Your 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks (#33-#46)

I'm not ready to close the book on this amazing season just yet. So I figured I'd share my take on each player who contributed something of significance to the run, all 26 of em. I'll throw em up about 5 or 6 guys at a time, going through it numerically - starting with Keith and ending with Kane.

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Today: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

#33 – DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN (W)
82 GP, 17 G, 17 A, -7, 16:25 ATOI
22 GP, 11 G, 5 A, -4, 16:16 ATOI

When I first started planning these out, I figured I’d have to touch a bit on whether Buff was worth keeping, maybe even make a whole post of it. But the off-season moves pretty damn quickly, and now Buff is nothing more than a freakin sweet ass memory. And really, with the assumption that Versteeg will be gone too, it’s not even a debatable issue any more – the choice seemed to be a matter of Sharp, Bolland, Versteeg, or Buff – pick two. Well, they clearly picked the right two in Bolland and Sharp.

One final stay-or-go thought on Buff that I’m bothered I didn’t make in my post on the deal – Buff is only signed for one more year before he becomes an RFA. The Hawks would have still controlled his rights, but if he had as great of a season as some people are figuring on, or even just another great post-season run, the Hawks would have had to get rid of him next off-season anyway. So when you consider that Sharp and Versteeg each have two years left and Bolland four, it’s again clear why Buff had to go.

But this post is about looking back, and lord what a ride Buff has been. And not just this year, but go all the way back to 07-08. Just as the Hawks are breaking out as a franchise, so is Buff as a player. Finally starting to get comfortable as a power forward after years as a blueliner, Buff pots 19 goals in only 67 games and looks primed to take things to the next level.

But 08-09 is a bit of a disappointment, as the rest of the Hawks progress while Buff takes a step back. Despite playing in 77 contests, Buff manages only 15 goals and sees his ice time reduced from 17 minutes to 15.

The playoffs start… and again Buff disappears. Five games, one assist. Then, in Game 6 against Calgary, Buff explodes for a goal and two helpers. And now Vancouver comes to town… and Buff disappears again. You don’t remember that, do you? Everyone talks about how he owns Vancouver, but in the first four games of that series, Buff had no points. Sure he might have been working hard along the boards and being a big pain in front of the net, but that’s not how legends are made.

In fact, from what I can tell, Buff’s legend against Vancouver stems from a single 2-goal performance in Game 5. A crucial game, no question, and Buff’s two goals are monsters, making him the #1 start of the game. But in the 7 goal outburst that is Game 6, Buff manages just an assist. In five games against Detroit, he has only two assists.

Total playoff stat line in 08-09 – 17 GP, 3 G, 6 A. Not bad, but nothing too impressive. And kinda makes this season’s regular season performance make a bit more sense – Buff hadn’t broken out so much in the playoffs, he just had a few noteworthy games, as he always does, while mostly just being there.

There was a mild step up in the regular season, as he did get back to 17 goals despite playing the final few weeks back on D. But there’s no question Buff had still yet to come near the tantalizing promise he showed. 6-3, 246 and able to both skate and work the puck – the sky was the limit.

But Buff did find a bit of a value for himself in the regular season, thanks to his ability and willingness to skate on the blueline. He was an able performer back there, allowing the Hawks to get through a tough time and right the ship in time for the playoffs, even working a few games on the blueline in the opening post-season series. But still, eight games into the playoffs, including two against his supposed rival Canucks, and Buff didn’t have a single goal, nor even a single point.

And then the light went on. A hat trick in Game 3 sparks the Hawks to back-to-back road victories and a commanding 3-1 series lead. A goal and an assist in the deciding Game 6 starts a string of five straight games – including every single one against the Sharks – with a goal for Big Buff. Then, after being shut-out all series, Buff explodes for two goals and two assists in the pivotal Game 5 against the Flyers and buries another crucial score in the deciding Game 6.

Total – 11 goals in the final 14 games of the playoffs. Now that’s where Buff’s playoff legend was made. Don’t tell me how important he was in 08-09 – he really wasn’t. Sure Buff might have done a lot of little things, but you can always find guys for the little things. His value as a post-season performer was only established this year, with that incredible run that began in Game 3 in Vancouver.

In seeing all that, I’m just as confused as ever about Buff. His 08-09 performance, hell, even the first 8 games of this postseason (yes, he did skate the blueline in a number of them) and the first four of the Finals, don’t give me a ton of faith that you can count on Buff every time out.

But that stretch against the Canucks and Sharks, that finish against the Flyers – yep, there’s no question when he does show up, Buff is going to make a major difference. His impact is as big as anyone’s… when he decides to bring it all.

I’ll always love Buff for his heroics. He was a key cog to this title that we couldn’t have lived without. And I’ll eat crow there – I would have dumped this guy for prospects at the trade deadline and tried harder to shore up the blueline (as I was also no Sopel fan at that point).

Instead, the Hawks hung on to him and not only got even more prospects and salary relief when they finally did trade him, but also were able to call on Buff when the blueline desperately needed him, and then call on him again to break open the Canucks series, keep the Sharks from ever getting into it, and bury the Flyers.

So yeah, Buff will have a special place in my heart and Blackhawk lore. But I can’t help but see all those countless games he disappeared in – including many in the postseason, when he supposedly thrives – and decide that the front office made the right move selling high. Buff will be missed, but less so than the other guys they kept in his place.

#36 – DAVE BOLLAND (C)
39 GP, 6 G, 10 A, +5, 17:22 ATOI
22 GP, 8 G, 8 A, +6, 18:40 ATOI

Coming in off a great 08-09 where he not only established himself as a legit NHL centerman, but one with #2 scoring line capabilities, Bolland was given the gift of Marian Hossa last off-season. Cruelly, that gift would be taken away a few weeks later when it was announced that Hossa would miss the first 20-30 games of the season. Making things worse, Bolland’s own health issues flared up a few weeks into the season, sidelining him for months.

So it wasn’t until late in the season that Bolland finally was matched with Hossa on the second line. But the chemistry never quite worked. Maybe they didn’t fit together, maybe they didn’t find the proper third to make it all go, and maybe it was just a matter of not having a proper off-season, pre-season, and regular season to figure it all out.

Either way, the Hawks would eventually move Bolland back to the third line role he thrived at in 08-09 and put Sharp as Hossa’s center on the second line. The regular season ended with respectable but unimpressive numbers from Bolland and the playoffs started much the same way. Bolland did get the game-winner in Game 2, but for the most part, his Nashville series was more of the same – respectable but unimpressive.

And then the Sedins rolled into town, with one fresh off a points title and both looking as dangerous as ever. But Bolland, with a huge helping hand from Keith and Seabrook, made them look inconsequential. JQ loves his shutdown centers, getting the Hawks to add Pahlsson last year and Madden this off-season. But while Bolland might not have made the cut as a scoring line center, he apparently earned JQ’s love as a checking line one.

As he should have. Every time the Twins went over the boards, so too did Bolland. He logged huge amounts of ice time and was an absolute force in his own zone. And Bolland didn’t stop with the Swedes – he made the Team Canada line of the Sharks look just as docile. No better image of Bolland’s great work exists than Thornton frustratingly slashing Bolland’s arm in a late game face-off. The Finals? No different, as Richards, Gagne, and Carter were shadows of themselves, rarely making any impact.

Will Bolland ever become the #2 center the Hawks wish he could be? Maybe – in the playoffs, where scoring is tougher to come by, Bolland did net 8 goals and assist on 8 more, despite playing a checking line role. He’s still only 24 – Bolland may just find that scoring touch if put with the proper wingers (he sure did load up on points when he was with Havlat in 08-09).

But I’d be just fine with him as one of the best checking line centers in hockey. Bolland helps brings offense to that line, ensuring a deep, dynamic scoring attack. More importantly, he’s as good shutting down opposing top lines as anyone I’ve ever seen – and he’s got the Cup to prove it. Bolland even showed that pest streak – the ability to get under the opposition’s skin – such a crucial aspect of the shut-down role.

With four more years in his current contract, I’m damn glad to have this guy in the Indian Head sweater for a while longer. Ideally I’d like to see him stay as a plus checking line center, but I wouldn’t mind if the Hawks try again to see if he can make it work as a #2 scoring line pivot.

#37 – ADAM BURISH (W)
13 GP, 1 G, 3 A, +2, 8:46 ATOI
15 GP, 0 G, 0 A, -1, 5:35 ATOI

Burish didn’t have the season he would have liked to, personally. An injury robbed him of almost the entire regular season and didn’t give him the time to get back into any significant role. He did skate in a good amount of games in the post-season and did fulfill a key role – bringing a bit of energy and tenacity when needed. But last season Burish was a crucial 4th liner and a guy who did a great job killing penalties. This year he was a token 4th liner, barely registering 5 minutes a game.

