Finding the Bright Spots - Shedding Light on a Lackluster Season

CHICAGO, IL -- As the NHL playoffs kick into full-gear, I've been thinking about what my next post should be.

Some of my ideas are probably better saved for after the playoffs (did someone say 'goaltender interference mishaps?'), and some have already been done to death (Stanley Cup predictions, brackets--I have the Lightning taking all, by the way).

And, maybe this topic has already been done to death, too, but I'd love to just take a few moments to find the small slivers of light in this horrific Hawks season. Horrific might be a little dramatic, but what's hockey without the drama?

I'll first start off with that beautiful 10-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the home opener. I know in theory the game meant nothing, but it felt like it meant something. I mean, the Blackhawks, who were bumped from the playoffs in a measly four games last season, beat the reigning Stanley Cup champions. You could argue that the Penguins had played the night before and were tired, or that their shortened off-season had them worn out. I don't really care what the issue was--the Hawks went to town on them and it was kind of everything.

I think the best part was that the Penguins had to hear Chelsea Dagger not one time, not five times, but ten times in one night. For a league that seems to hate that song (and rightfully so), I'm sure that wasn't fun for them--but it sure as hell was fun for me.

We can't miss mentioning a more recent game as well--the Blackhawks managed to defeat the St. Louis Blues on April 4, which all but dashed the Blues' playoff chances. Even if they had made the playoffs, Vladimir Tarasenko was injured in that game, and that would have hurt the Blues drastically. I shouldn't be happy to see a team miss the playoffs, but in all honesty, when there's not much to play for, might as well make the important games count. If the Hawks can't make the playoffs, no one can.

This season also marked an important milestone for two of the cornerstone players on this team--Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. I'm a little disappointed (as they are) that the season went the way it did, but 10 years in the NHL together on the same team since day one is pretty special. There aren't many players who can say they've done that. This video just about sums up my feelings about that. (Hint: I have a lot of feelings.)

There were a few players that seemed to stand out this season in particular, and they deserve to be on this 'shining light' list because of the valiant effort they put into a rather dreadful season.

Alex DeBrincat has to be discussed here. He was a pivotal player in many, many games this season, and he did not disappoint. He scored his first NHL goal against Montreal in the fourth game of the season, he notched three hat tricks in his rookie season, and he became a media sweetheart. He's so hard to dislike (for Hawks fans at least--can't make any promises for opposing teams' fans), and I think he'll be a core player within the Blackhawks organization for a while.

This seems strange given his sort of lackluster season, but Patrick Sharp deserves a place here, too. Every fan I spoke with after the trade seemed so happy to just have him back--it felt like we were getting the band back together. He's always been a fan favorite, and I think the city was pretty devastated when he was traded to Dallas in 2015. He had a few spectacular goals this season that really did remind me of his Sharp Shooter nickname (see my last post for more on Sharpy's season), but I think his retirement announcement precedes all of his goals. It was so emotional to see him play in his last few games, but I am so glad his last season was with the Hawks, and that it wasn't a terrible season like he'd seen in Dallas, mostly due to injuries.

Scott Foster was just an accountant before March 29--now, he's basically a household name, as the Hawks emergency goalie who filled in when both Blackhawks goalies were injured that night. Anton Forsberg was injured in warm ups (with an injury that would take him out for the remainder of the season), and Collin Delia had to leave the game due to an injury as well. That left just one person for the job--and with the Hawks leading the Jets 6-2, I was kind of expecting the worst. I was expecting this guy (who only played in a beer league) to come in and blow the lead for us. But, no, he made 7 saves against the Winnipeg Jets, arguably one of the best teams in the Western Conference this season, and ended up a hometown hero. He even stopped a Patrik Laine shot, which many starting goalies can't even do. That night was so fun, and it definitely brought some light into a sad season.

I'm sure there are players I'm forgetting--there are some honorable mentions, like Jonathan Toews, Jeff Glass, among others. I'm sure there are moments and milestones I'm overlooking, too. For as terrible as this season may have been, there were an unbelievable amount of moments and players that made it just a little better.

While the last half of this season was rather painful, it reminded me why I'm a Hawks fan. I don't care about the wins and losses at the end of the day--in the moment I may care too much, but when it comes down to it, I don't.

I care about the little things that this team does to bring me joy. The players, who do everything for the fans; the amazing plays that have me on the edge of my seat; the milestones that make my heart full; and the nights where the impossible seem possible, for just sixty minutes.

For me, that was enough this season. It may not be enough for some fans who might jump ship, but I can say with certainty that I'm staying the course. I've made a commitment to this team, just as they've made a commitment to their fans, and I don't go back on commitments.

It's going to be a long off-season, but I'm here to stay.

Are you?