Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Offseason Thread

[UMFan83]

Figured it was time to start this up....last couple of posts from the playoff thread to start off with:

 

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.

 

 

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.

[kujay]

Yeah, I guess it's time. Probably want to make it the /NHL Offseason thread. I can put up with a little Flyers and Kings talk. And even NUN talking Wangs.

 

I doubt we'll see any of the "core" moved, though I agree Sharp would be the most likely to go.

 

Get a center, depth D and some size at wing. Need someone who isn't afraid to get in front of the net and take the abuse.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I guess it's time. Probably want to make it the /NHL Offseason thread.

 

screw that

[biittner77]

Yeah, I guess it's time. Probably want to make it the /NHL Offseason thread.

 

screw that

 

It will be interetsing to see what the avs do though since about half their team are FAs.

 

Saw on Yahoo that Brunette doesn't know what he's going to do next year but he won't be playing for the 'Hawks. I guess that makes it unanimous. I guess we'll be saying the sames things about Mayers next. No reason to have him and Carcillo and Shaw except that neither Shaw or Carcillo can play C.

[UMFan83]

Really? I liked Mayers. I think there's a spot on the team even with Carcillo back and Shaw part of the mix. Doesn't mean he'll dress every night but I think he could be useful.

[biittner77]

Really? I liked Mayers. I think there's a spot on the team even with Carcillo back and Shaw part of the mix. Doesn't mean he'll dress every night but I think he could be useful.

 

A 4th line of Shaw, Mayers and Carcillo would have the potential to drive other teams nuts. But if they had Kruger instead of Mayers they'd have a better chance of putting up some points. Then Bollig becomes the press box denizen/ worthless thug minutes guy.

[Soul]

I could've used a bit of a break before talking Blackhawks again. But you go for it, if you want to.

[Guest]

I don't like hockey but I love Kaner.

 

http://www.terezowens.com/patrick-kane-passed-out-drunk-in-madtown-for-cinco-de-mayo/

 

http://www.terezowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kaner-3.png

http://www.terezowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kaner2.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/joel-quenneville-become-next-montreal-canadiens-head-coach-164804276.html#more-32544

 

Apparently there is real talk of Q leaving and Montreal stepping in to hire him.

 

I don't really blame Q for the struggles. But hockey tenures are not long, and Q is already about a top 5 guy in that department and it could be time to move on. I feel like too many guys have gotten too comfortable with their standings dating back to the cup win.

[Theo]

Dunno about the one on the right...

http://www.terezowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kaner-4.jpg

 

http://www.hotflick.net/flicks/2010_Grown_Ups/010GUS_Ashley_Loren_001.jpg

 

oh yeah that's where!

[kujay]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/joel-quenneville-become-next-montreal-canadiens-head-coach-164804276.html#more-32544

 

Apparently there is real talk of Q leaving and Montreal stepping in to hire him.

 

I don't really blame Q for the struggles. But hockey tenures are not long, and Q is already about a top 5 guy in that department and it could be time to move on. I feel like too many guys have gotten too comfortable with their standings dating back to the cup win.

 

I saw a tweet this morning from one of the beat writers, pointing out that Q is "fluent enough" in French. Thought it was odd.

 

I'm indifferent about him moving on at this point.

[Theo]

oh, and letting Quenneville walk would be beyond stupid. We have a General Manager problem, not a coaching problem.

[kujay]

And yeah that girl on the right is nasty.

[kujay]

oh, and letting Quenneville walk would be beyond stupid. We have a General Manager problem, not a coaching problem.

 

I agree with that to some extent. And I know it's hard to judge hockey coaches -- so many intangibles are involved. But when the team is so up and down, you have to wonder if he is still able to reach them.

 

Which is to say, we don't have a coaching problem, but I won't say that letting Q go necessarily creates one. Of course depends on who replaces him.

[hawkeyecub]

oh, and letting Quenneville walk would be beyond stupid. We have a General Manager problem, not a coaching problem.

 

There was a coaching problem on the staff with the PP/PK units.

[Flames24Rulz]

oh, and letting Quenneville walk would be beyond stupid. We have a General Manager problem, not a coaching problem.

