Tallon has faith young Hawks have maturity to fulfill Cup dream

Dale Tallon's pride was showing as the Blackhawks' general manager stood in the dressing room Monday night, taking in all the craziness after watching his team oust the Vancouver Canucks in a memorable Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

A total of 10 players who participated in the heart-stopping 7-5 win were drafted on Tallon's front-office watch, including series heroes Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Troy Brouwer and Adam Burish.

On the trade front, Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Sammy Pahlsson and Kris Versteeg were key acquisitions by Tallon, who also signed Nikolai Khabibulin and Brian Campbell as free agents.

The Hawks may only be halfway through what could be a magical playoff run, but Tallon can't say enough about what already has transpired in the last few weeks.

"Yeah, we didn't expect this, but these kids are for real," Tallon said. "This is the greatest group of kids I've ever been around in any aspect of this sport, on and off the ice."

Now that the Hawks have arrived at the Western Conference finals in a Stanley Cup tournament that is up for grabs, there's no reason to think the magic can't continue right on through the next two rounds.

It's OK to say it. The Hawks can win the Stanley Cup.

"You sit back and why not dream, and dream big? Why not dream for it all?" defenseman Brian Campbell said.

"Yeah, I believe. You've got to believe," Tallon said. "I believe in these kids. They're capable of doing anything.

"But we haven't achieved anything yet. We're happy with where we're at, and we look forward to the next challenge. We'll get some rest here and see what happens."

The Hawks certainly look to have the makeup of a champion, whether it happens this year or down the line. It's a group that has all the talent in the world, but in the Stanley Cup playoffs it's not always the teams with the most talent that are left standing at the end of this two-month marathon.

"I think it's their impeccable character," Tallon said. "They're beyond their years as far as their composure and their intelligence. I don't think they're like any typical 18-, 19- or 20-year-olds. They're way ahead of their time as far as the mental aspect of it.

"Their maturity impresses me. Since we've been associated with these kids, since we drafted them, they've showed unbelievable maturity and approach to everything they do."

In Vancouver and Calgary, the Hawks have withstood the challenge of facing perhaps the two most physical teams in the Western Conference in the first two rounds. The Hawks took their hits like men, showing the discipline of a veteran team, and dished it right back.

"This team is a team that can play any style," Tallon said. "If you want to play it tough, we'll play it tough. If you want to play with speed and up-tempo, we'll do that.

"People underestimate how strong and resilient these kids are. They like each other, they support each other, and they'll go to bat for each other. It's really incredible to see and why we were able to withstand some of the physical aspects of these series."

Great teams win the big games, and so far in the playoffs the Hawks have won the biggest of the games, such as Game 5 against Calgary with the series tied 2-2 as well as Game 5 in Vancouver of another deadlocked series.

"They've certainly learned in a hurry," Tallon said. "I think (losses in) Games 3 and 4 in Calgary is where I look back where they really learned their lessons and have gotten better and better.

"Every big game they've come through in big style. It was great to see Kane and Toews come through (Monday), but that's why they were drafted first and third overall. They've done that all their careers and all their lives. Even though they're young men, they're really mature in hockey years because they know how to win and what to do in big games."

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