Happy President’s Day!

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the United States (picture courtesy of nps.gov)

The Chicago Blackhawks have raced off to an unbelievably great start to the shortened season.  Even with the incredible start the Hawks are only 4 points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks who are 2nd in the NHL in points and their 11-2-1 record, and the Hawks are only 5 points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and their 11-5-0 record.

Great start are tremendous foundations for teams to build on for the rest of the season and this holds especially true in a shortened 48 game schedule.  The real goal isn’t where you finish in the regular season but where you end up during the Stanley Cup playoffs which is why the President’s trophy should even be a thought for the Chicago Blackhawks franchise.

The Vancouver Canucks, Friday night’s opponents, have won consecutive President’s trophies and all they have to show for it is a 1st round playoff loss to the eventual champs LA Kings and a loss in the Stanley Cup finals to the Boston Bruins.  The President’s trophy has been more of a curse than a reward for the team that wins it in recent history with the Canucks, San Jose Sharks, and Washington Capitals all losing in the first round after super regular seasons.  A great regular season gets entrance to the playoffs and hopefully home games to start playoff series, but no extra efforts shouldn’t be placed to end up with the President’s trophy.  The last team to win the President’s trophy and then hoist the Cup was the 2007-2008 Detroit Red Wings.

The great start by the Hawks has been fueled by many factors including losing in the playoffs in consecutive years in the first round. The real goal in hockey is the Stanley Cup and not any other trophy!

Enjoy the President’s sales and blowouts and be forever thankful for the great men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln that led our country, but whatever you do don’t ever give a hoot about the Hawks collecting President’s trophies! It’s Stanley Cup or bust!!

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