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Saturday, July 4, 2009

Ex-Hawks and their new homes
Adrian Aucoin turned 36 on Friday
Adrian Aucoin heading to Glendale, Arizona

The following is a list, up to the moment, of former Blackhawks and contracts they've signed in free agency.  You’ll notice former Hawks’ prospect and 2007 6th round draft choice Richard Greenop was picked up by Toronto.  Somewhat of a surprise that the former Windsor Spitfires tough guy got a contract, not so much which team took a flyer on the 6’4 – 235 enforcer.  The Hawks had been hoping he’d go unsigned and be a non-roster training camp invitee they could possibly hide and hopefully develop in Rockford.
 
PlayerAgePosTeamTerms 
Adams, Craig32.2RWPittsburgh 2yrs / $1.1M 
Anderson, Craig28.1GColorado 2yrs / $3.625M 
Aucoin, Adrian36.0DPhoenix 1yr / $2.25M 
Baumgartner, Nolan33.3DVancouver 2yrs / $1.1M2-way
Boucher, Brian32.5GPhiladelphia 2yrs / $1.85M 
Brodeur, Mike26.3GOttawa 1yr / $520k2-way
Greenop, Richard20.4RWToronto3yrs / entry level 
Havlat, Martin28.2RWMinnesota 6yrs / $30.0M 
Huskins, Kent30.2DSan Jose 2yrs / $3.4M 
Khabibulin, Nikolai36.5GEdmonton 4yrs / $15.0M 
Koci, David28.1LWColorado 1yr / $575k 
Laing, Quintin30.1LWWashington 1yr / $500k2-way
McCarthy, Steve28.4DAnaheim 1yr / $575k2-way
Pahlsson, Samuel31.5CColumbus 3yrs / $7.95M 
Parenteau, P-A26.3RWNY Rangers1yr / $500k 
Reich, Jeremy30.4CNY Islanders1yr / $575k2-way
Richmond, Danny24.9DSt. Louis 1yr / $625k2-way
Spacek, Jaroslav35.4DMontreal 3yrs / $11.5M 
St.Pierre, Martin25.9COttawa 1yr / $525k2-way
Strudwick, Jason34.0DEdmonton 1yr / $700k 
Sullivan, Steve35.0RWNashville 2yrs / $7.5M 
Walker, Matt29.2DTampa Bay 4yrs / $6.8M 

Players who are sticking with the same clubs are Craig Adams, Nolan Baumgartner, Kent Huskins (traded to San Jose from the Ducks late last season), Quintin Laing, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Danny Richmond (traded from Pittsburgh to St.Louis last season), Jason Strudwick and Steve Sullivan.

Also, Tyler Arnason signed with the New York Rangers on Friday, but we don't have figures on that deal as of yet.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock
Sat, July 4, 2009 | link 

Johnson's agent confirms client one of "Chicago Five"

Allan Walsh, agent of Aaron Johnson, confirmed via his Twitter account moments ago that his client is one of five of the players who didn't receive proper notification of the Blackhawks' qualifying offers to those restricted free agents.

"As of today, Johnson has not received QO and neither has our office," Walsh wrote on his Twitter account.

Minutes later he continued, "Also, why not send QO to agents per CBA rules? Never heard of QO sent via regular mail, always courier."

Walsh is also the agent of former Blackhawk Martin Havlat.  He also represents Dustin Byfuglien.

It's hard to say who the "five" he's referring to are as Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Corey Crawford, Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, minor leaguer Bryan Bickell and Johnson were all qualified according to GM Dale Tallon.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock
Sat, July 4, 2009 | link 

Friday, July 3, 2009

Some facts in Blackhawks/RFA Qualifying Offer Dispute between league/NHLPA

A little backup on this story straight from the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement of 2005.

Section 10.2 (ii):

In order to receive a Right of First Refusal or Draft Choice Compensation (at the Prior Club's option) with respect to a Restricted Free Agent,
the Prior Club of a Restricted Free Agent must tender to the Player, no later than 5:00 p.m. New York time on the later of June 25 or the first Monday after the Entry Draft of the final year of the Player's SPC, a "Qualifying Offer", which shall be an offer of an SPC, for one League Year, which is subject to salary arbitration if such Player is otherwise eligible for salary arbitration in accordance with Section 12.1, on at least the following terms and conditions: 

Section 10.2 (iv):

In the event a Prior Club fails to make a Qualifying Offer as set forth in this Section 10.2 and fails to elect salary arbitration pursuant to Section 12.3(a), the Player shall immediately become an Unrestricted Free Agent and shall be completely free to negotiate and sign an SPC [Standard Player Contract] with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign an SPC with any such Player, without penalty or restriction or being subject to any Right of First Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation, or any other compensation or equalization obligation of any kind.

-- By the letter of the CBA, if any of those Hawks tendered qualifying offers didn’t receive notification by 4pm Chicago time on Monday June 29th, they should then be un-restricted free agents.  So Tallon using Canada Day on July 1 as an excuse for any players not getting proper notice by 4pm on June 29th is both irrelevant and nonsensical and only serves to prove Tallon either (a) doesn’t have proper knowledge of the procedure or (b) flippancy is how he’s chosen to respond to this issue.

