The NHL will finally release the 2008-09 schedule on Thursday.  It’s been pushed back 2-3 times but is now apparently ready.

** Blackhawks Preseason Schedule – Complete (Home dates in red)

Tuesday Sept 23 – vs. Columbus Blue Jackets – United Center – 7:30

Friday Sept 26 – vs. Minnesota Wild – United Center – 7:30

Sunday Sept 28 – vs. Dallas Stars – United Center – 7:30

Monday Sept 29 – at Columbus Blue Jackets – Nationwide Arena – 6:00pm

Tuesday Sept 30 – at Minnesota Wild – Xcel Energy Center – 7:00pm

Thursday Oct 2 – at Dallas Stars – American Airlines Center – 7:30pm

Friday Oct 3 – at Colorado Avalanche – Pepsi Center – 8:00pm

Sunday Oct 5 – vs. Colorado Avalanche – United Center – 6:00pm

-- Tickets for Blackhawks preseason home games went on sale this Tuesday.

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** Put out as marketing teasers (and a good way of promoting the schedule unveiling), some teams announced their home openers on Wednesday prior to the complete season release Thursday.

What we know is the Hawks will participate in Washington’s home opener on Saturday October 11^th.  So Cristobal Huet presumably will meet his former mates right off the bat.  The Caps will be in Atlanta the night prior for the Thrashers’ 2008-09 home ice debut at Philips Arena.

Chicago will play Boston both at the UC, and at the TD Banknorth Garden as part of the new ‘at-large’ inter-conference scheduling format.  Mmmm, Bruins' Ice Girls~!

The Blackhawks other two Eastern Conference home-and-home series will showcase New Jersey and at team to be named Thursday afternoon (Islanders, Rangers or Lightning).

Also of note:  Detroit will raise their latest Stanley Cup banner at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday October 9 when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs, who last held a ceremony like that of their own in 1967.  The Wings will then head to Ottawa, where they will participate in both the Senators’ home opener, as well as this coming season’s first Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on CBC…. Toronto will host their first home game the same night against their arch-rival Montreal Canadiens…..  All six Canadian teams will meet at least twice this season…..

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** Dale Tallon signed three players to one-year deals on Tuesday.

-          Doug Janik (formerly of Tampa Bay), a 6’2 – 28 year old defenseman who played 136 games over the last two seasons with the Lightning.  Prior to that, he began his career with Buffalo, being a Sabres’ 2^nd round pick in 1999, but spent most of his time there in the AHL with Rochester.  Janik’s arrival should signal doom for one of the top six defenseman listed on our depth chart.  The National Post is reporting Janik will earn $500,000 this season.

-          Aaron Johnson (Islanders, Blue Jackets), another 6’2, 210 pound left-shooting d-man.  Most feel he’s regressed since leaving for New York in free agency last summer and barring injury or insane player transactions, I’d consider him a long-shot to make the 23-man roster out of camp.  This deal was actually completely last week, but the Hawks didn’t announce it until Tuesday.  Johnson’s deal reportedly will pay him $525,000.

-          Colin Fraser is back for one more year.  He’s a depth forward and a pretty darn good minor league player.  Fraser was a fan favorite in Rockford.  No word on the value of Fraser’s contract.

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** A few Blackhawks have requested new numeric stitching on their Indianhead sweaters.

Jordan Hendry will now wear #6, shedding his former #42.

Dustin Mc-Byfuglien has chosen #33, apparently signifying his move from super-heavyweight to just plain heavyweight.  I suppose this opens up a roster spot for my long-awaited comeback.

Niklas Hjalmarsson is now #4, switching from #41.  Now he’ll look even smaller than he’s listed as, which I didn’t think was possible.  Somebody at least get the kid a real helmet.

Newcomer, defenseman Matt Walker, will be seen wearing sweater #8.

Doug Janik, for now, will wear #14.  He wore the number three with Tampa Bay.

First-round pick Kyle Beach is being listed as #12.  Many scouts predict he’ll be sporting the number 890625CC before too long.  I’m just disappointed Dale Tallon overlooked Sean Avery this summer.  Could you imagine Beach centering for Akim Aliu and Sean Avery?  PURE GOLD~!

Other notable assigned numbers according to blackhawks.nhl.com

-          78 – Akim Aliu

-          40 – Dan Bertram

-          29 – Bryan Bickell

-          44 – Michael Blunden

-          41 – Nathan Davis

-          26 – Igor Makarov (Sergei’s kid)

-          57 – Michael Brennan

-          48 – Tim Hambly

-          23 – Aaron Johnson

-          42 – Shawn Lalonde

-          30 – Joseph Fallon

-          31 – Antti Niemi

-          70 – Josh Unice

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The “big rumor” making the internet rounds and now print media over the past two days has the Hawks, Senators and Kings working on a 3-way, “blockbuster” deal.

