Coming Summer 2015: Battle For Team Of The Decade

Jun 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie

(32) shakes hands with Chicago Blackhawks goalie

(50) after game seven of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks were one overtime goal away from a probable repeat and in one deflected goal the tide of the 2010’s decade shifted from a Chicago Blackhawks dynasty to a battle of wills between the LA Kings and Chicago Blackhawks.

The word dynasty was floated around the Blackhawks after winning the Stanley Cup in 2013 their 2nd Cup in four seasons, but no one didn’t put much interest and intensity into it since it was 2013 and well it was only 2 Stanley Cups in a decade.

The Hawks had their shot at some real history but they couldn’t finish Game #7 and their shot at back to back Cups which hadn’t been accomplished since 1998 and three Cups in five seasons was denied but not their shot at a dynasty and for sure the team of the 2010’s.

People love dynasties, or love to hate dynasties or at least like to debate dynasties.  Well after the Kings had every possible break and call go their way on their path to their 2nd Cup in three seasons now all you can see is Dynasty Talk. I’m pretty sure that the Kings dynasty talks stings more with the Hawks being one deflected goal from being the undeniable Kings of the 2010’s and threshold of a dynasty.

All of this really sets up the Spring/Summer of 2015 as the Battle for Team of the Decade!

Both the Blackhawks and Kings are set for that distinction with their recent runs and there is no reason to really believe that either team is ready to fall off the tracks as long as they remain relatively healthy.

The Blackhawks core is just hitting their prime with Jonathan Toews hitting 26 and Patrick Kane 25 and young up and coming stars like Brandon Saad barely pass drinking age. The Hawks have a pipeline of youth ready to produce in the next year, two or three.  It won’t be a cakewalk for either team in the Western Conference, but both teams have a knack at reaching the Western Conference Finals with the Hawks getting there four times in six seasons and the Kings in three straight.

Both franchises get it done differently in different styles, but one thing both teams have learned from their coaches is to never quit or give up no matter what the scoreboard reads and that resolve makes you believe that coming this May 2015 there will be a rubber match between two great franchises in the battle for the Team of the Decade.  The winner next May will be a team that can truly lay hold to the Dynasty talk, and a team that hoists a third Stanley Cup banner will finally be able to throw around the word dynasty.

If there is one thing the Hawks can learn from the San Antonio Spurs last night is to have a single focus from Day 1 to the Championship and work your butt off all offseason so that the opporunity can’t slip through their fingers ever again.

What do you think? Will the Kings and Hawks meet again next Summer?

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