Tallon may, as do I, highly doubt whichever players didn’t receive their letters in time will ultimately become unrestricted free agents since the league will argue the intent on behalf of the Blackhawks was there based on them faxing the NHL office before the deadline and producing letters to said players.  The Player’s Association obviously will pursue the “integrity of the CBA” case saying rules are rules.  In the end, I’d imagine the two sides will meet in the middle and the Hawks will be charged a fine, but nothing else.  However it shakes out, both sides want it done quickly because the longer those players involved here aren’t negotiating contracts, the less will be available to them as the market and team’s budgets shrink.

Something has to come of this because as far as we know, the Hawks are the only team not to thoroughly comply with standards set by the four-year old agreement and they’ve not had an issue with this in the past.  I wouldn’t put the blame on Tallon for this because delivering forms is way below his record of duties and why he has assistant general managers.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock
Fri, July 3, 2009 | link 

Huge gaff could make Barker, Versteeg, Eager and co Un-restricted FA’s

TSN story


Basically there is a question as to whether or not Blackhawks management met the deadline in notifying restricted free agents of the necessary qualifying offers to Hawks players Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer and Aaron Johnson.

Should the NHL and NHLPA determine the Blackhawks erred in giving those players proper notification by the deadline, those players potentially could become unrestricted free agents.  Of course, the NHLPA will fight for the players who didn’t get timely notice to become unrestricted; the league will defend the Hawks arguing the opposite.

The ongoing investigation would also hold up any trades the Hawks could make involving Barker or Versteeg, two players heavily rumored now to be on the move.

Fax confirmations of qualifying offers to above Hawks’ restricted free agents were received by the league office in compliance with the deadline, but Hawks general manager Dale Tallon told TSN players’ copies were mailed on June 29th and some did not receive them in time, blaming the July 1st holiday in Canada.

I guess the Hawks haven’t heard of this new advancement called overnight delivery?


ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock
Fri, July 3, 2009 | link 

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Ho$$a, Ho$$a, Ho$$a

First off, I want to thank everyone who sent emails and passed along notes yesterday in reference to my father’s health.  I was quite caught off guard but appreciative as well.  He’s fine.  Doctors found him to have some heart blockage and he went through a procedure to determine the extent of it and the result is its minimal and with some drastic (for him) diet alterations, he should be just fine.  My parents aren’t too old as they seemingly couldn’t wait to get started on me in 1977 so experiencing heart issues at this stage is still pretty serious.  Keeping my dad way from caffeine, sweets and red meat is too.

-- Subtract Nikolai Khabibulin, Martin Havlat, Samuel Pahlsson and Matt Walker.
Add Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky and John Madden.

I’d like to give Dale Tallon his time to finish the major off season handiwork before assessing the changes and giving my take as to what the effects of the changes will be, but if you’re looking for an early prognostication, these changes raise more questions than optimistic conclusions.

-- One thing I think everyone should get very clear in their minds – Just because Dale Tallon was able to structure (scheme is a better way of putting it) a contract with a $5.23M annual cap hit for Marian Hossa, the biggest free agent catch of 2009, doesn’t, in any way, suggest he’ll have similar success when negotiating new deals for Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

There’s a distinctive difference.  Marian Hossa will turn 31 in January.  He signed a 12 year contract, meaning he’ll be 42 when the contract runs out.  That noted, the deal is heavily front-loaded.

If one looks at the Hossa contract for what it really is, Hossa signed an eight year contract worth a reported $59.3M at an average of roughly $7.4 million per season.  At the end of those eight years Hossa will be 38 and on the verge of retirement.  He could play a season or two more, but logical reasoning would tell you there won’t be much motivation for a 39 year old tired veteran in putting himself through the rigors of another 82-plus game season while taking an 88% cut in pay when by 2017-18 that may be the league minimum or less.

Hossa knows the likelihood of fulfilling those final four years on the deal are slim, so the corresponding compensation in those years at signing were inconsequential.  Once a player retires his team is off the hook from any further contractually obligated monies.

Next summer, when their status comes up for renewal, Duncan Keith will be 27, Jonathan Toews 22 and Patrick Kane 21.  All three will have a minimum of twelve playing years in front of them, all at elite levels.  Any agent advising those three to take drastic pay cuts on the latter half of their deals for the sake of good-will or allegiance to the cause will be cut on the spot.

Let’s take Marty Havlat as an example.  He’s gets knocked out cold in Game 3 of the Red Wings series by Nicklas Kronwall, lies motionless on the ice for several moments and leaves the game.  Less than forty-eight hours later he suits up for Game 4, a game he should’ve never skated in, fighting through concussion symptoms presumably because he was being a “team player”, fighting for his teammates and the insignia on his chest representing his employing organization.  The same organization which allowed Havlat to risk his health and career playing through the concussion in Game 4 only to conduct half-hearted contract re-negotiations with the player a month later and jump on Hossa’s bandwagon the second league UFA phonelines opened.  What did Marty Havlat get for his allegiances?  How was he rewarded?  He wasn’t.  So explain to me why another player should trust this hockey operation enough to give them their loyalty through a massive below-market discount?

