As I said...

Morin is not a good match for the Blackhawks. While I have not seen ALL the details it looks like a straight up trade for D-man Tim Erixon of the Blue Jackets. While we wait for TVR to return to the line-up the Hawks have continued to look for the right 3rd defensive pair. Erixon will be the latest in the rotation.This trade will have two net effects.

First, it will add $200,000 of cap space for the Hawks to play with. Tim hits the cap this year at $600k while Morin weighed in at $800k.

Second, this will help with next years player/cap problem. Morin would have hit us at $800k again next year. Erixson has only a one year contract and either will be gone or will replace one of our higher salaried D-men that will need to be removed due to cap issues.

What I am not sure about are the terms of the contract with Erixon. But from what I can tell it is a two way contract meaning that he can be sent to the Icehogs without having to go through waivers. Again this will help Q and Stan figure out a right mix to 1) win the cup this year and 2) align a team for next season.

So, no surprise to me. We will likely get to see Jeremy when we play the Jackets this Saturday in Columbus.

P.S. Dahlbach, who has been benched when the times got tough, will go back to Rockford for the time being.

What's in a name? And (No?) More Morin

Would a Zemgus Girgensons smell any different with a different name? Maybe the question to ask is would a Zemgus Girgensons get as many votes with a different name? Earlier today it was reported that Latvian native Zemgus has over 800,000 votes. Compare that to the next two players, Kane and Toews, with 375,753 and 367,962 respectively. As a centerman in his rookie year last season Zemgus scored 8 goals and ended the season with 22 points. This years he is at 8 goals and 14 points to date. So how does he get so many votes? It has been reported that his country of origin is so excited that they are taking the Chicago approach of voting early and often. Latest census data shows Latvia with a population of just over 2 million people. It was estimated that the same number of people participated in the Blackhawks victory parade in 2013. Over 8 million people watch the games where Patrick Kane scored an overtime winner to clinch the Stanley cup and again when the Hawks beat Boston in 17 seconds. Assume about 4 million of those were Chicago fans. With those numbers you have to really wonder if the Latvian government has hacked into the NHL voting system. OK, that was a joke, but has someone in Latvia written a program to perform repeat voting to run the numbers up that high? Should we really allow unlimited voting for our Allstars? Is the whole idea of having the general population vote wrong? But even if we went with hockey insiders conducting the vote we have the problem with the eastern heavy population as we have seen with the NHLs individual achievement awards. What ever the case, this ridiculousness is an indication of a broken system.

Sharpie returns to the Hawks line-up tonight to take on the devils. Nortrom returns to Rockford, no surprise, as does Morin. The Hawks use a little known rule of a "conditioning assignment" to move Morin without putting him through waivers where he would likely get snatched up. Typically this is used for a player coming back from an injury. The NHL has indicated that they will not investigate this move. Bowman would be happier to trade Morin, take his salary off our cap and get a good draft pick. (My opinion) So this will buy Bowman about 14 days to find a suitor willing to add to their offense. I really think Morin could work on another team but he just does not fit in Chicago. Barring any major injuries to the Hawks offense, everyone knock on wood now, if Morin is not traded during his conditioning assignment he will be put on waivers and likely find himself in a Panthers uniform. I think Dale would like to have him in Florida.

Anyone seen Jeremy?

Joakim Nordstrom has started the last 5 games for the Blackhawks. Jeremy Morin has watched from the stands since the first game of the road trip in Calgary. The 22 year old Nordstrom joined the Icehogs late in the 2012/13 season. He had 16 games with the Hawks last year and 5 so far here. He stands at 6'1" and a mere 160#s. Morin has been around since mid-way through the 2010/11 season when he split his time between Rockford and the Hawks. He played 3 games in each of the next two years, 24 games last year and 15 so far this year with the Hawks. He is 23 years old, also stands at 6'1" but bulks up at 192 pounds. Now I personally thought Morin was playing pretty well and I am a bit surprised that Q had him sit these last five games. But Jeremy, while he has moments of grandeur, is also prone to mistakes. Morin hits our cap at $800k this year and next. There are plenty of teams that can absorb that salary and use a player like Morin. That could be some well needed cap space for the Hawks. I keep thinking, look for that trade.

How about that goal by Danny tonight. Follows up on his own rebound slapping one out of mid-air. Nicely done.

Give Richards credit for being in the right place for his goal getting up toward the net. His line is on fire. That goal never would have happened without the neat little drop off from Kane to Versteeg. But Kane misses out on an assist on a play he made happen.

The second half of the second period seems to be a problem for the Hawks. During the first 30 of this game the Hawks led both SOGs and FOs. But by the end of the second they were only up one SOG and down one FO. While they did not give up a goal during that time they seem to struggle with the long change during the last half of the period. Great game overall but that second period always scares me.

And the Hawks return home with 10 out of 12 points defeating some of the hottest teams in the league. They get three days off and then play the Blues, who also have 3 days off, at the UC.

