Chicago Blackhawks 2011 Offseason

[UMFan83]

well, I guess hamilton being 600k was bigger then I thought

 

Hamilton is where Balsillie was going to move the Predators. They have an arena there that is bigger than the new one in Winnipeg, but it needed some money put into it. Winnipeg's arena only holds 15K or so. I really hope they make it work up there, if it happens.

 

Hamilton is a fairly legit market. Toronto is only like 50 miles away, and they can certainly support another franchise, especially one that might only take a bit of the southern fanbase away. Other towns within a 2 hour drive.

 

Brantford (Gretzky birthplace): 90,000 (23 mi)

Kitchener: 200,000 - Metro 400,000 (41 mi)

London: 350,000 - Metro 450,000 (78 mi...basically Chicago to Milwaukee)

 

And then when Buffalo continues to dwindle in size in 50 years and lose their team, thats another 1.1 million within 70 miles of you.

 

So without even including Toronto and Buffalo, that's still ~1.5 million people within a 90 minute drive of Hamilton, with 1.1 being within an hour.

 

That would give them a larger market than Nashville, Buffalo, Carolina, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and the Winnipeg team. And that's without including the ~7 million people within 90 minutes of Hamilton in Toronto and Buffalo.

 

Edit: And I realize this is extremely fuzzy math I'm using because I used the official metro numbers to determine all the smaller markets in the NHL, while the actual metro size of Hamilton is only 450k. But none of those markets listed have multiple populated metros within 90 miles of them that are hockey crazed and willing to make the drive to Hamilton.

[kujay]

well, I guess hamilton being 600k was bigger then I thought

 

Hamilton is where Balsillie was going to move the Predators. They have an arena there that is bigger than the new one in Winnipeg, but it needed some money put into it. Winnipeg's arena only holds 15K or so. I really hope they make it work up there, if it happens.

 

Hamilton is a fairly legit market. Toronto is only like 50 miles away, and they can certainly support another franchise, especially one that might only take a bit of the southern fanbase away. Other towns within a 2 hour drive.

 

Brantford (Gretzky birthplace): 90,000 (23 mi)

Kitchener: 200,000 - Metro 400,000 (41 mi)

London: 350,000 - Metro 450,000 (78 mi...basically Chicago to Milwaukee)

 

And then when Buffalo continues to dwindle in size in 50 years and lose their team, thats another 1.1 million within 70 miles of you.

 

So without even including Toronto and Buffalo, that's still ~1.5 million people within a 90 minute drive of Hamilton, with 1.1 being within an hour.

 

That would give them a larger market than Nashville, Buffalo, Carolina, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and the Winnipeg team. And that's without including the ~7 million people within 90 minutes of Hamilton in Toronto and Buffalo.

 

Edit: And I realize this is extremely fuzzy math I'm using because I used the official metro numbers to determine all the smaller markets in the NHL, while the actual metro size of Hamilton is only 450k. But none of those markets listed have multiple populated metros within 90 miles of them that are hockey crazed and willing to make the drive to Hamilton.

 

Those numbers are legit. I think the most important thing for the viability of hockey in Canada is the value of their dollar, which obviously fluctuates. If you get a perfect storm of any negative condition, such as a crappy arena, a bad team for several years or a bad owner, and couple that with a weak (or strong, I don't recall which is bad for them -- I nearly failed econ 100) dollar, and the team is in trouble in a hurry.

 

Of course things like that don't matter to Balsillie, who I think qualifies as filthy rich.

[kujay]

Not going with a veteran backup in goal again next year, apparently:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=6570139

 

Know nothing about this guy.

[UMFan83]

Wow, the cap went up to $64 mil today. That's better than I expected. This plus getting the incentive bonuses back is going to give us room to operate this offseason.

 

Anyone want to do a full breakdown of the Hawks cap situation like last offseason?

[TruffleShuffle]

that's good news for the flyers; they should be able to sign bryzgalov pretty easily now (traded for his signing rights). he's not an elite goalie but he sure as hell is better than the three-headed monster we were using in the playoffs.

[Flames24Rulz]

that's good news for the flyers; they should be able to sign bryzgalov pretty easily now (traded for his signing rights). he's not an elite goalie but he sure as hell is better than the three-headed monster we were using in the playoffs.