What Hawks management needs is for the cap escalation rate to return to its usual six million or so per season jump as it had been before the economy hit advertising rates and corporate ancillary expense funds like a scud missile.  If the 2010-11 upper limit should rise to 63-64 million, the Hawks cap concerns will fade.

Since fans get so hung up in salaries when doing their own player evaluations, you should recognize Hossa as a $7.4M player, because that’s what he is.  Three hundred thousand a year more than Brian Campbell and two years from now Hossa won’t be more than the third or fourth best player on the team.  He may not be this season.  You’d better believe Toews and Kane’s agents understand it.  And when you’re writing your own imaginary player contracts intent on keeping this team together as presently constructed in your mind, you should too.

Dropping Havlat and replacing him with Hossa was shrewd and at least with all the knowledge available to us, was absolutely the right decision for the organization at this time.  No question.  Whether it was for one year, two, six or twelve allocating precious salary cap dollars to a game-changing forward is something not to be messed with or swayed by affectionate reasoning.

All things being equal; relative age, health and continued production, Hossa vs. Havlat is a great debate.  But everything isn’t equal.  No one can look at the evidence at hand and suggest Havlat will hold up over a six year deal.  That’s why he’s no longer a Blackhawk.  There is no other reason because if all things are equal, Havlat stays because recent evidence has shown he can be counted on in postseason.  If health wasn’t a factor, Hawk fans would be sounding off passionately on this move after Hossa’s disappearing act in the playoffs.

There are arguments to be made for both guys but to be fair, they go about their business on the ice differently and it remains to be seen whether Hossa’s act is a better fit with this group.  He’ll score goals and attract a bunch of attention.  Will he make the players around him better and score big goals in the playoffs?  We’ll see.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock
Thu, July 2, 2009 | link 

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Blackhawks sign center John Madden, 1 year, $2.75M

TSN is reporting.  John Madden leaves New Jersey for the Blackhawks.  One year.  $2.75 million.  Slightly more for the year, but two years less than what Samuel Pahlsson wound up getting from Columbus.  The price you pay for having zero depth at the position within your own system when you're going for it all.

It's a slight cut in pay for the 36-year old Madden who earned $2,938,540 last season with New Jersey.

So up the middle now....

1. Jonathan Toews
2. Dave Bolland
3. John Madden
4. Tomas Kopecky (c/w)
5. Adam Burish (c/rw)
6. Jake Dowell

Is that enough to lead you to a Stanley Cup?  Are the Hawks any better off up the middle now than they were at the end of May?

This means Fraser only returns under a two-way.  Kopecky is a weird one.  I've got a feeling that the inclusion of Kopecky was some kind of a package deal with Hossa/Kopecky agent Rich Winter.  Adam Burish will be in the lineup every night above all else because of his favorable fourth-line cap hit.  The inclusion now of Kopecky (probably at wing) also indicates to me the Hawks have little or no expectation Kyle Beach will make this team in training camp.  They probably can't afford him at this point anyway.

At today's press conference, Dale Tallon confirmed qualifying offers had been made to restricted free agents Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Ben Eager, Corey Crawford and Troy Brouwer.  What does that mean?  Only that they retain exclusive rights to negotiate a new contract with stated players.  One or more could be used as trade-bait, at least one won't be a Blackhawk in the fall.  Eager and Brouwer won't cost much.  If Barker isn't on this team he'll need to be replaced and that would cost significantly more.  Which leaves Versteeg.  Over-hyped, over-valued and overpaid on the Hawks at anything exceeding two million.  Tallon could use him to go after a better goalie such as Minnesota RFA Josh Harding.  By admitting he talked to Khabibulin's agent up until the Hawks' former number one signed with Edmonton, Tallon's also publicly stating his unhappiness with his goaltending situation. 
Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

More signings on Day One

Most recently...

Blackhawks lose Samuel Pahlsson to the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The third line center gets good coin for the jump; 3 years and $7.95M for an averaging cap hit of $2.65 million.  So Pahlsson holds on for exactly what he was looking for.  Blackhawks instead opt for Kopecky in a package deal of Rich Winter clients.

Earlier.....

- Steve Sullivan stays in Nashville - 2yrs, $3.75M per year according to TSN's Darren Dreger

- MTL defenseman Mike Komisarek is now a Toronto Maple Leaf - 5yrs, $22.5M, $4.5 per year

- A move Montreal will regret by Christmas, they signed Mike Cammalleri to a five-year, $30 million deal.  Yes, $6M a year for a guy not Los Angeles, nor Calgary will ever miss.

- And the string of over-spending on Jaroslav Spacek miraculously continues.  Apparently desperate, Montreal gives Spacek 3 years and $11.5M (3.83 annual cap devastation).

- How about one more thing Habs' fans can be pissed about?  Bob Gainey signs defenseman Hal Gill for 2 years at $2.25M per year.  Ouch babe.  How bad is the East after Pittsburgh, Philly, Boston and Washington?

- The Alexei Kovalev deal rumored earlier today was never completed by the way so he's still out there looking for a team.  So is Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat, Alex Tanguay, Francois Beachemin.

- Dwayne Roloson - New York Islanders - 2yrs - $5M, 2.5 per year in the deal that prompted Oilers' GM Steve Tambellini to flip out and give Nikolai Khabibulin a four-year guarantee, running out when Khabibulin is 41.

