Chicago Blackhawks 2012 Offseason Thread

[Prizefight]

parise rules, i think he kind of goes unnoticed because he plays in the devils system and doesnt put up numbers he's capable of.

 

Going to see plenty of him when he's skating in Detroit next year.

[jersey cubs fan]

i think the richards saga last year and the kovalchuk saga a year before could scare teams from FA. i remember the richards show sounding like a complete cluster****. all these teams flying out to NY to his agent's office to pitch him and stuff...just sounded so absurd to me. the kings put together a big video with all the famous LA icons telling Richards how great the fans are and the kind of company he could join if he brought a championship to LA. hilarious stuff. the kovalchuk stuff was pretty well documented, i think. it was even more ridiculous. i would be terrified of free agency if i was a GM in the NHL right now. it gets to be such a distraction where you say, "well we can't sign [player] because we're waiting to see what [other player] does." for instance, the kings ended up settling for alexei ponikarovsky instead of kovalchuk. oopsie.

 

Isn't that just how free agency works in every sport. Theo wooed Schilling over Thanksgiving. NFL owners and coaches fly their jets to their targets home base at midnight. THE DECISION.

[Drew Doughty]

i think the richards saga last year and the kovalchuk saga a year before could scare teams from FA. i remember the richards show sounding like a complete cluster****. all these teams flying out to NY to his agent's office to pitch him and stuff...just sounded so absurd to me. the kings put together a big video with all the famous LA icons telling Richards how great the fans are and the kind of company he could join if he brought a championship to LA. hilarious stuff. the kovalchuk stuff was pretty well documented, i think. it was even more ridiculous. i would be terrified of free agency if i was a GM in the NHL right now. it gets to be such a distraction where you say, "well we can't sign [player] because we're waiting to see what [other player] does." for instance, the kings ended up settling for alexei ponikarovsky instead of kovalchuk. oopsie.

 

Isn't that just how free agency works in every sport. Theo wooed Schilling over Thanksgiving. NFL owners and coaches fly their jets to their targets home base at midnight. THE DECISION.

 

probably, but i could see why any gm in any sport would be afraid of free agency/dealing with it. i don't know about the NFL, but NHL also moves so much faster in free agency than baseball. if you get caught up on a star on day one like richards and he doesn't sign early on, chances are you could miss out on all of your secondary targets. if you give up a 4th round pick (pretty meaningless) for the shot at signing a guy and find out you don't have a shot, at least you know by july 1st and you can just go for other targets.

[kujay]

parise rules, i think he kind of goes unnoticed because he plays in the devils system and doesnt put up numbers he's capable of.

 

Going to see plenty of him when he's skating in Detroit next year.

 

I love how every big FA is going to the Wings.

[NewUserName]

parise rules, i think he kind of goes unnoticed because he plays in the devils system and doesnt put up numbers he's capable of.

 

Going to see plenty of him when he's skating in Detroit next year.

 

I love how every big FA is going to the Wings.

 

I actually do not think the Wings are going to get Parise or Suter. Not sure why I feel this way but it is the feeling that I have.

[kujay]

Two years each for Bollig, Smith and Hutton. I'm good with all three. I guess only Bollig could be questionable at all. But I like him.

 

As for Smith, no brainer. Don't know much about Hutton, but if the goalie situation doesn't change between now and the start of the season, I'll bet we see a lot of him next season.

[Prizefight]

If any of them get significant minutes next year, things have gone ass up

[kujay]

If any of them get significant minutes next year, things have gone ass up

 

Except for Bollig, I suppose that's true. He will get his normal fourth line minutes.

 

Seems like a lot would need to happen for Smith and Hutton to play any meaningful role. Though with Crow being, well, not very good, and Emery being old, who knows. I can't believe the goalie situation. Reminds me of the neglect Philly showed to the position a few years ago. Not that I am in favor of overreacting like they did with the Bryz signing.

 

In other news, if you thought the Oduya contract was bad, STL just have Jackman basically the same deal.

[Prizefight]

I guess Bollig's ceiling is being a somewhat capable 4th line guy. At least he looks like he tries to play hockey on occasion when he's not getting all punchy.

 

The goalie situation is bad. Cut the one time goalie of the future in Salak. Hutton just a 1 year have fun in Rockford deal basically.

[kujay]

I guess Bollig's ceiling is being a somewhat capable 4th line guy. At least he looks like he tries to play hockey on occasion when he's not getting all punchy.

 

The goalie situation is bad. Cut the one time goalie of the future in Salak. Hutton just a 1 year have fun in Rockford deal basically.

 

Right, that's why I like Bollig. Like Eager, he can actually skate a little. Not a lot, but along with his fists he deserves a roster spot.

