Erin Brown and Greg Cimilluca of CBSSports.com provide analysis on three topics.
| Will Sergei Samsonov revive his career in Carolina? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
 I don't think so. Reclamation projects rarely work out, though I would say hockey probably has one of the higher percentages of those being successful. Granted, that percentage is still pretty turdy. The worst thing for a player is to lose the edge he had in his prime. For Samsonov, speed and size (or lack thereof) was his game -- using his skating and stature to get in areas more difficult for larger players. Take speed away (injuries) and his ability to get away a good shot in close (wrist injury) and the things that made him special and dangerous are gone. You are left with a shell of the former Calder Trophy winner. Throw in a little softness on the work ethic side and you are left with a guy you could replace from the AHL. That being said, he nets one goal for Carolina and he already has done something he couldn't in Chicago, so ... |  Samsonov has done nothing but struggle since leaving Edmonton, so I'm a little skeptical the winger can regain the form he showed early in his career. But if there is any team the former first-round pick can make a comeback with, it's the Hurricanes. Carolina boasts a fair amount of veteran talent, unlike Chicago. In Raleigh, Samsonov won't face anything close to the scrutiny he encountered in Montreal. He's in the final year of a contract and running out of chances to prove he's still a valuable asset. With Justin Williams out for the season, Samsonov will fill in on Carolina's second line with hardworking Rod Brind'Amour and Cory Stillman. That alone could help him improve his attitude and work ethic. If Samsonov can't turn it around in Carolina, I don't know where he could. Samsonov can always make like Alexei Yashin and return to Russia. |
| What did you think of extra exposure given to the World Junior Championship? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
| I am sure all hockey fans (that's right, all) feel the same way: the more the merrier. A mini-Olympic-styled tourney in the middle of the NHL season featuring the some of the best future NHL'ers is fantastic. The fact that the NHL Network had games from the quarterfinals was awesome and I can only hope that they eventually move to pool play covering the entire tourney, seeing as how that is when the USA actually wins games, anyway. I know, easy on the USA bashing. I am a huge supporter of my country's players, but losing -- losing to Canada again and having to continually listen to the TSN announcing crew laude every single play, seemingly from the way they put their uniforms on, to the final whistle -- is a bit much to take. Now I know their response will surely be, "Just beat us then," to which I can only say in my best Seinfeldian voice, "Newman!" | I was pleased to see the event finally got U.S. coverage after being ignored for years by certain, ahem, sports networks. My biggest disappointment was, by the time the United States advanced to the medal round, their best games were behind them. But considering the number of players already drafted by NHL teams, I can see where the league (and the NHL Network) can build on its coverage. For many fans, this is the only chance they get to see some of their most recent draft picks play. It might be worth expanding coverage next season to include preliminary-round games of the U.S. and Canadian teams, or put together a 30-minute show similar to On the Fly, highlighting the efforts of NHL prospects in the tournament. My only other suggestion would be for the NHL Network to do its own intermission show -- especially during any U.S.-Canada games -- since TSN's pro-Canadian bias seems to irk Americans tuning in to watch. |
| How would you rate the job of the Blackhawks front office this season? | |
| Greg Cimilluca | Erin Brown |
| I think the changes they have made are a long time coming and the son of Bill Wirtz is looking to make amends for prior transgressions in the front office. The players are young and trying to re-establish the franchise as a consistent playoff and Cup-contending team, so Rocky Wirtz has taken another approach to win back the fans 'til the play on the ice gets there. First and most obvious was getting Blackhawks home games on local television -- a no-brainer item that his father refused to budge on. Next, bring in old favorites as a P.R.-related move to show the retired gang and the fans, Hey, we remember our glorious past. Enter Bobby Hull and the incredibly happy-to-be-back-as-part-of-the-organization Stan Mikita (yes, the doughnut guy from Wayne's World for those of you who don't know hockey before 1990). The real test will be player personnel decisions: Will they make the same mistakes as the elder Wirtz/Dale Tallon crew did, or will Rocky extend his goodwill tour to the ice as well? Time will tell. | It has been a year of transition for Chicago's front office, and one that appears for the better. Since Rocky Wirtz assumed the role of chairman in October, seemingly minor changes are finally starting to have a major impact. The first positive move was getting Blackhawks home games on local television. And that strategy might have paid off since Chicago, playing .500 hockey, has managed to draw at least 20,000 in its past four games at the United Center. There have also been efforts to bring former Blackhawks legends into the fold, the most recent being Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, who will be honored at a game in March. How Chicago looks to improve its team at the trade deadline or over the summer will give more insight into Wirtz's commitment for the long term. But for the first half of the season, I give the front office a solid B. |
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