Stan Bowmans Offseason Check List

Going into an offseason which follows a first round knockout, it’s clear that the Blackhawks need some changes.  Obviously the team they had this year didn’t perform to the hopes of Stan Bowman, and thus he will undoubtedly be working the phones this offseason.  But what should the Blackhawks go after? Here are my ideas for Mr. Bowman’s checklist…

1.       Re-Sign Corey Crawford-

Obviously, one of the major factors that helped the Blackhawks all season was Corey Crawford’s play in net.  The rookie’s 33 wins, 2.30 GAA, and .917 Save % were key to the Hawks this year.  Without a Stanley Cup to use as leverage like Antti Niemi had last year, Crawford should come with a manageable raise for the Blackhawks to handle with their constant cap restraints.

2.       Acquire a shut-down Defenseman-

Let’s face it, the defense was not the Hawks strong point this year.  One of the critical problems the Hawks had at many times this season was being able to close out close games.  Acquiring a defensive-minded defenseman would definitely help this problem.  With Seabrook and Keith operating on relatively new deals and Campbell’s contract a problem to trade with a lot of money left on it…it seems as if Hjarmalsson would be a likely candidate, but did Bowman fight San Jose and match their offer sheet last summer only to just ship Hammer away this summer?  Plus, with Rockford stocked with good young defenseman, it wouldn’t seem like a priority to bring another defenseman into the organization.  This will be interesting to see what happens…

3.       Sign a Legit 2^nd Line Center-

Another problem that seemed to rear its ugly head a lot during the year was the constant failure in the face-off dot.  How many times did we see Toews dominate the circle and see the revolving door of centers (Dowell, Frolik, Sharp, etc.) not do their job behind him.  Perhaps the two most important aspects of acquiring a good second line center would be an added scoring threat to help relieve pressure off the big 4, as well as allowing Sharp to move back to the wing where he is more dominant.

4.       Re-Sign Michael Frolik

The mid-season acquisition from the Florida Panthers seemed to flourish once he made his move to Chicago.  He provided a nice secondary scoring option, and especially in the playoffs, proved to be a great linemate with Dave Bolland on the 3^rd line.  Also, with his low offensive numbers below his career averages, he should be a cheap contract.

What players would you re-sign if you were Bowman?  What positions should we go after via trade or Free Agency? Please post in the comments below!

Corey Crawford Continues To Show His Worth In Chicago

Blackhawks Goaltender Corey Crawford Has Been Very Impressive This Year

 After last summer's debacle with the Blackhawks and Antti Niemi, the Hawks knew that one of the most important aspects to their team that they had to address with their limited cap space was goaltending.  So, the Blackhawks made a splash by signing long time Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco to a 1 year contract to become the new top goalie in Chicago.  As a backup, Chicago brought up Corey Crawford who served many years in the hawks system waiting for his time to break into the NHL.  Crawford's addition to the roster was almost an afterthought to many Blackhawks fans as he was just a cheap player capable of filling a roster spot without wasting precious cap space.

Once the season started however, Crawford began to impress the coaching staff.  In his first start of the season on October 11th versus Buffalo, Crawford was very impressive as he stopped 32 of 35 shots to record not only his first win of the season, but also the team's first on the season.  He hasn't looked back since...

Crawford continued to impress as the season progressed, and eventually won the starting job from Turco.

Perhaps the biggest thing that Crawford has delivered this year is stability.  On a team full of young players trying to replace Stanley Cup Champions, Crawford has solidified the goaltender spot and at times single  handedly won games for the young Hawks.  Crawford is currently 10th in the NHL with a save% of .921 and 4th in the NHL with his 2.17 GAA...a big reason the Blackhawks are even alive for the playoffs.  Take into account also that the Blackhawk's defense is definitely not as dominant as last year and his numbers seem even more impressive.

While not being a household name or being mentioned on too many Calder Trophy watch lists, Crawford can certainly be listed next to names like Sharp and Toews for Blackhawks MVP.  His consistent play has given Chicago atleast one position not constantly scrutinized.

