Desjardins Re-signs and Some Other Stuff

From blackhawks.nhl.com

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have agreed to terms with forward Andrew Desjardins on a two-year contract, which runs through the end of the 2016-17 National Hockey League season.
Desjardins, 28, tallied a career-high five goals in 69 regular-season games between the San Jose Sharks and Blackhawks and four points (1G, 3A) in 21 postseason games on the way to his first Stanley Cup championship. He also scored a goal in his postseason debut for Chicago in Game 3 of the First Round against the Nashville Predators. Desjardins was acquired via trade on March 2, 2015.

Financial details are said to be two years at $800 a pop, which is downright cap-friendly and, in my view, a good value.  Desjardins hit a career high 5 goals this season, but that's not where his true value lies.  Along with a few hard-earned and timely assists during the playoffs, Desjardins found success as an agitator and space creator playing with Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw.  Together, they were a consistent, reliable trio that may not have logged big minutes but they were hard minutes, usually spent hounding their opponents' best line.  If and when Kruger is re-upped The Hawks fourth (or maybe third?) line is done and dusted, assuming Coach Q can resist trying to fix something that ain't broke.  His hands are questionable and his shot unexceptional, but he's got a great motor, decent positional instincts and can kill penalties, in a pinch.  I suspect he's Good In The Room, as well, as his teammates appear to like and value him even though he came to Chicago at the expense of the popular Ben Smith.

Saad signs 6-year, $36mil Contract with Columbus
Okay, that wasn't gonna happen in Chicago, so let's move on.  Saad's post-trade chatter suggests that he just left the whole thing in his agent's hands which is either disingenuous or stupid, both of which reflect poorly on the lad.  At least the other players' agents now know not to play chicken with Stan Bowman, I guess.

Oduya Lurks in Weeds
It looks as if Johnny Oduya's camp is holding back on talks with other teams while they see how much cap space The Hawks may have available.  Oduya earned $3.3mil on his just-expired contract and, on a lesser team, could stand to earn $5mil+, thanks to some hilariously overpaid d-men around the league (I'm looking at you Wideman).  His superior-in-every-way partner, Nik Hjalmarsson earns a mere $4.1mil so we cannot expect The Hawks to go north of $3.x for Oduya.  We shall wait and see.

Other Signings
Artem Anisimov, acquired in the Saad deal, extended to 2021 (I think) at a hit of $3.3mil.  Too soon?  I honestly know nothing about the guy except that he's large and has a rep for versatility.  You know he's going to be lining up with better quality wingers than he's ever played with before, so I'm cautiously optimistic on this one.  If it fails to pan out at least his salary is reasonable enough that he should be easy to move along.
Viktor Tikhonov, F, failed to set The KHL alight since his 61-game audition with Phoenix in 2008-09.  At the NHL level this lad is likely 3rd or 4th line material, at best, but his size may be part of a contingency plan in case Bickell is moved along this summer.
Michael Leighton, G, returns as the presumed #1 guy in Rockford and back-up-to-our-back-up in Chicago.  Why not?
Cameron Schilling and Michael Liambas, D, help fill out the ranks in Rockford and may be useful if Pokka or Johns or whoever begins the season in Chicago.

Departures
Antoine Vermette, back to Phoenix for some reason.  I guess that stuff about wanting to remain was to plump up his deal with the 'Yotes?
Brad Richards, to Detroit, continuing his prolonged farewell tour.  I predict he ends up in Los Angeles before this is over.

