The Chicago Blackhawks won their sixth straight game on Sunday, overcoming an early lead by the Dallas Stars and ultimately triumphing in overtime. The victory pushed the team to 9-3-1 on the season, which is a good start for any club. It's a particularly strong beginning for a team with the salary cap issues the ‘Hawks have had over the last few years.
Yet the ultimate test for general manager Stan Bowman’s roster isn’t to be found in October or November. He’s been forced to make sacrifices in assembling his team, and despite the impressive record, it isn’t hard to find the impact of those painful decisions.
The simplest approach is to compare this year’s team with previous editions of the Blackhawks. There have only been two kinds of Blackhawks in recent years, and the 2016-17 group doesn’t fit either mold:
Successful Chicago teams over this span, without exception, have been strong even-strength clubs. Every version of the Blackhawks to enjoy playoff success has been dominant, both by goal differential and by shot attempt differential (better known as "Corsi"). They ...
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Article written by Jonathan Willis
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