Chicago Blackhawks 2011 Offseason

[SouthSideRyan]

even though Hjlamarsson was shaky this season, i still like him better than Campbell... even without considering contracts

 

I don't agree with this at all.

[17 Seconds]

Let me rephrase that: I think Hjalmarsson is a better bet than Campbell going forward.

 

NH was a completely different player last year than he was the season before. I think/hope he's more 2009-2010 Hjalmarsson than 2010-2011. He was just too good in 09-10 (at such a young age) for me to believe he's as bad as he was last year. I think he's more capable of being the rock on the second line than Campbell. I feel like Campbell would need somebody better than Leddy with him to play good enough defense.

 

Also, Campbell is 8 years younger than Hjalmarsson. Don't forget, Niklas just turned 24. he's on the rise, and Campbell figures to be on the decline soon.

 

I just think Hjalmarsson can/will provide more to the team than Campbell will. Campbell doesn't play on the first PP line, doesn't play on the PK, and his offensive numbers aren't as good as you'd expect from the type of D-man he is. He's a fantastic puck mover, but that's about all he brings to the table really.

[17 Seconds]

how would you guys feel about bringing madden back for one year?

 

i wish we could get burish back

[Wilson A2000]

Is Huet still owed money?

 

I think one more year at $5.6M. God Tallon is/was an idiot.

 

Will they be able to rent him out again like they did last year and save on the cap hit?

[NewUserName]

Is Huet still owed money?

 

I think one more year at $5.6M. God Tallon is/was an idiot.

 

Will they be able to rent him out again like they did last year and save on the cap hit?

 

yes

 

and I think both Huet and Campbells contracts had more to do with a certain ex Cub PR man then they did Tallon, or at least that is what is widely speculated among a lot of hockey fans. Tallon trading for the Campbell contract has to make one wonder.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is Huet still owed money?

 

I think one more year at $5.6M. God Tallon is/was an idiot.

 

Will they be able to rent him out again like they did last year and save on the cap hit?

 

yes

 

and I think both Huet and Campbells contracts had more to do with a certain ex Cub PR man then they did Tallon, or at least that is what is widely speculated among a lot of hockey fans. Tallon trading for the Campbell contract has to make one wonder.

 

I think that is a convenient excuse. Tallon was most likely under orders to spend money on something that could draw excitement. McDonough was probably very happy with the Campbell signing when it happened, and to be honest I think they needed it. They were still in desperate need of scoring when they got him, and none of their current stars had truly emerged as stars yet. It just so happens that Campbell was leapfrogged by a half dozen guys shortly after he arrived, making him less important. Huet was never anybody that was going to sell tickets or drum up interest. That was a hockey decision based on the fallacy that you need a big money franchise goalie in order to succeed.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Kopecky traded to Florida for seventh round pick in either 2012 or 2013

[UMFan83]

Someone tell Bowman we don't really have to trade all these players away now. Not that Kopetzky is an untouchable by any means but still.

 

I am really interested to see what they do this offseason now. On the surface it looks like they are gutting the rest of the role players from the Cup team and building around the "core" but is this a quick plan or one developped over 2-3 years? I'm not interested in wasting any years of Kane/Toews core to "rebuild"

[UMFan83]

Remaining Blackhawks from the team that won the championship 12.5 months ago:

 

(names on the Cup only)

 

Toews

Bolland

Hendry

Hjalmarsson

Hossa

Kane

Keith

Seabrook

Sharp

 

That's 9 players left from our Cup winning team just over a year ago. And I'm assuming Hendry will be gone too, so we are looking at 8 essentially. That cup team has essentially been stripped to its "core", and now Bowman is trying to build another championship team from those guys. Sure hope it works.

[Flames24Rulz]

Someone tell Bowman we don't really have to trade all these players away now. Not that Kopetzky is an untouchable by any means but still.

 

I am really interested to see what they do this offseason now. On the surface it looks like they are gutting the rest of the role players from the Cup team and building around the "core" but is this a quick plan or one developped over 2-3 years? I'm not interested in wasting any years of Kane/Toews core to "rebuild"

 

Kopecky was an UFA anyway. I would've liked to see him back in a reduced role, but obviously he wasn't in the plans.

 

And as for your last post, I'm betting that we'll be seeing either Sopel or Madden (maybe even both) return next year. Wiz could be a possibility as well.

[Flames24Rulz]

Campoli, Frolik and Stalberg all received qualifying offers. Dowell did not, meaning he's gone.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Someone tell Bowman we don't really have to trade all these players away now. Not that Kopetzky is an untouchable by any means but still.

 

I am really interested to see what they do this offseason now. On the surface it looks like they are gutting the rest of the role players from the Cup team and building around the "core" but is this a quick plan or one developped over 2-3 years? I'm not interested in wasting any years of Kane/Toews core to "rebuild"

 

Yeah as Flames said, it was Kopecky's negotiating rights. Obviously they weren't going to keep him, so I'm glad they got something out of him.

[UMFan83]

Someone tell Bowman we don't really have to trade all these players away now. Not that Kopetzky is an untouchable by any means but still.

 

I am really interested to see what they do this offseason now. On the surface it looks like they are gutting the rest of the role players from the Cup team and building around the "core" but is this a quick plan or one developped over 2-3 years? I'm not interested in wasting any years of Kane/Toews core to "rebuild"

 

Kopecky was an UFA anyway. I would've liked to see him back in a reduced role, but obviously he wasn't in the plans.

