The United Center opener is Wednesday night. Hockey fans have waited more than a year for the puck to be dropped. Tribune reporter Bob Foltman looks at 5 keys to the Blackhawks’ campaign and–gasp–a potential playoff run.
1. Khabibulin carries the load
To a man, the Blackhawks have raved about how much confidence goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin gives them. Khabibulin doesn’t mind having the pressure of the franchise on his shoulders. If he performs as he did in leading Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup in 2004, the Hawks will be a factor in the spring.
2. The kids are all right
The Hawks will open the season with six rookies on their roster. With the exception of defenseman Cam Barker, all will be counted on to contribute. If they can’t hold up their end, that will add pressure on the veterans to pick up the slack.
3. Eric Daze’s back is better
The big winger is hoping to play a full season, and for good reason. When he does, he produces big numbers. Perhaps the best pure goal scorer on the team, a healthy Daze makes the Hawks a better team, especially on the power play.
4. Hit the ground running
It’s hard to say the first three games of an 82-game season are important, but for a team that needs to re-establish credibility, it’s vital that the Hawks take advantage of the opening week, particularly with a four-game trip to follow. Falling too far out of the hunt early could be deadly.
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5. They’re special for a reason
If teams continue to struggle adapting to the stricter rules enforcement, many power plays will be whistled. The Hawks need to be smarter than they were in the exhibition season, taking fewer penalties and making teams pay on the power play.
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Hawks’ roster
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PLAYER SALARY
G Nikolai Khabibulin $6.75M
D Adrian Aucoin 4.0
D Cam Barker 2.842-*
RW Martin Lapointe 2.40
RW Eric Daze 2.28
D Jaroslav Spacek 2.25
D Jassen Cullimore 1.881
RW Matthew Barnaby 1.33
LW Kyle Calder 1.311
C Curtis Brown 1.254
C Tyler Arnason 1.20
C Mark Bell 1.064
D Brent Seabrook 942K
LW Pavel Vorobiev 859
LW Tuomo Ruutu 858
D Todd Simpson 600
D Jim Vandermeer 570
D Duncan Keith 550
C Jim Dowd 525
LW Michael Holmqvist 450
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C Matt Ellison 450
LW Rene Bourque 450
G Craig Anderson 450
TOTAL 35.266 million
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*–Includes potential performance bonuses that must count against the $39 million NHL salary cap.