Mayor Daley: Blackhawks Can Win Stanley Cup Again
CHICAGO (STMW) - If there's anything tougher than winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 49 years, it's doing it again after trading away seven key players to get under the NHL's salary cap.
But Mayor Richard M. Daley predicted Tuesday just that for his beloved Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday as Lord Stanley's Cup finally made its way to City Hall.
Daley is well aware that the Hawks were forced to trade away such popular mainstays as Adam Burish, Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg. He also knows that goalie Antti Niemi, who was outstanding during the playoff run, has moved on to the rival San Jose Sharks.
But, with the youthful corps of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook intact, Daley still believes the Hawks can do it again.
"They're just as committed as before. No one said they were gonna win last year," Daley told a news conference at City Hall after posing with the trophy.
"With the salary cap — we all understand that. But they have a great team spirit, and they'll work together, and I think they can take it this year as well."
The Hawks kick off the regular season on the road Thursday in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche, then return home to hoist the championship banner at the United Center Saturday night against the archrival Detroit Red Wings.
That will be part of a busy weekend in Chicago that also includes the city's annual Country Music Festival, the Chicago Marathon, the Columbus Day Parade and the U.S. men's national soccer team taking on Poland.
From noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, country music fans attending the Millennium Park festival will get a chance to purchase the "Stanley Cup Champion" banners that lined Chicago streets during what Daley called "one of the best parades Chicago has ever seen." There will be a silent auction, with banners awarded to the highest bidders.
Chicago Sun-Times, via the Sun-Times Media Wire
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
