If You Can't Beat Us, Steal Us?
Oh no, panic time! The Sharks have signed Hammer to an offer sheet of four years, 14 million! In all honesty, I really don't think that's going to make the Hawks blink. For those who can't count it breaks down to 3.5 a year, which is obviously high, but not ridiculously so. I got the impression the Hawks were trying to get Hammer in for about 2.5, 2 was always a pipe dream, and this is only 1 million more. Frankly, I'll be shocked if Hammer isn't matched. That would probably grease Niemi's wheels out of town, but I know which one I'd rather have.
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Don't forget...
Seabrook gets paid next year. Damn, this Cap thing is hard.
BOOM!
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
I know you are
but what am I!
When he reached the New World, Cortez burned his ships. As a result his men were well motivated.
by thepuckstopshere31 on Jul 9, 2010 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
FU SJS
Someone needs to photoshop Hammer, Niemi, and the Indianhead onto those Twilight posters, mwahahaha.
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.)
Apparently the Bob Pulford's brother-in-law love is over ...
and the Doug Wilson rivalry has begun. I guess we’ll start having to make LA our west coast connection.
I guess this is payback for Brian Cambell lifting.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Listen to the San Jose Boo's
And you would think Campbell made a run for it in the middle of the night, on a raft
For the first time in my life, i want to go to a Bulls game. Bulls-Heat. Just so i can boo mercilessly for those three fuckwads making such a scene of being fuckwads. Seriously, that was probably the most obscene, self-important display by three athletes in the history of the world. I don’t think there’s been anything close to it, even in European soccer.
Let's make it an SCH event
I’d be willing to throw down money to get drunk and boo.
by Ban on Jul 9, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Depends
If you’re a superstar, there are no rules. You can travel, palm the ball, foul to your heart’s content and if anyone so much as breathes on you, they get whistled.
Our Cup.
There's million other things that we could do...
Why don’t we just get drunk and boo…
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger."
Really?
I feel bad for the Hawks predicament, but it’s not like you didn’t make the bed you’re sleeping in…
It worked out for you ’cause you got the Cup. Something the Sharks have been aiming for their whole existence.
I think it’s a GREAT move by the Sharks. I’m hoping the Hawks won’t match. Props to Doug Wilson… and a bit of payback for Campbell. (although I admit the booing thing is over the top)
Cheers!
the fuckin' fratellis
yes, really-- once more, with feeling: FU SJS
I love how much you inferred from that five-letter reaction, although I’m assuming you’re responding to the general sentiment here.
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 9, 2010 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions
HE WAS A FREE AGENT!
He was a rental! HOW are you guys still pissed about that? It’s like Hawk fans being pissed Johnsson’s not resigning with us (if he hadn’t died of course).
Logic doesn't play into it...
…we thought we HAD our guy. We traded a lot to get him and showered him with love for the time he was here. He said all the right things, then bolted. It ended up okay (Boyle), but Sharks’ fans remember this sort of thing. (It’s not like we’ve got to keep track of 80 years of history or anything like that.)
the fuckin' fratellis
you're wrong about that.
don’t generalize so much.
I’ve watched hockey my whole life. I was in attendance for the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup history (Kings vs. Oilers… the Miracle on Manchester).
We’re just more sensitive than you… ha ha.
the fuckin' fratellis
yeah meeshak
don’t generalize so much.
Californians don’t understand anything.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Sorry, but going around booing
a rental FA and still being bitter about it 2 years later is ridiculous, logical or not. What was he goig to say? I hate it in SJ? Of course he said the PC stuff. And then calling this “payback” is crazier.
Remember
San Jose is Mexican for ‘meth lab’. ~Adam Carolla
by Bluliner on Jul 9, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Since when
has Mexican been a language?
by Germware on Jul 9, 2010 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah
payback for the spring floor-mopping I can understand, but this?
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I don't even see that.
the Hawks played better and beat the Sharks! This is what happens in games – 1 team loses. Blame your own guys for not playing up to their skill level, not the Hawks for just being better.
I don't blame anyone.
Hawks were CLEARLY a better team… and CLEARLY deserved the Cup.
…having said all that: I love this move by Wilson.
the fuckin' fratellis
im going to go on a limb
and say that it was nothing personal
by jesus christos on Jul 9, 2010 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Still does not matter....
Soupy was always gonna test free agency because he was never sold on being that far away from Toronto (he is from nearby Strathroy) and besides, this was going to be his only real chance to sign a big free agent deal. San Jose knew they were renting a player for a Cup run and Soupy playued very well for them during that time, but that was the risk every team takes when trading for expiring UFA players.
The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.
if Campbell never left you wouldn't have your beloved
Boyle.
When in Rome we shall do as the Romans, when in Hell we do shots at the bar.
by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Jul 11, 2010 8:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I totaly hear you.
And I can’t blame you. Hjammer’s damn good, and will only get better. Making an offer, especially with the $$ predicament we’re in, was a pretty smart move by SJ.
That said, FUCK YOU!!!!!!!
And I really hope we match the offer.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
totally cool with that response.
if the skate were on the other foot, I’d feel the same way.
the fuckin' fratellis
you picked a horrible username :|
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 9, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Better than Twilight?

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 24 recs
100% rec
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions
lolol rec'd
I may probably weep if they let Hammer walk. SIIIIIIIGH.
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 9, 2010 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Bahaha
But I just need three more to cash them in for SCH dollars!
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions
The Hawks MUST match this offer sheet...
Hammer is going to be rock on defense for years to come, and we can’t afford to lose any more players, especially to one of our conference rivals.
"Lord Stanley's new address is Sweet Home Chicago!"
Yup.
Truth. It’ll hurt to lose Antti Goal, but we gotta do what we gotta do.
Fuck those san jose jerkstores!
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
says the guy...
…with the “Campbell” moniker… where did he come from… oh, right! San Jose!
What goes around comes around.
But congrats on the Cup, nonetheless! The reward was worth the risk.
the fuckin' fratellis
and SJ used the money freed up to sign Boyle, no?
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
…but see above post. We gave up a lot to get him. We cheered like crazy for the guy, cause we wanted him to stay. He said all the right things then bolted. Might not make sense to you, but it stung San Jose fans. I’m not saying it’s the smartest thing in the world.. .but on a pure fan basis, it did sting.
It’s all business. Which is why the Doug Wilson move is brilliant.
the fuckin' fratellis
You can have him back if you want.
And no Wilson’s move isn’t brilliant. I’m pretty sure the Hawks will match and I’m pretty sure the Hawks will remember. As will other teams when your guys are up for RFA offer sheets.
this is a different debate for a different day
but, I like Soup, I think he was great for us last year and I certainly don’t want him to be traded to San Jose of all places, but getting rid of Soup’s contract without eating any money is something I’d think the Hawks would strongly consider. The removal of that 7.1 would eliminate our cap issues throughout the duration of Kane and Toews’ deals. We do have some young puck movers that are supposed to be coming along soon (although nothing is guaranteed).
In summary:
-I like Campbell
-I know he’s important to this team
-He’ll be 37 when his deal is over
-trading him probably isn’t realistic
-we can still build respectable teams with his cap hit
It does seem like the putting your foot down means that you don’t want to see campbell go under any circumstances, which I disagree with.
Respectfully,
Hack
Ditto for CNS
Ok, I was kidding
with the strenuousness of my objection – who cares about my foot anyway?
If our young Dmen are able to replace his skill set, then, while I would be sad, I would be ok with him leaving. Until that time, I don’t see it benefiting the Hawks to have him gone.
Money talks. Bullshit walks.
There is no loyalty in sports anymore. The almighty $ rules the roost.
Take off those rose colored glasses!
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
Brilliant?
A bit of an overstatement me thinks, but this was an intelligent hockey move by the Sharks. The offseason chess match continues.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions
From?
well, he’s from Ontario,
Wait, you mean career-from……..no, no, that’s Buffalo.
Oh, you mean 20-games+playoffs-from, got it.
Ditto for CNS
yeah but the statement is still foolish
Campbell32 said F SJ, and your response was, funny cause campbell is from San Jose. By that logic, we can’t hate detroit because Hossa is “from” Detroit. Do you see the stupid yet?
Ditto for CNS
Me too
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions
I live there too
Oh noooes! Campbell32 is undergoing an avatar change operation.
I don’t recognize anyone around here anymore. Especially since everyone’s avatar has someone holding up, kissing, hugging, or dry humping the Stanley Cup. It’s getting old people… ;)
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm staying strong with Tom Waddle
he ages like a fine wine………the avatar I mean, the avatar ages like a fine wine.
Ditto for CNS
Sorry,
Wanted to remain Hawks-tastic but get some baseball season cred in there.
I don’t want to take this sort of conversation to this board, but…. SOX!! (sucks about Peavy though).
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
I'm still here. Just creepin'
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on Jul 11, 2010 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
He was actually from the movie Wayne's World.
Just check my avatar.
Though in my hastiness to create a profile, I didn’t realize that my number should be 22…
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Gotta match it ...
There’s no way to replace him on defense. Cross the Seabrook bridge when we get there.
I wonder how much this is fueled by San Jose wanting to keep the cap pressure on us. The offer seems not big enough to actually get him but just big enough to keep us tight.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
5 in the first 2 rounds
and 8 in the first 3.
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 9, 2010 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, the picks would be nice ...
I don’t know what their cap situation is but they must be pretty tight over with with the Marleau signing. I guess this is how they’re spending the Nabokov funny money.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
If I was them
this is how I’d be spending it, for sure. Do they have a goalie yet (Niitymaki doesn’t count)?
Sharks are going with Nitty/Greiss tandem
Sharks have 3 solid prospects in goal that require only a bit more seasoning, so no need to overspend on a veteran goalie. DW is in desperate need of defensemen. If he can’t get nice things, he’s going to force you to PAY WHAT YOU OWE!
"Skillet, we just spent $64,000 in that bar. So we're gonna have to get jobs to cover up the fact that we rob banks" -Mouse Fitzgerald
There's nice,
and then there’s Jelly nice.
Picks ain’t no consolation for TOFTBO.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
I'm with you, 32
This is a shit sandwich the organization needs to take a big bite of.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
In other words, it's a huge shit sandwich, and we're all gonna have to take a bite.
Sir… does this mean that Ann-Margret’s not coming?
When he reached the New World, Cortez burned his ships. As a result his men were well motivated.
by thepuckstopshere31 on Jul 9, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't want the picks
If San Jose makes it to the WC Finals or God forbid beyond, the 1st round choice would be 27th at best and #87 in the 3rd round. Hammer is definitely worth more.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
I think you're right ...
and I’m getting tired of valuing personnel moves by how much cap room they free up. I want to start making value judgments based on the talent we get back in return.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Bet you they take Niemi
for the starter. Just my own wild hunch if we lose him (hope we dont), but if we all had to choose it’s has to be Hammer
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
really?
We’re back on this again?
What are they going to do with Nittymaki and Greiss if they try to get Nemo? Keep 3 goalies?
And if they do, that gives the Hawks their 1st and 3rd AND, oh yeah, allows them to keep Jammer.
by northernsails on Jul 11, 2010 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions
No one can take Niemi; a player can’t accept an offer sheet while in arbitration. At this point, we’re either keeping Niemi at the arbitrated salary, or we’re letting him walk.
www.mjt.org
Oh
I guess I missed that part. I’m also not very good on arbitration, being that I dont fully understand it. But anyway, that makes this situation, which some people seem almost clinically unable to get over, even less likely.
by northernsails on Jul 11, 2010 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
THIS
That’s why it’s a great move by Wilson. The picks don’t mean as much to San Jose. Getting Hammer would improve our D tremendously… while taking some bite from our rivals… I LOVE this move. (and if you were sitting in our seats, you would too.)
the fuckin' fratellis
nobody said it wasn't a good move by wilson (or at least I don't think anyone did)
but it is a ruthless move that could bite him in the ass with his RFAs, maybe. Smart and calculated move yes.
Ditto for CNS
"if you were sitting in our seats"
If I was sitting in your seat I would think it was pretty stupid too. Look, nobody actually makes an offer sheet. If you want an RFA you talk to the original team and make a deal. That is why there are hardly ever offer sheets that “work.” Most RFA’s change teams the way Ladd did.
The only reason to make an actual offer sheet is to “screw” with a team you couldn’t make a deal with. That is just really bad business sense in the long run. In the short run you raise player salaries, in the long run you lose a trading partner and alienate other trading partners.
Sorry, its just being stupid. You want to call that brilliant, well be my guest…
by DaleHalas on Jul 9, 2010 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I will.
Most opinions around the league disagree with you, but to each his own.
We’ll know more about how this plays out next year and for years to come.
the fuckin' fratellis
"Most opinions around the league disagree with you"
Unfortunately you are serious in your belief. Basically, its like this. If this was a “smart move” it would be done more often. The fact that it is almost never done means the opinions around the league agree with me.
okay...
…but if you think most opinions around the league agree with you, I’d love to read the links…
the fuckin' fratellis
Lack of action
is more important than words here.
and I’m sure there will be plenty of opinions about this. but it is a Friday afternoon, and half of the hockey world is on vacation.
opinions around the league
Sorry, opinions around the league (well the ones that matter, anyway) don’t have links…
Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!
Okay. I give up. The entire hockey world thinks this is a stupid move by the Sharks. It says so on Twitter.
Here’s a link for you:
the fuckin' fratellis
Nik flit flut flondo Flue!
As George Carlin once said.
by northernsails on Jul 11, 2010 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm rec'ing this
cuz it went right over my head.
Not sure why you put it here, rather than under the “Cleveland inedptitude” thread relating to the Simmons/LeBron article.
I was at dinner last night with a Cleveland fan, and we’re talking about the sorry sports history of that city.
I mentioned that Simmons missed the Brian Sipe interception in his litany of Cleveland sports pain, and he immediately said “Red Right 88”. I’m like “Hmm, where did I just read THAT?”
Turns out he was at the game- probably throwing snowballs at the Raiders (after all, it’s Cleveland, not
Cincinnatti, right?)
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I was definitely one of the last people
in my age bracket to join facebook, I’ll probably be one of the last to create a twitter account. I like twitter for some things, it’s awesome for following sports reporters and beat writers, etc, but for the average joe having a twitter account, the concept is a bit silly.
Ditto for CNS
I sorta agree with both of you....
RFA’s are not signed to offer sheets very often in my opinion because the compensation, though nice, is delayed. I think more trades for rights are done because both teams want something tangible in return for their RFA’s that they can’t afford to resign. Hammer will make SJ better now while the picks might make the Hawks better 2 – 4 years from now. Since the Hawks are not interested in losing Hammer (unless an unconscionable offer were made) they simply refuse to talk trade.
Look at the Ladd trade for example. The Hawks could have said to Atlanta "sign him and we’ll take the compensatory picks." But they would have to wait for those picks to develop before realizing any return for losing that player and their window for remaining seriously competitive may have closed. By trading Ladd the Hawks get both a pick and a near ready commodity with some NHL ice time while Atlanta reaps the benefit of acquiring a starting player with 2 Cup wins and they don’t sell the farm to do so. So it’s a little of both in my opinion.
The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.
Agree with meeshak
I understand the numbers everyone’s talking about. But I think you have to look long view here. Is Hammer better than Seabs? Uh, no. So this not only puts you in a crunch cap-wise, but also sets the bar for Biscuit even higher than what some here have already projected.
I don’t get the numbers going around for mid-level D-men this year, frankly.
Our Cup.
Jelly!
I said in March or April, sometime after I arrived home and while in a drunken stupor, that if the Hawks sign Hjammer, I’d buy a super expensive jersey with his name on it. Well, of course, that won’t happen, but I’m hoping it doesn’t happen because I’m poor and make good decisions with the money I do have steal find, not because he isn’t a Hawk.
Niemi, on the other hand, whaaaaaatevR.
No No and No
They cannot let Hjammer go to the Sharks. That would simply be unacceptable.
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
Paging Marty Turco....
Your $1.75 million, 1 year contract is waiting.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
by McClure on Jul 9, 2010 12:22 PM CDT reply actions 6 recs
But that was before goalies went 3 for a dollar at free agency. I’m sure he’d rather have $1.75 million than no job at all.
God almighty yes.
What better way to reestablish yourself as an elite goalie?
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Rec'd
the frightening duo of Turco and Crawford, with Toivonen in the bullpen.
-Matt Cooke is a turd burglar. He burgles ALL the turds.-
-At least he's not Cam Janssen. What a bag of dicks that guy is.-
Turco's transition passing gives me a big rubbery one.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
he's gonna need to break up a good forecheck
if hendry and john scott are our 3rd pairing.
Ditto for CNS
but....but....but
we re-sign Jassen Cullimore
-Matt Cooke is a turd burglar. He burgles ALL the turds.-
-At least he's not Cam Janssen. What a bag of dicks that guy is.-
That would help
It means we could get rid of Campbell, and use his Cap space for something else. See, anyone can be an NHL GM!
(before I get lynched, no this isn’t serious)
Ban Him!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions
getting Mason for a year or two
would have been perfect.
Would it be realistic to expect to sign him for this little?
His salary last season was over $5 million if I’m not mistaken. If this off season has taught me anything it’s that professional athletes are mercenaries, selling their skills to the highest bidder. It seems talk of players taking home town discounts or less money for the chance to win the cup is bullshit.
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
It'd be great for us if it came to that.
But it seems there’s always some batshit crazy GM’s out there that screw everything up by offering out of line $$ to players that don’t necessarily deserve it.
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
Love the headline
and as it’s been said…it must be matched.
I can’t wait for the mouthbreathin’, late-arrival, “I understand the cap, but whey did we get rid of Big Buff!?!?!”, bandwagoners see the Hawks choose Jelly over Niemi. Maybe their heads will asplode, and we can simply nudge their headless bodies off the wagon.
"What the hell, let's review it." - Dale Tallon
"They are!" - Pat Foley
"What a farce." - Dale Tallon
Already looking forward to October...
….when I get to field the inevitable “What the hell happened to (enter name here)?” from all my friends who quit paying attention to the ’Hawks as soon as the last piece of confetti flew at the parade.
Gonna be gobs o’ fun.
by KingTalkyTiki on Jul 9, 2010 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
yep
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 9, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Got a question with Niemi and arbitration
Could the Hawks decline Niemi’s arbitration award and allow him to become a UFA, and when Niemi realizes that their ain’t shit out there (nothing for over 2.5 mil a year), the Hawks could then low-ball him with an offer? Is this possible?
