Blackhawks begin quest to repeat as champs

Return of Kane, Toews huge boost for Chicago as they prepare to take on Blues

Ben Smith doesn’t mind that he won’t play as many big minutes once the playoffs start, because the Chicago Blackhawks are getting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane back. “We need them,” Smith said. “That’s the big thing. But it’s nice for some guys to get a little more confidence playing in different situations, and that’ll only be a help moving forward as they come back.” Without having star forwards Toews and Kane for the end of the regular season, the Blackhawks leaned more heavily on the likes of Smith, Jeremy Morin and Joakim Nordstrom. When the puck drops for Game1Thursday night in St. Louis, it’s likely two of those three players won’t be in the lineup. Integrating Toews and Kane back into the swing of things is a unique challenge for Chicago as it tries to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champion since Detroit in 1997 and 1998. “To get them fully rested and close to 100 per cent is important,” winger Bryan Bickell said last week. “I’m sure they’re going to be a step behind, but I’m sure those two players, especially, they’re not going to lose it as quickly as some guys like me.”

Even if Toews and Kane are a step slow out of the gate, there’s no doubt the Blackhawks are much better with them than without them.

“Certainly it upgrades our skill level, talent level,” coach Joel Quenneville said.

“These guys are top players and they’re accustomed to playing on the big stage and in big moments. ... I think that it gives you a lot more options as a coach knowing these guys are returning to your lineup.”

The options are there because Chicago’s young players showed they could handle bigger roles while Kane missed the last 12 games and Toews the last six of the regular season.

The Blackhawks’ game is depth, depth and more depth.

Toews, Kane and fellow star forward Patrick Sharp could all start on different lines, with Brandon Bollig, Marcus Kruger and Smith representing the energy down the lineup.

“I think in their absence we’ve tried to have some familiarity with a couple guys on each line where our continuity is kind of in place, and whether we’re moving guys around as the playoffs evolve will remain to be seen,” Quenneville said.