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Something's Gotta Give



CHICAGO, IL -- This blog post might look a little different to you.

 Because it is.

 There's something we need to talk about, and I don't want to rehash this past week's games, honestly.

 Let me preface by saying that I do think there is still enough time left in this season to somewhat salvage it. I haven't lost hope.

 I do think, though, that it's time we talk about what's going on, because I feel like I've been beating around the bush and the Hawks have been kind of beating around the bush about this. The broadcasters don't seem to be holding back much (thank you Jamal Mayers and Eddie Olczyk), which I can appreciate.

 The Blackhawks do not have a systems problem. They do (and did) not have a coaching problem.

 This is a roster problem.

 It's no secret that the signings and trades in recent years have been sub-par - the only signing I've liked in the past two or three years was getting Patrick Sharp back, and that was more for nostalgic reasons than anything else.

 You might say that this team should be a contender, and at the very least, a playoff team. On paper, sure, I could see why you would think that--you have Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brandon Saad, Marcus Kruger, Corey Crawford, Chris Kunitz, and Cam Ward, who have all won cups. Hell, I'm sure I'm even forgetting guys.

 This roster is stacked, and there's not much reason for them to be struggling as much as they are. I don't think it's a new coach, either.

 Winning just three of twenty games is unacceptable, and they know that.

 But at the heart of things, this is not a playoff team as it stands. At best, it's a team with a couple of stars who are trying desperately to salvage their season, some older Cup winners who are past their prime, and a bunch of new kids still learning the ropes of the NHL.

 Teams go through slumps. They go through bad years. The NHL, to me, is unique in that unlike other sports (MLB, NFL, NBA) there's rarely one single or even a few great teams that just dominate year to year. A lot of that has to do with the hard cap the NHL has to deal with, but it also means that the Blackhawks can't be good forever.

 We all knew this would happen. We all knew the dynasty couldn't last forever.

 It's just heartbreaking to see it happening in front of our eyes, with guys like Toews and Kane who still have so much hockey left in them.

 And it's hard to hear what other Hawks fans are saying. It's hard hearing what other players and organizations are saying. It's hard to hear what the media is saying.

 People talk, and blocking it all out is difficult.

 But, I believe so strongly in this team--specifically, in Kane and Toews. They are the heartbeat and backbone of this team. They have been since they won the Cup in 2010, and they will be for years to come. They will be enshrined forever as a statue outside of the United Center one day.

 And that's why the title of this blog is what it is. There's no reason for them to be in this weird slump. Something's gotta give here. Something will give. I'm not sure if it'll be enough to power them to the playoffs, or even to get them past second-to-last place in the Central Division.

 But, something will spark inside them, and something will get them going again. I've seen them do it. I've seen them bounce back. I've seen them down and out in the playoffs and somehow rebound to defeat Detroit in the Western Conference Finals. I've seen them come back and win Game 6 against Boston--they scored two goals in just seventeen seconds to win the Cup.

 This team can get back on its feet. I don't care if you don't think that. I don't care if no one else in the world believes that.

 I'm sticking around. That's what you do as a fan--you stick around for every win, every loss, and everything in between. You defend the hell out of your team in the low points, and you cheer them on at the high points.

 And it will pay off. This team has been through hell and back, and I have no doubt in my mind that they'll go to hell and back again if that means being a contender again.

 It might not be this week, or this month, or this year.

 But, something's gotta give, and it will. That moment will make the hardships, heartbreak and frustration all worth it.

 It just takes a little faith.

 So, I'll ask this again, as I do every single week--except this time, I really, really mean it.

 Are you in?

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