Friedman: Blackhawks battling boredom

Elliotte Friedman was on Sportsnet 960 Friday morning.

On the Chicago Blackhawks:

“With Chicago – they were in Toronto last week and the real impression I got talking to people around the organization, and even some of the players, is their biggest battle is almost sometimes boredom.

“They hated the way they lost last year to L.A. and they’re basically sitting there – you know if you’re Chicago you’re good enough to make the playoffs - and you’re sitting there and you’re waiting for the rematch, or the challenge of getting there.

“And I get a real sense – they’ve played a lot of hockey the last couple of years – I get a real sense that organization is worried about that team’s commitment to detail right now simply because they know they’re good enough to get there.

“The interesting thing about the Blackhawks is they also look a bit top-heavy. They’ve got their star players and Bickell – they’ve been disappointed. I think they were really hoping that he was going to be a difference-maker this year. He had a healthy off-season. He hasn’t been really good. And I’m curious. They’ve got a couple of players – Teravainen and another guy named Mark McNeill in the American Hockey League, or Mike McNeill in the American Hockey League - who are pretty close to being ready. I’m curious to see how long it’s going to be before they start to give those guys a chance.”

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

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