Michael Szwaja

Blackhawks Winter Classic Sweater Symbol of Past Futility

Michael Szwaja | November 11, 2014

The 1956-1957 Chicago Black Hawks (two words until 1986 when it became Blackhawks after a staffer discovered the team name was originally recorded as one word) were a model of…

Can Blackhawks’ Fitness Make Up for Lack of Depth?

Michael Szwaja | October 25, 2014

The Blackhawks lost in the Western Conference Final last year, not because Nick Leddy stepped in front of a weak shot, but because they were gassed. Kings coach Darryl Sutter…

Blackhawks Cross Talk: Weaknesses, Leddy, Saad and the Winter Classic Sweater

Michael Szwaja | October 9, 2014

Throughout the 2014-2015 season The Hockey Writers scribes Steve Sobel and Michael Szwaja will debate all things Chicago Blackhawks in what we are calling Blackhawks Cross Talk. In the first installment,…

5 Under the Radar Blackhawks Storylines

Michael Szwaja | September 24, 2014

Brad Richards, the salary cap crunch and all things Patrick Kane have dominated the storylines heading into the Blackhawks’ 2014-2015 season, but what about some of the under-the-radar stories? There’s…

5 Reasons to Embrace Blackhawks Bandwagon Fans

Michael Szwaja | September 3, 2014

It’s summer 2010, and I’ve taken my seat at the back of a conference room in the bowels of the Hilton Chicago for an upcoming Q&A session with Jonathan Toews…

Teuvo Teravainen, the Center Chicago Has Been Waiting For?

Michael Szwaja | August 15, 2014

Teuvo Teravainen, the great Blackhawk hope on Chicago’s West Side, represents the astounding aspirations that consistently plague Chicago sports fans. In Chicago, when it comes to sports, fans don’t fear…

Salary Cap Crunch May Force Bowman to Get Bold

Michael Szwaja | June 30, 2014

General managers are often defined by the boldest of decisions made during their tenures. Bold decisions, both with personnel and coaching, can either lead to a championship or go so…