A franchise's rebirth

The Blackhawks improved from 201 goals (tied for next-to-last in the NHL with Columbus) in 2006-07 to 239 goals last season, which was 10th in the League. But the team was still down in the standings in power-play production, ranking 24th – completing just 15.9 percent with a man advantage. Tallon knew that his team had to tighten up defensively and in goal, but the biggest hole in the lineup wasn't from a defense that scored 38 goals last season, but rather not having a quick, mobile defenseman to jump start the offense. Someone to push the puck up ice to the forwards. Someone to quarterback the power play. The addition of the fast-skating and skillful Campbell, a two-time All-Star, immediately makes the Hawks stronger in those areas. Campbell scored 19 points in the 20 regular-season games he played in San Jose down the... [read full story]