It’s Time for the Annual “Circus” Road Trip for Hawks

It’s that time of year again for the Chicago Blackhawks.

If you are a Hawks fan you know exactly what I mean. This is the time of the year when the Circus comes into Chicago, forcing both the Bulls and Blackhawks to go on a 2-week road trip.

The Hawks go into their 2-week road trip confident after winning four straight games. They sit at the 3rd spot in their conference and 1st in their division.

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Breaking: Blackhawks Close to Signing Trio to New Contracts

According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks are set to sign Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to new contracts. Both are restricted free agents at the end of this year.

The Hawks are also near an agreement with defender Duncan Keith.

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For Blackhawks, Lack of Offense Leads to 0-2 Loss to Preds

Huet played yet another fantastic game, but the offense for the Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t produce anything Thursday night.

It was the first time the Hawks’ offense looked off key. The Hawks powerplay woes continue as they went 0-5 last night. The Hawks were unable to get anything setup during those powerplays, especially on a Nashville interference penalty  late in the 3rd period.

The lack of offense and not capitalizing on the powerplays lead to the Preds handing the Hawks their 4th loss of the season.

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Why You Should See a Chicago Blackhawks Game

I was very fortunate to see the hockey team I love play at the United Center last Monday.  It’s always a great time at the UC (which is short for United Center). When the Hawks play the place is packed with red and white jerseys, and the occasional road team jersey.

Ten first thing you will get from going to a Hawks game is that the fans are crazy loud. The best part of any Hawks game is the National Anthem. During the Anthem the crowd cheers and claps and cheers and claps more. The last line is answered by a deafening scream.

It surely will make any first time goer feel the love and just pure adrenaline that a Hawks game gives to its fans.

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Hawks Score Six Straight Goals to Beat Flames 6-5 in OT

Before 12 minutes had passed, the Hawks found themselves already down 0-5, as well as being booed by their fans. Huet had also been benched. It looked like we were seeing total beatdown,  but did that stop the Hawks?

Not one bit.

The Flames were shut out in the 2nd, 3rd, and OT.  John Madden scored late in the 1st. Kane, Big Buff, and Bolland all scored in the 2nd to cut the deficit to 1. Sharp’s goal in the 3rd tied it at 5-5, and Brent Seabrook’s OT goal, a goal that was scored in just 26 seconds,  clinched the win for the Hawks.

It was a record-tying comeback for the mighty Hawks.

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Marian Hossa Will Undergo Surgery to Repair Right Rotator Cuff

It’s official that Marian Hossa, who has a small tear in his rotator cuff in his right shoulder, will undergo surgery. Hossa was signed by the Blackhawks in this year’s off-season in a huge contract that gave him, on average, $5.2 million a year.

The Hawks said that they were aware of the shoulder injury before they signed him.

“Marian’s injury did not respond sufficiently to our non-operative treatment over the last three weeks so we have collectively decided today to go ahead with the surgery,” Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said in a statement. “Marian is a franchise player, and we want what is best for him and the Blackhawks long-term. This was a mutual decision and one we feel very confident is the right one.”

Hossa is expected to miss 4 months, which will shelve him for 2 months of the regular season. I can’t help to feel a little mad. We sign this guy to a huge contract, and give up our #1 leader in points, and the guy we get to replace him can’t even play the first 2 months.

Hawks trainer says that after the surgery Hossa will be 100 percent, and that this surgery will be better for Hossa long-term. I hope that is true. I want Hossa to be around and give the Hawks some really good years, but most importantly, aide them to wining a Stanley Cup.

I am sure that the young players on the Hawks will do fine without Hossa, but I can’t be totally sure. The Hawks did lose their best goalie, and our MVP this off-season. Two big losses that could hurt the Hawks even more now that Hossa will be gone for the first 2 months. Hawk’s fans will have to hope that the Hawks really don’t struggle so much early on.

Still I am still optimistic about this year for the Hawks. I really want to believe that Huet will have a more consistent year in the net. Speaking of goalies, the Hawks have not announced who the back-up goalie will be. They have signed Crawford and Niemi, but have not announced who will be behind Huet. I would like to see Crawford get the spot. He was supposed to be the next thing, and I really liked what I saw when they did play him. Niemi wasn’t bad, but he seemed slow form post to post, the same problem Huet has.

As big of a hit this is for the Hawks, I am confident we have the skill to tough it out, and to get back into the playoffs this year.

Hawks Re-Sign Versteeg, Keep Young Core Intact for What Could be a Great 2009-10 Season

The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed 23-year old forward Kris Versteeg to a 3-year, $9.25 million deal. Recently rated 21st best franchise in sports today by ESPN, the Hawks have kept their young team mostly intact. The Hawks have drafted great young talent the last couple of years, and it has made hockey nation look at Chicago as a serious contender for the Stanley Cup.

After losing the Western Conference Finals to Detroit, Hawk fans are really excited for what next year could bring. Many more NHL teams and owners are taking this young Hawks team seriously now. While the Hawks have lost their season MVP, Martin Havlat, they did add a powerful scoring forward in Marian Hossa. The Hawks lost a great goaltender in Khabibulan, and leaving the team to Huet is a bit risky. Huet has shown he can be a great goaltender, but his inconsistent play has had Hawk fans questioning how good a deal it was to pick him up and at such a steep price.

