Bryan Bickell was recalled from Rockford for tonight’s game vs. the Calgary Flames and is lined up with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews early. He spent some ice-time with the Kane and Toews in Sunday’s win over the Sharks. Andrew Ebbett is scratched from the lineup for a second consecutive game.
Archive for November, 2009
Bickell Recalled And Playing With Kane and Toews
November 19th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Some Rumored Contract Numbers Of The Big Three
November 18th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Bob McKenzie of TSN reported the possible size and length that make up the looming extensions of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.
“Kane and Toews are believed to be getting five-year extensions, with each of them worth in excess of $6 million per year. An announcement on those two deals appears to be imminent.
“Keith’s deal is said to be more complicated, perhaps as long as 13 years, and worth less than what the Hawks will pay their two star forwards, which is to suggest it will likely average less than $6 million per year. Because the NHL is so closely scrutinizing the ultra long-term contracts, it may take longer to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s on the Keith extension.”
It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the organization opts to announce the new deals all at once. The salary numbers are a little high for my liking, but if those are them Stan Bowman will have a busy off-season clearing bloated salaries on the roster.
Related Posts:
Minor League Housekeeping
November 18th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
With the recent new of what is reported as a sure thing, the signing of the big three to contract extensions, I missed the news that the Rockford IceHogs recalled three players from the Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. Goaltender Alec Richards, defenseman J.C. Sawyer and non-roster forward Maxime Tanguay made the trip.
Richards and Sawyer are worthy of the call-up due to their performances in the ECHL. Richards’ boasts a 4-1-2 record as a Walleye this season, and a 2.75 goals against average. Sawyer was second on the team in total points with sixteen (five goals, eleven assists) in twelve games.
Related Posts:
Rumor Mill: Could The Big Three Sign Extensions Soon?
November 17th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Toews and Kane
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reported that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are close to signing contract extensions. LeBrun is tossing a two-week window for their respective extension to be signed.
- Chris Kuc confirmed the news that the Blackhawks are close to signing Toews and Kane, and that an announcement could come very soon. He also reports that Duncan Keith is close to singing an extension as well.
Red Rising’s Take: We know the potential end of the season situation of Toews, Kane and Keith all too well. It’s hard not to get excited the more press the story receives. Locking up the big three before the end of the season will ease so many minds in the organization and the fan base.
I have no doubt in my mind that Stan Bowman will do whatever it takes to keep Toews, Kane and Keith in the organization. If the news comes today or further down the road, the task of creating salary-cap space for next year is immanent. Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien and Cam Barker are all candidates to be moved at the end of the season.
- Tim Sassone is on a mission to convince his readers that Stan Bowman is on the verge of trading for a center to replace the injured Dave Bolland. He mentioned the name of Matt Cullen, currently of the Carolina Hurricanes. Sassone believes Cullen is the type of player Bowman would target in a trade – a reliable veteran who a contract that expires at the end of the season.
Red Rising’s Take: It looks like Andrew Ebbett might not be the answer to replace Bolland to center the second line – he was scratched from the lineup Sunday vs. the Sharks. The Blackhawks will look to fill the role internally. Sassone’s right though in one aspect, if the organization were to trade for a replacement it would be veteran center with an expiring contract.
Related Posts:
Bickell Back To Rockford
November 16th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Quick bit of news – The Blackhawks reassigned forward Bryan Bickell to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He played well in last nights game, and will be invited back to the show sometime later in the season.
Related Posts:
Big Win – Blackhawks 4, Sharks 3 (OT)
November 16th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Last night the Blackhawks didn’t play their best game, but still won the game in overtime, with a score of 4-3, against the best team in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks were sloppy, though. Too many turnovers in the neutral- and defensive-zone, and the Sharks were able to disrupt the ‘Hawks in the offensive zone way too easily. Frustrating at times, but the Blackhawks came out on top in this match-up.
Aside from the first two minutes of the second period, Cristobal Huet was great in net. He came up with important saves at even strength and on the penalty kill. Brent Sopel was and has been good (man, that was hard to write). Niklas Hjalmarsson was solid and bailed out Brian Campbell a few times through the night. Jonathan Toews was productive with two assists – one came on a great pass to Brent Seabrook for the game winner – and the recently recalled Bryan Bickell was good as well.
The Blackhawks used Jordan Hendry on the wing once again while Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ebbett were scratched from the lineup. Is Hendry really a better option than Ebbett? He only logged 5:15 of ice time. What is the point of even suiting him up? If Stan Bowman would just place Dave Bolland on the LTIR (long-term injured reserve) the practice of utilizing a defenseman as a winger would end, and the ‘Hawks would be able to role out four complete lines.
Coach Quenneville appears to like the line of Andrew Ladd, Madden and Troy Brouwer just as much as I do. He had to make due with what was provided to him, but he kept the three together. They are an effective checking line that can also be productive in the offensive zone – each tallied a point on the scorecard last night.
The Blackhawks have three days off before they head to Calgary to start the six-game circus road trip. On the trip they will play the three Western Canadian teams, and the three Californian teams.
In closing, to the meathead sitting in front of me last night chanting DETOIT SUCKS! every chance you get, STOP! You’re an idiot.
Related Posts:
Versteeg And Ebbett Scratched From Lineup
November 15th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Out of the lineup tonight was Kris Versteeg with an upper-body injury – taking his place was Bryan Bickell who was recalled from Rockford today. He played well tonight, and logged 12:28 of ice time. Like every other call-up this year, expect Bickell to be reassigned before the Blackhawks next game.
Andrew Ebbett was a healthy scratch and out of the lineup as well. The absence of he and Versteeg made for some interesting ling combinations – 1) Sharp, Toews, Kane 2) Ladd, Madden, Brouwer 3) Byfuglien, Kopecky, Eager 4) Bickell, Fraser, Hendry. The different combinations led to some sloppy play. It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win.
On the way back from the game, I heard on the radio that Versteeg is considered day-to-day. He did sit out of yesterday’s practice, but expect him to return for Thursday’s game in Calgary.
Related Posts:
Bolland Placed On IR
November 13th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Dave Bolland was placed on the injured reserved yesterday, and there is much speculation as to why the organization didn’t placed him on the long-term injured reserve. In regards to the injury situations with Marian Hossa and Adam Burish this season, the same question can be asked.
Now, the league’s current salary-cap isn’t really a simple science, but most knowledgeable hockey fans know that once a team places a player on the long-term injured reserve their salary no longer counts against the cap. So why won’t Stan Bowman – the general manager of a team right up against the cap ceiling – use a tool that would create cap-space?
Related Posts:
Blackhawks Rank 7th On Forbes List
November 12th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Rocky and McD
According to Forbes the Chicago Blackhawks rank as the 7th most valuable team in the league. The annual Forbes list has the organization have an estimated team value of $258 million – that is a 26 percent increase since last year when they ranked 14th overall. Ahead of the Blackhawks (in order) are the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins.
The skinny
The Blackhawks continue to make great strides under the ownership of Rocky Wirtz, son of the late owner and notorious tightwad, Bill Wirtz. Rocky has boosted the team’s marketing budget, expanded television broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet and WGN, and added over 20 sponsors. Last season the Blackhawks led the NHL in attendance and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years, bowing out in the Western Conference finals to the Red Wings. As a result of Rocky’s leadership, Chicago has some of the best young players in the NHL and is now one of the league’s strongest franchises.
If the current trend of success continues for the Blackhawks the value of the team will only grow. The local fan base is still growing, and there about 9.5 million residence in the Chicagoland area the organization has to tap into. Gone are the days of cheap(er) beer, cheap seats and no lines for the bathroom/concessions.
Related Posts:
Blackhawks Have Internal Options To Fill-In For Bolland
November 11th, 2009 by Leigh Michael Dengis
Just when the Blackhawks were getting healthy and able to roll out a lineup at full strength, Dave Bolland’s lower-back problem could no longer be ignored. The surgery to repair a herniated disk was successful, but now that Bolland will be out between three to four months recovering a replacement is needed.
It’ll be hard to replace a player like him, but initially the organization will hope someone on the roster can fill the void. Yesterday, Stan Bowman said:
“I think we’ve got to sort it out internally first and see what we have. We’ve got some guys who kind of deserve the chance to see how they can play and see how that goes before jumping into anything else. That’s the approach for now and we’ll see how it works.”
A handful of players that can be considered for the role of second line center, and they are Patrick Sharp, John Madden, Kris Versteeg, Tomas Kopecky, Andrew Ebbett and Jake Dowell (currently in Rockford). Ebbett could be given a shot to replace Bolland out of the gate. I’ve been critical of him a time or two, but they guy did tally thirty-two points in forty-eight games for the Ducks last season. So there has to be something there. Right?
The Versteeg experiment at center lasted a little over one game. Coach Quenneville shuffled the lines during the Kings game, and moved him to the wing and put Ebbett on the second line at center – replacing Kopecky. Ebbett played reasonably well, and scored a fluky goal that bounced off his chest and into the net. Kopecky was demoted to the fourth line and keeps proving to be useless.
Sharp and Madden could eventually see time as the second line center, but Quenneville likes them in the role they are in now. I think Dowell would be recalled before either Sharp or Madden are used in that role. Any internal options Bowman has will be exhausted before he resorts to trading for suitable replacement for Bolland as the team is right up against the salary cap.
The Blackhawks play Colorado at home tonight, so we won’t have to wait long to see who Quenneville uses in Bolland’s spot.
In other news: Marian Hossa will take another step in his rehab. He will start participating in full contact drills either Thursday or Friday.
Loading ...
