Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane delivered a goal for the ages on Saturday night, courtesy of the NHL All-Star Skills Competition.

The Chicago Blackhawks star was taking part in the Breakaway Challenge, giving the league's best scorers the chance to show off what they can do one-on-one against the goalie. 

The 2012 NHL All-Star Game signifies crunch-time for teams, and these underachieving NHL stars must be better down the stretch if they hope to help their teams. With roughly 33 games remaining for each team, it's nearing the desperation point for these men. 

Whether it be a big contract or even bigger expectations, these players must play their best if their team is to make anything of themselves over the next four months. 

There has been a lot of criticism towards Patrick Kane as of late. Most of it is coming as Kane is currently in one of the worst slumps of his NHL career.

Fans have speculated that Kane could be traded for a player with more "grit" and more "determination." But the simple truth is Kane is an elite player in his own way, and many teams would love to have the abilities that he brings to the table.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a dilemma with All-Star winger Patrick Kane.

What will it take to get Kane back into the All-Star form that led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup Championship?

As of late, Kane seems to be struggling to find the back of the net. He has played six games in January, racking up a total of three points and a minus-three rating. In the past four games Kane has mustered only one assist in 82 minutes of quality ice time.  

The Chicago Blackhawks finished the 2010-11 season with an upsetting first round playoff loss the the Presidents' Trophy winners in the Vancouver Canucks.

After winning the Stanley Cup, the team went 44-29-9 and reached the playoffs. This year, they look keep the same plan, but this time make it back to the finals.

Once my Cincinnati Reds (I'm sorry Cubs fans who will read this, but we really haven't won that much either. I am not sorry for Sox fans for personal reasons.  We will leave it at that.) fell out of the running, I went all in. I started reading about fantasy hockey for the first time. I began surfing the web for the cheapest Niklas Hjarmalsson jersey (my favorite player for two reasons: a. he looks like The Great Gazoo b. he graces the blessed jersey with my number that I wore for high school baseball).

We're still ways away from the start of the 2011-12 NHL regular season, but that's not going to discourage me from making some predictions. 

The offseason is a double-edged sword. You make certain moves and sign players, hoping that those investments pay off. On the other hand, there are times when a lack of action proves to be the best course of action. 

Finally, 10 months after winning Lord Stanley’s Cup, the Chicago Blackhawks once again resembled a championship-caliber team. With their backs against the wall and defensive stalwart Brent Seabrook scratched due to an “upper-body” injury suffered in Game 3, the defending champs rose up and pounded the Canucks. Relentlessly. For 60 minutes.

Yes I am going to talk to you about playoffs, but not just any playoffs, the NHL playoffs.  The NHL playoffs are hands down the most exciting playoffs in professional sports. 

The hockey gods certainly have a twisted sense of humor. There was only one scenario that would result in the Chicago Blackhawks playing the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs.

And it was the most unlikely scenario because both Chicago and Dallas had to lose.