Hawks Hockey Hoiden

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.

Nikolai Khabibulin almost had a shut-out in last night’s Blues/Hawks game. With the Hawks up 3-0 and three seconds left in the game, Pat Foley wondered if Khabby might just have a shut-out on his hands. Then, the unthinkable; the Blues scored at the last second. So, was it Pat Foley who jinxed Khabby right out of his shut-out? (more…)

This was one for the books! After Dustin Byfuglien face washes Canucks’ goal tender Roberto Luongo, the Hawks and Canucks go at it. Ben Eager jerseys Kevin Bieksa — ripping his jersey 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!

Wow! That third period mêlée between the Hawks and the Canucks was the best hockey fight I’ve seen to yet this season even though the Hawks fell to the Canucks 4-0. Still, the Hawks went out swingin! A lot of nice Greco-Roman-style takedowns that would have been more at home on a mat than on the ice. But still, NICE!

Except for when Alex Burrows took Duncan Keith down by the hair! Even as a little girl I didn’t fight that dirty! And then when Dunc was down on the ice, what does Burrows do? He pulls Dunc’s hair again! Lame!

Ben Eager’s fight in particular was one for the scrap book. I like Eager’s statement too. He’s right off a 3-game suspension and does he take it easy? Hell no he doesn’t! He’s right back in there scrapping and taking care of his own! Atta boy Benny!

What was with that broohaha in the first period with Hawks’ Kris Versteeg and Patrick Kane, the Sharks’ Jonathan Cheechoo, and the officials? Clearly the replay indicated that it was Patrick Kane that high-sticked Jonathan Cheechoo in the nose, not Versteeg. Yet it was Kris Versteeg who was sent to the penalty box for the double minor penalty. The officials even had video replay so there was no excuse for calling the penalty on the wrong player. (more…)

Cam Barker, Colin Fraser, Duncan Keith Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and James Wisniewski muse about who’s going to do what during the All-Star Skills Competition.  Brian Campbell is in the Fastest Skater Competition, Jonathan Toews the Accuracy Shooting Competition, and Patrick Kane is in the Breakaway Challenge.  And Wiz thinks that Dustin Byfuglien would win hands-down in a hotdog eating contest.

Admittedly, between seasons I was a little upset that the Blackhawks let Patrick Lalime go.  After Cristobal Huet’s somewhat lackluster performance at the beginning of this season, I was certain the Blackhawks had made a costly mistake in signing Huet.  (more…)