No
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
Is that a no......
it’s not possible, or no it won’t happen. It seems to me that it would be the same as the Hwaks releasing Hendry then resigning him as a UFA..
by EamusCatuli23 on Jul 9, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Not possible, I don't think
You can’t let a guy walk as UFA from arbitration only to re-sign him. Similar rules apply to buyouts. I’m waiting on El Duque to clarify this cap conundrum, but I’d be shocked if it’s allowable.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
Gotcha
That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
by EamusCatuli23 on Jul 9, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh goody
a project. I was bored at work anyway.
Just glancing at the CBA, there is nothing that specifically states the Club would be unable to sign the player once he becomes an unrestricted free agent. However, it would be incredibly unlikely as the Hawks and Niemi would have just gone through a painful arbitration hearing. Niemi would likely prefer to play in Alaska then come back to the Hawks at a reduced rate.
FifthFeather.com
by El Duque's Raft on Jul 9, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Arbitration explained
The player cannot receive less than 85% of his previous years salary
Teams are only allowed to ask for arbitration once on a specific player
Players can ask for arbitration as many times in their career as they wish
After the hearing, a decision must be made within 48 hours
If the team declines or “walks away” the player may declare himself an UFA
Evidence that can be used:
The player’s overall performance to include all statistics
Injuries/illnesses & number of games played
Player’s length of service with the team & NHL
Player’s overall contribution to the teams success or failure
Player’s special qualities of leadership or public appeal
The performance & salary of any player alleged to be comparable to the player in dispute
Evidence that cannot be used:
The salary of a comparable player who signed a contract as a UFA
Testimonials, video & media reports
The financial state of the team
The salary cap & the state of the team’s payroll
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Thanks Tuke
This answered several of my questions on NHL arbitrations.
Had to laugh at Player’s special qualities of leadership or public appeal when thinking about Niemi. I wouldn’t recommend his agent bringing this up in the arbitration hearing.
by learn to swim on Jul 10, 2010 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
its not one of his more endearing characteristics and I really don’t see him as much of a leader either. I guess when it is finally said & done there isn’t a whole lot of criteria that work in Nemo’s favor. Too bad the Halak was a RFA otherwise his salary wouldn’t have been taken into consideration. Oh well sign Hammer and ship Nemo out!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Good Goalies fix a lot of problems
Bad goalies create a lot even with good players in front of them. You REALLY want to see Huet with Hammer vs. Niemi without? How soon we forget all the debacles from last year. We survived with Seabrook and Campbell out for a while last year…we’d survive w/o Hammer. Not sure we’d survive with Huet as #1.
With Huet as #1
Chicago won the division. Huet shat himself after the Olympics and was shattered late in the season when Niemi was given the reigns.
Early in the season, Huet did quite well. It’s those Dallas, Minny, and CBJ games that stick in our heads. While his gaffes were not quite as spectacular, Niemi has blown a few leads with some soft goals (Detroit & Washington games are/were on the homepage of NHL.com for greatest comebacks)
You REALLY want to see Huet with Hammer vs. Niemi without?
Excuse me but what planet are you on?
If the Hawks can’t afford Niemi at 3.5/year they certainly can’t afford Huet at 5.6/year. It’s not a choice of Niemi or Huet? Never was. Huet is NOT on the team next year and Niemi MIGHT NOT be either…
Hope you're right
Perhaps I should start being a Crawford fan a bit harder.
Chicago survived with Huet as #1 for 3/4 of the season
And they’ll survive with anyone back there as long as they stick to the ‘system’.
and that systems incdes Hammer
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
I've remained relatively cool during the entire fire sale...
..but if we lose Toftbo, I offically hit the panic switch.
Match it, please…..and in the meantime, I’m going to commence to pound some High Lifes in an attempt to not over this all weekend.
Yeah, i've always said Hj and Seabrook have to be the main priorities ...
for a long term strategy. I can handle a rinky-dink third and fourth line and a weak third pairing, but if the defensive structure of this team breaks down it’s going to be tough to watch next year.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Can I get
A link or source of some kind?
Goddam SJ…
I almost forgot I can't afford the bleach that turns collars from blue to white...but I never liked the collar white anyways.
by zortaf on Jul 9, 2010 12:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
If SJ signs him
he’ll become their best shutdown dman instantly, unless fresh paper pressure gets to him.
Damn it 3.5 a year is high, but we can’t loose hammer. Man, if we sign him to 3.5 a year, next summer is going to be painful.
Ditto for CNS
He'll be worth it, particularly near the end
especially considering that laughable deal that Hamhuis got.
In retro
We could have signed Lebda for almost half the price and probably kept Niemi….Hjammer is my boy though…We have to match this and we can trade Sharp next season to keep Seabs.
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
Ill take the defenseman everytime.
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
Really,
I’m hoping that by the time this conundrum rolls around, we’ve got a solid feeling on these masses of youngsters we’ve recently acquired. Who’ll be able to fill what, etc.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
You're operating under the assumption that Niemi is brought back
So if it’s a question of Hammer, Sharp, and Goalie X, or Hammer, Niemi, and #2 Center X, what wins?
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
My head just exploded.
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
"Niemi is brought back"
I agree with Fifth Feather on this one. The offer to Hjammer lessens the number of years Niemi is offered in arbitration. If you go into arbitration on a one year deal the cap hit is as low as it can possibly be. Regardless of who wins…
Sharp
Niemi was Goalie X at the begining of the season
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
I say you gamble on the goalie ...
I think Sharp and Hammer have a better chance at being consistant than Neimi. If we’re going to have a goalie sink this ship, we should do it at as low of a cap hit as we possibly can.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Also
We’ve seen more of Hjammer & Sharp. We know they can operate over a whole season, don’t know that about Niemi.
Agreed
And isn’t the issue that zito wants a lifetime deal or something?
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 12:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Riiighttttt
Niemi showed huge downside in the Stanley cup after playing ALL the games and the end of the season. He gave you PLENTY of reasons to think he can’t stand up, right? So you’d feel better if we sign Hammer and then SJ makes Niemi a huge offer after we can’t match his arbitration award. So next year in the playoffs vs, SJ, you’d rather face SJ with Hammer on our side, but Niemi on theirs and Huet on ours. That’s better?
He's never played a full season
as a number 1. Not saying he can’t, but he was definitely stronger late because he didn’t. Look at goalies like Anderson, Nabby, Luongo – all played a ton of regular season games and were exhausted by the playoffs.
I don’t particularly care if SJ goes after Niemi, but I doubt they will. They seem committed to Nitty and Greiss at this point.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes. Meant to say
after playing ALL the playoff games. My point is that his upside has not been seen yet I don’t think. And I see no reason last season was some fluke….maybe it was….but let’s sign him to a 1 year arb deal and find out what we got.
If he
is going the arbitration route, I sincerely doubt he signs a 1 year deal
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
"sincerely doubt he signs a 1 year deal"
Not his choice. If the Player elects to go to arbitration the team picks the length of the contract.
I don't agree with you very often
but this is a big +1 on ‘gamble on the goalie’, given that set of options. Amen and preach on, brother.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Exactly
Our defense can make any goalie look better than he actually is.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
Way to ruin my big moment of being right ...
I think I have a .01% rate of having my posts recommended going. Respect.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't think of one team
in the NHL that would give up a great goalie for a great D-man….unless their other goalie was a stud too. Huet? Are you shitting me?
I don't think
we should give up a GREAT goalie for a great D-man either, too bad we don’t have a GREAT goalie ;p
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
well....
are you saying Niemi isn’t a great goalie because of his play so far, or because he hasn’t played extensively as a number 1?
I think with what I saw of his reflexes and abilities last year, as more experience comes and he learns the angles and positioning better and better, he WILL become a great goalie if you don’t think he already is one.
Here’s the other question…..everyone here is assuming Hammer is the next Lindstrom and Niemi is a decent goalie who lucked out with good D. Now what if Niemi IS really another Tony O or Patrick Roy or Brouder (sp?)? He’s given us NO reason to think he can’t reach those potentials. Do you STILL keep Hammer vs. Niemi if you also get a #1 and #3 pick on top?
We can give him a 1 year contract after arbitration
and find out.
I’ll go with expect the expected. I have ZERO reason to think he won’t continue to get better. Everyone can say our great D made Niemi look good, but we had some pretty bad D lapses that he bailed us out of. A rookie goalie good enough to win the Stanley Cup (no we didn’t win by overcoming a rookie goalie…we won because he played very well along with the team) and we’re going to let him go after 1 year? He has shown he can play well, take on a heavy load and play under pressure.
Losing Hammer…hope we don’t. But with the core we have on this team (Hossa, Sharp, Boland, Kane, Toews, Brouwer, Seabrook, Keith, Campbell) you add a top 10 goalie and I’ll take my chances downgrading the #4 defense-man a bit.
This.
Everything except taking chances with downgrading the #4 D man. I just really don’t want to do that. I want Bowman to pull a miracle out of his ass and sign em both.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
It's definitely possible.
If Niemi’s arbitration amount lands around $1.75 or $2m, then I think they can financially do it.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions
One thing
working in our favor is that there have really only been 2 RFA goalies signed that are “comparable” Halak @4yr/15mil & Backlund @ 2yr/1.6, now technically speaking I don’t think Halak is the rule but rather the exception for being comparable unfortunately those are the only 2 that can be compared so unless some other RFA goalies get signed before his hearing the Hawks are looking at around 3-3.5 mil/year, and I really doubt Niemi will take just a 1 year deal, but then again who knows
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I think we must also look at Rask's deal with Boston.
He was an RFA and is, to my mind, the most comparable goalie to Antti in terms of experience and numbers. He signed a 2 yr. / $2.5 million deal to stay with Boston.
Even if Antti’s arbitration number comes in slightly higher than this I think the Hawks can live with it.
Hopefully they will push this comparison hardest in pointing to comparable deals upon which to base Niemi’s contract.
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
I’ll take my chances downgrading the #4 defense-man a bit.
You do understand that you are advocating the philosophy of the Vacnouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks. Spending money on the goalie at the expense of the d-men is the approach those two teams took.
You also understand that you are advocating AGAINST the philosophy of the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks? These teams put their money in their d-pairs.
With the results of the recent past are you sure you want to be advocating that position?
more astuteness here
I don’t think it’s perfectly clear-cut- neither guy is a shoo-in for stardom in the NHL.
Pro-Nemo:
1. Cheaper
2. Draft picks if we lose Hammer.
3. He might be the real deal.
Pro-Hammer:
1. Without him, Campbell may be a lot less effective.
2. At least slightly more likely to be the real deal.
3. Building around goaltending seems like a less effective strategy.
Forced to choose, I go with Nintendo.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Disagree re: blackhawks philosophy
The philosophy of the Blackhawks has historically been start with a strong goalie and great centerman. Glenn Hall, Esposito, Bannerman, Belfour….those are the years I remember success. Name me a blackhawks team of the past 40 years w/o those as goalies that depended on great D-men to win and had any success.
your joking right?
Is this a trick question? uh, this last years team! Seriously if you are going to put it up there on a “T” for me, I am going to take the swing and run with it.
So the philosophy of the last 40 years that didn’t win a cup was to go with a strong goalie?
The philosophy of Scotty Bowman which is to go with strong d-men actually wins the Cup.
And you still want to argue about goalies?
You're assuming Niemi is not a great goalie.
And per your logic if we didn’t have Niemi last year, Huet, Crawford or the other Finn would’ve still won us the cup. Good luck convincing anyone with hockey sense that any of those goalies wins us the Cup. I doubt we make it past Nashville.
great goalie.
If Niemi tuns out to be a great goalie the Hawks aren’t going to be able to afford him!
For last year though, Niemi had a Tom Awad GVT ranking of 18th. That is in the lower half of the league and almost the bottom third.
The Hawks won the Cup with average goaltending and the best D core in the playoffs. The only time people with any hockey sense rated Niemi better then his playoffs counterpart was against the Flyers.
And I’ll give you another “hockey sense”. If the Hawks switched Niemi and Luongo the Hawks would have still won the series against the Canucks. On the other hand, if the Hawks switched their d-core with the Canucks d-core, then the Canucks would have won and would probably be hoisting the Cup.
In any event, anyone that I think has any hockey sense at this sight has already stated that they would keep Hammer over Niemi. But you are entitled to your opinion.
Tom Awad GVT....riiiight
Now there’s THE definitive stat on who great goaltenders are.
I’m not switching Dcorps with Vancouver…where’d THAT come from?…I’m talking about ONE guy and by all accounts he’s the FOURTH best Dman on the team. Yeah switching Luongo and Niemi we probably win….but in case you haven’t looked, Luongo is not on our list of goalies…..Huet, Crawford and some other Finn are…with maybe a used Turco out there for rent.
Yeah…people with hockey sense rated others better than Niemi BEFORE their series….but they all say Niemi outplayed those guys during the series with the possible exception of Renne.
Niemi’s upside is unknown. IF he becomes a great goalie next year or the year after, maybe the Hawks can decide whether they can afford him then. Right now, they may well be getting a great goalie for 1 year cheap, depending on arbitration.
I'm saying
Niemi has potential. At this point I have seen more promise from Hammer to be a good D-man than I have seen from Niemi to be a great Goali, and actually I am sort of leaning towards letting them both walk if they want huge pay days that haven’t been earned yet.
You are correct in that there is the possibility that Nieme will become a great goalie, but I hesitate to think he may turn out to be another Tony O or Roy. Niemi’s biggest problem right now is a lack of experience and a lack of consistency. I have stated several times that if Niemi had played most of his games in the same manner he played the SJS series, then I would be singing a different tune, but as of right now if the Hawks told me they were going to keep one and wanted my opinion, I would say Hammer because he has shown the MOST promise (more games played) and consistency.
Niemi on the other hand may play like he did against SJS one night and then come out playing like the 3rd period of the Caps game.
But like I said earlier, as of right now I say let them both walk and start bringing up the young guns to get them some experience. We may not win the cup next year, but they will be competitive and those kids will gain experience and needed maturity at the big boy level.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I doubt you'd be happy
if Niemi turned out to be a hall of fame goalie and we let him walk. Maybe he is and maybe he isn’t, but it’s worth letting the 4th best D-man on your team go to find out….especially if we get 2 draft picks vs. zilcho for Niemi.
However, if it was me I’d fix this another way….trade Bolland and keep Niemi and Hammer and whatever you get for Bolland would be my choice.
My problem with your logic
Is you can flip Niemi and Hjalmarsson in a lot of what you’re saying and it’d make just as much sense. And we have a larger sample size with Hjammer to work with, which is why I give him the edge.
Key Players
Great goalies are not a dime a dozen as many in this thread seem to believe. If the majority want to believe losing a 4th defense-man is worse than losing a #1 goalie, great. I happen to believe you put in a Cam Barker or a healthy Johannson instead of Hammer we would have still had a solid chance to win it all last year. Another way to look at it….if we plucked a 2 million dollar Dman (which we’d be THRILLED to have Hammer for) from the rest of the league and plugged him into Hammer’s slot…I believe we still win. Plug in Turco or one of the Hawks back up goalies….I’m pretty sure the parade route wouldn’t have had 2 million fans in it.
I also think the Hawks reward loyalty. Is it a coincidence Fraser, Eager, Versteeg, Cam Barker and Aaron Johnson were 5 of the 6 Dale Tallon free agents who took advantage of his boo boo and are no longer here? Hammer signed an offer letter from another club vs. working within the Hawks organization….and with THE key competitor in the Western Conference to boot.. Niemi asked for arbitration, which I believe takes him off the RFA market for now and gives the Hawks a chance to work things out over a few week period.. Who would you bring into the locker room as an owner? Now add a #1 and #3 draft pick on top.
We can wait 5 days and find out.
cliff, you seem to think this is some sort of proof in an argument, but while i think husler is wrong, your posting it just serves as a way to piss off the opponent. but then i wouldn’t expect a logical argument from you anyway, so i guess we should all just be satisfied with this. ;)
wtf
How many proofs use the word usually?
It’s a rule of thumb- but a damn good one.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
No, it's not a coincidence.
They are overpaid, and with our cap situation, of course they’re going to be gone. There’s no punishment going on here.
Also, Hammer isn’t arbitration eligible, so you’re comparing apples and oranges there. He couldn’t have gone that route if he’d wanted.
And, there is no way our 2nd D pairing is as effective with Cam Barker playing with Campbell. This was a disaster Campbell’s first year here, which is why Hammer is so important.
Finally, your first sentences assume Niemi is a great goalie, and his sample size is not nealry large enough to verify that. He could flame out like any other rookie goalie or he could have modest success or he could be great. There’s no way of saying for sure he WILL BE a great one.
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wanted to say pretty much this
but you got there first & did a much better job of it than I could. Cheers.
Some very good points
I’m not convinced that the guys who got traded weren’t related at all to them doing the free agent fiasco. I agree we’ll probably never know for sure, but if Brouwer is traded, that would make 6 out of 6. THEN I stick to my contention it IS a form of punishment.
I don’t understand the arbitration eligible thing with Hammer. What are the rules for arbitration eligibility? Do you mean now that he signed the offer sheet, or that he wasn’t eligible for arbitration before that either? If his ONLY option was to get an offer sheet because the Hawks were low balling, then I can understand his position. If he decided to forgo arbitration and leverage the Hawks with the Sharks offer…..that’s a different story.
Let’s not mistake my regard for Hammer….I think he’s an outstanding D-man for sure…much better than Barker right now. I just think replacing the 4th best Dman on the roster will be easier to do and win, than replacing a (let’s say for now) very good goalie.
I can’t call Niemi great for many of the reasons you mentioned. i DO think though he has the potential for greatness, and those kind of goalies IF they live up to the potential, are very very VERY rare. To lose that vs. a Boland, Sharp or Hammer…..well you all know we have different opinions on that one.
He was not eligible
for arbitration at all. I don’t know why, though. Offer sheets were his only option outside negotiating with the Hawks.
I think it IS related to the free agent fiasco, but not for punishment. Simply for the fact that we couldn’t afford them now. I absolutely think Versteeg and Buff would still be here if they were cheaper.
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Buff wasn't part of the Tallon fiasco
He just never played up to his contract except for a few playoff games. He got away with it on a very talented Hawks team….but not enough to dump other players for.
I agree…if Versteeg didn’t take advantage of the Tallon fiasco and thus was cheaper, he’d be here.
A tie now b/t
Sharp and Hjammer.
When the time comes around, we check the waters in our talent pool, and go with the one we need more.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
i agree
signing hjammer to a 3.5 mil deal won’t make him impossible to move if we need to next year
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
by desertindian on Jul 9, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
You could go with
Hammer, Sharp, Niemi minus Bolland on the payroll.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
/headdesk
the defensive center that draws penalties?
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
That's just one more option
I’d be pissed if they did this over letting Niemi go.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
my head is spinning more and more
every second….make it stop!!
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
Think what the Hawks' brass is feeling.
They have to live with their decisions.
"....we have to find a way to win. And good teams do that."
