Blackhawks get creative; send Huet to Switzerland
Goaltender Cristobal Huet's cap hit for his remaining two seasons is going be a hefty $5.625MM, and it was apparent that his role going forward would be, at best, as a backup.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features Tags: AHL, Antti Niemi, Chicago Blackhawks, collective bargaining agreement, Cristobal Huet, Fribourg-Gotteron, Marty Turco, NHL, NHLPA, salary cap, stanley cup, Swiss Nationalliga A
No to Niemi, But Totally Turco
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett discusses the Hawks walking away from Antti Niemi and choosing Marty Turco.
Now Playing: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mojo
So the Chicago Blackhawks have decided to let Antti Niemi and agent Bill Zito try their luck on the open market by saying “NO!” to his arbitration award of $2.75MM, thus sending seismic shockwaves not only through the hearts of the Blackhawks’ faithful but also the entire NHL. It’s been a trying off-season to say the least for fans of the Indian Head sweater, as the team has been forced to say goodbye to nearly half of the roster from last season, including such fan favorites as Dustin Byfuglien, Adam Burish, and now the Stanley Cup winning goaltender, Antti “The Finnish Fortress” Niemi.
Categories: Around the League, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Adam Burish, Antti Niemi, arbitration, Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Toews, Marty Turco, New Jersey Devils, NHL, Tomas Kopecky, Troy Brouwer
Bob Probert’s NHL Legacy
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett gives his thoughts on the passing of a hockey legend, Bob Probert. RIP Probie.
Now Playing: The Razor’s Edge – AD/DC
(Author’s Note: Please take a few moments to check out the links in this article. Those people all do fantastic work, you will enjoy it.)
Just a few short hours after both Canada and the United States finished the weekend-long celebrations for their respective national holidays, the hockey world suffered an immeasurable loss as one of its own, Bob Probert, met his end at the young age of 45. Widely regarded as the best “tough guy” to ever lace it up in the NHL, Probert played one of sport’s most difficult roles for an astounding 17 NHL seasons, first for the Detroit Red Wings, then for their division rival Chicago Blackhawks.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Bob Probert, Brantford Alexanders, Chicago Blackhawks, claude lemieux, Craig Coxe, Darren Pang, Detroit Red Wings, Doug Gilmour, Ian Laperriere, Jeff Odgers, Jody Shelley, Joey Kocur, Marty McSorley, NHL, Nick Kypreos, OHL, Steve Yzerman, Tie Domi
Another Step in the Right Direction : Versteeg to Leafs
NHLHS Toronto Maple Leafs Correspondent Luca Vacca (LeafsWire) takes a look at the acquisition of Kris Versteeg from the Hawks, and how it affects their free agency approach on July 1st.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had much work to do this offseason in order to become more competitive for next year. They took a huge step forward last night by acquiring yet another Chicago cap casualty, Kris Versteeg.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, Northeast, Toronto Maple Leafs Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, Chris Didomenico, Kris Versteeg, Philippe Paradis, Toronto Maple Leafs, Viktor Stalberg
NHLHS Mock Draft: With the Twenty Fourth Pick…
NHLHS Mock Draft is our latest feature where we collectively predict the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The draft is a crapshoot and we will be wrong… …but we thought it would be fun to try.
With the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks select…
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags:
NHLHS Mock Draft: With the Number Thirty Pick…
NHLHS Mock Draft is our latest feature where we collectively predict the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The draft is a crapshoot and we will be wrong… …but we thought it would be fun to try.
With the 30th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks select…
Read more…
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features Tags:
Blackhawks and Thrashers: Wheelin’ and Dealin’
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent Ryan Hackett and his thoughts on the blockbuster deal made between the Hawks and the Atlanta Thrashers.
Now Playing: Pearl Jam – Live at the Gorge
OK, so according to league sources, this trade has been made official.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Atlanta Thrashers, Ben Eager, Blackhawks, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Dustin Byfuglien, Edmonton Oilers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb, John Madden, Jonathan Toews, Marty Reasoner, New Jersey Devils, NHL, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Kane, Roberto Luongo, St. Louis Blues, stanley cup, Vancouver Canucks
Needed Relief
The Chicago Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers have just teamed up to make a blockbuster deal in the NHL.
Laura Astorian, our fantastic Atlanta Thrashers correspondent and Ryan Hackett who covers the Blackhawks for us here at NHLHS will have a full story on the deal in with their respective thoughts.
But in the interest of those who may be out of the loop, the deal is as follows:
Read more…
Categories: Around the League, Atlanta Thrashers, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Southeast, Western Conference Tags: Akim Aliu, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Dustin Byfuglien, Jeremy Morin, Marty Reasoner
Tribune Provides Added Incentive With Cheap Shot of Pronger
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at the decision of the Chicago Tribune to publish a PhotoShop-ed photo of Chris Pronger, and the ramifications of possibly giving even more incentive to the Flyers defenseman.
