"Ask Blackhawks players about their season, and they'd tell you, as if they're reading from the same cue card, that they can be better.

For most teams, it's a version of coach-speak. But for the Hawks, who have the most points in the NHL and an 8-1-1 record in December, there's some truth to it.

After a rough stretch, the Hawks' situation in goal has leveled off thanks to Ray Emery's emergence and Corey Crawford's improvement. After weeks of little production, the Hawks' depth players are starting to chip in more. And after some awful displays, the Hawks' special teams have found consistency. This is a team that's starting to play to its full potential.

General manager Stan Bowman still has concerns, but there aren't many.

"You need to address them if guys aren't performing well," Bowman told the Sun-Times. "That's [more] how I look at it than in terms of production. It's how has their performance been? Have there been consistent efforts? Have they not been making costly turnovers? Have they been filling their role? And if they're starting to not do that, then you have to look at it.""