As we approach the last two games of the preseason against two original 6 teams Q's job just keeps getting tougher. First let's talk about the goalies. No doubt Crawford and Raanta will be our top two to start the year. In an interview this morning Q highlighted 3 players including his "darling", Scott Darling of Lemont. But Darling was sent down to Rockford while Leighton stays on for the main team. Q obviously wants Darling to develop in Rockford as they opened camp on Sunday. He will get more play time down there.
Also highlighted by Q today were defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk
and centerman Dennis Rasmussen. Trevor is already in Rockford while Rasmussen remains with the team. Who he didn't mention was Mashinter who is vying for the "tough guy" position. Also on the bubble are forwards Teravainen, Hartman and Morin as well as D-men Cumiskey and Rundbland. Bass and Lebrie just cleared waivers this morning and have been assigned to Rockford. Morin has been looking good but I still don't believe that will ever stick. I predict he gets traded later this year.
There are still tough decisions to be made regarding the cap and getting to a final roster. Everyone returned 100% this years except for maybe Oduya who did not get his full summer preparations. But he has looked quite good so far. The current trade rumors continue to be Johnny, Leddy and Sharp. I don't believe Sharp for a minute unless Bowman gets into a real jam. I thought maybe Versteeg but I think he leaves us just a few dollars short of getting under the cap primarily because Tallon is still paying half his salary. Also note the very positive notes that Q has made about Chris over recent days.
We will know more in 9 days.
A couple of other notes:
Khabibulin has not been picked up by anyone. No report on his current health.
Brent Sopel returns from Sweden and will try out with the Hogs.
#Blackhawks
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Training Camp Festival
This just broke as I was typing: Cut from Hawks roster are Carruth, Simpson, Schnell, Gotovets, Holl and Miuskovic. I believe they will all head to Rockford.
Unbelievable crowd for the festival. It was a great time but a boring game. I think there there were 2 or 3 checks all night. The national anthem was a little weak by UC standards but still impiring.
As much as I don't think Morin will ever be a regular Blackhawk, he had a great game (at least 75% of his play) last night. He opened up the scoring with a feed from Smith early on and in the third took a pass from Smith again and fed Kruger for a goal and then made a really nifty pass from the corner to Kruger again to complete his 3 point night. BTW Kruger looked great last night.
Only three penalties for the night, two to Bickell for hooking and then tripping. The third was a 4 minute to Matt Carey for a high stick that send Sharp to the locker room for a bit. Kane also took a high hit that sent him out for a shift. The funny part was that Kane, wearing red, crawled into the white bench to leave the ice. Hey, it was the closest exit!
Biggest disappointment for the night, no Teuvo. Upper body after Saturday's scrimmage. Rumor has it due to a hit from Cam Barker. I never cared much for Barker. Also MIA were Keith, on his own bobblehead night, and Hammer. But Keith did come out to greet the crowd before the game.
My second biggest disappointment for the night was the Richards, Saad and Kane line. First, being paired up against Toews, Hossa and Sharp made it hard for anyone to get any room on the ice. Incredible skill set with those 6 on the ice. When the Richards line did get some room they were just a bit out of synch with one another and with themselves. Might have been trying too hard. Richards shanked on at least two shots, made one two many passes when he should have shot and the line seemed to be just missing one another. But I am confident that this will be, as Q would say, "a dangerous line" once they find their groove.
Sharp had an "almost" night again just missing a few and then hitting a post on an open net.
After the game they did a mock shootout. (Oh, my favorite.) Toews, Sharp, Kane and Smith each scored. Kane's goal was sick. The others all made very nice deaks. Hossa hit the side of the net on his attempt. Even Leddy got a chance. I think he hit the Indian head. LOL
Another disappointment were the new ice crew uniforms. Long sleeve jackets? What happened to the halter tops? Well, things are changing around the league. In Philly they went to an all male ice crew. They were booed by the city of brotherly love last night.
So we prepare for two rounds of playing "Detroit sucks" tonight and Thursday. Each time the announcer says "Detroit" you must respond with "sucks." If you fail to do so you gotta take a drink. My views on tonights game in the morning.
#Blackhawkstrainingcamp #Blackhawks
Unbelievable crowd for the festival. It was a great time but a boring game. I think there there were 2 or 3 checks all night. The national anthem was a little weak by UC standards but still impiring.
