Are the Blackhawks the best team in the NHL?

As of today, February 3, 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks record is a stellar 37-14-4. If the playoffs were to start today, the Blackhawks would be the #2 seed and would face the #7 seed Nashville Predators. Obviously, it has been some time since the Blackhawks have performed at this level, and luckily, it doesn't seem as if the Blackhawks are showing any signs of slowing down. Many Blackhawks fans feel that they are the best team in the NHL, despite being behind the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference standings (a perennial Presidents Trophy contender, but also a perennial early-round loser) and the Washington Capitals, (owners of an 11-game winning streak and the best record in the East, with the best player in the league, Alexander Ovechkin) who seem to be a legit Stanley Cup contender this year. The Blackhawks are a young, fast team, that is 4 lines deep with very good defensemen and 2 solid goaltenders. Some of their NHL rankings:

• 2nd in wins (37)
• 3rd in points (78)
• 4th in goals per game (3.18)
• 2nd in goals allowed per game (2.27)
• 6th in power play percentage (20.7%)
• 5th in penalty kill percentage (85.5%)
• 1st in shots per game (33.7)
• 1st in shots allowed per game (24.2)

Some of the Blackhawks individual NHL rankings:

• Patrick Kane is 9th in scoring (60 points)
• Duncan Keith is 2nd in scoring amongst defensemen (49 points)
• Keith is 2nd in time on ice per game (26:33)
• Brian Campbell is 8th in scoring amonst defensemen (34 points)
• Jonathan Toews is 8th in faceoff percentage (57.4%)
• Antti Niemi is 1st in GAA (1.99) and tied for 4th in shutouts (4, despite only making 18 appearances)
• Cristobal Huet is also tied for 4th in shutouts (4)

The Blackhawks are the only team with 2 defensemen in the top ten in scoring for their position. Despite some erratic play, Huet could still be in line to win the William Jennings Trophy (given to the goaltenders that play for the team that allows the fewest goals during the regular season) along with Niemi. Keith could possibly win the Norris Trophy (given to the best defenseman in the NHL), and on top of a possible Presidents Trophy for the Blackhawks (an award given to the team with the best regular-season record), coach Joel Quenneville could win the Jack Adams Award (given to the NHL's best coach). Taking care of business against common foes, the Blackhawks have the 2nd best record in the NHL against their own division, behind the Capitals, and the 4th best record against their own conference, behind the Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Capitals. In addition, the Blackhawks also have the NHL's 2nd best home record (21-5-1), just behind the Washington Capitals, and the 4th best road record (16-9-3), again, behind the Sharks, Devils, and Capitals.

This is not a team that leans on one or two players, either. At least 11 Blackhawks have 21 points, and 9 have at least 11 goals. Newcomer Marian Hossa is 7th on the team with 30 points (15 G, 15 A) despite playing in only 32 out of a possible 55 games because of a shoulder injury. Only 3 players have a minus rating, and as I said earlier, the Blackhawks get production from lines 1-4.

What are the Blackhawks' weaknesses? Turnovers in the defensive zone, erratic goaltending from their #1 (Huet), and at times, making one pass too many and not properly taking advantage in power-play situations. Other than that, the Blackhawks are a very good all-around team, that usually gets beat (rarely) rather than beating themselves.

Is this the best team in the NHL? Some would say it's the Capitals (Ovi, Varlamov, Backstrom, Green), the Sharks (Thornton, Marleau, Nabokov), the Devils (Brodeur, Parise, Langenbrunner), or, according to my friend Jon, the Penguins (Crosby and the Crosbyettes). Honestly, it doesn't matter to me who is the best team in the NHL as of this very moment, or who would hold what seed if the playoffs ended today. All I care about is the Blackhawks hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup at the end of June...