 

There was a coaching problem on the staff with the PP/PK units.

 

Yep. I'm not going to shed a tear if Quenneville leaves for Montreal. I've always thought that the shortcomings on the special teams units were Quenneville's fault as opposed to Kitchen's. After all, he is the head coach.

 

That said, Bowman's more of an issue than Q is.

[rawaction]

And yeah that girl on the right is nasty.

 

Yet the one on the far left is so wonderful.

[biittner77]

oh, and letting Quenneville walk would be beyond stupid. We have a General Manager problem, not a coaching problem.

 

There was a coaching problem on the staff with the PP/PK units.

 

Yep. I'm not going to shed a tear if Quenneville leaves for Montreal. I've always thought that the shortcomings on the special teams units were Quenneville's fault as opposed to Kitchen's. After all, he is the head coach.

 

That said, Bowman's more of an issue than Q is.

 

I think you're half right. Too small a sample to really judge Bowman. This year he signed a bunch of old guys to 1 year deals to give the kids more time to develop. Mayers was good. Father time and Brunette were not. Oduya was a good trade until the playoffs where he didn't look so great. Saad looks like a good draft pick and I suppose he got lucky on Shaw. That's a mixed bag

 

Q actually played John Scott in the playoffs on a power play! This season he also refused to put Montador on the PP or the penalty kill. The random line generator is very dusty esque. He rides the core into the ground while guys like Bickell languish in the press box.

[RynoRules]

I'm fine with Q leaving if that's what he wants. His approach to the PP and PK are a mystery to me, as was his refusal to utilize Montador after the first 1/3 of the season.

 

To me this could be a big offseason for Bowman. Obviously the supporting cast needs a good deal of work - second line center, third pairing, probably the wings on the third line. That's a lot to look at for one offseason.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think you're half right. Too small a sample to really judge Bowman. This year he signed a bunch of old guys to 1 year deals to give the kids more time to develop. Mayers was good. Father time and Brunette were not. Oduya was a good trade until the playoffs where he didn't look so great. Saad looks like a good draft pick and I suppose he got lucky on Shaw. That's a mixed bag

 

Q actually played John Scott in the playoffs on a power play! This season he also refused to put Montador on the PP or the penalty kill. The random line generator is very dusty esque. He rides the core into the ground while guys like Bickell languish in the press box.

 

What small sample? The guy has been here a long time and acquired zero impact players. Everybody good was acquired before he took over. The rest is just a bunch of guys.

 

I have not been the least bit impressed with Bowman and do not understand why so many people were high on him after the past two offseasons. Also, while Oduya may have played all right late in the regular season, the trade itself was by no means good. He gave up way too much for such a mediocre player with no future.

[Captain Serious]

Hawks fire Mike Haviland

[kujay]

I'm not gonna pretend to know exactly what Haviland does, but I'm surprised it's not Kitchen who is gone. Haviland will have another gig in a snap.

[kujay]

Alrighty, Q says he's staying.

[seanimal]

while i agree that bowman hasn't done much in regards to impact acquisitions, it's a little difficult to assess the true impact of his moves when, for example, one of those happens to be someone you felt slotted in real good as the checking line center and is starting the season at forward. i think it's kind of startling how little Q is held accountable by blackhawks fans.

[17 Seconds]

while i agree that bowman hasn't done much in regards to impact acquisitions, it's a little difficult to assess the true impact of his moves when, for example, one of those happens to be someone you felt slotted in real good as the checking line center and is starting the season at forward. i think it's kind of startling how little Q is held accountable by blackhawks fans.

 

i kind of agree. i questioned whether or not they should make a move when they had that horrible losing streak (not because i thought it was his fault, but because i thought the team needed a shakeup), but i still am not sure i'd be cool with them firing him. we were still a really good team this year.

 

i still maintain that having a good goalie would have completely changed how this team looked. during the cup year, the team played way different when huet was in compared to niemi. it seemed like it really got in their heads and they weren't flying around the ice as much. i know this is a much different team than that and there isn't any tangible proof of it, but i got the same feeling when i watched the team this year.