As much as I don't think Morin will ever be a regular Blackhawk, he had a great game (at least 75% of his play) last night. He opened up the scoring with a feed from Smith early on and in the third took a pass from Smith again and fed Kruger for a goal and then made a really nifty pass from the corner to Kruger again to complete his 3 point night. BTW Kruger looked great last night.
Only three penalties for the night, two to Bickell for hooking and then tripping. The third was a 4 minute to Matt Carey for a high stick that send Sharp to the locker room for a bit. Kane also took a high hit that sent him out for a shift. The funny part was that Kane, wearing red, crawled into the white bench to leave the ice. Hey, it was the closest exit!
Biggest disappointment for the night, no Teuvo. Upper body after Saturday's scrimmage. Rumor has it due to a hit from Cam Barker. I never cared much for Barker. Also MIA were Keith, on his own bobblehead night, and Hammer. But Keith did come out to greet the crowd before the game.
My second biggest disappointment for the night was the Richards, Saad and Kane line. First, being paired up against Toews, Hossa and Sharp made it hard for anyone to get any room on the ice. Incredible skill set with those 6 on the ice. When the Richards line did get some room they were just a bit out of synch with one another and with themselves. Might have been trying too hard. Richards shanked on at least two shots, made one two many passes when he should have shot and the line seemed to be just missing one another. But I am confident that this will be, as Q would say, "a dangerous line" once they find their groove.
Sharp had an "almost" night again just missing a few and then hitting a post on an open net.
After the game they did a mock shootout. (Oh, my favorite.) Toews, Sharp, Kane and Smith each scored. Kane's goal was sick. The others all made very nice deaks. Hossa hit the side of the net on his attempt. Even Leddy got a chance. I think he hit the Indian head. LOL
Another disappointment were the new ice crew uniforms. Long sleeve jackets? What happened to the halter tops? Well, things are changing around the league. In Philly they went to an all male ice crew. They were booed by the city of brotherly love last night.
So we prepare for two rounds of playing "Detroit sucks" tonight and Thursday. Each time the announcer says "Detroit" you must respond with "sucks." If you fail to do so you gotta take a drink. My views on tonights game in the morning.
#Blackhawkstrainingcamp #Blackhawks
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Some notes on training camp
First let me begin by making note that this is the first training camp since the passing of Tim Sassone. So missed. In my opinion, the greatest Chicago Blackhawks beat writer of all time. Sorry #ChrisKuc, #TraceMyers and #MarkLazerus. Now pause for a moment of silence in his memory.
Welcome back...
So much to say about Versteeg, so let me start there. He was married over the summer and is "on a short leash." He comes to camp healthy and ready to improve from last year. So today he takes one puck to the face and a Keith slapper to the ankle. But after writing in pain for a bit on the bench, he returned to the ice.
Speaking of starting camp healthy, Hossa was tearing up the rink and Johnny "on the bubble" Oduya looks at ready as ever to be traded away. I will miss him.
I am having a hard time visually free agent Cam Barker in a Hawks uniform. At today's practice he made a big open ice hit on Tuevo. I love the tweet from #TraceyMyers, "I'll take 'How do I buy my ticket out of Chicago again' for $200, Alex."
You can read about the Richards, Saad, Kane line in the papers. I can't wait to see them in a real game.
Stephen Johns passed one off to Toews for a goal. Johns, a former ND player, got he bigger applaud.
Two names to remember for future reference (aka 2015-2016 season after cap adjustments are made) are Mark McNiell and Phillip Danault. I will give you my 2 cents after Monday evening.
That's the quick update.
#Blackhawks
Welcome back...
So much to say about Versteeg, so let me start there. He was married over the summer and is "on a short leash." He comes to camp healthy and ready to improve from last year. So today he takes one puck to the face and a Keith slapper to the ankle. But after writing in pain for a bit on the bench, he returned to the ice.
Speaking of starting camp healthy, Hossa was tearing up the rink and Johnny "on the bubble" Oduya looks at ready as ever to be traded away. I will miss him.
I am having a hard time visually free agent Cam Barker in a Hawks uniform. At today's practice he made a big open ice hit on Tuevo. I love the tweet from #TraceyMyers, "I'll take 'How do I buy my ticket out of Chicago again' for $200, Alex."
You can read about the Richards, Saad, Kane line in the papers. I can't wait to see them in a real game.