[jersey cubs fan]

NHL mock draft

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8071205/2012-nhl-draft-edmonton-oilers-go-ryan-murray-final-mock-draft

 

18. Chicago BlackhawksBrady Skjei, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)

Skjei's size and skating are so attractive that the Hawks will not be able to pass on him. Playing for the U.S. national developmental team -- based in Ann Arbor, Michigan -- puts him in the backyard of Chicago's head scout and you can bet he's gotten plenty of viewings. The more you watch Skjei, the more you realize what he has is natural.

[biittner77]

I guess Bollig's ceiling is being a somewhat capable 4th line guy. At least he looks like he tries to play hockey on occasion when he's not getting all punchy.

 

The goalie situation is bad. Cut the one time goalie of the future in Salak. Hutton just a 1 year have fun in Rockford deal basically.

 

Right, that's why I like Bollig. Like Eager, he can actually skate a little. Not a lot, but along with his fists he deserves a roster spot.

 

I guess I can live with Bollig spending most nights in the press box since they have shown that they want someone in that role . I just don't see him cracking the 4th line ahead of Carcillo or Shaw. It gets even harder for him if Kane actually sticks at center since that moves Kruger to the mix for the 4th line which in turn moves Mayers to wing.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyseason.htm?team=chi

 

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc

The #Blackhawks will have three six-game road trips this season.

 

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc

#Blackhawks scheduled to open regular season Oct. 13 vs. the Blue Jackets at the United Center.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

[kujay]

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

[Drew Doughty]

Chris Kuc ‏

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

 

I would be stunned if they don't resolve it, Don Fehr and all. Critically important for both sides to get it done. Can't have another labor dispute already.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chris Kuc ‏

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

 

I would be stunned if they don't resolve it, Don Fehr and all. Critically important for both sides to get it done. Can't have another labor dispute already.

I'm not listening to a rapist

[kujay]

Chris Kuc ‏

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

 

I would be stunned if they don't resolve it, Don Fehr and all. Critically important for both sides to get it done. Can't have another labor dispute already.

I'm not listening to a rapist

 

:lol:

 

Suddenly Kaner's antics don't look so bad...

[NewUserName]

Chris Kuc ‏

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

 

I would be stunned if they don't resolve it, Don Fehr and all. Critically important for both sides to get it done. Can't have another labor dispute already.

 

You would think this, but the NHL has never really had a lot of sense when it comes to running a league.

[bukie]

The other day a friend of mine postulated that the MLS commissioner was by far the best commissioner in sports right now, and I have a hard time refuting that.

[jersey cubs fan]

The other day a friend of mine postulated that the MLS commissioner was by far the best commissioner in sports right now, and I have a hard time refuting that.

 

People love to hate the ginger hammer but despite the negative headlines he's easily the leader in the clubhouse. And in fact, he's playing at a more elite country club while everybody else is hacking away at munis.

[UMFan83]

Wow, the Hawks finish with a home and home against the Blues. The last season the Hawks didn't finish against Detroit was 2006-2007.

[kujay]

Rumor is Bobby Lu may be traded in the next 24 hours. Love draft day...

[Drew Doughty]

Chris Kuc ‏

Take the release of the NHL's and #Blackhawks' regular-season schedule with a grain of salt. Labor strife looming.

 

Yeah this is a bummer. Trying to plan a trip to the 'Peg for a Saturday game early in the year. But I doubt those first few weeks will be played.

 

I would be stunned if they don't resolve it, Don Fehr and all. Critically important for both sides to get it done. Can't have another labor dispute already.

I'm not listening to a rapist

 

:lol:

 

Suddenly Kaner's antics don't look so bad...

 

Well, they still do. Doughty's allegedly done something according to one person that the police are finding 'serious credibility issues' with and Kaner was spotted by, what, 10+ people doing stupid stuff? And he kind of has that reputation? They're both bad, although obviously rape would be pretty much not comparable to whatever dumb drunk crap Kane was doing.

 

At the same time, I have little doubt that Doughty is basically a scumbag. Pretty sure him and Simmonds were our Richards and Carter before we actually had Richards and Carter. So I'll be changing my name soon (as much as I love Drew on the ice, I tend to lean toward 'where there's smoke there's fire').

 

And I still sincerely doubt the NHL will have another lockout SO SOON. We all remember the labor talks in baseball where it basically went down to the last day during the season and they FINALLY resolved it, right? I could see that happening here. Both sides know what's at stake. Even if it turns into a big stupid game of chicken, they have worked too hard to overcome the last work stoppage to have another one 7 years later.

[Soul]

More labor crap in another major sports league? Pathetic.