What does the future hold for Burish? Who can tell. This year was in large part a throwaway. But he’s still young (27), he’s still a plus skater for a 4th line energy guy, and he still is a capable penalty killer. Throw in the grit he brings, the fact that he’ll drop the gloves, and the pest role he fulfills so well, and Burish has his value.

The question is how much value… i.e. how much is some team going to want to pay him? You could see Burish coming back at a pretty low salary just to stick with the Hawks and be in Chicago. With some of the losses the Hawks have endured, Burish could return to a more prominent 4th line and PK role. But he may also be just attractive enough that some team wants his experience and intangibles and pays him enough to price the Hawks out.

If so, it’ll be a loss to the Hawks. While they most certainly can live without him (as they showed for most of this season and most of the playoffs), Burish had his value. And as the team gets thinner in frontline talent due to the cap, it’s these kind of cheap grindy types that need to pick up the slack. It’ll be unfortunate if Burish isn’t one of the guys around to do so.

#39 – CRISTOBAL HUET (G)
48 GP, 26 W, 14 L, .895 SV%, 2.50 GAA
1 GP, 0 W, 0 L, 1.000 SV%, 0.00 GAA

Obviously signing this guy to that contract was a mistake on a lot of levels. But I’m gonna argue that it won’t be a regrettable one if the Hawks front office (actually, more likely its ownership) agree to eat the remainder of his contract and ship him off to somewhere in Europe or the AHL.

As it stands now, the Hawks have lost nothing by giving Huet that money. They didn’t lose any players these past two years because of the cap or finances and they weren’t gonna spend that money on someone else who was going to be around moving forward, as they already are overspent for the future.

And in the future, if the Hawks eat the contract, Huet has no negative effect on them – it’s like his contract doesn’t exist, cap-wise. The only losers are the Wirtz, who have to foot the bill (as they still are required to pay the actual money owed).

But I don’t think even the Wirtz lost. I think Huet was a key contributor to the team in 08-09. I think he was important to allowing that team to get the #4 seed and to eventually make it to the Western Conference Finals. And I know that experience was crucial for their confidence and know-how this year.

Huet played well in his half of the games in 08-09, when Khabi was either hurt or incapable of carrying the every night load. He won 20 games, had a 2.53 GAA and .909 save percentage. Those are all good numbers and they were key to helping the Hawks break through to that upper level of Western Conference teams.

But more importantly, Huet allowed JQ to rest Khabi and to have a respectable goaltender for the numerous times Khabi was hurt that year. That allowed the team to remain on its rolls and more importantly, for Khabi to be fresh come the playoffs. Given that Khabi would eventually break down in the Western Conference Finals (and take our season with him), if Huet wasn’t there to keep him fresh, I don’t see the Hawks having beaten both Vancouver and Calgary.

I also think Huet was a key contributor to the team getting the #2 seed this season and being in a place to succeed in the playoffs. Huet was crucial in getting the Hawks off to a great start and establishing a ton of confidence in themselves. He also was important in allowing Niemi to be brought along slowly without any pressure or expectations. I do not believe Niemi could have done as well had he been the #1 from the get go, or even been battling for a #1 spot with some other goalie. Only because Huet was there to carry the main burden was Niemi able to get acclimated to the league and establish some confidence in himself.

Finally, Huet deserves credit for stepping aside gracefully and never adding to the media- and fan-inspired circus that surrounded the goalie position. For such a high paid veteran who had done so much in his career (really – Huet has had a number of very good seasons), he could have complained publicly about his treatment (even if it was deserved), but he didn’t.

So yeah, Huet did not warrant that huge contract. And yeah, he’s got to be farmed out now and erased from the books. But given the fact that the Hawks won the Cup and that Huet played a crucial role in the steps leading up to that run, I’m not gonna regret that signing. Who knows what would have happened had we passed on Huet? But I do know what happened after we signed him.

#46 – COLIN FRASER (C)
70 GP, 7 G, 12 A, +6, 9:36 ATOI
3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, +0, 8:24 ATOI

Another guy who has since parted ways with the Hawks, I’ll be mildly sad to see him go. Fraser barely dented the post-season roster these past two years, playing in only 5 games total. But during the regular season of both seasons Fraser was a capable 4th line centerman, maybe a bit worse in the face-off circle than he should have been, but getting better (from a 47.8 to a 48.8 this year).

Fraser was solid on the penalty kill, had a decent scoring touch, and certainly busted his butt and got his nose dirty whenever needed. Although Fraser didn’t contribute a lot, he did help us get into the position we needed in the regular season to make the runs we did these past two seasons. And now his name is etched on the Cup forever, and therefore etched in the hearts of Hawk fans forever.

I wish him the best in Edmonton – a great landing spot. The team is bad, but that means a chance for some real PT. Fraser could establish himself as a nice 4th line centerman and penalty killer, with the upside to be a respectable checking line center some day (he still is only 25). Regardless, Fraser will hold a special place, not just for his overall contributions, but specifically for the way he helped spark a 4th line to an incredible scoring barrage in the last few weeks of the season. That barrage helped the team recover from their March swoon in time to handle the very pesky Preds in a tough first round series. For that, Fraser proudly earned his ring.


Please check back again for the final installation:

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Today: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

Goodbye Buff, Sopel, Eager, and Frasier - You Will Be Missed

Damn, gonna have to put the player reviews on hold until next week so that I can share my thoughts about yesterday's mega deal (and today's minor one). But hopefully I'll have the final two installations on Monday and Tuesday - thanks to all of you who've been reading em!

And so the Great Salary Cull of 2010 has begun... and with a bang.

Gone are Buff, Sopel, and Eager (as well as promising power forward Akim Aliu, drafted in the second two years ago). They take with them $6.3M in salary from last year. $3M in Buff, $2.3M in Sopel, and $1M in Eager. Gone too is Frasier, who only made $700k, but might have been due for a slight raise as a restricted free agent. Eager was definitely due for a bit of a raise, being a restricted FA. Offsetting the salary they got back, that is at least $6M in savings, maybe upward of $7M depending on what Eager is locked up for. Given what he meant to a Cup champion and how the Atlanta GM said they believe Eager can be a valuable forechecker capable playing above the fourth line, he might be making much more money next season.

Back are a late first and second round pick, giving the Hawks five choices between #24 and #60 in this weekend's draft. That's pretty big. While it won't net the Hawks an instant impact guy, it will give them five difference chances to net a prospect or two who develop into something down the road. Sharp, Bolland, Bickell, Frasier, Kopecky, and Norris Trophy Winner Duncan Keith were all picked right around that 25-60 range, so there is definitely lasting impact talent to be had. And the 6th round selection might be of some value - Johnsson, Madden, Campbell, Huet, Niemi, Hendry, Brouwer, Buff, and Burish were all available in the 6th rounds of their respective drafts.

Back also is Marty Reasoner, a veteran centerman. The guy consistently scores just over 10 goals a season with about 15 helpers, takes up 13-16 minutes of ice time, and most importantly, has regularly been at or over 52% in the face-off dot. With Bolland locked into your shut-down center role, Reasoner becomes a nice 4th line pivot who you can count on to help in defensive zone face-offs and provide always-necessary depth up the middle. I can't say I had ever heard of this guy before the deal, but from the little bit I've seen of his numbers, I think he's a perfect fit for the Hawks.

Especially because his salary cap hit is $1.15M, about a hair over the league minimum. Technically that's $500k, but if you have any NHL experience or are anything of a prospect, you're gonna make a million, minimum. And when you're a proven veteran who has a valuable skill - in Reasoner's case, the ability to play center and be strong in the face-off circle - then $1.15M is as low as the Hawks could ever have hoped to spend to have this type of player.

And they certainly needed this type of player. Sure, I would have liked to see Frasier get some more time to develop, as I think he really is taking to that 4th line centerman role. But he never has been strong on the face-offs, it's not clear he has much for upside left, and as a restricted FA who made $700k last year, he's not gonna be much cheaper than Reasoner. Throw in the pick they got for Frasier, and the Reasoner addition should not be overlooked in this deal.

The final piece coming back is 19-year old forward prospect Jeremy Morin, a natural goal-scorer who supposedly may not have the physical tools (namely speed) to produce at the NHL level. Of course, they have long said that about a lot of highly accomplished goal scorers. There is a distinct skill to having a nose for the net and this guy Morin might just have it. So maybe someday he does develop into the under-athletic headsy type who fills the back of the net. Lord knows the Hawks will have more than enough playmakers to set him up. Not that I'm counting any chickens, but this is a nice prospect to get into the system.


