Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Playoffs

[Careless]

remember a couple months ago when someone asked if we should trade kane for a good goalie? let's revisit that,

 

and boy did we miss brian campbell this season

 

Yes, because monumentally terrible ideas should never be forgotten. Trading Kane for a goalie is right up there with Custer saying "Let's leave the gatling guns back at the fort, I doubt we'll see an Indians"

Shh don't say that where JC can hear it

[17 Seconds]

it would be really, really hard for me to get excited about next season if the starting goalie ends up being crawford.

 

that can't happen. we already punted one season because of him.

[kujay]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-spt-0425-blackhawks-coyotes-chicago--20120425,0,2389858.story

 

Steve Montador has a no-trade clause. WTF, Stan.

 

Not that I want to move him. If he's healthy he's fine as a 4th or 5th defenseman. But I can't believe he was able to get the NTC.

[biittner77]

I dunno, I remember that as late as March of the season the Hawks won the Cup people were railing on Bowman for not getting a goalie at the deadline. It was seen as the one major flaw the Hawks had. Niemi was a huge question mark, and ended up have a pretty good postseason.

 

His numbers that season (.914 SV%, 2.25 GAA) are pretty similar to Crawford's last season (.917 SV%, 2.30 GAA). Obviously Crawford was terrible this year for the most of the season, but I don't think the Hawks are ready to decide that this year's performance is more legit than last year's, especially because they just signed him to an extension last summer.

 

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that the Hawks won't address goaltending unless its brining in a backup with high upside or something. I feel that its pretty likely Crawford will be between the pipes to start next year.

 

You are probably right. Goalies are like late relievers, they often go from bad to awesome (Smith) or really good to terrible (Mason). People point out Howard from the Wings who became an all star after having a bad sophmore season. That being said, I doubt they'll have a lot of patience with Crawford once the season starts. I still don't get why they extended Emery though if that (staying with Crawford) is the plan.

[jersey cubs fan]

it would be really, really hard for me to get excited about next season if the starting goalie ends up being crawford.

 

that can't happen. we already punted one season because of him.

 

Did people just ignore the freaking rest of the team? It wasn't the goalie. This team suffered from a severe downgrade of productivity and effectiveness at every single position, with the exception of Hossa, and he missed the playoffs.

 

The obsession with goalie is not addressing the real issues.

 

Is Crawford a stanley cup goalie? If Niemi can be, so can he. Is Marc Andre Fleury a stanley cup goalie? He just got his ass handed to him. And that's happened a lot.

 

The Blackhawks didn't lose to Phoenix because of their goalie, they lost because they couldn't score goals. They lost because their best offensive player ended the playoffs with 4 GD points. They lost because they are completely incompetent on the PP. Goalies come and go. As soon as one plays well enough to get recognition and a contract he's no longer a standout.

 

The Blackhawks need to shake up their core, which is either incredibly overrated or is still living off the accolades of 2 years ago. If they can get somebody to trade for Sharp, I'd like that. If they can get Buffalo to overpay for their hometown boy Kane, fine by me.

 

If they can upgrade over Crawford, but don't do something stupid and acquire Luongo or some other reputation goalie with a big price tag. I'd rather go the gambling route on that position and go with cheap retreads or a kid out there. I'd be fine if they opened the season with Crawford, assuming they spend the offseason addressing the real needs. The rest of the entire team.

[biittner77]

it would be really, really hard for me to get excited about next season if the starting goalie ends up being crawford.

 

that can't happen. we already punted one season because of him.

 

Did people just ignore the freaking rest of the team? It wasn't the goalie. This team suffered from a severe downgrade of productivity and effectiveness at every single position, with the exception of Hossa, and he missed the playoffs.

 

The obsession with goalie is not addressing the real issues.

 

Is Crawford a stanley cup goalie? If Niemi can be, so can he. Is Marc Andre Fleury a stanley cup goalie? He just got his ass handed to him. And that's happened a lot.

 

The Blackhawks didn't lose to Phoenix because of their goalie, they lost because they couldn't score goals. They lost because their best offensive player ended the playoffs with 4 GD points. They lost because they are completely incompetent on the PP. Goalies come and go. As soon as one plays well enough to get recognition and a contract he's no longer a standout.

 

The Blackhawks need to shake up their core, which is either incredibly overrated or is still living off the accolades of 2 years ago. If they can get somebody to trade for Sharp, I'd like that. If they can get Buffalo to overpay for their hometown boy Kane, fine by me.

 

If they can upgrade over Crawford, but don't do something stupid and acquire Luongo or some other reputation goalie with a big price tag. I'd rather go the gambling route on that position and go with cheap retreads or a kid out there. I'd be fine if they opened the season with Crawford, assuming they spend the offseason addressing the real needs. The rest of the entire team.

 

The 'Hawks have the personnel to run a PP. Just last season their PP was top 10 if not higher (iirc they were 4th but not sure) That's a coaching issue and should be easy to fix.

 

I'm ok with trading Sharp though I'm not sure how that helps now. The "Hawks have good players in the pipeline (Saad, McNeil, Denault, Morin, Pirri) so if they could get a good defenseman or if they use Sharp's salary toward Suter then maybe.

 

Buffalo doesn't have anybody that's worth Kane.