What a Difference 10 Years Can Make

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

This morning, the city of Chicago is waking up and trying to shake off the effects of last night's Stanley Cup party courtesy of their Chicago Blackhawks, who are now champions for the third time since 2010.  To appreciate just how far the Blackhawks have come since the lockout, let's go back to this time 10 years ago.

The NHL Lockout had just ended after it had wiped out the entire 2004-05 season, and there was a lottery to determine who would draft where.  The Blackhawks would draft seventh, and they would take Jack Skille that year.  However, like every Draft between that year and 2000, save for one, the pick would not pan out the way the Blackhawks had hoped.  The seeds of what would become would actually begin in December of 2005, when they would trade for Patrick Sharp, who gave the Blackhawks a legitimate threat for 30 goals a year.  However, the Blackhawks would still be gasping for air, as they would end up with the third overall pick in 2006 and the first overall pick in 2007.  These were picks the Blackhawks would actually get right, as those players are now integral to everything they do.  Jonathan Toews (2006) would become captain after his rookie season in 2008 and be their best all-around player while Patrick Kane (2007) is now their most dynamic player.  However, it is important to not overlook the contributions of the supporting cast, as Niklas Hjalmarsson, a fourth-round pick in 2005, has played a key role behind the top duo of Brent Seabrook (2003 first round pick) and this year's Conn Smythe winner Duncan Keith (2002 second-round pick).  Then, there's Corey Crawford, who may have shown his shakiness at times, such as the first round series against Nashville this year, but like every great player, showed that he can put the bad outings behind him and play great when his team needs him the most, particularly in the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.

The challenge of maneuvering the salary cap for next season looms for the Blackhawks, as they are likely having no choice but to move key support players, but it is nothing new for the Blackhawks, as they've survived even as they were forced to say goodbye to players such as Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, and Antti Niemi after 2010, and Michael Frolik and Dave Bolland after 2013.  These challenges are a far better welcome for a team that would have been happy just to be competitive immediately after the lockout of 2005.

Celebrate this dynasty, Chicago, and appreciate just how far your team has come in 10 years.

2015 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 21-25

The mock draft is inching closer to the finish line, and the trades made during the season begin to have a major effect on who gets taken where.

21. Buffalo Sabres: Nick Merkley, RW, Kelowna Rockets

Merkley's lack of size is likely going to cause him to slide down some boards.  The Sabres, having already addressed the majority of their needs in previous drafts (except goaltending, but there's no clear cut choice at this point in the draft), take the best available player at this spot, which is Merkley.

22. Washington Capitals: Colin White, C, US NTDP

The Capitals would love to have a reliable center that can at worst handle the third-line duties.  Despite health issues this season, White projects to be in the mold of Patrice Bergeron, which is almost exactly what the Caps would love to have behind Niklas Backstrom.

23. Vancouver Canucks: Oliver Kylington, D, Farjestad

The Canucks' lack of foot speed on the blue line was exposed in their early playoff exit against Calgary, and there's no immediate help coming in the pipeline.  Kylington is the fastest defender in the draft, and the Canucks could use a player like him.

24. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Nashville): Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current Broncos

On my board, the Leafs took Dylan Strome with their earlier pick, so to that end, the Leafs need to have more players that are capable of playing both ends of the ice, and DeBrusk would fit the bill.  DeBrusk would also add a strong work ethic that is seemingly lacking on the Leafs in recent years.  Alternatively, if the Leafs take Mitch Marner with the earlier pick, they could look to Joel Eriksson Ek here.

25. Winnipeg Jets (from Buffalo via St. Louis): Daniel Sprong, RW, Charlottetown Islanders

Having taken a great playmaking center in Matt Barzal, the Jets could look to add more scoring even with Nikolaj Ehlers in the fold.  Sprong is the best scorer left at this stage in the draft.

NHL Mock Draft: Picks 16-20

Entering the second half of the first round, just about anything can happen, and I will most likely be revising after the full first round picks are made in this mock.

16. Edmonton Oilers (from Pittsburgh): Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John Sea Dogs

Conventional wisdom says that the Oilers must take a defenseman.  Oilers fans would probably riot if they didn't at this point in the draft.  Chabot, like his Saint John teammate Jakub Zboril, is a solid two-way player at this point in the development.  The difference is that Chabot has a higher ceiling for offense from the blue line.

17. Winnipeg Jets: Mathew Barzal, C, Winnipeg Jets

There's no denying that Barzal is talented enough to be taken in the top half of the draft.  However, it is possible that he falls in the draft.  The Jets don't have major needs to be taken care of and they have another pick in the first round to play with, so taking the best available player at this point, it's a no-brainer here.

18. Ottawa Senators: Travis Konecny, C, Ottawa 67's

Center depth is something of a concern in Ottawa, and with a player that plays in the same city like Konecny, the temptation is certainly there.  Injuries are a concern, but he's a willing player that will not give up on a play and is a likely heart and soul player that any team would love to have.

19. Detroit Red Wings: Brandon Carlo, D, Tri-City Americans

The Red Wings were sorely lacking in defensive depth before the season, which explains why they traded for Marek Zidlicky at the trade deadline.  Carlo is a player that the Wings can take time with, but the expected finished product is a tall player that opposing offenses would have trouble getting around that is also a right-handed shot.