#Blackhawks

333 North

We took a trip downtown today to visit 333 (that's pronounced "tree turty tree") North Michigan Avenue, home of the new Blackhawks store. The store is very bright, flashy and spacious unlike the old store that was dark, dingy and crowded. While I didn't check numbers, I believe they had a Jersey on the wall for each of the active players. There was plenty of staff walking around to help answer any question you might have and even someone at the front of the store greeting you and wishing you well when you left.

So herein lies the rub. I was actually looking for a backpack that I saw online. I asked one of the wandering clerks who informed us that they, indeed, had none. We were informed that they were tying to be more of a boutique store. Wha, huh! I thought this was "THE" Blackhawks store. A boutique store? Boutique, scmootique. Bring back the old dingy store loaded with all the chotchkies, random shirts, hat and gloves an the occasional autographed item. I used to love scanning around the room and finding little treasures tucked away in the corners of the displays.

Keep the new larger store, but pack it to the gills with product and memorabilia rather than try to sell a small assortment of high end products.

My advice to you: Don't bother making a special trip to 333. Just stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

As an aside, we also went to the store in Oak Brook mall a couple of weeks ago. That store had much more to choose from. Maybe they did not have every jersey in stock, although they could have in the back, but they had a much larger selection. Oak Brook is worth the visit.

Shooting the Duck(s)

It could be that Richards is turning the corner. After whiffing on a shot in first he then seemed to settle in and looked a bit more comfortable. He finally found the net and later made a diving one handed pass to Versteeg who then set up Kane. I think is he stays comfortable and stops trying too hard we might see more out of him.

Much of the second period looked like the Hawks were on the power play when they were 5 on 5. They probably looked better at equal strength than they did on their actual power plays. That trend pretty much continued into the third.

Let's talk Corey Perry...#10...hit him early and often. The next game I think we will see some action taken against his after he hit Crawford and later cross-checked Hossa. I was surprised that Q did not send Bickell or Carcillo out for the face off after the Hossa hit but I think Q was more concerned with winning the game. Perry can wait for another day.

Overall, great game. Hawks well in control.

#Blackhawks

Scouting the Icehogs...

I made a scouting visit to watch the Icehogs play the Wolves. #1 on must list to watch was Teuvo Teravainen. I believe he still has some developmental issues which is why he has not been called up to the NHL. Let's start with face offs. I am not sure how many he took, but I don't recall him winning a singe face off. He was actually pulled out of the face off circle in the second period and also pulled from a key PP face off. But I think that is a fixable problem.The bigger problem was his tentative play. He is not large at 5' 10" and a mere 169#s but he needs to be a bit more aggressive. He spent most of his time "floating" high in the zone beyond the dots. He has a lot of skill but his size is going to be a bid problem. More bacon cheese burgers.

Garret Ross had a great game scoring two goals. Mashinter with a assist and an empty net goal.

Y'all remember 6' 9" Viktor Svedberg? He cross checks a guy in the corner and they both go down, Svedberg on top cross checks him again. Its the AHL, so no call yet. So Viktor brings his stick over the guys head, down to his upper chest and starts choking him! Finally the arm went up. Unbelievably stupid.

I didn't realize that Terry Broadhurst moved to the Wolves. Not sure how that happened. Alex is still with the hogs but I never saw the brothers on the ice at the same time.

Mac Caruth made some fantastic saves and got the shutout in the 3-0 victory. Darling sat on the bench. Mashinter looked really good. I think he would be the next forward to get pulled up if needed. Klas Dahlbeck and Kyle Cumiskey played great defensive games.

As for the Wolves, they have Colin Fraser playing for them. You old timers might remember him. Brent Sopel now playing with the Wolves. He looks like he gained a few pounds over his listed weight of 201#. Looks more like 220 or 230.

Ty Rattie had a great game. He going to be someone to look for on the Blues once he develops.

And lastly Jake Chelios, son of Chris Chelios, is now with the wolves. Tripped over his own two feet in the first as he attempted to cross over to go after a puck, never saw that from daddy, but played just OK. Didn't see NHL talent there. We'll see if he develops.

Hawks now 12 goals to 1 against Edmonton this year

I checked the Brovada odds today. Penguins to win the cup 13/2, Hawks remain at 7/1. Still early in the season and the Hawks have hopefully completed their "slump."

I remember when the Oilers were feared. Not so much these days. Lots of #1 draft picks and an $18M first line. But 200/1 for the Stanley cup. And tonight they showed us why. One of if, if not the, worst defenses in the league.How many #1 draft picks really make it big anyway?

Bad break for Rannta tonight. Maybe he could have gotten the shutout. Actually I am not sure there is a goalie in the league that could have stopped that Edmonton goal. As Corey prepared to  catch that one in his glove it deflected in on his stick side.  Let's hope that Rannta hasn't spread that flu around the team. We certainly don't need anyone else out of the line-up.

I still think Richards needs more time working with this team. He's just not connecting with Kane or Versteeg. Versteeg's goal came while playing with Toews and Hossa. Kane's goal came from Versteeg and Hjlrmarsson.

So it's one to see the Sendin twins and the rest of the Cnuckleheads who lost 4-1 to the Ducks on Friday night.

And by the way, all 8 goals scored by Kane this year have been in the third period.

#Blackhawks