Red October In Chicago

How deep can we go?

The annoying blue jersey of St. Louis puck-sniper T.J. Oshie graces the cover of the issue of Sports Illustrated on my desk. He’s tying his right skate in a locker room, standing next to Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals. The issue and it’s cover have a dual-purpose: A preview of both the 2014 Baseball postseason, and of the NHL’s ’14-’15 campaign.

What’s beautiful about this cover is that is refers to Wainwright and the Cards as SI’s favorite to win the World Series. And then on the top margin…in the upper right corner…it snubs Oshie with a casual “Why The Blackhawks Will Win It All”. Heh.

The month we’ve all waited for is here. Yes, it IS October yet. A Red October, minus Marko Ramius and his awkward Scottish-Russian accent, or Jack Ryan chasing a saboteur around in the bowels of a nuclear submarine.

In this version of Red October, Coach Quenneville is our grizzled sub Captain, a grey-haired reminder of greatness on the ice, the architect of a master plan to get what he wants. Jack Ryan? Jonathon Toews leaps to mind, the plucky young guy who has a bit of mileage under his belt, but is still young enough to be dangerous and bold enough to take that plan to the next level.

T.J. Oshie is that cook/saboteur, trying to scuttle the ship and blow it up.

He could do it, too. The Blues gave Chicago…well, the BLUES last season. The entire Western Conference is loaded for bear and ready to slug it out to see who makes hockey’s beloved second season. A number of media outlets are picking Chicago to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup again, though others have the Kings managing the repeat feat we haven’t seen since Detroit went 8-0 in Cup Final games in ’97 and ’98.

Brace yourself, comrades. And get ready to sing the Anthem loud and proud. (And cue up Chelsea Dagger. A lot.)

Movement

At the time of this writing Friday morning, the Blackhawks are STILL over the cap with one final preseason game to go, in Gotham tonight against the Rangers. Someone expensive WILL be gone by close of business Wednesday.

Q has trimmed away the roster to 27 names. Ryan Hartman got us there when he was shifted to Rockford. He joins forwards Cody Bass and Pierre-Cedric Labrie, who were trimmed off the list shortly before he was. All three are very good at the Hockey. “Make our depth 2015, Vasily. One ping only.” “Aye-aye, Captain.”

Jeremy Morin appears to have the inside track on the left wing spot on the 4th line. His performance at the end of the season last year justifies that. I like the sound of Morin/Kruger/Smith. We shall see.

It’s worth noting that this roster of 27 includes THREE goalies: Corey Crawford, Michael Leighton and heir-apparent Antti Raanta. Leighton, the retread, has looked fantastic so far in camp and the preseason. The plot thickens.

And, oh yeah. Speaking of retreads, the Penguins released Daniel Carcillo from his tryout contract this week. The Carbomb will not skate for Pittsburgh.

Hey, ho. Let’s go.

It’s almost here, gang. The regular season begins in Dallas Thursday, and the home opener will be two nights later against Buffalo, who appear to still have a team (it’s hard to tell sometimes).

Go Hawks.

– T

UPDATE: Within minutes of my clicking SEND to submit this article…the Blackhawks signed Carcillo to the practice roster. **blank stare of confusion** Read more at: http://thefanindiana.com/red-october/ Copyright © The Fan Indiana