On this weekend for disguises, the Blackhawks could masquerade as a hockey team that is finally ready to win the Stanley Cup. This task will require a lot of pancake, because the 33-year rebuilding plan since their last championship has some flaws.
But it’s early, which is one nice twist about the National Hockey League. The way the long schedule breaks, fans can wait until next year and still find themselves in the same season. Besides, those 106 points got the Hawks nothing except a round of handshakes last April after four playoff games against St. Louis.
The dynasty of the month now is Toronto. The Maple Leafs are 10-0 after stuffing the Hawks 4-2 Thursday night at the Stadium, but only two of Toronto’s victories in this league bloated by expansion have occurred against teams with better than .500 records. Coach Pat Burns speaks from experience in saying it’s not who opens the season with a rush that matters, but who closes well. The Hawks second the notion.
The Leafs barely touched the roster that came this close to the Stanley Cup finals, and it shows. Meanwhile, the Hawks have undergone considerable revision following their calamity versus the Blues. Besides all the Sutters around the building, Hawks players appear in need of introduction to one another. That shows, too. The theme this year is “Remember the Roar.” But can they remember the names?
“We had to make changes to get younger,” says General Manager Bob Pulford. “It will take some time.”
Hopefully for Hawks fans, not as much time as it’s taking not to resolve the Steve Larmer situation. Management’s party line is that he didn’t express his wish to be traded “early enough.” Well, now, come on. The Hawks certainly were eliminated from the playoffs “early enough.” On April 25, or 10 days after the regular season concluded. Larmer quietly submitted his request shortly thereafter, so we’re talking almost six months.
Had Larmer kicked and screamed, he’d be long gone and his consecutive-games streak intact. But he’s been a good soldier about this. Indeed, all volleys have been fired by the Hawks. Just recently, coach Darryl Sutter launched another in a series when he said it would take “three Steve Larmers to get a 100-point scorer” in return. And Pulford wonders why he can’t make a deal? Other general managers can read how his own organization has diminished Larmer’s value with loose lips.
The premise that negotiations have been stalled by Larmer’s desire for a pay raise has been deflated, too. He says he’ll go tomorrow for his current $850,000 salary just to go. Hartford, Quebec, anywhere, just to play. “This has never been about money,” repeated Larmer, who will take to his grave the reason why he will play anywhere except Chicago. It might have something to do with respect, and that carries no price tag.
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Pulford now has indicated he would consider paying Larmer more to return, and that is no small concession for this organization. Not one of the top 25 salaried NHL players is from the Blackhawks, among the most profitable franchises in professional sports. That will change when Chris Chelios autographs his new deal, but he’ll surely be affordable next season when the team moves across the street to the Sutter Center.
Meanwhile, the Leafs look like a formidable foe in the Central Division. The Hawks outshot Toronto 48-24 Thursday night, but by no means dominated. The Leafs keep a chart on quality chances, and Chicago had 19 to their 16. The Leafs are sound defensively, positionally strong and they’ve got a terrific goalkeeper in Felix Potvin. He neither yields nor faces many rebounds. One hand washes the other when you’re on a roll such as theirs, and it doesn’t hurt when you can score on a brutal turnover like Stephane Matteau’s, which gift-wrapped Toronto’s fourth goal.
But the Hawks, already 10 points out of first place, needn’t panic. Why, they even have an extra hour this weekend to decide whom they want to be. Trick or treat.