Mountain? Nah - Just A Molehill - Blackhawks Sign Eager, Brouwer and Fraser

by Matthew Dirt on Jul 6, 2009 11:58 AM CDT Comment 36 comments

First is the news that we all expected - The NHL decided not to punish the Blackhawks for their mistakes with the postal service. It was said in the comments a lot but I agree - The NHL knows it has a great story with the Hawks and doesn't want to do anything to mess that up.

Then on his blog, Chris Kuc says the Hawks have re-signed 3 of the RFA's. Obviously the big news in this story is what isn't there. Still no word on Cam Barker or Kris Versteeg...

It's also worth noting another RFA that isn't there - Aaron Johnson. Johnson is represented by Allan Walsh who also represents Martin Havlat. Walsh isn't making any friends with the Blackhawks front office with his twitter exploits and other quotes to the press.

There are no numbers yet but we'll update this if we hear anything..

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AJ

Aaron Johnson filed for arbitration… See ya Aaron!

by Let'sGoHawks on Jul 6, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

AJ will get, MAYBE $900,000.

by wlittle on Jul 6, 2009 12:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I find it no coincidence that with having the same agent as Havlat Johnson has filed for arbitration. Makes you wonder if that is really what Johnson wants or if his agent just has a case of sour grapes and talked him into it. I also wonder how much Havlat having a douche for an agent affected him not getting resigned here. I also wouldn’t be surprised if as Mora hinted at in his blog it came out that Walsh leaked the info about the RFA’s qualifying offers potentially not being correctly handled.

by runningquicklynowhere on Jul 6, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

his agent is a douche

during the whole havlat signing thing, i was following havlat and his agent’s twitter – after signing kevin weekes havlat’s agent tweeted something like, kevin weekes is an amazing competitor and true professor of goaltending

"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." GMH

by Illini0509 on Jul 6, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so in this agent’s parlance “professor of goaltending” equates to career backup…

by runningquicklynowhere on Jul 6, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong

But if AJ filed for arbitration, doesn’t that mean he’s accepted being an RFA?

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Jul 6, 2009 12:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

sort of

means he is disputing the amount of money the Hawks are offering him and trying to get an arbitrator to give him more. Also means he most likely isn’t getting interest from other teams wanting to give up the picks involved with him being restricted.

by runningquicklynowhere on Jul 6, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Basically

he goes and talks himself up and the organization points out all his flaws and a nuetral party decides the salary. If the Hawks don’t like it then they can walk away and AJ becomes a free agent.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There have been some suggestions elsewhere that teams can only walk away from amounts over a certain dolllar figure. Do you know anything about this?

by yrmom on Jul 6, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

After reading the CBA, I found that the original number was $1,042,173. That number is increased by the percentage of the amount salaries have raised between June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2009.

In short, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try to find that info and post it later.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

P.S.

sorry to the english teachers here who just shit a brick when I said that salaries have raised.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know, it just feels wrong to cast scorn upon someone I now call tidbits. All is forever forgiven.

by ChicoMaki on Jul 6, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

whew

thank goodness…

by HawkInExile on Jul 6, 2009 12:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Like it or not, but AJ has potential. He showed it early on last season. A injury later and he was basically fighting to stay in the lineup. I think he would have been a fan favourite had he stayed healthy.

by wlittle on Jul 6, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

For reference:

The evidence that can be used in arbitration cases:
The player’s “overall performance” including statistics in all previous seasons.
Injuries, illnesses and the number of games played.
The player’s length of service with the team and in the NHL.
The player’s “overall contribution” to the team’s success or failure.
The player’s “special qualities of leadership or public appeal.”
The performance and salary of any player alleged to be “comparable” to the player in the dispute.
Evidence that is not admissible:
The salary and performance of a “comparable” player who signed a contract as an unrestricted free agent.
Testimonials, video and media reports.
The financial state of the team.
The salary cap and the state of the team’s payroll.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 12:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Salary cap and payroll not admissable?

What happens if arbitration puts them over the cap then?

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Jul 6, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The team can either walk away (# of walk aways based on number of arbitration cases. one walk away for a team with 1 or 2 cases. 2 for 3 or 4 cases. 3 for 5, etc.) or make the required moves to get under the cap. The real question is about teams financially strapped like Phoenix who might still be well under the cap, but over their own personal budget.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

confused

With our number of starting forwards……(possible lines)

kane-toews-sharp
hossa-bolland-ladd
kopecky-madden-buff
eager-fraser-burish

Will Brouwer start in Rockford and wait for an injury?
And, does this signify the end for versteeg? If not, who’s place does he take in the current line configuration?

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Jul 6, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Versteeg can take Buff’s spot, get rid of Johnson, and put Buff at D. lol

VERSTEEG!

by Bwana on Jul 6, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is Frazzle Dazzle makes the trip to Rock Vegas, Kopecky moves down to center the 4th line, Ladd joins Madden and Buff creating a formidable checking unit, and Versteeg runs and guns with Bolland and Hossa on the “Fresh Paper” line.

by McClure on Jul 6, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That looks about right, although I’ve always thought of Madden as a fourth line type. What does this mean for our defensive pairings? Will we see Sopel play if Barker doesn’t come back?

by warrenjm2006 on Jul 6, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The source of the stench emerges

Walsh stepping forward in this manner almost certainly incriminates him as the leak to the NHL.

To me it’s all about sour grapes. This too shall pass, as tarnish on the Hawks after making the great run, leading the NHL in attendance, and reigniting interest in NHL hockey in our market are just three reasons why this will all quietly be pushed aside.

That all being said, after losing Walker, we need AJ (or someone else) behind the blue line. Perhaps this is what the arbitration bid is all about – Walsh sensing that another blue line loss will hurt our already thin corps of D men. I say if AJ asks for too much, then just cut him loose. There are plenty of other inexperienced, so-so playing D-men we can choose from without overpaying for them too.

by Return of the Roar on Jul 6, 2009 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stay at home D

Are the easiest type to find. If Barker and Johnson leave…..let’s get us some Nick Boynton, Paul Mara, Dennis Seidenberg, Derek Morris, Martin Skoula, etc…. All these guys are just sitting unsigned. If those two choose to punish us because of this f-ckup, so be it. These stay at home guys can be had on the cheap.

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Jul 6, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of all those names, Skoula sounds the most appealing for the money available. Morris is undersized and more offensively oriented, Seidenberg is plain undersized, Paul Mara is an older Cam Barker, and Boynton has been a career dressing room problem, and is likely too expensive.

by McClure on Jul 6, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure you’re saddened to hear Beauchemin $11.4-million over three years w/ Toronto.

twitter.com/kaner88

by Original Six on Jul 6, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deeply.

by McClure on Jul 6, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So Walsh

Is really Johnson’s johnson.

If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning

by Trixietrx on Jul 6, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT

but for those chillaxing indoors, the NHL Network is running the Hawks vs Canucks circa 5/6/82. Bit before my time but the Canucks are in some awful minor league looking unis, and some serious mullets blowin’ in the wind since half the of the players are bucketless. Savvy sporting the sweet soap opera/porn stasche taking aim at Richard Brodeur, Banterman just got pulled for Tony O, and there are fights/headlocks all over the place. Secord vs Tiger Williams 10 seconds into the game. They haven’t acknowledged it, but it sounds like Bobby Hull on color…Hockey Night in Canada coverage.

by Crease Monkey on Jul 6, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs