Archive for August, 2010

Pirri entry-level deal official with Blackhawks

August 31st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

The news broke last week that prospect Brandon Pirri signed an entry-level deal with the Blackhawks, but it wasn’t officially announced by the organization till this morning. He finished his freshman year with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2009-10 with 11 goals and 32 assists (43 points) in 39 games at the collegiate level. Pirri’s contract is worth $1,945,000 over three years – a $648,333 salary-cap hit. He is no longer eligible to play for RPI.

The 19-year-old center will likely join a talented Rockford IceHogs’ roster this fall, but can opt to play in the CHL where the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) hold his rights. Pirri’s decision sign a professional deal with the Blackhawks this summer comes on the heels of Jerry D’Amigo – his line mate at RPI – signing his own entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs.

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Rumors have Huet going to Switzerland

August 23rd, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Cristobal Huet (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Rumors surfaced this morning that Cristobal Huet was in talks to sign a one-year deal with Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss League. The plan is to loan his services to a team in Europe, but send his contract to Rockford (AHL) after he clears waivers, which he would. His $5,625,000 salary-cap hit would no longer be on the books as a result. According to the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), this is 100% kosher.

The Washington Capitals did the same thing with Michael Nylander last season. Nylander played 24 games in the AHL with the Grand Rapid Griffins, but made the move to Finland mid-season. The situation differs in that Huet would be in the Swiss League when the season starts, and Bowman hasn’t kept his intentions in regards to Huet a secret. The rumored deal, however, would only cover one of the remaining two years left on Huet’s contract.

With the size of his contract, loaning Huet to a European team is the only option. The Blackhawks weren’t going to find a trade partner – especially in the goalie market this off-season. In the salary-cap era, buying out his contract or keeping him on the roster weren’t viable options either. Under the CBA, renegotiating contracts is prohibited, which he probably would do if it meant he could stay in the NHL.

I’m not going to lie, I sort of feel bad for the guy. Never have I been a fan of his, but Huet is a NHL-caliber goaltender. If his cap hit wasn’t so high, he would be a No. 1 goalie somewhere in the league – possibly with the Blackhawks. The validity of this particular rumor doesn’t matter much – Huet is as good as gone. Marty Turco ($1,300,000) and Corey Crawford ($800,000) will man the pipes in Chicago in 2010.

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Blackhawks add depth by signing Fernando Pisani

August 18th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

So the Blackhawks signed forward Fernando Pisani – formerly of the Edmonton Oilers – to a one-year deal worth $500,000. You may remember Fernando from his performance in the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, and star of that one commercial for Ulcerative Colitis. Pisani will play on one of the bottom two lines, and provides veteran depth on the Hawks’ roster.

Not a big fan of Bowman’s latest deal solely for the reason that Pisani’s addition will keep a younger (healthier) player from vying for a roster spot come fall. He hasn’t played over 40 games in the last two seasons. That being said, the 33-year-old comes cheap and has some value in the defensive zone. Jack Skille, Bryan Bickell, Jake Dowell and even Kyle Beach will each need to put their best foot forward at training camp.

Hawks relinquish Chris Auger’s rights

The Blackhawks had till August 15 to sign prospect Chris Auger to an entry-level deal before his rights were relinquished. There was no press release, but the move was noted on blackhawks.com’s player tracker. The Hawks passed on the UMass-Lowell graduate, and Auger is free to sign with any other organization.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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Another bout with mass hysteria

August 12th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

It’s been a couple days since the ruling on Ilya Kovalchuk’s 17-year contract with the New Jersey Devils came down, which sided in favor of league’s grievance. Richard Bloch, the abattoir arbitrator, got it right. Kovalchuk’s contract was an obvious attempt to circumvent the salary cap. He would be 44 when his contract expires, and in the final five season’s of the deal he was slated to make $550,000, lowering his cap hit significantly. So, the league made an example of the Kovalchuk deal in an attempt to put the kybosh on deals such as these in the future.

Well, Bloch listed Marian Hossa’s 12-year contract he signed last year as one of four players – footnoted in the 20-page document – with contracts that resemble that of Kovalchuk’s. This, of course, had the natives clamoring that the sky is falling, once again – running around in a state of fear, much like chicken does when its head is cut off. They take to twitter to spread panic, and feed on articles written by fear mongers such as Larry Brooks (I hate myself for giving this guy some clicks). The natives do this before having one original, rational thought.

