The Lake Erie Monsters Resemble the Chicago Blackhawks

As I watched the Lake Erie Monsters play the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Finals of the AHL playoffs, I started to notice something; the Monsters look much like the Chicago Blackhawks. The players, the game, and how the team played were eerily familiar. As I have continued to reflect on this thought, more and more evidence came to light that really helped me piece together this post.

Since I opened talking about the Monsters playing the Reign, let's discuss that for a moment. The Reign are the farm club for the LA Kings, a team that the Chicago Blackhawks know all too well. Between the Blackhawks and Kings you can account for the Stanley Cups won in '10,'12, '13, '14 and '15. The two teams met in the Western Conference Finals in almost all of the years mentioned. They had some very thrilling series over that span, and it was really great hockey to watch.

Quick (Kings) and Crawford (Blackhawks)

What makes this more eerie and more similar about the Blackhawks - Kings reference is they played against each other in the 2013 Western Conference Final. That year the Kings were the defending champions, just like the Reign were the defending champions. Both the Blackhawks and the Monsters used their speed and scoring as an advantage. The Kings/Reign could not keep up as the Blackhawks won the series 4-1 in 2013 and the Monsters won 4-0, sweeping their series in 2016.

The win against the Reign sent the Monsters to the Calder Cup Final. The Monsters are looking for Cleveland's first hockey title since 1964. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks knew a little about a droughts for hockey titles; they had not won the title since 1961. The Blackhawks had not much to show for, besides being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Cleveland has been through a couple of franchises since 1964; the Barons, the Lumberjacks and now the Monsters; with limited success.

Ending the drought began in similar way, a changing of the guard. In Chicago, Rocky Wirtz took over and started building the team through the draft. Top draft picks like Toews and Kane helped to solidify the core of the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the decade from '00-'10. In Cleveland, a similar change took place as the Columbus Blue Jackets became the parent team for the Monsters. High draft picks like Sonny Milano and Zach Werenski were added to the team. They definitely have given the Monsters an infusion of youth for this year's playoff run.

Phil Simon

As you know a teams run to the playoffs is filled with ups and downs. The Monsters have recently mourned the loss of the beloved equipment manager Phil Simon. Phil died after a 6 year battle with Leukemia. The 2015 Chicago Blackhawks shared a similar loss with the apparent suicide of their equipment manager, Clint Reif. The Blackhawks dedicated their win in 2015 to his memory and made Clint's son part of the celebration after they won the cup. Our hearts go out to the Reif and Simon families, as they try to move on. We will keep you in our prayers.

Now, that we have talked about the teams a little bit, let's talk about the players:

Kane and Shaw

I think you have to start with Sonny Milano as Patrick Kane. Both of them have spin-o-rama goals to their credit. Both them have great speed and offensive abilities. Just give Milano some time and he might challenge Patrick Kane's numbers in the NHL.

Zach Werenski as Duncan Keith; both players have a great slap shot from the point. Not only that but both players have a great sense about when to jump in the play and when to hang back. Both have scored game winners in OT in the playoffs. Both played college hockey in the state of Michigan; Keith at Michigan State and Werenski at Michigan. They are very similar players.

Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand as Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad. This comparison comes with Bjorkstrand's speed and ability to score goals. Both Sharpie and Saader have this and you can see it in Bjorkstrand's game. You let this guy on a break away and it's good night sweetheart.

Michael Chaput as Andrew Shaw. Both players are always the first down on the fore-check. They're energy guys that get other guys involved. You are not always going to see them on the score sheet but their presence on the ice is greatly appreciated by their teammates.

Hossa

Josh Anderson as Marian Hossa. Both are very good two way forwards. They are not scared to play physical if necessary. Both players are also known for timely goals. When they are out of the lineup, they are greatly missed.

That was just to give a little taste of what the primary players on the Lake Monsters translate over to the Chicago Blackhawks. As you can see they have quite a few guys that translate very nicely to some guys that have won multiple Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. You just need to give these guys some time in the NHL and I am sure you will see the next generation of superstars.

Now that you understand that they have similar types of players, it is easy to see that they play a similar brand of hockey. Both teams, the Monsters and the Blackhawks, like to play with speed. They have many players that can get up and down the ice in the blink of an eye. The speed is a great tool especially against teams that like to play physical because sometimes they just cannot keep up.

Bruce Lee

Another thing both teams like to do is, wait for their opportunities to strike on offense. It is like Bruce Lee said, "When my opponent expands, I contract and when he contracts, I expand." Meaning you take your chances when you get your chances. If the other team is pressing, you contract in a defensive shell to prevent goals being given up. If you give either team a turnover, it's mostly going to end up in the back of your net.

Both teams have killer power plays. I think this stems from the amount of talent that the Blackhawks and Monsters possess. When you give either team a power play opportunity it is most likely that they are going to cash in. You might see a lot of passing at the beginning of the power play but by the end it is going to result in a goal.

Toews

Well, I just wanted to give you a flavor of how similar the Lake Erie Monsters and the Chicago Blackhawks are. As you can see they have a lot of things in common. Hopefully, it can translate into a Calder Cup win for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chicago Blackhawks have captured three Stanley Cups and they are looking for more!