And my take on we gave up? Given that we knew we'd be losing a number of guys from the Cup team this off-season, I'm actually pretty pleased. First off, I'm glad to have a lot of the hit all come at once - sort of a band-aid ripping off thing. There still may be more to come, and almost certainly will be, but at least now it'll be small moves driven in part by a desire to improve the club, rather than just a straight salary dump.

Second, there was a time I would have parted with a significant prospect or two to get someone to take Buff's $3M and Sopel's $2.3M hits off our cap. To have them be the centerpieces of a deal that netted us huge and necessary salary relief, two high draft picks, a prospect, and a key (and cheap) role playing vet? Wow. But that was fair market value - Buff and Sopel played outstandingly in the playoffs.

As I said in my write-ups, Sopel evolved his game to his declining skills and made himself into a crucial 5th blueliner and top PK guy. This was especially key given the loss of Johnsson, who we had brought in to do just that. Was he overpaid? Maybe a little, but not as much as I previously thought. With just a year left on his deal, Sopel's $2.3M isn't terrible for a strong PK type who can skate 17 or so minutes and has a ton of veteran leadership and teaching to offer. The thing is that it was definitely a price the Hawks couldn't afford, at least not given Sopel's limitations.

However, it is a role the Hawks will need to fill. How they do so now becomes one of the front office's top challenges this off-season. Hendry might be counted on to improve, but at best I see him as a strong #6, using his plus skating to compliment a more lumbering stay-at-home blueliner type. But to be successful on another title run, the Hawks need a #5 who can take some decent minutes, kill penalties, and be steady while doing it.

What does that cost these days? I can't say I know. But I am sure there are a number of blueliners who can fit the bill but aren't making much. The challenge is to find them - find the journeyman vet who just needs the right situation. Or the seemingly washed up guy who is ready to bounce back. This is the stuff champions are made of - where front offices find someone on the trash heap and turn him into a key contributor. That #5 blueliner spot is the Hawks opportunity for such this off-season.

As for Buff, I have to say that without question he was the guy I most wanted to see go out of the group that also included Sharp, Bolland, and Versteeg. All made $3M or more, but only one guy disappeared for long stretches each of the past two seasons. Only one guy was single-dimensional. Only one guy was wholly reliant on the players around him to make him better.

There is absolutely no question that when motivated and when put in the right place and when not facing a game plan meant to shut him down executed by players capable of doing so, that Buff is a freakin beast. He had five game winning goals in the Hawks 16 Cup victories. Wow.

As my brother rightly pointed out - there are big guys and then there are guys like Buff... actually, his point was that there aren't guys like Buff. 220 is big in the NHL. Buff is pushing 260. With the way he can skate and the decent stick skills he has, he's on a whole nother power forward level. No matter who the Hawks try to replace him with, that guy will automatically be less of a physical presence and force.

And Buff's value as a guy who can go back and skate on the blue line in a pinch cannot be ignored either. You certainly don't want to plan on having Buff back there - he's not that great and it destroys his value as a wrecking crew in front of the net - but who wouldn't love having the security that if all goes to hell, Buff can be called on to help you win games from the blueline?

Still, we were more or less here last year, too. Buff had a brilliant series against Vancouver in 08-09 and looked like he finally got it. And then he sucked again this year. Occasional flashes were overwhelmed by long stretches of mediocrity. For a guy with his size and skill, games should not go by without him making an impact. But whole months would.

So what guarantee that Buff the Beast will be back next year? And if not, can you always count on him to turn it on in the playoffs? And how much of his success this year was because teams didn't expect it? Once Buff was established, Philly game-planned for him and made him a non-entity. Only when the Hawks threw out a completely new look did Buff finally break free. Can you count on that happening every series? What if we don't see Vancouver next year, but instead the wily Wings? Can you count on Buff being woken up by a team that won't get caught in stupid head games that awake the sleeping giant?

And let's not forget the first half of the season, when a guy named Troy Brouwer was playing the Buff role, scoring goals at regular intervals due to his strong work in front of the net. Or Sharps' 36-goal performance in 2007-2008. The common denominator to those virtuoso performances? They were all skating alongside Toews and Kane.

So is it Buff that's so good, or is it playing with two of the best young talents in the entire NHL that produces superstar performances? Are you so sure that Bickell, Ladd, or Brouwer can't join those two and score 30 next year? What about Kyle Beach, the highly-talented 1st round pick the Hawks made two seasons ago, who's chomping at the bit for an NHL spot? A power forward with a mean streak and a load of skill, Beach could be ready for big things.

Yeah, none of these guys will be as big as Buff. Maybe they won't have the same theatrics. But I have every faith that whomever is riding shotgun with Toews and Kane is going to do incredibly. And I think they'll do so all season long, rather than waiting for some opponent to light a fire under them.

Finally, I'd just much rather have Sharp, Bolland, and Versteeg than Buff. Or both Ladd and Brouwer than just Buff. Those were the trade-offs here. Buff is great, I wish he could stay. But he's the guy who will least hurt the Hawks with his departure. Sharp proved himself an outstanding second line center this season, capable of doing everything and anything in the game of hockey. Bolland emerged as one of the NHL's top shutdown centerman, ready to join Keith and Seabrook in blanking any top line. Buff wasn't in the same discussion as these guys in terms of value.

Versteeg? That's the closer call, and he still well may be on his way out the door. But either way, as rare as Buff's size is, it can be replaced by a slightly smaller but still sizable forward who's willing to get dirty. But Versteeg's playmaking? I'm telling you, that's the hardest to find and most valuable thing in hockey. Someone who can create like he can - can skate to space, can execute amazing passes, and can put beautiful shots on net for deflection and rebound chances.

On top of that, Versteeg has shown himself a defensive player. That means he can be counted on to kill penalties and skate on the checking line. And when you can put a playmaker on your checking line, lose nothing defensively but create an offensive push from that group, you become very dangerous. The Hawks have had that luxury of a scoring checking line the past two seasons and they've relied on it for a ton of their regular and post-season success.

Brouwer and Ladd? Hard to tell exactly what Ladd will make moving forward, but it's possible that his salary and what Brouwer makes will be right around Buff's $3M. So would you really rather have just Buff or both Ladd and Brouwer? These are guys who've shown they can score around 20 goals and be significant offensive threats. They've shown they can be physical, be good forecheckers, and play well defensively. They're athletic and can get up and down the ice with anyone.

Can you expect the same from some prospect? I don't think so. Look at Skille, a 1st round pick who's been given chance after chance and done nothing with them. Look at nearly every prospect the Hawks had from 1996 to Kane and Toews. Hell, look at Brouwer in his first year, when he got tons of time with Kane and Toews and couldn't do anything with it. It's foolish to think you can just replace guys like Ladd and Brouwer with ease. Sure, some turnover will be necessary, but you want to do as little as possible of proven contributors.

Where Ladd and Brouwer are now, they are valuable pieces. Assuming Ladd can be had for a reasonable amount, I'd much rather slot both of those guys into my lineup than just Buff. They're gonna make two lines better and do it on every night. They're dynamic two-way guys who will adjust to whatever line you need them on. And they're gonna fill the stat sheet up a little along the way.

So yeah, it sucks to see Buff go, he'll be missed in the playoffs. But he's in the East where he can't hurt us and we'd be much worse off today if some other name was involved in that deal instead.

The third reason I'm OK with this deal is that Eager is a luxury the Hawks can no longer afford. He was an outstanding 4th liner, easily one of the best in the NHL. On most teams he would have gotten 3rd line time, at least, and should see some real opportunities with the Thrashers (although I'm not sure they have the other players necessary for Eager to really thrive as the complimentary player he always will be).

But the Hawks were in a fortunate place with so much depth that Eager was buried on the 4th line. From there he provided impressive speed and energy, a ton of hits and a real physical presence (including as a fighter, which remains necessary in the regular season slog). And I was pumped to see him score a game-winning goal in the Finals, because I knew his goal-scoring skills were always underrated.

But the time for luxuries is gone for the Hawks. No longer can they survive with a $5M back-up goalie, as they have the past two seasons. No longer can they keep all their young studs and still add the most expensive free agent on the market, as they have the past two seasons. And unfortunately for Eager, no longer can they afford to have a guy proven to be one of the best 4th liners in the league, especially once he's got a Cup on his resume. Whether part of this trade or some other, Eager was clearly not going to be someone the Hawks could afford.

Finally, as I detailed a bit above, I dig what the Hawks got back. They couldn't add any significant salary (which would defeat the whole purpose of the deal - and NO question this was a salary dump deal first), so that limited what they could get in return. But the Hawks found all three things they could - high draft picks, a prospect, and a real cheap proven vet who fills a crucial hole.