- Nashville re-signed Joel Ward.  2 years, $3M (1.5 per)

- The Preds lost Vernon Fiddler to Phoenix (2yrs, $2.2M, 1.1 cap hit) and defenseman Greg Zanon to Minnesota (3yrs, $5.8M, $1.93M cap hit)  both details courtesy of TSN.

- Centermen Steve Begin goes from Dallas to Boston.  1 year, $850k.  Good deal for the B's.

- If there ever was a team Ian Laperriere should dress for, it'd be the Philadelphia Flyers.  Philly signs Laperriere to a three-year deal worth $3.5M, averaging $1.17M per.

- Backup goalie Brian Boucher heads to Philly as well.  2yrs. $1.85M, 925k per cap hit

- Really smart signing in Buffalo.  Defenseman Steve Montador (surprisingly valuable fantasy player too) signs 2 years worth $3.1M and $1.55 annual cap hit.

Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

Nikolai Khabibulin to Edmonton - 4 years, $15 million


Deal averages $3.75M a season which sounds great for a number one goalie, but with Khabibulin turning 37 during the first year of this contract and probably good for no more than 50 games tops, the Oilers better have a solid plan to back of Khabibulin or Oil fans will be hating that deal quickly enough.

Rumors abound today that the Hawks and Oilers were in trade negotiations for Cristobal Huet.  The Blackhawks would have much rather traded Huet and signed the more popular Khabibulin, but obviously those talks broke down and Edmonton went with Khabibulin.

You're left to wonder whether or not the Hawks were the indirect losers in the proposed trade involving Ottawa, Edmonton and Dany Heatley.  The trade; Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid to Ottawa for Heatley, is in limbo due to Heatley being undecided on waiving his no trade clause to go to Edmonton.  The trade has been on the table for less than 24 hours but considering the timing (12 hours before UFA period begins) and Heatley's demand to be dealt, he's screwing with a lot of different teams, not just Ottawa and Edmonton, right now.  It seems Heatley is biding time perhaps hoping another, more desirable, organization steps up with a better offer to Ottawa.  At this time the Oilers probably weren't willing to part with any more assets while waiting to hear back from Ottawa and Heatley.

Dale Tallon will speak to the media at 4pm press conference. 

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

Blackhawks come to terms with C-Tomas Kopecky - 2yrs, $1.2M per

Second Red Wing in less than an hour to trade shades of red.  Tomas Kopecky.  Two years and $2.4 million total for Kopecky, who was never consistently more than a fourth liner in Detroit.

In case you missed it in the UFA tracker below, the Hawks lose Matt Walker to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Wondering how much?  Four years, $6.8 million for a $1.7M averaging cap hit.  Way too much for a sixth defenseman.  Good for him.  Good for the Blackhawks.

The Hawks still have a lot of work to do.

UFA
C-Samuel Pahlsson
G-Nikolai Khabibulin (Edm, LAK)
RW-Martin Havlat (Mon, LAK, Van, Minny)

RFA
LW-Kris Versteeg
D-Cameron Barker
G-Corey Crawford
RW-Troy Brouwer

Others: D-Aaron Johnson, C-Colin Fraser, D-Logan Stephenson, LW-Pascal Pelletier, C-Tim Brent
Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

BLACKHAWKS SIGN MARIAN HOSSA - 12 YEARS - $62.8M
TSN reporting

- 1:42pm - According to Dreger's latest report and math, the first 8 years of Hossa's contract is worth $59.3 million or $7.413M a season.  The final four years (for which Hossa would be 39-40-41-42 years old) are worth $3.5 million.  Hossa will turn 31 in January.  This 12-year contract ends at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.  This deal was likely structured by both sides with the idea Hossa very well could be retired and off the Blackhawks' (or whichever team owns his rights at that point) books by years 9-12.

- 1:17pm - Now Darren Dreger is reporting the meat of the deal, the first seven years, are worth approximately $53M, or $7.571 per year in those front seven.  Of course that leaves the back end with about 10 million spread over five years.

I don't feel sorry for Martin Havlat since he's going to get a good contract from someone shortly but after risking his health and career suiting up for Game 4 vs. the Red Wings - then being strung along in contract negotiations only to see the Hawks use the same five million dollar cap hit they wouldn't commit to him, the Hawks come off looking bad on this one.  Not because they chose the wrong player, but because they showed total disregard for the health of a player they had no intention of committing to.

-- There are a few people already emailing to congratulate me on predicting this signing in October and November.  That's true but I'm still shocked Dale Tallon pulled this off with the cap essentially staying put next year and the uncertainty surrounding its future.  For Tallon, this is a joint coup/gamble of immense proportions.  And he's still got a lot of work to do putting this team together because the West is stacking up by the minute and there's still a good possibility Vincent Lecavalier will be in LA soon.
Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

UFA - Day One


TSN is reporting the Blackhawks are in hot for Marian Hossa.  I don’t see Hossa gambling on another one-year so this would have to be the first of many moves should the Hawks pull it off which would be a heck of a coup for Tallon getting the top free agents back-to-back summers.  Still, this is hard to believe because there’d have to be enough money left over to retain Khabibulin (which would be a mistake) and that means not taking any rich contracts in return on a potential Huet deal.

