Coming into tonight’s Hawks/Sabres game there was a lot of talk about the Hawks going up against their old goal-tender Patrick Lalime, which was weird because Lalime has been out of Chicago and in Buffalo for two seasons now. On the flip-side, Brian Campbell has been out of Buffalo and in Chicago for three seasons. You’d think that would be long enough for the Buffalo crowd to forget about him and not boo him, but apparently not. (Chuckle) (more…)
In tonight’s Hawks/Rangers match-up, I was most looking forward to the Hawks meeting up with Sean Avery, the infamous kiss-and-teller of the NHL. Yes, Avery is renowned as having quite the mouth on him, so I was much looking forward to a Hawk decommissioning of that mouth. But alas, this original six meet-up was entirely too tame. (more…)
There were many goon moments in tonight’s 2-1 Hawks win over the Penguins. The Penguins trash-talked and were guilty of cheap shots and picking fights. In fact, and I never thought I’d say this, there were too many scuffles. The Penguins were obviously using their gooniness as part of their strategy, and too many times the Hawks did not keep their composure, not that you could blame them. Still, for all the Penguins’ jawin’ and scrappin’ the Hawks still took them. (more…)
It’s official, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane both signed 5-year contract extensions with the Blackhawks worth $31.5 million each (or $6.3 million a year each). Duncan Keith signed a 13-year, $72-million deal (or $5.5 million a year). At the press conference announcing the deals, Jonathan Toews said “It’s been an incredible ride so far…It doesn’t get any better than playing here in Chicago.” Patrick Kane ribbed Toews adding, “I get to be honored with Captain Serious again too…though it’s actually nice to not be sitting next to him for once…” (more…)
“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…)
My reaction to the Blackhawks signing Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to 5-year deals, and almost signing Duncan Keith to a 13-year deal? Yippee (!), oh great (!), and holy crap 13 years (!?) respectively. Thank you. That is all.
Today, the Blackhawks issued the results of their Fan’s Choice Awards for the best of the Blackhawks for the ‘08/’09 season. I’m just left scratching my head. (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…)
Where was the misconduct call on Kevin Bieksa for his cheap shot on Patrick Sharp after the 2nd period had ended in tonight’s semi-finals match-up between the Hawks and the Canucks? And after two games in Vancouver I think we can safely say that the officiating has decidedly gone in the Canucks’ favor despite the Hawks’ 6-3 win over the Canucks tonight. Makes you wonder how much refs go for. (more…)
As I have noted in prior posts, we often don’t appreciate the vital work of the defensemen until they’re injured, the most recent examples being Duncan Keith and Matt Walker.
For instance, Matt Walker, (who had a birthday yesterday. Happy B-day Matty!), was a veritable tour de force in last night’s game against the Predators. He was checking guys like a cement mixer all night long. But most importantly he was there, on net, to block shots, which is what fans have been screaming for all season. After all, if you only rely on your goal tender for defense…um…well, you’re not going to win a lot of games. Better the Hawks figured that out later than never. (more…)