from Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune,

Kings coach Darryl Sutter has been known to spew some hyperbole after difficult losses such as the one the Blackhawks hung on his team over the weekend.

So while Sutter's comments after the Hawks dismantled the Kings 4-1 on Saturday night to conclude a grueling six-game road trip should be taken with a grain of salt, his statement that the Hawks "are the best team in the league and that's clear through the first two months of the year" isn't all that off-base.

While they certainly weren't at their best throughout October and early November, the Hawks are hitting on all cylinders and sent a message to the rest of the NHL — and themselves — that they belong in the upper echelon in the league after a wildly successful circus trip during which they captured 10 of a possible 12 points.

continued