 

He's a gigantic improvement over the crap you've had there the last few years. The Flyers are going to be scary good now that they're actually going to have a goalie.

 

Great news for the Hawks too. We should be able to patch up the 3rd and 4th forward lines pretty easily now, with some good players to boot. Very happy about that.

[kujay]

Anyone want to do a full breakdown of the Hawks cap situation like last offseason?

 

I'm not smart enough to do all that, but here's a start:

 

http://www.thehockeygm.com/chi.html

 

From what I've read about this free agent market, it probably doesn't make sense to try to trade Sharp at this point to free up cash to make a big splash. Even though now they might actually have enough cash to do it.

 

Please let Stalberg go. His effort is too inconsistent. Keep Brouwer and Frolik, and (I guess -- I've not quite forgiven him yet) Campoli too.

 

Then they need 3-4 more forwards and may have as much as $1M to spend on each. Gotta figure Smith is one of them, and he won't cost that much. I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager. They need an energy/bruiser guy who can actually skate. Scott doesn't qualify, and I don't think Beach is that guy either.

 

The defense looks stout, especially with a re-focused (hopefully) 2 and 7. I still wish Campbell wasn't the highest paid player on the team. If he was making what he should, which I would peg around $4M, this team would be golden right now.

[UMFan83]

So according to that, they have 13.7M to spend on 8 players (including RFAs) correct? Much better than last year when we had like 4 million to spend on 12 guys or something.

 

~45 million on 9 players, and ~19 million on the other 13 players

[kujay]

So according to that, they have 13.7M to spend on 8 players (including RFAs) correct? Much better than last year when we had like 4 million to spend on 12 guys or something.

 

~45 million on 9 players, and ~19 million on the other 13 players

 

Right, if you are figuring for one extra forward and defenseman on the active roster, that would leave 8 spots. Definitely a better situation.

 

I was reading yesterday that St. Louis is going to have to shell out some serious cash just to make the new floor! We're not in such bad shape.

[kujay]

I'll bet Winnipeg goes with Noel:

 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/two-man-coach-race-noel-haviland-remain-124261029.html

 

If they were going to hire Haviland, makes sense they wouldn't have cut Torchetti loose since they know each other so well.

[NewUserName]

 

I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager.

 

they need another guy who should be in the AHL?

[TruffleShuffle]

 

I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager.

 

they need another guy who should be in the AHL?

 

ben eager has more than enough ability to play in the nhl.

[kujay]

 

I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager.

 

they need another guy who should be in the AHL?

 

ben eager has more than enough ability to play in the nhl.

 

Definitely. I'm not saying I want him back, but a guy like him whose motor never stops, will throw down if need be, and can score a little. Eager had 7 goals and 16 points last year and was a +9. Sure that was a +9 on a very good team, but still.

[NewUserName]

 

I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager.

 

they need another guy who should be in the AHL?

 

ben eager has more than enough ability to play in the nhl.

 

Definitely. I'm not saying I want him back, but a guy like him whose motor never stops, will throw down if need be, and can score a little. Eager had 7 goals and 16 points last year and was a +9. Sure that was a +9 on a very good team, but still.

 

managed to be a healthy scratch for a lot of the playoffs. Honestly he is good enough to be in the NHL, but often is out of position because he is skating around the ice trying to hit someone needlessly. To me he is basically a poor mans Raffi Torres. The worst thing about these types of players is the fans get turned on by the needless hits but often overlook the cost. I think the Hawks need an Andrew Ladd or John Madden type way more then a Ben Eager type. Not only can guys like that score some, they can play on the PK. If I was a Hawks fan I would be frustrated with how much time Toews and Hossa need to play on the PK. Get me some 3/4th liners who could do that would be much more valuable then the "motor that never stops"

[kujay]

 

I know I've said it before, but what they really need is a Ben Eager.

 

they need another guy who should be in the AHL?

 

ben eager has more than enough ability to play in the nhl.

 

Definitely. I'm not saying I want him back, but a guy like him whose motor never stops, will throw down if need be, and can score a little. Eager had 7 goals and 16 points last year and was a +9. Sure that was a +9 on a very good team, but still.

