Everything is right about the Blackhawks

The Blackhawks should be the sentimental favorite of the NHL Playoffs this year.

And I'm not saying that because I root for the Hawks.

The Hawks have all the attributes that make for a good, all-American story. Let's consider:

• Comeback story -- the Hawks were a dead franchise 16 months ago. The organization had 3,400 season ticket holders and no hope for the future. Now, the team has over 14,000 season ticket holders, a season ticket wait list and has first round home ice advantage for the first time in over a decade.
• Star players -- the Hawks have their share of star players: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin for starters. If they make it deep into the playoffs, Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien will be known throughout the nation of casual hockey fans.
• Team play -- despite what I mentioned above, the Hawks are a team above all else. No one player dominates the team; each plays a significant role in the team's success. For all the potential starts the Hawks have, it also has several role players like Andrew Ladd and Chris Versteeg to chip in with a little scoring and a little physicality when needed.
• Rough play -- the Hawks play their best when they play physically. Most of the team will put on a hit going into the glass. Some guys, like Byfuglien and Adam Burish, look for contact at every opportunity (they're rougher than the Bears, that's for sure).
• Fast play -- Again, another paradox. When the Hawks play physically, they also play fast. The hits usually create opportunities in either zone, and when that happens, guys like Sharp, Toews, Kane and Havlat get up and down the ice at a blistering pace to create breakaway chances.
• Bright lights, big city -- one can argue that small-market success is great for all professional sports. But for the NHL, a resurgence in Chicago is needed. It's a big market that's been dormant for a long time and the NHL can't reasonably assume that it will meet all of its growth targets without an engaged Chicago. There's too much money to be made, first of all. And second, the Hawks historically have a loyal following that the Cubs and Bears enjoy. We all know how nostalgic those fan bases are; the NHL needs this in the long run. Hockey isn't hockey without Chicago.

The Hawks aren't the best team in the playoffs, but they have a legitimate chance to make a run. Especially with Nikolai Khabibulin in net. You can bet that there are a few NHL executives in Chicago that are thinking the same thing. I know I'm thinking it ... the story of the Hawks going from worst to first is too good to pass up.