NHL Playoffs: 5 reasons the Chicago Blackhawks could repeat

#3: A Proven Blue Line

Led by a trio of defensemen in Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson who have been a part of a combined nine Stanley Cups during their time with the Blackhawks, Chicago’s blue line is a proven one that is used to the rigors and stress of the postseason.

Keith and Hjalmarsson form the Hawks top pairing. Quenneville loves this pairing and doesn’t hesitate in using them whenever necessary, especially in the postseason. Look for this pairing to play upwards of 25 minutes a night if they are dominant because Quenneville tends to go with the guys who are playing well. That tends to be Keith and Hjalmarsson.

Seabrook and Trevor van Riemsdyk form the usual second pairing. While van Riemsdyk is sometimes swapped in favor of Viktor Svedberg, Seabrook is the veteran who plays alongside a younger player. It took a while for Trevor van Riemsdyk to earn Quenneville’s trust, but it seems like the second-year defenseman has earned it since he averages almost 20 minutes per game.

Svedberg is usually paired with Christian Ehrhoff, a veteran who can still be productive. While this pairing can’t be trusted with huge minutes, it is good enough for Quenneville to have the option of resting his top two pairings. In the playoffs, that could be important.

Combined, the Blackhawks defensive core might not be quite as good as it was last season, but thanks to some stellar goaltending by Corey Crawford, that hasn’t been too much of an issue.

Next: #2: Corey Crawford