After the final horn went to officially end game five, the tell tale signs were all there that this may finally be the end of the line for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage, Western Conference Tags: 2010 NHL Playoffs, Brent Seabrook, Brian Boucher, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Tribune, Chris Pronger, Claude Giroux, david bolland, dick vermeil, dustin bufuglien, Joel Quenneville, Michael Leighton, Mike Richards, NHL, Peter Laviolette, philadelphia eagles, Philadelphia Flyers, Simon Gagne
I Can’t Buy What I’ve Done Before. I Want to Open Up Another Door
Dean Lombardi, President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings, "And again, I think the players are entitled to their share. Its more the allocation in there. It makes it reasonable for both sides. I think it helps the team, I think it helps the union, and I think it's good for the game." In comparing the current position of the LA Kings with the Chicago Blackhawks, he commended them for building itself correctly, from bottom-to-top. The difference, with the Kings, would lie in the time it takes to get there. The Blackhawks have taken approximately seven-years to build into Western Conference contenders. Lombardi felt that the Kings could match those results, in less time.
Categories: Around the League, Chicago Blackhawks, Cost Efficiency, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Western Conference Tags: 2010 NHL Draft, Anze Kopitar, Brian Campbell, Chicago Blackhawks, Dean Lombardi, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, JMFJ, Jon Quick, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Marian Hossa, Quick, Sidney Crosby, Stanley Cup Finals, Terror Twins, ThrowtheTwinkie, Tomas Kopecky, Wayne Simmonds, Western Conference
The Hockey Guys
It’s that time of week again hockey fans.
As we prepare for Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers, the boys will sit down and discuss the four games prior leading into game five.
Player spotlights, Conn Smythe discussion, and a preview prior to puck drop.
What more can the hockey fan ask for?
Tune in live, this Sunday from 5-7 p.m. EST with The Hockey Guys on Blog Talk Radio.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Playoff Coverage, Western Conference Tags: Conn Smythe, stanley cup, Stanley Cup Finals
Pros & Cons: Philadelphia Flyers vs Chicago Blackhawks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
The final stage has been set and tonight, the 2010 Stanley Cup finals begin live from the United Center in Chicago at 8 p.m. EST.
We hope you have enjoyed our pros and cons debate throughout the playoffs. For the final time, we present our debate. Thank you for all the reading you have done over the course of the season.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Braydon Coburn, Brent Seabrook, Brian Boucher, Chris Pronger, Danny Briere, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Dustin Byfuglien, Jeff Carter, Jonathan Toews, Kimmo Timonen, Kris Versteeg, Lukas Krajicek, Marian Hossa, Matt Carle, Michael Leighton, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Paul Holmgren, Ryan Parent, Scott Hartnell, Simon Gagne, Ville Leino
Blackhawks Taking Maturity to Another Level
NHLHS Chicago Blackhawks Correspondent, Ryan Hackett, discusses how the Hawks have grown to a level of maturity that is hard to match, especially this season.
Now Playing: Fuel – Sunburn
The Chicago Blackhawks have undergone more transformations in the last three seasons than a reality television star on a plastic surgery shopping spree, and yet their latest one has been the most essential to their post-season success. The team has recovered from a rocky start in the 2010 second season to become one of the best finishing teams in the NHL.
Knowing how to close games is a characteristic of championship teams in every sport on every level of athletics. It seems that the Blackhawks have learned how to accomplish that at an alarming rate mostly within this post-season. For instance, take a look at the first series against the Nashville Predators. Out of the Blackhawks 17 goals in the series, only four of them came in the third period or overtime, a mild 23%. The Hawks saw that, and raised it in the following two series, as they notched totals hovering around the 47% mark in both of the following series (11 of 23 against the Vancouver Canucks, and 6 of 13 against the San Jose Sharks) which both also eventually led to series victories for the Chicago squad.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, Playoff Coverage, Western Conference Tags: 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks, Conn Smythe Trophy, Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Toews, Nashville Predators, NHL, Patrick Kane, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Finals
Blackhawks Key to Victory: Stay Disciplined
Is it possible to get through this without using the phrase “standing on his head”? Oh well, guess not.
Even though it’s the most abused cliche this side of “throwing someone under the bus”, most would agree that after witnessing Antti Niemi‘s performance Sunday afternoon, it is actually warranted here.
That is, unless you’re a member of the San Jose Sharks. It seems as opposed to saying the young netminder had a career performance between the pipes, they chose to go the route of criticizing themselves for “making him look really good”.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Tags: Antti Niemi, Brent Seabrook, Brent Sopel, Chicago Blackhawks, Devin Setoguchi, Jason Demers, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Marian Hossa, NHL, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, San Jose Sharks, Western Conference Finals
The Man Behind the Mask: Antti Niemi
The NHLHS Man Behind The Mask series is a profile on some of the best goalies in the league to ever wear the “mask”. We hope you enjoy the latest installment of the NHLHS MBTM series.
The position of goaltending is a funny one, especially in the sport of hockey.
If you notice, the term “head case” is used quite frequently when discussing goaltenders. Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall, Billy Smith, Sean Burke, Dan Cloutier, and others have all had their share of “problems” both on and off the ice.
It seems to play from the maturity level of a goaltender.
For the Chicago Blackhawks, maturity was developed quickly.
Antti Niemi was born on August 29, 1983 in Vantaa, Finland.
Read more…
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Central, Chicago Blackhawks, NHLHS Features, Playoff Coverage, The Man Behind the Mask, Western Conference Tags: AHL, Antti Niemi, Billy Smith, Chicago Blackhawks, Cristobal Huet, Dan Cloutier, Finland, Finnish, Martin Brodeur, NHL, Rockford IceHogs, Ron Hextall, Sean Burke, SM-liiga