 

And as for your last post, I'm betting that we'll be seeing either Sopel or Madden (maybe even both) return next year. Wiz could be a possibility as well.

 

I wouldnt mind any combo of those 3. I had such a love/hate relationship with him but I'd welcome him back with open arms. Getting Wiz back would make me so happy.

[kujay]

I'm fine with Kopecky going. If they weren't going to sign him, at least they got a pick for his rights. He's a frustrating guy. Too inconsistent with his effort level.

 

Have to keep Campoli at this point. Stalberg, whatever. Speaking of inconsistent...

[NewUserName]

I'm fine with Kopecky going. If they weren't going to sign him, at least they got a pick for his rights. He's a frustrating guy. Too inconsistent with his effort level.

 

Have to keep Campoli at this point. Stalberg, whatever. Speaking of inconsistent...

 

I think what really is frustrating about Kopecky is how coaches have used him(Babcock and Q both). For some reason he will show flashes of offensive potential so they both tried to move him up to the 2nd/3rd lines, where he does not belong. If he would just be played on the 4th line he would be a positive player.

[UMFan83]

Here are some names they have been speculating the Hawks going after on CSN

 

Brad Richards

Brooks Laich

Daniel Carcillo

Brent Sopel

Shane O'Brien

James Wizniewski

[Prizefight]

Richards is going to get a mega deal from some team that'll pay him well into his 40's. Not going to happen. Unless he's willing to come here for like a 4.5? or so cap hit, which is considerably less than his last contract which paid him 7.5 cap hit. He's not going to get that again, but I'm betting some team will pay him around 6

 

 

I loved Brouwer. Admittedly more than his production, at least this past season, warranted. Very sad to see him go. I've stated multiple times that I believe he's more of a victim of Q's line juggling more than anything. I really don't like how our forwards continue to get smaller and smaller. StanBo needs to address this.

 

 

As far as Campbell, Nick Leddy isn't ready for 2nd pairing minutes. Obviously guys in Rockford are less prepared. Puck moving' defense men are what we have an abundance of in our system, but I have serious doubts about their readiness to contribute for 20 minutes a night. Maybe he couldn't resist the opportunity to get rid of that contract or get rid of one of Tallon's mistakes.

 

The phone call Stan's hearing? Campoli's agent letting him know that his price just doubled.

 

 

Not impressed with Stan in least at this point, but going to wait at see how he attacks free agency before I'll bust out the pitch fork

Edited June 28, 2011 by Prizefight

[Prizefight]

Here are some names they have been speculating the Hawks going after on CSN

 

Brad Richards - Would love him

Brooks Laich - Ditto

Daniel Carcillo - God no

Brent Sopel- Meh, I love the guy, but he'd have to come very cheap and be 6th/7th d

Shane O'Brien - I guess

James Wizniewski -Yes

[jersey cubs fan]

Here are some names they have been speculating the Hawks going after on CSN

 

Brad Richards

Brooks Laich

Daniel Carcillo

Brent Sopel

Shane O'Brien

James Wizniewski

 

That was such a ridiculous list. The woman from CSN chicago was on CTL last night and that was supposedly her list of best available players the Hawks might be after. In reality it was just a couple big names and a couple random former Hawks. Wizniewski would be interesting just for the Seabrook connection.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not impressed with Stan in least at this point, but going to wait at see how he attacks free agency before I'll bust out the pitch fork

 

It's nowhere near pitchfork time with Bowman.

[Exile on Waveland]

Richards is going to get a gigantic deal and I hope the Hawks pass (while it would be a player-for-player improvement, what would really be the point of moving one monster contract for an even longer, bigger one?). I'd prefer someone like Laich. The Campbell trade, for the time being, makes them worse on the ice but allows them to build depth/improve multiple positions. Will be interesting to see who they target.

[biittner77]

Here are some names they have been speculating the Hawks going after on CSN

 

Brad Richards - Would love him

Brooks Laich - Ditto

Daniel Carcillo - God no

Brent Sopel- Meh, I love the guy, but he'd have to come very cheap and be 6th/7th d

Shane O'Brien - I guess

James Wizniewski -Yes

 

I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder. That's the only reason I can think of that anyone could love traffic cone Sopel. Oh, unless the alternative is Scott.

[Prizefight]

I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder. That's the only reason I can think of that anyone could love traffic cone Sopel. Oh, unless the alternative is Scott.

 

Was speaking more personally than his on ice abilities. We could do worse than Sopel as the 6th/7th d man as long as we are paying him as such.

[UMFan83]

Not impressed with Stan in least at this point, but going to wait at see how he attacks free agency before I'll bust out the pitch fork

 

It's nowhere near pitchfork time with Bowman.

 

Not at all. In a way these moves are very bold though. I'm not saying trading Brouwer and Kopetzky and our 3rd defenceman who makes $7.5m are particularly dangerous moves, but dismantling just about every role player within 12 months of winning the Cup is rather bold. I feel like many GM's try to hold onto a lot of those types of role players from championship teams for a couple of years because they have proven they can win titles with them. Obviously the Hawks situation is a bit different because they had their backs to the wall and had to dismantle a lot of the team before they stepped on the ice again. But what Bowman's doing in dismantling all but the core of his team and quickly finding role players to surround them is interesting. It will be interesting to see how he fills all the holes in the roster come July 1.

[rawaction]

Laich re-signed with Washington and got paid a lot of money.