In all, the first big blow of the off-season went about as well as I ever could have hoped. More guys will go (obviously Johnsson and Madden won't be back, and both Burish and Boynton could be in the same boat) and we may even be adding a few in their place. Either way, we'll have an incredible core to compete with anyone and I've got faith the front office and ownership will give us a real chance to defend next year.

Your 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks (#24-#32)

I'm not ready to close the book on this amazing season just yet. So I figured I'd share my take on each player who contributed something of significance to the run, all 26 of em. I'll throw em up about 5 or 6 guys at a time, going through it numerically - starting with Keith and ending with Kane.

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Today: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88


#24 – NICK BOYNTON (D)
7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, +4, 15:56 ATOI
3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, +2, 8:23 ATOI

I can’t say I have a whole ton to lay out about Boynton. I didn’t know much about him when the Hawks acquired him and I haven’t learned much since. He clearly wasn’t too highly thought of, as the Hawks chose to move Buff to D rather than give Boynton any time. When Buff was moved back to forward, it was Hendry who got the sixth blueliner starts.

Only when Hendry proved too shaky for even 6-8 minutes of ice time did JQ finally go to Boynton. And that’s why he’s on this list – because what he did for the Hawks, while minor and almost certainly to be quickly forgotten about by all but the most diehard of fans, was crucial to the Cup.

JQ needed another 8 or so minutes a night out of his 6th blueliner and Hendry didn’t seem capable of doing that without great cost to the team. He didn’t need to play any special teams, just get out there at carefully chosen moments and not hurt the team too much.

It wasn’t easy to tell how good or bad Boynton played, but it’s worth noting that he did fill those 8 minutes a night, he did end up a plus 2, and most of all, he was on the ice for both Game 5 and Game 6 of the Finals. And in Game 6, one mistake from Boynton could have made all the difference. But instead, on the biggest stage, despite just fleeting PT for the Hawks during the year, Boynton delivered as the Hawks needed him to and most definitely earned his engraving on the Cup.

#25 – CAM BARKER (D)
51 GP, 4 G, 10 A, +7, 13:06 ATOI
(DNP)

Another guy not worth delving too deeply into, as he was sent packing mid-season for Johnsson in an effort to shore up the blueline with a more reliable defender. No use regretting the deal – both guys eventually were lost for the year the Hawks won the title anyway, and Barker would have been certainly let go this off-season in the great salary purge. Throw in the speedy young defender the Hawks got, and this deal still only has upside.

I feel Barker deserved a spot on this list because he played in 51 games and was a semi-important part of the club’s success this year. Without Barker, who knows if the Hawks start out as hot, build as much confidence, and have enough of a cushion to survive their March blahs and hit the post-season ready to rock.

I’m not gonna say he was a major factor, but he did log some decent minutes, had some decent flashes, and helped in his way. Look no further than Hendry’s struggles in the post-season to appreciate what Barker meant.

Much like many of the other players the Hawks will lose from this team, I’m going to be very curious to see how Barker develops in Minnesota. He’s got a boatload of talent and works a lot harder than most people give him credit for. He seemed to break out a bit in the playoffs last year, only to take a major step back this season. But Barker’s still very young – I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns into a solid two-way blueliner, probably more apt to fill a #3 or #4 spot than be a top pairing guy, but a valuable player nonetheless.

#29 – BRYAN BICKELL (W)
16 GP, 3 G, 1 A, +4, 9:36 ATOI
4 GP, 0 G, 1 A, +3, 13:14 ATOI

Bickell showed some flashes in the regular season and even earned himself four starts in the playoffs when Q decided to shake up the lines against Nashville. Although Bickell wasn’t a major factor, he was a part of that turnaround which saw the squad reel off three straight wins and 13 total goals against the Preds after digging themselves a 2-1 hole in the series.

Bickell got himself an assist and was on the ice for about 13 minutes a game. That’s a significant number – that means Bickell wasn’t just skating occasional 4th line minutes. He was up with the big boys and being called on to take regular shifts at crucial times.

Unfortunately for Bickell, the team’s meltdown in Game 1 against the Canucks cost him a spot and JQ never looked his way again. However, that should definitely change next year, as the 6-4, 223 pound 24-year old is high on the list of players the Hawks front office is counting on to fill the gaping holes caused by the impending salary cap cull.

I’m not sure what we’ll get out of Bickell over the course of a complete NHL season, but I’m looking forward to finding out. With the type of playmakers the Hawks have, a guy with this size who has any sort of touch and drive should be a guaranteed 20 goals with upside for a whole lot more. It just remains to be seen if Bickell does have that touch and drive.

#31 – ANTTI NIEMI (G)
39 GP, 26 W, 7 L, .912 SV%, 2.25 GAA
22 GP, 16 W, 6 L, .910 SV%, 2.63 GAA

After three straight guys who barely reserved a mention, we’ve got a guy who could be deserving of more ink than any of these 26 players. Think about it – when the season began, Niemi wasn’t even assured of a place on the roster. But in the end, was there anyone else you would have least like to have lost the day before the playoffs began? It’s just the nature of hockey that the goalie is almost always that important – even on a team as loaded as the Hawks.

Yet, it didn’t start anything like that. Think back – when the puck dropped on the Hawk’s regular season, they were in Finland and carrying three goalies. Niemi and Crawford had both been solid, but neither spectacular, and the Hawks were only going to carry one. Niemi had a bit of a leg up, but not much. Essentially, the decision who stayed was going to come down to how Niemi played in his homeland in Game 2.

There was a hint of excitement to the shut-out he threw, but for the most part it was written off as the kind of random occurrence that happens here or there, and aside deciding who’d carry Huet’s golf clubs around, no one really cared too much about it.

Because no one realized that this performance showed us all that we needed to know about Niemi. This kid had barely had a cup of coffee in the NHL the year before, had only one year of North American hockey (in a split time role in the AHL last season), and had just been asked to play for his meal money for the rest of the year.

No pressure kid – your teammates are out of sorts from all the international travel, you’re in front of your own national fans – a group of hockey fans, mind you, that have come to expect great things from a long, accomplished line of Finnish netminders - and if you don’t play well tonight, you’re gonna be riding buses to half-filled minor league rinks again all winter.

Like he would do all year, Niemi stepped it up when it mattered most. He threw a shutout, got the Hawks a needed W from the trip to get the season started the right way, and gave Q some confidence in the guy who’d be backing up Huet.

That role alone would have made Niemi important, even had Huet not fallen apart. At his best, Huet never played more than 50 regular season games. Throw in that the Frenchmen also hadn’t ever taken on more than one round added playoff wear-and-tear, and it was clear the Hawks back-up backstop would have to be ready for quite a few starts along the way.

In those starts Niemi wasn’t always great, but he was great when it mattered. Look at that record - 26-7. Sterling. As I mentioned before the playoffs, check how he did in OT and shoot-outs. He had one of the top shoot-out save percentages in the league. He had some of the best OT GAAs in the game. While some would write those off as not having anything to do with playoff hockey, I said just the opposite. I said that’s one place you can definitely learn something about your goalie.

Those were the times the games were most clearly in his hands, and those were the times Niemi dug the deepest to deliver. So is it any surprise that come the playoffs, it would take 20 games before Niemi would allow his team to respond to a loss with anything but a W? Should it really have surprised us all that in each series he chose one game to simply will his team to a much-needed victory?

Is Niemi the perfect goalie? Nope, not by a long shot. He had plenty of stretches where he played iffy hockey, where he didn’t make the needed saves, and where the Hawks stellar D and high powered offense bailed him out.

But I think he is the perfect goalie for this team. The Hawks don’t need a superstar goalie, they just need a goalie who can make the big stops at the big moments, allowing the deep, talented group of skaters a chance to play for the win.

And that’s what he did for most of the year, especially down the stretch and certainly in the playoffs. The hope? That Niemi and his agent are smarter than most players and reps, and can see the longterm picture.

Niemi can most certainly maximize his current position, force the Hawks into a tough decision as to whether he is a big money goalie and whether a big money goalie fits with this team’s make-up. He can use his status as a restricted free agent to get a great offer that sets him up for the next 4-5 years.

Or he can appreciate that the position he’s in could allow him to go on a run of success that will keep him employed in the NHL for the next 15 years. Goalies can play forever, especially highly accomplished ones. If Niemi is willing to sign for a reasonable amount ($3Mish), the Hawks can keep him and enough talent around to just continue winning Cups. With a few more deep runs and another title or two under his belt, even if he doesn’t play particularly well, Niemi will forever be in-demand.