So now as the season winds down, we must all start thinking of that dreaded time that all NHL GM's fear...free agency.

Crawford is a Restricted Free Agent, and with his play this year will no doubt get atleast a few offers from NHL teams.  Crawford certainly seems like he has what it takes to be a franchise goaltender, but will he get payed like one? Crawford is currently making $800,000 this year, and we can expect him to definitely get a raise with his great play this year.  I think it is fair to say that Crawford will get atleast 1.5 mil, but more realistically will get around 2mil.  With Kane/Toews contract bonuses coming off the books and an increase of the salary cap forthcoming, it seems like this should be no problem...right?

What we also must take into account is that the Blackhawks have only 10 players under contract next year, and Brent Seabrook, Troy brouwer and others are also due new contracts and will also realistically receive a raise.

So will the Blackhawks repeat their strategy from last year and risk losing a potential franchise goaltender? Or will they commit the money into developing a potential NHL All-Star goalie?  Crawford has made his case, now it's your move Chicago...

Ahh the decisions of an NHL GM...

Blackhawks have the assets to buy

As we get closer and closer to the Trade Deadline the more I find the Chicago Blackhawks in the driver's seat. The Blackhawks have the championship experience, and a few of those players are still here. Also the Blackhawks have a very deep prospect group who can be used to get them what they need for another cup run.

The Blackhawks have a good amount of picks for the 2011 NHL Entry draft that could help them land a name for their playoff run. Along with their normal picks the Blackhawks have the Atlanta Thrasher’s 2nd Round Pick which was acquired along with Ivan Vishnevskiy for Andrew Ladd. The Blackhawks also have the Calgary Flame's 2nd round pick. For the 3rd round the Blackhawks acquired the Toronto Maple Leaf's pick from the Calgary Flames in the same deal that landed them Calgary’s 2nd round pick. Chicago also owns the Boston Bruin’s 7th round pick which was acquired for the Blackhawks 2010 7th round pick.

Now onto the players, first off is center Nathan Davis. The center has only played 72 games in the AHL in 3 seasons. He is quite often injured, and could be a piece to acquire something in return, maybe just for another AHL player who will play. Also at forward is Kyle Beach. The forward shows he has a very in-consistent game, and can hurt his team with dumb on ice acts. Beach’s value is a bit high right now, but along with that value also you would get his reputation that some teams may not like. However, there are teams out there who like Beach’s style and may be willing to take him in. two other pieces in the minors are Evan Brophey and Rob Klinkhammer. The 2 skaters have paid their dues in the AHL and may be ready for the jump to the NHL, and there may not be room on the Blackhawks roster for them.

On D the Blackhawk’s organization has a very solid depth core. Nick Leddy has proved he is going to be a solid NHL player, and a move won’t be made involving him. However after Leddy there are still quite a bit of Offensive D-men depth behind him. Brian Connelly, the Rockford Icehogs All-Star representative is having a very good year. However, when it comes down to it, Connelly will have a hard time to beat out some of these other players, especially since he lacks size. The towering Simon Danis-Pepin has yet to prove he is a full time AHL player. Danis-Pepin doesn’t use his size to his advantage, he has good vision and can create offensive opportunities, but he is so in-consistent he usually finds himself in the ECHL. Two other notable D-men who could bring value are Vishnevskiy and Shawn Lalonde. Lalonde has developed in a better 2-way player but still has that offensive play in him, and could be a valued piece, but I would rather him not be moved. Vishnevskiy is a very good offensive D-man. He is a solid power play quarterback, and has a tremendous shot, but sometimes it appears he lacks the “want” to play.

Finally there are the Blackhawks roster players. There’s not many but some could be moved. Viktor Stalberg, who I prefer not to be moved, may have some value out there. Also on D is Jordan Hendry. Hendry is still a bit young and could help either a rebuilding team or playoff contenders. He brings plenty of versatility as he can play wing or D. Also a long shot, but teams could be interested in Nick Boynton. Boynton brings cup experience, along with his gritty defensive ways could help a team who is looking for that style. It's a long shot, but with today’s cap, but never rule out the un-expected.

