Egos, The Media, and of course... Goalies

by ChicagoNativeSon on Feb 28, 2010 5:07 PM CST

I know, I know. Two FanPosts this weekend. Believe me, I don't intend to make this a habit - too much work. I was sitting on this one until after the Olympics.

IMO the media frenzy over our "subpar and unqualified" goaltending tandem (with the best GAA in the league) has backed Stan Bowman into a lose/lose situation unless he makes a move. The situation also gives him an opportunity to take "ownership" of the team from Dale Tallon. Here's why:

Scenario 1: Bowman Does Nothing

A. Hawks Win Cup (Woohoo!)
Even if Stan brings in another blueliner, the average fan probably doesn't consider acquiring a couple of D-men to be a "big splash in the pan" (Johnsson who?), therefore Tallon still gets credit for building the team.
Result: Bowman's ego loses

B. Hawks Don't Win Cup
Unless Huet and Niemi have a shutout in every game (which they obviously wouldn't if we lost), Bowman would get blamed for not "upgrading" the goaltending.
Result: Bowman loses (cue Frankenstein pitchfork and torch scene)

Ah, there's no justice like Angry Mob Justice. - Seymour Skinner

Scenario 2: Bowman Trades for a Goalie

A. Hawks Win Cup
Bowman gets credit because everyone knows the Hawks can't win with our current tandem.
Result: Bowman wins, gets his parade

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SuperStan!

B. Hawks Don't Win Cup
As long as the goaltending is average or better (which as we know isn't too difficult behind our defense), Stan can say that he at least tried. The move would pacify the media and most fans. Stan can also claim that he did his best to correct a previous "mistake". Plus, if he can move Huet, he'd still have fan favorite Niemi to fall back on if the new goalie faltered. "Hey, I gave you what you wanted."
Result: Bowman escapes media and fan scrutiny, it just wasn't our year

I know I'm oversimplifying things here, there are a lot of factors that going into making a major trade (e.g., no trade clauses), but for better or for worse, if Stan can make a deal, I believe he will.

BLou suggested we discuss one of the obvious targets of said trade, Tomas Vokoun of the Florida Panthers. There has also been speculation that the Hawks would send Huet back to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goalie Jaroslav Halak. I personally don't see this happening, but feel free to thrash that out.

Vokoun has been in the league for 11 years, as a full-time starter for 7 of them. I‘m assuming most of us have seen just enough of him in the Olympics and over his career to have a semi-informed conversation regarding his merits. Someone commented on SCH that Vokoun is "a mediocre goalie on a hot streak." I disagree and see Vokoun as being far from mediocre and statistically extremely consistent.

I'm pretty sure Vokoun has the highest SV% in the league over the past 5 years. Chiblackhawks wrote that Behind the Net suggested it was because the scorekeepers in Florida pad the SOG totals. That may be so, but Vokoun is also tied for the league lead in shutouts (7) and there's no way to manipulate that. I'm not sure I buy into the padded SOG argument; there may or may not be something there. Vokoun's SV% was about .920 for 3 of his last 4 years in Nashville before going to Florida. Also for comparison, Roberto Luongo's SV% over a 5 year period in Florida was .920. His SV% during his 4 years in Vancouver is .919. That's pretty consistent, unless Vancouver is fudging numbers too.

Player stats since the beginning of 2006 season

Player         SV/SOG             SV%       GAA
Vokoun         8,367/9,068      .923        2.52
Halak*        2,443/2,663    .917    2.72
Huet         5,394/5,888    .916 2.47

*Halak only played in 22 games from 2006-08 and has split time with Carey Price over the past two seasons, so we don't have a very big sample here (Did you get that? Not a very big sample. Sound familiar?) Halak? Good, but definitely not the solution. Just say no.

