As I was in the middle of submitting my previous post, I received a text from the Blackhawks stating that Dave Bolland, Jakw Dowell and Antti Niemi have re-signed with the organization. More details can be found in their press release.
Archive for June, 2009
Free Angency Starts Tomorrow
June 30th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
It’s the night before free agency and the Blackhawks have been rather quiet. There are reports that Bolland re-signed to a five-year deal, but nothing official has been announced by the organization about the transaction. There are also reports stating that center Jake Dowell and goalie Antti Niemi have been inked, yet nothing official here either.
Tallon is running out of time regarding Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin. Tomorrow any team will be able to contact either UFA. There have been many rumors and ‘tweets’ referring to Marty’s future in Chicago. One second he is gone, the next he is ready to sign an eight-year deal. Khabby, who hasn’t received as much press, seems to be taking to the idea of returning for less cash and for one year.
The Blackhawks have enough cap space to become players in this summer’s free agent market, and if neither UFA is signed, Tallon will have to resort to free agency to fill in some holes on the roster. Since I enjoy beating dead horses, I feel as though I should reiterate that the money must be there at the end of next season to re-sign Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane. That should be the most important thing to come out of the off-season.
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2009 Blackhawks Draft Review
June 28th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Well, it looks like Tallon’s draft strategy was to build up the middle. Out of the eight draft picks the Blackhawks had six were centers – the other two being defensemen. Although the NHL roster could use a body at center, none of these guys are less than two years away from making an impact with the organization. Dale drafted too many players from lower level leagues, and one kid out of high school.
This is how the Blackhawks’ draft went down:
| Overall Pick | Round | Player | Pos. | Team |
| 28th | 1st | Dylan Olsen | D | Camrose (AJHL) |
| 59th | 2nd | Brandon Pirri | C | Georgetown (OJHL) |
| 89th | 3rd | Daniel DeLisle | C | Totino Grace H.S. (Minn.) |
| 119th | 4th | Byron Froese | C | Everett (WHL) |
| 149th | 5th | Marcus Kruger | C | Djurgarden (SWE) |
| 177th (from Atlanta) | 6th | David Pacan | C | Cumberland (CJHL) |
| 195th | 7th | Paul Phillips | D | Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
| 209th (from Florida) | 7th | David Gilbert | C | Quebec (QMJHL) |
With the 28th overall pick, Tallon settled for best player available on his draft rankings by taking Dylan Olsen. Olsen is an offensive defenseman with big body and a big shot from the point. He still needs a lot of seasoning and will get that while playing at the University of Minnesota – Duluth for a couple years. Third round pick, Daniel DeLisle, will attend the same school. If Jordan Caron was there at this pick Tallon would have taken him in this place.
It will be a few years before we know if this was a good draft for the ‘Hawks, but as of right now I’m not impressed with the job that Tallon did this weekend.
**In the Oranization page has been updated to reflect these changes**
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Bolland Re-signed To Five-Year Deal
June 27th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
It is being reported that Dave Bolland signed a five-year deal worth $18M. This marks the first move made by the Blackhawks this summer with any of their restricted or unrestricted free agents. The details of the contract have yet to be released, but he would earn $3.6M per year.
I am surprised at how much the Blackhawks were willing to spend on Bolland coming out of his rookie season. He probably could have been had for less money, but then again in a few years his price tag could be justified. Locking up Bolland for five years is a good move.
This doesn’t bode well for Havlat’s chances of re-signing with the ‘Hawks to a contract longer than one-year.
Update (06.29.09) – Announced today, $3.375M is that cap hit per year.
- The Blackhawks also swapped draft picks with the Atlanta Thrashers. Chicago received the 177th overall pick in the 6th round of this year’s draft, and the Thrashers get the Blackhawks’ 5th round pick in the 2010 entry draft. With the pick the ‘Hawks selected David Pacan, a center who played at Cumberland (CJHL).
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The Twitter Effect
June 26th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Martin Havlat and his agent, Allan Walsh, have taken to Twitter to tell their side of the contract negotiation story. A couple days ago (June 24th) from Prague, Havlat wrote on his account:
Everyone should know I am only thinking about signing with Chicago. It’s where I want to be.