But if he leaves, goes to a lesser team who are placing higher expectations upon him? I can see Niemi becoming another in a long line of goalies who cashes in on one great post-season to become a salary albatross. Hell, the last two times the Hawks paid goalies that’s exactly what happened (remember, Khabi cleared waivers before 08-09 and Huet most certainly will before this season). And they aren’t alone – the NHL landscape is littered with these guys.

So let’s all keep our fingers crossed that Niemi understands this is where he fits best, where he has the best chance for longterm success both for his team and himself, and he does what’s necessary to fit into the Hawks’ salary structure. Because lord do I want to keep rooting for this guy. He’s an unheralded hard-worker who thrives on pressure and doesn’t let the occasional struggle keep him down for long.


#32 – KRIS VERSTEEG (W)
79 GP, 20 G, 24 A, +8, 15:44 ATOI
22 GP, 6 G, 8 A, +4, 17:13 ATOI

I can’t say Versteeg deserves the same amount of column space as a Niemi, Toews, etc. But lord would I love to give it to him. I can’t tell you why, but I dig this guy’s game. I just flat love Versteeg and while I know he’s gone, I’m hoping upon all hope that yet again the Hawks front office surprises me and finds a way to keep Steeg and Sharp in the Indian Head next year.

It’s doubtful that will happen, and as much as I love Versteeg, it’ll hurt if Sharp is let go so that Versteeg can stay. Versteeg brings a lot to the table, but on his best days he’s only as good as Sharp is on any given day.

But ignoring all that, man do I want to see this guy play out a few more seasons for the Hawks. I think he’s got a real break-out year in him. I think he’s got some great heroics in him. I think Versteeg could mature a bit and round into some sort of player. I don’t think he’ll ever be consistently great – he just doesn’t seem to have the mindset for it.

But he’s got a boatload of talent and a great approach to the game. Sure he can get too cute, but that glosses over the fact that he’s one of the few guys on the team who have the skills to get too cute. And the others are all your megapaid superstars – Kane, Toews, Keith, Campbell, Hossa.

Of all the support players, none – not even Buff – bring a more rare and valuable hockey commodity than Versteeg’s playmaking. Playmakers make everyone around them better and can be good no matter who’s on the ice. Think Buff is going to score many goals without Toews or Kane or the like setting him up? Think Ladd’s hustle and heart matter if he doesn’t have good players around to capitalize?

But with Versteeg, you can throw him out there with anyone and when he’s on, he will make whomever around him a more dangerous player. Versteeg creates space, delivers beautiful passes, and can put quality chances on net. But he also will rough it up along the boards (despite being no bigger than Kane), will work hard in his own end (he’s long been a plus penalty killer), and has no problem being juggled into different lines and roles.

I see Versteeg having a big year sometime soon, followed by a return to just consistent really good years. I see him being an impact player in some post-season run. And while I don’t see him ever breaking through to consistent studdom, I do believe that he’ll have a long, productive career. I think that once he starts to lose it physically, he’ll finally start to get it mentally, turn himself into the kind of vet winning teams look to add for a year.

Somehow I would love for Versteeg to go through it all as a member of the Hawks, but no matter where he goes, I’m gonna root for him.


Please read on for more:

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Today: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

Your 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks (#10-#22)

I'm not ready to close the book on this amazing season just yet. So I figured I'd share my take on each player who contributed something of significance to the run, all 26 of em. I'll throw em up about 5 or 6 guys at a time, going through it numerically - starting with Keith and ending with Kane.

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Today: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

#10 – Patrick Sharp (C)

82 GP, 25 G, 41 A, +24, 18:07 ATOI

22 GP, 11 G, 11 A, +10, 17:51 ATOI

How do you not love this guy? There are talks that he might be available, but what a travesty it’d be if he left the Hawks. Sharp literally brings everything to the table. Leadership? Check – the guy wears an A, is (relatively) an elder statesmen, and is clearly someone everyone defers to in the lockerroom.

Goal-scoring? 36 a few years ago, 25 each of the past two seasons (including in only 60 games last year), and then 11 in the post-season? Oh yeah, this guy can light the lamp. Playmaking? Until this year he had only once broken 20 assists, and even then only had 26. But with Hossa along and everyone seemingly able to fill up the net, Sharp morphed into a playmaker, posting 41 assists. And he kept it up in the playoffs, posting another 11 helpers.

Defense? A few years ago he was one of the top short-handed goal scorers in hockey. He still kills penalties regularly and is considered a plus defender. In fact, he’s such a good defensive player he’s able to move around and play on any line, even the third and fourth, as he did for stretches late last season and into the playoffs.

Finally, how about his ability to thrive at both the wing and center? Need him to ride with Kane or Toews as a winger? Sure thing – he’ll profit from their skill and bury their chances. Need a guy to fill up the middle, hold his own in the circle, and allow Hossa to thrive? No problem – Sharp did that for most of the regular and post-season this year.

The fact is that this guy simply comes into work every day and asks his coach what’s needed of him. No matter what the answer is, Sharp goes out and delivers. When you combine his impressive numbers, great leadership, and those sort of intangibles, there’s no question this is a guy you can’t live without.

Toews, Kane, Hossa, and Keith are assuredly on that must-stay list. Sharp deserves to be there too.

#11 – John Madden (C)

79 GP, 10 G, 13 A, -2, 15:25 ATOI

22 GP, 1 G, 1 A, -2, 11:35 ATOI

I’m gonna give the Hawks front office a boatload of credit for this signing. No, not the specifics of getting an experienced checking line center with a Cup on his resume. To be honest, that need was pretty obvious – in fact, that’s exactly what the Hawks added at the trade deadline last year in the form of Pahlsson.

However, the credit I give the Hawks is in not waiting until the deadline to bring this guy into the mix. In baseball, you can plan on adding a piece at the deadline and have confidence they’ll slot into your lineup and clubhouse without much issue. But in hockey, that’s not really the case – the longer you skate with your teammates, the better you all play off one another.

Especially with a guy like Madden, you need to get him into the mix from Day 1 so that both he and the rest of the club can profit from one another. The Hawks players needed Madden around to learn from him, to follow his example, and to understand how best to play alongside him. The Hawks coaches needed him around to learn what he could and couldn’t do and how to fit his specific skills in with the rest of the club. And Madden needed to get comfortable and feel committed so he could call on every last ounce of extraordinary effort to help will this team over the top.

And that’s exactly what happened – Madden gave the Hawks a third line center all year when they really needed one, moved back to the fourth line when that was what was called for down the stretch, and throughout was outstanding at taking key defensive zone face-offs as a winger on Toews’ line.

Throw in what he assuredly meant to that lockerroom and how important he was to them down the stretch and through the playoffs, when the pressure was high and the challenges higher. On top of all that, he just was a good player. Good in the face-off circle, good in his own zone, good killing penalties, and even a solid offensive contributor when it was called for.

Madden won’t be back next year, but his Mary Poppins performance for the Hawks was something that will leave a lasting impact on the franchise.

#16 – Andrew Ladd (W)

82 GP, 17 G, 21 A, +2, 13:42 ATOI

19 GP, 3 G, 3 A, +4, 12:48 ATOI

Ladd was a former top five pick, someone with good size, skill, and movement. He came over in a trade for Tuomo Ruutu, another former top pick with all the tools. So the expectation, or at least hope, was that this young kid who already had a Cup on his resume would morph into a star in a new setting.

That’s not what happened, but not in a fully bad way. Instead of breaking out as a star, Ladd accepted what he could and couldn’t do and has become the Hawks most steady role player. Brouwer, Buff, Bolland, Versteeg – all of these guys have shown incredible flashes of greatness… followed by frustrating mistakes and disappearances.

The one constant? Ladd. Never flashly, always productive, it doesn’t matter who Ladd skates with, he gets the job done. He’s a tremendous fore-checker, rivaled only by the likes of Toews and Hossa in beating his man to get to a dumped puck in the corner. He’s a solid defender – not quite quick enough to get PK time, but the type who’s a real asset in your own zone in normal 5x5 play.

Ladd’s also got a surprisingly good playmaker streak, racking up 34 assists last year and another 21 this year. He can find the back of the net – 15 times last year, 17 this season. And Ladd does it while having spent the majority of his time in more of a checking line role. In fact, down the stretch and in the playoffs of each of the last two seasons, the team played its best hockey when Ladd was on the checking line, locking down the other team’s top forward line (alongside Bolland).

I can see Ladd being jettisoned – he’s got a boatload of value for what he’s done, what his resume is like, the size he brings. But as someone who doesn’t factor much into either the power play or penalty kill, he might be hard to justify giving much of a salary.

That’d be a real loss to the Hawks. No one has been steadier, no one does the little things better. Everyone knows you can’t have a team of stars – you need some grinders to support them. Well, the Hawks have no shortage in the star department. But they do need to make sure their support grinders can get it done, and Ladd has done it all since throwing on the Indian Head a few seasons ago.