I've stated it here before, I believe the goalie tandem we have can get us to the Promised Land, but if there is to be a trade, I'd like to see Vokoun wearing the Indianhead. If there's one thing Vokoun lacks, it's playoff experience. But if you're good, have confidence, and your name's not Thornton, playoff experience is overrated. To support my case I present you with the 2008-09 Blackhawks. Dispute that.

I know a lot of commenters have been champing at the bit for the past two weeks to discuss potential trades. It's a unifying topic Americans and Canadians alike can get worked up over. The trade freeze ends at midnight tonight, so have at it if you like. I just wanted to present my opinion and to throw out some information on the player we might receive if my gut is correct.

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Comments

Gotta look at this year's stats on Vokoun

Because it is this year’s Vokoun we would be getting.

seven shut outs
931 save percentage
nuff said.

The cynic in me says the Bowmans do nothing anyway, as the albatross Huet contract chokes us.

The Islanders would have to eat Huet’s contract too, and I don’t see that happening with DiPietro in the picture.

Halak can’t be traded for salary dump as Montreal has big cap problems too, so he’s out.

Wit Auld being waived, Turco is staying in Dallas.

And, they gotta milk the One Goal campaign for a while longer.

by Return of the Roar on Feb 28, 2010 7:04 PM CST reply actions

I'm no cap expert by any means

but I don’t think the goalie position is where we’re expecting to free up cap space. This trade would be about The Cup. I believe the other players involved in the trade would likely address that issue though (Versteeg, for example. No way it’s Sharp if something happens)

Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.

by ChicagoNativeSon on Feb 28, 2010 7:27 PM CST up reply actions

IF the Vokoun trade comes to fruition

Huet will most likely be swept under the rug to Rockford.

As for the whole playoff experience argument, I’m pretty sure I haven’t read anyone within the Hawks organization list that as a reason why Huet or Niemi can’t be trusted. It seems to be a reason used by the Rosenbloom’s of the world.

Like you said above, I’m fine with a Huet/Niemi combo, but if they want to add Vokoun, I’m not going to argue with that either.

FifthFeather.com

by El Duque's Raft on Feb 28, 2010 10:15 PM CST up reply actions

Great FanPost

and so far, great comments. All related to goaltending.

It is possible!

Of all the possible trades mentioned, the only one I consider an upgrade is Vokoun. The biggest plus is his contract expires sooner that Huet.

The problem with defensive lapses, especially late in the period, is the problem that must be addressed. Adding Kim Johnson should have an impact on this, and the 2 weeks off will help too (except for Keith and Seabrook of course, and they could really use the rest).

I feel that Huet and Niemi can and will get the job done, and I expect they will still be our goalies after March 3rd.

Whoever is wearing the Indianhead in net, that is our Goalie, and we should stand behind him.

"My Father's name is Jack, and my mother's name is Daniels..."

by Byfuglie33 on Mar 1, 2010 7:34 AM CST reply actions

Where would upgrade the defense? (serious question)

I see Sopel as the only D-man who “doesn’t fit the mold”, but at the same time, I think he’s having a good year for a 3rd liner. My bigger concern with Sopel is injury. Over his career he’s almost never put together a full season, probably because he’s a shooting range target. I can’t see the Hawks moving him (or sending him down), unless it was a package deal. I thought Hendry did a good job filling in. Speak of Hendry, he wasn’t on the Rockford roster when I went to see them Saturday so is he still up in the bigs? I heard Sopel was back skating with the team last week.

Well, folks, I want to thank you for being here for the recording of my live comedy album. Funny material and laughter will be dubbed in later.

by ChicagoNativeSon on Mar 1, 2010 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

I'm surprised

The Hawks wouldn’t send young Jordan back to RFD for the Olympic break to keep him fresh. I do know that he was practicing with the club, the last few days.

First you get de sugar, den you get de power, den you get de women

by AirTrafficAJ on Mar 1, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

I think he might have played enough with the Hawks

that sending him down would have meant going through waivers?

But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."

(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)

by chiblackhawks on Mar 1, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions