The Blackhawks will be gone in the first round once again next Spring

Parise and Suter are gone.

The Blackhawks- a middle-of-the-pack playoff team at best, despite the delusions of General Manager Stan Bowman- are probably out of luck in their efforts to fill their two most glaring weaknesses- the lack of a natural second-line center and at least one more top four defenseman- through the free agent market. The trade route seems unlikely in the extreme. It's a given that the Hawks' inadequate goaltending will go unaddressed.

In fairness, Stan Bowman seemed to make a genuine effort here. Still my prediction is that the Hawks will be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs again next year. If they get to the second round, they should hold a parade.

In the meantime, Bowman needs to publicly acknowledge reality. It does not help the confidence of the fan base that the Hawks' very substantial weaknesses will be addressed if the team's general manager remains in public denial.