I guess this is no longer news by the time it reaches me in the Pacific Time Zone, but here's the break down of events:
- Brandon Saad's camp request 5 or 6 years, reportedly, at $6.5 mil per. It may to safe-ish to say that $4.5 or $5 mil was kind of an expected figure.
- Stan Bowman drinks three bottles of Pepto Bismol and still vomits his breakfast into his top desk drawer.
- Stan then pulls off a cunning trade with Columbus, who are now stuck with:
* Saad, who will amount to nothing, as we all know.
* Michael Paliotta, D, likely 1-2 years away from regular NHL duty. NHL duty in Chicago, anyway.
* Alex Broadhurst, F, a middling AHL forward and a push to make the NHL.
In return, The Hawks run off with:
* Artem Anisimov, C, a 3rd or 4th line guy in Columbus who, if matched with the correct wingers, could be useful offensively. He's been a 40-point-a-year guy in his six year NHL career. Not sure how he does on faceoffs. Anyone?
* Marko Dano, F, who notched 21 points in a mere 35 games on a pretty mediocre Blue Jackets club. Line this kid up with Hossa and let the Master & Grasshopper jokes commence. This is the best part of this deal, for me. Saad is and will continue to be great, but that's done with and he should not trouble us for a few years, yet, in Columbus. Dano is smallish but clearly very, very skilled and, I think, could potentially slot in on any of The Hawks four lines.
* Jeremy Morin, F, hilariously back to Chicago for his 19th attempt to make The Hawks. I don't what this kid did in a former life but it had to have been evil on Hitler or Walt Disney levels, 'cos he's suffering in this life.
* Corey Tropp, F, of little use or consequence unless Quenneville desires grit or whatever they call it when players aren't very good at anything except being frightening.
So, perhaps I'm just being ridiculously optimistic, but this doesn't look that bad. Believe me, I'll miss Saad; there doesn't appear to be anyone on the farm who is anywhere near ready to fill the gap he leaves. I'll reiterate that I think Dano is a great add and, as a possible side effect of today's adventure, maybe, just maybe The Hawks will be able to keep Sharp in the fold. Wouldn't that be nice?
You're Here by Accident. Make the Best of It.
A Mostly But Not Entirely Chicago Blackhawks Thing.
Tuesday 30 June 2015
Monday 29 June 2015
Depth Move #1 or "Joel Quenneville Will be Unimpressed"
From blackhawks.nhl.com (edited for the hell of it):
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have agreed to terms with defenseman David Rundblad on a two-year extension, which runs through the end of the 2016-17 National Hockey League season.
Rundblad, 24, tallied 14 points (3G, 11A) in 49 games with the
Blackhawks last season. His career-best plus-17 rating ranked third on
the team. He also competed in five postseason games on the way to his
first Stanley Cup championship.
The Lycksele, Sweden, native has recorded 23 points (4G, 19A) in 104 career NHL games over four seasons with the Ottawa Senators (2011-12), Arizona Coyotes (2011-14) and Blackhawks (2013-14). Rundblad was originally acquired via trade on March 4, 2014.
Rundblad was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft by theSt. Louis Blues Mayonaisse-Slurping Sub Mentals.
Like it says up there, this is a depth move and not a terrible one, at that, if we ignore the fact that Coach Q has zero trust in the lad. Still, Rozsival has likely been euthanized by now and it's half-expected that Oduya will be down the road soon enough, and we could a lot worse
(Example: The Maple Leafs just signed Tim Erixon, so there ya' go). I already love Rundy's big shot and really feel that confidence is what he needs most. And the ability to turn to his right, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Yep, same old pic that everyone's running but THAT HAIR!
The Lycksele, Sweden, native has recorded 23 points (4G, 19A) in 104 career NHL games over four seasons with the Ottawa Senators (2011-12), Arizona Coyotes (2011-14) and Blackhawks (2013-14). Rundblad was originally acquired via trade on March 4, 2014.
