From Cradle to Cup: The Story of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks, Part 28

From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013 looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 28 looks at the architect of the Blackhawks, General Manager Stan Bowman.

Stan Bowman was born on June 28th, 1973, in Montreal, Quebec. His father is Scotty Bowman, a Hockey Hall of Famer and current employee of his son. Scotty named his son Stan in honor of hockey's greatest prize, the Stanley Cup. Stan joined the Blackhawks organization in 2001 as a special assistant to the general manager, a position he held for four years. The following two years saw Bowman take the role of Director of Hockey Operations before a promotion to Assistant General Manager, hockey operations. Finally, he took the top job on July 14th, 2009, replacing Dale Tallon, who later went to the Florida Panthers. Bowman was able to bring in Marian Hossa as his first big acquisition. The shining moment in Bowman's career came in December 2009, when he signed captain and star center Jonathan Toews, winger and superstar forward Patrick Kane, and all-star defenseman Duncan Keith to long-term contracts, enabling him to keep the Blackhawks core together for many years. Later in the season, Bowman was at the helm of the 2010 Stanley Cup champions, although it was a team largely constructed by his predecessor, Tallon. The offseason proved rough for the Blackhawks, as approximately half of their roster was traded or went unsigned by the Blackhawks to shed salary. Bowman is also responsible for helping to draft Marcus Kruger, Brandon Saad, and Andrew Shaw, who all played roles in helping the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup again in 2013. Additionally, Bowman was able to bring in Michael Frolik from the Florida Panthers and shed the Brian Campbell contract to the Panthers in separate deals. Bowman again was put in a tough position regarding player personnel in 2013 after another championship, and this saw Dave Bolland go to Toronto as well as Frolik continue his journey to the Winnipeg Jets, while re-signing Bryan Bickell to a reasonable contract for his studly playoff efforts. As is often the case in investments, it will take time to see which of these recent moves ends up well and which may look sour in the rear-view mirror, but Blackhawks fans can have the comfort of knowing their general manager is competent at putting together a competitive team and can build a champion.

With that, From Cradle to Cup is over. I will be taking a month off to adjust to changes in life, but I will return in time for the Kontinental Hockey League season, beginning on September 4th. Thank you all very much for your support and I will see you in September.

From Cradle to Cup: The Story of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks, Part 27

From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013 looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 27 goes behind the bench to talk about Joel Quenneville.

Joel Quenneville, commonly known as Coach Q, was born on September 15th, 1958, in Windsor, Ontario. As a player, Quenneville was a defenseman. His career began in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, predecessor to the modern Ontario Hockey League, where he accumulated sixty-one goals and 168 assists for the Windsor Spitfires over three seasons and 197 games from 1975-1978. He stepped up to the American Hockey League with the New Brunswick Hawks for 1978-1979, playing to a line of one goal and ten assists in sixteen games before another promotion. He joined the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the twenty-first overall selection from 1978 played in parts of two seasons with them, registering three goals and thirteen assists in ninety-three games before being traded to the Colorado Rockies. In that deal, Quenneville and Lanny McDonald, future Calgary Flames great, were exchanged for Pat Hickey and Wilf Paiement. From 1979-1983, Quenneville accumulated another twenty-five goals and fifty-three assists over 244 games in the Rockies, and later New Jersey Devils, organization. Quenneville's 1983 offseason featured significant instability, as the Devils traded him and future general manager Steve Tambellini to the Calgary Flames for Phil Russel and Mel Bridgman. Then, just fifteen days later, the Flames flipped him to the Hartford Whalers with Richie Dunn for Mickey Volcan. From 1983-1990, Quenneville remained with the Whalers, scoring twenty-five goals and dishing another seventy assists in 457 games. His career in obvious decline, the Whalers sent Quenneville to the Washington Capitals in exchange for money, and he was assigned to the AHL to play for the Baltimore Skipjacks. In fifty-nine games during 1990-1991, Quenneville scored six goals and thirteen assists in the AHL, and then in nine games with the Capitals, he had a single goal, the final one of his NHL career. His final season of professional playing came in 1991-1992, with the St. John's Maple Leafs of the AHL, where he had seven goals and twenty-three assists in seventy-three games. Over 803 total NHL games, Quenneville's career encompasses fifty-four goals and 136 assists. He returned to the NHL ranks in a coaching capacity in 1996-1997, joining the St. Louis Blues after working up through their system. Over parts of eight seasons, Quenneville was a largely effective coach for the Blues, keeping them well above .500 in terms of wins and losses. Quenneville coached Blues teams finished second in the division five times, but failed to ever reach the Stanley Cup finals, with the closest season being 2000-2001, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals. Quenneville went without work through the lockout, but returned to the NHL in 2005-2006 to coach the Avalanche for three seasons. While consistently producing ninety-five points in each of his three seasons, Quenneville's Avalanche never escaped the second round, and in his second season missed the playoffs altogether for the first time in his career. Quenneville was fired at the end of 2007-2008, but the Chicago Blackhawks quickly hired him as head coach, and he brought his winning ways with him. In the five seasons of work since then, Quenneville has guided the Blackhawks to two division championships, and two corresponding Stanley Cup victories, over the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Boston Bruins in 2013. While at times he has been questioned while at the helm, the Blackhawks' choice to stay with their coach has brought them much success in the past five years and will likely do so in the years to come. Quenneville received a three-year contract extension this month to remain with the Blackhawks.