Tomas Kopecky May 29, 2010
yeah but at least they make the kind of money for that
what about me??? ;)
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
Top 3 D-Man they say, there, in sunny San Jose
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=534107
-Matt Cooke is a turd burglar. He burgles ALL the turds.-
-At least he's not Cam Janssen. What a bag of dicks that guy is.-
The Shaks give the poison pill, eh ...
I guess this is only fitting that after we took one of their free agents with a bloated contract they leverage the cap pain from that signing to squeeze out one of our guys. This is like the hockey equivilent of a hostile corporate takeover.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 12:37 PM CDT reply actions
3.5 Mil
Isn’t a poison pill. It’s not far from market value now, and it may well be sub-market value by the end of the deal.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Hawkeye State
I hope we match
I have faith (delusions?) that behind 72 and Hammer Soup any goalie can pass.
And WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE USERNAMES?!?!?
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 12:39 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Sorry I didn't reply earlier
I was skating at Johnny’s Ice House West by Northwest all day.
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Ballpark,
what will Niemi make if it goes to arbitration?
"....we have to find a way to win. And good teams do that."
Tomas Kopecky May 29, 2010
Depends
Hockey arbitrators pick a side, rather than baseball, where they throw out a number they decide is right. Niemi could very realistically lose the case, but it depends on what number the Hawks have come in with, or if they’ve even done so already, and what Niemi and Zito want, which is likely Halak money.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
wow, I didn't know hockey arbitration was a line-in-the-sand type thing
that’s kind of scary, you really have to figure out a fair number rather than lowballing.
Ditto for CNS
but what's a fair number?
how does an arbitrator decide between Won the Cup and Started Less Than Half the Season?
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Therein lies the conundrum
This will be a very closely monitored case around the league.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
In Baseball...
the arbitrator also picks a side..
by EamusCatuli23 on Jul 9, 2010 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
In KHL...
the side picks you
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
by Campbell32 on Jul 9, 2010 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
anyone know what the record is for offloading a team?
We’ve lost
steeg, buff, sopel, eager, burish, ladd, johnnson, madden, possibly hjammer and niemi. granted most of our core is intact, but i don’t remember teams in recent years going through this amount of churning…maybe one of you knows though
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
and despite conventional wisdom
they made it to the Conference Finals.
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 9, 2010 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
oh, I thought you meant before this season
since it felt like the Habs also let a lot of people go before the 09-10 season.
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 9, 2010 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you're in the sarchasm
when was the last time the Caps won a cup?
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 1:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
oh, fuck, for some reason I read that as "President's Trophy Bruins"
Although in my defense, I’m also trying to work on a work deadline. Sigh.
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 9, 2010 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Quality, not quantity
is what matters. The Pens lost Marian Hossa (and others, I presume) and then won the Cup the next year. We’ve lost a big, streaky, winger who played on the top 2 lines, a few third & fourth line players and – possibly – an admittedly very good 2nd-line D-man and a streaky, unproven goalie.
i'm not saying we're doomed
it just seems like a lot of turnover in general…could just be the first year i’ve paid so much attention to the offseason moves
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
by desertindian on Jul 9, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
well on the bright side
for those of us who are tired of waiting to see what’s going to happen with Hammer and Niemi, we will know what’s happening with hammer within the next week, and that decision will probably give us a good idea on whether or not we can keep nemo.
Ditto for CNS
and probably
give me an idea if I should switch to something stronger than what i’m drinking
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
Nope.
We have people in the administration that are still dedicated to having a great team. It hurts right now but keep on drinking the 90 proof and don’t move up yet.
Bash my face...........Hawks WIN!!!!!!
I have the faith
I keep having it. It’s just rough thinking we may or may not have Hammer
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
You know, this team sucked three years ago. Aren’t we all talking about a Detroit model, where they’re always contenders but only win a two in a decade?
Well I wouldn't even say they sucked 3 years ago
That was pretty exciting reading/watching my road games on TV. Gained 17 points in the standings and were about 3 off from the playoffs
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
yep
If Toews didn’t get hurt in January he would have won the Calder and Hawks would have made the playoffs
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
True, it was exciting. My point is, even if they suck so bad next year that they don’t make the playoffs, they could be hoisting another Cup in 2013 (or they could be, if the world hadn’t ended six months earlier).
haha thats all I keep saying
damn I least I got a stanley cup before the world ends
2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Chicago Blackhawks
2 in a decade works just fine
Depends on how you define decade, though, since the Red Wings won 4 in the span between 1997 and 2008. Obviously, I’m doing some Big Ten Conference style counting to define my decade.
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
Can we match the offer
and then trade Hammer to an eastern conference team for a decent player? At least we keep him from SJ then and I bet we can get something that will help us this year in return.
can't trade in the first year
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 11, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions
we can still throw Huet in Rockford
and knock off 5-6/yr right?
I mean, it hits Rocky’s wallet, but it’s good for the team
Second City Hockey
It's generally accepted that
this scenario is going to happen, but it’s not going to solve all of our problems.
To give you an idea of what I’m talking about; right now we have just enough money left under the cap to sign hammer to this proposed deal. Therefore, the Huet cap dump will be our only means of filling out the rest of the roster.
Ditto for CNS
The Hawks sign a high-profile free agent, who doesn’t live up to expectations. So, they dump him in the minors to clear up his cap space. Now, you’re a highly-touted free agent, with offers from a number of teams. Do you take the one from Chicago?
meh
you’re still getting paid, it’s your fault you didn’t perform up to your contract. I would hope most free agents have enough confidence in their abilities to avoid that kind of fear of a team’s front office
Ditto for CNS
Time will tell. I hope you’re right, but I honestly don’t think you are. It might not even be that free agents don’t want to come to the Hawks, but that their agents factor that into the contract they demand from Bowman and Co. so that the Hawks end up overpaying. Who knows?
I think the situation is different for goalies
I don’t think an underperforming goalie getting dumped will impact forwards or defensemen as they look at signing with the hawks. I do think that the situation could deter free agent goalies however. Now if we did something like buy out campbell, then I think we will have free agent issues.
Ditto for CNS
Do free agents care about others that fail?
Fundamental trait of athletes are that they don’t see themselves as failing. Somebody that preceded them failing and ending up in the minors is simply NOT on the radar. It isn’t relevant to them since they aren’t going to fail…
that's part of why
i hope the Hawks work out a deal with Huet to send him to the KHL.
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 9, 2010 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Or the Hawks could find a way to lend Huet to the Swedish or Finnish league as the Caps did with Nylander last year.
Or do the Grand Rapids Griffons need help at Goalie?
Rocking the Red since 1975
I wasn't following Nylander very well
I didn’t realize he’d gone to the Swedish or Finnish league. Thought he was just at Grand Rapids.
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 9, 2010 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Eh, look at it another way.
You’re Hossa, a highly-touted free agent who’d spent two years not living up to expectations. You sign with Chicago, you get to cuddle with the Cup.
I don’t think we’ll have a problem signing talent, if that’s what we need to do. Not at all.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
extremely valid point
yes, it would be nice if people would just “play better” to avoid such a fate. But that’s not reality, and you can’t account for other flukey things like injury…
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions
not at all
I agree with you but haven’t mentioned it on here because everyone is just so convinced it’s done & I don’t even want to bother with the arguments of “well then, if not, what would you do about it?!?”
I think I ranted about this at the bbq, but I’m pretty sure most of my listening audience was toasted by that point :D
I actually think
this is about the most lame-brained idea you’ve come up with.
The answer to your question:
Now, you’re a highly-touted free agent, with offers from a number of teams. Do you take the one from Chicago?
Not if you think you’re gonna suck.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Depressing
I guess I’m glad I held off on that Niemi jersey – if he goes I’ll have to decide between a vintage Larmer or a current player (perhaps Keith – he’s not going anywhere).
Such night and day between NHL/NBA free agency. After the LeBron sideshow, I much prefer the NHL way in the name of parity, but damn, the gutting of the Hawks is painful as hell.
"Kane is skating as if his mullet is on fire." - 6/9/10, 10:06PM CST
As a general rule I only buy jerseys of retired players
They can’t jump ship to another team as a free agent or be traded. Plus they are a lot less likely to do something to cause you to never wear their jersey again (rape a cocktail waitress, stab someone, etc.) However, I did make an exception this past season. As soon as the big 3 signed their extensions I picked up a Kane and Keith jersey. I just figure they’re likely to be here for a long time if not forever.
"For the kid that was there in 1992 who was crying when I came off the ice after we lost game 4 in Chicago Stadium... you waited 18 years... I hope you have a big smile on your face."
by it'snotsomuchmeasitisroenick on Jul 9, 2010 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
working on it
I didn’t really care for the alternate jersey so I’m waiting a bit. I figure he’s the surest thing so no hurry to get his.
"For the kid that was there in 1992 who was crying when I came off the ice after we lost game 4 in Chicago Stadium... you waited 18 years... I hope you have a big smile on your face."
by it'snotsomuchmeasitisroenick on Jul 9, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
You can never go wrong
selecting the jersey from the rafters… I still wear a Mikita sweater to nearly every game. Only times I don’t are when I wear one with my name on it that my dad got it for me before he was diagnosed with cancer. Until he did that for me, it was Mikita all day, every day.
"Youuuu Suck, Mayyyyers!!"
by Tiocfaidh ar La on Jul 11, 2010 12:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I came this close
to buying a Mikita jersey at last year’s convention but ultimately talked myself out of it because it was a Reebok jersey and Mikita never wore that style. I’m a little nutty like that. Someday, if I can find a more “authentic to his time” jersey, I may get one.
I was planning on getting a Doug Wilson jersey
as he is my favorite player of all time but I’m a little annoyed with him right now. :-( Hjammer was next on the list if he got resigned. If SJ ends up with Hjammer, they are both off my list, darnitall!!!
Looks like the Toews and Hossa jerseys could happen sooner than I thought. (I bought a DKeith jersey the week he signed the the 12 year contract figuring it was a pretty safe bet!)
explanation

Why bother rushing, it’s the off season, it’s not like anything important is going on. lol
Second City Hockey
Wonder where he got that from
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
Ironic because Wysh gets up in his grill when people don’t cite PD.
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 9, 2010 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
He told me that 90% of his humor comes from watching too much Simpsons
so he might actually think he came up with that one on his own.
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions
No-brainer
Scotty thinks Hjarms could be Lidstrom and I certainly would trust his judgement. Match the offer, tell Niemi that you will walk away from any award over X, and start contacting goalies. Turco’s puckhandling skills alone make him enticing.
He's sucked against the Red Wings
Just a fair warning. Since leading Michigan to two National Championship while in Ann Arbor, Turco’s record in Michigan is less than stellar.
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
We play three games a year in Michigan
So long as he does well in the other 79, I don’t care
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 1:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Turco and puck control
I find this idea intriguing. Last year, with two goalies who couldn’t handle the puck for shit, the Hawks still allowed by far the fewest shots against in the league, so maybe Marty wouldn’t even have to be very good at, you know, stopping shots.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
i'd be curious with turco
since we have problems against a forecheck, but transition very well..turco’s stickhandling could really play into the hawk’s style
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
Just think
how many assists the guy could have.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
thus he might fit in sort of the opposite way that perhaps Huet didn't fit?
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
hoping so!
if we’re going to get a goalie who will shit the bed, at least get one that can pass.
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
Where's the salary / cap hi spreadsheet?
"....we have to find a way to win. And good teams do that."
Tomas Kopecky May 29, 2010
in addition...
You add Wilson and the Sharks to the “Kevin Lowe Memorial GM Shitlist”
I hate to see quite that much to him now - but I think we have to match it.
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
i wasnt planning on drinking
but now this weekend is blown with the thought of #4 being a departed as well. dont fuck this up Stan. and a good old friendly “Fuck you” to Doug Wilson.
Cobra opens at 5pm.
"...can i have a glass of whiskey and a slice of bread?"
if it came down between the two, toodles Neimi
When in Rome we shall do as the Romans, when in Hell we do shots at the bar.
by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Jul 9, 2010 1:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
i'll take a danger defensive core over
A goalie that may or may not play up to his salary he is looking for. Hjalms showed he can play a whole season and post season.
And I don’t know if Phantom can play with anyone but Hjammer and that spells disaster. Hjalmarsson>Niemi.
When in Rome we shall do as the Romans, when in Hell we do shots at the bar.
by HolyBlackhawksBatman on Jul 11, 2010 8:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Reiterating: If we lost in any round, we would have almost exactly the same problems.
AND NOT HAVE WON THE FUCKING STANLEY CUP!!!!!!!!!
"....we have to find a way to win. And good teams do that."
Tomas Kopecky May 29, 2010
i'm not sure we'd be in EXACTLY the same position
for example: had we not won the cup, i don’t see SJ trying to poach Hjammer via offer sheet for $3.5M a year. Pick a reason — either b/c Hjammer’s value wouldn’t be as high, or b/c we would have such a big target on our backs that teams would care as much about fucking us over — but i just don’t see it.
Yes we would have had cap issues, but they wouldn’t have played out in nearly the same way.
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
he can't get an offer sheet
while he’s in arbitration.
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 9, 2010 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I think there are too many
serviceable goalies available. But yes.
"....we have to find a way to win. And good teams do that."
Tomas Kopecky May 29, 2010
Question
Do we have to match the offer sheet exactly? Or can we potentially sign him to a slightly longer, more cap friendly deal that pays him a little more money?
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
I'm not sure that's correct. I think it has to be at least the same base salary
I’m not sure what kind of bonuses he can get, since its not his first contract, and he’s not over 35.
Any of our “Cap Experts” available to clarify this?
Everyone dies. It is the only true and lasting justice in life.
could
they match the offer and then after hes signed restructure the deal making it more friendly for both sides, effectively giving the sharks the finger?
I am Ripper... Tearer... Slasher... Gouger. I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the Night. Mine is Strength... and Lust... and Power! I AM HOSSA!
No shit
Here I am, tryingi to just putz around a little before nap time, de-stress and all, and this is what’s going on? I’m not going to be friends with my friend who’s a Shark fan if this happens.
The sun never sets on a badass
I didn't used to hate the Sharks
Oh, a little conference rivalry and dislike, but no hate like I have for the Canucks. Now? Fuck San Jose.
smart move on their part
not a reason to hate them, IMO.
I hate people who take their grocery carts on the bus.
I can hate the sharks easily.
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 1:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
I'm in Glasgow
Generally, shopping trolleys have magnetic thingies which mean the wheels don’t work outside ~100 yards of the shop they belong to.
What were you over here for?
If we’d met over here, I could’ve had a drink or two. One of the things I dislike about America is its (comparatively) far-too-high drinking age.
Just vacation
My sister and I went to Edinburgh, then drove up into the Highlands, then down to Glasgow and back to Edinburgh. I haven’t seen a ton of Europe yet, but I think it’s my favorite place so far.
I did fine for the most part
My sister, on the other hand, was horrible. She couldn’t go anywhere without me because she didn’t know what anyone was saying to her. It was hilarious. She nodded and smiled a lot.
Heh, yep
If you ask “What?” twice and still don’t know what they’re saying, you just smile and say yes.
the most confusing for me
was when we looked at the weather. And I asked a cab driver once how warm it usually gets, thinking he’d say 70s or something, and he said 20s. I just shook my head, damn Celsius.
But
Celsius MAKES SENSE! Celsius is based on water, Fahrenheit is based on a solution of ice + water + salt + ammonium chloride.
This is science.
I don’t do science. It makes my head hurt. I just wanted normal (for me) temperatures!
I will second the Celsius making sense comment
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 9, 2010 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions
It doesn’t make any more sense than Fahrenheit; it only appears to make sense because Celsius arbitrarily chose state-changes of water (a common substance on Earth) as 0 and 100. But it offers no mathematical advantage over Fahrenheit, except through convention metric convention. Ultimately, the only system which makes any sense would be a system like Kelvin, now that we’ve developed the quantum theory to understand zero thermal energy, but I’d prefer if the Kelvins were smaller.
Celsius is the only metric system which is completely arbitrary and offers no advantage over traditional measurement systems.
But
any temperature system only needs to meet one criterion: be linear. The start and end points are, somewhat by definition, arbitrary. They have to be based on /something/ external. And while Fahrenheit is linear, I fail to see how a system based on water, ice, salt & ammonium chloride is more useful than one based on water.
The only real requirement for a temp system is that the populace understand it.
I know what 70f feels like. I have no idea what 36c feels like.
Our Cup.
Well
The only thing I can say in response to this is that practically the whole rest of the world can figure out how to switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
I fail to see how there’s any difference in usability between the two. True, we use water on a daily basis, but 100 degrees is fucking hot and 0 degrees is fucking cold. That’s pretty easy to understand when thought of as a percentage scale.
Furthermore, Fahrenheit has smaller degrees (a degree Celsius is 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) and so allows for more precision with only one significant digit.
The rest of the world is understandably proud of metric, but I think Fahrenheit was onto something with his temperature system.
But
you could make a similar case between standard time & decimal time. Decimal seconds are shorter, and therefore times are more accurate using such a system, but nobody really needs that level of accuracy. Saying the temperature is in the early 30s (Celsius )is similar to saying it’s in the early 100s (Fahrenheit). Nobody ever really needs to know if it will be exactly 27C.
But, the entire point I’m trying to make is that, unlike with the entire rest of the metric system, there is no advantage to using Celsius. it was just sort of tacked on to the conventions of measurement, without being any real improvement.
You can make a really good argument why a mg, g, kg is superior to dram, ounce, pound. But the only real argument you can make for Celsius is that you’re used to it.
Ok
that’s fair enough. But you could make the same argument for standard time vs. decimal time; decimal time is (now) kind of a joke, but time is arbitrary.
Tangentially related: are seconds/minutes considered “metric”? If so, they’re also somewhat arbitrary.
Relatively speaking
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions
your
sister is me. I have no fucking clue what language they speak over there. I have an easier time understanding French or Italian.
Neal Stephenson
wrote an epic trilogy (“The Baroque Cycle”) about 17th century Europe- three 900-page volumes.
Somewhere in the second or third volume is a screamingly funny exchange between a Scotsman and an Englishman turning on the incomprehensibility of the Scottish dialect.
I recommend it.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I'm guessing it was the 4 hours of sunlight a day
December? Yikes.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
It was more like 6
(including dusk!) but we really enjoyed it. We aren’t early risers by any stretch, and the days weren’t that much shorter than here. Maybe an hour or two.
i used to get out of lab at 4p in the winter
and it’d be pitch dark. but then again, i was much further north
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, it was bright
from about 930-330. I’m including dawn and dusk there though.
by Katherine215 on Jul 10, 2010 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I was over for 24 hours.
