Hawks Hockey Hoiden

“Cakes” from Rockford, Illinois writes,

Hey there, love following your stuff!

What are your thoughts on how the Hawks are gonna keep Hjalmarsson around after this year?  He is my fav player, just got his name/# on my jersey this fall.  I live in Rockford and got to watch him mature as an Icehog :)  But at the end of this year he is a restricted free agent I believe, and right now is only making $600,000/yr.  That ain’t gonna cut it for someone who Stan Bowman calls one of the top 4 defensemen in the league.  How we gonna keep him?  And where would you say he ranks in the opinion of the front office compared to the other restricted (or non) free agents on the team at the end of this season?  I would say he needs to be their #1 priority, ahead of Ladd, Eager, Fraser, Skille, Niemi, etc.

Cant wait to hear your thoughts! Thanks! (more…)

Tensions ran high tonight in the Hawks’ 7-2 win over the Sharks.  Coach Quenneville was barking early at a missed boarding call wherein Tomas Kopecky was hit from behind and his helmet went flying; Brian Campbell got booed as he always does at the HP Pavillion (and I always try so hard not to laugh at that and am never successful); the penalty-kill unit had an awesome night, even for them; and of course Marian Hossa made his debut with the Blackhawks.  Boy did he ever.  (more…)

Last night’s 7-1 win over the Flames was breathtaking.  For the first time this season, it felt like the magic of last season had returned.  I can’t decide if that was because the Hawks have finally gelled with each other, or if the Flames just fell down, psyched out by the remembrance of the playoffs last season.  I want to believe it is the former, not the latter.  (more…)

Playing teams in the Pacific Division is always seemingly tricky for the Hawks.  Playing teams as good as the Sharks, you can’t be undisciplined and commit stupid penalties like John Madden’s holding call in the opening minute of the game. (Madden would make up for it in the dwindling minutes of the 2nd though with a goal on a nearly wide-open net.)  The Hawks committed almost twice as many penalties as the Sharks.  Still, the Hawks squeaked out another win, 4-3, seconds into the overtime period on a brilliant goal by Brent Seabrook who was set up but proper by Jonathan Toews.  (more…)

Karma (or whatever you want to call it) can be a tricky thing.  Look at the Curse of the Bambino.  It would be 86 years (1918-2004) until the Red Sox won another World Series, supposedly thanks to the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees.  Similarly, look at the Curse of the Billygoat.  The Cubs haven’t been to the World Series since 1945 allegedly thanks to Billy Sianis’ smelly goat (and it ain’t lookin’ like they’ll be returning any time soon).  Could it be that the misfortune-plagued Blackhawks have also cursed themselves for the goings on in the off season?  (more…)

While Adam Burish’s sneaky wrap-around goal (unassisted) in the first period of the Hawks/Red Wings Western Conference Finals game one match-up today was a sight to behold, the Hawks bumbling cost them.  Brent Seabrook whiffed an easy pass off a face-off for a Dan Cleary steal and Duncan Keith did not block Cleary’s ensuing breakaway which led to the Red Wings’ first 1st period goal.  (more…)

In the last couple of games, we’ve heard the worst sound in the world: the “clink, clink, clink” off the iron as the Hawks have made some bad shots.  It’s to be expected because the Flames are just that good on ‘D,’ harassing the puck away or harassing the Hawks while taking shots.   But you know, that’s what you do in the playoffs.  You up the ante.  Unfortunately, the Hawks didn’t answer tonight in their 2-4 loss to the Flames. (more…)

Well, I still think there is more greatness to come yet from the Blackhawks, even in the final few regular-season games, but regardless, Comcast has compiled quite a nice list of the best plays of 08-09. Check them out here and cast your vote.

Tazer’s first hat trick of his NHL career was my vote, but I so badly also wanted to vote for Seabrook’s hard check of Red Wings’ Dan Cleary into the Hawks’ bench on January 1st at Wrigley. All you saw were feet flying through the air in a comical fashion. It was cartoony even. Since the Hawks didn’t win the game, that will have to be what sticks with me from the Winter Classic. Ahhh, warm memories…

And while we’re reminiscing, remember last December in Vancouver when Matt Walker took a hard check on the boards from Canuck Steve Bernier and the glass literally popped out? Matty had to stand there for the longest time holding that pane away from Canucks fans. While not a great play to make Comcast’s list, it made me laugh and so I’ll always remember it with a smile.

This was one for the books! After Dustin Byfuglien delivers a cheap shot to Canucks’ goal tender Roberto Luongo, the Hawks and Canucks go at it. Ben Eager takes out Kevin Bieksa — rips his sweater and undershirt to shreds — and Duncan Keith scraps with Alex Burrows. Notice how Burrows takes Dunc down by pulling his hair…TWICE! Not sure what Adam Burish’s involvement was, but he was also thrown out of the game. Brent Seabrook was also involved and Jonathan Toews trash talked a bit too. The penalty box was full to capacity, but I don’t think anyone felt any shame whatsoever!

Ugh, what was with the officiating in tonight’s 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets, particularly the tripping call against Brent Seabrook in the 3rd period? Since when is a collision tripping? All the calls seemed to be wrong, or off. For instance, why was a high-sticking call only made against Andrew Ladd when his opponent also high-sticked and drew blood?? That should have been a major penalty in addition to a high-sticking call. And it was like that all night leading myself and others to wonder just how much these refs got paid, or paid off, to tip the game in the Blue Jackets’ favor. (more…)