On Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their ninth annual Blackhawks Convention, which came right on the heels of a very exciting week of prospect watching. They opened to a packed house with thousands of their fans in attendance.
Friday was primarily focused on the opening ceremonies for which fans waited in line for hours to catch a glimpse or high-five their favorite players as they walked the red carpet. For most, they would settle for a grainy picture from a good distance away, but a lucky few were able to line up along the catwalk for a bird’s-eye view of all of their favorites, past and present.
This year, almost all of the current team were in attendance with the exception of Jonathan Toews, Artem Anisimov, and Artemi Panarin. The team, coaching staff and a number of the Blackhawks’ alumni, including some of their most prized ambassadors (Denis Savard, Tony Esposito, and Bobby Hull), arrived in style.
While there was plenty to do all weekend long, there were some panels that always seemed to draw the biggest crowds. Anything that involved Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, or Brian Campbell was likely to be overrun within minutes of the doors being opened.
Campbell’s return has elevated him to rockstar status in Chicago with not only the fans, but the team and the coaching staff as well. No one appears unhappy with his return, including Campbell himself.
Campbell is a Happy Camper
As it is every year, it is always fun to watch the newest Blackhawks as they get their first taste of the fan base’s dedication to the team and players. However, the brightest smile of all this year came from ‘Soupy’ Campbell as he made his first public appearance back in the Indianhead sweater. Coach Joel Quenneville might have been a close second as he cracked a few very uncharacteristic grins at the mention of Campbell’s return.
Campbell was also one of the most quotable players all weekend as he is so enthusiastic about his second go around with the Blackhawks.
“It’s a family decision, but it’s also the best decision for me as a player.”
On the changes since the last convention
“It keeps getting bigger and better. In 2010, there were Blackhawks Jersey’s a couple of blocks out; now they’re everywhere.”
On his role with the Blackhawks this time around
“If it takes whatever, I’m here to do it.”
On getting the old gang back together
“Teams that are united and have fun together win championships together.”
In one of the morning sessions, coach Joel Quenneville discussed his desire to keep Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson together on the top pairing, which opens the door for Campbell to line up with a new partner (Brent Seabrook, perhaps) this time around after being paired with Hjalmarsson for the most part in his first run.
While Quenneville does love to employ his Q-sinart line blender often, there is a good chance with this group of defenders that he may just lay off the blue line once he finds the combination that works (no promises on the forwards).
Campbell should make that easier as he is eager to get to work, and is willing to skate with anyone Coach Q wants to pair him with. One thing is clear, for the first time in a few years the Blackhawks have the defensive depth to spread the minutes amongst all three pairs instead of sheltering half of their blue line with six minutes a game.
Marian Hossa is prepared to wear any hat the Blackhawks need him to wear in the coming season
Even this one.
For a long time, Hossa has been a staple on the top line with Jonathan Toews. But this season with an influx of young talent, changes are likely on the horizon. For many veterans, a change to the role they play can be a cause for concern, but Hossa (like Campbell) is willing to embrace whatever role the team and coaching staff needs him to play.
Coach Q made it clear over the course of the weekend how valuable Hossa is to the organization and expressed a desire to perhaps revisit a Marcus Kruger and Hossa tandem that worked well during the playoffs this past spring. Of course, the prospects will have to come out ready to take on a top-six role for Hossa to move down with Kruger, but it could occur later in the season.
Hossa’s skills are certainly not what they were five years ago, but he is far from a liability on either end of the ice. Whatever hat he wears next season, Hossa will leave it all out on the ice.
Happy Birthday Duncan Keith
Saturday was Keith’s birthday, and if you are kicking yourself for not delivering a birthday message, don’t worry. He was serenaded by about 3,000 fans multiple times throughout the course of the day. But the best birthday wish (apart from his family, no doubt) may have come from none other than Cammy (below left) from Keith’s #WhatsYourGoal spot. She came out onto the stage wearing a t-shirt with Happy Birthday Duncan on the front.
Another #WhatsYourGoal segment featured Ben (above right), and Corey Crawford. He was equally adorable as he showed that outgoing personality from the segment as he walked out arms raised taking in the standing ovation he got before walking right up to Keith and saying “Happy Birthday Duncan!” as if he’d known him all his life. It was certainly one of the more memorable panels of the day, and possibly the entire weekend.
