Off-Season Game Plan: Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round for the second straight season.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at a talented, and nearly full, Blackhawks roster that, if healthy, still has reasonable aims of competing for the Stanley Cup.

While there are always roster tweaks that contending teams are going to make, perhaps the biggest issue facing the Blackhawks this summer is the status of star forward PatrickKane. (Notice I said forward, as opposed to right winger, since Kane played centre quite a bit last season and could end up in the middle more in the future.)

Kane's offseason has been marked by a notorious drinking binge that was all-too-public for the Blackhawks and maybe it will serve as a wake-up call for Kane, who is obviously very talented, but perhaps somewhat troubled too.

However, if the Blackhawks would rather not wait to find out if Kane will get his act together, he would obviously be a blue-chip trading piece this summer. His production would not easily be replaced, and many of the players that might be capable of replacing his production won't be moved, but if the Blackhawks are willing to trade Kane, there will be other teams prepared to roll the dice on a player with his skills.

Aside from Kane, the Blackhawks have to hope for good health going into next season. JonathanToews missed the last quarter of the regular season with a concussion and MarianHossa was knocked out of the playoffs with his own concussion. Their health will have a major effect on whether the Blackhawks are contenders next season.

On defence, the Blackhawks already have six players under contract so, unless there are plans to deal one of those blueliners, they may not need much more than depth additions.

Finally, the goaltending. While the Blackhawks expect better from their goaltenders than what they received in 2011-2012, both are under contract for next season. Either that means Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman will be busy wheeling and dealing for an upgrade or he's left to hope that the same players can provide better results.

Many general managers would readily swap places with Bowman, because he has a talented core around which to build, but expectations and some serious issues should make this a challenging summer in the Windy City.

The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- plus-minus, hits, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways, penalty differential and faceoffs. (Stats are listed in this format: G-A-PTS, +/-, PIM, GP). Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be 70-plus and the biggest stars will be over 80. EvgeniMalkin finished at the top of the regular season ratings with a 93.12.

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Off-Season Game Plan: Chicago Blackhawks