Hawks Hockey Hoiden

After Daniel Carcillo’s dirty hit on Tom Gilbert in Monday’s Blackhawks/Oilers game, it is no surprise that the NHL suspended Hawks’ Carcillo seven games without pay.  I think this time the NHL got it right.  That kind of long suspension is meant not only as a deterrent but as a warning: Keep delivering dirty hits, and you’ll be outta here.  For that, I must applaud the NHL.  We wouldn’t want that kind of hit on one of our guys, so why would it be acceptable for other teams’ players?  To nip dirty hits in the bud protects everyone.  It protects our guys from escalated retaliation à la a Todd Bertuzzi-type incident and it keeps outside interference from our sport (again pointing to a Bertuzzi-style criminal investigation or civil lawsuit).  So long as the NHL keeps their suspensions and fines consistent for first-time offenders and repeat-offenders regardless of who it is, I will continue to support their decisions, no matter whether it’s a member of the Blackhawks or not.  (more…)

To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to this year’s crop of Blackhawks new-comers.  Nobody likes change, at least not as much as there has been, and so it’s been hard these past two seasons to watch some stellar veterans go (although when I heard lackluster under-performer Brian Campbell had finally got the boot I almost threw a party).

However, in pre-season play it has been delightful to watch Brandon Pirri’s rising star.  This kid is amazing!  He almost had a hat trick in last night’s loss to the Penguins.  And while the guy in the Hawaiian shirt at the bar where I was watching the game disagreed with me, the call on Pirri for “interference” in the last minute or so of the game was in error.  Unless I missed something, it looked like Pirri was just following through with a check on the boards, though it was difficult, judging from the camera angle, to see where the puck had gone.  What wasn’t hard to miss was Pirri on the ground, on his back, getting his ears boxed by, it looked like Pens’ Zybnek Michalek.  Still, it looks like Pirri will go far.  Apparently opponents think so too or Pirri wouldn’t have become an early target.   So bang on Pirri.  You’ll get that hat trick yet!  (more…)

I’m back to address the awful decision handed down by the NHL to suspend Niklas Hjalmarsson two games for what was clearly NOT a dirty hit on Sabres’ Jason Pominville.  (In this case, kudos should also go to Jonathan Toews, who, as ever, was first to rush in and defend his boys.  Clearly he too did not think the ensuing mêlée was merited by Jelly’s hit.)

So, as they say, let’s go to the film.

Despite the commentators in the above YouTube video obviously stumping for a suspension and purposely not seeing what was right in front of them in a slow-mo, slow-frame replay, this was NOT a dirty hit from behind.  It was a side hit, and probably a hard one, but Hjalmarsson didn’t even throw an elbow, again, despite what commentators were saying (and the commentators are suspect in this case because they knew that, upon review, the NHL would hear their comments and be swayed by them).  (more…)

It sucks to lose to the Red Wings…in OT no less.  Still, many players put in a good game.  Dustin Byfuglien, who played 24 minutes in today’s game, just keeps getting better and better as a defenseman.  I really hope he stays on D.  Duncan Keith too played a hard game with 27 minutes on ice.  But then, we’ve come to expect that from the guy who for a while there played almost 30 minutes in every game.  Credit goes to Brent Seabrook too who in the last game with the Avs had 5 hits and in this game with the Red Wings had 3.  He is averaging more hits than anyone.  We have really needed to see an amped up ‘D’ and Seabs has delivered.  (more…)

Mere weeks after being dangerously clocked on the boards by James Wisniewski, Brent Seabrook had a go at Brad Winchester in tonight’s Hawks/Blues game.  That’s not what’s necessarily notable (nor are the resulting “roughing,” “fighting,” and even “game misconduct” calls on Seabrook).  What is noteworthy is that, just like the Alex Burrows hair-pulling incident last season, Winchester too pulled Brent Seabrook’s hair during the ensuing mêlée.  But Winchester had to add his own personal touch to set himself above Alex Burrows by grabbing Brent Seabrook by the nose! (more…)

Update: The NHL suspended Wisniewski for 8 games without pay. Good! I hope this means that instead of adversely affecting all players when dirty hits happen, the NHL sees that they need only punish the offenders, and even more harshly repeat offenders like Wisniewski (and Ovechkin). Thank you NHL for finally getting it right!

When the Blackhawks traded James ‘Wiz’ Wisniewski last season, I was not shy about saying what a mistake that was.  How could the Blackhawks trade a valued and tough d-man like that?  Since then, the Hawks have been struggling with their ‘D’ no question about it.  But watching as Wiz and Brent Seabrook exchanged pleasantries before the first intermission in tonight’s Hawks/Ducks game and then watching Wisniewski gun for Brent Seabrook in the 2nd period, charging across the ice and purposely leaving his skates to take Seabs out by the head?!  Oh, them’s fightin’ words Wiz!  And are you kidding me with just that “charging” call?  What?  No automatic ejection?

At least Duncan Keith rushed in to box Wisniewski’s ears after that dirty hit.  Similarly, Nick Boynton more than proved his worth in having a go at Wisniewski in the last minute of the game.  If only Boynton had gotten some good shots under Wiz’s visor!

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“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…)