Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Getting Defensive

Good morning Chicago Blackhawks fans!

Not that anyone cares, but yesterday I had a long trip to Arkansas so I could visit my family there on a summer vacation. On the trip I had time to listen to podcasts and other things related about the Chicago Blackhawks. The one point that kept being pointed out is the Chicago Blackhawks big weakness last season could be their strength once again this season.

In 2015, Joel Quenneville rode Duncan Keith especially but also Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and a one-armed Johnny Oduya to the Stanley Cup Championship. He basically ignored the third defensive pairing with David Rundblad and Kyle Cumiskey among others seeing time there after Michal Rozsival blew out his knee in the Minnesota Wild series.

Now that Brian Campbell has taken the huge hometown discount the Chicago Blackhawks have their big 4 defenseman back together, and they have options on the third pairing with Trevor van Riemsdyk, newly signed Michal Kempny, Michal Rozsival, and Viktor Svedberg all being able to play in that third pairing.

Does this flip the ice for the Hawks who struggled mightily at times on the defensive end of the ice. Let’s be honest the Hawks may even beat the St. Louis Blues if it wasn’t for a horrific play by Erik Gustafsson in Game #7 that led to the Troy Brouwer game winning goal.

The old saying is defense wins championships, and even though Campbell is getting up there in years, it sure feels like at this point of the summer the Chicago Blackhawks are way ahead of last years team already. Granted the offense is the question mark now, but that’s for another time and place.

Here are some Chicago Blackhawks morning links to start your weekend!

Watch as Patrick Kane (who has stayed in Chicago all summer) surprised youth campers at a summer camp this past week (Blackhawks)

Here is a quick look at the Chicago Blackhawks depth chart and salary cap as it stands at the moment (Second City)

Sometimes too much of one thing is a bad thing which is why the NHL should be marketing other teams besides the Chicago Blackhawks on the National TV schedule (The Committed Indian)