Hawks trade Wiz for Pahlsson
by SamFels on Mar 4, 2009 2:41 PM CST
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PrintReports are that it's Wiz to Anaheim for Pahlsson. I knew that rant would trigger something.
Update: So it appears it's official, Sami Pahlsson for Wiz and an undisclosed pick. Initial reaction: This trade has everyone blowing up at The 300 Level (what doesn't?) and Blackhawk Zone, but I can't get that worked up about it. For me, you have to separate the idea of James Wisniewski from the reality. The Idea of Wiz is he's a head-banging, forward crashing nutcase who can join the rush with a big shot and is a tough guy. The reality is that Wiz is a smallish d-man, who's had multiple knee operations, who does have a big shot but takes forever to get it off and isn't all that accurate when he does, who's been way less physical this year and hasn't fought once. He was playing on the 3rd pair and had a tendency to be a fire drill in his own end. So you essenitally gave up a 5-6 d-man. I love the guy, but I'm not going to be writing heartbroken songs with sing-along choruses at his departure. He'll be replaced on the PP by Seabrook or Keith, the two of them together on the second unit, and when the PP was lighting up the world is was Biscuit and Dunc on the second unit anyway. Yes, he was a personality, and easy to root for and love, but as for what was on the ice, I'm sorry, it just wasn't that much.
However, the Hawks didn't get much in return either. Besides for one hellacious playoff performance, Pahlsson just hasn't been that effective a checking center. He's negative on +/- and Behind the Net for most years. It's a guess as to how much checking he'll actually do, as the D-Ladd Soul line has been doing that, and well, and also been the main scoring threat. Will the they now just concentrate on scoring? If Pahlsson is going to be the center of a checking line, with what wingers? Buff? Brouwer? Versteeg? That won't work. So is he here to just win a draw and get off the ice? That makes him a glorified Yanic Perrault. He's a decent PK'er, and that unit could use some help. All in all, it's not a deal to make one smile, but I don't know if you should kick things either.
Update: It appears Kontiola may be going as well, and now I don't like this deal at all. It's clear the Hawks don't like Kontiola, because with a gaping hole at center after the trade of Robert Lang, Konti got all of 3 days at training camp before he was deemed "not the answer". Konti never got a shot at his natural position under a real coach, and I feel we may come to rue this one.
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Real Mixed Emotions on that one...
Is Pahlsson even ready to play yet? He’s been out with Mono for what seems like forever.
by Old World Flavor on Mar 4, 2009 2:47 PM CST reply actions
Paulsson status
He visited a doctor on Tuesday for an expected clearance, but have not seen anything confirmed…
First post...
I have to say I’m going to miss the guy. I’m a sucker for a good fight.
by HereComeTheHawks on Mar 4, 2009 2:54 PM CST reply actions
Mixed emotions
Pahlsson isn’t that good and a ufa …. i know he has a cup and is 55% in the faceoff circle but i thought Wiz was kinda valuable trade bait.
The score has us sending a minor leaguer along in the deal…
I am not a fan of Wiz (i think that he shoots too much) but if we gave up any real talent from the minors then i view this as a loss….
Who knows though…. if it propels them farther into the playoffs without giving up a core guy then gravy, personally i would have traded the 2nd rounder for moore.
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
It almost seems like
we were making a deal just to make a deal, to pacify fans and media. I hope this works out but, i actually like Brent so…..
It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
Hmmmm
I will miss the sillyness that was/is the Wizzah. I am glad we have a 3rd line center again (?finally?), and see this as clearing some cap space for what I hope will be a decent off season. Pahlson I guess that Wis was availible after Barker has stepped up his game some. Not a stunning deal, but it seems that Toronto wanted picks, and we needed to clear cap room in order to make a run at Moore by trading a player and not a pick. It is just a shame that Wiz went to the head wound that is Anahiem. I think I’d find a really steep set of stairs to fall down in order to ruin a physical if it was me…
well written, sir
I was surprised that they didn’t move Buff.
.... formerly "Tim" of StLouisGameTime.com
Decent Trade
I personally wouldn’t have wanted to trade a 2nd pick for either Moore or Antropov. Neither of those Leafs excited me one bit. I’m really curious to see what is going to happen with Calgary. They certainly made some moves. I don’t like Jokinen 1% and think he’s going to screw them up bad. But we’ll see
too much money
buff is making 3 mil for a couple of years for a meager 10-13 goals this year.
