How Does the LOADED Central Division Affect the Chicago Blackhawks Future Playoff Hopes?

How Does the LOADED Central Division Affect the Chicago Blackhawks Future Playoff Hopes?

The central division in the NHL was already stacked. Then the Minnesota Wild went out and got Quinn Hughes. Three of the top four teams are from the Central Division. Want to talk about how great the division is, but also how it pertains to the Hawks and their contention window. If it changes the timeline in your mind at all, >> I don’t think so. I I I think you look at the teams and the ones that are at the top right now, Stars, Avalanche, Wild, you know, usually, you know, I know they’ve been without counter hleuck and it’s it’s hurting them, but the Jets are up there, too. those teams are like winning now. Like right now is their contention window that that they’re focused on on the now. And that’s the the wild with the Quinn Hughes move is like, let’s get a guy who’s going to help us now and then if they figure out an extension, it extends the window a little bit. But they gave up a young NHL guy in in Marco Rossy. They gave up Ze Buham who’s they just drafted uh and was turning into a stud and and another, you know, former first round pick was part of that in Lee Mgrim. they’re giving up, you know, a little bit of the now and future for an upgrade in the now. So, I mean, you look at the teams that are that are contending and I I think their contention windows might overlap with the Blackhawks as if if those teams can keep it extended, but I think the Blackhawks thought for a contention window for sustained playoff appearances in Stanley Cups is it’s not now. Um but in 2 to 3 years I think is when it when it is opening and in 2 to 3 years I don’t know how much more uh the ABS stars Wild and and and Jets would still be at the top of the division. >> So you Colorado is the one that you know because you’re right Minnesota and making the trade did lose a lot towards their future and there’s no certainty that Quinn Hughes is going to resign in Minnesota. It strikes me very much that Quinn Hughes is a guy who wants to read re reach unrestricted free agency and if he ends up back with the Wild, so be it. But I he doesn’t seem to me like a guy in any sort of a hurry to uh sign a long-term agreement with anyone, frankly. Um but you look at Colorado, you’ve got Nathan McKinnon signed forever. You’ve got Martin Nate just signed a new deal, right? Uh start an eight-year deal he signed uh just a couple weeks ago. Uh Kale Mar has one year left on his deal, but there’s no way the Avalanche are letting Kale Mar walk. >> So that core is going to be locked up for a long time. I think it’s safe to assume that Colorado because they’ve got two guys that are gener generationally great in Mar and McKinnon, they’re going to be good for a long time. So they’re fine. Dallas. It’s a team we’ve talked about a lot in terms of we like that they have strong veterans and then as their veterans get older and their games change a little bit like Jamie Ben, like Tyler Sean, they’re able to refresh with more young players that come and improve from the back end. >> Mhm. >> Now, are any of those guys going to work out to be Jamie Ben level talents? We don’t know. You know, Jamie Ben had a 50 goal season, did he not? I think so. >> I believe close. He led the league in scoring one year with 87 points. >> Yeah. Yeah, [laughter] maybe that’s what I’m thinking of. Whatever it was. Uh but he he had MVP and um you know, who knows if those guys are going to turn into that level of star. They’ve got uh Miko Randon locked up for a long time. So that’s a good thing. But I do think like the Stanley Cup windows for those teams by the time the Hawks are ready to win, they may be closing a little bit. And I think there will be some overlap for sure, but I don’t see Dallas and Minnesota in the Hawks way for eternity. Like the Hawks were in the way of the Sharks and the Hawks were in the way of the Ducks and the Hawks were in the way of a lot of teams during their dynasty. I don’t necessarily see any team other than Colorado really >> in terms of Western Conference teams holding the Hawks back. Yeah, I think if you look at the projectable future for for the Blackhawks, they’re going to they’re going to match those teams. I think I don’t I don’t think this is a this is necessarily a situation where, you know, teams are going to fall off all that much. It’s more or less the Blackhawks are going to very likely rise to the level of being in the same breath as those teams as they’re as they’re talking about contenders. Now, there could be some fall off um you know, with with the Stars. they they may not might not be able to have enough of those guys come through, right? >> Uh and and and replace um you know, Colorado, >> like you said, like Nathan McKinnon, Kale Mar, Martin Natus, those are very important pieces. Um but they have one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL right now, and it’s hard to overcome that over over a long period of time. Uh especially with the, you know, markets of free agency and trades changing. Um, that’s going to be interesting to see how they can keep their contention window open when you would imagine like, oh, if we had first round picks, this is when they would start replacing some of the players that they might lose. Um, and and I think too, like you look at the Central Division and there it’s a there’s a big opportunity for the Blackhawks to start to um put some space between them and some other teams. I think the the the Winnipeg Jets are def out of the teams Avalanche Stars, Wild and Jets. I’d say the Jets win now mode is going to be the shortest of of the four of those teams. And I don’t really know if they have exactly the right prospect pool to kind of like reload the system. >> Uh and obviously you’re seeing a lot hinges on how