The Final decision comes down to Stan Bowman though. With the recent acquisition of Michael Frolik he is expected to build for a cup run. The Blackhawks have plenty of young guys who will join the organization soon, along with some newly drafted players. It may be time to move some of the Dale Tallon non-hopefuls for the future.

No need for panic just yet

Many fans are feeling a bit negative at a time like this. However, the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t quite out of the picture just yet. Several factors should be taken into consideration before fans decide to give up their hope. I am going to give three reasons why the Chicago Blackhawks shouldn’t be counted out just yet.

Reason number one is the standings. The Blackhawks are just five points out of the #4 seed which would earn them home ice. The Hawks also have games in hand on the teams ahead of them which will help out as well. A nice three game win streak puts them into the #4 -- #6 seed.

Reason number two is the trade deadline. The Blackhawks may not have as much depth as they did last year, but the deadline is when the Blackhawks can bounce back. It can be hard to replace some of the players we lost, however there are players available who can help. A recent acquired player in Mike Frolik will help as he brings more top 6 depth to the squad. Also some teams haven’t decided whether they will become buyers or sellers. That can also help the Blackhawks because if teams decide to become sellers they could fall out of the playoff race.

Reason number three is experience. Assuming some Western Conference teams become sellers the Hawks can inch closer to a Playoff seeding, if not I expect some moves at the deadline which will bring in more depth to the team. However, the Blackhawks are a team that will fight to the finish, and will earn that playoff spot. Once they have that they have proven they can succeed in the post-season. The team has the leadership and players to get back to where they want to be.

Breaking Down The Recent Blackhawks Trade Rumors

As the NHL trade deadline quickly creeps up on the GM's, many teams will look to either improve their cup chances, or build for the future by trading away veteran talent for young prospects.

Trade rumors are prevalent all over the internet from both professional hockey writers and bloggers looking for people to visit their sites.  Today, one rumor that hit Twitter involved the Blackhawks and their defenseman Brent Seabrook...and it wasn't from a blogger.

Rogers Sportsnet Broadcaster Roger Millions said today on his twitter (@RogMillions):

"A source of mine close to the Hawks says they may be talking of trading Brent Seabrook...perhaps to Edmonton. Really? C'mon"

Could this be true? Maybe...It did come from a more reliable source than a random blogger.  With Edmonton having a surplus of young talented forwards, and the Blackhawks having a system full of young, developing defenseman waiting to break into the NHL, it seems to be a good fit.


More rumors involving the Hawks were mentioned yesterday on twitter by The Fourth Period Magazine (@TheFourthPeriod).  In their article Here, they mention the possibility of former Hawks defenseman Brent Sopel returning to Chicago in a trade with Atlanta.  As the article states, Atlanta GM Rick Dudley was heavily involved with the drafting of Jack Skille by the hawks when he was the Director of Player Personnel in Chicago, thus offering Skille as the possible piece going to Atlanta in said trade.

This trade again makes alot of sense for the Blackhawks who could use Sopel to shore up their 3rd defense pairing, whie having a huge expiring contract to come off their books this summer.  Also, Skille's roster spot could easily be filled by Jeremy Morin, a training camp standout who has had trouble finding a spot on the NHL roster.

 While it seems unlikely that the Hawks would unload Seabrook to open a defensive spot for a veteran defenseman in Sopel rather than a young developing guy, the chances of BOTH deals happening is slim. However, one trade or the other could easily happen, but will they? How will Bowman be able to defend his choice of breaking up the tandem of Keith and Seabrook fans were told would be the top pairing of the future?  Would the Hawks finally give up on their 2005 1st round pick? A guy picked ahead of NHL all-star Anze Kopitar and other top league talents?...February 28th can't come fast enough.

Wild Weekend Proves Profitable For Blackhawks

Troy Brouwer's 2 goals within 40 seconds of each other lead the Hawks to a big win Sunday night.