#19 – Jonathan Toews (C)

76 GP, 25 G, 43 A, +22, 20:00 ATOI

22 GP, 7 G, 22 A, -1, 20:58 ATOI

Lord, what can I possibly say about this guy to really sum up what he means to this club? I guess I’ll go to Game 5. THE pivotal game in the series – if the Hawks lose, what chance do they have? All the momentum is with the Flyers heading back to Philly.

Toews has been scuffling all series after coming in as the league’s leading post-season scorer and on a franchise-best playoff points streak. So how did he answer the bell in Game 5? Come out absolutely flying, bringin every ounce of talent and skill he’s got and throwing it straight at the Flyers. It wasn’t just about what he produced, it was about the tone he set. Not just the attitude, but the play.

The Flyers were put on their heels and never quite recovered thanks in large part to the way Toews exploded out of the gates. Toews was juking and jiving his way through defenders on every shift in the first period, and it absolutely broke down the Flyers defense.

That entire first 20 minutes they were scrambling, seemingly short a guy or having played together for the first time in their lives. The result was a three goal lead the Hawks would never relinquish, which lead to a series lead they wouldn’t either.

The simple fact is that Toews is the complete package. He’s got all the physical tools, he’s busted his butt to develop all the necessary skills, and he ties it all in a bow with his unparalleled will to win. He showed it twice this year – first in the Olympics and then in the Cup. Jonathan Toews just simply decides that he will not lose, and then he doesn’t.

It’s that will that ultimately makes Toews a Hall of Famer if he can stay healthy. It’s that will that allows him to achieve those few things he hasn’t yet (league MVP, goal title, points champ, Team Canada Captain). It’s that will that that won’t allow his teammates to rest after just one title.

Just look at what he’s meant to Kane. I’ll delve more into it when I get to #88, but it’s my belief that Kane took a huge leap forward this year – not so much in numbers, but in the way he impacted the game. Toews’ influence was a significant factor – Kane himself has said as much – from the off-season work-outs to the demand to have the game in his hands when it mattered.

On top of all that, Toews is just a beast on the ice. He could be the best shut-down center in the league if that’s what was needed (see the Olympics). He’s incredible on the face-offs, both in his own end and setting teammates up in the offensive zone. Toews could score 50 goals some day… or pot 75 helpers. He can drive a line with his playmaking, be the finisher, or even just play the grind it out in the corners and in front of the net role.

In every single way, the Hawks could not have been more right in making this guy their Captain, a letter I think they expect him to wear for the next 15-20 years.

#22 – Troy Brouwer (W)

78 GP, 22 G, 18 A, +9, 16:22 ATOI

19 GP, 4 G, 4 A, -1, 11:01 ATOI

One of the many guys I wrote off too early, Brouwer game out of the gates like gangbusters this year, taking advantage of time with Toews and Kane to load up on goals. This was the exact opposite of last season, when he also was given that top line time, but had little to nothing to show for it. I figured he never would and was upset he was given so much prime ice time.

This year, Brouwer continued to bring the size, the grind, and the defensive skills. But now given those same goal-scoring opportunities, Brouwer suddenly was racking up points left and right. Brouwer became an outstanding compliment to Toews and Kane.

Brouwer’s year was not all hugs and kisses, though, as he went cold halfway through the season and struggled to get back on track. Things got so bad that he not only was pulled from any of the scoring lines, but eventually scratched all together. Finally word leaked out that his father was ailing and things came back into focus a bit.

Ultimately Brouwer would return to the lineup and pot a huge goal in the clincher against Vancouver. He also netted a key score against the Sharks in Game 2 and then a pair in the wild 6-5 opener over Philly. Brouwer’s 8 playoff points all came in his final 11 games after returning, suggesting that he had regained the offensive touch he showed in scoring 17 and assisting on another 12 before the calendar had turned to February.

In all, this year showed me a ton to like about Brouwer. Not just the revelation of his NHL-caliber scoring abilities, but the way he never let the scoring success get him off his hard-nosed style of play. And certainly the way he responded to adversity. Given the months long slump, answering the bell to the tune of 8 points in 11 hard-fought playoff games showed me Brouwer has what it takes to deal with the ups and downs the NHL will throw at you.

Please read on for more:

Part 1: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Today: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

Your 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks (#2-#8)

I'm not ready to close the book on this amazing season just yet. So I figured I'd share my take on each player who contributed something of significance to the run, all 26 of em. I'll throw em up about 5 or 6 guys at a time, going through it numerically - starting with Keith and ending with Kane.

Today: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

#2 – DUNCAN KEITH (D)
82 GP, 14 G, 55 A, +21, 26:36 ATOI
22 GP, 2 G, 15 A, +2, 28:11 ATOI

I said the title started with Keith because in a lot of ways it did. No Hawk has been with the organization longer (Burish came on in the same draft, but 7 rounds later). No Hawk has been with the big league club longer (not a single player from the pre-lock-out Hawks roster remains now). No Hawk prospect emerged as a star sooner (remember, in 07-08, Keith got the Hawks lone All-Star nod, not the rookies Kane or Toews).

And no Hawk has meant more to this title run than Keith. I’m not gonna fault the voters for going with Toews – his remarkable consistency and all-around play was worthy of accolades. But if you asked the Hawks the very last player they’d want to lose before a hypothetical Game 7, I guarantee they’d all say Keith.

The whole country got a taste of the heart of this guy when he lost 7 teeth but still came back to log team high minutes in the Game 4 comeback against the Sharks. The diehards have long known this guy was the soul of the team, a physical specimen who kills himself in his workouts so that he can kill himself for 30 minutes a night.

John Wiedeman was telling a buddy of mine that most of the time when Coach Q calls a late timeout, it’s main purpose is to get Keith a rest. No one else has been skating as hard for as long, and no one else is as important to closing out the game the way the Hawks want to then Keith.

Need proof of what this guy can do? Check out the Olympics, where Keith led everybody in ice time. Didn’t matter that the Canadian team was loaded with talent, they still were gonna lean on Keith more than anybody else.

And why not – the guy does everything and does it all incredibly. I mistakenly made the point that Pronger had more of an impact on the game than Keith in my last post arguing Pronger’s Conn Smythe case. In hindsight, I don’t think that is true. First off, Pronger doesn’t effect the game on the other end of the ice like Keith does.

That high-powered Hawks offense? It only goes because Keith is out there to fly the puck up the ice, join the fray when necessary, and work the puck in from the point. His 14 G and 55 A gave Keith the second most points on the Hawks – a team chock full of point-getters. Time and again the Hawks offense struggled when their D couldn’t spring their forwards. And no one was better at it then Keith.

But Keith also was a force in his own end, just not as obvious about it as Pronger. Pronger gets the attention because of his size, his impressive career, and the barbaric way he gets the job done. And yes, the guy did the job – until JQ was able to spread his lines, Pronger was able to shut down the top line and do enough to keep the other lines in check.

For some reason Keith didn’t get the same attention, despite the fact that he absolutely murdered the Flyers top line. Mike Richards was viewed as a nastier Toews. Gagne and Carter were both 45-goal scorers. This series? They not only didn’t get anything done, they were major negatives to their squad.

And who do you think was jumping on the ice every time these three were out there? Quietly, Keith just gave these guys absolutely no room to maneuver. Just like he did to the Sedins, a pair which included the NHL’s top scorer this season. Just like he did to the Thornton-Marleau-Heatley – a line that not only was good enough to be Canada’s top line in the Olympics, but one that had come into the series having played well enough to supposedly shake the playoff failure monkey off their backs.

The best part of Keith’s season? It’s just going to be one of many. And I mean many. It was lost in the hoopla a bit, but when Toews, Kane, and Keith signed, Keith actually locked into a 13-year deal. This guy is not going anywhere – he will end his days as a member of the Hawks blue line. After seeing what happened with Cheli, nothing could make me happier. Some day #2 will be raised to the rafters at the UC, after Keith is done giving Chicago 18-20 of the best hockey years any of us will have ever seen.

#4 – NIKLAS HJALMARSSON (D)
77 GP, 2 G, 15 A, +9, 19:40 ATOI
22 GP, 1 G, 7 A, +9, 21:01 ATOI

I absolutely loved the Hawks players this year, top to bottom. But some guys I loved just a bit more. No question The Hammer is one of those. I skate as both a center and a blueliner when I play in adult rec leagues. And when I'm back on D, this is the guy who’s game I aim to emulate. Oh sure, I wish I could fly with the puck like Keith or be a physical presence like Seabrook. But the reality of my skillset is that if all goes right, my game would be like this smallish, unexciting, workmanlike Swede.