20. Minnesota Wild: Evgeny Svechnikov, RW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

A big player that can score, Svechnikov can provide the Wild with much needed offense that for whatever reason, is lacking.

A New Age in Prince George

Yesterday, the Prince George Cougars unveiled a new look that will debut next season.  Before getting to what the new look will be, it should be noted that it is a culmination of new ownership, which includes ex-Cougars Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, showing a commitment to keeping the team in Prince George, as well as getting people to come to CN Centre for games with promotions not done by previous ownership.

As for the new look, the real change is in the logo, as the jerseys will largely remain the same.  As you can see in the picture above, the Cougars will don the logo on the front, and it is clever that they were able to incorporate the cougar into the negative space of the letter C.  The negative space in the C will change according to what color jersey the Cougars are wearing for a game, which means there is more of a split on how effective the design is on the uniforms.  The logo works great on the home black jerseys, but it doesn't quite pan out as well on the white uniforms, as the outlines, which are in white and gold, are harder to see against the background.

I feel like while the Cougars did a great job of moving away from their former logo, which was outright cartoonish, they missed an opportunity to make some changes to the jersey design, though the logo change actually improves the overall look, if only marginally.

2015 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 11-15

We are entering the middle of the first round, and just about anything can happen here.

11. Florida Panthers: Timo Meier, RW, Halifax Mooseheads

Florida needs scoring badly, and neither Nick Bjugstad nor Aleksander Barkov are proficient finishers.  However, either or both would benefit greatly from having someone to give the puck to for the finish, which is exactly what Meier can do.  It doesn't hurt that he adds size to a team that could use it.

12. Dallas Stars: Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia Sting

Calgary also needs size up front and could trade to this spot.  If Dallas stays put, they would get a big body that has enormous upside in Zacha.  The Stars would get a player that can step in if Valeri Nichushkin isn't 100% after a near-season long stay on the injured list.

13. Los Angeles Kings: Gabriel Carlsson, D, Linkoping

The Kings' blue line depth both at the NHL level and in the pipeline were exposed, and they need to rebuild that area quickly.  Carlsson is a start, and he would give them a physical presence that would in time, be what the likes of Willie Mitchell and Robyn Regehr were for the Kings.

14. Boston Bruins: Jakub Zboril, D, Saint John Sea Dogs

The Bruins are long in the tooth on defense, and they missed Johnny Boychuk badly last season.  Zboril can provide two-way play and a physical element to a team that could use more of it.

15. Calgary Flames: Brock Boeser, RW, Waterloo Black Hawks

The Flames would love to trade up for a bigger body (see: Zacha, Pavel), but they get to check off another need, which is a right-handed shot in Boeser.  The Flames can take their time with him, as he's off to North Dakota, and the expected finished product is one that can eventuall take Jiri Hudler's place when it's time for him to move on.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals

It's down to the last two teams, and puck drop is tomorrow night, so without delay, here is the preview.

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Chicago Blackhawks

It's been a long, strange journey for the Blackhawks, who were almost certain to be led in goal by Scott Darling after the first round, but along the way, Corey Crawford rediscovered his game and Patrick Kane looks like his old self.  They survived the onslaught of the Ducks' relentless hitting to make it here, and now, they look to make it three championships in six years.  The Lightning found a way to score enough goals against a tough Rangers team to make it here.  Led by Tyler Johnson, the Lightning are getting goals from everyone, which makes Steven Stamkos' relative lack of production easy to overlook.  Oh, and Ben Bishop is growing into a true big game goalie as the playoffs go on.

Prediction: Lightning in 7

2015 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 6-10

Picks 1-5 were made, and those seem to be near certainties, particularly the top three picks.  Now, we begin to play the guessing game with the Draft, beginning with picks 6-10.

6. New Jersey Devils: Mitchell Marner, RW, London Knights

The Devils were the third worst offense in the league, and there is no immediate help in the pipeline.  Though Marner won't answer all the problems of the Devils' offense, he will help out significantly, whether it is now or in a couple of years.

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Kyle Connor, C, Youngstown Phantoms

The Flyers looked old last season, and the center position is the weakest spot right now, though the blue line could always use another body.  Connor is likely a year or two away, since he is University of Michigan bound.  However, he answers the need for a second line center and was the best player in the USHL this season.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings

Besides better health, the Blue Jackets could use more defensive depth.  Provorov is a more well-rounded player than Hanifin, and though his offensive upside isn't as high, he can provide a highlight reel play, as he proved in a game against the Calgary Hitmen this season.

9. San Jose Sharks: Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS

The Sharks aren't getting any younger, and it's about time they start getting younger.  They could also go with Zach Werenski here, since they practically need to get younger everywhere, but I have them going with Rantanen, who is the most complete player available at this spot.

10. Colorado Avalanche: Zach Werenski, D, University of Michigan

The Avs were awful of defense last year, and they don't have a top player on the blue line.  Werenski has all the makings of a future stud defenseman, and he would effectively push both Tyson Barrie and Erik Johnson down to roles where they should be in time.