The Blackhawks last night, for the first time in 77 years, "celebrated winning a Stanley Cup in Chicago" before 22,424 "delirious fans" at United Center, according to Chris Kuc of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa said, "We love this city, we love the crowd, they're spoiling us every year with sellouts. We're just so happy to be able to give this back to the city and the people who love the Blackhawks." Kuc notes the team's third title in six seasons is even "more remarkable in the salary-cap era" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/16). After the victory, Blackhawks Chair Rocky Wirtz was shown congratulating players and staff on the ice. NBC’s Mike "Doc" Emrick said, “A great deal changed very quickly once (Wirtz) took the reins of the club and at that time it was not a full house all the time, but it sure is now.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was booed as he walked on the ice to present the Conn Smythe Trophy, but was cheered loudly when he told the crowd, "Well Chicago, that’s three Cups in six seasons. I’d say you have a dynasty, and you great fans deserve it” (“Blackhawks-Lightning,” NBC, 6/15).
BEST OF THE BEST: In Chicago, David Haugh in a front-page piece writes something about Blackhawks President & CEO John McDonough's third Cup celebration "felt different." McDonough: "I think I'm more emotional tonight, growing up on the Northwest Side. When [Wirtz] and I got together seven years ago, we just wanted to get the franchise back on the right track and create a culture and build a bridge to the past ... put something together that was consistent and restore the pride in being a Blackhawks fan." Haugh writes the Blackhawks by winning "easily laid claim to the NHL's team of the decade and compelled hockey observers to spend the summer debating what constitutes a dynasty." The Blackhawks under Wirtz "have been a decidedly un-Chicago sports story; they warm your hearts more than they break them and win games they're supposed to win instead of letting you down for reasons analyzed for decades." They "enjoy good luck created by great players, guys who generally stay out of trouble as they keep their team in contention year after year" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/16). McDonough: "After we won our second [one] we said ultimately if you could ever win one here in Chicago that would be the ultimate Stanley Cup. I think they’re going to be celebrating in Chicago the entire summer. But we’re not done. We’re not done" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/16). In Chicago, Patrick O'Connell notes fans inside United Center "paid $1,000 and up to see the Hawks win it all in person" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/16). ESPN's Steve Levy said of the Blackhawks, "These days their TV ratings rival the Bears. ... And all their opponents see is red, on the ice and off. There was no hotter seller in town when it comes to merchandise. Chicago is now home to the NHL’s model franchise" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/16).
COMMISSIONER'S CONFIRMATION: In N.Y., Ken Belson writes the Blackhawks now "can rub shoulders with some of the greatest dynasties in hockey history." Previous dynasties, "while impressive, came before the league introduced a salary cap designed to create parity." This year’s Stanley Cup Final matchup was "evidence that the salary cap had worked as designed." The Blackhawks, one of the "wealthiest teams in the NHL, had the fifth-oldest roster, stocked with plenty of playoff experience," while the Lightning "had the third-youngest squad." The series "was one of the closest" in Cup Final history, despite Blackhawks being "one of the NHL's most established teams, while the Lightning are an expansion club in one of the league’s smallest markets" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/16).
HOW FAR WE'VE COME: The GLOBE & MAIL's Eric Duhatschek writes when Toews and Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane first arrived for the '07-08 season, United Center "was cavernously empty." But under Wirtz’ ownership, Blackhawks' games have "become one of the hottest tickets in town." The turnaround "has been nothing short of astonishing, the narrative in Chicago completely reversed." Decades of futility "have been erased, all the bad times happily cast away in the dustbin of history" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/16). Blackhawks LW Kris Versteeg, who also arrived for the '07-08 season, said, "When I first came here, there were 7,000 people in the crowd. To see what this is now, it’s ridiculous, it’s a whole monster." ESPN.com's Scott Burnside notes Wirtz "was appreciative of Bettman's comments." However, Wirtz figures these championships "are more like 'a reinvention' than a true dynasty." Wirtz said, "It never gets old." He added that even he "didn’t see this kind of success coming when he took over." Wirtz: "I know no one else saw it coming, either" (ESPN.com, 6/16).
DYNASTY OF THE DECADE: In Chicago, Mark Lazerus writes the Blackhawks "cemented their place in history -- the team of the decade, even though it’s only half over" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/16). FOXSPORTS.com's Craig Morgan writes the team solidified its place as the NHL's "premier franchise" and moved into a tie with the Bruins for the fourth-most Cups in league history (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/16). In Chicago, Mike Imrem writes each Blackhawks title "has been fresh, a new experience as if it were the first" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/16). In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes the Blackhawks' dynasty in the salary-cap era "is unseen and unheard of in any sport, perhaps not to be duplicated" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/16). In Chicago, John Dietz notes Toews is "leaving [the 'dynasty'] discussion to the media." Toews: "I'm not gonna say that. People want to talk about that, that's pretty special that we're even being mentioned along those lines. I think at this point in our game, this is pretty rare and we all know that" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/16). FIVE THIRTY EIGHT's Nate Silver, prior to last night's series-clinching victory, wrote under the header, "Yeah, The Blackhawks Are A Dynasty" (FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.com, 6/15). However, ESPN's Barry Melrose said, "I put it really close, (but) I can’t give it a dynasty. I think there has to be more wins. We’re talking about the Islanders with four wins [in a row], Edmonton five in seven. I just think three in six is not enough. Unbelievable story. They’re the model of every team in the NHL, but I can’t quite give them that dynasty yet" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/16)
CAP SPECIALISTS: CBSSPORTS.com's Adam Gretz wrote the Blackhawks have "cemented themselves as the gold standard in the league when it comes to building a team in the salary cap era" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/15). ESPN's Levy said the dynasties for the Islanders and Oilers "never had to deal with Chicago's toughest opponent, the salary cap" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/16). YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote the team established what is "as close to a dynasty as we'll see in a salary cap era" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/15). ESPN.com's Burnside writes the Blackhawks' "consistent greatness, their consistent ability to navigate the salary-cap world and still find ways to win at the highest level when the games mean the most ... makes them the gold standard" (ESPN.com, 6/16).
KEEPING THEIR SPARK: In Tampa, Caitlin Johnston noted the Lightning last night "opened up the doors to the cool, comfortable Amalie Arena for one last gathering," and 17,000 people "showed to cheer on the team." The concept of throwing a hockey event without any physical game "may be a novel one for this market," but it was "eagerly embraced by a city clinging to the hope that the Lightning could stave off a season-ending loss" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/16). Also in Tampa, John Romano writes despite coming up short in Game 6, the Lightning's run at the Stanley Cup "was an opportune moment for a market desperately in search of validation." TV shots "have routinely showed a community embracing a hockey team" with fans "showing up in the middle of the night to welcome them home at the airport, and studio hosts talking about [Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik's] grandiose vision to develop 40 acres surrounding the arena." But it will take "more than a few weeks of hockey hysteria to reinvent the image of Tampa Bay as a sports market" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/16).
