With the All-Star break passing it is now time for the second half of the Chicago Blackhawks season to begin. The Blackhawks have remained at the top of the standings all season and continue to prove themselves as potential Stanley cup contenders. Although people might think another Stanley cup run is in the making, it’s unlikely to happen this year.

The Blackhawks will likely have to compete against some of the best teams in the league on the western side of the bracket, making getting to the Cup a real challenge. Teams like the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators can shut down the Blackhawks dominant offence which would hinder their playoff run.

Teams will definitely be able to exploit the obvious holes in the ‘Hawks roster. Without a coveted second line center, the hawks will struggle to possess the puck as well and create the scoring opportunities they rely on. The team won’t be able to keep their shot totals as high as they have been as the season nears end and unless elite players like Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa can start scoring with the frequency they were last season then the hawks could struggle competing with teams as the season draws to a close.

With the NHL trade deadline being under a month away the hawks could make some additions to address their weaker spots in their lineup, so don’t consider them out yet. While the hawks have a pretty sound team and wouldn’t be likely to make any big moves, they could possibly trade draft picks or even talented rookie goalie Scott Darling.

The Blackhawks will make a splash in the off-season and likely will battle through the majority of playoffs but they will not be champions.