from the tournament is Pittsburgh. The Penguins have the experience, the threesome of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal down the middle, and a goalie who has won the Stanley Cup before in Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Pens also added two very good defensemen in Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek to go with Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski.

Repeating is so difficult in the NHL, but the Hawks have a chance if Marty Turco responds to the challenge, and if those brought in to replace all the depth that was lost can do their jobs.

I don't believe the Hawks will win the West, but I do see them as the best team in the conference come playoff time.

The Hawks have great centermen in Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland, and a top-four on defense that's the best in the league.

Make it a Hawks-Penguins Final Crosby vs. Toews with the Pens winning a series that goes the seven-game distance.