Your 2009-2010 Chicago Blackhawks

The opening roster for the Blackhawks has officially been set.  Somehow, Radek Smolenak made such an amazing impression in two games that the Hawks couldn’t start the season without him.  Another peculiar development was the Hawks decision to carry three goalies to start the season.  That certainly gives off an odor they don’t feel that great about Niemi or Crawford.  

All this being said, the roster will probably look a bit different in just a couple months so this is nothing to get too upset or worked up over.

Hawks Lose Imaginary Trophy; Pre-Season OVAH!

In a game where the Blackhawks played with the intensity of their final pre-season game and their opponents, the ZSC Zurich Lions, played like it was late May, the result was a 2-1 victory to the home side.  The Hawks sent 35 shots to the Lions net and only got one past goaltender Ari Sulander.  I have no idea what this means in the big scheme of things, so let’s get to the important developments.

The good news was Dustin Byfuglien, Dave Bolland, and Kris Versteeg all suited up.  Jack Skille played for the second game in a row after leaving the game in Washington last week with a lower body injury.  So, for now, it looks like Adam Burish was the only casualty of the pre-season.

The ‘meh’ news was Radek Smolenak also dressed as the 13th forward and Versteeg skated with the 4th line.  That gives the impression to this observer the Hawks aren’t too confident in whatever is ailing Versteeg.  If he’s not 100% for the first few weeks, it leaves the window open for someone like Skille or Smolenak to stake out a spot on the roster. 

And if I hear one more word about Skille’s cap hit affecting his chances of making the team, I’m going to tear out my own rotator cuff.  With Marian Hossa starting the season on the shelf, the Hawks will have more than enough room on their salary cap to fit in Skille’s $1.275 hit.

The bad news was this was the first game of the pre-season the majority of the team played in together due to the aforementioned injuries.  John Madden was the only regular who sat out the international tilt.  Will this be the root cause of the Hawks starting out of the gates slowly?  We’ll find out this weekend.  Either way, the Hawks should be one step ahead of their competition when they get back to the States as they’ve already played in some high intensity games.  Well, at least for the first couple games.

If you’re really shook up about the Hawks dropping the game to the Lions, or an international squad for that matter, just look at what happened in Tampere, Finland on Monday.  The Florida Panthers lost to the home squad 3-2 on penalties when two goalies combined to make 50 saves to preserve the win.  For the record, Tampere is currently the 6th ranked team in Finland.

Then to complicate matters, they’ll probably head into Wednesday’s game against Jokerit with a skeleton squad.  It’s very likely they could end up o-for-2 in Finland and it won’t mean a darn thing when Friday rolls around.

Blackhawks 9, HC Davos (Swiss) 2

I’ll keep it short and sweet.  A lengthy write-up of a game Brian Bickell dominated parts of would be a waste of everyone’s time.  A few thoughts, though:

• Patrick Kane looked like what Wayne Gretzky must’ve looked like playing Bantam hockey in Ontario.  He was easily the most talented player on the ice, and he stunned the crowd with moves on a few different occasions.  It appeared as though he was named the player of the game as he was interviewed in front of the crowd minutes after the contest ended.  Probably quite a thrill – even for someone like Kane.
• The game could be summarized as such: The Hawks were far superior to the Swiss team, but the presence of the Hawks’ top players – Kane, Toews, Campbell and Keith – ensured it would be a blowout.  The Toews-Kane-Brouwer line dominated all its shifts.
• Sadly, Brent Sopel looked horrendous.  He was a step too slow all game long, and he was consistently left behind the play.  Not a good sign for him to struggle against a team with “HC” in its title.
• The Davos coach, like most Swiss coaches apparently, dressed in jeans and a long sleeve polo shirt.  He also seemed to stand in front of the players, rather than behind, and he also appeared to sit for parts of the game.  (His dress was a popular topic.)
• Brian Campbell dominated parts of the game from the back like Kane did up front.
• Let’s hope Dave Bolland is a better second line center than an interview.  He didn’t play, but graced the international hockey community with his insight during the second period.
• Patrick Sharp gets a lot of attention as the team’s resident ladies’ man, but he should watch out for Antii Niemi, if Niemi makes the team.  What a looker.
• Radek Smolenak and Brian Bickell had nice nights up front, too.  Bickell was especially impressive.  He looks like he could contribute on the third or fourth line if given the opportunity this season.

