Here's a quick lesson in how a trade rumor can get started...

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Ever been to a casino? Ever have the feeling of being on a streak hot enough to where you were able to take the money you walked in with, and stick it in your pocket?

That's playing with house money. That's what the Blackhawks are doing now.

They came into the playoffs with the third best record in the Western Conference, and they sit now as one of the top 2 teams in the Conference. By all rights, 3rd best goes home before the two big boys mix it up.

Now the Hawks are ready to mix it up with the other big boy.

Their season is already a success. It's like finishing a project ahead of time, there's a very calming effect that it has. The Hawks can now go out and skate knowing that anything that happens next is all gravy.

That's not to say they will be lackadaiscal. They've come from behind too many times in this playoff season to suddenly turn off their give-a-damn. They'll play hard, they'll play to win.

But, whatever happens, when this season goes in the books, they've exceeded expectations from all but the delusional or most hopelessy optimistic.

The last time the Hawks were here was back in 1995, which was pretty much their last hurrah, sliding the next couple years into non-playoff oblivion (save one season). This is a team having their very first hurrah, and it's a good one.

But at this point, whatever chips wind up on the table, the chips the Hawks brought in with them are in their pocket.

House money.

I live in Chicago, a city with a rich hockey tradition. As a Blackhawks fan (and blogger) I have that tradition, dating back to 1926, to draw on.

I understand Canada's passion for hockey. It's their National sport. I think the league would be well-served to have a team not only in Hamilton, but in Winnipeg as well.

But not this team.

I had, up until recently, thought the best thing for this franchise would be to just get a commitment from Winnipeg for a new building, and move the Coytes back up there, take the Jets sweaters out of mothballs, and have Shane Doan skate out to a big ovation.

But, every grand old tradition begins as a new one. Even the Montreal Canadiens were once the new kids on the block.

The Coyotes are a team that can follow the trajectory of the current Blackhawks roster, and that trajectory alone would bring hockey enthusiasm to the Phoenix area. The young players like Kyle Turris, Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov will bring this franchise into playoff contention, possibly as soon as next season. An exciting young team that will learn how to win is exactly what you need to continue building a fanbase.

Gary Bettman has already stated the NHL's commitment to keeping the Coyotes in the Phoenix area, but that isn't enough. (In fact, there's every possibility that if Bettman said he wanted to move the Coyotes, that would be the best possible news for Phoenix fans)

But seriously, there are other franchises, like Atlanta (which had failed in the 80s, and there wasn't exactly a clamor for the return of hockey to that town), that are far better candidates for relocation. That is a franchise in total disarray, and there will be no tears shed if they show up in Hamilton.

Leave the Coyotes where they are. It will be far better for the NHL to do so in the long run.

Rather than waste time with a fanpost plugging our site (let's face it, by this point you've probably been there, and either like it or not), I'd like you folks to help me out.

The Hawks are running Beard-A-Thon, where people are growing playoff beards, and the proceeds are goint to Blackhawks Charities.

I've been growing mine, and am going to pony up my own dough in the next day or two. I was hoping to get some more donations.

So, please, either drop some dough on my beard, sponsor someone else's, or grow one yourself. This has been a fun season, and we have the opportunity to help some other people out.

Thanks.

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