The Hawks have really big expectations to fulfill this coming season, and nobody really can say for sure if this team is capable of going all the way next year. As young as the team is though, Chicago fans are at least positive that the Hawks could win a championship in the near future. While the future is bright, the players don’t need to feel like they have no room to improve. Their inexperience was exploited by the veteran Detroit team last year in the playoffs and Detroit seems to always have the Hawks’ number. Most of all, Detroit capitalized on every mistake the Hawks made, and the Hawks will have to limit their mistakes against the Red Wings moving forward.

One thing that made me mad was the hatred for the Hawks by Sports Illustrated. They never gave credit to the Hawks, even when they made it deep into the postseason. They said they would lose against the Flames and the Canucks. When the Hawks did win those two series, SI didn’t praise the wins, they just ignored them completely. Just recently Alan Muir has called the Hossa signing a bad one. Come on! They never give the Hawks credit for building a team that can win. Sorry for going on a mini rant, but that has always bothered me a lot.

With prospect camps currently ongoing, the Hawks could find another gem. Next hockey season will be a fun and interesting ride for the Hawks and their fans. As a fan, I can only wish for another playoff berth, and who knows, maybe even a Cup.

Blues trade Lee Stempniak to Maple Leafs for Steen, Colaiacovo

When the St. Louis Blues re-signed right winger Lee Stempniak to a three-year contract after scoring 27 goals in the 2006-07 season, they envisioned the West Seneca, N.Y. native taking his game to another level.

It turned out Stempniak couldn’t even match his production from that breakout season.

Lee Stempniak was traded by the Blues to Toronto on Monday in exchange for center Alexander Steen and defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, a pair of former first-round draft picks of the Maple Leafs.

“Lee has done a tremendous job in St. Louis,” Blues President John Davidson said in a press release. “He is a classy individual and we would like to thank him for all of his work on and off the ice that he has provided to the St. Louis Blues.”

Stempniak, 25, scored 13 points through 14 games this season, though he netted only three goals. The former Dartmouth captain is signed through the 2009-10 with a cap number of $2.5 million each season.

While Stempniak has been a serviceable player, his offensive numbers never lived up to his contract. Last year, he netted 13 goals and had just 38 points in 80 games. That came on the heels of a 27-goal, 52-point campaign, which would net him a three-year, $7.5 million deal.

Even though Stempniak was scoring at nearly a point-per-game clip through 14 games, it appears the Blues wanted to trade him while his value was high. He scored the overtime game-winner on Friday in the Blues’ 3-2 win over Anaheim.

In return for Stempniak, the Blues got some help up the middle in Steen, the son of former Winnipeg great Thomas Steen and the 24^th overall choice in 2002. They also bolstered the blueline with Colaiacovo, who has shown some offensive ability. Colaiacovo was the 17^th pick overall in 2001.

“We feel we have improved our club today for both the short and long term by adding Carlo and Alex,” Davidson said. “Carlo is solid two-way defenseman and will provide depth to our blueline and Alex can play center or wing and can score at the NHL level.”

With center Andy McDonald out for an extended period of time, the addition of the 24-year-old Steen gives the Blues some skill up the middle, though he shouldn’t be confused with a No. 1 center. Steen has only amassed two goals and two assists in 20 games. Steen’s best season was 2005-06 when he netted 18 goals and had 45 points in 75 games.

Rookie forward T.J. Oshie is still out with a high ankle sprain, but Davidson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday he expects Oshie to command more ice time when he comes back based on what the youngster has shown the Blues to date, thus making Stempniak somewhat expendable.

Colaiacovo could be the gem of the deal and give the Blues’ corps of defensemen an offensive spark if he can stay healthy. The 25-year-old is in his sixth NHL season, but injuries have kept him from playing a full slate and realizing his potential. He battled a groin injury last season and only skated in 28 games. He accumulated eight goals and nine assists in 48 games the season before. Colaiacovo has one assist in 10 games.

Signing Brendan Shanahan Should Be A Priority for St. Louis Blues

Who says it can’t be 1991 again?

Future Hall of Famer and free agent forward Brendan Shanahan is available now after hearing from the New York Rangers that they won’t be able to find room for him under the salary cap.

Shanahan would have preferred to stay with the Rangers, but now it appears the left winger will sign elsewhere.

Why not St. Louis? Blues president John Davidson has already contacted Shanahan’s agent, Rick Curran, and expressed interest in obtaining the services of Shanahan, who previously donned the Blue Note from 1991-95. In fact, Blues chairman Dave Checketts contacted Shanahan personally during the summer. So it appears the Blues’ interest is truly genuine.

The Blues definitely have the salary cap room, something a lot of teams can’t boast right now. Many of the expected Stanley Cup contenders are up against the cap and can’t afford to sign the 39-year-old, even at a discounted rate. Chicago and Philadelphia are reportedly interested in Shanahan, though the Flyers are less than $1 million under the cap.

But the sticking point is, do the Blues need Shanahan?

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