Blackhawks Ambassador.

Next year’s Goaltender duo……Huet and Crawford.

That scares me, because I just dont trust Huet to be consistent. I like Crawford but he is in no way ready to be an NHL #1 guy.

Bolland had similar numbers to Kane with the London Knights, and his NHL development seems to be operating in reverse of Kane’s- his defense has always been solid, and his offensive game will hopefully keep developing. Factor in that he anchored our most reliable line all season, and I’d like to see him wearing the Indian Head for just as long as the rest of our youngsters. Maybe I just have a soft spot for defensive centers, but there aren’t always enough of them to go around, and we should keep the one we have as long as possible.

“Sell High on Dustin Byfuglien: You’re never going to get a better chance to unload this guy (and in my wet dreams it’s part of a package for Kovalchuk”

I’m on board there…the Hawks need a closer especially if Havlat is cest la vie. I don’t think a package of Buff, a Dman like Barker, and/or Crawford/Niemi and perhaps a draft pick would get it done but who knows…perhaps the Thrash’s revenue this season was even worse than it seemed and perhaps Kovalchuk will state publicly that he won’t sign an extension in ATL and they’ll look to deal him. Havlat makes everyone better when he can stay on the ice but he’s just not a $6-7m a year player especially with his injury history…he’s great but not elite and you can make a lot of ties to Campbell’s contract here. Paying a great player – elite player money. Sort of like paying Johan Santana $22m a year instead of wasting $18m a year on Carlos Zambrano. One elite pitcher and one great pitcher (well sometimes) making similar coin. I’m hoping for M.Gaborik wanting to take a one year deal for normal star money to revitalize his max worth before signing a long term deal…but I’m getting the feeling that someone with a lot of cap room like the Kings or Canadians will toss more than fair market value at him on a long term deal.

I’m curious, after watching him go apeshit on my team, who else do you have in the pipeline that plays his style?

And, to that end, I’d say call Keenan if he was still in Calgary’s organization. Now I’d just say call Sather since he’s a hungry little fool.

Your analysis on Bolland and Buff is excellent and dead on. The lack of center depth is a little scary on this team. Especially before Pahlsson came over. Bolland has been impressive as hell. I can’t really remember him having any truly bad games.

My only point of minor disagreement would be with Barker. I know talent-wise he’s not a #5 D-man, but with the current defense corps, he’s essentially a poor man’s Brian Campbell. And with Campbell locked up for so long and for so much, Barker is pretty expensive depth. But he’s obviously talented and worth something on the market whereas we’re also saddled with that cap vampire Sopel who isn’t worth a bag of used pucks on the market. As much as it would hurt, I’d say Barker is expendable.

I see a lot of people give Tallon grief over his off-season acquisitions of Campbell and Huet and frankly, I think its short-sighted at best. We landed the unquestioned best D-man and the best goalie in the free agent market when (a) Atlanta was willing to pay more for Campbell and he was being courted seriously by at least 6 other teams; (b) landing a puck-moving d-man was #1 on our off season wishlist; and (c ) we weren’t even supposed to be in the running for a goalie and we still ended up with the best guy available.

Here’s my defense of those two moves.
Campbell – Our power play was absolute garbage last year and he came in and pretty much fixed it. Watch our first unit w/ BC carrying the puck into the zone and then watch the 2nd unit w/ Seabs or Keith doing the same job. You’ll notice a quicker & crisper entry, more sustained pressure and more scoring chances far more often on the Campbell unit. Everyone was aware that 5on5 there were some defensive deficiencies in his game, but its not like those manifested only this year. We knew what we were getting and he lived up to expectations. There wasn’t another “new” player on this team that made a bigger impact than Campbell this year, like him or not.

Huet – Don’t blame Tallon for being forced to go out and get a goalie this offseason. Blame Khabibulin. If Bulin had played up to his contract in any of the last 3 seasons, a goalie wouldn’t have even been on their radar. We would’ve kept around Lalime or promoted Crawford. But Bulin’s failings forced Tallon’s hand…and he got the best guy available. Everyone seems to conveniently forget how bad the Bulin Wall had played the past 3 years and how little confidence anyone had in him coming into the season.

Couple that with Tallon’s extremely deep high minor system (Rockford is stacked with talent), good recent drafts, and a few GM fleecings (Versteeg and Sharp come to mind) and you have to be happy with the job he’s done in the past few years.

Tallon deserves an extension.