From Cradle to Cup: The Story of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks, Part 26

From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013 looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 26 looks at the colorful superstar forward Patrick Kane. 

Patrick Kane was born on November 19th, 1988, in Buffalo, New York. He began his career with Detroit Honeybaked in the MWEHL in the 2003-2004 season, scoring to a line of eighty-three goals and seventy-seven assists in seventy games. Kane moved along to play with the United States National Team Development Program in 2004-2005, playing in sixty-three games with the U17 team and registering thirty-eight goals and thirty-two assists. Kane joined the U18 team in 2005-2006, and ended up with fifty-two goals and fifty assists in fifty-eight games played. His performance in the program and the North American Hockey League earned him an invitation to the World U18 tournament as a United States representative. In six games at the tournament, Kane had seven goals and five assists, helping the United States win the gold medal. He was named to the U18 All-Star team for his efforts. Kane joined the junior hockey ranks in 2006-2007, playing with the London Knights, but it was clear he was playing in a league under his talent level when he put up sixty-two goals and eighty-three assists in fifty-eight games during the regular season, followed by another ten goals and twenty-one assists in sixteen playoff games. In 2007, he was named to the Ontario Hockey League All-Rookie Team and First All-Star Team, and then named OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year. He went on to represent the United States in the World Junior Championships, where his five goals and four assists in seven games helped guide the Americans to the bronze medal. His performance here earned him a nomination onto the World Junior All-Star Team. Then, to top it all off, Kane was selected first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane made an instant impact in the NHL and skipped the American Hockey League altogether, playing in all eighty-two games in the 2007-2008 season for the Blackhawks, while posting twenty-one goals and fifty-one assists. For his efforts, Kane was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and also beat out teammate Jonathan Toews for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He also represented the United States at the World Championships, scoring three goals and seven assists in seven games, but the United States failed to medal. Kane maintained a similar pace in his second NHL season, playing in eighty games to the tune of twenty-five goals and forty-five assists in 2008-2009, including his first All-Star Game selection. Kane added another nine goals and five assists in sixteen postseason games. Unfortunately, Kane was at the center of controversy during the offseason in 2009, when he was accused of punching a cab driver in the face in his hometown after not receiving proper change. He was eventually charged of minor crimes and pleaded guilty to them to get away with only having to behave himself so as not to be penalized. With this story receiving much time in the news, Kane could have struggled in the upcoming season. Instead, in 2009-2010, he got even better. He played in all eighty-two games during the regular season, with thirty goals and fifty-eight assists to his name. During the season, he was selected to play with the United States in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and here he had three goals and two assists in six games as the United States took the silver medal. Then, in the playoffs, Kane had ten goals and eighteen assists in twenty-two games. This is, in itself, an amazing performance, but the last of those ten goals came against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, in overtime, and clinched the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory. Kane became the youngest person to score a Stanley Cup winner with the goal, ended the Blackhawks' championship drought, and had completely overcome his personal demons. Kane was also named to the First-Team NHL All-Stars for 2010. Now, in 2010-2011, Kane began a shiny, new, five-year contract worth $31.5 million. His first year under the deal saw him produce twenty-seven goals and forty-six assists in seventy-three games in the regular season, as well as one goal and five assists in seven playoff games. He appeared in his second Al-Star Game during the season as well. Kane's production dipped unusually low in 2011-2012, when he had only twenty-three goals and forty-three assists in eighty-two games, the third time in his career he played every game during the regular season. Again, Kane made the All-Star Game in 2012. In the playoffs, Kane managed just four assists in six games. With doubts looming both for Kane and the NHL season, Kane went over to HC Biel in the Swiss League during the 2012 lockout. He registered thirteen goals and ten assists in twenty games, and returned to North America at the conclusion of the lockout. During the truncated 2013 NHL season, Kane gave the Blackhawks twenty-three goals and thirty-two assists in forty-seven games, returning to the glory of previous years for his offensive numbers. Then, in the playoffs, two Kanes showed up. There was the one that struggled without linemate Jonathan Toews, and the one that was virtually unstoppable with him. Combining the two sides of Kane would result in nine goals and ten assists in twenty-three games as the Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four years. Kane would also receive honors as playoff MVP in the form of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Most notably in this postseason was Kane's hat trick against the Los Angeles Kings that propelled the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals. With a full season ahead, Kane looks to continue his superstar legacy in the NHL.