The Hammer actually played a bit in 07-08 when the more veteran blueliners got a bit banged up. He wasn’t overly noteworthy, an opinion shared by the Hawks organization, who farmed him out to start 08-09. However, midway through the season Wisniewski was dealt for Pahlsson, and while it’s debatable if that deal was a good one (for either team), the result for the Hawks was more PT for HJ.

Since given that break late last year, this guy has just locked down the #4 blueliner slot. A stay-at-home type who plays much, much bigger than his diminutive size (he is listed at a very respectable 6-3, 194 but looks like one of the smaller guys on the team), the Hammer combines incredible positioning and fundamental play with an impressive ability to sacrifice his body. Whether he’s taking hits in the corner to clear a puck, going at it with feisty forwards to win board battles, or squaring his whole body in front of heavy shots, the Hammer thinks of the team first, his physical well-being later.

While he’s not much for skating the puck up, HJ is fairly steady at controlling and clearing the puck – a crucial skill that constantly relievers pressure in the Hawks zone. And what a penalty killer he has become! Schooled by an expert in Sopel, the Hammer is great at putting his body and stick into the shooting and passing lanes, making sure that nothing gets by him without being effected in some way.

The most telling evidence of the Hammer’s value – the play of his partner, Campbell. For his first half season in Chicago, many viewed Campbell as a bit of a disappointment. Some of that was due to misguided expectations (he was never a goal-scorer), but some of it was that the Hawks didn’t have the necessary complimentary blueliner to pair with him. While Keith had the physical and steady Seabrook to allow him to play his game perfectly, Campbell was paired with a rotating group of subpar defenders.

That is, until the Hammer was promoted – from then on Campbell returned to being the high end blueliner who (mostly) justified his massive deal. HJ’s steady play and surprising physical presence allowed Campbell to get back to sparking the offense with his rushes while quietly getting the job defensively with his speed and veteran awareness. Starting with last post-season, Campbell has been an asset the Hawks could not live without (as evidenced by our iffy play when he was out). And Hjalmarsson is the asset that Campbell could not live without.

#5 – BRENT SOPEL (D)
73 GP, 1 G, 7 A, +3, 14:52 ATOI
22 GP, 1 G, 5 A, +7, 18:30 ATOI

Back in 07-08 I really liked Sopel. First off, I seriously don’t think he was as ugly then as he is now. I’m not sure how an elbow injury makes you uglier, but to my recollection, that’s what happened. Second, he was a step quicker and a reliable veteran blueliner, something the team really needed with so many youngsters out there.

But to start 08-09, he looked terrible. He was slow, out of position, clumsy with the puck – overall just a total negative on the ice. And then he got hurt and we were all thankful. The rest of the D rounded into form and Sopel was shelved for the year. It’s possible he was healthy and ready to play in the playoffs last season, but the call never came.

This year, fully healed and with the blueline thinned out a bit due to some off-season departures, Sopel was back in the regular rotation and again a step slow, again in poor position, and again clumsy with the puck. All year long I called for someone to replace him as the 6th defenseman, anyone would be better.

Yet, as I was pinpointing Sopel as our biggest weakness, all the announcers and commentators were going on and on about what he brought to this team. I didn’t get it – the guy was brutal! Look, I love the old guy who gets by with spit, piss, vinegar, and every trick in the trade, but Sopel was not that guy.

Or so I thought. Turns out he was on his way. Slowly Sopel made himself into a top penalty killer by becoming a puck target. Paired with the more athletic Hjalmarsson on the PK, the two camped out in front of the net and blocked seemingly everything that came their way. It was a thing of beauty to watch the two of them on the 5x3, just take shot after shot and always come back for more.

With this newfound role, Sopel’s overall game also rounded back into form. He still was a bit of an adventure with the puck, but his positioning improved, his decisions improved, and come the playoffs, he was justifiably skating heavy #5 D minutes. Sure, maybe Q overtaxed him a bit when Sopel’s ice time approached 20 minutes, but as a 15+ minute guy, the big ugly brute was very valuable to this club.

There was a point where I would have given away a decent prospect to get out from under the $2M annual salary Sopel draws. Now as we approach the toughest round of cap decisions this club will ever face, I’m actually of the opinion that Sopel is a guy you’ve got to keep. The fact is that reliable blue liners are not easy to find, but you cannot expect to win without them. I don’t love paying Sopel $2M, but I also don’t want a pair of journeymen/prospects filling out our third pairing.

Quite the turnaround, but there’s no question Sopel made himself into a tremendous asset – relative to his role as a 5th blueliner – to these Hawks in this title run.


#6 – JORDAN HENDRY (D)
43 GP, 2 G, 6 A, +5, 11:51 ATOI
15 GP, 0 G, 0 A, -4, 8:09 ATOI

Speaking of why I’m leery of getting rid of Sopel. There was a time I was calling for Hendry to take over Sopel’s minutes, complaining that Sopel was just out there cause he was a vet who made money. When Buff was moved back to D and started in the playoffs over Hendry, I again called for a change.

Well, I got that change, and while it was a boon to have Buff back up front, there was no benefit to the blueline at all. Hendry just wasn’t the capable defenseman I hoped he’d be. Now he’s still young and he did get jerked around a ton this year, getting scratched a bunch, even playing forward for a handful of games. When he did play, he was on the third pairing with Sopel, who had not quite rounded into form yet.

But in the playoffs, the guy just looked a bit shaky. He didn’t do anything particularly well and seemed to be a pretty clear weak spot when he was on the ice. Hendy wasn’t terrible, but he also wasn’t very good. Eventually he’d even lose his job, replaced by a journeyman who had barely skated with the club in the regular season.

Yet, Hendry does deserve credit for the role he played this year. It’s not easy being a regular scratch, especially when you’re young and trying to develop your game. It’s definitely not easy being forced to play as a 4th line wing when you’ve always been a blueliner. And it’s not easy being forced into a playoff situation when you haven’t been skating regularly during the season.

Going forward, I think Hendry could be a decent player. He skates and moves the puck decently. He’s not hugely physical, but he’s not soft either. If the Hawks do commit to Hendry as an everyday 6th blueliner (but no more), I think he could end up a decent compliment to a stay-at-home, grindy vet-type. Certainly all the experience he got this year will only help his cause – I think the Hawks would be smart to see if he can build on that next year.

#7 – BRENT SEABROOK (D)
78 GP, 4 G, 26 A, +20, 23:13 ATOI
22 GP, 4 G, 7 A, +8, 24:11 ATOI

Here’s a guy I went really up and really down with, then back up again. And I wasn’t alone. The powers that be in Canadian hockey chose Seabrook over a litany of highly-talented blueliners to play on Team Canada, with the thought being that he’d join Keith on the top pairing.

Then something went wrong and Seabrook lost a bit of something. It wasn’t clear what, but he got shaky with the puck, shaky with his positioning, and wasn’t the rock that we’ve all come to know. Making matters worse, with Seabrook no longer as confidence-inspiring, Keith’s game suffered.

Finally, things bottomed out when freakin James Wisniewski, a former Hawk and a guy Seabs considered a friend, took a brutal cheap shot and knocked #7 out on his feet. It was one of the scarier things I’ve ever seen – really sickening, actually.

But upon his return, Seabs seemed to find himself. It wasn’t immediate, but he slowly rounded into form down the stretch so that by the playoffs, he was more or less back to what we expected. In fact, for some stretches in the early rounds we were seeing the Seabrook of last year’s playoffs – a physical force who effected the game on both ends of the ice.

Eventually he settled down to be exactly what we hoped – a rock. Physical, capable with the puck, great in his positioning, and the perfect compliment to Keith, allowing the Norris Finalist to play his game unencumbered. The result? Three straight series against three of the most fearsome frontlines in hockey, and three straight “what the hell happened to those guys” end results.

The Sedins, the Team Canada line, and the Richards-Gagne-Carter trio all ended their season with huge questions as to their playoff chops. But is that really fair? Did all three just happen to randomly suck when it mattered most? Or maybe did Keith and Seabrook find their game and in doing so, take all of these guys out of theirs? That’s my theory.

Undiscussed at this point is that Seabrook is up for a large extension sometime in the next year. And he’ll get it – at least, I’d be very shocked if he didn’t. Who knows with this front office and with how much turnover occurs in hockey, but I’d imagine they’ll find money for this guy, such a longtime prospect, the first guy to slap on the A whenever one of the others isn’t suiting up.

And someday, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a joint number retirement ceremony, a la Pilote and Magnusson, where Seabrook and Cheli see their #7 raised to the UC rafters. At least I hope that’s how it shakes out.