Visiting Ireland and went over for a match at Paradise in 2005. came in the night before, left after the game. Met a bunch of the team at the airport and got a picture with Lennie. Not a bad first game, eh?
"Youuuu Suck, Mayyyyers!!"
by Tiocfaidh ar La on Jul 11, 2010 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Ahhhhhh Ireland!
Never been anyplace other than the airport, but it was when we were coming back from Somalia at the end of 93’ and when we landed at like 5am they opened up the bars for us so we could enjoy our layover like the drunk Marines we were!
All I remember was that the beer seemed thicker and it wasn’t cold. That aside it sure was tasty and it only took around 4 glasses to knock me out for the rest of the flight to California, granted I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in nearly a year and a half.
Cheers to the Irish and their hospitality, they made a horrible flight bearable for a bunch of Jarheads!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Everything
was closed at the airport at 4am. Don’t know if that is standard or not, but I remember the bartender telling us that they opened up just for us
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
We have a nice bus system in Seattle too...
…but that doesn’t stop the same crazy-ass lady from toting two giant bags of empty beer cans onto my bus every morning leaking beer and god only knows what other fluids onto the floor creating a stench dissimilar from that of a diver bar’s floor at 4am. COMMON COURTESY PEOPLE.
-1
for correction fail.
misuse of fancy word overlooked during correction attempt.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
The grammar police aren’t too dissimilar from the PC police.
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not a grammar Nazi
(I totally let you slide on ‘rational’ when you were clearly shooting for ‘rationale’ the other day)
Just pointing out the comedy of correcting a typo and overlooking a word on the same line that made the sentence read exactly opposite to its intent. The fact that it was a ‘big’ word makes it a bit funnier.
Dude, you are unrelentless!
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I’m not unrelentingly dissimilar from unrelentless.
(I don’t even have the capacity at this moment to untangle that)
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:14 AM CDT up reply actions
really?
My friend was on a train that was stopped because a man took a shit on the train and threatened the passengers and conductors. I think the CTA is holding its own.
Yep, weekends can be hell
I mean the littler ones I used to associate with old ladies, not the big in store ones, but those are still too big for a bus. Especially two or three of those on the same bus.
It may be useful/convenient for them, but it annoys the hell out of me.
by shinkicker on Jul 9, 2010 1:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
they deliberately tried to screw us
even further? That’s just wrong. What about the unspoken “don’t offer sheet” rule among GMs? I’m sure they want hjammer, but they made it that high to make life even more difficult.
Hawks will get their vengenace
eventually. These type of things tend to linger. Logan Couture comes up for new paper in a couple years. Just something to think about.
FifthFeather.com
by El Duque's Raft on Jul 9, 2010 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Hawks already have their vengeance.
Three words: four game sweep.
The only sweep of this year’s playoffs. The Sharks got embarrassed, of course they’re pissed about it. Though frankly, looking at the price for quality defense this year, 3.5 for Hammer may turn out to be cheap. I mean, I’d take him over Hamhuis on my second line any day, and just look at what the Hamhuis deal turned out to be. Defense is expensive this year. I still think the Hawks should match it on Hammer. You can’t replace his quality easily.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Over the term of the deal
$3.5 will turn out to be a very good price for the Hammer. Especially if he keeps developing at his current pace. He, Kieth and Seabs could easily turn into the best defensive trio in the league.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
and yet...
i’m unmoved. It’s a brilliant move.
What’s the compensation cut-off? Isn’t $3.5mil when they have to give us a 1st rounder? They could have offered $3.45 million and really insulted us.
actually...
$3.01 would have been the cut-off. I correct myself.
Ok, be unmoved.
It’s just my opinion. It strikes me as an underhanded way to get ahead. I like fairness.
It’s a dick move, but it happens every year. Although not usually from the Conference Finalists to the Conference Champions.
I thought someone showed
it didn’t happen very often. Or was that just actually losing players to offer sheets?
I think it might have been some of Chi's stats
I think she said the offer sheets don’t happen very often.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
small sample size
so far in the cap era, methinks. It’s going to become more frequent as teams develop real strategies for dealing.
Our Cup.
Hell, you could even say the Hawks made a dick move signing Hossa from their division rivals last summer.
As much as this is, but I guess I’m confused why you think this is “wrong” of SJ to do in the first place.
I explained above.
It’s not technically wrong, just not something that GMs are said to do to each other very often.
San Jose...
…has tried to play “nice” for years. They remain a class organization, but Doug Wilson is one tough SOB.
As a Sharks’ fan it’s a brilliant move. It’s not like Chicago should have been surprised by it. Nobody signed all those contracts the Hawks dealt out. But it paid off beautifully for them (how’s winning a Cup feel?)
You can hate, but this is a straight up great move by San Jose. (I guess you can boo Hammer for signing the thing all next season… ;-)
the fuckin' fratellis
I think it is surprising
given that GMs don’t typically poach like this. It’s my understanding their far likelier to work a trade than do what Wilson did. “Playing nice” seems more like “playing smart” to me as this could bite Wilson/the Sharks in the ass in a few years.
Uh, at least Hammer will have played more than 30 something games for us. Anyway, short of a heinous criminal act, it’s not likely a member of the Cup team will be booed in the UC anytime soon.
Or we could be classy as an organization
and NOT boo our Cup team, no matter where they play. Seriously, SJ needs to get over their shit with Campbell; it just makes you look weird to the rest of the league.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions
tru fax
Seriously, I will want to nut punch anybody who does that bullshit. They should all get a standing O during intro… and they should be respected during gameplay. That is, till they pull a Wiz. Then and only then are all bets off.
Let’s stay classy Chicago. I got faith in us. It’s the mouthbreathers I’m afraid of.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Believe me...
It’s NOT something that Sharks’ fans sit around thinking about all the time.
…when the fans see Campbell skating in front of them, they boo… Who gives a shit?
It’s something to do at games… gets the crowd a bit more into it… NOT a big deal.
the fuckin' fratellis
but it makes you guys look dumb.
Doesn’t that bother you?
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
apparently not
ignorance when you look dumb to others is bliss, after all.
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 11, 2010 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions
i have to agreed
yes, it’s a dick move that most people don’t do. But if the sharks can live with pissing others off and having a reputation for poaching rather than workign with other teams — and any future repercussions that come with it — well, they are actually allowed to do this.
doesn’t change it being a dick move, but we all knew if offer sheets were going to happen it was going to be with our players and this year.
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions
it’s NOT a dick move it's stupid.
Look people complain about the “albatross” Campbell contract. They say Campbell is a good player but “his contract” is too big. It has dead weight in it.
So when a team wants a RFA they negotiate with the “prior” club and make a trade. Then they can sign the player to a contract based only on what the player is worth.
Making an offer sheet means you have to put in it a “poison” pill. You have to PURPOSELY create a contract that it TOO BIG for the “prior” club to match. Thing is you are doing it on PURPOSE.
Tallon was stupid for creating a contract for Campbell and Huet with so much dead weight in them.
DW is stupid for making an offer sheet which is the definition of a dead weight contract..
are you implying that people don't usually do stupid yet legal things?
because i’d beg to differ there. look, i’m not happy about this either, and i generally don’t think pissing people off just so you can sit back and laugh at what a vulnerable position their in is smart. But it’s not horrendous enough for them to be banned from doing it. And if they think they can live it, that’s up to them.
and we’re entitled to be mad about it, but ultimately we are the ones who will have to get over it. What’s done is done, and now we just need to see what our team will/can do about it.
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
The NHL (like the NFL) is a copycat league
This year is an excellent example of it. In the past it was thought you needed a top goalie to win the Cup so teams spent a lot of money on their goalies. The Hawks took the philosophy that you can win with top dmen and average goaltending.
So what is happening this year? The price of dmen is skyrocketing and the cost of goalies are plummeting.
There was a statement that “making an offer sheet to a RFA was a smart move.” In a copy cat league like the NHL you can easily determine if GM’s think something is smart or stupid. If they emulate it they think it is smart, if they don’t emulate it they think it isn’t. Offer sheets to RFA’s are extremely rare. So it is pretty easy to see that offering RFA’s an actual offer sheet isn’t viewed as a “smart move.”
It depends on the team Dale.
If there is a player you really want, and you offer to trade for ( like the Canucks did with Backes a couple years ago ), and the other teams says ( yeah, its a fair deal, but we don’t trade with rivals ) no, what are your options.
Like Ladd or Versteeg. The Canucks this year tried to trade for both, and the Hawks said " no way we trade with a rival like you".
So, what do they do? Versteeg got traded to an Eastern team, and the Nucks are trying to work a deal with the Thrashers for Ladd, after Bowman sent him off to Atlanta.
I agree with the copycat league idea, but there are always exceptions. In this case, I thought it was shrewd becaus ethey know what the cap situation is for the Hawks.
Even if they don’t get the player, they have upset a pretty big applecart for the Hawks.
Maybe it doesn’t happen because of the Ol’ Boys Club too. But like Gillis here, and to a lesser extent Wilson in SJ, the GMs of both teams mentioned are a little more “new school”.
Just do what it takes to make your owner happy.
Besides…you guys are sure piling up the prospects and draft picks…that is never a bad thing.
The question is…is it reloading or rebuilding?
Peace
"Maybe it doesn’t happen because of the Ol’ Boys Club too."
Actually, I don’t think it is about the Good Old Boys Network. I think it doesn’t happen because people are selfish and its NOT in their best interests to be making offer sheets to RFA’s.
As Campbell shows a good player with a bad contract is a bad player contract. The goal is to put the most talent possible on the ice with the cap money available. Wasting it on bad contracts even for good players lowers your overall team talent.
To me the newer GM’s need to be better “cap” experts. Playing games with offer sheets to other teams RFA’s strikes me more as being inexperienced and naive…
I kind of agree that it's a shrewd move
but it could just as well be that this is Hjammer’s current market value, whether we like it or not.
actually think $3.5mil is overpaying, but not by a ton. Hawks will have to match this one. This one is more important than Niemi.
Crawford with Hammer > Niemi without TOFBO
Remember Soupy + Matt Walker?
That was a train wreck.
Now think about Soupy + John Scott, Jassen Cullimore, or some random slob…horrifying.
Campbell w/a Hjalmarsson-like partner who can cover his ass, like Seabrook does with Keith, makes his contract worth it. The dude can absolutely bring it when the forwards can’t bust the trap.
seriously
not signing Hammer means Soupy’s contract hurts even more because we can’t be sure he’ll be able to play his game without him (or rather, with whoever we fill the 4th D position with)
it's entirely possible this isn't sarcasm
It is time for Crawford/Toivonen in Chicago
Sign Hjammer.
Work Seabs’ deal.
Keep the Core (which includes TOFTBO IMHO) intact for as long as possible.
Thank you for your contributions to our Stanley Cup championship, Antti-Goal.
Everyone dies. It is the only true and lasting justice in life.
Well SHIT
So it certainly sounds like the Hawks have to choose between Hammer and Nemo. As great as Niemi was at times, I think he’s the one to walk. He was by no means a wall in the playoffs and his rebound controll made me shit myself on a regular basis. Hammer is a perfect compilement to Soup. Looks like goalie Russian Roulette next year
Should just tank next season
Let Hammer go, get the #1 draft pick and take Adam Larrson
Flyers used 5 goalies this past season
and still made it to the finals. Could you imagine their goalie debates??
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions
reply fail to Chris Roberts
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 9, 2010 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions
This is a no brainer
Keep The Hammer
by DunstontoSandbergtoGrace on Jul 9, 2010 1:56 PM CDT reply actions
First of all, Fuck DW
My guess is Bowman probably has about 5mil allocated in signing Hammer and Niemi. If it goes over that, we’ll have serious trouble even filling out the roster with minimum guys. I really like hammer (who doesn’t?) and believe he should match even if it means overpaying. Can we sign Niemi with 1.5 left? Probably not but he is restricted we should have some leverage. Unless he wants to go back to Europe, Niemi will wait for an offersheet but I’m not sure whether that happens especially in the current goalie market.
Part of me wonders how much Seabs will demand after this. We won’t have much salary relief after next season other than the bonus money coming off.
I’m inclined to believe that Seabrook knows where his bread is buttered.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
ding ding ding
You are correct, madame.
At this point, from both a money/value POV and an intrapersonal point of view, I think you’d have to pry Seabrook from Keith’s side with a crowbar and a block of C4.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, yes, I know.
My ‘intrapersonal’ was a nod to DooD. It makes me happy when even the coaches confirm how married they are.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Seabs
for $5.5mil over an extended contract? Don’t know anymore. D-men are starting to really get expensive.
but, those are usually front loaded deals, right?
so he could make $7m or so the first couple years and be in line with some of these other contracts with the much lower back years balancing things out.
yeah..
how many of these type of deals can we really afford though?
don't they make it cheaper
than if we signed him to a 5 year deal? I wouldn’t think we’d do it for every Joe Smith playing for the Hawks, but our core guys I’m not opposed to.
I think he means it's cheaper on the cap
but front-loaded contracts mean we’ll need the cash that year to pay their salaries. So even if our cap hit is $59m, we could actually be spending $69m that year on payroll. Depending on how “in the red” we really are, that could be unaffordable.
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 9, 2010 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
it very well could, though
they’ve already raised ticket prices. I’m just not sure how much total they have to actually spend per year on payroll.
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 9, 2010 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Rocky has stated several times
that they aren’t though. Maybe after the Cup win they will get there. Maybe they are lying, I dont’ know.
maybe some of these terms
have elastic meanings. Rocky ain’t nearly stupid enough to be losing money on this juggernaut.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I have always found it
hard to believe that all of these major sports teams are in the red. I am starting the get the feeling it is something they say to try and convince fans that the ticket prices need to go up or something along those lines.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
by gwood on Jul 9, 2010 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
Technically, there are a lot of companies that have a hand in the till, so the books for each are technically separate. Bismark anyone? I’m pretty sure Judge and Dolph handles the liquor too.
Point is that the Blackhawks margins can be thin when the WIrtz family owns the other companies too. Profits show up on the other balance sheets, but not the Hawks’. But the cash ends up in the same place.
"Youuuu Suck, Mayyyyers!!"
by Tiocfaidh ar La on Jul 11, 2010 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Not disagreeing with either of you
Just repeating what came from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. krome has stated there are common ways of playing with the numbers, so it’s certainly possible they’re lying.
He stated they weren’t when he took over the team, but I don’t remember any quotes like that recently. Do you have examples?
He stated it at a seminar I was at
in April, and then again I think in the paper recently. it was mentioned here, I thought.
Profit
I know someone who actually sees the b/s and income statement for the hawks and they don’t see a profit until the playoffs. That’s including the concessions. It’s really hard to believe but my source is pretty solid.
by Speed3 on Jul 9, 2010 3:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
not surprising
this sounds like cash accounting. there’s a reason accounting isn’t done on a cash basis.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Profit?
The Blackhawks is a play-thing for Wirtz. Us normal people maybe have a cottage by a lake, a Harley, timeshare – no, Wirtz has a sports team.
Think of the Wirtz ‘empire’ – he’s making his $$$. Hell, if the Hawks are in the red, he may keep it that way for tax purposes.
It’s not a publicly owned business, so there’s no access to 10Ks or other useful info from an investor standpoint. What we do know is that he owns/operates a booze monopoly and has some damn good accountants/tax lawyers.
He’s fine and I’d imagine 99.99% of us would gladly accept his problems. I would….and I’d be watching hockey in Monaco.
bingo
the tax right off is nice, and I don’t imagine the value of the club has gone down any.
the "loss" the Hawks post is sort of chimerical
I’ve read a bit about the shenanigans the teams have used through the years to appear to be in the red and they are mostly BS in large markets (like Chicago). The team may not be swimming in profits, but they aren’t really losing money either – enough so that I would wager that, for example, Huet could be dumped to the AHL and his full salary eaten without kiling the bottom line (in real terms – no matter what the books can be cooked to show).
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
by krome on Jul 9, 2010 7:00 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Wirtz is into a lot of things
Booze, real estate, distribution, hockey…and who knows what else.
When cash comes in, which part of the Wirtz empire shows it? What I mean is; income may be spread around to pad the bottom line. Put even more simply; he can be taking money out of his right pocket and depositing into his left pocket. (lots of celebs do this by way of charitable organizations – which is basically legalized money laundering)
Illinois and Fed tax law is a pile of paper taller than John Scott. If there’s a will, there’s a way. BTW, I totally condone this behavior. I’d do the same damn thing…having an ass kicking hockey team makes it even better.
(Used to work in venture capitalism/banking/evil derivatives stuff – I know the tricks, in CA at least)
It all in the Accounting
Hollywood is great for it.
Harry Potter loses money
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
definitely
makes it cheaper. But 6 years from now, if Hossa and Campbell aren’t playing well anymore, what does 2 or 3 of these extended salaries do to our competitiveness? I really don’t know.
well, 6 years from now
Campbell will be done and Hossa can be traded. But I get what you mean. However, I think that’s why you don’t do it for every player that has a good season. Seabs has had a couple concussions now, too, so that might factor into his payday.
In 6 years, too, the Cap should have moved high enough that these contracts are not as suffocating as they might normally be.
www.mjt.org
that's the hope
but the danger is these contracts becoming obstacles in offering increases to our next wave of players in the ensuing years.
For instance, if one of our prospects becomes a monster, how easy will it be to resign them in say 2013 (Beach for example) if we have a few contracts that have outlived their usefulness?
Not looking for an answer to this. Just pointing out that we do need to be careful with how these longer term deals are structured.
I'm not worried about Beach being a monster
but we’ve got a hell of a lot of draft picks this year and next for one of them not to turn into something special.
My take would be ‘deal with it when we get there’. We don’t know what the cap will do, and we can’t build a team on guesses about future cap numbers. Better to build for the next two or three years, and see where things go from there.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
the $4 mil Cap penalty is gone next year and Huet the following year
that covers a lot of resignings
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
if he's in the minors or loaned out - he's still mesing the tagging room and all for signing purposes
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
The league was scrutinizing these type of deals very closely the last few seasons.
They seemed to be frowning on it as a way to circumvent the CBA and cap. Has the ability to offer these type of contracts been curtailed or likely to be inhibited in any way by the NHL?
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
wouldn't they only be able to curtail it
on a new CBA? I’ve also heard they don’t like them, but nothing about changing it.
The circumventing the rules section
in the CBA is really open for interpretation and very loosely defined. Basically it’s circumventing the rules if we say it is…
I seem to remember there being some breath holding around here while the league reviewed Hossa's contract.
I got the impression they could rule that the contract was not valid and violated the CBA as it exists.
I just don’t trust Bettman, wouldn’t put it past him to pull some legal shenanigans if he decided to make an example of some random contract. And just our luck it would be one of ours.
