Chicago Blackhawks 2011 Offseason

[UMFan83]

Avoided arbitration with Stalberg:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=6754766

 

Money seems about right. Hopefully he will show a more consistent effort next year.

 

Stalberg is the Shawon Dunston of Hockey- has skills and sometimes shows them but is never as good as he should be. I was a sucker for Dunston, so I'm pulling for Stalberg.

 

With Stalberg in the fold, hopefully that's another foot out the door for Scott.

 

I always considered Buff the Dunston of hockey.

[sneakypower]

Darryl Dobbs was puzzled by the signing:

 

The Blackhawks have signed Viktor Stalberg to a two-year contract. At this point, I don’t even see how he fits into the top three lines. He probably won’t be given a fair chance to succeed and I predict they buy him out next year if they don’t trade him. His cap hit of $875k is friendly for either option.

 

Think about it – assuming Toews, Bolland, Kruger and Mayers are the centermen (or Sharp), here are the wingers – Sharp (or Mayers), Kane, Hossa, Frolik, Carcillo, Brunette, Bickell, Stalberg, Olesz and Scott. Where does Stalberg rank? At best seventh, at worst ninth ahead of Scott. Seventh puts him on the fourth line.

[Flames24Rulz]

I really hate how Morin's going to be the odd man out yet again. And Dobbs is forgetting about Ben Smith, who almost certainly will be on the team next year. If he's not, there needs to be an investigation.

[UMFan83]

I really hate how Morin's going to be the odd man out yet again. And Dobbs is forgetting about Ben Smith, who almost certainly will be on the team next year. If he's not, there needs to be an investigation.

 

Yeah he definitely earned himself an opening night roster spot unless he just completely sucks in training camp/preseason.

[kujay]

I read somewhere earlier that there was speculation Olesz might be bought out. We do appear to have two extra forwards when you factor in Smith. And I agree, it would be outrageous to banish him to the AHL just because we have a guy like Scott on a one-way contract.

[17 Seconds]

Judging by the recent comments from Bowman and Q, it sounds like the Hawks are basically done shopping. I'm kind of disappointed in this offseason.

 

I loved the Campbell trade the Brunette signing, but I don't really understand the rest. The whole thing was to get quality depth, right? Did we really do that? Carcillo can play a little bit, but it seems like most of the depth we added were 4tt line quality goons.

 

I was fine with the Brouwer trade at the time, but now I don't get it. We have plenty of room to fit him in, and he's a solid depth guy. When we traded him I figured it was to clear more space for other moves, but apparently that's not the case.

 

On paper, I don't think we've gotten better at all. Even though the Campbell trade was a good one, it's still a significant loss to next year's team. Montador is a nice replacement, but he doesn't bring to the table what Campbell can. As much as we trashed Campbell early on in his contract, he was fantastic the last 2 seasons. Not worth what he was getting, but still well above average player.

 

I think Kujay mentioned earlier in the offseaosn that he wa skind of worried that this would be the year where we try to save some money to make up for all the spending in recent years. It looks like that's happening. I understand it and I can't say I'm angry with it, but it's still a bummer.

 

I just don't feel like we added quality depth or improved the team from last year. I mean, we didn't even add a center (yet), and from Bowman and Q's comments, it sounds like theyre telling everyone that they're perfectly fine with playing Sharp at center and sticking with the rest that we have. I think that's a mistake.

[biittner77]

When you have a coach that likes to mix up the lines a lot, this kind of team makes a little more sense.

 

The 4th line should be better with energy guys (Smith, Kruger) and trouble makers (Mayers, Carcillo) and should be able to chip in some goals which was one of the biggest differences between last year and the year before.

[jersey cubs fan]

I was fine with the Brouwer trade at the time, but now I don't get it. We have plenty of room to fit him in, and he's a solid depth guy. When we traded him I figured it was to clear more space for other moves, but apparently that's not the case.

 

I figured it was because they got a first round draft pick for Troy Brouwer.

[NewUserName]

I think the most important thing the Hawks have done is make themselves more flexible to make moves during the season. They will probably need a top 4 dman to compete for the Cup but there were no great candidates available during FA. The few that were all got overpaid by quit a bit. It made no sense for the Hawks to get rid of Campbell's contract if they were to overpay for another dman who probably would not be as good. I think the Hawks will compete and be anywhere from 3-7 seed by trade deadline and then make a deal for a top 4 dman to help put them over the top.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the most important thing the Hawks have done is make themselves more flexible to make moves during the season. They will probably need a top 4 dman to compete for the Cup but there were no great candidates available during FA. The few that were all got overpaid by quit a bit. It made no sense for the Hawks to get rid of Campbell's contract if they were to overpay for another dman who probably would not be as good. I think the Hawks will compete and be anywhere from 3-7 seed by trade deadline and then make a deal for a top 4 dman to help put them over the top.

