Youth vs. Experience come playoff time

As the Blackhawks strengthen their grip on the fourth seed in the Western Conference, it's becoming clear that for the first time since 2001-2002, Chicago will see post-season hockey.

At this moment, Chicago is the youngest team in the NHL. That could of course change as roster moves come and go with the March 4 trade deadline, but it won't be too drastic. The Blackhawks will still be a very young team in the playoffs.

How did the younger teams fare in the playoffs last season? And what about those composed of grizzled veterans? Lets take a look.

The Washington Capitals were the sixth youngest team (avg. age 26.98) in the NHL at the end of last season, and the youngest team in the playoffs. They rode 23-year old superstar (and 2007-08 NHL MVP) Alex Ovechkin into the playoffs after posting a 37-17-7 record from Nov. 4 onward. They were the first ever NHL team to make the postseason after being in last place at the halfway point of the season.

In a tough series with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Capitals fell just short. They lost the series 4-3, but won back-to-back elimination games. They lost game seven in double OT. A first round exit for the youngest team in the playoffs.

The next youngest team (avg. age 27.76) in the playoffs (seventh) were the San Jose Sharks. A highly touted second seed with one of the best goalies in the NHL in Evgeni Nabakov; they seemed primed to break their streak of playoff ineptitude and make a run for the Cup. Another surviving a first round scare against the Calgary Flames, the Sharks bowed out in the second.

The jist here, is that young teams do not fare so well in the playoffs. Pittsburgh was the ninth youngest team and made it to the finals, but were thoroughly manhandled by the oldest team in the NHL; the Detroit Red Wings.

In eight out of the 15 playoff matchups, the team with the older average age won.

But I feel the Blackhawks are better than the Sharks and the Caps of the 2008 playoffs. John Buccigross recently wrote, "The Hawks are having an unbelievable season and have a legitimate chance to reach the Stanley Cup finals. (They are that good.) They also could lose in the first round. (They are that young.)"

Personally, I see a second round exit for the Hawks in the playoffs. When it comes down it, especially in the Stanely Cup playoffs, expereince will take you farther than youth.

Hopefully they prove me wrong.

"Young guns" providing more bang for the buck

With an average age of 25.548 years (according to http://www.nhlnumbers.com/), the Chicago Blackhawks are the youngest team in the NHL.

Even with the abundance of youth, they are competitive and primed to make a run in the playoffs.

Many followers of hockey and even most casual fans have at least heard the names "Patrick Kane" and "Jonathan Toews." As rookies last year, 19-year-old Kane won the Calder Trophy with Toews (same age) finishing second in the voting. Thus far, Kane leads the team in points with 42. Toews, who was named team captain before the season began, has 36. Together, they provide almost all of the team's offensive output. (Needless to say, an injury to either one at this point could be devastating, as was the case last year when Toews was injured.)

Another youngin' has emerged and his impact has been unexpectedly immediate. In his first NHL season, 22-year-old left-winger Kris Versteeg has tallied 13 goals and 23 assists, totalling 36 points in 44 games. He was recently named to the NHL's Young Stars Game. His name was even being mentioned in the running for the Calder Trophy earlier in the season, but that has somewhat subsided.

22-year-old center Dave Bolland has also contributed highly in the resurgance of the Blackhawks this season. Playing in a new career high 45 games (last year he set a career high, appearing in 39 games for the Blackhawks), he has 25 points with 8 goals and 17 assists. He has also had six multi-point games this season.

With such a young and talented team, it will be interesting to see what, if any, moves are made as the March 4 trade deadline approaches. Hawks GM Dale Tallon recently discussed this issue, saying that he will evalutate how the team plays during the upcoming 8-game road trip and decide wether or not to make a roster move. It sounded as if he was leaning towards keeping the team as is for the playoffs. But that's for another blog entry.