That has been Marty’s sentiment since the Blackhawks’ season ended losing in five games to the Red Wings. Even with him claiming that he only wants to sign, there seems to be a stalemate between Havlat’s camp and Dale Tallon. Today, Tim Sassone is reporting that the contract’s length is what a deal on hold. He wrote that Tallon initially offered a one-year deal, but doesn’t know where talks are at now.
Now this is where this gets a little bit more interesting. Allan Walsh wrote just a few hours ago on his Twitter account:
A report surfaced that Blackhawks are offering Marty Havlat a 1 year deal. While I do not think it appropriate to comment, report is false.
Followed by:
Many different concepts are framework for discussions on Havlat deal.
Who knows what to believe, but it is really interesting to see this played out rather publicly and witness Walsh using a social networking site to bypass the media. Over the course of the off-season, Havlat and Walsh have ‘tweeted’ about their dinner plans between each other and with Dale Tallon. I have a hard time believing that Marty is the one actually ‘tweeting’.
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Havlat Contract Talks 2.0
June 24th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Yesterday, Tim Sassone of Daily Herald fame wrote that Dale Tallon will meet with Martin Havlat’s agent this week in Montreal. This is the first report in over a week regarding Havlat’s contract talks. Add that to the fact that free agency starts next week and it the chances of Marty returning next season are slim.
Havlat has three options:
1. Leave via free agency. He won’t see a ton of cash thrown his way if he decides to test the market. Organizations aren’t going to spend big money with the salary-cap situation on a player like Marty who is not a franchise player and susceptible to injury.
2. Sign a one year deal with the ‘Hawks. This may be the only way he would earn close to the $6M per year he made in his three seasons in Chicago. A one year contract works for Tallon as he would not want to hinder his ability to re-sign Toews, Keith and Kane next summer with big money tied up in Marty.
3. Sign a cap friendly three to four year deal. Whether the contract is front loaded or if he is willing to take a substantial pay cut, this is the option is the only way Havlat can stay in Chicago ‘long-term’.
I would like to see Marty return. It would be hard for Tallon to replace him with any player in the organization. No one really possesses his combination of speed and play-making ability. I just don’t see a guy like Kris Versteeg providing as much offense as Havlat did for the Blackhawks.
Finding a free agent to replace his role on the team may be difficult, as well. In Sassone’s article he mentioned a couple free agents that could fill Havlat’s spot if he walks – Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa and Mike Cammalleri. Gaborik is more prone to injury than Marty, Hossa’s price tag is too high, and Cammalleri is a viable choice but could opt to take more money elsewhere coming off of a career-year.
But if Marty ends up leaving to sign with another team, his absence would not set the organization back as if Tallon couldn’t re-sign Toews, Keith and Kane when their contracts expire next season.
- Bruce Garrioch, of the Toronto Sun, reported yesterday that Chicago is one of Dany Heatley’s desired trade destinations. Heatley will remain a Senator at least until July 1st when a $4M bonus is owed to him by whatever team owns his rights. No team will trade for him until that bonus is paid out – Chicago will not be one of them.
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Who Will be Taken at #28?
June 23rd, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
With the entry draft only a few days away, I was curious as to what sort of player(s) the Blackhawks might select with the 28th overall pick. There are several mock drafts that can be found online, but for the purposes of this post I’m going to reference what I believe to be more reputable sources rather than cite some dude with an opinion and a domain name – like me.
Like I wrote yesterday, with the first round pick the ‘Hawks will take the best player available. It would be a waste of my time to inclube more players then the few listed. Realistically no one can predict who the Blackhawks or any other team will take in the 2009 entry draft outside the Islanders and Lightning.
Shane Malloy of TSN (link to mock draft) selected: Jordan Caron – C – Rimouski (QMJHL)
Malloy’s analysis:
It is fair to say the big centre does not have the top end hockey sense or puck skills to be a number one pivot. But that’s not to say Caron could not develop into a dependable solid number two guy. With his combination of size, skill and willingness to drive to the net, he has the attributes teams need in their lineup. His ability to process information in traffic is good and he shows enough hands to score around the crease. He showed toughness and moxie fighting through injuries all season and it was plus in the character department. Caron also had over a point a game in the regular season and almost a point a game in the postseason. Now Caron could use some work on his first two steps, but he uses his size well to protect the puck and can frustrate opponents into penalties. He seems to thrive when the game gets chippy and he can get under a player’s skin. His defensive game is improving, but will need some fine-tuning before he turns pro in another year. He may not be an exciting pick from an entertainment standpoint, but Caron will show up every night, give an honest effort and will be accountable.