Hawks got prospect and pick coming right back to them
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/icing/2009/03/nhl-trade-deadline-update.html
FifthFeather.com
by El Duque's Raft on Mar 4, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions
Logan Stephenson
It appears the prospect we picked will be bringing quite a bit of girlfriend baggage with him.
http://www.talk-sports.net/ahl/girlfriend.aspx/Logan_Stephenson
by Old World Flavor on Mar 4, 2009 5:36 PM CST reply actions
Pahlsson for Wizniewski, all for it!!!
If Sami Pahlsson can regain his recent form the this becomes a MONSTER deal for the Hawks!!! An excellent PK and face-off player that would be valuable on the 3rd line!!! Wizniewski was well on his way out!!! Personally I couldn’t believe he was still in the line-up and not Johnson!!! Stephenson for Kontiola could be a steal for the Hawks if Logan can focus on his game rather than the other stuff!!! Showed a lot of promise when playing for team Canada at the World Juniors!!!
Get used to the !!! 'cause it going to be here A LOT!!!
Happy that the Hawks didn’t do anything drastic like the Flames did today!!! Leopold O.K. good move (always a fan of D-men that can move the puck out of their own zone), but Jokinen UGHS!!! To give up Lombardi, Prust, and a 1st-round pick seeths DEPERATION!!! It tells me that the Flames deep down know that they are not good enough to beat the Hawks, Wings, and Sharks!!! But trust me Darryl you’re not getting the player you hoped for Jokinen=locker room killer!!! Amazing to think that the Panthers were cellar dwellers for years than deal Luongo and Jokinen and BANG into the playoffs!!! Speaks volumes!!!
Was that Maguire giving the Hawks praise? or am I dreaming?
Pierre Maguire giving Tallon praise for making the most impactful trade of the day? SHOCKED!!! Sounds like Pahlsson is ready to play!!!
You owe maggots everywhere an apology.
HOCKEENIGHT.COM...home of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and LEAVE IT TO BETTMAN...now with PODCASTING!!!
i don't know...
I personally thought that Wiz brought a lot of grit and personality to D-Core. he had just come off of knee surgery which is why I felt he held back on the fight department. plus, none of us know if he was told to lay off fighting because of his injury. remember, last year he injured his knee as a result of a fight with Jordin Tootoo.
Lastly, Eager suffered a few concussions while with the Flyers. When we acquired him last year, he did little except jaw off because he was presumably still suffering from the concussion. This year is a different story.
the only difference with eager is that he will not fight a heavy weight anymore. he starts fights with people with less experience and does not land a punch. he has done a lot more shit talking this year and does his best to stay away from heavy weights, just watch. i wish he would stop the shit talking part of his game and i wish people would stop expecting it so he could just concentrate on being a good fourth line winger.
confused
so i am a little confused…are you trying to argue with me? my point was that people are judging Wiz because he hasn’t gotten in a fight since he has been back? I’ll tell you from playing hockey, that a hard hit does a lot more to scare people than a punch your expecting…and that IS what Wiz has been doing this season. I think he is the perfect 3rd pairing D-man, but I guess that just makes him trade bait.
First order of business...
in any trade is to fill a hole without creating a new one. Wiz, much as we loved him, is a 5-6 defenseman. He might move up the chart in Anaheim, but here, he wasn’t bringing much to the table that the Hawks can’t get out of Johnson, Hjmarlsson or a healthy Hendry.
Pahlsson will win faceoffs, which leads to increased puck control. This was the Hawks’ biggest offensive liability. There wasn’t a trade out there that could make the Hawks into a more serious Cup contender without mortgaging their future completely. Calgary is going for it all right now. The Hawks are basically renting Pahlsson.
If we were to judge every young athelete on how much fidelity they have towards their girlfriends, the NHL would be a pretty empty place. Stephenson projects out to a 3rd pair guy, and likes to hit. Might not be a bad throw-in.
HOCKEENIGHT.COM...home of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and LEAVE IT TO BETTMAN...now with PODCASTING!!!
Wiz is overrated and in Quenville's doghouse
I like the potential of this trade. Wiz is a smallish defenseman who has already had a couple major knee problems and has a crappy shot. He did provide value to the Hawks, but his value wasn’t as great as many would like to think.
Pahlsson has the definite ability to give the Hawks a dimension they have screaming need for.
I like the move.
I can't stress enough
How good a player Pahlsson is. Throw away your +/- spreadsheets — this guy has been playing the toughest minutes in the league for a few years now, with nobody but farmboy Travis Moen and “the brother” Rob Niedermayer on his wings — it’s a horrible, horrible assignment.
