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A lot of bad teams have rosters full of brawlers.
Great teams have rosters full of tough guys. Physically and mentally tough.
Watching the Hawks win 4-1 over Anaheim last night, and push their record to 8-1-1 over their last ten games, I was struck that this has been a slightly different team since Ray Emery took over in net
Now, let me say something about Corey Crawford first. I believe Crawford is going to win a lot more games in a Blackhawk sweater. When? I'm not sure. But, he should not, and likely will not, become a footnote in Hawk history at this point.
But Emery, the same guy many were ready to throw under the bus in favor of some guy named Salak a few months ago, now looks to have the Hawks #1 goalie job, possibly for the rest of this year and the playoffs.
For whatever reason, and I'll throw out a theory in a moment, the Hawks seem to simply play better in front of Emery. Emery has played well. But the Hawks seem to rally around him as well, playing more responsibly and confidently.
My theory is this: Ray Emery is a tough guy.
A goalie who many skaters in the league would not want to tangle with. A guy who brings some "street" into the dressing room with him. And, as such, I think there is a respect level that comes with that among the guys in the room. It doesn't hurt that Emery backstopped a team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006.
But I also think that teammates are a little unconsciously afraid of letting a tough guy like Emery down.
Another player who falls into this category is Jamal Mayers. At 37, Mayers can outwork most players a decade his junior in the weight room. He fights. He hits. He plays a solid game, killing penalties, winning faceoffs and chipping in with a goal here and there. And like Emery, he's been around a little and gained a reputation in the league as a tough guy. Not just physically, but mentally.
The whole nine yards, pal.
He's a guy you like having at your back, but you also have a little extra pressure knowing he's there.
And not coincidentally, Emery and Mayers have been two stellar performers night after night of late. But you also see everyone else working a little harder. Hawk defenseman protect Emery's crease a lot better than they did Crawford's. Maybe it's due to coaching.
Maybe it's because, unconsciously, you don't want to face Razor's stare after the game.
Someone decided last night that the John Scott Sideshow deserved a second star last night, calling into question how much influence Hawk marketing and the front office have on said decisions, when third star Mayers was far more deserving.
This is not an "all is well" blog. Nor am I moving one inch toward the silly notion occasionally thrown out that this year's team might be as good as the Stanley Cup team of two years ago.
I am beginning to believe, however, that even without a few needed improvements, this team is an improvement over last year's. Because of the addition of tough guys like Emery, Mayers, and 168 pound Marcus Kruger, and even with the subtraction of Brian Campbell, Troy Brouwer and Tomas Kopecky.
If some brute kicked sand in Kruger's face, he'd retaliate by fighting through three checks and going to the front of the net.
The Hawks are a good team, aided by a fortunate lack of injuries and having four superstars at forward (three of whom—Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp are tied for 7th in league scoring), but also in need of another defenseman.
And maybe another tough guy at forward.
A guy who strikes as much intimidation into his own teammates as he does the opposition.
Do tough guys matter?
You got it, PUNK.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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