Two For the Show: Hawks 4, Wild 1 and Sunday's Big Boy

Wasn't that more like it?  Not dominance, exactly, but it never really looked like The Hawks were especially troubled, even with The Wild's spirited third period. To the juicy bits:
- Crawford was one shot away, albeit an excellent one, from a no-no.  I wonder if his iffy outing in the opening game of the playoffs was a blessing, of sorts, with Darling soaking up considerable minutes in that series and perhaps allowing Crow to get his feet under him for when it really counts.  We don't want him to peak too early, now, do we?
- While he hasn't yet had much impact on the scoresheet, Bryan Bickell has been his usual playoff self in other ways, creating chances without even touching the puck.  Tonight he racked up twelve hits, in case that matters.
- The icetime stats are looking more and more like I'd hoped they would, with a few small aberrations; Richards led all forwards, playing over 18 minutes and Timonen played less than seven minutes.  Otherwise, we're seeing a pretty smart workload allocation.
- Keith played nearly nine minutes more than any other Hawk, once again cracking 30 minutes.  This doesn't worry me, as he has perhaps the best motor of any elite player in the league.  If anything, he's thriving on the extra workload and, if The Hawks go far enough this spring, he'll be in the catbird seat for that Conn Smythe he's deserved in the past.
- Chatter persists that Sharp will be on his way come July.  While this may be simply a fiscal necessity, if there's anything to it, can't you just imagine he and Teravainen tearing it up on what would amount to the best third line in the league?  It doesn't even matter who the third guy is...
- Even when he's not terrible Rozsival manages to leave an icky stain; who was that stumbling out of the penalty box after Dumba's goal?

Saving the best for last, right?  Let's not forget that Patrick Kane wasn't even expected to play until a week or two from now; as it stands, he's third in playoff scoring and plus/minus.

                               I'M NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY.

When He's Good He's Great: Hawks 1, Rangers 0 and Wednesday's Big Boy

Okay, so if The Rangers represent the best of the Eastern Conference, we're looking not too bad right now.  I liked all four lines in this game, with each combo creating chances at various times and really looking like cohesive units.  I don't know if Desjardins over Versteeg is necessarily a good choice on the long term but, then again, what's 'Steeger accomplished, lately?  Andrew Shaw somehow evaded suspension after head-butting The Islanders Brock Nelson on Tuesday and promptly turned in a superior effort against The Rangers.  I am loving Shaw on the fourth line, with his fourth-liner grit and second-line hands.  What's not to like?
The defence, for me, was fine.  Rundblad in for Rozsival is always welcome and encouraged and, while he was caught flat-footed a couple of times, Rundblad managed to use his stick and body to prevent The Rangers from completing their plays.  I thought Oduya was very good as he continued to push matters offensively.  As long as he's paired with Hjalmarsson he'll get away with it, too.
Scott Darling was a bit lucky in earning his first NHL shutout, as three pucks did beat him, but there's that whole "you gotta be lucky to be good" thing.  Well, that happened, so good for him.

This guy can disappear for weeks and then, suddenly, he pulls a rabbit out of his hat and has one of these games where he's creating chances, denying the opposition and looking very much like the future hall-of-famer he is.  Brad Richards earns secure trousers yet again.

                                                            MSG is my bitch.

Baby Steps: Hawks 2, Coyotes 1 and Thursday's Big Boy

There's no point in qualifying any wins at this time.  "Oh, they should win, it's just The Coyotes" doesn't play, these days, as The Hawks are as likely as not to mess up gimme games like this.  It seems to be a different condition each time it happens: hot goalie at the other end, in which we get the shots on but not the goals.  Or nobody appears to care and we're outshot by, oh I dunno, The Oilers?  Or Rozsival stands still for three goals against. 

But we got the win last night, that's the most important thing, and these scrappy wins count as much as a 5-1 victory.  Withe St. Lewis blowing hot and cold (though, mostly hot this week) and Nashville self destructing, slightly, take the points when you can get 'em and maybe, just maybe, home ice to start the playoffs isn't out of the question.

About Last Night
- Wow, two powerplay goals. Nothing looked that different to me than the last bunch of games in which the PP failed, except maybe The Coyotes are bad.
- Oduya was not bad, not bad at all.
- Thanks to that, Rozsival was down to 15 minutes, still a far cry from my wish-upon-a-star that involves The Hawks leaving Rozsy in a home for the aged while they're in Arizona, but it's a good start.

