Chicago Blackhawks 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NHL Hockey season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NHL Hockey Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NHL in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2009 NHL Season Previews here.

Chicago Blackhawks 2008-’09 record:
46-24-12, 104 points (2nd in Central, 4th in West)

Chicago Blackhawks 2008-’09 playoffs:
Defeated Calgary Flames 4-2; Defeated Vancouver Canucks 4-2; Lost to Detroit Red Wings 4-1

Last season was a magical year in Chicago. The extremely young Blackhawks rode the talents of captain Jonathan Toews (34 goals, 69 points) and diminutive playmaker Patrick Kane (25 goals, 70 points) to produce a high-powered attack and finished the regular season with a 46-24-12 record, good enough for the 4 th seed in the Western Conference. Behind solid goaltending, this young team grew up before the hockey world’s eyes before falling in the Western Conference Finals to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings. In short, it was a fantastic year from a team that began the season high on promise and little else.

Chicago Blackhawks 2009 Preview

Chicago Blackhawks General manager: Stan Bowman (1st NHL year, 1st team)

Chicago Blackhawks Coach: Joel Quenneville (483-305-77, 13th NHL year, 3rd team)

Chicago Blackhawks Captain: Jonathan Toews

Chicago Blackhawks Top Returning Scorer: RW Patrick Kane (25 goals, 45 assists, 70 points)

Chicago Blackhawks Top Returning Goalie: Cristobal Huet (20-15-4, 2.53, .905)

Chicago Blackhawks Key Additions: RW Marian Hossa; RW Tomas Kopecky; C John Madden; D Richard Petiot.

Chicago Blackhawks Key Subtractions: D Matt Walker; RW Martin Havlat; C Samuel Pahlsson; G Nikolai Khabibulin; LW Pascal Pelletier; C Tim Brent.

Chicago Blackhawks Top Line: LW Patrick Sharp, C Jonathan Toews, RW Patrick Kane

Chicago Blackhawks Top Defensive Pairing: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

The Blackhawks carried their momentum into the offseason by inking sniper Marian Hossa away from rival Detroit via free agency. Chicago furthered their team building by adding defensive dynamo John Madden at center, giving the Hawks a wealth of talent up front. However, there were some losses as goalie Nikolai Khabibulin left via free agency along with high powered sniper Martin Havlat and rugged Sami Pahlsson.

However, despite the solid offseason in terms of player acquisition, it got ugly fast when the Blackhawks misfiled a few restricted free agent offers, which cost the Blackhawks valuable cap space and earned GM Dale Tallon a reassignment within the organization for the blunder. Even worse, young star Kane was arrested in Buffalo for an ugly incident with a taxi cab driver and brought his maturity into serious question. The only bright spot was the he won’t face any criminal charges but his reputation as the face of the franchise was sullied.

Finally, the NHL opened an investigation into Hossa’s heavily front-loaded contract, the type of which is expected to be outlawed in the next collective bargaining agreement because it allows teams to somewhat circumvent the salary cap. This is because contracts count their average total against the cap instead of their actual yearly salary and Hossa’s 12 year deal included four years at the end which only paid him a million dollars a year, down from the 7-8 million that he’ll be receiving up front, giving him a much more manageable 4.5 million cap number. Safe to say, Chicago is really pleased to turn the conversation back to the product on the ice.

2009 Chicago Blackhawks Goaltending:

After losing his job to Khabibulin, Huet returned late in the playoffs to play strongly in the latter stages of the Western Conference finals. A consistent performer who plays with poise and smoothness between the posts. Almost unbeatable down low, but lack of size sometimes leaves him vulnerable up high. His .917 career save percentage is evidence of his solid play.

2009 Chicago Blackhawks Player To Watch:

RW Jack Skille. Posted career highs of 20-25-45 with Rockford (AHL) in his sophomore pro campaign. Scored once in eight-game trial with big club. Has been compared to Bill Guerin, but still needs to work on upper-body strength and skating stride to be anywhere near that class of player. Will be tough for any rookie to break into Chicago lineup this season.

2009 Chicago Blackhawks Offense:

The Blackhawks’ 46 wins were their most since winning 47 in the 1992-93 season. Kane will face enormous pressure as he tries to rebuild his image after an offseason brush with the law. Kane scored 25 goals and finished second on the team in scoring behind Havlat, who left via free agency. Team captain Toews was first with 34 goals and led the team in his first year at the helm on a surprising run to the Western Conference finals.

Chicago Blackhawks 2009 Season Predictions

Will challenge Detroit’s reign in Central and figure to make a long playoff run. But it’s now or never for the Blackhawks, who’ll find it difficult to keep this young, talented squad together in a salary cap world.

We predict that the Chicago Blackhawks will finish 2nd in the NHL Central, 4th seed in West: 101 points.

Chicago Blackhawks Betting

Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Odds: +700
Chicago Blackhawks Western Conference Odds: +350
Chicago Blackhawks Central Odds: +110

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