Stephen Johns passed one off to Toews for a goal. Johns, a former ND player, got he bigger applaud.
Two names to remember for future reference (aka 2015-2016 season after cap adjustments are made) are Mark McNiell and Phillip Danault. I will give you my 2 cents after Monday evening.
That's the quick update.
#Blackhawks
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Here come the Hawks!
We are less than a week away from training camp. That will
start on the 19th and open to the public at Notre Dame on the 20.
The Hawks return to the UC on the 22nd for their training camp festival
and will open pre-season at the Joe on the 23rd.
With the return of some cooler weather I donned my Duncan
Keith jersey yesterday. Looking forward to picking up his bobblehead at training
camp.
Also, I will also be on twitter this year! Find me
@jimsbhb
That’s Jim’s Blackhawks Blog. I will be tweeting out
information as it becomes available. Much from our beloved beat writers (which
I will retweet). Following me you will not be getting multiple tweets on the
same topic. I will consolidate these for you. During games I will be also
following the beats from the other teams to provide that perspective. So keep
up with the Hawks live by following me now.
While we wait for Bowman to make a decision on how the Hawks
will duck the cap, let’s look at some rule changes that were currently
announced. Shorter and more frequent posts will start next weekend. #NHLwithdrawal
Rule 1.8 – Rink -
Goalkeeper's Restricted Area
The trapezoid will be expanded by two feet from the goal
post on both sides of the net.
-
I personally this the whole restrictive zone is
stupid to start with, but at least the net minders will now have a little more
room to play the puck.
Rule 23 – Game
Misconduct Penalties
Clipping, charging, elbowing, interference, kneeing,
head-butting and butt-ending move from the general category into the same
category as boarding and checking from behind ("Physical Fouls"),
whereby a player who incurs two such game misconducts in this category would
now be automatically suspended for one game.
-
What? Interference? These interference penalty rules
are just out of hand! As a form D-man I really hate the way they are calling
these. It reduces the defenses mobility trying to get to the player with the
puck. In essence, it makes it easier for the offense to set a pick, of sorts,
by skating into a zone to prevent the defense from moving around. Stupid.
Rule 24 – Penalty
Shot
The 'Spin-O-Rama' move will no longer be permitted either in
Penalty Shot situations or in the Shootout.
-
Hmmm, I think I only remember Toews trying this
once. Kane has never used the technique.
Rule 38 – Video Goal
Judge
Rule 38.4 (viii) has been modified to allow broader
discretion to Hockey Operations to assist
the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals …
In reviewing "Kicked in Goals," Hockey Operations
will require more demonstrable video evidence of a "distinct kicking
motion" in order to overrule a "goal" call on the ice, or to
uphold a "no goal" call on the ice.
-
I am on the fence with this change. I will have
to see how this plays out during the season. I would prefer less league intervention
on the play which makes the “kicking” review favorable but I am concerned about
how much they may influence the referees’ calls on the ice.
Rule 57 – Tripping
The rule relating to "Tripping" will be revised to
specifically provide that a two minute minor penalty will be assessed when a
defending player "dives" and trips an attacking player with his body/arm/shoulder,
regardless of whether the defending player is able to make initial contact with
the puck.
But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be
appropriate, if the defending player "dives" and touches the puck
first (before the trip), no penalty shot will be awarded. (In such cases, the
resulting penalty will be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.)
-
That’s a lot to think about. So if dive to get
the puck and miss, there could be a penalty show. But if you DO get to the puck
first, only 2 minutes. Will this change the way D-men attack the puck on the
break-away? Time will tell.
Rule 64 – Diving /
Embellishment
The supplementary discipline penalties associated with Rule
64.3 (Diving/Embellishment) will be revised to bring attention to and more
seriously penalize players (and teams)…
-
Anyone who watched Eastern Conference playoff
games last year will know why we have these new rules. Now we need the refs to
start making these calls more appropriately. With the new rule both players and
coaches can be fined. Love it.
Rule 76 – Face-offs
To curb delay tactics on face-offs after icing infractions,
in situations where the defending team is guilty of a face-off violation,
following an icing, the defending player who is initially lined up for the
face-off will be given a warning, but will be required to remain in the circle
to take the face-off. A second face-off violation by the defending team in such
situation will result in a two minute minor bench penalty.