Honourable mention to Johnny Oduya but, for lack of any real obvious candidate, let's go with Brad Richards, with the game winning goal and a milestone point, as well.

                                            Yeah, I ran out of the beefcake photos.

Time to Seperate the Men From the Boys: Hawks 3, Panthers 2 and Tuesday's Big Boy

Obviously, THE story from last evening's game is Patrick Kane's apparent shoulder injury.  How long he will be unavailable and how The Hawks' braintrust (ha!) adjust to this will be critical to the team's shot-term future.  First, though, to the game itself.
- Patrick Sharp finally played some significant minutes but one cannot help but assume that this would not have been the case had Kane not gone down.  I'm shocked that it wasn't Shaw that benefited from the extra ice time.
- I'm tired of hearing it, I'm tired of saying it but I'm most tired of seeing it, game after game; Rozsival is horrible.  What, exactly, Quenneville is clinging to by tossing Rozsy out there so willingly is completely beyond me, as he has been partly or wholly responsible for five of the last eight goals The Hawks have allowed.  Complaining accomplishes nothing so maybe I'll just stop.  How bad must Q believe his other options to be when he persists with this nonsense?
- Letting their opponents back into games that The Hawks have been in near-full control of must stop now.  The Hawks owned The Panthers for two periods and, once again, let up in the third (and overtime) sufficiently to very nearly screw up what should absolutely have been an easy two points.

I don't really feel too invested in this exercise but what the heck.  He had a goal in regulation and one of the two deciders in shoot out, so tonight it's Toews.

                                                              The best of a bad lot.

Like I mentioned, what happens next will likely be one of the most important adjustments of the entire season.  Best case - Teravainen returns and plays alongside Richards and Sharp but, in my heart of hearts, I don't expect to see this happen.  IF Teravainen even gets the call-up he's destined to the bottom six, isn't he, even though Q publicly asserted that he doesn't belong there.  More likely, I believe, is for Carcillo to draw in or, worse, Hartman to return or, EVEN WORSE BUT TOTALLY BELIEVABLE, Brandon Mashinter arrives to save the day.

We'll know more, later, apparently.

Finishing Strong: Hawks 4, Bloos 2 and Sunday's Big Boy

Didn't that feel good?  It looked pretty good.  Not perfect but, it shocks me to say this, I don't have much to complain about today.
Aside from the two points and, obviously, denying STL two points, I'm most encouraged by The Hawks finishing better than they started.  While the third period wasn't ALL Hawks they managed to limit the chances against really, really well, what looks The Blues did get were generated off their fierce forecheck in which they forced Seabrook and Hjalmarsson into errors.  What else....
- Not a bad effort from Oduya and I hope to hell that Tarasenko's goal won't dissuade J.O. from driving the net like he's been doing.  More of that, please.
- Teravainen did make a couple of blunders but he made things right with some tenacious backchecking.
- Hey, Carcillo was actually not too bad today.  He made a bit a mess of his tussle with Ott, and the meatheads will chirp about him not taking his helmet off, but his teammates and the coaches will like that he responded quickly to Ott's hit on Kruger.
- 10-91-88 looked a bit like individuals today, with more than a few optimistic passes and some pucks sent nowhere in particular, yet each member of the line generated some quality chances.  Richards' breakout and lateral pass to Bickell leading to Hossa's first goal was pretty special, indeed.
- Man, Rundblad can sure shoot the puck.  That 15 foot rebound onto Bickell's stick was off a wrist shot, for goodness' sake.

Even with two other forwards notching two points, as well as Crawford and Keith having outstanding games, two primary assists and a determined effort all afternoon ensure Brandon Saad the belt on this day.

                                                           Future ruler of Earth.

It's Opposite Week: Hawks 4, Wild 2 and Thursday's Big Boy

You have to ask what's going on when a team launches 54 shots in a game and is shut out and, two days later, is outshot 44-20 and manages to win. I guess the easiest answer may be that there was a very good goalie at the other end on Tuesday and not so much tonight.  At least The Hawks received a decent effort from their netminder in each game.