Rundblad was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft by the
Like it says up there, this is a depth move and not a terrible one, at that, if we ignore the fact that Coach Q has zero trust in the lad. Still, Rozsival has likely been euthanized by now and it's half-expected that Oduya will be down the road soon enough, and we could a lot worse
(Example: The Maple Leafs just signed Tim Erixon, so there ya' go). I already love Rundy's big shot and really feel that confidence is what he needs most. And the ability to turn to his right, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Tuesday 16 June 2015
Sunday 14 June 2015
Third Down and Goal: Hawks 2, Lightning 1 and Saturday's Big Boy
Tonight's was another game typical of this series, with tight checking, big momentum swings and some of the most entertaining hockey you're likely to see. Mistakes have been costly in this series and, while there have been precious few glaring errors committed, those that have occurred have often been game-changers. It can be easy to be frustrated when these gaffes result in a loss, but these are ostensibly the best two hockey teams in the world; opportunities are not easy to come by and, when they do, the best teams will create these chances and cash in on them, too.
Ben Bishop screwed up tonight. The Hawks' first goal was all on him, but I believe that events like this, at this level, are usually more than the yips or stupidity. A quality opponent like The Hawks can force an error like Bishop's, with their speed and their depth of skill, even on a play that, if it were executed properly just as it would be 98% of the time, would amount to nothing more than the puck leaving the zone and heading the other way. When you hear those footsteps behind you, though...
Other stuff:
- This was the closest The Hawks have come to rolling four lines since...I don't know when. The icetime for the third and fourth lines increased in the third period and maybe those slightly fresher legs did make a difference.
- Antoine Vermette is still being criminally under-utilized. As much as I'd love to see him back next year I wonder what's in it for him.
- Brendan Morrow plays for Tampa? Really?
- The NHL media can drone on all they like about The Lightning being beaten up, but they're the team rolling six defencemen and I think I'd take a healthy Bryan Bickell over Kucharov...maybe.
Well, this is weird but, at the same time, satisfying. There's the old chestnut about even a broken clock being right twice a day and, since Patrick Kane was injured some months ago, Kris Versteeg has looked, well, bad a lot of the time. This may be only the second game since the sudden dispersal of the 88-91-23 line in which Versteeg had any positive impact. Take it, build on it, get excited and stay focused for Game Six.
Can ya keep it together for two more days, Steeger?
Ben Bishop screwed up tonight. The Hawks' first goal was all on him, but I believe that events like this, at this level, are usually more than the yips or stupidity. A quality opponent like The Hawks can force an error like Bishop's, with their speed and their depth of skill, even on a play that, if it were executed properly just as it would be 98% of the time, would amount to nothing more than the puck leaving the zone and heading the other way. When you hear those footsteps behind you, though...
Other stuff:
- This was the closest The Hawks have come to rolling four lines since...I don't know when. The icetime for the third and fourth lines increased in the third period and maybe those slightly fresher legs did make a difference.
- Antoine Vermette is still being criminally under-utilized. As much as I'd love to see him back next year I wonder what's in it for him.
- Brendan Morrow plays for Tampa? Really?
- The NHL media can drone on all they like about The Lightning being beaten up, but they're the team rolling six defencemen and I think I'd take a healthy Bryan Bickell over Kucharov...maybe.
Wednesday 10 June 2015
Sunday 7 June 2015
About Last Night
If Quenneville bothers to play him, that is.
Thursday 4 June 2015
Gettin' After It: Hawks 2, Lightning 1 and Wednesday's Big Boy
Didn't see much of this one but here's what little I gleaned.
- We saw shockingly low shot totals considering all of the offensive weapons on each side. It didn't really seem like either team was being especially cagey, either.
- Duncan Keith's keep-away on Stamkos keeps him top-of-mind when discussing Conn Smythe candidates, doesn't it?
- The Lightning forwards may have had more jump than their Hawks counterparts but Chicago's defense were up to the task. On the flip, The Lightning defense were so conservative as to be generating nearly nothing from the back end. That may not be ideal but it's probably their best bet as they're far too slow, as a group, to afford much adventure; you have to think that any ill-timed pinches will have one or more Hawks forwards behind them in a big hurry.
- Hilariously, the Hawks' line that played the least scored both goals. It happens.
Was there any doubt? Each of Teuvo Teravainen's playoff goals have been on fairly innocent looking shots. I can't wait to see this kid when he has the confidence to pick his spots.