Also, if Josh Mora’s
blog post from yesterday is accurate (he’s heard of Versteeg and his agent wanting Patrick Sharp-like money this summer ($3.9M) and that’s a sign of insanity) Versteeg’s played his last game as a Hawk.  Which is fine with me.

UFA signings through the first hour.

- Mattias Ohlund going to Tampa Bay.  7 years. $24.5M ($3.5 per cap hit)

- Radek Dvorak re-signs with Florida.  2 years. $1.7M per

- Vancouver will be active today.  Marian Gaborik is heavily rumored to be heading there.  Which has been rumored since the before the ’08-09 season even began.  The Sedins each re-upped for five years and $30.5M a piece.  That’s a 6.1 million cap hit for both.  If they sign Gaborik and get the Luongo deal done at some point before the season starts, that’s about all they can do.

Things happening late last night you may have missed:

- Jay Bouwmeester agrees to 5 years in Calgary to be with his girlfriend.  Take it from me, if he takes all five of those years to propose he'll really be unrestricted at the end of that deal.  $6.68 annual cap hit for a total of $33.4M.

- Rob Blake back in San Jose for another try.  1 year, $3.5M – TSN reports

- Bill Guerin – 1yr $2M with Pittsburgh

- Jere Lehtinen – 1yr $1.5M re-signing with Dallas

-- Alexei Kovalev has re-signed with Montreal for two years.  Awaiting the money.  2-years, $4.4M a season according to the National Post.  Kovalev's agent insists the deal isn't done yet (12:20pm)

- Jacques Martin will need a better plan than playing Scott Gomez and Alexei Kovalev together.  That’ll work as well as Jagr-Gomez.

Today's a day I for sure wish the new site was ready by but this thing is completely out of my hands at this point.  Should be within a couple of weeks which is probably better timing to work out the kinks.

- Brian Burke shook up the world in hour two luring Colton Orr away from the Rangers.   Four years, a total of $4 million.  Orr's the rugged winger who knocked Niklas Hjalmarsson out opening night at MSG in October, which ultimately led to Hjalmarsson losing his spot in Chicago until being recalled after the Wisniewski-Pahlsson trade.  By the way, Petri Kontiola is without a contract in Anaheim today.  Second year in a row now Toronto signs a no-talent Ranger (Ryan Hollweg) for too much money.

- Florida Panthers at least do one thing right today.  They re-sign RFA David Booth to a six year $25.5M deal.  That's a cap hit of $4.25M which is just about right for him in that market.  All Booth does is shoot and score goals.  He's capable of little else but they need him.

- Darren Dreger of TSN is now saying (12:55pm) that Hossa to Chicago is a done deal.

BLACKHAWKS SIGN MARIAN HOSSA - 12 YEARS - $62 MILLION - TSN reporting (1:00pm)

- Hawks lose (though I'm sure many wouldn't call it that) Matt Walker to Tampa Bay.  You can always count on the Lightning to overpay for bad defense.  Walker signs for 4 YEARS - $1.7M per year [6.8 total]

- Ty Conklin leaves Red Wings for St. Louis - 2yrs - $1.3M per [2.6 total]

- Craig Anderson goes from FLA to Colorado - 2yrs - $1.8M per [3.6 total]  Anderson lost his shot at the Team USA roster by skipping the World Championships not wanting to risk injury and lose out on a big UFA deal.  I'm not sure you can characterize 1.8 million as a disappointment (Peter Budaj is still with the Avs) but I'm sure he was hoping for more.

- TOMAS KOPECKY is also leaving Detroit for Chicago - 2yrs - $1.2M per [2.4 total] to center the Hawks third line presumably.

TSN Free Agency Tracker

Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

Random thoughts moments before the gates of free agency implode


I’m missing my dad’s heart procedure for day one of the 2009 free agency period so we’d better get something good out of this day or I’m gonna feel sympathy.  As it is now I’m either officially securing my place in hell or assuring I’m stricken with a similar ailment in the very near future.  Perhaps all those recent blackouts are something I should advise a physician of.

A part of me selfishly thinks the best thing that could come out of this day would some Western Conference team throwing a bunch of dough at Martin Havlat so I can laugh at dopey Blackhawks fans for the next decade while they boo Havlat and cry “but he tweeted me that he wasn’t selling his place in Chicago and there was nowhere else he wanted to be but a Blackhawk.”  Losers.

How come it is every time that new Touch of Gray ‘Just For Men’ “Best of Both” hair coloring commercial comes on I think of John McDonough?  The “my hair says experience…. But my hair says energy” commercial.  You know the one.  “Now I look I know what I’m doing….”

