NHL

Blackhawks still chasing Stanley

LexisNexis Feed ChicagoSunTimes
Share This Story

Updated Nov 21, 2009 2:21 PM ET
     
 
You wanna talk about love/hate? Before 2008, diehard Blackhawks fans were babbling schizophrenics. The organization they cherished was such a retro-thinking, fan-unfriendly, half-witted and plain lousy sports franchise that fans (the few who didn't disown hockey altogether) would cheer (if the Hawks ever did anything good) out of one side of their mouths while cursing out of the other side. ''We were in the grudge business,'' said Blackhawks president John McDonough, who marks his second year at the helm today. ''People were indifferent to furious. Now they're at the curious to interested stage. We're trying to get them to be engaged.'' Even with all the success since owner Rocky Wirtz took over the role of team chairman on Oct. 5, 2008, soon naming former Cubs president McDonough as the Moses to lead the franchise out of the desert of dumb and through the sea of disgust, the mood with the Hawks is clearly, "We're not there by a long shot." NO CUP SINCE 1961 ''We haven't earned it yet,'' said McDonough, meaning authentic fan loyalty. ''Other fans have been watching their teams on [home ice] TV for years and years. It's like we're an 80-year-old expansion team.'' But, oh, the change from the recent and middle past. The Blackhawks always should have been a favored, high-profile, heat-seeking, big-spending, busting-from-the-rafters NHL team. They always should have worn their ''Original Six'' status like a robe of success. For puck's sake, they couldn't outplay or out-finance or out-something teams from Carolina, Tampa Bay, Denver, all of which won the Stanley Cup in the last decade? There is a quiet Cubs-like stain of failure on the Hawks because they have not won the league championship since 1961. To put that in historical perspective, 1961 was the year Robert Frost recited a poem at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. McDonough is oh-so-aware of the past. He and the coaches and players and office workers realize it's the hidden anchor that holds them from the future. Or they'd better realize that. THEY BELIEVE IN THE INDIAN As the Blackhawks routed the Flames in Calgary on Thursday night — sent off, like the Bulls, on the annual Circus Tour — the white jerseys with the Indian on the chest looked remarkably like badges of honor rather than the old shame. Anybody who has been in the Blackhawks locker room after games at the UC and has nearly stepped on the large, multicolored Indian logo on the floor will vouch that the symbol means something to the players. ''Could you be careful?'' captain Jonathan Toews, eyes blazing, said to me last spring when, looking high in a roiling crowd, I nearly, and accidentally, put a toe on that logo. Yet, like the old schizoid feeling, the exciting, first-place Hawks have won nothing. The stands are filled to overflowing for home games at the United Center, opposing clubs sell out their own ice when Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien and crew come to town. And the frenzy around the team has been jacked up to the near-hysterical level at home. Last year's Stanley Cup run was thrilling and deep. But nothing has been won. In almost half a century. Things were so depressing as recently as 2007 that there is a giddiness that attends every Blackhawks event these days. The McDonough-inspired Blackhawks Convention sold out in what, 10 seconds? ''We had only 3,400 season-ticket holders at the end,'' said McDonough, meaning two years ago. ''Now it's 14,000. So our fan base is brand new.'' Which is good and bad. The Blackhawks have the youngest team, the youngest general manager, the youngest captain in the NHL. ''I would argue we have the youngest staff, too,'' said McDonough (who picked them all). And that's almost certainly true — though nobody keeps such a stat — because the old wood has been discarded and new, fresh-faced, eager young kids are everywhere on the Blackhawks staff. They'd better be eager, because McDonough is an insatiable perfectionist — something that torments him at times — or they'll be adios. What I see when I look fairly at the Blackhawks is a reborn sports team in our fair city. But the bar is high. Very high. ''We don't want this to be a comet,'' says McDonough with his usual worry. ''We don't want people to say, 'Hey, remember when the Blackhawks were good for a couple years?''' So they have to win it all.
Tagged: Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews

Related Stories

Play Hockey Simulation Game on WhatIfSports


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NHL Videos

Highlights: TOR/PHI Posted: Feb 10, 2012
Watch highlights of the Flyers' 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs.

Highlights: VAN/MIN Posted: Feb 10, 2012
Watch highlights of the Canucks' 5-2 win over the Wild.

The Big House Classic Posted: Feb 10, 2012
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces where the 2013 Winter Classic will be he...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 159.95 Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey
    Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 124.95 Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey
    Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue
    Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 54.95 Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt
    Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack
    Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 159.95 Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey
    Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 54.95 Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt
    Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 11.95 Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick
    Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Jose_Sharks/browse/featuredproduct/700543/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_700000/ff_700543_xl.jpg&w=100 17.95 Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black
    Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 59.95 Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft