from Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times,

The post-shave stubble was pretty thick already, and his voice was still a little gravely, two clear indications that the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup celebration has spilled into a second week.

“We’re in Vegas,” Jonathan Toews said with a smirk as he talked with reporters in advance of Wednesday’s NHL Awards at the MGM Grand. “So you do the math on that one.”

But while the Hawks are still reveling and basking in the glow of their third championship in six seasons, a harsh reality check was delivered by the NHL on Tuesday morning. Next season’s salary cap will be $71.4 million. It’s almost exactly what was expected, but it was a cruel reminder that next year’s Hawks will look considerably different from this year’s. With just 14 roster players signed at nearly $65 million (thanks in large part to the $10.5-million cap hits for both Toews and Patrick Kane), and with Brandon Saad and Marcus Kruger restricted free agents, the Hawks will have to shed salary. And it’s going to happen soon, as general manager Stan Bowman will try to recover some of the draft picks he gave up for Antoine Vermette and Kimmo Timonen in time for Friday’s first round in Sunrise, Fla.

The Hawks have been through this before. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

“All of a sudden, it does feel a lot like 2010, where it’s imminent,” Toews said.

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