Verdict: Hawks won't repeat

The Daily Herald asked some of the most respected hockey writers in North America to assess the Blackhawks' chances of repeating as Stanley Cup champion.

Here's what they had to say:

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal: “Hawks gutted their support staff but still have a great core. Only 50-50 they can repeat, though, because it hasn't been done since Detroit 13 years ago, and the longer you go in the playoffs, the shorter the off-season is. Also, the West is twice as hard to get out of as the East.Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch: #8220;The Hawks have enough top-end talent to win, but the NHL's salary cap gutted them of their awesome depth and shrunk their margin for error. Unless goaltender Marty Turco is invigorated by a fresh start and a solid grade better than Huet and Niemi last season Hawks will be hard-pressed to repeat.Michael Russo, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: #8220;No (repeat). Stan Bowman did a wonderful job keeping the core together, but the Blackhawks lost too many integral role players needed for those dog days of the postseason.Randy Sportak, Calgary Sun: #8220;Can they repeat? Yes. Will they repeat? Hard to say. Last year's team was so loaded with talent it was an easy preseason choice. So much depth is gone and Marty Turco in goal is a question mark. The Hawks are in a big group of contenders this year, a season when there's no forerunner.Ken Campbell, The Hockey News: #8220;I don't think the Hawks will repeat and it has nothing to do with the fact they've lost eight roster players. No team has repeated as a Cup champion since 1998. Will they be a perennial Stanley Cup contender for the next decade? You bet. Will they win another Cup at some point? Probably. I just don't think it will be this season.Adrian Dater, Denver Post: #8220;Sorry, no repeat. Having covered two Cup winners here myself, you're always surprised at the little hangover aspects that can creep in the next year. And the Hawks just lost too many quality spare parts.Mike Zeisberger, Toronto Sun: #8220;Sporting the NHL's best defense corps and elite forwards like Kane, Toews, Hossa and Sharp, the foundation for another Stanley Cup run is in place. But can the Hawks make up for the loss of depth up front after solid contributors like Kris Versteeg were moved because of salary cap considerations? Is aging Marty Turco the answer between the pipes? These are the biggest questions looming over a team that is attempting a difficult, yet legitimate run at a repeat.George Johnson, Calgary Herald: #8220;Yes, they've lost a few of the components of their championship team, but the nucleus Kane, Seabrook, Toews and Keith are still around, and still young. Marty Turco can give the Hawks the required kind of professionalism in net that's needed on a team this good. Repeating is tough, but this team has a great chance.Jeremy Rutherford, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: #8220;I like the Blackhawks a lot, but I don't see them repeating this season. First of all, it's very difficult to win back-to-back Cups in the NHL. Not only will the Blackhawks be playing with a target on their back this season, but they'll also be feeling their way through all the turnover on the roster. But the biggest reason I don't think they'll repeat is the goaltender. I'm not close to being sold that Marty Turco can backstop what is otherwise a tremendous lineup with a terrific coach.Mike Heika, Dallas Morning News: #8220;I definitely think the Blackhawks can repeat. They still have tremendous talent at the top, their best players are only getting better, and the influx of a veteran like Marty Turco will help keep the hunger level high. However, the West is really tough, and my guess is that either San Jose, Detroit or Vancouver will get to represent the conference in the Stanley Cup Final this year.