Chicago Blackhawks

finding Niemi was an exception and shouldnt be seen as norm. the Hawks flat out need a goalie and the answer is not Emery or Crawford. Just saying, you could be wasting a very talented team by not having a capable goalie. not saying Timmy is the only answer but he's on a short term deal so if you dont like him you can just dump him. TT's cap hit will be $5 but actual money paid out next seaon will only be $3.

I'm in the camp that believes goalies' stats are more the result of a system and a goalie match for a style favorable to the skaters in front of them.   I don't like most goalie stats, I think save %, GAA, and a few others are as useless as +/- in the overwhelming number of instances  

With the padding, the systems, the excellent coaching, the skill and size of players infront of the goalie, the rules, I think the goalie is the most overrated position in the NHL by a landslide in all but a very few circumstances.   Based on the goalie market the last few seasons, I think gms are trending to think the same thing, at least in terms of cap hit %.

I strongly disagree that chicago needs a goalie at the top of the priority list.     Having been punished to watch this system for so long with Detroit and now Chicago for 4 years, I think the answers to the perceived problems at the goalie position lie someplace else first.    I'm very content to give Crawford another year and I prefer him over any goalie for 4 million that hasn't played in a similar system in the playoffs.     Another problem with Chicago has been continuity in net and in front.   There has been significant roster turnover each of the last 2 seasons and a whole bunch of rookies.  

I think the familiarity will help minimize the terrible mistakes we've seen this year too, I would like to see one more year of Crawford with the same backup before writing him off.   The whole "sophomore" slump thing may have been part of the issue too.    

I agree w/ you to a point Bob. The defensive makeup of a team and system play a huge part in determining a team's GA and wins. Having continuity in net and on the blueline help a ton as you mentioned- the trust factor. Beyond that is the situational goalie though. That goalie that can make the save when it matters most in the most important parts of the game is the key. Not letting in a soft goal and deflating your team. You see it time and again, team A comes in on an odd man rush and team B's goalie makes a huge save. Team B turns up ice and puts one home. I think you need a goalie that is succesful in situational hockey and youll have a team that follows suit. 

I think we'll see top role players start eating a disproportionate amount of cap space next combined with veteran depth players

I can definitely see that happening right away.  I've said a couple of times recently that a team like the Wings can really improve their chances with some bigger and grittier role players on that third line.  So I wonder what guys like Gaustad and Moen, 2 players I believe could help the Wings rake in this summer as UFA's?  Maybe they're in for a nicer payday then everybody including themselves expected.

this makes sense to me and scares me that Chris Kelly will be hitting the open market.

Isn't Schneider from Vancouver a free agent? Wouldn't he look good as our #1 goalie?

That goalie that can make the save when it matters most in the most important parts of the game is the key. Not letting in a soft goal and deflating your team. You see it time and again, team A comes in on an odd man rush and team B's goalie makes a huge save. Team B turns up ice and puts one home

I completely agree, and that's why the Hawks were able to get it to OT in the last seconds of 3 games.   Crawford gave up the 2 garbage goals, but he made late monster saves in the 3rd of each game to give the Hawks a chance to win.   Even after the deflating goals the Hawks came out and played excellent to start games 4 and 5.   

That's why I'm fine with Crawford, he's made a number of huge saves to get games to OT (7 straight games going back last year).  He's proven to have a short memory in the big games, he's cheap, he's familiar with the system, and he's yet to get bounced in a playoff game.    He's 3-4 in OT and he's done well in 5 of 6 elimination games, I don't really fault him for the loss the other day, but he didn't have a good day.

I'm defending him now, but I was the guy that wanted him traded away each of the previous 3 seasons priot to last postseason.

Again, my opinion is just one side, I can't argue that the opposite stance (about bouncing him because of the weak OT losing goals) is any more right or wrong.     I like his body of work in the postseason, and I like the idea of roster continuity given the talent on the roster.  

We'll never have to worry about "Crawford" and "Vezina" being in the same conversation. If Bowman doesn't address this situation then he's doing a great disservice to the rest of the roster.

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Anyone hear how Hossa is doing?

The implications at the end of the year interviews and statements were that they expect Hossa to recover and that he did suffer a severe concussion.    As of a few days ago, there was no timeline for recovery in place and he wasn't close to skating again.   

We don't know anything for certain, but he isn't playing in the internation competition either.