Terrorvainen.
- We saw shockingly low shot totals considering all of the offensive weapons on each side. It didn't really seem like either team was being especially cagey, either.
- Duncan Keith's keep-away on Stamkos keeps him top-of-mind when discussing Conn Smythe candidates, doesn't it?
- The Lightning forwards may have had more jump than their Hawks counterparts but Chicago's defense were up to the task. On the flip, The Lightning defense were so conservative as to be generating nearly nothing from the back end. That may not be ideal but it's probably their best bet as they're far too slow, as a group, to afford much adventure; you have to think that any ill-timed pinches will have one or more Hawks forwards behind them in a big hurry.
- Hilariously, the Hawks' line that played the least scored both goals. It happens.
Monday 1 June 2015
Duck Hunt Concludes: Hawks 5, Ducks 3 and Saturday's Big Boy
Two things came to mind as The Hawks put away The Western Conference Final in Anaheim yesterday:
- In Games 6 and 7, when they needed to win, The Hawks rarely looked troubled. They endured a few feisty moments by The Ducks but not much more than that. Where was this in the first five games of this series?
- Maybe it was inevitable that this series HAD to go the full distance, just so Bruce Boudreau could lose yet another Game 7.
Seriously, when it really mattered, The Hawks did (almost) exactly what they can and should do, with their best players sticking to their respective scripts and the role players filling in the blanks. I can honestly say I have no complaints about any Hawks player in Game 7. Here are the bits:
- Hjalmarsson and Oduya were shot-blocking monsters; their timing and positioning may never have been this good. It was kind of a pity that Oduya got flipped inside-out on Perry's goal but he's often struggled with speed coming up on his left.
- More than ever before it feels like as long as Jonathan Toews lives and breathes The Hawks cannot be counted out.
- I guess no one needs to worry themselves about Saad and Hossa swapping lines screwing up the chemistry; Saad's linemates hooked him up for 5 shots, Hossa had 6.
- No one should be too concerned with Crawford allowing three goals, either. Kesler's was on an incredible shot, Perry's came about as a result of Johnny Oduya falling all over himself and Beleskey's...well who cared at that point?
- I hesitate to say that Quenneville outfoxed Bruce Boudreau but, holy crap, a 10 year old kid with a copy of NHL'08 would have chosen better line matches than Boudreau did. Let's see if he insists on trotting out the Getzlaf line opposite Toews next year, assuming he's still employed.
Saving the best for last? I think so, and I also think that Patrick Kane caused The Ducks to just stand mesmerized. Well, not really, but he did do pretty much whatever he wanted to do and created chances practically every time he touched the puck.
Speak softly and carry an expensive, exotic-materials stick.
- In Games 6 and 7, when they needed to win, The Hawks rarely looked troubled. They endured a few feisty moments by The Ducks but not much more than that. Where was this in the first five games of this series?
- Maybe it was inevitable that this series HAD to go the full distance, just so Bruce Boudreau could lose yet another Game 7.
Seriously, when it really mattered, The Hawks did (almost) exactly what they can and should do, with their best players sticking to their respective scripts and the role players filling in the blanks. I can honestly say I have no complaints about any Hawks player in Game 7. Here are the bits:
- Hjalmarsson and Oduya were shot-blocking monsters; their timing and positioning may never have been this good. It was kind of a pity that Oduya got flipped inside-out on Perry's goal but he's often struggled with speed coming up on his left.
- More than ever before it feels like as long as Jonathan Toews lives and breathes The Hawks cannot be counted out.
- I guess no one needs to worry themselves about Saad and Hossa swapping lines screwing up the chemistry; Saad's linemates hooked him up for 5 shots, Hossa had 6.
- No one should be too concerned with Crawford allowing three goals, either. Kesler's was on an incredible shot, Perry's came about as a result of Johnny Oduya falling all over himself and Beleskey's...well who cared at that point?
- I hesitate to say that Quenneville outfoxed Bruce Boudreau but, holy crap, a 10 year old kid with a copy of NHL'08 would have chosen better line matches than Boudreau did. Let's see if he insists on trotting out the Getzlaf line opposite Toews next year, assuming he's still employed.
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