Blackhawks down! Miss playoffs

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With last night's 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Blackhawks are officially out of the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. After Brent Seabrook scored a power play goal to put the Hawks up 1-0, the Avalanche score the final five goals. It was a scenario that has played out all too often this season.

Return of the goalie?

The prognosis for the future isn't all that promising either. The Hawks best chance for improvement is the recovery of Corey Crawford from whatever his health problem is. The Hawks went from having elite goaltending to poor goaltending, and they just aren't good enough to cover that. 

Plenty of old timer games to come

One of the reasons they aren't good enough to cover that is paying contracts on the basis of past performance as opposed to future performance. A case in point is Brent Seabrook. Seabrook is one of my all time favorite Hawks, but when Stan Bowman signed him to an 8 year, 55 million dollar contract, I was shocked. The contract pays Seabrook $6,875,000 thru his age 37 season. He's not a gazelle at 31, it's hard to imagine him being more than a 5-6 defenseman in the next year or two. 

Jonathan Toews is probably my all time favorite Hawk, but he's not playing up to his contact. Jonathan's cap hit is $ 10.5 million for the next five seasons. Toews is a good second line center at this point. Good second line centers aren't generally paid $10.5 million a season.

Well, that wasn't it after all

The thought was that Toews production was suppressed by inferior linemates. That may well have been a factor in Hawks star and Patrick Kane sidekick, Artemi Panarin being traded to the Blue Jackets to retrieve one time Toews linemate, Brandon Saad. So far this season, Saad has 31 points and Panarin has 68. The Hawks don't have a margin of error big enough to withstand moves like that.

But I'll take it

Those three recent Stanley Cups the Hawks won were enjoyable. It looks like those memories will have to last for a while.

Are you watching, Scott Boras clients?

There was a big free agency signing in MLB. Alex Cobb signed a four year, $60 million contract with the Orioles. The O's are desperate for starting pitching, but based on this free agency market, I'm shocked that Cobb got that kind of deal. I suggest the Twins keep sharp objects away from Lance Lynn.

Curb your enthusiasm 

I'm optimistic about the White Sox upcoming season. Of course, my optimism is somewhat temper by the thought that James Shields is slated to be the Sox opening day starter. There's a reality check for you.

You might enjoy my new baseball book.

You might also enjoy my cartoons.