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
Possibly
but if they’re all the same structure/format as 2 & 81 then it would be hard to say one is legal and the other isn’t, right?
IMHO
Seabs doesn’t deserve the same cap hit as Keith. but we have our 3rd dman making more than 7mil. Our D will get very expensive soon.
No, he doesn't
But he’ll get a similar term. Figure a $4+/- cap hit but an 11yr deal or something…
FtoF
projects Hammer to be on their first line with Boyle.
Hammer
would really have his work cut out for him then, having to defend his own net when Boyle has the puck and all.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
As they should
He’s done well as covering for Soupy’s walkabouts.
Chicago Blackhawks - 2010 Stanley Cup Champions
Things have changed forever, we're the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure
and I agree
just because murray is a big body doesn’t mean he’s a shut down Dman. If hammer keeps developing, he’ll be a shut down Dman real quick.
Ditto for CNS
after seeing the prices
teams are willing to pay defensive players this off season. I’m damned pleased we took care of Keith months ago.
After winning the Norris, I wonder how much teams would have been willing to spend on him?
Perhaps it would be "where is DK going"
not where is Kovalchuck going
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Not Happy, but certainley surprised.
Very Good D-men (whom the Sharks had the privilege of seeing first hand) are not cheap. So seeing him offered this with the strings ($14M/4yr, 1st Round pick, 3rd Round pick overall is a steep price to offer) is not totally surprising, but not totally unexpected.
I hope the Hawks match, and the Sharks push away from the table (I think they will). Either way, the Sharks win somewhat. One they get an up and coming dominant D-Man, or they force the Hawks to spend more than they planned/hoped, certainly reducing the talent level in the team somewhere else in order to keep TOFTBO here.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:17 PM CDT reply actions
Smart Take.
I hope the Hawks don’t match. (big surprise there)
In any case, they are making a rival pay a price.
(and having said all that, I do feel sympathy for what the Hawks are going through… but you’ve still got that shiny Cup to act as a security blanket for the rest of your lives. We’re still looking.)
Love this move by Wilson.
the fuckin' fratellis
I hope the Hawks match
…and put their dicks in the dirt, again, in the post season.
Anti-Rec x 10^1000000000000000000000000000000000 ( Fuck it, side ways eight)
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 10 recs
This here's worth a Rec.
But who rec’d the picture? WTF.
ZenPop??? Stop it right now. Things are getting too silly.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
If you haven't noticed a few FTF people
are perusing this thread.
"Skillet, we just spent $64,000 in that bar. So we're gonna have to get jobs to cover up the fact that we rob banks" -Mouse Fitzgerald
No!
Not me! I LOVE the pic, but stopped myself from Rec’ing it because I don’t think it’s “LOL” on THIS board.
the fuckin' fratellis
by ZenPop on Jul 9, 2010 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Thanks.
I’ve grown to like the people on this board… good hockey fans… and pretty good sports. You deserve the Cup. I just hope to win one before I bite the dust.
the fuckin' fratellis
I wouldn't mind a SJS Cup
I’ve always kind of liked them Of course after today, I hope it comes after you get a new GM (and possibly get rid of Heatley, too) :P.
Plus another Rec
for keeping “the fuckin’ fratellis”
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
by cdz3210 on Jul 9, 2010 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd for Rec'ing
and pointing out “the fuckin’ fratellis”.
by aeroplane on Jul 9, 2010 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd for Rec'd for Rec'ing
cuz I’m into recursion
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
by cliffkoroll on Jul 10, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd both
Just to fuck the system.
by Steven Schweickert on Jul 10, 2010 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
greened because I can
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 10, 2010 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
because I have a few extras lying around
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:18 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd...
just trying to start a green record… like an LP by weezer or something. Or REM I guess.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
by Campbell32 on Jul 11, 2010 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
I wanna rec this...
But assuming it’s a knock at Weezer’s Blue Album, I just can’t do it.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
I think it's a Picasso reference?
Good to know I didn’t sleep through all of my art history classes in college.
"Kane is skating as if his mullet is on fire." - 6/9/10, 10:06PM CST
Miles Davis too?
I was just guessing otherwise based on my previous comment. I’m willing to rec Picasso.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
It would be Picasso
Plus I keep thinking there’s some kind of blue period music reference somewhere, but no knocks on Weezer intended.
by Steven Schweickert on Jul 12, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
rec'd
because that sounds like an awesome record
Damn it! I need another beer!
by HumanAfterAll on Jul 12, 2010 2:58 AM CDT up reply actions
This isn't funny at all :(
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
What a Shitty way to start a weekend, huh
With this pic! (just the thought)
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not too worried
I really believe the Hawks will match this offer. We still need Hjammer on D. I am a huge fan of Niemi too, but I feel that in the long run we need to keep our D so that we can just have a so so goalie in net. We already have a few of those on staff. In the long run it doesn’t really matter what I think anyway. I have no control over the situation and refuse to stress over it too much. We will still have a team in October and I will watch them no matter what happens.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I agree.
Love the move by the Sharks, but I don’t get pleasure in seeing you all unhappy.
Now if it were the Ducks? HA HA HA HA HA
the fuckin' fratellis
oh so you''re saying you love the move by the sharks
thanks for clearing that up
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
you're welcome.
I also love chocolate, cinnamon, apple pie and world peace. (in case you’re keeping track.)
the fuckin' fratellis
that's adorable
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
Ditto for CNS
damnit hack
now I can’t get that song out of my head, but it is kind of amusing that I see Versteeg singing it while skipping around
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
Correction...
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember THE STANLEY CUP
And then I don’t feel so bad
"Youuuu Suck, Mayyyyers!!"
by Tiocfaidh ar La on Jul 11, 2010 12:47 AM CDT up reply actions
A bit off...
how about…
“I simply remember my Stanley Cup ring!”
They do get rings, right?
the fuckin' fratellis
So here's a debate...looking at the bigger picture
Pick 4/5 to keep
Sharp
Bolland
Seabrook
Niemi
Hammer
I let Sharp or Bolland go. D-men and goalies more precious IMO.
While it's going to break my heart lose any of them,
I still think Niemi is the most replaceable in the current market.
Sharp can double as center and wing
We’re short on centers, so Bolland has to stay
Seabs and Hjammmer are just too good to let go….
"in the current market" is key
I feel like goalies are a dime a dozen right now. I’m sure I’m generalizing, but there’s still decent options out there if things don’t work out with Niemi. Can’t say the same about UFA Dmen.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions
A photo-shopped picture can’t possibly erase the pain of a recent playoff sweep. By sweep, I mean 4 games to zero. A sweep means that you didn’t win a single game, none of them, not one.
www.mjt.org
by ChicoMaki on Jul 9, 2010 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
preach it, Chico!
we’ll always have our Stanley Cup…
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 9, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions
You May Have The Cup...
…but we’ll always have that “Stanley Cup Western Conference Finalist Bridesmaid” t-shirt!
You can NEVER take that away from us!
the fuckin' fratellis
don't want it.
our STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS T-Shirts are much nicer.
"It's The Chicago Blackhawks, man." ~ Jeremy Roenick, June 9th, 2010.
Oh - darn
I – can – not – bear – the – thought – I – must – deal – with – the – Stanley – Cup – instead. Poor – me – !
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
To go along with Chico's post...
How’s the golfing been? I know we’ve enjoyed our STANLEY CUP celebration.
Remember how we had to play you guys to get the cup? And remember how you didn’t win any games, even though you had 4 chances to win one? Yeah. I remember that.
by Ban on Jul 9, 2010 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions
That sure looks nice...
Hjammerhead!!
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
I wonder how it'll look
When the Hawks match and you realize it’s just photoshopped.
by Ban on Jul 9, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh I realize it
and fully expect the Hawks to match. Be crazy not to. Still it doesn’t take away the fact that the pic is priceless… Actually it isn’t priceless, more like 3.5×4 years.
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
You know what is priceless?
Winning a Stanley Cup, and our franchise players actually turning up in more than 2 playoff series.
All the more reason
for you guys not to have any complaints. At least you have the cup.
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
But it's not priceless!
More like 3.5×4 years. Zing!
by Ban on Jul 9, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Go swim in Lake Toews
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 8:06 PM CDT up reply actions
He'll probably get cold feet
doh!
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions
If by chance we do lose Hjammer
just remember to cite me as the source every time you use HjammerHead and send me the royalties.
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I am reccing this as hard as I possibly can ahahaahahaha!
"Skillet, we just spent $64,000 in that bar. So we're gonna have to get jobs to cover up the fact that we rob banks" -Mouse Fitzgerald
Man, did you ever rec that hard. I think that’s the hardest rec I’ve ever seen.
www.mjt.org
by ChicoMaki on Jul 9, 2010 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
idk chico
I don’t think he recced it hard enough.
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 9, 2010 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Where's Burton?
It’s more fun to boo him then to worry about losing Hjammer.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I'm mad at you....
but your sig makes me forget that entirely, since it’s one of the best lines from the world’s greatest show.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Does anyone else find it weird how much joy Sharks fans are taking from this simple photoshop? I mean, it’s not like it’s ground-breaking, or even funny at all. It’s just Hjammer with a Sharks jersey.
haha i just made a comment below
not about the Sharks fans’ joy at the photoshop specifically, but their actions right now.
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 9, 2010 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions
So then ...
the thing that pisses me off, now, though, is that if Niemi wins his arbitration hearing we may have to say goodbye to him without getting any compensation whatsoever. That would … ummm … suck.
Still, you have to imagine that Bowman and Company foresaw this scenario, and part of their plans would have involved exactly this, at exactly this number for Hjammer, and knowing that they’d be going to arbitration with Niemi. I’m not saying that they’re going to have any easy decisions, but it does soothe me a bit knowing that this possibilty would have been planned for.
www.mjt.org
I LOATHE the Sharks.
God damn bunch of no-talent hacks.
Let Niemi walk. Keep Hjalmarsson. Niemi wants to think he’s the shit after playing less than a full season in the league? Let him walk and see how he does when he doesn’t have Seabs, Keith, Hjalmarsson, and Campbell in front of him.
I think it is mostly driven by Antti's agent
Not bad on his agents part to maximize dollars for his guy. I do not think Niemi is that big on himself, unless I missed something.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Only if we match it
Or do you have some inside scoop we are unaware of?
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I just think that Hjammer is irreplaceable from within, and to sign an adequate replacement from outside would take 3.5 or more (not to mention there are no longer any UFAs as good as him). Niemi, on the other hand, although a genuine blue-chip goalie, can be more easily replaced without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money. It’s not ideal, but considering we’re in this position and can’t hide under a pile of coats and wait for it to go away, I don’t think it’s a hard decision.
www.mjt.org
I agree that we should sign him
I’m just not ready to say we have him for four years until the ink is dry on the new contract.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I don't care if the ink is dry
as long as he signs a contract.
This is the first offer sheet signed in the NHL since the Backes/Bernier thing in 2008.
Someone please offersheet Setoguchi!
i was thinking
we should send some friendly email hints to Anaheim, the Kings, Nashville, the Islanders, etc… Re: Setoguchi….
happy ninja is happy....and wants to share its new toy!
by puppetmasterp on Jul 10, 2010 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions
But The Hammer just taught Chicago the beauty of Swedish imports!
"Skillet, we just spent $64,000 in that bar. So we're gonna have to get jobs to cover up the fact that we rob banks" -Mouse Fitzgerald
uh, we've been appreciating
our swedish import since long before you discovered photoshop. Even before we won the Cup.
At this point, I don't think the Hawks even need to think that hard
If it comes to a choice between Niemi and Meatball, the clear choice is ‘sign Meatball and go after Turco or something as a goal solution’. Hjammer is quality, and at age 23, he’s only going to get better. Hell, D-men peak around age 27-28, which give us 5 years before he even hits his best period. This is not a choice. The Hawks should match on Hjammer, and let the chips fall where they may in goal.
(Note how the Sharks waited until Nemo announced arbitration to pull a move like this. Bitches.)
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:43 PM CDT reply actions
Issue isn't a choice
between Niemi and Hammer. It’s between Hammer and what we have to play with over the next two years.
We have the Cup, the Sharks don’t. They’re willing to overpay to win the next Cup. We have to take a little longer view.
I see the point lots of folks here are making about this being a good price in years 3 and 4, and maybe you could talk me into buying that. But we have to fill a roster THIS year, and next year still have some tough decisions to make. Matching the offer sheet complicates things exponentially.
Our Cup.
If Scotty thinks he's the next Lidstrom
the Hawks gotta keep this guy.
Otherwise, fuck it, let him and the crazy Finn go.
Two years ago, was anybody even aware of either of these guys? But we still figgered the Hawks were on track for a championship.
I can’t decide between Campbell and Nintendo- who was making whom look so good? The ole Mitch Hedberg belt/belt loop thing.
And the thing about the top pairing- you face the top guys on the other team.
If Jelly and Nemo go, that’s five pretty key guys out the door. But we know that champions always have guys having career years. If two of these five crap out, I’ll feel better about the whole ordeal.
A little cap slack means we never have to got through this again. With all the draft picks coming up, this could be very useful, if you take a bit of the longer view- and now that the Hawks have won the Cup, they can afford to do that.
Toews
Keith
Kane
Hossa
Seabs
Sharp
Bolland
Campbell
May not win next year, but we’ll still be seeing some damn good hockey for the forseeable future- something we couldn’t say for a long time.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Uh, what.
No, two years ago, of course no one was aware of Jellyfish. Want to know why? Because he was a prospect, and a 20-year-old Euro-kid playing defense. No one worries about 20-year-olds playing defense, unless they’re the extremely rare players like Myers. But now that he’s 23 (still stupid-young for a stud D-man), people are sitting up and taking note because his play has warranted that sort of notice. Did you watch this season? He was the puzzle piece that made Campbell’s contract worthwhile. Doesn’t matter who was the chicken and who was the egg in that pairing, together they were making delicious omelets on a nightly basis, and that’s what the team needed. That’s enormous value.
So yes, we get through this no matter what. But we get through it better if/when we keep Hjammer.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
wtf
I prefaced this by deferring to Scotty, who knows more about this than me and I’m guessing nearly as much as you.
I didn’t have to watch any games this year (tho I went to about 40 and watched most of the rest)- Hammer Soup was clicking the previous year. It was the whole resurrection of Soupy thing, but all that really tealls me is that he’s better than Barker.
A guy comes outta nowhere, and after 100 games he’s part of the core? Again, if Scotty thinks so, match the offer.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
I suppose I just saw the 'two years ago he was a nobody' bit
and took umbrage. I don’t consider ‘two years ago he was an unknown’ to be a good argument for how to judge his value if he’s provided us with demonstratively solid play since. 100+ games is not a small sample size, and I’m going to hope you’re being facetious (or my sarcasm detector isn’t working today) on the ‘all that tells us is that he’s better than Barker’ comment.
I have a feeling that we essentially agree with each other here and are ‘arguing’ over semantics or misunderstandings. So after this response in hopes of clearing things up, I bow out.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 9, 2010 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I was being petulant
Look , I love the guy. There were times this year when I mistook Nintendo for Dunc, and in my gut, I’d guess he was more important to Soup than vice versa, tho I’m not sure.
When Buff, then Steeg, then Ladd went, I lost my shit. But now I’ve made my peace with this, and I’d rather the Hawks get it over with rather than make this an annual nightmare.
I remember Fred Lynn and Jerome Walton and Mark Pryor. It seems possible to me that, two years from now, we’re scratching our head over Nintendo while Sharp or someone walks out the door.
I trust Scotty to distinguish the real deal from a flash in the pan, but not myself or (no offense intended) other commenters here.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
They made each other look good
and that’s very telling. Hjalmer is a solid two-way defenseman. I don’t think you let him go. But They may
If
the Hawks decide to keep either of them it has to be Jelly. When all is said and done, it wasn’t the spectacular play of Nemo that won a Stanley Cup, it was the spectacular play of the D, and that I am sorry to say cannot be allowed to suffer. Match Jelly’s offer and tell Nemo have a nice time driving the zamboni again because I don’t think many teams are gonna sign a part timer even if he did win a cup. Everyone knows the only reason he looked as good as he did was because of the stellar play of the D pair on the ice at the time.
Go back and look at game 6 if you have it TiVoe’d, the shot by Carter towards the end of regulation that Nemo got such praise for was all Soupy. If Soupy doesn’t get his stick on Carter’s, Carter is able to lift that puck up high enough to get past Nemo and we head back to Chi for game 7.
The choice is clear, see ya’ later Nemo!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
You know, I thought it was all Soupy
but was afraid to say anything because I am, ahem, a little bit of a fan and maybe a little biased.
huh
I never noticed/keyed in on that. So Soupy got his stick on Carter to stop a potential PHI GWG and assists on Kane’s OT GWG. Nice.
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 9, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I watched
it again the other day and when they showed the replay from the goalie cam you can clearly see it, Carter is off to Nemo’s right (wide open I might add) and just as he gets his shot off Soupy’s stick catches Carter’s and stops him from elevating the puck.
Sure it was still a nice save, but if Soupy isn’t there it’s a goal all the way.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Does anyone
know what time this happened at? I’d like to rewatch it, don’t have time to go through the entire game again.
"towards the end of regulation"
so after the game was tied/before OT?
I need to rewatch all of the games. CSN’s replaying all of the victories during the all star break.
What about Hammer's performance in Game #4???
Let’s not forget that too. I think that we need to find a way to pay both of these guys. But I do worry that $3.5 for either Hammer or Niemi is a lot.
by NiemiNation on Jul 12, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
I doubt it, too, but I think the point is valid. He’s basically saying we’re either going to sign Niemi and take compensation, or sign Hjammer and let Neimi walk. So, in effect, we’ll have either Niemi, a 1st and a 3rd; or Hjammer.
www.mjt.org
yeah he makes a very valid point
when noting that we get picks for hammer and not niemi. The fact that wilson waited until Nemo went to arbitration is like twisting the knife once he’s inserted it. If you want to poach an RFA, good luck to you, but his timing was calculated and that is what kills us.
I think the key here is age. With hammer at 23 and nemo at 26, it is a bit easier to talk yourself into keeping hammer (certainly not the only reason) despite not picking up pics.
Ditto for CNS
Made this point on their blog ...
It’s still possible that Niemi comes in at around the 2 million number after arbitration. If Zito is pushing for 4 million, I really think it’s crazy. Niemi has had 42 regular season NHL games; it’s hardly enough to base any comparables on. Yes, Zito will look to the Cup win, but I think Bowman has a much stronger foundation of comparables in any argument. The 42 games and the fact that he’s coming off his rookie year is the stand-out to me. If Zito talks stats, I also think Bowman has a good chance to claim that there isn’t a statistically reliable number of games to base anything on. Anyway, ya, I think a 1.9 million contract is in the realm of possibility.
www.mjt.org
Remember too, there is a big picture
If Hammer was on another roster, would you trade Bolland for Hammer even up? I would. Now assume you get another player or high draft picks too plus Niemi, doesn’t it make sense to trade Bolland (or Sharp for that matter) and sign both Hammer and Niemi? Then we have not only a goalie and D-men, but whomever we would get for Bolland.
