Remember that rough offseason that the Blackhawks had? A star player punching a taxi driver, a president getting booed at a convention he created, a former player bashing the front office and a general manager getting demoted.
The final piece of that rough offseason puzzle was the announcement that prized free agent Marian Hossa needed shoulder surgery. Yes, the guy was signed to a 12-year deal and would make an impact at some point, but it just added to the offseason troubles. Well, now, this past summer is out of the minds of Hawks' fans everywhere. The team is in second place in the Western Conference, first in the division and riding a 7-game win streak.
Oh, and all this is happening without Hossa on the ice. He makes his return tonight at conference-leading San Jose, a team the Hawks beat in overtime on their recent homestand. It is very fitting that this 40-goal scorer returns for a game between the top two teams in the West, and you also have to wonder how he will fit in with this group.
Chicago was doing so well on the ice, that you almost forget they signed this guy in the first place. He will definitely make the team even better, and a line with Hossa, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane is very potent.
The main core of players is there and Chicago plans to sign Toews, Kane and Duncan Keith to contract extensions in the near future. This core led the team to the conference finals last season, and they were well on their way to another deep playoff run this year.
It was such a good group, that you never thought about Hossa not being there the first 22 games of the season. His injury was the final piece of a rough offseason, but now, he might be the final piece of their Stanley Cup hopes.
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