The Chicago Blackhawks season has been a flaming car wreck on the side of the highway that you stare at driving by. When the Seattle Kraken came to town to play the Blackhawks a few weeks ago for the second year, the team lit the lamp on fire with 8 goals as fans still stay to watch the finish of that flaming car wreck. Only reason to come watch the Blackhawks is see Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews skate one last season wearing the Indian head sweater. The final two pieces of the dynasty you can soak in the memories as the Blackhawks hope to deal both Toews and Kane who helped Chicago capture three glorious Stanley Cups. If they waive their trade clauses. Many of the team’s veterans will be sold off like an old DVD set of the dynasty at a garage sale.The way the Blackhawks have been playing, they may be lined up to land the top player in the next NHL draft as every team would love to have the up and coming young super star, Connor Bedard. A guy like Bedard instantly put your team back on the map. Last Saturday night, did the Blackhawks find their future in front of the net? It was the debut of 23 year old Jaxson Stauber and it was quite the debut as he did not give up 8 goals to the archrival Blues.

The last time the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Blues in St. Louis you have to go back to 2018 in October. This Blackhawks organization is playing these days during dark times. I mean dark because the team will be on the bad side of any streaks against many of their opponents they may have owned during the dynasty. I know the fat lady has sang and it’s over. Sometimes you find a gem out of the ruff of slop this team has gather at all levels right now as an organization. Eight ticks into the game former Blackhawks Brandon Sadd’s now wearing the Blue and white sweater of St. Louis shot was stopped by Jaxson Stauber. Just like that Stauber had his first NHL save. Stauber is an undrafted free agent who got the call from Rockford the Blackhawks affiliate and was wearing his Ice Dog goalie mask with his new fitted Indian head sweater.

Wearing number 30 is Stauber’s dream come true with his father on hand. The family watched Jaxson stifle the Blues, the Blackhawks archrival they have encountered for so many seasons. Stauber, born in Minnesota, has goalie blood in his genes. Jaxson’s father, Robb Stauber, suited for the LA Kings and Buffalo Sabres back in the 1990’s.

Robb only played 62 games in the net, mostly a back up he had a record of 21-23-9 in which he recorded one shut out with a save percentage of .890. Like father like son, seeing his son follow in his footsteps to take on the family business has to be another dream come true for the old man. You know he influenced and coached his son all his life, is my guess. Jaxson was brilliant as he helped the Blackhawks prevail by stopping 4 penalty kills and had 29 saves total to help get a win in his debut. Jaxson did give up a power play goal to the Blues. The Blues would score three goals, but Stauber and the Blackhawks knuckled down at the end to preserve the victory. Sure you can chalk this one up as the first game when the opposing team really does not know your weaknesses. First game, Jaxson may have got lucky as well.

In his second start, Stauber did even better as the Blackhawks played in Calgary last night at the Saddledome. Stauber only gave up one goal as the Blackhawks won 5-1. They looked good doing it and broke a two game losing streak. Stauber saved 34 shots as he helped kill three Calgary penalty opportunities. Stauber had six saves when Flames had the six men to four advantage on the ice. Stauber looks like a veteran on the ice as he’s unflappable in pressure situations when the momentum can take a turn. The Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson likes Stauber’s cool calm demeanor on the ice. Stauber seems like he gobbles up most pucks, preventing the opposing team getting rebounds, to redirect the puck into the net for more scoring chances. Stauber is the third goalie in Blackhawks history to win both games in his first two appearances in front of the net. Back in 1926, Hugh Lehman did it first for the Blackhawks & then in 1971, Gilles Meloche was the second to start perfect after his first two appearances.

In sports throughout history, teams come across players unexpectedly. The Blackhawks have some injuries at their goalie position and that’s why Jaxson Stauber is getting playing time. Some scout in the Blackhawks organization will take full credit for finding Stauber. Stauber played goalie two seasons at Providence College before turning pro. Stauber has been in Rockford before being called up, playing for the Ice Hogs & trying to improve his game for this moment playing with the big boys of the NHL. It’s only been two games and the kid looks legit right now, but as we all know it’s too early to tell. Blackhawk fans would love to solve the goalie situation this season and worry about the rest of the pieces fitting in on the ice during this year’s trade deadline and the draft. They are hoping to build the next dynasty and get back on the map of the NHL. Perhaps try to stay out of salary cap hell and make the next team ride out their dynasty longer than the Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane one. Then the next player, maybe Connor Bedard, could stay a Blackhawk his entire career as the team just builds around their superstar like the Penguins have been doing with Sid “the Kid” Crosby who’s no longer a kid of the NHL. It will be hard to see Kane and Toews suit up with another team. It would be cool to see them help another team get back to the promised land like Marian Hossa helped the kids. A star young goalie in the making would be pretty cool right now watching this roller coaster franchise stay out of the loop part and get back on the straight track. They are heading in the right direction back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.