2009-2010 Player Preview: #19 Jonathan Toews

It’s no mistake we left the Jonathan Toews’ Player Preview for last.  He is the straw that stirs the proverbial drink; he’s the captain; and he’s the undisputed leader of the Western Conference finalist Blackhawks.

And, God, are we glad these are finished.  Bring on the hockey.

Today’s game against HC Davos – where John and Fork played three seasons together in the ’90s – in Zurich will apparently be viewable on NHL.com.  It may be a good day to pull your groin getting out of the office chair, and just go home.

2008-2009 Recap

It’s rare in sports today that such an offensively productive player – 69 points in 82 games last season in this example - is more often praised for his intangibles than his production, but such is the case for the Blackhawks’ captain Jonathan Toews.

Sure, Toews scored 34 goals in his most recent campaign, his 12-game goal scoring drought to begin the season notwithstanding; sure, he had 24 in his rookie year; sure, he’s added over 30 assists in each of his first two seasons.

What seems to be more important, though, is the intangible effect he’s had on Blackhawk hockey.  From Red Wings’ bench boss Mike Babcock praising Toews every chance he got last year to the 5-10-2 record posted by the Hawks while Toews was on the shelf during the ‘07-’08 term, Toews’ importance seems difficult to overstate.

Rarely is it pretty – his goal against Colorado two seasons ago not included – but Toews constantly finds ways to make positive contributions.  His board work is second to none; his will is better than his board work; and he has a knack for scoring big goals, even just by being in the right place at the right time.

Perhaps Toews’ most memorable evening last season was his four three-goal performance at the UC on February 27th against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Toews notched a hat trick on the night the fans received Blackhawk construction helmets, which were appropriately thrown on to the ice by the dozens following his third goal.  Even after his third goal was controversially overturned, Toews scored another, once again welcoming a shower of construction hats to the ice.  The Hawks eventually lost the game when uber-superstar Evgeni Malkin scored in overtime.

Toews added seven goals and six assists (13 points) during the Hawks’ 17-game playoff run.

Toews’ 2009-’10 will be a success if…

He becomes an elite offensive player.  Toews has undoubtedly had productive offensive seasons in each of his first two NHL campaigns, but there’s more in the tank for the 21-year old.  He upped his goal total by 10 last season, even while having to wait until his 13th game to score his first of the season.  Toews has the potential to be a 50/50 game changer and with questions abound at the center position entering this season, perhaps it’s time he takes another significant step forward offensively.

He finds a way to compare favorably with other elite centers on elite teams.  He’s absolutely a tireless worker, but for the Hawks to be a legitimate Cup contender, Toews has to be one-half of the Hawk center picture that must compare to Crosby/Malkin, Datsyuk/Zetterberg, Richards/Carter, Getzlaf/Koivu.  Can he be?  This season?  With Bolland?

Toews’ 2009-’10 will be a disappointment if…

Um, he becomes un-Toews-like?  Listen, Toews’ work ethic and knack for contributing when it matters serve as dynamic proxies when he struggles to get on the score sheet.  Sometimes the pressure he puts on himself is visible from the 300-level and he struggles because of it.  But, barring injury, so long as Toews remembers he’s the Hawks’ captain and leader, it’s hard to imagine a “disappointing” season for the young Hawk.

Central Division Off-Season – For Dummies

Bobby and I had the privilege once again to contribute to the fine publication known as The Committed Indian.  Here’s what we had to say.

_____________________________________

The 2008-2009 season was a banner year for the former laughingstock known as the Central Division.  Four of the five teams qualified for the playoffs (Detroit, Chicago, Columbus and St. Louis) and the only team that missed the playoffs (Nashville) was four points away from qualifying.  In a stroke of poetic justice, it was two teams from the Central that battled it out for the right to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.  No need to re-live the events of that here.  Lord knows it would hurt like a Patrick Sharp spear to the groin. 