Here’s the rumor:  Chicago sends G-Nikolai Khabibulin and (either Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker) to Ottawa.  The Sens then ship G-Martin Gerber and D-Andrej Meszaros (RFA) to Los Angeles.  Chicago would then get C-Anze Kopitar (6’4 – 220) from the Kings.

Now, the bullshit meter goes up here for a couple of reasons.  And I won’t even address Seabrook’s inclusion in this scenario.  Why would LA get rid of arguably their most skilled forward?  Gerber’s a good goalie, but is likely to walk following 2008-09 and Jonathan Bernier is the future in net for Los Angeles anyway.  So, that essentially strips down to a Kopitar for Meszaros trade.  Meszaros is a good, complimentary #3 defenseman; Kopitar figures to center LA’s top scoring line for many years to come.  That’s not going to look good on Dean Lombardi’s next resume.

Here are Kopitar’s, a Slovenia native who turns 21 next month, career stats since being drafted (2005, 11^th overall)

Now, Kings’ GM Dean Lombardi is understandably desperate to bring in some high-priced talent as his team is approximately TEN MILLION DOLLARS – UNDER the bottom threshold for team salaries.  It’s estimated the Kings are hovering around the $30 million mark today, and need to get to the league minimum $40.7M by the start of the season.

On the other hand, Chicago needs to shed more than $4 million just to get under the salary cap.

With that in mind, what GM in their right mind would be on the phone right now offering Dale Tallon a fair deal, let alone a steal?  Sure, it works both ways, but the Hawks are in worse shape since they can’t release or buyout anyone without it counting against their cap.

Player contracts: 

Khabibulin ($6.75M, UFA following ’08-09)

Seabrook ($3.5M-3yrs, RFA following ’10-11)

Barker ($2.736 cap#, RFA following ’08-09)

Gerber ($3.7M, UFA following ’08-09)

Meszaros (currently restricted-free agent, seeking $3.5-4M a season)

Kopitar ($956,000, RFA following ’08-09)

Information found at NHLScap.com determines the Ottawa Senators to be over $9 million under the $56.7 maximum.  However, that is with Meszaros and Antoine Vermette still unsigned.  So, in doing the math, Ottawa couldn’t do this rumored trade without making another deal as they’d still need room for Vermette, who is scheduled to go to arbitration.

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Tim Sassone It's official: Blackhawks to play outdoors at Wrigley Daily Herald

Darren Pang talks "Winter Classic II" at Wrigley Coyotes.nhl.com

Jay Mariotti The Frozen Confines: Hawks at Wrigley a dream Sun-Times

-- Jesse Jackson sent in a note wanting to say he’s sorry…. John McDonough and Rocky Wirtz are reportedly planning a community-to-community bus tour this August to apologize to Hawks’ fans personally for Dan Kelly….. I’d like to apologize in advance for all of the horrible things I will write about Eddie Olczyk this year.. That’s a lie too…. Olczyk wrote in to note he’s still interested in the Atlanta Thrashers' coaching job.  Apparently Don Waddell didn’t get the message.….

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tickets for the Blackhawks’ four preseason home contests go on sale via Ticketmaster tomorrow morning at 10:00am.

-- Tuesday Sept. 23 vs Columbus Blue Jackets – 7:30pm

-- Friday Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota Wild – 7:30pm

-- Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Dallas Stars – 6:00pm

-- Sunday Oct. 05 vs. Colorado Avalanche – 6:00pm

Ticketmaster.com

* NHL regular season begins Wednesday October 8^th.  Again, the full regular season is set for release this Wednesday afternoon.

* The other news here is that, at least for the preseason, the Blackhawks have not moved their weeknight puck drops up to 7:05pm as was hinted by team president John McDonough late last season.

* Jason Williams signed with Atlanta this morning.  Thank God.  Perhaps Don Waddell would have interest in a one-legged U.S.-born defenseman?

We’ve updated the Blackhawks' current roster and the Payroll/Cap tracker, as well as the depth chart in the right column here on the front page.

My ‘brief’ vacation is over.  Many more updates and commentaries on Dale Tallon’s wackiness are long overdue and forthcoming.

The NHL is releasing this season’s schedule this week.  I believe its newest target date is Wednesday, which will trump the Chicago Cubhawks’ ceremonial convention kick-off announcement of this year’s Winter Classic at Wrigley Field by a day or two.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com