A Much Improved ‘D’ but Still Problems in Net
Wow, I just can’t say enough about how improved the Hawks’ defense is this year. So far I’ve seen backchecking (actual backchecking!), guys laying down to block shots and impede opponents’ lanes, and screening in front of the opposing net minder’s crease. Finally I can say that the Hawks have a working offense and defense.
In addition to all the great things on ‘D’, how about newbies Jack Skille and Niklas Hjalmarsson? Despite an accidental screen and a goal off his skate, Hjalmarsson has otherwise been indispensable in front of the net. (And did you see that wicked awesome goal off Hjalmy’s slapshot in the 3rd period of tonight’s Hawks/Stars game?) Skille too scored his first goal the other night and how sweet it was. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy and so I’m ecstatic to see Skille keep being called up. Hopefully next season he won’t have to pack his suitcase twice as much as everybody else.
Also, congrats to Jonathan Toews on his first goal of the season scored in tonight’s 4-3 loss to the Stars. Much like last year, Tazer would have scored sooner but he was too busy taking care of everybody else.
And, last and certainly least, I can’t believe I have to spend blog space yet again this season talking about the goaltender situation. They talk about Baby Huey missing “soft goals” but it’s more like he misses pee-wee hockey goals (and do I have to even mention that “bad bounce” he missed off the boards tonight in the 3rd that went in for a goal?). Of late, he’s either on the other side of the net when the puck comes, he doesn’t see the puck coming at all, or he’s completely out of the net and late getting back. They say he’s not good on glove-side. Well he’s also not good on his stick side or up high (and sometimes not on 5-hole either). So, if you were the opposing team, where would you shoot on Huet? Your options would be numerous.
I think most fans were surprised that Huet remained after last season since Huet was repeatedly outshined by Khabibulin, the distant runner-up to the netminder job. That alone should have been a wake-up call to the Hawks’ management. Huet’s goaltending with the Hawks has always been hit-or-miss, but this season he’s just missing easy pucks left and right. It’s also a cautionary tale about signing guys for contracts that extend way too long. (Ahem, Hossa.) As so many of my fellow puckheads in the hockyverse have been saying of late, the Hawks can get to the playoffs and they can win the cup, just not with Huet in net. And no, Antti Niemi probably won’t get the Hawks there either, so right about now somebody should be shopping for a new goalie.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
GET Huet out of there. If a goalie can’t play back to back games he has now business being in net. With all the money they are paying this guy you would think he would be better.