Chicago

Thanks to a flurry of fantastic under the radar moves over the past couple weeks, the Blackhawks might now be able to afford having Antti Niemi back on their roster for the 2010-11 season.

After watching a fun weekend of hockey during the Chicago Blackhawks ’ prospect camp, it’s easier to look at the talent the Hawks have in the pipeline and compare them against others in the organization.

Over the weekend, a number of things became clear.

Kyle Beach needs to grow up to play in the NHL.

He might need some time against better competition in Rockford before jumping to the Hawks.  Dominating juniors is different than playing against elite talent, much less professionals.

For every team there is an image. That image is molded from hard work and determination. The image leads to perhaps a Stanley Cup for one team every year.

While fans enjoy the first celebration in 49 years, the ladies of the "Ice Crew" have been celebrating for years.

While they have remained dedicated to a team that has had its ups and downs, one thing is certain: They brought the fire 110 percent of every game.

It seems as though the pain just keeps on coming for the Chicago Blackhawks, as the San Jose Sharks have signed second pairing defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to an offer sheet.

The offer sheet that Hjalmarsson signed is a four-year deal worth $14 million, a cap hit of $3.5 million.

Now the question becomes, will the Blackhawks match the Sharks' offer sheet, or do they just let Hjalmarsson go to their Western Conference foe?

In the wake of a flurry of departures in the last couple weeks, there are a lot of Chicago Blackhawks fans that are soiling themselves about replacing the players that have left or will be leaving shortly.

During the historic 2009-10 season, the Blackhawks finished the year ranked third in the NHL, scoring 262 goals (3.20/gm). On the other side of the ice, the Hawks allowed 2.48 goals per game, which tied for fifth in the NHL last year. This excellence carried over throughout the playoffs, and the Hawks are now champions.

When the upcoming NHL Draft arrives, there will be a lot of hungry teenagers hoping to hear their names called. There will also be a lot of general managers hoping to find a jewel late in the draft. These two groups of people will be excited to be in Los Angeles.

A third group might not be as excited.

The Chicago Blackhawks are the champions of the NHL. But will money force them to be a one-and-done team?

The short answer: No.

But there will be some casualties.

Patrick Kane's goal in overtime yesterday ended a 49-year wait for rabid Chicago Blackhawk fans and sent the city into delirium.

So why am I happy it's over?

For starters, I'm not a rabid fan of the team. I grew up watching hockey and I used to love the sport until a couple of generations of Wirtz's ruined the game for me and thousands of other fans in Chicago.

One of my best sports memories growing up was watching a Hawk playoff game with my dad. Facing the New York Rangers, Bobby Hull won it in overtime on a slap shot off the face-off.

Three Dog Night once told us that one is the loneliest number. For the Chicago Blackhawks, it is now the most daunting.

Confidence.

After dropping two games in Philadelphia and having a number of critical mental errors cost the team goals in both games, it’s easy to imagine that the youngest team in the league might be lacking for a little mojo. Coming home, though, the Chicago Blackhawks are still talking like the favorite that went up 2-0 at home to start the series.