What we are here to do – besides diverting your attention from #14 in white and his beautiful, memory-filled beard – is help to keep score of what exactly happened this off-season in the Central Division.  After all, with six games to play against each team, we might as well get to know them now.  Without further adieu, let’s get down to business. 

Detroit Red Wings (aka Scum) - Perhaps no team in hockey faced as much turnover as the defending Western Conference Champions.  Gone from last year’s squad, among others, are Marian Hossa (40 goals) and Jiri Hudler (23 goals).  In their place come the immortal Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams.  Excuse us for a second as we pour champagne all over each other….OK, back to it.   

If Detroit’s braintrust is as smart as everyone tells us they are, it won’t take long for Bertuzzi and Williams to take a backseat to youngsters Darren Helm and Ville Leino.  Here’s hoping they don’t figure it out for a while.  Both rookies were ultra impressive during last year’s playoffs, while Bertuzzi has yet to adapt to the “new” NHL that debuted five years ago and Williams is downright incapable of playing in any even-strength situation. 

Also gone are Mikael Samuelsson (19 goals), Tomas Kopecky (79 games played) and the corpse formerly known as Chris Chelios (102 HGH/5-Hour Energy Cocktails). 

Until we’re proven otherwise, it’s still their division to lose.  After all, Ken Holland has made a career out of unearthing secondary scorers, and having three out of the NHL’s ten best players – that according to The Hockey News’ annual Yearbook – ain’t bad. 

Chicago Blackhawks - Do we really want to re-live the 20 car pile-up that was the Blackhawks off-season?  Yeah, we didn’t think so.   

But, we may or may not have watched CSN’s recent encore presentation of game four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Vancouver Canucks together in interlocked fetal positions.  Suffice it to say we miss Martin Havlat’s musk, and when this is all over, we want to get an apartment together – preferably a studio. 

Please hurry back soon, Marian, so we can put the memory of the metrosexual Czech to bed once and for all.   

Columbus Blue Jackets - One of the biggest criticisms of Dale Tallon’s reign in the Blackhawks front office was his tendency to give a lot of money to players who may or may not deserve it.  Apparently, Columbus GM Scott Howson is cut from the same cloth.  This off-season he locked up Derick Brassard for the next four years at $12.8 million; he of the 48 career games and 27 career points.  And you wanted to slit your wrists when the Kris Versteeg contract figures came out. 

Antoine Vermette did a nice job for them when he came over at the trade deadline scoring 13 points in 17 games.  He was, in turn, rewarded with a five-year, $18.75 million deal.   

Former Hawk Sammy Pahlsson was signed on July 1^st to a two-year, $5.3 million deal.  This may have been the best move Columbus made all summer.  Seeing him six times a year will become quite the frustrating experience for all of us, especially those who damned him during his short stint as a Hawk last season. 

Finally, Howson averted a potential disaster by extending Columbus’ favorite son, Rick Nash, with an eight-year, $62.4 million deal that will kick in next season.  And, don’t fret, kids: Nash was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following this season, so neither Toews’ nor Kane’s impending deal will look anything like it.   

St. Louis Blues – A lot of people are predicting this year’s Blues will be last year’s Blackhawks; the young team taking the next step into the threshold of elite teams.  The Blues are banking on Paul Kariya and former first overall pick Erik Johnson returning from injuries as their key off-season acquisitions.

While Johnson may soon prove to be worthy of the number one pick, it’s worth noting Blues fans are already starting to question whether their team made the right selection with the first pick in the 2006 draft.  On the positive side: he’s given up golf.  No joke.  Blues’ President John Davidson probably would have settled for Johnson giving up 40-mph turns in golf carts, but one can never be too safe.   

As for Kariya, his best days may be behind him, but if he stays healthy, he’ll give St. Louis a second playmaker they desperately needed last year.  He’ll only be 35-years old this season; was a fulltime point-per-game player as recently as 2005-’06; and had 15 points last season in only 11 games.  Unfortunately, he also has the brain of a 74-year old man thanks to Scott Stevens. 

And, to insure themselves against goalie Chris Mason’s annual blow-fest, they signed Ty Conklin.  If recent history is any indicator, he’s good for about five wins this season over the Hawks. 

