Niklas Hjalmarsson

The Chicago Blackhawks have been in a funk recently, and if that doesn't change, GM Stan Bowman could be making some permanent changes to the team's roster.

Inconsistent play, bad defense and all-around bad hockey from a number of individuals wearing a Blackhawks jersey explains the team's lack of success recently.

Although the Hawks have been struggling, there have been some players—such as Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy—who have made significant improvements to their game since the start of the season.

Niklas Hjalmarsson has been tossed around worse than a rag-doll all season long by Chicago Blackhawks fans. One day they love him, the next—he makes too much money and does not produce enough.

It appears the formula for the Chicago Blackhawks to win games is fairly simple.

Watch the plus-minus of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

Just as any business looks for ways to ensure profitability, the Chicago Blackhawks look for the same out of its players. Many risks were taken during the 2010 offseason, unknowing of what was to come.

It was simply the price to be paid of a long run to a Stanley Cup and a couple years of salary inflation.

The expectations for the Chicago Blackhawks were extremely high, and likely unfair, this season. The team was coming off a historic and exciting Stanley Cup win. Fans knew some players had to leave, but they still expected a contending team.

They didn't get one. 

The Hawks struggled early on, never able to permanently break the .500 cycle. The recent weeks have been favorable to the Hawks, but a 3-0 loss to Vancouver Friday night could only have frustrated the Hawk players. 

Antti Niemi will eternally be a piece of history; not only to Chicago, but to his native country for being the first Finnish goalie to win the Stanley Cup.

In Chicago, he helped bring the Cup home after a 49-year drought.  He was also part of the Blackhawks exasperating summer which allowed him to become an Unrestricted Free Agent.

It is common knowledge that Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has been shuffling his offensive lines in an attempt to change the club's recent struggles.

However, it's the changes on the defensive side that seem to be making a big difference.

What could've been another blown lead by the Blackhawks last Sunday turned out to be an exciting overtime win that could prove to be more helpful than the two points the Hawks earned as a result.

As of Monday the Hawks sit at 9-9-2, hovering  around .500. Nothing to be proud of really, but, while there are many odds going against the Hawks in the early-going, there might be time for optimism in the future. 

By locking up forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith to long-term extensions last season, the Chicago Blackhawks provided an early Christmas present to their fan base and sent a message to the rest of the NHL that Chicago is serious about building a perennial title contender.

This year, it's time to finish the job.

Brian Campbell will be back in the Chicago Blackhawks lineup for tonight’s game against the New York Rangers.

In addition to the smile on my own face and the rest of Blackhawks' fans, Niklas Hjalmarsson’s smile should be never-ending.