Kane, Campbell help kick off Blackhawks convention

In the 21st Century NHL, organizations must do a million things pretty darn perfectly if they want to compete for a Stanley Cup each and every year.

They'd better scout, draft and develop better than most. They must trade for the right players at the right time. They absolutely need a coach who can do it all.

And last - but certainly not least when it comes to a team like the Blackhawks - they'd better be able to sign the right free agents for the right price.

Pulling that last feat off is something Hawks teams of 10-15 years ago never could have accomplished. But when a franchise completely changes its culture and wins three Stanley Cups in seven seasons, suddenly a veteran, puck-moving defenseman like Brian Campbell comes aboard and - WHAM - you've filled a gaping hole.

"He just keeps getting better with age," said coach Joel Quenneville as the Blackhawks kicked off their fan convention at the Hilton Chicago on Friday. "We're excited with what he brings to our team, how he can help us in a low of ways."

Campbell, who makes his home in Western Springs with his wife and two daughters, was the only player besides league MVP Patrick Kane to take the podium in front of media members in the Hilton's Waldorf Room.

"What an amazing pickup," Kane said. "He's just so dedicated. I've been training with him and he just buzzes around the track; doesn't seem to get tired. We know how well he can play hockey too."

After Campbell spoke, players like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marian Hossa and Corey Crawford came in to speak with reporters. Jonathan Toews, Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov will not be in attendance, with Toews absent due to a previous commitment.

Campbell looked right at home, spending about 10 minutes catching up with Keith and making his way around the room to speak with faces new and old.

Veterans like Campbell and newly signed winger Jordin Tootoo will often eschew more money for the chance to win a title. And when they can come to a team with future Hall of Famers that plays in front a packed house every single night, it becomes almost a no-brainer to sign.

"It's the atmosphere and the way the team plays, and everyone in that dressing room having each other's back," said Tootoo, who spent the last two years playing for New Jersey. "That's what the team's all about.

"When you have your core group of guys leading the way and you add a few pieces here and there that jump on board, good things happen. That's what we see in Chicago."

It doesn't hurt to throw a first-of-its-kind fan convention like the one at the Hilton this weekend, either. One of Saturday's highlights is sure to be Kane and Eddie Olczyk talking about Kane's record 26-game point streak from last season. Pat Foley will moderate from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

As excited as everyone was to see each other, there were still familiar faces like Andrew Shaw, Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell who are now on other teams. Shaw's name came up in almost every interview.

"He was one of my best friends on the team so obviously I'll miss him," Kane said. "He was such a great guy to have in the locker room. I'm sure you guys know that just talking to him. …

"When you're off the ice, that has a lot of importance to how you're preparing (to play) on the ice. He was a big part of that. Hopefully these young guys they can come in and fill that void."

Joel Quenneville certainly hopes so too. The Hawks' coach knows his team needs another greasy-goal guy, an annoying gnat of a player, a high-energy guy who lifts the play of all of his teammates.

Who will that be? Well, that's what next season is for, and we'll find out soon enough.

When it's all said and done, Shaw joins a long list of names who are casualties of the salary cap. The Hawks know they must move on, and believe they have what it takes to remain a force in the Western Conference.

Keith, for one, didn't sound too worried.

"I don't think there's any recipe for the type of team you have to put together to win a Stanley Cup," he said. "At the end of the day you all have to come together and you all have to be good players and you have to have good coaches. I think we have that.

"So we're going to do as best we can with whoever we have in that room … to make the playoffs and go from there. We always know what our ultimate goal is - to win the Stanley Cup."

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