Despite being owned in the shots & chances departments there was still lots of positive stuff to take away from tonight:
- Rundblad, decisive with his shoot-ins
- Sharp, getting after the shoot-in!
- Kane, three more points and climbing steadily up the scoring ladder
- Bickell, unexpectedly on the second line and cashing in a pair
- Faceoffs, with The Hawks continuing to improve in that area (34-for-62 tonight)
- Best of all, though...

Brad Richards, with 3 sweet assists while playing more minutes than he's logged in several weeks earns secure trousers on this day.

                                              I'm makin' Mike Yeo anxious!

Clash of the Titans: Hawks Win Keepaway Game and some Big Boy Stuff

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.  Neither The Hawks nor The Stars were particularly great in this one and The Hawks were downright lucky to finish the third period tied, on merit of a hail-mary shot by Brad Richards that should never, ever work in an NHL game.  Right? 
Still, it was an entertaining, if a bit frustrating match.  The ten or so seconds preceding Saad's goal was all about Toews being All-World, yet again, with two take-aways and a sick pass to set up the goal.  On the other end of the spectrum, well, take your pick of any number of botched breakouts or Crow's sweet pass up the middle, there.

There were a few Hawks that caught my eye; Richards with a couple of points, Keith's outstanding slap-pass in OT and Toews had a few simply outstanding shifts, but a great pass in the second period and the game winning goal in OT earn The Sharp Dressed Man the Belt.

              First star but didn't hang around to talk to Dan Roan.  Should we be worried?

Against All Odds: Wednesday's Big Boy (Hawks 4, River Scum 1)

You know your team will lose games, a few if they're an elite team or a lot if they're The Oilers, but there are certain games you really don't want to lose.  Any game against St. Lewis falls into the latter category, not just because giving up a four-point gap against a divisional rival is a poor result, but also because....St. Lewis.
I felt a great deal of trepidation heading into this match, mostly because Antti Raanta scares the heck out of me.  I still believe that he will be a middling-to-good-possibly-very-good goaltender at the NHL level, but his challenging style is challenging my nerves and I always feel like he's one scouting report away from being walked around eight or nine times some night in the very near future.
I also have this lingering fear that the Richards-Kane-Versteeg combo will regress to the mean, or jump the shark or be exposed as a line that should not and cannot work.
Fortunately, I appear to be worrying prematurely, as Raanta was fine - not at all perfect and still a little scary - and 91-88-23 continued to do whatever they're doing that clearly works very, very well.  It didn't seem entirely easy, but I can't decide if The Hawks let off the gas now and again, as The Blues enjoyed stretches in which they outshot The Good Guys quite decidedly, or if they were just messing with them.  

I still believe that playing with Kane is making Kris Versteeg appear far better than he has any right to as Kane, I believe, is making the most of some pretty dodgy passes but, hey, he's there and the job is getting done.  Versteeg is welcome to wear The Belt anytime he racks up three points.  I would even consider commissioning some Big Boy suspenders for him if this becomes a regular thing.

                                        Success begins with a hearty breakfast.


In other news, The Hawks have returned Adam Clendening to Rockford and summoned Klas Dahlbeck.  I knew I'd get that right, eventually.  Also, I've been spelling Clendening's name wrong for three months.  I feel shame.

Saturday's Alright for Fighting: Hawks vs. Kings Big Boy

And so another Circus Trip concludes and The Hawks come home with 10 of a possible 12 points.  The forward lines have been more or less stable for the past 4 or 5 games with three of the four lines actually clicking really well offensively.  I guess Patrick Sharp will return to the lineup and screw all that up, ho ho.

There's no shortage of candidates for Big Boy Beltiness after the 4-1 win over The Kings.  Richards had two goals but one was a giveaway and the other a simple tap-in to conclude a very dirty series of passes.  Versteeg registered two assists but really only one had much to do with anything he did.  Crawford was solid for the umpteenth game in a row but does 20 shots constitute a full day's work?