 With the entire city of Chicago focused on their beloved Bears as they make their push through the NFC playoffs, the Blackhawks took the ice for a crucial Home and Home against Central Division foe Nashville.

On Saturday night, the Hawks traveled to Nashville and after 2 periods, it seemed as if the Hawks were on their way to a big road win with goals from both Kopecky and Stalberg giving them a 2-0 lead.  In the 3rd however, the Hawks once again allowed their opponents to come back.  Jerred Smithson and Shea Weber scored within 3 minutes of each other to tie the game and force the game into OT.

OT came and went with a couple missed opportunities by Chicago including a Patrick Sharp breakaway which was turned aside by Rinne.  It was now down to a shootout.  Pekka Rinne showed why he is one of the best young goalies in the NHL as he shutout the Hawks in OT and sent Chicago home with their tails between their legs.

As Sunday night came around, the Blackhawks, still angered by their embarrasing defeat in Nashville the night before, took the ice to an empowered crowd pumped up over the Bears advancing to the NFC Championship earlier in the day.  These fans were ready for their other winter warriors to dominate and take home a win. 

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks seemed to still be on a hangover from the night before.  The Hawks looked sluggish in the 1st period (again), and Nashville seemed determine to take another 2 points from their division rival.  Martin Erat's goal just 2 minutes into the game seemed to quiet the crowd and put Nashville in the drivers seat.  The Blackhawks however weren't ready to give up, and Dave Bolland's goal right around the 6:00 mark brought the Hawks back to even ground. JP Dumont netted a late goal to crush the momentum, and the 1st period finally came to an end.

The 2nd Period was played pretty tight, but Dave Bolland was able to strike again to tie the game going into the 3rd.

With their 3rd period disaster fresh in their minds from the night before, Sunday night seemed to be going the same direction as JP Dumont netted his 2nd goal of the night just 4 minutes in.  It looked pretty bleek that Chicago could overcome a deficit for the third time in the same game, but boy was I wrong.  The Blackhawks quickly woke up and attacked Nashville with a vengeance...

Troy Brouwer, getting valuable PP minutes, quickly scored 2 goals in :40 seconds to turn the tables on the visitors.  The Blackhawks never looked back after that...Bryan Bickell and Jonathan Toews also tallied goals in the 3rd and turned the game into a blowout.

With a recent flurry of injuries hitting Central Division leaders Detroit, now is the time the Hawks need to make a move in the standings.  Nashville came into the weekend 1 point ahead of the Hawks, and with the Hawks grabbing 3 out of 4 possible points, they pushed themselves into a tie with the Preds with 2 games in hand.

The Hawks will have another great opportunity to gain valuable division points in their next game which takes place next Saturday vs. Detroit.

Hawks Continue Hot Streak, Dismantle Avalanche

Heading into Wednesday night's game vs. Western Conference foe Colorado, the Blackhawks were riding a two game win streak over NHL bottom feeders Ottawa and New York Islanders.  Fans weren't sure if the Hawks were finally catching fire and playing like they should have been all year, or if they were just taking advantage of weaker talent.  The game vs. Colorado surely settled that debate in some minds.

The Blackhawks came out strong and really put Colorado's back to the wall and held them there for pretty much the entire game.  Troy Brouwer and Dave Bolland connected on back to back goals just :40 apart in the 7th minute, getting the Hawks the lead early and boosting their confidence.  Pisani and Skille added tallies later, and Corey Crawford saved all 24 of the shots Colorado generated to secure the win.  For Crawford, he has clearly won the starting goaltender spot, and as of late, his play has been excellent.

While all may seem great on paper, one aspect the Blackhawks continue to struggle with is their discipline.  The Hawks committed another 4 penalties tonight, including Tomas Kopecky who seems to get more penalty minutes than playing minutes.  While the penalties continue to occur, tremendous stress is out on the Hawks PK which has consistently shown to be ineffective at times.  Thankfully, they decided to show up tonight and they killed off all 4 penalties.

The Blackhawks will now be off until Saturday when they take on division rival Nashville.
.