Nashville Predators – We’re sick and tired of writing off the Predators every summer and then watching them become a tough game night-in and night-out.  Not much changed this summer: the Predators lost forwards Vernon Fiddler, Scott Nichol, Radek Bonk and Antti Pihlstrom as well as defensemen Ville Koistinen and Greg Zanon.  Incidentally, they were also an answer last week on Jeopardy.  Question: Who are six NHL players who can’t be identified by their own mothers? 

In their place, they brought over career fourth liners (and that’s a complement for these guys) Marcel Goc, Peter Olvecky, Ben Guite and Ben Eaves.  If you haven’t heard of three of these guys and swear your sister’s friend dated the other, you’re not alone.  Somehow, though, the team will end up with 85 to 90 points, and you’ll find yourself cursing the day Gary Bettman ever decided to bring a franchise to Tennessee.   

The over-under for how many Chicago-area televisions will have a loafer thrown through them while the country lyrics of the long-time Predator goal song, “I like it, I love it, I want some more of it,” blare through the speakers: 316.  We’ll take the over, but keep your shoes on.

                                                                                                                                                 

For the second year in a row, it appears as though the Central Division will be the toughest division in all of the National Hockey League.  Each team will have their work cut out for them if they want to improve upon last year’s impressive performance.    

The race to the division title may turn into a battle of attrition and if it is indeed the Blackhawks who end up at the top of the hill, here’s hoping they still have something left in the tank when the calendar flips to April.

Wild With Concern (Game @ UC, 7:30 pm CST)

And, the Blackhawks’ 0-3 start to the preseason had you concerned?  The guys at Hockey Wilderness, a Minnesota Wild blog, are thinking of jumping, having the following to say regarding the Wild’s Thursday night loss to the Blues:

Tonight was the first time people should rally start to feel concerned. Concerned about the fact that nine regulars are still shelved, concerned that the team on the ice looks utterly confused at times as to which system they should be playing, concerned that the defensemen don’t know whether to pass or skate it out, concerned that we are a week away from the start of the season and the Wild still have six or seven guys who should be in Houston getting massive ice time, concerned that the Wild are going for the long bomb time and again instead to taking the zone with speed, concerned that the new “up-tempo” offense only amassed 18 SOG tonight. Frankly, things are NOT looking good.

And, the Wild blogosphere is merely taking a page from its rookie coach’s book.  Todd Richards, most recently a Sharks assistant coach, had this to say following the loss:

Coming off the way we played tonight, I think I have to change the way I’ve been doing things … The guys who are going to play are going to be the guys who have to go.

Yikes.  Now I feel stupid for crying myself to sleep worrying about Dustin Byfuglien’s ailing groin. 

In all fairness, the Wild is experiencing its own injury problems, with regulars Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Petr Sykora, Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu, Shand Hnidy, Benoit Pouliot and Derek Boogaard missing the tilt.  In other words, the Wild is perhaps missing each of its offensive impact players, minus Martin Havlat and Brent Burns.

That, along with Richards’ proclamation that the regulars will play from here on out, likely means that Havlat will make his first appearance in the United Center tonight since he left game four of the Western Conference Finals after taking his second crunching hit in as many games.

UPDATE: I should also mention that tonight marks The Committed Indian’s return to the UC.  (Only in America could a guy like the Indian’s Sam have a publication with a solid following.  Only in America.)  To aid the celebration, the Feather has contributed a piece regarding the Central Division’s offseason.  Read it and weep.

Empty Spaces

I said last week how results in the pre-season are largely meaningless and all that matters is the Blackhawks get out of it in one piece.  Well, here we are three games in and the Hawks have suffered injuries in possibly every game. 

In Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to the Capitals, it appears as though Jack Skille became the second Badger in as many games unable to make it out of the first period.  Skille only played 4:24.  What exactly happened, we’ll only have to wait and see.  To be honest, whether Skille is hurt or not shouldn’t be a huge deal.

But the Hawks aren’t dealing with injuries in a vacuum.  Kris Versteeg is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury and is doubtful for Friday’s game.  Dustin Byfuglien is out for the next few days with a sore groin.  Marian Hossa is out until November, and Adam Burish is out until March.