Why not Dan Carcillo, then?  He swatted in a dying quail in the first period, handily won a more or less legitimate fight late in the game and maybe he gets a little extra credit for the great pass on Friday afternoon.  Also, it may never happen again.

Black Friday Big Boy and Other Stuff

I watched the Friday game on PVR and THEN read the various recaps, Tweets, etc., and now I wonder if I watched the same game as some of these other guys.

- After being slagged by practically everyone, including myself, Kris Versteeg is defiantly having a fine start to the season.  Let's not get too carried away, though; how many of his points were with Patrick Kane on the other wing?  Just sayin'...
- I am delighted that Kane has finally found his stride or his mojo or whatever he lacked for the first 15 or so games.  What bugs me is that his offensive outburst pretty much coincided with Richards replacing Shaw as his center.  So what took so long?  Just sayin'...
- The Hawks had very good puck possession and, as usual, outshot their counterparts handily, but it sure didn't look like "the best game all year" that several post-game soundbites and interwebz recaps declared it to be.  Sure, they schooled the first-placed team in The West but there was still plenty of ugly.  Saad was a nightmare, consistently passing behind his linemates and what the hell was that no-look pass to nowhere?  Kruger, of all people, flicking that backhand whatever-it-was in front of his own net...what was that?  Richards had to stretch, dive and chip pucks all night to make up for his linemates "approximations".  Rundblad looked slow and yippy throughout the game but, hey, the coaching staff hasn't done much to boost the lad's confidence, have they; after seeing Clendenning get benched (and then scratched) after ONE error Rundblad must feel like he's walking on glass.  He knew all along that a two-goal game might not be be enough to avoid the scratch for Saturday's match against The Kings.
- The Ducks dressed three defensemen who had a combined 16 games NHL experience, two of whom failed to crack 9 minutes icetime.  Well, at least we now know that Bruce Boudreau is slightly dumber than Quenneville.

Anyway very glad to have the two points and the emotional lift that making The Ducks your bitches must bring, but it just felt like the sort of game that, with slightly different circumstances, is a 4-3 loss.

Oh yeah, I thought this guy was awesome.

Two points and several desperate efforts to keep the play alive earns Brad Richards the pants-holder-upperer for a few hours.

                  Hey, photos of Richie in a road jersey are still as rare as Pope shit....

One Last Helping of Home Cooking: Sunday's Big Boy

Despite losing their way a bit in the latter part of the first period and most of the second, The Hawks executed a near-perfect third period, scoring four times and looking very much like the team they can be.  The Good Guys outshot Dallas 23 - 5 in the final frame, attacking relentlessly while The Stars, who played and lost the night before, simply failed to keep up.

And check this out - Coach Q rolled four lines.  Isn't it amazing what can happen when the forwards achieve some consistency?  Another big element in the win was the play of Patrick Kane.

With a beauty of a goal and two assists Kaner has hopefully shaken off whatever had limited him to only occasional points over the last several weeks.  Kane played practically the entire game with Brad Richards and Kris Versteeg and, even with Versteeg being extra-shooty tonight, the trio looked in control on the majority of their shifts; drops and lateral passes were working well and the line drove possession all night.

                                                            Welcome back, 88.

The only crappy thing about the game tonight was Trevor Van Riemsdyk leaving the game early in the first period after blocking a shot with the early word from The Hawks' camp being not very encouraging.  TVR has been an unqualified pleasant surprise this season, so it's a shame to see him go down for any amount of time just as much as it was terrifying to see Rozsival play almost 20 minutes tonight.  David Rundblad, obviously, will draw in but someone will certainly be called up from Rockford this week, as The Hawks embark on the annual Circus Trip and six games in a row on the road.  Nobody wants to confront the prospect of Rozsie playing six consecutive road games, so prepare to get to know Klas Dahlbeck.