I had weird dream last night.  The Blackhawks hired Mike Peluso and Dave Manson straight out of 1989 to mentor Kyle Beach and Akim Aliu in behavior on the road and around the town.  Street and violent crime rates skyrocket.  All four become folk heroes and go on to star in a Johnny Depp movie….  The Hawks call 2nd round pick Brandon Pirri up to the Hawks but he says he’d rather play a year in the UHL instead….. Dale Tallon, surely convinced by NHL Network incessantly running Game 7 replays of the 2004 Finals to re-sign 37-year old Nikolai Khabibulin, trades Cristobal Huet today but five minutes too late and loses Khabibulin as Dean Lombardi laughs his ass off somewhere in LA.  In response, John McDonough orders Tallon to sign every goaltender D.T. can find and the Hawks, in 2009, wind up with a goaltending carousel of Ed Belfour-Jimmy Waite-Bob Sauve-Jacques Cloutier and Lars Weibel with Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford stuck platooning in Rockford another year.  Somehow the Hawks still manage to have the most expensive goaltending in the league….  The Hawks re-sign every one of their restricted free agents for 30 percent above market value, sign Marian Hossa and Scott Niedermayer to the richest contracts in league history, then play all 82 of their games this year in against the Chicago Steel, Chicago Wolves and Blackhawks’ Alumni teams….. Joel Quenneville finally shaves off that silly mustache and phony toupee to reveal himself to be Bob Murdoch…. Rocky Wirtz hires Roger Nielsen as associate Senior Advisor.  Nielsen returns in afterlife and too insists Dale Tallon fire Denis Savard…. McDonough institutes the inaugural “Toga Night” at the United Center in 2009-10 and by the hands of satan we’re faced with the sight of Eddie Olczyk and Pat Foley announcing the game from the 300 level in backless togas…. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane sign on a spokesman for the new Keith Brown Condom. “Ripped, Ribbed and Lubricated. Taught yet Breathable”….. Dale Tallon has actually already been fired; John McDonough’s just waiting until after Europe to tell him…..

This will be the place to catch all the news and analysis of day one of NHL free agency,  Actually, its not “thee” place, rather a place as from time to time I may duck away from the computer for:

- My afternoon teleconference-bang with AOL chat friends I only know as L.Durham, R.Palmeiro, C.Sandberg, Dominatrices Kitaen-Finley and Mistress[a]-Rod.
- If I’m not too dehydrated after that I’ll close all the windows, put on six layers of cotton, crank up the heat and ride the elliptical while watching greek gangster movies in subtitles.
- Eddie Olczyk’s kids come over at three seeking attention they don’t get from their father.
- For lunch I eat tuna, drained and dipped in fat free ranch dressing.
- At five-thirty I enter a private s.chat room with Z. Sambolin, R.Magers and C. Marin with G.Zee moderating.
- Sometime this afternoon I’ll have to walk over to Stan Bowman’s house and return that calculator he’s been bugging me about for over a year for.
- Call Adam Burish and Jack Skille. Taste of Chicago tonight. Bang hot chicks.
- At six I’ll call the hospital and make sure my dad checked out under his own power and in one piece.  Closure.

Much more as the situation develops….

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Wed, July 1, 2009 | link 

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bolland's real number; U.S. releases orientation roster, HockeeNight


-- Dave Bolland’s official cap hit will come in at $3.375M annually, not the $3.6 number that was floated after TSN’s initial report at the draft on Friday.  That’s better, but still at least a half a million too much for what Bolland brings to the table at this point.  There are people defending the deal on the basis he’ll be worth it and more in years three through five, but paying based on expectations is a dangerous thing and restricted free agency is there to help prevent stupidity and control payroll structure.  In 2008-09, Bolland was a third line center with a first line winger, which elevated him to second line center status.  If Havlat doesn’t accept the one-year deal and out of the picture, you’re paying Bolland based on the belief he makes his wingers better.  It’s an arbitrary thing.  He’s well-rounded and dependable which makes life easier for his linemates, but can you really say his presence elevates Andrew Ladd or Dustin Byfuglien’s game?  If not that contract is a failure.  Until the cap goes up into the 70 million range, and with the high-end money being committed to the Toews, Kane, Campbell and Keith’s, the next tier of salaries will begin with this Bolland contract.  And now he must live up to a deal most would say he’s yet to earn.

Our payroll chart updated with Bolland's new paper 

-- Two Blackhawks, thirty-two others invited to
Team USA 2010 Olympic orientation camp August 17-19 at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, IL.  Orientation roster here.  Brian Burke’s no James Wisniewski fan either apparently.  Burke’s shooting up my list of favorite people lately.  This is no surprise as Wisniewski was a healthy scratch at the World’s in the spring of ’08.  Though ‘Wiz’ disputes that.  Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Kane are the lone Hawks’ representatives.  Mike Modano, Brian Rafalski, Jamie Langenbrunner, Chris Drury and Tim Thomas are the old guys.

H
awks video coach gets same gig with US Olympic squad 

-- The guys from over at HockeeNight have their
latest PuckCast up here.  This week’s guest is Julian from Pension Plan Puppets, a Toronto Maple Leafs blog.

I’ll be joining CT and “Forklift” once again next week to discuss all the latest Blackhawks news including whatever becomes of the opening week of free agency, the draft, day one of Blackhawk prospect camp (which I may attend), the salary cap and much much more I’m sure.

-- Johnny Oduya re-signed with New Jersey today.  That’s a UFA blue liner whose name has been brought up by some as a backup plan hoping the Hawks could deal Brian Campbell for Marty Havlat’s replacement.  No confirmed details yet.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Tue, June 30, 2009 | link 

Saturday, June 27, 2009

2009 NHL Draft in the books

The 2009 Draft in Montreal has come to a close and the Hawks got what they needed, at least in size and numbers.