Thanks for the info HB

You're welcome fanforever

More on Hossa today.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport
s/hockey/blackhawks/chi-blackhawks-
hossa-still-not-feeling-like-myself
-20120503,0,3539086.story?track=rss

It was pretty bad, and it's still bad.    He's at least a month from any strenuous activity according to his statements.

Here's some highlights:

"It's been a few weeks now and obviously I'm not feeling myself yet. (But) I'm feeling better and slowly going for walks.

Hossa said he spent "basically one week of just sitting at home" and "that was not fun. The good thing is I can move around now. Things are bothering me less than before. It's a good sign."

This is from a different article:

"This is biggest one for sure," he stated. "Not fun, especially the first few days in a dark room."

His comments came from an interview he did with reporters from Slovakia.   There will be more stories on him in the next day or two, the few that are out there have a few other comments, but the article I attached covered all the main points of interest. 

No mistake about it, it was a severe concussion.   It's scary when a guy like him is excited about being able to go for a walk.    Torres did reach out to Hossa, but it was a short conversation according to Hossa, he was happy he reached out but still pretty ticked off that he left his feet and told him as much.

Get well soon Big Hoss.

Stan Bowman. When will his time at GM be up? Not sure if he's the one to be calling the shots anymore.

Anybody see the deadspin story on Patrick Kane's drunken weekend in Madison? This guy needs to sober up.

Right hear Bearbob8:

http://deadspin.com/5909246/reconst
ructing-patrick-kanes-drunken-weeke
nd-in-madison

Madison police haven't received any reports of him choking a girl.    They have not received any reports of verbal assault for the anti-semetic remarks he allegedly said either.

The rest seems like "Classic Kaner" based on all the stuff the was coming out daily in the summer of 2010 and plenty of other times before then.    

It has to be addressed by the franchise before something worse happens.

I heard the story from my daughter on Sunday night well before it hit the airwaves. Her boyfriend attends UW and lives at the Kappa Sig house where Kane showed up to party on Saturday morning. He was completely blotto and out of control. My daughter's boyfriend and his frat bros. tossed Kane out after he put a girl in a headlock. Apparently, he was behaving like a complete arse hole. Just glad my daughter wasn't visiting that weekend. Kane's drinking is a serious concern. Hope he gets it together immediately.

Yeah the Hawks brass can't be too happy about Kane over this. How many times is this guy going to act like a jackass? Might be best to trade him now while his value is way high.

Kane has lost that edge he had in the Stanley Cup finals and I haven't seen that spark from him since. I don't blame him at all.....he's in his 20's/makes a boatload of money/has a Cup win/Rookie of the year...what else is there for him to prove. The Hawks would be in a good position to make a big trade to get some value and maybe a number 1 goalie. Alot of good free agents out there this year. Not only top line guys but good 3rd and 4th line players and we all know the Hawks surely need alot of help. It looks like the Hawks will lose O'donnell/Brunette/Mayers/Morrison (probably best for all). I hate to say it but it's time to cut ties with Kaner. Losing his scoring (as it has diminshed) isn't going to hurt the hawks as much as people think.

Rob Flick is under contract.

He's not that good at hockey, but he'll make a fine protege for the "carbomb".   You'll notice similarities with their OHL numbers, but the scoring won't translate well moving up a level or two.   Flick was behind Bollig as one of the goon/agitator types in Rockford, otherwise he would have a dozen or more fights.   He has a little bigger frame than Carcillo but isn't as big as Bollig but he may be there in a few years as Bollig is 3 or 4 years older. 
I think he'll spend next year in Rockford and then I think we'll see him up with the team.     He's more talented than Bollig but I don't think he's as good a skater.   

For Hawk fans that want bigger, grindier, and not real good at hockey, Flick is their guy.  He won't be afraid to pass up time and space with the puck to put a hit on somebody.      Who knows, an injury or two and we see him next year.   He doesn't have to bulk up much to contribute (non-hockey contributions) at the NHL level. 

I'm glad to see the front office active now and well before June.

I hope the Hawks BRASS is watching these final 4 teams. Each of these teams HITS and HITS and HITS each and every player. They very rarely have less then 4 guys back on D and nobody except 1 breaks out once they get control of the puck on their D zone. I also see there 3rd and 4th lines (Like we had during the Stanley Cup drive) contributing alot!!! But the one major thing that each of these teams has is.....................a very GOOD to GREAT Goalie. Niemi wasn't great but good enough. We didn't have good enough but hope we get by type goalies. time to say Bye Bye to Kaner I hate to say. Trade him to Buffalo...at least he will be close enough to home that someone in the family can bail him out!!