State Of The Headdress

by Tuke on Jul 1, 2010 9:10 PM CDT

Well after kicking off the purge with a 3 player deal that hurt but was without question necessary, the blood began to flow in earnest late Wednesday and extended on to Thursday with the trades of Kris Versteeg & Andrew Ladd. After Stan informed the world that no further trades would be required by the Hawks after the first Thrashers deal I think we all knew that at least one other player had to be sacrificed. Now with the loss of Versteeg, Ladd, Sopel, Eager, and Byfuglien we have lost approximately 30% of the goals scored, assists, points, and power play goals of last year while for all intents and purpose, receiving no NHL level production from any of the players received in these deals (Reasoner being the exception). On the whole we have cut the cap space needed (I still hold that Huet will be in Rockford for the new season), but have lost a lot of offense in the process. Will the Hawks repeat as cup champions next year? That is a good question. Sure they still have their main core of players in place, but the supporting cast has been substantially diminished to say the least. This year I had picked the Hawks to end my 39 years of suffering and they made me look like a genius. This year however, I think they will compete for the cup as I believe this will be a learning year for many young guys to learn the system and become comfortable with the people they are playing with. Doing this will however, lay the foundation for another cup championship in 11-12 for sure as those top prospects will have had a season to hone their craft. The bottom line is I will not be surprised if they do not win it all again this year because I know that the foundation has been laid for many years to come!

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Comments

that was

a rambling semi-coherent mess.

But seeing as that’s your 1st FanPost it’s par for the course.

nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain

by Johnny Lava on Jul 2, 2010 9:49 AM CDT reply actions

Perhaps

But I followed what he was saying. I’m not sure what the future is though. We’ll have to see how these draft picks and prospects work out. Things don’t seem real bright at the moment, at least IMO.

39 years of pain vaporized by one OT goal.

by Badgerdano on Jul 2, 2010 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

IMO, things aren't so bad

We may have lost 30% of our goal production, but it’s not like those players aren’t being replaced. Even if the replacements only score 20-25% of our goals, that’s still about right for the 3rd and 4th lines combined.

Guys like Toews, Kane, Hossa, and Sharp will probably be even better this coming season (and Hossa missed a good chunk of last season). Plus, if Kopecky ends up getting a lot of time on the 2nd line, his production will definitely be higher. It should all work out if one looks at it from that perspective.

I don’t mind relying heavily on our top 3 O-lines and top 2 D-lines come playoff time. That’s what most teams do. And ours are still pretty damn good.

And what’s with all these FanPosts that should simply be comments?

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!

by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 2, 2010 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I gotta believe (since blind faith is the only thing holding me together)

That another trade or 2 will happen before the season starts. Hawks seem prospect heavy right now to me. Move some of them for a couple current NHL players.

That’s got to be the plan right? Or is there going to be a shuttle bus back-and-forth from Rockford to the UC every 2 weeks as Q tries to find players that ~~don’t get crushed~~ ~~get completly demoralized~~ can fit in.

nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain

by Johnny Lava on Jul 2, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think there's a 50/50 chance we still might lose Niemi too

if some miracle deal involving Huet or Campbell doesn’t happen, or if he gets offered too much elsewhere.

But obviously we now have the pieces to move around to make a trade/signing or two. I also think we will pick up at least one more player from Europe. Our stock must be extremely high there now after what we did for Niemi’s career. If a guy is looking to make it in the NHL and is willing to play a year or two for peanuts, we’re his fast track to the NHL.

(feel free to reply with “We really have become the new scum haven’t we?”)

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!

by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 2, 2010 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

We really have

become the new scum, haven’t we?

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." -- 2/28/10, so our Captain has said, and so it was done.

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

by chiblackhawks on Jul 2, 2010 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don't see how we lose Niemi

He and his agent see what the market is doing. And going back to Europe doesn’t help him get a NHL contract next year. At this point who offers Niemi $3+ mildo? I’m sure the Hawks would match anything below that.

nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain

by Johnny Lava on Jul 2, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not suggesting Niemi go back to Europe

We’ve seen crazier offers for goalies with playoff experience – and Niemi won a Cup, so that’s why I say 50/50. I think $2.75M or below should work, assuming we bury Huet in Rockford.

Question: When most people run their cap numbers, are they factoring in Huet’s hit even if we send him to Rockford? I’ve seen so many breakdowns that I stopped thoroughly reviewing them.

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!

by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 2, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

It's ok if Huey

remains above ground in Rockford.

No need to Spilotro the guy.

June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.

by cliffkoroll on Jul 2, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

i run my numbers with Huet

because I am looking to get a CBA compliant team to start the season (and figure him as essentially using all of our summer tagging room bubble). Without him we are close to or at a compliant team that would be very competitve (filled our with low cost young guys or low cost old guys)

Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.

by krome on Jul 2, 2010 4:33 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

essentially using all of our summer tagging room bubble

With so many two-way contracts that are going to make the team, I wouldn’t worry about the bubble. Two-ways are prorated in the summer per games played in the NHL.

by DaleHalas on Jul 3, 2010 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions

where's the fanpost/fanshot police?

aka meeshak.

by Katherine215 on Jul 2, 2010 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

You're into the Stacie juice too.

That’s good. I need a shot too and I’ll be fine.

These “comment” fan posts are working out fine for me since when we get too many comments I can’t read them at work for some reason.

39 years of pain vaporized by one OT goal.

by Badgerdano on Jul 2, 2010 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe we should just call it the Stacie kool-aid

Stacie juice just sounds ways too nasty and may lead to a few palominos.

How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?

by stacie7 on Jul 3, 2010 1:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Funny that YOU went there...

This old goat/geezer will try to remember kool-aid instead of juice.

39 years of pain vaporized by one OT goal.

by Badgerdano on Jul 3, 2010 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL

I’ve seen some of the comments on here – just trying to be proactive.

How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?

by stacie7 on Jul 4, 2010 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions

people forget about the Enter key.

The Enter key is your friend! Use it!

by Katherine215 on Jul 2, 2010 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

exactly what I meant by "mess"

nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain

by Johnny Lava on Jul 2, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

the wall-o-text is

definitely a bit difficult to read.

by Katherine215 on Jul 2, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

there is a goalie glut out there this year

Niemi figures to be under (almost certainly not more than $2 mil). that is doable within our tagging room.
signing elsewhere for more? take the pick(s) and trade some picks/prospects for a Biron (or equivilent) to play goal.
there are several farmhands/prospects ready to come up, and there may be deals all the way to the start of the season (or into the early season). the young big guns should improve their production with the extra year of experience. the filler guys may not be as productive as the guys who left – but they’ll contribute something. and there are even deadline deals to be had.
we’ll be no worse than middle playoff pack in thw western conference & if they’ve jelled well by the end of the regular season, they will be well positioned to make another respectable playoff run.
we may start the year a little diminished, but we will be a contender again next year.

Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.

by krome on Jul 2, 2010 4:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions