Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[kujay]

The offense just couldn't get its act together last night.

 

And once again, you can't count on Huet to make the big saves. He was terrible in the shootout.

 

Bowman needs to pull off a miracle and get us a goaltender. It's worth parting with some offensive talent.

[Soul]

Alright, they're officially slumping. I'm trying to be calm about it.

[kujay]

Alright, they're officially slumping. I'm trying to be calm about it.

 

Last night, it really did just seem like complacency. This is where Q earns his money. Not enough dedication to forecheckig made Phoenix look like, well, the Hawks with how easily they were able to break out of their own zone.

 

The Blues are moving up in the standings again and are going to come out crashing tonight. If the Hawks don't crank it up a little, they will get run out of the building. No joke.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Whew.

[UMFan83]

Yeah phew. 2-0 lead but the Blues were on a 5 on 3 PP with 2 minutes left and scored. Had to sweat out the last 90 seconds or so.

[kujay]

That was fun. Haven't watched the TV recording of the game yet, but just a few observations.

 

First, WTG Hawks fans. Thousands upon thousands. Almost my entire section. I've been going to Hawks games here for six years and this was BY FAR the most I've ever seen. I hope that came through on TV.

 

Other random stuff -- Brent Sopel sucks. And not just for whatever he said to the ref to cause the 6-on-3 and cost Niemi his shutout. Hjalmarrson played really well. New line combos were hit or miss. I know what Q was trying to do, but it seems like you're just shuffling the deck for the hell of it. Look who scored -- same guys who always do.

 

What else -- what can you say about Niemi? Phenomenal. He stole the game tonight in a way that I don't think Huet can. Sorry to bring that into it, but he was that good tonight. Rebound control, playing the puck, everything.

 

Good win, nice to get back on track.

[Butterscup1679666578]

That was fun. Haven't watched the TV recording of the game yet, but just a few observations.

 

First, WTG Hawks fans. Thousands upon thousands. Almost my entire section. I've been going to Hawks games here for six years and this was BY FAR the most I've ever seen. I hope that came through on TV.

 

Other random stuff -- Brent Sopel sucks. And not just for whatever he said to the ref to cause the 6-on-3 and cost Niemi his shutout. Hjalmarrson played really well. New line combos were hit or miss. I know what Q was trying to do, but it seems like you're just shuffling the deck for the hell of it. Look who scored -- same guys who always do.

 

What else -- what can you say about Niemi? Phenomenal. He stole the game tonight in a way that I don't think Huet can. Sorry to bring that into it, but he was that good tonight. Rebound control, playing the puck, everything.

 

Good win, nice to get back on track.

 

I agree about Niemi. At this point, as a whole, I think both Huet and Niemi are average-above average goalies, but I'm constantly impressed with the quality of saves that Niemi makes. He makes some great saves and doesn't give up a ton of rebounds. Huet seems to benefit from the defense more (not to say that the defense is playing bad for Niemi).

[brinoch]

Sopel is glacial.

 

Niemi was really great tonight. His rebound control broke down a few times, but he made those saves, too. That's, I think, the thing that Niemi really needs to work on. But he's a very good goalie already.

 

Mason also played a heck of a game.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline. Is it safe to assume it's someone to replace Huet? I feel like they know that Niemi is a pretty solid, young goalie (though every time they say he's going to get more chances he seems to have an awful game), but if they can't find someone to take Huet and his contract, what are they supposed to do with him?

[17 Seconds]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline

 

where'd you see this?

[17 Seconds]

wiz maybe coming back to chicago? barker and his contract for wiz would be tremendous

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=357387

[Butterscup1679666578]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline

 

where'd you see this?

 

didnt someone talk about it a few pages ago? it mightve just been speculation. im drunk so i also may have just made it up. ignore me and all future posts.

[RedFlash]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline

 

where'd you see this?

 

didnt someone talk about it a few pages ago? it mightve just been speculation. im drunk so i also may have just made it

up. ignore me and all future posts.

 

There have been some buzzed that the Hawks are "nervous" about Huet in goal. While a deal for a goalie is highly unlikely---mainly because of Huets' contract---it wouldn't surprise me if the Hawks acquired a guy like Roloson.

[UMFan83]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline. Is it safe to assume it's someone to replace Huet? I feel like they know that Niemi is a pretty solid, young goalie (though every time they say he's going to get more chances he seems to have an awful game), but if they can't find someone to take Huet and his contract, what are they supposed to do with him?

 

The problem is Niemi is a RFA after this year and Huet has a large long term contract.

[kujay]

wiz maybe coming back to chicago? barker and his contract for wiz would be tremendous

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=357387

 

OMG, I don't know if I could handle how awesome this would be.

[kujay]

Alright, so let's assume the rumors about the Hawks being unhappy with Huet/the goalie situation are true and they are pursuing a goalie before the deadline

 

where'd you see this?

 

didnt someone talk about it a few pages ago? it mightve just been speculation. im drunk so i also may have just made it

up. ignore me and all future posts.

 

There have been some buzzed that the Hawks are "nervous" about Huet in goal. While a deal for a goalie is highly unlikely---mainly because of Huets' contract---it wouldn't surprise me if the Hawks acquired a guy like Roloson.

 

I saw a note on Rumor Central (ESPN) yesterday that the Hawks might be interested in Ellis or Rinne. The thought was that Nashville would sign one of them long term soon and then try to unload the other. Doesn't do a lot for me, but it's almost anyone but Huet at this point.

 

As for what to do with him, you have to send him down.

[kujay]

Just a rumor, but this sent my heart aflutter. From ESPN:

 

Tim Thomas, winner of last year's Vezina trophy, could be dealt near the trade deadline. Two league executives told the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch that Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has talked with teams needing goaltending help about Thomas.

 

NESN's James Murphy tweeted yesterday that he sat next to Blackhawks scouts in the press box, speculating that they may be looking at Thomas. Garrioch predicts the Blackhawks might be interested, if they're willing to send Cristobal Huet to the minors to get his contract off the books. He says the Stars, Blues and Blue Jackets are also possible destinations.

 

Thomas is expendable because the Bruins feel Tuukka Rask is their future in goal, so the struggling 35-year-old might be heading elsewhere. Only problems are his no-trade clause and the three years left on his contract at $5 million per season.

 

So what will it cost? "A goalie like Thomas should be able to fetch a top-six forward, top-four blueliner and a solid backup goalie," Garrioch writes. The Hawks will have to dump salary in the offseason, so they may be looking to send some big contracts over in a trade.

[UMFan83]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

[sweetpeteman]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

 

 

Yes. Players in the minors don't count against the cap.

 

 

However, the player has to be a two-way player in order to be sent to the minors.

[kujay]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

 

 

Yes. Players in the minors don't count against the cap.

 

 

However, the player has to be a two-way player in order to be sent to the minors.

 

Meaning he would need to clear waivers, right? Which obviously wouldn't be a problem. Dear god, if someone claimed him I think Bowman would do a backflip.

[UMFan83]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

 

 

Yes. Players in the minors don't count against the cap.

 

 

However, the player has to be a two-way player in order to be sent to the minors.

 

Can a player reject a trip to minor leagues? Why haven't we suggested doing this in the past with him or Campbell? It sounds sketchy if the Hawks trade for Thomas and then drop Huet to Rockford. I feel like the league office would frown on that behavior.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

 

 

Yes. Players in the minors don't count against the cap.

 

 

However, the player has to be a two-way player in order to be sent to the minors.

 

Can a player reject a trip to minor leagues? Why haven't we suggested doing this in the past with him or Campbell? It sounds sketchy if the Hawks trade for Thomas and then drop Huet to Rockford. I feel like the league office would frown on that behavior.

 

This option has been discussed many times, it just doesn't make a lot of sense when you consider you would be paying a lot of money to a servicable player to not play for you (especially in Campbell's case). I believe the player has to clear waivers on the way down, when a team can take him and his contract, but there's something about clearing them again on the way up as well.

[sweetpeteman]

I know Tim Thomas hasn't been nearly as good as last year but I feel like his upside is much higher than Huet's. I'd love to get him.

 

What do they mean about sending Huet to the minors to get rid of his contract? Does that mean it no longer becomes part of the Hawks salary cap situation?

 

 

Yes. Players in the minors don't count against the cap.

 

 

However, the player has to be a two-way player in order to be sent to the minors.

 

Can a player reject a trip to minor leagues? Why haven't we suggested doing this in the past with him or Campbell? It sounds sketchy if the Hawks trade for Thomas and then drop Huet to Rockford. I feel like the league office would frown on that behavior.

 

 

Depends on the contract. I don't know what Huet's is like.

[kujay]

Reading the Hawks boards, they brought up a good point. Thomas is owed $5M over each of the next three years. So if you are grooming Niemi to be the backup, unless you think you can flip Thomas (which is possible, unlike Huet), he's probably not the best option.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

"A goalie like Thomas should be able to fetch a top-six forward, top-four blueliner and a solid backup goalie,"

 

Versteeg, Barker, Niemi. Done.

 

Upgrade to Sharp if they insist.