Disappointing End to a Good Season

NASHVILLE, TN -- It's taken me a while to figure out how to write this post.

I'm heartbroken, to say the least. I can't even really talk about the game, because frankly, there's not much to say except that I'm glad Jonathan Toews scored.

So, where do we go from here?

Honestly, I don't think this team sucks, or is a bad team. Inconsistent is probably a better word, and Patrick Kane sadly said it best last night: "Maybe we won a couple close games [in the regular season] that might have made us feel like we were better than we really were."

I think the Hawks did go into the playoffs a) complacent and b) overconfident. And those two together create disastrous results. But, I don't think they're a bad team. They just got overconfident.

Well, what do we have to look forward to this summer?

First, Kane has already said he's going to Worlds to play for the United States, which isn't a surprise. I'd bet Artemi Panarin will go for Russia, and a few other players will likely play for their countries as well. Especially since the NHL hates fun and nixed the Olympics as an option next season.

The Vegas draft is in mid-June, and they'll announce their roster at the NHL Awards at the end of June. Which, speaking of the NHL Awards, I do think Coach Q should be nominated for the Adams award. I really do. But, that's beside the point and not up to me.

(But, as soon as all of the nominations are out, I do plan on making a post here about my picks--I already have a few in mind with the ones that have been released thus far.)

I think the Hawks will benefit from another long summer, especially after such a bitter ending in Nashville. They certainly have a lot to think about in the coming months, and I for one cannot wait to see them back in action in October.

As for me, I'm going to continue to write posts over the summer, and I already have a few in mind, including my take on the Vegas draft (who I think the Hawks might lose), the NHL draft (who the Hawks might draft), my NHL Awards picks, any trades/signings the Hawks make over the summer, and preseason stuff once it gets closer.

So, we're in for a long summer. Let's do this.

EDIT: It's looking more like Patrick Kane will not attend Worlds this year, but Marcus Kruger and Artemi Panarin are likely. Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jonathan Toews both said they will not attend.