Behold the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  One of the “Original Six” will hoist a banner in the rafters of the United Center.  For too long they have stared at the 1961 banner and were constantly reminded of what the Chicago Bulls did in the 1990s.  Now the tide has turned.  There is already talk of a dynasty brewing in the Windy City.  Is that premature to think that?

Not really.  The core talent will be around for the foreseeable future.  Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien and Antti Niemi will be around.  Every single one contributed to their Stanley Cup run throughout the playoffs. 

Toews was aggressive, physical and made key assists.  Kane made timely goals, including the game winner to win the Cup.  Hossa scored the game winning goal against Nashville in overtime in Game 5 to give them momentum to win that series.  Hossa’s constant pressure since took pressure off Toews and Kane to play their game.  Keith and Seabrook were sound defensively.  Deflecting shots and helping Niemi numerous times.  Sharp was a great veteran presence that a lot of teams covet, especially Chicago.  They wouldn’t have gotten here without him.  Byfuglien destroyed Vancouver and San Jose.  His size was a problem for the Flyers and Chris Pronger specifically throughout the Finals.  Niemi turned a weakness into a strength.  No longer will Chicago have to worry about who’s in net for them.  It’s Antti Niemi’s job. 

The Salary Cap age in the NHL will make it difficult to create a dynasty the likes of which the league hasn’t seen since the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders of the 1980s.  Also the parody in the league is up there with the NFL.  Every team has a chance.  Just look at the Montreal Canadiens who knocked out the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in succession.  Philadelphia came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins in route to beating the Canadiens to play for the Stanley Cup.  The Flyers took the Blackhawks to six games and it could have easily been seven. 

Those two factors will make it difficult to say it’s a dynasty.  So many other things could happen, but for now the city of Chicago has a championship.  The drought ended for the Blackhawks.  Just before it hit the 50 year mark mind you.  The only thing left now is to wonder what next?  They have the offense, defense, goalie and coaching staff in place to go after it again.  But like with the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins the last two years, it probably won’t happen that way again.  It’s very rare to see the same teams, even the defending champions make an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals again. 

Celebrate the championship as long as you’d like Chicago.  You earned it and deserve it.  They were the best team and weren’t given it by any means thanks to the play of the Philadelphia Flyers.  A colleague of mine said, “Chicago is a Hockey Town again.”  Very true.  The White Sox and Cubs are going no where.  “Da Bears” stink.  The Bulls are praying to get LeBron James.  Chicago is wearing those awesome Blackhawks jerseys proudly once again.