If I was Bowman, I match the Hammer offer and then I buy time to see what the arbitrator gives Niemi. Too high (4-5M/yr)? Ok let him go. Surprisingly low (1.5-2.0/yr)? Sign him and we get both. In the middle (2.1-3.9/yr)? Decide whether to sign him or ship Bolland/Sharp out to a non-competitive team where they don’t hurt the Hawks as much as SJ getting Hammer does.
Sharp and Bolland
will not be traded, just forget it because it’s never gonna’ happen anytime soon. Out of those players, under Bowman’s philosophy that won a cup for us, Niemi is the most replaceable!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
OK, I have my calculator handy.
Kane(6.3mil) Toews (6.3mil) Brouwer (1.025mil)
Hossa (5.275) Sharp (3.9) Kopecky (1.2)
Stalberg (0.85, two-way) Bolland (3.375) ??
?? Reasoner (1.15) ??
Seabs (3.5) Keith (5.54)
Campbell (7.143) Hjammer (3.5)
Scott(0.512 in, if I’m reading CapGeek correctly, what is not a two-way contract) ??
No Goalies. 4.1mil Cap space taken up with bonuses. I have assumed we sign Hjammer to the Sharks’ deal.
This gives us 6 places to fill, not counting 7th Dman or 13th forward, with 53.67mil already on the books. If the Salary Cap is $59.4mil – which CapGeek tells me it is – that means we have an average of $0.955mil/player just to fill up the lines. If we, say, use Vishnevskiy & Dowell (I’m not including Skille and Bickell, as they’re RFAs) that means we have $4.383mil to sign 2 goalies and 2 forwards.
Whoops! Thanks. Just ‘cause I majored in Comparative Literature doesn’t mean I know how to read.
Now I’m actually relieved! This can be done!
www.mjt.org
Lol, no problem
I was kacking it that I’d missed something and made a total fanny of myself. Though it probably would’ve made more sense to give the bonuses their own line. Oh well.
well, that is not awful
Crawford is at $800k and Skille and Bickell should come in around $1.5m total, so a little over 2 million for a goalie.
I didn't want to assume anything Re: Skille
Because he made $1.3mil last year, and I don’t know how hard he can make it for us if he decides he doesn’t want to take a pay-cut.
the cap hit includes his bonus
I learned this recently from Capmaster Krome. His salary was $800k, I think.
Ah-ha, that makes sense
It confused me somewhat that he was making so much on what I presume was an entry-level contract.
without bonus - he was at 850k - min QO for him as RFA was at 892,500
I haven’t seen whether we qualified him or not
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
With Dowell and Vish and Crawford..
AUTO-GENERATED CAPGEEK.COM LINES
FORWARDS
Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)
Patrick Sharp ($3.900m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Tomas Kopecky ($1.200m)
Marty Reasoner ($1.150m) / Troy Brouwer ($1.025m) / Viktor Stalberg ($0.850m)
Jake Dowell ($0.525m)/ Right Winger # 1 / Left Winger # 2
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Campbell ($7.143m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
- Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Brent Seabrook ($3.500m)
Ivan Vishnevskiy ($0.822m) / John Scott ($0.512m)
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($0.800m) / GOALIE #1 (XXXXXmm)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)
ROSTER: 17; CAP: $59.4m; CARRY-OVER PENALTY: $4.158m
PAYROLL: $55.873m; BONUSES: $0.065m; CAP ROOM: $3.592m
Yeah, I wanted to avoid doing that
so that people could see what our prospective lines would be and hopefully qualify a few things.
Bill Wirtz has emerged from his grave
and is really messing with us. Get back in there Bill!
Question
Say the Hawks don’t match the offer sheet, yet Toftbo decides he’d rather stay here for a “hometown discount.” Does he have a right of refusal? Or is he simply the object of a free agent auction?
"Kane is skating as if his mullet is on fire." - 6/9/10, 10:06PM CST
Well poop
Really, that’s all I have to say about that.
"Kane is skating as if his mullet is on fire." - 6/9/10, 10:06PM CST
another option
do you sign Hammer and then trade him away? I know everyone will say “no”, but assuming we have no other choice, what would you rather do? Get a 1st and 3rd pick, or negotiate what you get in return? Say a goalie prospect and something else.
Are you allowed to do this after an offer sheet? I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to trade a player for a full year after he’s gone to arbitration … is this at all similar?
www.mjt.org
First Refusal
The Prior Club may not Trade that Restricted Free Agent for a period of one year from the date it exercises its Right of First Refusal.
artile 10.3(b)
you’re right. Can’t trade him away.
DISCLAIMER: I can't vouch for the reliability of @the300level
although if anybody knows more about them, do let me know.
In any case, he said he heard that on July 1, Hawks offered Hammer $3m/9yrs or $13m/5yrs and he turned both down. I don’t know how close to the truth this is but if the Hawks were trying to sign him to $3m/yr then $3.5m can’t be too unmanageable, I guess? Though that extra $500K does take out a 4th liner roster spot.
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.)
you assume correctly
did I mention I’m also trying to catch a deadline at work?
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 9, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
so will the sharks fans start booing hjammer now if we match the offer?
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
by desertindian on Jul 9, 2010 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 7 recs
seriously..
they boo a guy they had for 20 or so games..figure they’d boo a guy they had for a few days
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
shhhh
LeBron just left the city of pro sports emptiness and ZenPop thinks Campbell broke his little heart.
Ditto for CNS
i'd imagine sharks fans would've been burning
campbell’s jersey as well if they weren’t so afraid of open flames…
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
so I've officially won more things than the sharks?
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
by desertindian on Jul 9, 2010 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs
i've invoked the power of my inner swede!
don’t mess with a fan obsessed with hjammer
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
Is it just me
or is there an inordinate number of Sharks fans coming here to gloat? Granted, DW’s move was shrewd and pretty well calculated, but at the same time… I don’t know. I’m more confuzzled than annoyed that they’re crowing over this. If the Sharks sign Hammer they’re in deep cap shit, and if they don’t we’ve got a top-four and will be looking for cheap-ass goalies (which, let’s face it, only slightly concerning and potentially unnecessary if arbitration rules in our favor).
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.)
Its not just you…..and they dont even have him yet.
They really get over embarrassing playoff losses quickly in San Jose, dont they?
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
I wouldn't say we're over the sweep
But this definitely makes us feel a little better. Mainly because we can just come over to this post and see all of your frustration and anger.
Even if the Hawks weren’t in deep shit cap wise, we’d be pretty happy with this. No doubt he’s a good, young defensemen (something we definitely need).
And surely you don’t think we’re complete idiots over at FTF (actually, you probably do :P). We’re hoping that Chicago wastes the next week debating over Niemi and the Hammer… and then realizes that Niemi is the only option they have. Fingers are crossed.. but we’re keeping it realistic.
Until Chicago matches the offer and ruins this potentially awesome news. And then it’ll be your turn to gloat (… about shitty cap management?)
Nashty...
Proud member of the "We Love Ushankas Club"
How is Niemi our only option?
There are prospects like Crawford (not ideal, but an option nonetheless) and FAs like Turco. We’re not fucked here.
Yeah.
should’ve cleared that up.
I was agreeing with you and echoing the “nothing is fucked dude” sentiment.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
What I'm more concerned about
Is that the Hjammer pic has been green’d whereas the rest of the thread (even meeshak’s comments, so it’s not like we’re living in Bizarro world) haven’t. What’s up with that?
has it been?
then they are out in full force. Whatevs, tbh.
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 9, 2010 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Hammer must stay.
And if for no other reason than this. The kid is only 23 years old and just completed his FIRST full NHL season and is already considered a top 2-3 D-man in the league.
Can’t let this kind of asset walk for a couple draft picks.
Besides the real trouble will be when we have to re-sign him in four years and he’s in his prime.
For now 3.5 mil/year is a bargain.
"Life is a long lesson in humility."
- James M. Barrie
We're ASSUMING the Hawks can't afford both Hammer & Niemi ...
… but do any of you amateur capologists out there know for sure? Is there ANY way the Hawks could keep both, even with having to absorb a $3.5 mil cap hit for Hammer? Even assuming every other roster spot goes to an Ice Hog?
Is it truly one or the other … Hammer or Niemi?
If Niemi signs for about $2m or less
then it seems we can keep him. Germware’s post explains it pretty well.
We have a lot of picks and prospects stocked up on - we could maybe use some to get a Biron (or equivilent)
Preparing my psyche for the coming Capocalypse
Confusion will be my epitaph.
right, but it's not
one or the other if arbitration goes the Hawks’ way and the hawks’ way is $2m or less.
i really want to read this now.
where is it? near the top? middle? a little help please?
"It's The Chicago Blackhawks, man." ~ Jeremy Roenick, June 9th, 2010.
Another trade perhaps?
The Bowman’s have a week to sort this out. Maybe a Bolland or Brouwer will be on the move to make more cap space. Just a thought…
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
Bolland, I believe, has been named as part of the Core
As for Brouwer, he’s making barely over a mil, so moving him to make Cap space makes practically no sense, especially given how useful he can be.
I don’t recall hearing Bolland mentioned with the core players, but perhaps you’re correct. Personally, I think his numbers (especially FO %) suggest he is overpaid, and should be considered in a trade. If he is relegated to third line minutes 3+ million is reason to phone Dudley again.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
we're pretty thin
at center, so it makes sense keeping Bolland.
If anything
I’d say the rat did more during the playoffs to earn a spot in that core than even niemi did. His regular season numbers don’t tell the whole story, especially coming off an injury (probably too soon) and working his way up to what he did in the playoffs…
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Oh gimme a break...sheesh
You think we’d win the cup w/o Niemi and with Huet in goal, but lose it without Bolland? Riiight.
All theoretical at this point obviously,
but I think we’d still have won it in either of those bizarro scenarios.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
I agree
We won a lot of games with Huet, and we won a lot of games without Bolland during the regular season.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Regardless...
this is where the Bowman’s earn their keep. Tough decision time.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
And I agree with your Brouwer statement. Was simply throwing names out there for conversations sake.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Looking for clarity...
Can someone answer this question? What’s the timetable with these events? Hawks have up to 7 days to match the Hammer offer sheet, but what’s the timetable for the Niemi arb ruling?
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
according to jesse rogers
Hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4, with the specific dates to be announced Tuesday.
Ditto for CNS
i may be crazy
but do you think this was done intentionally by wilson? making us choose before we know how arbit would turn out?
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
That was my thought...
I was wondering the same thing. Not knowing the Niemi ruling adds another bit of uncertainty to the Bowman decision.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
that's been mentioned a couple of times in this thread
yes, I think he waited to see which hawks were going to arbitration, and now that we aren’t getting any picks if niemi is gone, it does factor into bowman’s decision about who to keep. Wilson knew what he was doing with his timing.
Ditto for CNS
Almost certainly
It’s already been discussed further up the thread. He is, in essence, trying to make us choose between Niemi & Hjammer. Of course, if that arbitrator comes down on our side, it should hopefully be pretty moot.
The only problem
is that they can’t wait until arbitration to make the choice, they need to think worst case scenario here and decide who they would rather keep and it is a no brainer (IMO) you keep the 23 year old Defensive stud as part of the group that made your 26 year old mediocre goalie look like a stud!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Here's another way to look at it.
Hjammer in a Sharks uniform hurts the Hawks even if he’s replaced. The 1st & 3rd rounders are going to be late picks…so you’re realistically getting a 2nd & 4th rounder unless Nitty/german dude really shit their pants and the Sharks miss the post season. Not likely. What happens is Chicago gets worse and SJ gets exponentially better…not good.
Niemi may sign in the East if arbitration does not go as planned. While not getting any compensation sucks, he’ll be a limited threat. If Niemi signs for…oh…Detroit; that would be a problem.
Stan’s gonna get sodomized one way or another; at least he has 7-days to choose how he’ll be violated.
thanks guys!
I missed the earlier discussion on the thread..this one filled up quickly and i can’t keep up during work
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
Indeed, many thanks...
and the wheels must be turning at the UC as we type.
And did you hear the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?
by TrickyDickAllen on Jul 9, 2010 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions
im no expert
but i see it as a very calculated, dick move on Wilson’s part. it definitely puts us in a bind, for sure, but its more annoying to me than troubling. I’ve always felt Hjammer was top priority over Niemi (even tho he made my jaw drop during the SJS series [what a fucking coincidence, huh?]) and im hopeful Stan understands why Scotty has always been enthralled with Hjammer since before bringing him up to the big club. In my opinion, if Scotty Bowman thinks you are top end talent, and lets face it Hammer is, you make sure to lock that guy up. I hope Niemi realizes that even tho he may have to play for less than Zitto wants for Niemi/himself, there is no better place for him to play than in Chicago. There is no better place for him to be able to win The Cup AGAIN than in Chicago. But thats just me
"It's The Chicago Blackhawks, man." ~ Jeremy Roenick, June 9th, 2010.
Very Happy Today
Just got my Birthday present (Sunday) from my parents in IL.
An Authentic #88 Stanley Cup Champions Home sweater! Wow, was not expecting this!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 5:52 PM CDT reply actions
sweeeeeeet
happy bday! YOU MADE IT!!!
"It's The Chicago Blackhawks, man." ~ Jeremy Roenick, June 9th, 2010.
happy almost birthday!
Oh, and happy (belated?) birthday to gmh!
by Katherine215 on Jul 10, 2010 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions
No way
do the Hawks pay Nemo 4mil/yr. He is not worth it! If he played as well as he did in the SJS series on a regular basis then I may have a different opinion, but from what I have seen, he get’s 2 mil a year tops!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Heh, not a problem
You just confused me. I wasn’t sure if you were replying to someone or responding to some new info I hadn’t heard of.
maybe they're thinking if they fight
Versus won’t cut their coverage short for cup playoff games?
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
this part
sticks out most:
The cause of the fracas was not immediately clear, but video footage showed Barredo of the Quick Step team charging toward Costa and attempting to strike him over the head with a bike wheel.
by aeroplane on Jul 9, 2010 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
i keep trying to imagine
some guy in a spandex onesie swinging a wheel at another guy’s head…
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
abso-fuckin-lutely priceless!!
that just made my last hour of work that much more enjoyable!!
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
i must be imagining
things, but I swear I heard someone say “please don’t hurt me.” and someone else say “that guy can take you”.
at
0:25, that long haired guy in black. He says “he can take you easy” in somewhat bad english.
The Spanish coach/guy tells the rider “you’ll make it worse for everyone” while the rider calls the Italian a “bitch”. Crazy stuff.
oh, damn
This has me in stitches here. The Quick Step team makes me think of a bunch of dancers running around with bike wheels as weapons. oh, boy.
by Katherine215 on Jul 10, 2010 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions
rewatching game II
of the SCF and can’t get over the Carcillo hit on Carter. The thing is, Carcillo was very effective up until that point of the game.
car-cilloed

A few Flyer players were getting up for the hit.
Haha, I hadn't noticed that
until you pointed it out. Cheers for increasing my enjoyment of this even more.
NHL fans
Has Stanley made any statements since Hjammer signed?
All this pointing and laughing at the Hawks situation around the blogs is really started to piss me off. You would think THEY were the newbie fans by the way they all just assumed were motherfucked next season. Do these people realize our Top 2 Lines are better than most of their Top 4? That with our 4 D we still have one of the best in the league?…..and dont give me this goalie shit. Everyone knows you can win with a shitty goalie if the team in front of you is solid enough and all we heard about was our goalies this whole year and we still hoisted the Cup.
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
i don't think he'll announce anything soon
he’s got a week, probably going to make wilson sweat a bit…to my understanding as soon as we match the offer hjammer is hours..
I can't wait to dive into a pool and end up in a jacuzzi
I should revise it. The Blackhawks remind me of a well oiled Obama 08 Bush 04 campagins. NOTHING leaks out of that front office this year. You don’t hear anyone saying “were fucked” or anyone floating optimism. Who speaks off the record to Tim Sassone? Steve Rosenbloom? Where are all the scoops!
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
….i forgot to revise it…..anyone is the organization talking to reporters off or on the record about our strategy? Who they prefer and dont prefer?
Compadres! It is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the start of the rainy season......And by that I mean it’s time for the worker of the week award!"
That's
what I’m saying! The only reason Nemo got so much praise was because of how awesome the D pairing in front of him was! I honestly believe we could have accomplished the same thing with Huet in net.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I don't think the Sharks series
would have gone down in just 4 games without all of those massive saves Niemi had. Yes the D still helped him there, but he was definitely on his A game during that series.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I also
point that out in another post. Had Nemo played every series or game as well as he played that SJS series, then I can see paying him a high dollar, but that was the only time this season I really saw him shine. And sure we may not have swept the Sharks with Huet in net, but we still would have won the series and the cup. That’s all I’m saying
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
And I will agree with Jesus
I actually think he’s underrated around here due to how great the D is and how much the general public ignore this.
It takes a goalie with a special frame of mind (or lack of mind) to be able to consistently bounce back and not let things fluster him, especially with a team that dominates so much at keeping the puck on the other end of the ice, such that it leads to streaky flourishes of shots on goal following long periods of silence.
The old Nemo vs Huey debate. Both talented dudes, one was just a much better fit for the team.
Oh, and keep Hjammer.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
By no means
am I saying Nemo isn’t a talented goalie. I’m just saying that as well as the D pairings played throughout most of the playoffs Huet could have been between the pipes and they still would have won the cup. I would much rather have Nemo than Huet as Campbell32 said some people just fit better and complement the rest of the team and that is what Nemo did superbly, no way would I choose Huet over Nemo I just think they would have pulled it off with either of them in net
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
How soon we forget the games Huet actually playing in----ughhhh!!!!
or didn’t you get on the bandwagon until after the regular season?
You mean those 26 wins?
Yeah, those were pretty easy to forget about.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions
If I had a Hammer
I’d match his fucking offer sheet. Hate to have to say this, but fuck you DW.
I’d hate to lose Nemo over this, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
MA! THE MEATLOAF!
If I had a hammer......
I’d hammer all the day!
(Some of you may be too young to remember that song)
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
D-bag sneaky offer sheets?
Oh, you know that’s a hammerin’

It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
by Campbell32 on Jul 9, 2010 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Who shot who
in the what now?
"I'll keep it short and sweet: Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
C. Montgomery Burns
Kind of like
Flys in the buttermilk & she’ll be coming around the mountain? 2 of Billboards hot 100!!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
When's the CBA up for renegotiation?
Really, fuck this Cap crap.
And enough of this 30 teams bullshit. Carve off 6 teams. The dearth of talent does not support this many teams. That’s a reason why D-men are getting drastically overpaid. Too little quality to go around which leads to teams overpaying for the good talent. That crazy money then filters down to the meh players. I mean really, Bret fucking Lebda gets $1.5 mil!?!
I don’t really wish harm on anyone but if Bettman and the McCaskeys happen to be in the same limo and it blows up….
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Agree
There are so many NHL team cities where there isn’t a hockey fan base – Phoenix comes to mind.
I'm with you 100%
Killing 6 teams turns this is into a monster league. The excitement of the talent that would be on teams would be temendous.
by Billy Charlesbois on Jul 9, 2010 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
12 teams each conf
and I’d be ok with still having 8 playoff teams each (to keep up league wide revenue)
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
From Everything I've read...
I expect Chicago to match.
But I also think this was still a good move by Wilson. This is the kind of player you easily blow up two picks for… while putting your rival in a bind.
the fuckin' fratellis
In a bind?
3.5 a year over 4 years for Jelly seems reasonable over the life of the contract based on the market for d-men nowadays. This doesn’t change the fact that the Hawks swept the sorry ass Fish.
"I'll keep it short and sweet: Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
C. Montgomery Burns
bind for this year
Those damn bonuses from last year contributed to the mess.
But there is that Cup thing to soften it…
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
"But I also think this was still a good move by Wilson."
You’re a redundant little Sharks fan aren’t ya?
Ditto for CNS
wait, did he think it was a good move by Wilson?
I’m not sure I understood… :P
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 9, 2010 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I keep meaning to head out for the night
but Miracle is on FX
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
I keep looking for Slapshot
but it’s nowhere to be found.
You have
to catch that at around 3 am on a Monday night. I recorded it the last time it was on cable and my insignificant other deleted it.
Her body hasn’t been found yet.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
yeah
DVDs are soo expensive
as an aside I hope you have enough room on your DVR for the next 3 days with the replay of 16 glorious Hawks games on ComcastSportsNetChicago
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
I recorded
those as they happened. Besides I live in shit hole Houston now and don’t get Comcast Chitown.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Riddle me this
Since you still live in the Land of Lincoln, did the Hawks & WGN work out an agreement to air the Hawks home games next season?
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
sorry Edward
I haven’t heard anything about that
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Edward Enigma
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Nigma
That’s right E. Nigma
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Edward Nigma
E. Nigma as in enigma. The Riddler from Batman lore. Your “Riddle me this” put my mind there
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Ohhhhhhhhhh
I got ya’ It’s been a while since I watched the original caped crusader and boy wonder.
I just remembered how old I am
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
You do
know that he is mayor of a small town in Rhode Island called Quahog.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Indeed I do.
It would seem, Noid, that it is you who should’ve avoided me.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Just goes
to show ya’ how far you can go with a boatload of cash and a dedicated manservant named Alfred
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
yeah, but
there’s that whole parents gunned down in front of you thing
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Just cause I feel like throwing it out there.
West > Keaton >/= Bale >>> Kilmer > Clooney
Somedays, you just can’t get rid of a 5.6 mill cap hit…
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
writing
has alot to do with it. I thought Clooney would have been great in that role
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
I didn't
really care for any of them except the Dark knight and that was only because Ledger did a good job and stole the show. Kind of like Kilmer in Tombstone
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
oh!
another good Russel role! I thought that movie was tits compared to the Kevin Costner one
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
as far as Batman
Michael Schumacher ruined that series
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
There are movies,
and there are Kurt Russell movies.
I prefer the latter.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
by Campbell32 on Jul 9, 2010 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
yep
under “actions” in bold red under the comments you have the option to rec or flag something.
we don’t usually flag things.
next new comment
and makes it not be yellow (unread) anymore.
or C will jump from new comment to new comment, and then x will mark it as read.
…all of this is in the box right above the first comment, and yet it took us all months to figure out.
Holy shit!
how about that, and all this time I have been wearing out my thumb scrolling from comment to comment. This is much easier. Thanks Shinkicker!!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
yeah, simple observation
weeds out the dumb ones.
btw I’m a bit of a jackass asshole so always take my comments with a bit of sarcasm (we all on SCH have lobbied for that button)
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
If we ever get a sarcasm button
that damn thing would get such a work out on this site
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
Tombstone was tits combared to 'Wyatt Earp'
due to casting and the fact that Tombstone was less historically accurate. Wyatt Earp follows Earp’s biography pretty well.
All that being said, the tombstone poster on my wall and the 20 or so times I’ve watched it should tell you that historical accuracy is not high on my entertainment priority list.
Tombstone was just so perfectly cast: Russel, Kilmer, Paxton, Kyle from Terminator, Lowell from Wings, even an oddly pudgy Billy Bob Thornton.
Ditto for CNS
2 enthusiastic
thumbs up for Tombstone and 1 fat thumb up the butt for Wyatt Earp! That movie sucked. I did however like the way they referred to holiday’s girlfriend as “Big Nose Kate”
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Tombstone was great
I thought Wyatt Earp really sucked. I can’t stand Kevin Costner. Any in movie he appears in loses one star.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
Not all Costner's movies are bad
Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Dances With Wolves, Waterworld, The Untouchables
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I liked
Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and The Untouchables. I think they would have been better with someone other than Costner in them. I’ve only seen parts of Dances with Wolves (didn’t care for it) and stayed away from Waterworld.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
I'm one of those people that don't watch movies solely based upon reviews.
That being said, I also normally will watch a movie all the way through no matter how bad it is. I saw Waterworld and I must say you didn’t miss anything by staying away from it.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I try to watch from beginning to end
but sometime find it impossible. I’ve even walked out of the show a few times (Lost in Space, Pearl Harbor and Titantic)
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
I was only close to walking out once.
The Fountain. I still don’t think I quite understand what that one was about.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
You stayed for Kate Beckinsale right?
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I sat through all of
Serendipity and Click for her.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
I love that movie
Then again, I like weird, artsy fartsy stuff. The soundtrack is wonderful – Clint Mansell is awesome.
I laughed at the end of Pretty Woman because I thought it was terrible * shrug *
"Kane is skating as if his mullet is on fire." - 6/9/10, 10:06PM CST
The Adam Sandler flick
where he was a Israeli super spy and with the girl that played Sloan on Entourage.
Walked out of that.
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Johnny?
this makes it apparent that there was an earlier point when you’d walked into it.
Shame.
www.mjt.org
Zing!
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions
you walked out on Emmanuelle Chriqui??
She was the only thing saving that movie!! You know, aside from it being clearly and obviously a complete and utter joke movie. Now it’s got pretty things in it.
by northernsails on Jul 11, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Let me be the one to mention...
No Way Out.
Probably some criticisms to be thrown out, but the movie is a fantastic gem, if only for the beginning scene where he scores the hot chick with the best pick up style ever, proceeds to bang her in the limo, and afterwards asks, “what was your name again?”
Great flick.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Great ending too
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Best
Batman Movie Ever.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
"Batman" made in 1966
It is so incredibly bad on purpose that it’s brilliant.
(I was replying to the 5.6 mil cap hit video posted above)
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
Haha,
Now I have to watch this movie again.

Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
Why?
Why oh why didn’t we run this into the ground during the WCF series?
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Because we chose to do that to SJ instead
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 10, 2010 7:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Their was not allot of time during it to get all these.
It was almost like the next day it was “The Hawks are in the SCF”.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 10, 2010 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I copied the picture
before the series started and was going to post it but I was a bit superstitious and didn’t want to piss off the Hockey Gods
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
So I'm watching now
and I keep hearing “saved by niemi”.
Watching Nash game 4 right now
The Hossa, Bickell, Toews line just scored!
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
no surprise there
considering that foley kept calling rinne niemi. In all seriousness though niemi was a stud in that game, totally deserved a shutout
by hawkswin!hawkswin! on Jul 11, 2010 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions
I’m assuming it hasn’t been found because you’re that good, not because the local police are that inept. Seriously, who the fuck is the Tuke guy? Is he established around here now?
It’s ‘cause you’re in Houston. Turn north immediately and drive until daybreak. Then keep driving for a while. When you see tall buildings, you’ll be in Chicago (or you drove too far and you’ll be in Minneapolis, but JHC is there, so it’s all good).
Yeah I know
where it is I lived there for 38 years, but thanks for the directions
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Most of my family lives there
Flee! you are welcome in Chicago—
Get in it and Drive West
play the tape full blast. When the tape ends, get out and get into a fight. Then get back into the car, come to town and meet me at the carcas club.
I will let you into the most prestigious hotel of all time…
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
One of my favorite sketches. Reminds me of the time a friend of mine apologized for me being a Doors fan and then we got into a fight.
Fear &
Loathing, and his book about the Hell’s Angels are probably 2 of my top 10 all time. Great writer
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Little known title that is one of his best examples of Gonzo writing ever.
Curse of Lono. Get it…read it…and it will make that list too.
I should go to bed
I thought that read “Curse of Luongo”
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
Dylan Thomas
these johnny-come-latelys can’t hold a candle to that guy.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
The bar was his altar
which brings up the question -why aren’t there more Welsh hockey players?
When you say Dylan, he thinks you’re talking about Dylan Thomas, whoever he was. The man ain’t got no culture.
For what it’s worth, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Coleridge all have independent claims to the title of Best. Fucked up. Guy. Ever.
If your're going there,
add Kerouac, Hemingway and James Joyce
My guys still predate your guys by 100 years. Shelley drowned before he was 30, and Byron was killed fighting the Turks for Greek independence. If pressed, I guess I won’t argue that they’re the most fucked up ever, but I’m pretty sure they invented the form.
And Baudelaire was 1 when Shelley drowned.
Like I said, I’m not going to say they are the best of all time, but they probably invented the modern form of the fucked-up artist.
Christopher Marlowe
was an original bad guy, but I concede your point.
Sorry
I didn’t realize you had to be “established” to make random comments on a hockey web site.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I was honestly asking about whether you were established now. I’ve been away for a while and there are new commenters that people know well who weren’t around when I last commented regularly.
I remember
watching that game with my older brother, then after we sprayed “Pledge” on the kitchen floor and played floor hockey with a nerf ball and curtain rods.
Yeah we were juvenile idiots, but we couldn’t be at the rink all the time!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I just had the thought “This is replacing Mystery, Alaska as my favorite hockey movie”
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
I don't
want to ruin it for you, but I think the USA team wins the gold medal game.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
"Boys, you just put the best goaltender in the world on the bench"
has got to be one of the best lines ever
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
The
legs feed the wolf. You may not be the best team in lake placid, but you will be the best conditioned
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Kurt Russel's best role
since Big Touble in Little China
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
without
a doubt. We really shook the pillars of Heaven didn’t we Wang.
Didn’t the center of the Soviet team look he should play for the Wings?
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
For hockey this is very apt
“it’s all in the reflexes”
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
No shit Wang?
No shit Jack.
Just listen to old Jack Burton and the Porkchop express!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I think you mean "no horseshit wang?"
but yeah, awesome movie. It came up in conversation just a month of two ago. There are alot of Big Trouble in Little China fans on this site.
Ditto for CNS
You got the gist of
what I meant. Big Trouble is one of my all time faves, it makes me see things no one else can see and do things no one else can do!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I knew it didn’t make sense, but I haven’t seen the movie since a very bitterly cold day in high school.
I just watched it
this morning with the GF. 3:10 to Yuma is on now (another great effing movie)
Saw Predators last night. I wasn’t disappointed. It was the complete POS and waste of time I thought it would be. Stay away
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Just because it needs to be said
FUCK SCUM
FUCK FISHES
Long Live TOFTBO in the Indian Head Crest!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 8:02 PM CDT reply actions
Nah
They are still to busy having a joygasm that Buff left, to forget their Goalie still sucks.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 9, 2010 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions
how much are they going to love that cap hit
in a few years? It’s Campbellesque
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
10 years
and (now anyways) goalie prices are dropping. D-men are rising so maybe in a few years Soupy’s contract will be reasonable
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Don't they basically have to match this...
at the expense of Niemi if that is what it ultimately costs them. Hj is a proven young extremely talented defenseman and they have lost enough already. Plus, they cannot afford to have him sign with one of their biggest rivals in the division. I think the match is a no-brainer.
No kidding...
This twitter era nonsense has me double taking at that and wondering… is this legit?
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Let me know if I'm smoking crack
I rather keep hjammer and get rid of niemi and go with turco or someone else.
Bash my face...........Hawks WIN!!!!!!
This is near consensus folks.
Well, round here at least.
And on an unrelated note, I just wish I could come up with a clever way to link Hjammer to that episode of Always Sunny where everyone keeps shouting about getting
“HAMMERED IN THE ASS!”
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Anybody
check out the prospect report on CI and the video of Beach & Kurtz going at it? Plus a small clip speaking with Verbeauty Jr.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Does it strike anybody as weird...
That he was fighting during this thing?
I mean, I’ve never seen a training camp, but I’d assume they wouldn’t need him to showcase his ability to do that, not to one of our own guys.
My fave part about that clip was “Mitch Versteeg, who has 4 inches and 18 lbs on his big brother.” Cool.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
"his ability"
Meaning… anybody’s. It was evident from the vid that he was only fighting cause a dude challenged him to go at it. Not like he was running round the ice like a good or nothing.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
good
meaning “goon.” Jeeze, I’m on fire with my little comment string here.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
Reply fail.
guys, you seeing this failure?
I quite for tonight, I’m outtta heeeeeeeeere.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
quite?
FOR SALE: pair of shoes, red, size 32 1/2 wide. Please direct all bids to Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks. Clown horn sold seperately. Also for sale: 328 dogs+1 pistol (bargain price for Leafs fans!)
by BigCSouthside on Jul 9, 2010 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe I'm repeating some one here
but has anyone pointed out that if the Hawks offered Niemi 2.2 million or lower and they win the arbitration, that would be a cap hit of 5.7 million for both which can be covered when Huet salary (5.625 million) is off the books.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
When does Niemi hit the panic button?
Might as well pop my posting cherry on this.
Assuming that we match the offer for Hjalmarsson and Niemi doesn’t sign before arbitration, what happens if he gets awarded something in the $3.5-$4m range and we are forced to pass? Who could/would give him a job? How many teams are still looking for a #1 goalie, and of those teams, who could/would pay that kind of money for Niemi? Furthermore, of the teams with room to sign him, are any of them good enough that he wouldn’t be in serious trouble when his 1-2 year arbitration contract expires?
What I’m asking, basically, is at what point (if any) does Niemi consider signing a lower, 1 year offer with the Hawks with the hope of preserving his good reputation and signing a bigger contract next year? It sounds like if he wants a #1 position, money, and a good team in front of him, he’s going to have to settle for 2 out of 3.
Am I talking crazy, or does this offer force Niemi to consider a drastic move in the next 7 days?
I don't think Niemi has to make any fast decision.
He has already signed up for arbitration. It’s all on the Hawks to make the next move.
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
I also meant to say welcome!
How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
He won't care what team he plays for
As long as he gets the big bucks. That’s how sports work. See: Lebron, Hjalmarsson, Ladd.
What about short term vs. long term gains?
If Niemi agrees to a smaller payout on a one year contract to stay with the Hawks and looks good, he stands to reap major benefits the following year with a new contract (either from the Hawks or someone else who can afford it).
If he goes for the short term money and gets $3-$4m on a 1yr arbitration deal, but ends up looking really sloppy in front of a team that is weaker defensively, then who signs him (and for what kind of money) as a UFA in 2011-2012?
And even if he does go for the money, is anyone still going to be willing (and able) to spend it on him? (It’s not a strictly rhetorical question – I feel like I might be overlooking an obvious possibility here.)
Right to walk away.
The Hawks have 48 hours to respond to the arbitration award. If the Hawks choose to Walk away from the award, then Niemi is an Unrestricted Free Agent. I believe he can then sign for any amount with anyone except the Hawks.
I’m still thinking the Hawks will ask for a one year deal and will be anywhere from 1.7 to 2.7. Don’t see a 3+ award in a one year deal…
First off Hello to all Hawk fans
Secondly, It will be sad to see Niemi go, as I am a huge Niemi fan and won’t lie about that. but it won’t be the end of the world. I hope we resign him but i won’t lose sleep if we do. Just wait and bring Crawford up right? Huet will hopefully go down to AHL and we can have both of them.Hjammer and Niemi. That would be awesome.
"Hey Sedin, your brother's ugly!"
Fucking Shark fuckers...
I’d be even more mad if these slutty ExtenZe commercial models weren’t slutting it up in the background to draw my eyes away.
You must have me confused with someone else, I have never been to Chicago.
[whispers] I sexually assaulted Scottie Pippen in 1997.
Let him go...take the draft picks
Luv Hammer….but he is a replacable 2nd line defender. His upside is peaking, great late round pick by Tallon in 2005(I think). We have enough , including Hendry to fill in for him. 3.5 million is tooo rich for my blood.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
If the Hawks had not traded Sopel
I may agree, but I think the Hawks trading Sopel was on the assumption of keeping Nintendo. I do not think the Hawks can afford to loose Frankenstein and TOFTBO, that is a whole pairing, after having already lost nearly 2 Forward lines, this would be too much. Niemi is much more replaceable (who I really want to keep) than Hammer is.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 10, 2010 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions
Hjammer
No, I don’t think Hjammer is peaking, yet. In fact I think he has more of an offensive game then he has shown so far. And I think he will be even better defensively in the future.
I’m still not even sure Hendry will be there next year. In any event he is NOT, imo, a replacement for Hjammer.
How about Scott with Campbell?
Campbell mostly plays in the offensive zone and Scott can stand in front of Neimi, punching out out anyone who get close to them.
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
Scott
Scott is at best a 6th Dman. Probably more of a 7th Dman but he has a one way contract. I’m thinking the 21st players on the team are going to be shuttled to Rockford on two-ways.
The team doesn’t have anyone to play with Campbell except for Hjammer. Well Keith but you want him on the shutdown line, not protecting a “weak” partner.
Yeah ,but Walker thought he could play hockey
Scott knows better ……. If he punches out enough players they will stop comin to our goal
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
Isn't Hendry a UFA right now?
I’m sure he’d like to come back if he fits, but I don’t know how likely that is. I liked what he brings but he’s not the same type of D man. Agree w/everyone else that his level isn’t there yet either.
According to CapGeek, he's a UFA
he made $0.6mil last year, but I’m not sure how many other teams will really want him.
He is
because we didn’t give him a qualifying offer. Poor Hendry.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
someone said
the Hawks figured they could get him back without the 10% raise.
sounded plasible to me.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
Yep, I just feel bad for him though.
No one has signed him yet!
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
No way
Has Jelly peaked yet, and Hendry, from everything I have seen couldn’t tie Jelly’s skates for him. Let Nemo go and match Jelly. The Hawks proved last season that you don’t need a superstar in net when you have an outstanding D.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
So who has the minor league report?
How are the d-men in the farm system? Can anyone step in and become a Hammer type upside surprise next year?
No way
They have no choice but to sign him – too much leakage already from our core. And I think Jammer is considered the core by management (we’ll see).
“I’m just saying that as well as the D pairings played throughout most of the playoffs Huet could have been between the pipes and they still would have won the cup.”
Did you actually watch Huet during the 1st part of the season? While Niemi definitely had his shaky moments after he started sharing duties, Huet allowed so many soft and brain – dead goals you could actually see the team deflate on the ice after another unforgivable break – down. I was there when he allowed a farking drop – in pass go right in under his skates, and that wasn’t the first time. The team had lost all confidence in his performance, despite numerous opportunities to turn his season around.
Blasphemer!

Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions
People seem to forget painful memories so soon.
If they DO dump Niemi, it has to be high hopes for Crawford vs. thinking of Huet as #1 next year I am hoping.
I have seen it asked a few times
But have not caught the answer.
Does any one know where to download the games from the NSH-VAN-SJS series(torrent)?
I have the Stanley Cup Finals.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 10, 2010 9:35 AM CDT reply actions
I've found what looks like a good site
called nhltorrents.co.uk, but it’s invite-only. I’ll see if I know anyone who has an account, but I’m not hopeful.
Me too
I think a lot of us had him tabbed as the #1 guy to keep this season (as w/Biscuit next season) since our prospects at D are still a ways away. Not to mention how good we know Hjammer can be.
That said, with the inflated market for defensemen this year this isn’t totally out of whack. You can think of it as a move SJ/DW could make because of our cap woes (it’s a really good example of a semi-bluff, where your hand is still pretty good if it gets called — SJ getting Hjammer isn’t bad for them, but we have to pay up either way if we call).
I’d blame the market for D coinciding with our cap woes for this. It makes me worry about Seabs next year. But my gut tells me pay up because that is a realistic valuation for Hjammer moving forward — any replacement is a downgrade at this point.
The thing is
with the inflated market for D-men, $3.5mil for Hjammer ain’t that bad, especially when you consider Hamhuis is making $4.5mil against the Cap.
Out of curiosity, why are you up at 5 a.m.?
I'm on the left coast for vacation
I thought being next to the Atlantic was bad, but thanks for being here to keep the crickets at bay!
Oh, and now that you bring up the “other” Hammer, that’s a really good point. Hamhuis offers more offensive ability but he’s also older and closer to his ceiling. So in retrospect $3.5mm might be about right for this year.
Yep
Hjammer’s still only 23, and I’m certain that $3.5mil for him in the 3rd & 4th years of his contract will be a bargain (especially if he increases his offence).
In one of
Hammer’s early scouting reports he got a lot of praise for his offensive skills. He must be focusing on his D because he sure isn’t showcasing anything else.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
I disagree
we’ve seen some good things from Hammer offensively. He has shown an ability to put good hard low shots on net, and he passes fairly well.
Ditto for CNS
this is what I like about the Meatball Soup combo
I think Soupy has probably elevated/improved Hammer’s offensive game and Hammer has helped Soupy be a little more defensively responsible while still playing his offensive game.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Ok, I think elevated is the wrong word
since Hammer doesn’t have much offense. He’s probably made Hammer improve his defense more. Oh, never mind.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Actually, I think the opposite...
Playing with Campbell has, imo, hurt Hammers offensive development. He seems to be spending all his time as a “stay at home” type to offset Soup. Hammer was much more of an all around player in the minors; Offense, defense and hitting…
Sigh.
yeah, I thought about that after I hit post, hence my 2nd comment.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I think his offensive trajectory is on track
look at Keith. Or Seebs.
First things first for d-men. I thought Jelly’s offense picked up in the playoffs.
June 30, 2010. We will rue this day.
This is why we're so much in love with him
Sure you’re paying for potential and not past results, but lordie that potential looks good.
One of the other reasons
I think Bowman has to match is just in case we are not able to sign Seabs next off-season (although without matching Hammer that makes re-signing Seabs a little easier). If Seabs gets too expensive, a Hammer-Keith pairing could be pretty good too.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
I don't even
want to think about Seabs not being re-signed, expensive or not.
by justforkicks on Jul 12, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
I don’t want to have to think about it either. But anything is possible given how expensive good d-men are becoming after this off season.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
Best comment of the thread IMO
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 12, 2010 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I wish I had been keeping up and read this
I made this exact comment in one of the new threads but wayyy late. Silly me.
on a slightly more optimistic note
the pictures/videos from prospect camp make me happy. it’s fun to look at them all and wonder who will actually be on the team some day.
if San Jose
steal Hjammer from us… I’m getting in my ford focus and driving to that shitty city. i will wage war among the san jose fronst office with my beat down chain in my back seat. i have 3 more seats. who wants to come.
Bash my face...........Hawks WIN!!!!!!
Hey Meeshak
I think you know how to get to Houston don’t you????
Pick me up
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Gotta Love
Dean, especially if you could catch his act before the 9 or 10th cocktail!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
true
you were funny when living in the Great White North
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
Swing by and pick me up in CT
and I’m in!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 10, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Can I bring my date??
She doesn’t take up much room, once she’s deflated
"Trying is the first step towards failure" Homer Simpson
thanks for posting this
for some reason they didn’t have Sharp’s day with the cup on the official cup journal, not yet anyways. I love seeing the photos they have up there of everyone’s day with the Cup.
by hawkswin!hawkswin! on Jul 10, 2010 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions
If Niemi wants to stay a Hawk
He needs to sign a 1 year 1.5-1.8 mil contract. This would allow us to sign two more wingers for 500k a piece to make up our 4th line.
1.5 .5.5 = 2.5 (we’d be barely under the cap)
Our 4th line would look something like Dowell/Bickell/someone not Skille
FYI CSN is replaying all the playoff victories
Game 2 against Nashville’s on now, and the DVR is set for the rest of them.
Go jump in Toews Lake.
somebody needs to get these out for download!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 10, 2010 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions
if I knew how, I would!
God I’ve missed Pat Foley. And apparently the commercial where Toews checks a car.
Go jump in Toews Lake.
it's just a Chevy
Toews destroys all things from Detroit
nothin but smiles
my Captain is better than your Captain
by Johnny Lava on Jul 10, 2010 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Question-
Do you think that management is having any conversations with what is left of the team, and what do you think they are talking about?
Maybe I'm just bad at math...
But this just doesn’t look as bad to me as it does to everyone else
FORWARDS
Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m) / Troy Brouwer ($1.025m)
Marian Hossa ($5.275m) / Patrick Sharp ($3.900m) / Tomas Kopecky ($1.200m)
Viktor Stalberg ($0.850m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / * Bryan Bickell ($0.500m)
Jake Dowell ($0.525m) / Marty Reasoner ($1.150m)
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Campbell ($7.143m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)
Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Brent Seabrook ($3.500m)
Ivan Vishnevskiy ($0.822m) / John Scott ($0.512m)
GOALTENDERS
Corey Crawford ($0.800m) / Hannu Toivonen ($0.550m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)
ROSTER: 19; CAP:$59.4m;
CARRY-OVER PENALTY: $4.158m;
PAYROLL: $56.923m;
CAP ROOM: $2.542m;
BONUSES: $0.065m
If they can bury all of the Huet money (which everyone seems to think is a given at this point) 2.5 million to sign a 4th winger, 7th defenseman and 13th forward doesn’t seem like the worst position in the world. Losing Niemi sucks, but I think they’ll be foyne.
by Bellwether Meltdown on Jul 10, 2010 10:40 PM CDT reply actions
Actually ...
… Having Crawford and Toivonen as your two goalies next year would, in fact, be the worst position in the world. When is the last time a defending Stanley Cup champion didn’t even make the playoffs the following year?
(By the way, the Hawks have already signed their 7th defenseman, Jassen Cullimore, for $500,000.)
The Hawks should go “all-in” with their prospects, promote Skille & Beach (in addition to Bickell, Stalberg & Dowell, as you mentioned) to the big club, trade Kopecky for draft picks, and depending on how the arbitration hearing goes, the Hawks could still end up with BOTH Hammer and Niemi.
by Don'tToewsMe on Jul 10, 2010 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Instead of trading Kopecky ...
… they could also trade Reasoner. The math works about the same.
by Don'tToewsMe on Jul 10, 2010 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Or Hossa
The math works even better
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Unless I am misreading Capgeek
Bickell is an RFA. The $0.5m salary listed was last year’s figure. If he is not already resigned, you would expect that figure to rise. Carrying Crawford and Toivonen as the goalie pair makes my brain ache. I would love to move some salary to a need-to-spend team like the Isles, but…..who?
"I'll keep it short and sweet: Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
I think Bickell's minimum increase
has to be 10%, right? So only $50k more minimum.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Has anyone read the article on CI about letting Niemi and Hammer walk?
Here’s the link.
I think it’s a pretty interesting idea and if you really think about it, it makes sense to a certain extent. It talks about getting rid of Hammer and picking up Aaron Ward and Theodore in place of Niemi. While they would be downgrades, it would provide us with a chance to let our D prospects step in a year from now and not shackle ourselves with long contracts. Plus it’d give us a bit more wiggle room with the cap since Theodore and Ward would both probably sign for less than Niemi and Hammer.
Actually
The more I think about it the more I agree with it. Maybe they should let both of them walk. Bring up the young guys and let them get a season under their belt to mature. They may or may not win the cup, but they will still be competitive, make the playoffs, and the youngsters gain invaluable experience.
From what i have been reading there are a few that will impact the team in one way or another this year to include Bickell, Beach, Stalberg, Skille, LaLonde, and believe it or not Morin has been getting praise for his play already even though he looks to be a year or two away.
Regardless of who is called up, these are the guys that are going to be called upon sooner or later to compliment the “core” players currently under contract. Tell Nemo & Hammer what you are willing to pay them and remind them of the team full of young talent you have waiting. If the money isn’t enough thank them for their contribution and show them the door.
The Hawks have enough talent in the system and on the current roster that they shouldn’t have to grovel for players to stay.
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Unfortunately
We can tell Hjammer anything, since he already signed the offer sheet. We have to match or let him go.
And I’m not sure if we are allowed to work a deal with Niemi while waiting for arbitration. Does anyone know the answer to this?
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions
in answer to your question....
The Hawks had to have made a "qualifying offer" to Niemi of at least 105% of last seaon’s salary in order to keep him from becoming a UFA. Niemi is not obligated to accept that offer, but as I read the CBA that offer has to made on or after July 1st and is good for 30 days. Niemi has to file for arbitration by 5 P.M. EST July 5th (so filing was more or less a formality). After filing for arbitration a player can elect to accept the Club’s prior Qualifying Offer and thus avoid arbitration. Likewise, the Hawks can continue to negotiate with Niemi and should they reach an agreement prior to 9 A.M. on the morning of the scheduled arbitration hearing, they would avoid arbitration.
As I read things, once a player files for arbitration he may not be tendered an offer sheet from other teams. Should the Hawks not like the arbitrators decision, after 48 hours they can elect to walk-away, and Niemi becomes an UFA. Niemi would still have seven days to accept the Hawk’s original qualifying offer. However, if Niemi does not and becomes an UFA and signs an offer that is less than 80 % of the Arbitration Award then the Hawks will have 7 days to match that offer and retain Niemi under that offer’s terms.
The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect.
Thanks. Well, that's a bright spot...
although I doubt anything will be worked out prior to the hearing. IMO the only chance of them settling beforehand would be in a sign and trade type of scenario.
Say Niemi is asking $4M/yr and is willing to settle at $3M, but that’s still too rich for the Hawks. Maybe the Hawks find a team that wants to sign Niemi $3M and give us something in return. It works out better for both teams because the Hawks would get compensated and the other team wouldn’t risk Niemi’s price after arbitration being higher or losing him to the open market.
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Whether they do or not let both walk
this article sure made me feel better.
I think in all this discussion we are not taking into account the talent on the farm. With the core that we still have, if 2 or 3 of the minor leaguer’s step up next year, we are pretty well set for another run with or without Hammer and Niemi.
Reading that did make me feel a little
no, a LOT better. Thanks for fixing my day, and possibly saving my liver.
Good article
Thanx for the link. I would also suggest that if letting Hammer go means keeping Seabs, I would let Hammer go.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
I would be fine with that
However, how much youth do you want on the team? Other than the core players there are a lot of youngsters that are going to be coming up to the “bigs” this year…
"Hey Sedin, your brother's ugly!"
by Leroy K on Jul 11, 2010 12:56 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
heads up
if you use the reply button under someone’s comment, instead of the grey box at the bottom of the page, it will be directly under the comment you’re replying to. it makes conversations much easier to follow.
Go jump in Toews Lake.
Now that's a problem I WOULD NOT want to have
I definitely prefer my team overspending instead being under the cap floor. Poor Islanders fans. My heart bleeds for them. NOT!
Lord Stanley's new address: Sweet Home Chicago!
by ChicagoNativeSon on Jul 11, 2010 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions
I can't believe
people actually want Niemi instead pf Hammer…i find it ridiculous…..by the way i’m new here…HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!!!
by Special Agent Dale Cooper on Jul 11, 2010 8:23 AM CDT reply actions
Welcome!
I think you’ll find that most everyone here is of the Hammer > Niemi camp. A lot of newer fans may not understand that great defense makes most goalies look better than normal. Not that I’m saying Niemi can’t or won’t be good or that he didn’t play well for the most part in the playoffs.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Hi
I’m Bob LeDonne.
by Hi, I'm Bob LeDonne on Jul 11, 2010 11:46 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Greetings
hey Special Agent, if you ever make a fan post do not use the enter key, Katherine215 loves it!
II Can Finally Die Happy Now!
Greetings
Bob…..Tuke ….and Katy……Tuke not using the enter key :)…..hopefully tomorrow morning they will mention somethiong about matching the offer sheet for hammer….let nemo walk :)
by Special Agent Dale Cooper on Jul 11, 2010 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Walls of text are hard to read!! :p
Derek Zona is right in this aspect, proper formatting does get better repsonses. I think lightning is going to strike me for saying “Derek Zona is right” though.
by Katherine215 on Jul 11, 2010 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Lightning? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
Don’t forget having stuff drop on you is good luck!
AGH! Working the guilt, I see.
Ok, talk to me at the start of the playoffs next year…I’ll try to find a damn bird.
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm watching.
Not really a prediction, but I’m pulling for the Oranje. I know that Spain is probably better on paper, but I like the Dutch.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 11, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
This match
is really annoying for me; I’ve always supported both Spain and the Netherlands, because they both deserve a World Cup but have never managed it. I think Spain will win, but I suppose that either one will make me happy in the long run.
by Germware on Jul 11, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The last time they played the World Cup I was in Amsterdam
so I have fond memories of the sea of orange that would turn out on Museumplein for an impromptu city-wide block party after every game. They were so disappointed when they got eliminated, so I’d like to see them go all the way this year.
by spokeinthebandwagon on Jul 11, 2010 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I’m with you, but it feels awfully wrong cheering for orange jerseys in a championship game.
www.mjt.org
by ChicoMaki on Jul 11, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
hahaha this
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 11, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions
My answer to the World Cup
is, was, and always will be: Zzzzzzz*snore*
by northernsails on Jul 12, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
What a waste of a comment. What’s even the point of making it, other than to somehow establish your cred as a bona fide soccer hater? I mean, you made it the morning after the final.
except I've been saying stuff like that
since before the US was even eliminated…whenever that was. Not my fault if you dont see all my posts.
by northernsails on Jul 12, 2010 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions
In Response or Echoing PD's Column on ESPN
being but hurt Puck Heads cry foul on their NHL Coverage
FUCK ESPN
GO HAWKS!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
Listen to the wisdom of James Madison!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Jul 11, 2010 7:23 PM CDT reply actions
Actually, I prefer less coverage
Look what all of the attention on the NBA and the NFL creates – a bunch of prima donnas wearing a lot of gold jewelry.
So that's why they keep guns in their lockers
to protect the ‘bling’
GREEDY, GREEDY, GREEDY
I almost read this whole post looking for someone that would be slightly upset with Hammer holding the Hawks hostage but I did not see it. Maybe I missed it. Hammer definitely deserves that kind of money and the Hawks really need to keep him more than Niemi. But lets not forget that no one put that pen in his hand and MADE him sign. What happened to signing for less (obviously not what he played for last year but those two offers sounded pretty good) to keep playing for your team?He has stated that he wanted what was best for him and his family. Living on 2 million is not that much different from living on 3 million. So there I said it. Rip into me. I like to watch Hammer play hockey, I guess that maybe Doug Wilson will be flipping the bill so that I can watch him in the future.
LUigi was found dead at the scene, murdered by a Chelsea Dagger.
I don't really see it as greedy.
He does have to take care of himself and his family. He could have a career ending injury at any time. I don’t begrudge the players from taking what is offered to them. It’s not the same situation as Kovalchuck, for example, who was offered $10 million and turned that down. Hammer is also not in the twilight of his career where he can be a little more choosy about who he plays for . While I hate it, this could be a good career move for him if the Hawks don’t match.
$3.5 million for Hammer is more than I wanted, but perhaps I was being unrealistic. Plus, he has the market value of Dmen working in his favor, unlike Niemi and the goalie market.
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Choice is big too...
By doing this, he guarantees himself a well earned, if a bit pricey four year deal with a highly competitive team.
Seriously, that doesn’t sound like a bad deal. It’s a business. We can’t begrudge a guy for doing what’s gonna put him in the best situation. Unless of course he does it in a Lebron, or Kovalchuck (to a much lesser extent) fashion.
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
True, it's not like
he took an offer for oodles of money from the Oilers just for the money. LeBron’s name doesn’t even belong on a hockey board, it’s too good for him.
by Katherine215 on Jul 12, 2010 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Puckdaddy can't fathom what we've been talking about:
In the wake of the Niklas Hjalmarsson offer sheet, the Chicago Tribune ran a poll asking if the ’Hawks should keep either him or Antti Niemi(notes). The stupefying results at press time: 48 percent believe they should keep Hjalmarsson. …What?
from this
I don’t know if it’s stupefying to him that the fans would vote that way (understandable), or if he just thinks voting that way is stupefying (… What?)
It's the Chicago Blackhawks man...
See
I wasn’t sure if he was shocked that it was that low, or shocked that it was that high. Didn’t exactly make it clear.

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