From Cradle to Cup: The Story of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks, Part 25

From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013 looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 25 looks at goaltender Corey Crawford.

Corey Crawford was born on December 31st, 1984, in Chateauguay, Quebec. He began his hockey career playing in Quebec's AAA Midget League with the Gatineau Intrepides at the age of sixteen in the 2000-2001 season. He had a line of twenty-one games played, as well as a 17-3-1 record, and a 1.92 goals-against average, including two shutouts. The next season, 2001-2002, Crawford played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Moncton Wildcats, where he posted 9-20-3 record in thirty-eight appearances while playing to a mediocre 3.74 GAA. Crawford took on a larger portion of the goaltending duties in 2002-2003, playing in fifty games to a record of 24-17-6, while adding two shutouts and a 2.73 GAA, before going 2-3 in six playoff games. Crawford was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks. He remained with Moncton for 2003-2004, appearing in fifty-four games while improving his numbers to a 35-15-3 record, 2.62 GAA, and two shutouts. In the playoffs, Crawford was even better in going 13-6 in twenty postseason games, ending those games with a 2.15 GAA. He was named to the QMJHL Second Team All-Stars, and was also named Defensive Player of the Year. The 2004-2005 season was his last with the Wildcats, and he supplied a 2.47 GAA with a 28-16-6 record in fifty-one games, as well as six shutouts en route to being named to the Second Team All-Stars again. In the postseason, he had a 6-6 record and a 2.73 GAA over twelve games. Crawford made the jump to the Blackhawks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, in 2005-2006, where he played in forty-eight games with a 22-23 record and 2.94 GAA, recording just one shutout. He was handed the loss in his only postseason appearance, but had played well enough to make two spot starts with the Blackhawks in the NHL, where he surrendered five goals. Crawford was returned to the AHL for the entire 2006-2007 season, and played in a career-high sixty games to the tune of a 38-20-2 record and 2.84 GAA, as well as one shutout. He went 2-4 in six playoff games, and held a 3.31 GAA in those appearances. Crawford spent a majority of the 2007-2008 season with the new Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, and played to a 29-17-7 record in fifty-five games, paired with a 2.83 GAA and three shutouts. The playoffs saw him go 7-5 in twelve games, with a 2.19 GAA, and earned him some time in the NHL. In five games, he went 1-2-0 with a 2.14 GAA and one shutout, his first win coming against the Anaheim Ducks. He was signed to a one-year contract in the offseason. Crawford then played another heavy season in Rockford in 2008-2009, with a 22-20-3 record over forty-seven games, including a 2.59 GAA and two shutouts. He played in his first NHL postseason game later that year playing in sixteen minutes of relief. Crawford again returned to the AHL in 2009-2010, playing in forty-three games with a 2.67 GAA and a 24-16-2 record, while notching one shutout. He suffered in the postseason, losing all four games he played, but still was called up to the NHL, losing one regular season game. Being buried on the depth chart, Crawford did not see time during the Blackhawks successful Stanley Cup run in 2010. Due to the salary purge the Blackhawks made after winning the Stanley Cup, however, Crawford was given an extended look in the NHL. Previously, Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi blocked Crawford's path, but with one heading overseas to the Swiss League and the other being too rich for Chicago's blood and signing with the San Jose Sharks, Crawford was able to directly compete for the starting job. At times he struggled to wrangle the job from veteran Marty Turco, but he ended up registering a line of 33-18-6 in fifty-seven appearances in 2010-2011, with four shutouts and a 2.30 GAA in the regular season. His performance earned him a three-year contract worth $8 million. During the playoffs, Crawford was 3-4 in seven games, with a 2.21 GAA in a closely played series with the Vancouver Canucks. Crawford returned to a full starting role in 2011-2012, playing in fifty-seven games again while earning a 30-17-7 record and a 2.72 GAA. Due to his struggles, he lost significant playing time to Ray Emery, but regained the starting role for six playoff games, where he was 2-4 with a 2.58 GAA. Crawford did not play during the 2012 NHL lockout, and came back with the starter's role for the 2013 season. He played a big part in the Blackhawks earning a point in twenty-four consecutive games to begin the season, and ended up with a 19-5-5 record in thirty games during the regular season, as well as a 1.94 GAA and three shutouts. Crawford and Emery shared the William M. Jennings trophy, awarded to the goaltender(s) who allow the fewest goals for their teams in the season. Despite the timeshare in the regular season, Crawford was given full control of the crease in the postseason, and put up a 16-7 record over twenty-three games, with a 1.84 GAA to guide the Blackhawks to their second Stanley Cup championship in four years. Crawford enters the upcoming season in the final year of his contract, which means he will be looking to have a big year to get a large contract.