International Scouting Services Ranking: 25
Hockey’s Future (link to article) selected: Drew Shore – C – USA18 (NDTP)
Hockey Future’s analysis:
Coming out of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Shore has the size and physical game that would complement the ‘Hawks current group of forwards. He has the tools offensively to be a playmaker as well. The 18-year-old Colorado native is praised for his character and work ethic, a point of emphasis for the organization on draft day. Shore is committed to play for Denver University next season, but the team is in position to give this pick some time to develop. Filling out his frame and skating are two areas where Shore could improve. In 53 games with the USNTDP last season, Shore scored 14 goals and added 23 assists for 37 points. At the World Under-18 Championships, the center contributed two goals and nine points during the United States’ seven-game gold medal run.
International Scouting Services Ranking: 18
Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News (link to mock draft) selected: Tim Erixon – D – Skelleftea (SWE)
Kennedy’s brief analysis:
Hawks keep stockpiling talent, grab two-way defender with NHL bloodlines (father Jan played for Rangers).
International Scouting Services Ranking: NR
Others:
Peter Holland -C – Guelph (OHL) ISS Ranking: 15
Philippe Paradis – C – Shawinigan (QMJHL) ISS Ranking: NR
Carl Klingberg – LW – Frolunda (SWE) ISS Ranking: NR
*International Scouting Services (ISS) ranks what they believe to be the top 30 international hockey prospects every month. The latest rankings were published this May.
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Blackhawks 2009 Entry Draft Preview
June 22nd, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
The Blackhawks have seven picks in the 2009 entry draft. Here is a rundown of the picks that will take place at the Bell Center in Montreal this weekend.
| Overall Pick | Round | Notes |
| 28th | 1st | |
| 59th | 2nd | |
| 89th | 3rd | |
| 118th | 4th | |
| 148th | 5th | |
| 194th | 7th | Received in a trade on January 10, 2008 when the Blackhawks sent defenseman Magnus Johansson to the Florida Panthers. |
| 208th | 7th |
Dale Tallon will have to approach the draft weekend differently then he has as general manager. He won’t be able to draft a guy that is a year or two away from making the NHL roster like he has with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Kyle Beach in recent years. Tallon would like to fill in some holes in the Blackhawk’s prospect pool, but with the 28th overall pick Tallon should take the best available player on his draft board no matter the position. He can address those positions that could use some depth in the later rounds.
This season the Blackhawks had a handful of players graduate from prospect status – Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Colin Fraser and Niklas Hjalmarsson – leaving the farm system depleted. The ‘Hawks could use some depth at left winger, defense, and goaltending. With Khabibulin leaving via free agency, no clear winner to back-up Huet out of Rockford and choosing not to sign ’07 draft pick (3rd round, 86th overall) Josh Unice a few weeks ago, Tallon would be wise to draft a goalie with at least one of his seven picks.
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Re-sign Marty Already
June 14th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
The season is over. The mighty Detroit Red Wings lost in game seven to the Pittsburgh Penguins. First order of business for the Blackhawks should be to re-sign unrestricted free agent (UFA) Martin Havlat. Reports have stated that he would like to return, and that Marty’s camp has been in contact with Dale Tallon already. The fact that there doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency surrounding this tells me that a deal will get done before the free agent frenzy starts on July 1st.
A major concern that would come with re-signing Marty is that his new contract would hinder the front office’s ability to lock-up Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith – each are restricted free agents (RFAs) next year, and are cornerstones to the Chicago Blackhawks’ resurgence. This doesn’t have to be the case.
Havlat is a great talent, and it would be hard to replace him if Tallon let him walk this summer. He is a good two-way forward with the ability to create scoring chances for himself and others on the ice. As valuable as Marty was to the team this season, the $6M he made in his three years in Chicago was too much. His value lies somewhere between the $4M to $5M range, and that won’t break the ‘Hawks bank if a deal at that price can be struck.
With the Khabibulin likely to sign elsewhere, and a cheaper contract for Marty, Tallon will have freed up some cash. He may have to resort to a lot of creativity with the cap, move an RFA this summer, and trading a bloated contract or two to get it done. The point is that re-signing Marty doesn’t have to interfere with Chicago’s future plans.
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