-
This will be interesting. So much subjectivity
in these calls. I think linesmen call infractions way too often. This will make
it more difficult to win a face off in your own zone after an icing call. I
know what they are trying to accomplish but I am not sure this is the answer.
Rule 84 – Overtime
Teams will switch ends prior to the start of overtime in the
regular season.
The entire ice surface will undergo a "dry scrape"
prior to the start of overtime in the regular season.
The procedure requiring the head coach to submit a list of
the first three shooters in the shoot-out has been eliminated.
-
Ho Hum…
Rule 85 – Puck Out of
Bounds
There have been further rule changes made relating to
face-off location to avoid penalizing teams for plays intended to create bona
fide scoring opportunities.
-
In essence this rule will keep the face-off in
the offensive zone in cases where the offense unintentionally causes the puck
to go out of play. The league FINALLY gets this one right.
Rule 1.9 – Rink –
Face-off Spots and Circles – Ice Markings/Hash Marks
The hash marks at the end zone circles will be moved from
three feet apart to five feet, seven inches apart (international markings).
-
This rule is pending a vote by the NHLPA and won’t
become effective until next season. So teams, now need to worry about melting
the ice and re-painting, LOL. I kinda like watching the jousting before a face
off. This will make that a bit more difficult.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
There's a kind of hush.
All has been quiet with the tribe since the convention. That seems like months ago but it has only been a couple of weeks. Bowman stated that he may not do anything about the cap issue until training camp starts. My speculation has to do with that boot that Oduya was wearing at the convention. Hard to trade a guy healing from a broken foot. Get him on his skates during training camp and show the other teams what they will be getting. So I anticipate a team without Oduya to start the season.
Training camp kicks off at Notre Dame on Sept 19. I have not heard anything about those tickets yet. But I do have my tickets to the training camp festival on September 22. Pre-season starts on the 23rd at home against the Wings and then we travel to the Joe two days later for a rematch. Then there are only two games against the Wings when it counts. The regular season kicks off on October 9th against the Stars and we open up the UC two days later against Kaner's home town.
For the full schedule:
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm
The biggest changes, so far, this season are with the coaching staff. I couldn't be happier with the changes especially in light of the exiting assistant.
(See my previous blog http://blackhawksinsights.blogspot.com/2014/07/bye-bye-jamie.html)
I think we now have a premier coaching staff with Q, Kitch, Waite and Dineen. Dinnen is going to be great for the organization. He has a great relationship with Q going back to their Hartford days together. He was a head coach for Florida and he is famous for this goal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HgTjZlOyvs
Notice how he gets himself open in front of the net. Dineen was a mediocre player which means he had to work for everything he did. That work will help him to understand how to help others. Mediocre payers make good coaches.
Dineen also scored against the Soviets in an NHL vs. Soviets series in 1987.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV_6AZglQXs
See, again, Dineen getting himself in the open. He knew how to work and will be a great coach in that area.
The core remains in place, no drama about contracts for the dynamic duo, and add Richards. Its going to be a great year.
Training camp kicks off at Notre Dame on Sept 19. I have not heard anything about those tickets yet. But I do have my tickets to the training camp festival on September 22. Pre-season starts on the 23rd at home against the Wings and then we travel to the Joe two days later for a rematch. Then there are only two games against the Wings when it counts. The regular season kicks off on October 9th against the Stars and we open up the UC two days later against Kaner's home town.
For the full schedule:
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm
The biggest changes, so far, this season are with the coaching staff. I couldn't be happier with the changes especially in light of the exiting assistant.
(See my previous blog http://blackhawksinsights.blogspot.com/2014/07/bye-bye-jamie.html)
I think we now have a premier coaching staff with Q, Kitch, Waite and Dineen. Dinnen is going to be great for the organization. He has a great relationship with Q going back to their Hartford days together. He was a head coach for Florida and he is famous for this goal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HgTjZlOyvs
Notice how he gets himself open in front of the net. Dineen was a mediocre player which means he had to work for everything he did. That work will help him to understand how to help others. Mediocre payers make good coaches.
Dineen also scored against the Soviets in an NHL vs. Soviets series in 1987.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV_6AZglQXs
See, again, Dineen getting himself in the open. He knew how to work and will be a great coach in that area.
The core remains in place, no drama about contracts for the dynamic duo, and add Richards. Its going to be a great year.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Time for camp!