#8 – KIM JOHNSSON (D)
8 GP, 1 G, 2 A, +7, 16:24 ATOI
(DNP)

I included this guy because it’s such a major story that hasn’t gotten much play. Having just gone through the entire grind of Cup title run for the first time in my life, it’s incredibly clear how important your blueliners are – especially veteran ones you can rely on in any situation. No one ever remarked at how big of a loss it was to not have Johnsson, a guy who’s been around forever, who’s still playing great hockey, and who can play in every facet of the game.

Obviously the Hawks were able to play over it, but that’s a real testament to their depth and quality of play. Johnsson’s was a serious loss to this team, one that they should be commended in overcoming.

As for Johnsson, I’m bummed he wasn’t more of a factor because I really like these types – veteran blueliners who quietly do it all, but not really in any overly impressive way. Obviously all of the focus this off-season is on who we’re gonna lose, but if somehow they free up cap space for an acquisition, it’s a guy like Johnsson I’d like to see them get.

But not Johnsson himself. No idea what happened here, but was the concussion really so bad that the guy couldn’t come back three months later? Did he just not care to subject himself to it, given how little he had invested in the team? Whatever happened, it was a weird story – a big trade deadline acquisition gets hurt, but no one really knows when or where, no word is ever given. Slowly over time it becomes clear that he’s not coming back, and eventually, he’s so far removed from the team that he doesn’t even figure in their playoff run as a spectator. Nor even as a token member of the celebration, which included a number of prospects who never came close to suiting up with the team. Weird.


Please read on for more:

Today: #2, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8
Part 2: #10, #11, #16, #19, and #22
Part 3: #24, #25, #29, #31, and #32
Part 4: #33, #36, #37, #39, and #46
Part 5: #51, #55, #81, #82, and #88

The Castle of Aaauuuggghhh

King Arthur: [about the inscription on the rock] What does it say, Brother Maynard?
Brother Maynard: It reads, "Here may be found the last words of Joseph of Aramathia. He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the holy grail in the Castle of Aaauuuggghhh... ”
King Arthur: What?
Brother Maynard: "The Castle of Aaaauuuggghhhh"
Sir Bedevere: What is that?
Brother Maynard: He must have died while carving it.
King Arthur: Oh come on!
Brother Maynard: Well, that's what it says.
King Arthur: Look, if he was dying, he wouldn't have bothered to carve 'Aaaauuuggghhhh'. He'd just say it.
Sir Galahad: Maybe he was dictating it.


The Holy Grail of sports is ours, and, much like the above movie (Monty Python and the Holy Grail), it's been making me smile for days now. I think about what happened and I smile. Just one of those simple, understated, "Life is good" smiles. And I just keep freakin smiling.

I'm not sure you could have written up this whole run any better. Not just this season, but the whole evolution of what Blackhawks hockey represents. The franchise comes from as low as you can be - not just bad, but drive you away bad. I stopped being mad or frustrated - they were so bad, they were so poorly run, that I stopped even caring.

Which is incredible, given that this was a team that in high school, I used to save up to buy playoff tickets for, drive down to the rink in an Astro van packed with way too many guys, and sit in the absolute last row in the biggest arena in hockey for. This was an Original Six franchise in one of the best sports cities, one of the best hockey cities, there is. Their list of legendary players was an impressive one, and included a number of names I grew up with.

Yet, years and years of mismanagement of every single facet of the franchise drove me and pretty much every one else away. Sure you kept an eye on them, you always kinda hoped they'd luck into something, but you didn't have a whole lot of faith. And you also didn't mind too much - given what Dollar Bill had done to this franchise, some part of you didn't want to feel good about the Hawks.

Then the perfect storm hits - the talent they've quietly assembled becomes respectable on ice, offering promise and excitement, just as the evil old man dies and his couldn't-be-more-different son takes over. Rocky makes every single move that the fans had long been demanding and then throws in a few more just for good measure.

So we get back in on the bottom floor - just when Kane and Toews show up, completely live up to the hype, and make the Hawks matter again. But they don't rocket up to storybook levels just yet - as rejuvenating as that first year was in 07-08, the reality is that they weren't even good enough to make a playoffs that features 8 of the 15 teams in their conference.

But that meant we got to grow with them. That meant when they came back the next year and established themselves as not only a playoff team, but an outside Cup contender, we already were knee deep in Hawks passion again. We knew these guys and we knew this team. When they won their first playoff series in almost a decade, we were able to fully appreciate the accomplishment. And then when they reached the Conference Finals for the first time in about 15 years, we were able to relish just how amazing this was.

Then this year, they go from outside contenders to serious favorites. When they posted the third highest point total in the league, a mere point off the top mark in the West, we could dig just how far they'd come. When they outlasted a feisty Preds team we weren't ready for, we were reminded just how tough winning a Cup would be. When they responded to a game one blow-out against the Canucks by winning the next 8 meaningful games against two of the best teams in the Conference, we were able to finally start believing that the Cup dream was actually more than just a dream.

And then the Flyers showed up as the perfect foil - straight out of the movies. A team that demanded every bit of amazingness these Hawks had in em. Every single player had to contribute, every single game, shift, and rush mattered. The Flyers threatened to a level that had you on the absolute edge of your seat, start to finish.

Back and forth they went, all series, all throughout Game 6. Just a handful of minutes away from their destiny, a puck ping-pongs into the perfect place for a heartbreaking goal to tie it. Sudden death overtime on the road, with the Cup so tantalizingly close, yet seemingly equally close is yet another in a long line of Chicago Sports heartbreak.

And wouldn't ya know it, none other than franchise savior Patrick Kane scores the biggest goal in franchise history. And that allows fellow savior Jonathan Toews to be named the MVP just before he's given the Stanley Cup, to be raised for the first time in half a century over the head of a Blackhawk.

So yeah, I haven't stopped smiling. I just feel so great about this franchise, the one I first loved back when I listened to them lose a pair of heartbreaking series to the Oilers and Flames in the late 80s. A franchise who in the early part of the 90s was so stacked with talent, yet just couldn't break through, which only made you commit to them even more.

And I feel great about this current group of guys. Many of whom - Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Sharp, Keith, Buff, Sopel, Bolland, Burish, Fraser, Bickell, Eager, Brouwer, Versteeg, and The Hammer - have been around since things started getting going in 07-08. Many of whom - Ladd, Campbell, Niemi, Huet, Madden, Kopecky, Hossa, and Boynton - I remember exactly when each got brought into the mix.

I love that many of these guys I've championed for a while - The Hammer, Versteeg, Eager, Campbell, and Sopel - making their incredible contributions to the Cup feel that much cooler. But I also love that many of them I've criticized heavily - Buff, Bolland, Brouwer, Kopecky, and yes, Sopel makes this list too - only to eat the best tasting crow of my life.

I love that the stars all lived up to the huge expectations we threw at them. Toews wins the Conn Smythe, Kane scores the Cup winner, and both average over a point a game. Keith's unstoppable motor gains national attention thanks to seven lost teeth. Seabrook and Campbell are the steady, impactful blueliners we needed. Sharp and Hossa are the do-everything impact guys who constantly find a way to make plays whenever they're on the ice.

And I love that the support guys all found their way to contribute. Bolland becomes the lights out shut-down center every Cup winner needs. Versteeg and Buff the contributing offensive forces necessary to supporting the top guys. Brouwer, Kopecky, Ladd, and Bickell are priceless for the energy, tenacity, and grit they bring to the trenches so the stars can skate. The Hammer and Sopel sacrifice every inch of their bodies to save too many game-changing scores. Madden answers the bell on every key face-off and defensive situation. Eager, Burish, and Fraser make every second of their limited ice time count with energy and physicality. Even Boynton and Hendry log just enough minutes to keep the core blueliners fresh.

And the goalies - such a story in the regular season, such a story in the playoffs, and yet for such different reasons. First off, props to Huet, who played well to get this team off to an incredible start and then never once complained when he lost his job - only voicing support for the team, the coach, and his fellow netminder. And Niemi - how great was watching this kid's evolution? He came into the year not even assured of the #2 job, let alone with a thought of being the #1 for a Cup winner. And not just some "good enough" #1, but a guy who in every series took a game or two with huge saves in key moments when his team wasn't playing well in front of him.

I could go on forever about this team - and I will next week, with a player-by-player breakdown. Cause holy balls is it fun to revel in this club.

But for now I'll leave you with WGN 720's call of the final goal - it's a bit halting, a bit weird, but I think that only adds to it - you can truly sense them realizing what just happened. Instead of just reacting to the goal instantly and without much thought, they have a few seconds to actually take in the whole magnitude of what is happening, and they just go ape. The last few seconds are hilarious. Both are out of their minds.

"The Hawks Win The Stanley Cup!"

Man, I freakin love the Hawks.