Dale Tallon and company used their 8 selections entirely on defense and the center position, picking 2 blue liners and 6 pivots.  Both defenseman are going to fill out into big boys and two of the centers are already there with another potentially willing to do whatever it takes to get big.

Here’s how it goes.
 

Rd

PckOvrPlayerPosHtWtLeagueTeamNat
12828Olsen, DylanD6-2206AJHLCamroseUSA
22959Pirri, BrandonC6-0160OJHLGeorgetownCAN
32889Delisle, DanielC/W6-4222USHSTotino-GraceUSA
428119Froese, ByronC5-11191WHLEverettCAN
528149Kruger, MarcusC5-11172Swe-JDjurgarden JrSWE
626177Pacan, DavidC6-3187CJHLCumberlandCAN
714195Phillips, PaulD6-1195USHLCedar RapidsUSA
728209Gilbert, DavidC6-2176QMJHLQuebecCAN


In drafting Froese of the Everett Silvertips (where Kyle Beach played half of last season) with their fourth pick, the Blackhawks were sure to make mention that Froese enjoyed playing with Beach.  So they’re in full defense mode on Beach today.

You’ll notice they drafted a lot of guys based on upside (exactly how they draw their player contracts up coincidentally) and raw ability seeing with the exception of Froese and Gilbert, the rest of the picks were spent on guys not playing college or major junior level hockey.  That said, don’t expect any of these kids for another three seasons.

I’m on wedding duties the rest of today so I’ll return tomorrow with more on this and everything else Blackhawks.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock 

Sat, June 27, 2009 | link 

Hawks second pick Pirri a man with a plan


This is priceless.  So the Blackhawks use their second round pick (59th overall) to select Ontario Junior Hockey League (one step below OHL) center Brandon Pirri.

What’s funny is minutes later a story goes up on
Blackhawks.com written by NHL.com writer John McGourty with Pirri and how his plan all along was to stay out of Major Junior and dominate the lesser league so he’d get noticed.  This looks like a face you can trust.  Originally size was the excuse.  Pirri was 5-8 and 155 pounds when he was first drafted by Sudbury of the OHL as a 15-year old and not much taller and 160 pounds the next year.  Then prior to this past season, Pirri was closer to six feet and 170 pounds but still elected to stay in Junior ‘A’, a league he’d dominated for two years.

At least he’s honest.  Pirri will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (R.P.I.) in the fall and most draft prospects will diplomatically state their intentions in avoiding the OHL, WHL or QMJHL is to maintain college eligibility.  Not Pirri.

Step one – get noticed.  Step two – get bigger.  Step three – get drafted.  Step four – develop into a pro.  Even if part of the equation meant being an admitted bottom-feeder.

Pirri is smart and knows what works best for him.

In college hockey, with the shorter schedule, it will work to my strengths,” Pirri told NHL.com’s John McGourty.  I’ll have more time to work out, get bigger and stronger.  When I go to play pro hockey, I’ll be physically ready to play against men.

I’m a good student but I chose RPI more because I really believe in the coaching staff, that they’re going to get me to the level I need to be a dominant hockey player.  I’d like to play pro hockey as soon as possible.  When I go play pro hockey, I want to be ready when that time comes.”

Sounds like the kinds of things Akim Aliu was saying prior to last year.  Hopefully he commits himself to the university, his coaches and teammates, not solely professional aspirations or there could be trouble.

For future historical purposes, the Hawks picked Pirri two spots ahead of Chicago Steel defenseman Philip Samuelsson (6-3, 198), the son of Ulf Samuelsson.

Rensselaer competes in the ECAC (or Ivy) league out East with Princeton, Harvard,

Yale, Brown, Cornell, etc.

-- The big news of the day so far has Darryl Sutter and the Calgary Flames acquiring rights to impending unrestricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold and a third round pick.  While that sounds like a lot (and it is) for a player who they’ll only have four days of exclusive rights to get a deal done before he hits the open market, keep in mind that a Bouwmeester signing will induce a Dion Phaneuf trade with Toronto and Ottawa as two possible destinations.  Phaneuf for Heatley would be fair but Calgary may not be able to afford Heatley’s $7.5 million cap hit should Bouwmeester get an annual 7.5M deal of his own.  The answer to who centers for Heatley on the Red Mile is Mikael Backlund.  If Sutter does sign Bouwmeester, his blue line will look much different than the one the Hawks saw in the Conference quarter-finals.  With Leopold and possibly Phaneuf out, Adrian Aucoin is also expected to walk potentially leaving Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr, Cory Sarich, Jim Vandermeer and Mark Giordano.  Missing Regehr was an x-factor for Calgary down the stretch and a healthy Cory Sarich is an improvement over Aucoin.  Giordano can really move and was missed versus Chicago and Vandermeer’s an average depth guy.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn@sbcglobal.net
Twitter.com/ChrisBlock

Sat, June 27, 2009 | link 

2009.07.01 | 2009.06.01 | 2009.05.01 | 2009.04.01 | 2009.03.01 | 2009.02.01 | 2009.01.01 | 2008.12.01 | 2008.11.01 | 2008.10.01 | 2008.09.01 | 2008.08.01 | 2008.07.01 | 2008.04.01 | 2008.03.01 | 2008.02.01 | 2008.01.01 | 2007.12.01 | 2007.11.01 | 2007.10.01 | 2007.09.01 | 2007.08.01 | 2007.07.01 | 2007.06.01 | 2007.05.01 | 2007.04.01 | 2007.03.01

Link to web log's RSS file


Chris Block joins CT and "Forklift" on the June 16th edition of the HOCKEENIGHT "PUCKCAST" - 75 minutes of Blackhawks talk.  Punch the button below to listen.