Draft complete - Check
Free agency dust settling - Check
Toews and Kane locked in - Double check
While we wait see how Bowman solves his financial woes we prepare for prospect camp.
The Blackhawks will hold prospect camp from July 13 to July 18 at Johnny's Icehouse. I am thinking security might be a little tighter this year but do know that this is open to the public. If you missed Tuevo flashing through a couple of games last year, this could be your opportunity see him showing off a little. He bedazzled a bit last year at camp. This will also be an opportunity to see Schmaltz before they send him to where ever they will send him. Back to Ohio state?
Here are the official lists of prospects invited to camp this year. I'll be packaging up some of the information I get from the beats next week.
Free agency dust settling - Check
Toews and Kane locked in - Double check
While we wait see how Bowman solves his financial woes we prepare for prospect camp.
The Blackhawks will hold prospect camp from July 13 to July 18 at Johnny's Icehouse. I am thinking security might be a little tighter this year but do know that this is open to the public. If you missed Tuevo flashing through a couple of games last year, this could be your opportunity see him showing off a little. He bedazzled a bit last year at camp. This will also be an opportunity to see Schmaltz before they send him to where ever they will send him. Back to Ohio state?
Here are the official lists of prospects invited to camp this year. I'll be packaging up some of the information I get from the beats next week.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Bye bye Jamie
I have been working on my analysis on the Hawks defensive depth and then again, like yesterday's news on Jimmy Waite, more interesting news breaks. Originally reported in a blog I now have it from reliable sources that Jamie Kompon will be leaving the Blackhawks. At 2:00 tomorrow the Portland Winterhawks if the WHL will be announcing their new head coach. That new head coach, barring any major complications, will be Jamie Kompon. Now I am seeing this pitched as promotion for Jamie and yes it is a move from assistant coach to head coach. But really now, going from assistant coach of an elite NHL team to the the head coach of a team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). While the Winterhawks are an elite team in the WHL and a strong feeder team to the NHL, its not the NHL, baby. And their logo while similar to that of the Blackhawks lacks the vibrant color contrasts of the Chicago Blackhawks. (OK, I just had to take a cheap shot at their logo.) So Jamie moves from asst coach in LA, winning a Stanley cup, to the Chicago Blackhawks, winning a Stanley Cup and now to the WHL.Jamie probably was not going up any further in the NHL and this was the only way for him to get a job at the top.
Many of those who know me also know that I was never a fan of Kompon. Let's go back to the 2011-12 season. The LA Kings won the Stanley cup with one of the strongest power plays in the league. The Hawk between 2010 and 2012 had one of the worst power plays. Enter Jamie Kompon. The savior of the Hawks power play? Under Jamie, the power play went from ugh, oh my god, to OK, to ugh and around and around. Never really showing much improvement and nowhere near the Kings power play. I was also frustrated when Jamie would be charting up a play late in the game only to have the Hawks fail in the waning minutes of a game. In fact I would dread Jamie grabbing a white board and and erasable marker. I have put Jamie in the same category as Khabibulin: "Waste of money." Now he is gone and will soon be forgotten.
I am guessing that the Hawks did not have too much notice abut this change and therefore it will take some time for them to find a suitable replacement. But I am sure they will be looking for someone that can run a decent power play. And I am confident that whoever that will be will do a better job for the team. From my perspective, this is good for the Blackhawks.
Many of those who know me also know that I was never a fan of Kompon. Let's go back to the 2011-12 season. The LA Kings won the Stanley cup with one of the strongest power plays in the league. The Hawk between 2010 and 2012 had one of the worst power plays. Enter Jamie Kompon. The savior of the Hawks power play? Under Jamie, the power play went from ugh, oh my god, to OK, to ugh and around and around. Never really showing much improvement and nowhere near the Kings power play. I was also frustrated when Jamie would be charting up a play late in the game only to have the Hawks fail in the waning minutes of a game. In fact I would dread Jamie grabbing a white board and and erasable marker. I have put Jamie in the same category as Khabibulin: "Waste of money." Now he is gone and will soon be forgotten.
I am guessing that the Hawks did not have too much notice abut this change and therefore it will take some time for them to find a suitable replacement. But I am sure they will be looking for someone that can run a decent power play. And I am confident that whoever that will be will do a better job for the team. From my perspective, this is good for the Blackhawks.
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