He gets nothing but Thorntons and Datsyuks, but does his job capably.
You guys just took away the guy who’s been my favorite NHLer for years — hopefully you’ll enjoy him. Works his tail off, and should have won that Conn Smythe and the Selke that year.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Plus I forgot to mention: he kills like 80 seconds of every 2-minute penalty and is constantly the forward on 3-on-5s.
When you combine that with Anaheim’s love affair with the penalty box, Pahlsson has been one overworked dude.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Really, though, thanks for the insight.
and be sure to visit us Saturday, where we’ll undoubtedly talk about our impressions of him in a Hawks sweater
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
Well, Pahlsson’s still out with mono, you still might not see him for a few weeks, but if you want a bit more encouragement, Pahlsson has won a Swedish Elite Gold, a World Championship Gold, an Olympic Gold, and a Stanley Cup — and that was all within a 3 or 4 year window. Helluva player.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Enjoy the weather and palm trees Wiz, you deserve it
I have to share a story with the faithful as Wiz rides into the west. I attended the Taste of Chicago event on a sunny day in Grant Park after Wiz was drafted (was it 2002?). And sitting at a booth all by himself was Wiz. We talked about where he played junior and how excited he was that someone actually knew who he was in the dark desolate days of the Hawks organization at that time. It seems like eons ago, and his injuries have dampened what could have been a larger impact than people realize. He has since become somewhat of a rockstar in Chi-town, with his motorcycle boy merch catalog cover pic. I have a feeling that this trade may work out for the team, but I think it should have been a pick or a prospect, not both. Besides, the most important subject on this thread is the status of Pahlsson’s girlfriend…Sarah!
Check that - I feel much better.
It’s hard to fight the inclination to attach yourself to one particular player during trade deadline or draft days. After initially not being sold on Moore, I found myself swept up on the wave after it seemed likely the Hawks might acquire him. But Fifth Feather had a great point. He’s having his first productive year playing on an absolutely terrible team.
The Hawks had two glaring needs (checking center, pk help) Pahlsson accomplishes both. Dale’s made some great trades the past few years, I’ll go ahead and assume he knows what he’s doing on this one.
Agreed.
I feel a lot better now that I know the whole deal and the shock of losing a fan favorite has worn off. Wiz was a good soldier, but we got the center we have needed all season. And no matter my curiosity and eagerness to see Kontiola on the ice, the front office or Q do not like him. It is what it is. Dale Tallon has proved to be quite talented at orchestrating trades. I will give him my trust on this one too…he’s earned it.
And to the argument that the Hawks should have done more (More the national media than anyone here)…..there wasn’t anything great available. And our main trade chips originally were thought to be Havlat and Khabi. Like everyone else in October I was thinking they would be goners. But unless your BH fans and pay attention to this team you wouldn’t realize how vital they have been to our season and how VITAL for the playoffs (Rozner is an idiot, he’s the exception). Here’s the thing, think about the Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay LIghtning…..they rode a hot goaltender to the SCF (Khabi will be the hot one not Huet lol). I’m not saying SCF is in our plans, but trading Khabi or Havlat for a center would not better position for a deep playoff run.
echo that
The whole time I kept having to check myself. I got swept up just knowing we were looking to bring someone in for once, and Moore got my vote because it meant we were doing something. Two things bother me about this deal, though:
1. He may not even play for three weeks. In a dressing room as tightly knit as ours, this might not work really well, introducing a “star” defensive centre and pk guy with only a week of games to play before the playoffs.
2. Tallon kept saying we weren’t in the market for rentals. I truly don’t think we’re a Cup contender, or even a legitimate contender for the conference title, so I was hoping for a hockey deal, something a little longer in term. I really don’t think that Pahlsson, as good a role player as he is, puts us any deeper in the playoffs. Are we looking to re-sign him, then? Seems this is a case of pure UFA renting, and with him missing the next 3 weeks potentially, we end up trading away Wiz and Kontiola for Stephenson and, what, 10 or 15 games of Pahlsson as a Blackhawk? Truly, what’s the over/under on how many games he wears the Indian?
Yeah - I'd say the biggest knock on this trade
is the mono. It sucks that his eventual line will only have a week of playing together before the playoffs start. Obviously not ideal.
As for the argument we’re trading away Wiz and Kontiola for Stephenson, I don’t really see it that way. Wiz was on his way out. Outside of that big splash he made his first game back from injury, the guy has done very little to make an impact on this team. Yeah Wiz was a great locker room guy, but that might be the most overrated trait in all of sports, at least by fans.
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