2013 vs. 2010: How Blackhawks compare

• Salary-cap purge results in only nine players left from that championship team
• Bryan Bickell is a major producer this time around
• Jonathan Toews%27 numbers are off this postseason%2C but he set up the series clincher

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in the Stanley Cup Final three years after winning the NHL championship. Comparing the current Blackhawks to the 2009-10 edition:

Roster changes: Only nine players remain from the Cup-winning team. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Niklas Hjalmarsson played significant roles on that championship team, and Bryan Bickell played four playoff games that season.

Record comparison: In 2009-10, the Blackhawks had the third-best league record and were ranked third in goals scored and fifth in goals against. In 2012-13, the Blackhawks were the Presidents' Trophy winner and were ranked second in goals scored and first in goals against.

Who's the most important newcomer: Johnny Oduya's arrival at the February 2012 trade deadline seemed to stabilize the defense. He plays an average of 21 minutes a game.

Who they miss from 2009-10: Dustin Byfuglien was such a unique factor because he was 260 pounds and could play both defense and forward. He was an intimidating presence and a big help on the power play. Honorable mention goes to Andrew Ladd, who was a solid citizen and contributor.

What happened after they won: The Blackhawks had salary-cap issues that summer and had to move out nine of the players who helped them capture the Cup.

Five reasons why this Blackhawks team might be better: 1. Goalie Corey Crawford has more impressive numbers than Antti Niemi had in 2009-10. 2. The team's transition game has improved, and it's probably the best in the league. The players are wiser and sounder defensively. 3. Bickell, who didn't play in the Final in 2010, has eight goals this posteason. 4. The team is deeper and its role players are more dangerous. For example, Andrew Shaw, Michael Frolik, Viktor Stalberg and Brandon Saad have the ability to make plays that can be the difference in a game. 5. The core players on the team, some of them wide-eyed the last time they won the Cup, are more mature, savvy and confident than they were in 2010. They started this season with a NHL-record 24-game point streak (21-0-3).

What's not the same: Toews isn't as offensively dynamic as he was in 2009-10. He was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP three years ago, producing seven goals and 29 points in 22 games. This season, Toews has one goal and nine points in 17 games. But don't kid yourself, Toews is still a huge factor for the Blackhawks. He set up Kane for the second-overtime goal in Game 5 vs. the Los Angeles Kings that put Chicago back in the Final.