from Barry Rozner of the Chicago Daily-Herald,

Lidstrom, in essence, said that the four rounds of playoffs necessary to make it through the Stanley Cup Final are roughly the equivalent of another full NHL season because of the pressure, intensity, speed and debilitating nature of playing that many games -- every other day -- for two months.

Which brings us to the current Blackhawks roster and the core of players that has led them to three Stanley Cups, five conference finals and 22 rounds of playoffs the last nine years.

If you believe one of the greatest players in history, that's the same as playing five-plus years of extra hockey.

It's no wonder so many of them suddenly look so advanced in age.

Rather than their current ages, think of Patrick Sharp as 41, Duncan Keith as 39, Brent Seabrook 37 and Jonathan Toews 34. Marian Hossa -- 18th all time in postseason games -- would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 years old....

Still, the miles and minutes are substantial, the hits have added up, and the cost of World Championships, World Cups and Olympics have not even entered the equation.

Regardless, this group has had an extraordinary run, the Grant Park rallies and Michigan Avenues parades so easily forgotten when finally arrives a year without a postseason in Chicago.

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