Dale Tallon is and still will be the GM of the Chicago Blackhawks for many years to come and will most likely end up with a well-deserved extension. To quote McDonough on CTL: “Dale is the architect of this franchise…” Enough said.
Granted some of his FA signings haven’t panned out but the 2 FA signings this season were desperately needed and filled the major voids in this line-up.
The PP needed a QB and he fixed that with one of the best in the business in Campbell. His 44 assists and 52 points were the best point total by a Hawks defenceman in quite some time and was one of most consistant performers in the playoffs, especially in Round 2 when he was the MVP for the Hawks.
Agree with hoorock89 on that the Huet signing was Khabibulin’s fault for being such a dud, and that Khabby should be let go because of that. It’s a major character flaw when a guy only delivers on a contract year. Huet wasn’t a bad signing at all in fact with Cristo being ‘the man’ next season might elevate his game for he knows that even with a bad start there is nobody to take his place. He definitely struggled at times throughout the regular season but in Game 5 vs the Wings he showed that he can carry a team in a pressure packed playoff game.
As for the back-up situation I don’t get the feeling that Niemi and Crawford will be the answer and that the Hawks may go to the FA amrket to get one. Some names that are available are Clemmenson, Emery, and Legace. All have NHL experience and all would fit in nicely as a back-up but are quality enough to be the guy if something were to happen to Cristo. Emery has the brighter future but his personality may be an issue but may be a more ‘bang for your buck’ if he keeps his head on straight.
Bolland needing to be re-signed a complete no-brainer. He definitley showed that he can be a #2 centreman that he can be responsible in both areas. Bolland has the necessary skilled quailties needed to play with an offensive dynamo like Havlat (another that needs to be resigned). His overall game has improved and has become an important piece to this team and that shouldn’t be lost.
Havlat was finally healthy this year and was the player he expected he would be and deserves to stay here and for a while. Would have no quarrels if Havlat was given a Franzen-like extension for he is major piece to this team. Granted there is injury problems with Havlat, but that’s in his past and there is a true sense of believe that he is over that and that we’ll see a healthy JHC for many years to come. May have to overpay to keep him but that’s the price of doing business in today’s NHL.
Versteeg is a take it or leave it type of player. He has skill but no tenacity behind and far to often doesn’t make the simple plays a 3rd line player should. Versteeg is 2nd to 3rd line player at best and if a team is willing to offer him Penner like money then it’s time to part ways. Happy if he stays, but not disappointed if he leaves.
Barker’s development this season was astounding to say the least and needs to be kept on this blueline. With elevated ice-time and responsibilities Barker could be another Shea Weber type of defenceman that finally comes into his own. Barker is starting to fill out as a the type of defenceman that the Hawks thought he would be with the 3rd overall pick and that bodes well for the future. As for overpaying for #4-5 defenceman look at the Wings with Brad Stuart and his partner Niklas Kronwall. Both at times this season seen their respective minutes below those of Lebda and Lilja. Depth is an asset especially at D and the Hawks can’t overlook that.
Deal Brouwer not Byfuglien! Big Buff had tremendous upside but needs to develop as an everyday effort type of player. If he can then the enigma will be gone and star may be born. Brouwer not so much. The guy has no finish whatsoever and is easily replaceable.
Brouwer had ZERO goals in the playoffs…ZERO! So why keep him? His type of production in the clutch should grant him a trade to San Jose. I’m sure there are many players in Rockford that can replace Brouwer. The Hawks brass could use hime to trade up (from the 28th pick) in the upcoming draft.
JR? Well…a one-day contract to retire as a Hawk? O.K., anything more than that NO WAY!
All in all this has been the most successful season since 1992 which is amazing, especially when you consider the direction this franchise is going. But next year’s goal is to be the most successful season since 1961 and with a few minor adjustments that goal can become reality. The Hawks need tweeking and that’s all which is a far cry better than where they have been in the off-season previous.
LET’S GO HAWKS!!!

With every single one of these bullet points.

Reluctant as I am to let Buff go, I think you’re right. His value is high right now…Canada went ga-ga for him during the playoffs.

Kane had some comment about how it’ll be basically impossible to keep this team together. What a shame!

The Patriots and Red Wings sell the idea of playing for a champion. In a cap era, this is the only way to maintain a competitive advantage. Can Havlat set this example here? He got three years of big money for 1.5 years of hockey. Doesn’t he want to win?

Maybe Soupy can even cough up a million or so…yeah right.

Don’t spend any serious money resigning Pahlsson.