2009-10 Blackhawks Depth Chart
Updated July 1, 2009

Wing

Center

Wing

1

Patrick Sharp

Jonathan Toews

Patrick Kane

2

Kris Versteeg

David Bolland

Marian Hossa

3

Andrew Ladd

John Madden

Dustin Byfuglien

4

Ben Eager

Tomas Kopecky (c/w)

Troy Brouwer

x

Kyle Beach

Adam Burish (c/w)

Jack Skille

x

Bryan Bickell

Colin Fraser

Akim Aliu

x

Rob Klinkhammer

Jacob Dowell

Dan Bertram

x

Adam Hobson

Evan Brophey

x

Nathan Davis

**

Left Defense

Right Defense

1

Duncan Keith

Brent Seabrook

2

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Brian Campbell

3

Cam Barker

Brent Sopel

x

Aaron Johnson

Jordan Hendry

x

Jean-Claude Sawyer

Mike Brennan

x

Jonathan Carlsson

Brian Connelly

x

  *

Goaltenders

1

Cristobal Huet

2

Antti Niemi

x

Corey Crawford

x

Joseph Fallon

x

Alec Richards

*

Blue indicates newly acquired player

Red indicates Blackhawks’ 1st round draft picks

Green – Hawks’ 2nd round picks

Orange – Hawks’ draft picks (rds 3-8)

THEY GONE

RW-Martin Havlat – UFA – Signed with Minnesota Wild (6yrs $30M) on 7/1/09

C-Samuel Pahlsson – UFA – Signed with Columbus [3yrs $7.95M] on 7/1/09

G-Nikolai Khabibulin – UFA – Signed with Edmonton Oilers [4yrs $15M] on 7/1/09

D-Matt Walker – UFA – Signed with Tampa Bay Lightning [4yrs $6.8M] on 7/1/09

C-Tim Brent – UFA –

LW-Pascal Pelletier – UFA –

D-Jimmy Sharrow – UFA – not tendered qualifying offer

D-Logan Stephenson – UFA – not tendered qualifying offer

LW-Adam Berti – UFA – not tendered qualifying offer

D-James Wisniewski – Trade – 3/4/09 – To Anaheim with Petri Kontiola for C-Samuel Pahlsson, D-Logan Stephenson and a conditional draft pick.

C-Petri Kontiola – Trade – 3/4/09 – To Anaheim Ducks (see above)

RW-Craig Adams – Claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh Penguins, 3/4/09
Puck Chatter


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Chris Block joins CT and "Forklift" for the April 14th edition of the HOCKEENIGHT PUCKCAST.  Blackhawks and NHL Playoff Discussion.

Chris Block joins CT and "Forklift" on the March 24th edition of the HOCKEENIGHT PUCKCAST

Habby

9 seasons

Career Before Chicago

476

2.61

209

187

58 (T)

35

.910

Age

Season

GP

GAA

W

L

OTL

SO

Save%

33

05-06

50

3.35

17

26

6

0

.886

34

06-07

60

2.86

25

26

5

1

.902

35

07-08

50

2.63

23

20

6

2

.909

36

08-09

42

2.33

25

8

7

3

.919


Khabibulin is slated to make $6.75 million dollars in this, the final year of the 4-year $27M contract he signed after the lost 2004-05 season.  He will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2008-09 season.   Though he’s hardly alone in shouldering blame, the Hawks went 97-119-30 in Khabibulin’s first three seasons in Chicago.


Prior to becoming a Blackhawk, Khabibulin registered shut outs at a rate of about every 13 to 14 games or so.  Blackhawks fans can only dream.  Three seasons in Chicago: FIVE shut outs in 199 appearances or ONE every 53 games.  Up to date ratio: 1 shutout about every 39 starts.


A member of and starting goaltender for the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lighting in 2004, Khabibulin was signed as an unrestricted free agent on August 5, 2005.

Photo credit: ChicagoBlackhawks.com  -  Stats updated through the end of the regular season.

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Mustache leads Parros, Ducks to UC, Havlat tries to avoid It, and unlucky 13

TheThirdManIn's 'Hawks 07-08 Season Preview

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Another Chicago Blackhawks season is in the history books.  However, this doesn't mean our site is heading north to cottage for summer.  Stay here for daily updates on the goings on in the 'Hawks organization and the news from around the league as it concerns the Mr. Wirtz's hockey club and its' former players.

Check here for all the news on the Norfolk Admirals and their AHL playoff run, the move to Rockford, 'Hawks in the IIHF World Championship in Moscow, the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, and the NHL off-season chronicles.  We'll have an in-depth analysis on the 2006-07 season that you won't find anywhere else, as well as look ahead to the 2007-08 campaign.

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