Defensemen are smart
Of course, some of the best one-liners came courtesy of the Blackhawks’ blue liners. With the forwards nowhere in sight, their defensemen took a few shots of their own. Keith may have been the ringleader in this one, but everyone else was quick to get in on the fun as well, though some tried to take a more diplomatic approach (Trevor van Riemsdyk).
There were a number of ‘truths’ shared by the defensemen that were nothing short of hilarious provided you are not a forward on the Blackhawks (or any other team for that matter).
If there was a takeaway from the session, it was that defensemen are generally better, mentally tougher, and smarter than forwards, so therefore it is the superior position. Of course, this discussion was all in good fun, but the resulting conversation among the four panelists (Keith, Hjalmarsson, van Riemsdyk, and Campbell) had some of the funniest quotes of the weekend.
On playing both forward and defenseman like Dustin Byfuglien
“I used to play forward, but then I got smarter.” — Keith
“So, you’re saying Buf plays defense now?” — Campbell
On Crawford’s outstanding season
“It’s always good to know he’s back there cleaning up the forwards mistakes.” –Hjalmarsson
On players that no one likes to defend against
“Wasn’t that sad to see Datsyuk go back to Russia.” –Keith
“He’s (Hossa) so big and strong on the puck, and he’ll just stretch out and make you look stupid.” –van Riemsdyk
On the Blackhawks success executing the stretch pass
“Every now and then the forwards are actually in the right spots and then we lay the puck perfectly on their blade.” –Hjalmarsson
On blocking shots
“Pain is good.” –Hjalmarsson
“That hurts! I ain’t getting in front of a slapshot; that’s Corey’s job!” –Keith in response to Hjalmarsson
“I don’t know if you get good, you just get in the way.” –Tyler Motte (who was not on the blue liners panel but had a unique response regarding his shot blocking prowess)
On the addition of Michal Kempny
“I was told that I was his favorite player, so I like that.” –Keith
The blue liners on the panel had a full house in stitches for the better part of an hour with their off the cuff antics at the expense of the forwards and some old teammates from Campbell’s first stint in Chicago. Given the chance (here’s hoping it happens next year), the forwards will undoubtedly have their revenge.
Bond between Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin
While Panarin wasn’t at the convention, his presence was felt during the panel with Patrick Kane and Eddie Olczyk discussing the points streaks that the pair of American-born players put up.
Kane talked about his best advice to the Calder Trophy winner.
“Pass. Puck. 88.”
Apparently, that advice served the duo well as Kane had a record-setting year with a streak of 26-game point streak. It worked out pretty well for Panarin, as he topped nearly every rookie category and won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
Kane also shared the ‘odd couple’ dinners the two enjoyed when linemate Anisimov was unavailable to translate. While Kane swore it wasn’t awkward, that was difficult to believe as he described dinner conversation that was upheld by virtue of google translate and hand gestures. It’s a good thing that Panarin’s English is coming along.
Carrying the ‘odd couple’ theme a bit further, Kane shared that their communication on the bench often came down to four letter words and ‘no happy’ when the two didn’t see eye to eye. Fortunately, based on their successes, this was probably not a nightly occurrence, but it did often prompt laughter among teammates.
At the end of the day, the two had a brotherly bond that was prone to friendly bickering, but always supportive as was the case when Kane assisted on Panarin’s goal that helped Kane break Bobby Hull’s 21-game point streak as a Blackhawk.
Panarin flew down the ice to congratulate his teammate and appeared to be equally excited about the record-breaking assist for his buddy. No one was certain that Panarin even understood what was going on with the Golden Jet’s long-standing record, that is until he streaked up the ice yelling, “F you Bobby Hull!”
To anyone not on the ice it looked like a normal if not exuberant celebration between linemates, but for those on the ice it became a memorable moment as they learned that Panarin was well aware of the record that was on the line. If Hull wasn’t aware of the conversation on the ice, the cat was officially let out of the bag.
Perhaps Panarin should pretend that he still doesn’t understand English the next time he sees Hull in the underbelly of the United Center.
At the end of the weekend, everyone was scrambling to get home and return to their regularly scheduled Blackhawks light summer. But, as with every Blackhawks Convention it left all in attendance primed and counting down the days to the new season.
What were your favorite moments?
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