Connor Halabuk plays. And even though yes, he’s still currently one of one of, if not the best goalie um on the planet, >> he’s 32. >> He’s getting older. Yeah. And and you know, the the core of that team is going to continue to to to get older. Nashville feels on the brink of a rebuild, right? >> And probably going to not have Barry Trotz oversee it. Uh the St. Louis Blues kind of feel stuck in the middle. like they have a decent prospect pool, but they don’t necessarily feel like they have the team that’s going to get them over the hump. Uh the Mammoth Arrows pointed up, that’s going to be one of those teams alongside the Blackhawks that I think in the Central Division are going to get into that conversation of these guys are going to make some noise in the division. Um, so I I I think it’s it’s it’s going to be interesting to see how those how those teams over the next two, three years materialize as we talk about like the prospects coming in for Chicago and how it stacks up in the division. But I think it’s going to continue to make the division a meat grinder as you go through the seasons. >> Well, and look, that’s what they’re that’s what the Hawks are preparing to face, right? That’s why Kyle Davidson has accumulated all the draft picks he can. he’s always trying to move up and get first round picks, first round picks, higher picks as often as you can get them so you can do your best to assure that you’ve got a constantly refreshing pool of young talent. Um, so I I think it look it’s it’s always a challenge to win, right? The Hawks had to go through through some really tough teams to win those Stanley Cups. They were able to do it. >> If we zoom in a little bit and look just at this year, I’m looking at the NHL standings. We already talked about how high up these teams in the Central are. I really can’t see the Cup coming out of the East this year. I I don’t see a single team in the East. And we always say Carolina, they’re right up there towards the top of the league. They got 46 points as the time we’re recording this. Um but I see one, two, three, four, probably five teams in the West I would pick over any East team in a cup final. Yeah, I mean your division leaders currently are Carolina and Detroit. I don’t I mean I I would trust Carolina over Detroit as far as you know who you would who you would favor. The other the other teams that are locked in in in divisional spots are the Bruins, the Lightning, the Islanders, and the Flyers, >> who do you trust, right? Like the Lightning, I guess. I guess the Lightning based off of, you know, track record and and and and everything. Capitals, Devils, Panthers, Canadians, and Penguins are all in all all in the hunt. But I I mean, Panthers, they’re the defending champions, and they’ve gotten to this point in the season where you expect Matthew Kachchuck will eventually get back soon. Yeah. That could maybe change a little bit of of how they’ve gone about this season >> and all of a sudden they’re right right there in a custom wild card, >> right? Yeah. Devils, I mean, they’ve been without Jack Hughes. I don’t know. It’s the the Eastern Conference picture is is is very uh muddy, especially when you consider that, you know, between the wild card and the top is only eight points. Like there’s still there’s still a lot to be be figured out. Whereas in the West, you definitely have your your halves and your have nots. >> Well, and from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the top of the Western Conference is as of right now 14 points. >> Yeah. from Carolina at 46 to Buffalo at 32. Like that’s just it is a very very tight and look like do you expect a surge from Toronto? They’re going to probably fire a coach >> if they if they had lost that game against the Blackhawks that the Blackhawks didn’t blow. I don’t know if Craig Bub uh I think his office might be cleaned out. Sure, but if he’s but if they lose again like they’re just if that if that was the case if losing to the Hawks was going to get him fired, they’re firing him. >> It’s just a matter of when it happens. So that’s how it feels anyway. >> Usually teams, especially teams that are that talented, we’ll get a new we’ll get a new coach bump. >> Um, >> you know, who knows what the Rangers are. I think they’re extremely mid >> um the Devils when Hughes comes back. But again, I just look at the West and the juggernauts of the NHL, Colorado, Dallas, Vegas, and I’m I’m now throwing to Minnesota Wild into that group. >> You have to >> um I think they’re better than any team in the East. Unless somehow Florida comes back, Kachchuck comes back fully healthy. I I just don’t know how you can go that long into the playoffs this many years in a row and still have any bit of energy left, >> right? But if any team in East is going to do it and take them down, I I would just have to say it’s the Panthers because they’ve done it before. They know how to do it. They know how to win in the playoffs. Um I just think seeing the way they started the year, seeing the health, seeing the age, it’s going to be a tougher cell for me this year. But um I think the Cubs coming out of the West, but I don’t think despite the, you know, acquisition of Jack Hughes for the Wild, I don’t think it changes the course for the Hawks. Does it make it more challenging? Sure. Especially if Quinn Hughes resigns long term. Uh that makes the the Wild a tougher team. But I’m still I still have full belief in in the plan they’re they’re executing right

Jay Zawaski and Mario Tirabassi break down the NHL’s stacked Central Division and what it means for the Chicago Blackhawks’ playoff hopes. With the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild leading the division, the guys discuss the challenges Chicago faces and whether the Hawks can climb their way back into contention.

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