CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- While the NHL world maneuvered up to the trade deadline Monday afternoon, general manager Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks elected to stand pat -- and behind the growth recently revealed by the team.
The Blackhawks (26-28-9) were neither a buyer nor a seller as many other NHL teams made moves. Instead, this is an organization encouraged to be back in the playoff picture after once being buried at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Bowman had said in November after firing Joel Quenneville as head coach and hiring Jeremy Colliton that he felt the Blackhawks could be a playoff team. While the hole the Blackhawks dug early on may prove too deep in the quest, Bowman recognizes the strides shown of late reflect as positive for the long term.
"We've seen it come together," Bowman said.
The Blackhawks have received Hart Trophy-level play out of Patrick Kane, a resurgent season from Jonathan Toews and a second-year jump from Alex DeBrincat. Beyond that has come the emergence of young players like Dylan Strome and Drake Caggiula, both acquired this season. The team has also bought into the 33-year-old Colliton's methods, different from those of Quenneville.
Bowman appreciates the renewed confidence he sees in the Blackhawks, which grew with more wins. They had won 10 of 12 games and were one point out of a wild-card spot before dropping critical home games to the Avalanche on Friday and to the Stars on Sunday. Still, Bowman came away encouraged by how the Blackhawks played, even if they weren't rewarded with points.
"Things are looking up," Bowman said. "I think if we were talking a few months ago, it looked like we were so far behind everybody. I saw good things when you sort of sit down and watch the video and some things we were trying to get our players to do. You see it, but the wins weren't there.
"Now, when you see it translate to victories and you sort of get on a streak, we've done it recently, we went on a winning streak. There's no reason we can't get back and start another one in our next game."
Leading up to the deadline, the Blackhawks couldn't move veteran players with no-movement clauses and big contracts -- though Bowman declined to say whether they tried -- and they won't deal their young assets after rebuilding the roster to this point. Bowman had conversations about potential trades but nothing he was comfortable with executing.
The odds are against the Blackhawks making the playoffs this season after losing two pivotal opportunities this past weekend. They're now five points shy of a wild-card spot with two teams -- the Coyotes and Avalanche -- ahead of them in the chase and with one fewer game in hand.
What the Blackhawks do have is their veteran core clicking with its younger new pieces, continuity being established under Colliton and also ample cap room to make a splash in free agency this offseason.
The Blackhawks may not be a playoff team this season, but they seem to be trending back there in due time.
"If that continues and then we add some new pieces," Bowman said, "I think there's reason for optimism in the coming years.
"We're headed in the right direction."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