If you’re keeping score, that’s two regulars out for an extended period and two others out indefinitely.

You don’t have to be a rosterologist to realize the Hawks are really up against it.  Skille was never a realistic option to fill Burish’s spot.   However, he is the prime candidate to skate in Versteeg’s spot should he miss any extended period of time.  He is, by far, the most skilled of the forwards projected to start the year in Rockford.  In a serious pinch, he can skate on the Hawks’ second line but probably projects more as a 3rd line player right now.  If he gets to fill in for Versteeg, it will probably be his best chance to prove why he was a top-10 draft pick.

Without Skille, the Hawks would really be trying to make lemonade out of cat piss.  Unless watching Colin Fraser play on one of the top 3 lines is your idea of a good time.

It just shows how much damage the cumulative effect these injuries are having on the Hawks – Jack Skille’s health is suddenly important.

Update — Jack Skille did, indeed, leave last night’s game due to a lower body injury.  In other news, the Hawks waived Danny Bois and Richard Petiot today and recalled Bryan Bickell and Rob Klinkhammer from Rockford.

11-4-2

Before we each sell our season tickets in light of the recent announcement that Adam Burish will miss six months due to knee surgery, note the Blackhawks’ record, referenced above, during the 17-game stretch in the middle of last season which Burish missed with a broken foot.  Included in those 11 victories was a franchise record nine-game win streak.

The idiots cynics among you may say, “Yeah, but the Hawks had Craig Adams during that stretch, and they’ll (obviously) be without him this time around.”  And, I would say that there is someone in the Hawks’ organization who can do what Adams did in that span – certainly well enough to keep the fourth line churning.

And, finally, contrary to what some have said regarding the fourth line’s success last season, I feel strongly that Ben Eager, and not Adam Burish, was the driving force who allowed the line to succeed.  So long as each piece of his knee is in the proper spot, I think the fourth line will be nearly as productive this time around.

This isn’t to say that Burish won’t be missed; he most certainly will be.  But, to mourn a fourth liner who wasn’t even the best player on his line is going overboard.

And So It Begins….

All that forward depth the Hawks have boasted about will be put to the test very quickly.  Adam Burish tore his ACL on Sunday night and will be out for the next 6 months.  With still no word on Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg’s respective injuries, the Hawks may be turning to a few guys who were planning on spending their winter in Rockford.

All those silly trade rumors should be put to bed for a little while now.

2009-2010 Player Preview: #7 Brent Seabrook

2008-2009 Recap

Entering the 2008-’09 season, many wondered whether Brent Seabrook was a legitimate first-pairing NHL defenseman or just another average, slow-footed, Lyle Odelein look-alike blue liner.  Following the signing of a $10.5 million three-year deal in February of 2008, it was obvious what Hawks’ brass thought of him. 

When February of this past season rolled around, Seabrook answered the question for himself: legitimate first-pairing defenseman, with or without Duncan Keith.  It was then Seabrook who ramped up his physical game, often taking over games in his own end while almost exclusively playing against the best players the opposition had to offer.

Seabrook’s game is simple to describe: it’s, well, simple.  In his own zone, he keeps his movement to a minimum, skating in straight lines to a point of contact, while focusing on knocking an offender off the puck or out of the play with his body.  Offensively, #7 is an underrated passer in his own zone and led the Hawk defensemen in goals with eight during the regular season.  He added 12 huge points in 17 playoff games, which also led Hawk defensemen.

Seabrook’s 2009-’10 will be a success if…

He keeps things simple.  Players who find success often have a tendency to try to do too much after they’ve had time to digest said success.  Playing along side Duncan Keith against other teams’ top lines helps refine Seabrook’s game; he needs to be the large simpleton who compliments the flashier All-Star.

Seabrook’s 2009-’10 will be a disappointment if…

He doesn’t produce on the power play.  Those who watched Saturday’s game against the Capitals at the United Center know Seabrook saw significant time on the first power play unit, while Cam Barker and Keith manned the second unit.  No matter which unit Seabrook sees the most time on, he’ll be asked to contribute.  So long as he continues to get the puck to the net, he shouldn’t have a problem doing so.