 

Yeah, they are going to be able to make a substantial in season move this year.

[17 Seconds]

I was fine with the Brouwer trade at the time, but now I don't get it. We have plenty of room to fit him in, and he's a solid depth guy. When we traded him I figured it was to clear more space for other moves, but apparently that's not the case.

 

I figured it was because they got a first round draft pick for Troy Brouwer.

 

But it will probably be one of the last first round picks. I think he would have had more value to us on the roster this upcoming season. The deeper the team is, the better.

[jersey cubs fan]

I was fine with the Brouwer trade at the time, but now I don't get it. We have plenty of room to fit him in, and he's a solid depth guy. When we traded him I figured it was to clear more space for other moves, but apparently that's not the case.

 

I figured it was because they got a first round draft pick for Troy Brouwer.

 

But it will probably be one of the last first round picks. I think he would have had more value to us on the roster this upcoming season. The deeper the team is, the better.

 

They already used the pick on a guy they wanted. It was about value for a replacable player, not getting rid of Brouwer.

[sneakypower]

old, but so great

 

[17 Seconds]

I was fine with the Brouwer trade at the time, but now I don't get it. We have plenty of room to fit him in, and he's a solid depth guy. When we traded him I figured it was to clear more space for other moves, but apparently that's not the case.

 

I figured it was because they got a first round draft pick for Troy Brouwer.

 

But it will probably be one of the last first round picks. I think he would have had more value to us on the roster this upcoming season. The deeper the team is, the better.

 

They already used the pick on a guy they wanted. It was about value for a replacable player, not getting rid of Brouwer.

 

And like I said, I think Brouwer had more value to next season's team than the value we got for him. We have plenty of young talent, we needed to be adding quality depth for this years team, not dumping it.

[jersey cubs fan]

And like I said, I think Brouwer had more value to next season's team than the value we got for him. We have plenty of young talent, we needed to be adding quality depth for this years team, not dumping it.

 

Obviously Brouwer is more valuable to the 2011/12 team than a 2011 draft pick. The point is they traded him for a 1st round pick because a 1st round pick was a good get for Troy Brouwer, who may have only had a year or two left with this team. It's never only about next year's team, and in the end they aren't really missing much with him gone.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The #Blackhawks have re-signed F Michael Frolik to a three-year deal, and signed D Sami Lepisto to a one-year contract.

[kujay]

The #Blackhawks have re-signed F Michael Frolik to a three-year deal, and signed D Sami Lepisto to a one-year contract.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/chi-frolik-close-to-deal-with-blackhawks-20110715,0,7684454.story

 

I don't like the speculation that the Lepisto signing means Campoli might not get done. That would be a bad swap.

 

As to Frolik, he better get that first goal and the floodgates better open pretty early in the season. His performance with the Hawks last year did not justify that salary, but he is only 23.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Patrick Kane to have surgery on left wrist. Will be back ready for Training Camp. Came to light during offseason training, anticipating no long-term issues.

[kujay]

Patrick Kane to have surgery on left wrist. Will be back ready for Training Camp. Came to light during offseason training, anticipating no long-term issues.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/6773324/chicago-blackhawks-patrick-kane-surgery-fractured-wrist

 

I wonder what he was doing. Sad to say, but my first instinct is that it was something stupid.

[Butterscup1679666578]

VP/GM Stan Bowman says a Chris Campoli deal will not happen.

[UMFan83]

VP/GM Stan Bowman says a Chris Campoli deal will not happen.

 

Meh, I can live with not bringing back the guy whose mistake ended out season and ruined an epic comeback against a team I hate.

[Soul]

Patrick Kane to have surgery on left wrist. Will be back ready for Training Camp. Came to light during offseason training, anticipating no long-term issues.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/6773324/chicago-blackhawks-patrick-kane-surgery-fractured-wrist

 

I wonder what he was doing. Sad to say, but my first instinct is that it was something stupid.

 

It's the left wrist, geez :)

[17 Seconds]

campoli not coming back?

 

i don't think there's any way you can say this team has gotten better this offseason. i guess we'll just have to hope for rebound years from guys like keith/seabrook/hjalm, etc.

 

this is disappointing.

[UMFan83]

campoli not coming back?

 

i don't think there's any way you can say this team has gotten better this offseason. i guess we'll just have to hope for rebound years from guys like keith/seabrook/hjalm, etc.

 

this is disappointing.

 

huh? I feel like its gotten a good deal better...and Chris Campoli certainly doesn't make or break my opinion.

[17 Seconds]

how has it gotten a good deal better?

 

who was the best player we got? andrew brunette? steve montador?

 

i think we're going to miss campbell a lot more than people realize.