 

managed to be a healthy scratch for a lot of the playoffs. Honestly he is good enough to be in the NHL, but often is out of position because he is skating around the ice trying to hit someone needlessly. To me he is basically a poor mans Raffi Torres. The worst thing about these types of players is the fans get turned on by the needless hits but often overlook the cost. I think the Hawks need an Andrew Ladd or John Madden type way more then a Ben Eager type. Not only can guys like that score some, they can play on the PK. If I was a Hawks fan I would be frustrated with how much time Toews and Hossa need to play on the PK. Get me some 3/4th liners who could do that would be much more valuable then the "motor that never stops"

 

I don't know what SJ's matchups were and why he was a scratch, but he was a valuable player in the playoffs for the Hawks last year. Obviously cost is an issue -- these are the kinds of guys you want to raise in your system and get cheap.

 

And of course I would rather have Ladd or Madden back than Eager.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Toronto Sun reports: Chicago Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland has been told he did not get the Winnipeg head-coaching job, which is expected to go to Claude Noel.

 

Haviland was a finalist after interviewing for the post with the newly relocated NHL franchise.

[kujay]

The Toronto Sun reports: Chicago Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland has been told he did not get the Winnipeg head-coaching job, which is expected to go to Claude Noel.

 

Haviland was a finalist after interviewing for the post with the newly relocated NHL franchise.

 

Our gain. Or maintain.

 

Anyway, 2011-12 schedule released. Just 3 1/2 months to hockey again.

 

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm

 

Winnipeg visits Chicago but we don't go there.

 

Typical front-loaded schedule with home games, Thanksgiving west coast swing and long coast-to-coast road trip in early February.

 

Saturday, December 3 is the obligatory Saturday night Blues-Hawks game at Scottrade.

[Captain Serious]

Jeff Carter traded to Blue Jackets

 

Mike Richards traded to Kings

[UMFan83]

I put together the 16 games of interest from the schedule this year, which is basically the Canucks and Wings games along with a few others.

 

10/7 - CHI @ DAL - Season Opener, and a thank you to the Stars for choking away their playoff spot to us.

10/8 - DAL @ CHI - Home Opener, and now the Hawks fans can congratulate them as well

10/13 - WIN @ CHI - Only apperance of the Winnipeg Je...Thras....whatever they are this season.

10/15 - BOS @ CHI - Last 2 years Stanley Cup champs facing off

11/6 - VAN @ CHI - 4 Stanley Cup championships combined for these two franchises

11/16 - CHI @ VAN - Chris Campoli gets a hero's welcome upon his return to Vancouver

12/30 - DET @ CHI - First Hawks-Wings game isn't until Dec 30th?

1/5 - CHI @ PHI - Guess the SCF matchup from 2 years ago still has intregue

1/8 - DET @ CHI - Hope to be battling for 1st place in the Central right about now

1/14 - CHI @ DET - First visit to the [expletive] hole this season

1/31 - CHI @ VAN - LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

2/21 - DET @ CHI - Another Hawks/Wings game...no home/home to end the year this year

3/4 - CHI @ DET - And another one

3/18 - WAS @ CHI - Sunday afternoon game, the paper champs vs. the 10 Champs, good stuff

3/21 - VAN @ CHI - One last tune up before our 4th straight playoff matchup hopefully

4/7 - CHI @ DET - Season finale

[kujay]

11/6 - VAN @ CHI - 4 Stanley Cup championships combined for these two franchises

 

=D>

[jersey cubs fan]

12/20 - CHI @ PIT - A couple years ago these two teams seemed poised for some potential Finals matchups. If Crosby isn't dead, this is pretty big.

[Prizefight]

StanBo said he's confident we can resign Sharp this off season.

 

 

Insert how sexy he is joke here

[Flames24Rulz]

We were apparently very close to trading Campbell to an unidentified team (Columbus is being speculated), but he waived his no-trade clause to block the deal.

 

That sucks. I understand that he was probably our best defenseman last season, but that contract is an albatross. We wouldn't have had to worry about the cap at all if we were able to dump that contract.

 

btw, the Draft is on Versus right now.

[apete6]

We were apparently very close to trading Campbell to an unidentified team (Columbus is being speculated), but he waived his no-trade clause to block the deal.

 

That sucks. I understand that he was probably our best defenseman last season, but that contract is an albatross. We wouldn't have had to worry about the cap at all if we were able to dump that contract.

 

btw, the Draft is on Versus right now.

 

I'm pretty sure he did the exact opposite of waiving his no trade clause.

[sneakypower]

he waved it