The league would be doing themselves a great disservice if they opted repeal Hossa’s contract. He already played one season on his deal. Just imaging the league-wide fallout it would create. It could potentially turn into a witch-hunt. The league had its chance to voice air and grievances regarding any contract before they approve it – like they did with Ilya Kovalchuk.

Bill Daly, the leagues deputy sheriff, already investigated the Hossa deal after it was approved last summer, but the story seemed to vanish into thin air. A month later, the league approved Luongo’s questionable long-term contract with the Canucks. Although some reports say contracts such as these are still under investigation, consider everything prior to Monday’s ruling grandfathered in to the new era.

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Prospect Philippe Paradis traded within the QMJHL

August 10th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Yesterday, the Shawinigan Cataractes traded Blackhawks’ prospect Philippe Paradis to the Prince Edward Island Rocket. Paradis was sent to the Rocket with defenseman Jean-Laurence Beauchemin for forwards Benjamin Casavant (Capitals hold rights) and Danny Potvin. Four draft picks (two by each team) were swapped in the deal as well.

The Blackhawks acquired Paradis with Chris DiDomenico and Viktor Stalberg from Toronto in the Kris Versteeg trade. He was drafted by the Hurricanes in 2009 – 1st round, 27th overall. Paradis had 44 points (24 Gs, 20 As) with 104 PIM in 63 games as a Cataractes. He also played 4 games with the Marlies – the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate – and tallied 2 assists.

Boynton is back

Capgeek.com is reporting defenseman Nick Boynton re-signed to a one-year deal at $500,000. He’s a decent player at a decent price. Personally, I would rather see a defenseman whose best days aren’t behind them round out the third pairing. That is all.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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With Jordan Hendry signed, blue line filling out

August 5th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

As expected, Jordan Hendry re-signed with the Hawks to a one-year deal worth $600,000, which is a $25,000 pay-cut from his salary last season. Getting Hendry inked to a lower cap-hit was possible because the Blackhawks didn’t tender him to a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, and became an unrestricted free agent as a result. If they didn’t take the roundabout process to re-sign the 26-year-old defenseman, he would have been owed a 10% raise.

The blue line picture is starting to come together. The top-four defensemen were locked up when Stan Bowman opted to match Niklas Hjalmarsson’s offer sheet from San Jose. Hendry will play upward of 60 games on the third pairing. John Scott will be a healthy scratch on most nights, but will intimidate opponents when he is in the lineup.

Seabrook – Keith
Campbell – Hjalmarsson
??? – Hendry
Scott

Bowman will either hit up the free agent market for the final spot on defense, or let a few prospects duke it out at training camp. Jay McKee’s name has been thrown around as a possible target, but I would rather see Ivan Vishnevskiy (acquired in the Ladd trade) get a shot.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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Blackhawks walk away from Antti Niemi

August 2nd, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Niemi and the Cup (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The writing was on the wall when the Blackhawks opted to match San Jose’s $14 million ($3.5 million per) offer sheet to Niklas Hjalmarsson. It was going to be tough for Stan Bowman to keep Antti Niemi on the payroll as a result, but you can’t say the man didn’t try. Post offer sheet, Bowman traded Marty Reasoner to the Panthers, and re-signed Jack Skille and Bryan Bickell to minimal deals in an attempt to have enough cap space to accommodate Niemi. I’m under the impression if Niemi really wanted to stay with Chicago, he and his agent would have been more amendable then they were.

According to various sources, Niemi’s camp sought out a one-year deal well above $3 million going into the arbitration hearing, and they were awarded a favorable one-year deal worth $2.75 million by the arbitrator. That number would have handcuffed Bowman when it came to the Blackhawks’ roster, so he walked. He was unable to pull off a sign-and-trade because other clubs didn’t like the deal either.

Enter Marty Turco. The Blackhawks probably started looking at his as a viable option weeks ago, but would have preferred to keep Niemi around at the right price. When the decision had to be made, signing Turco to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million worked best for the Blackhawks salary cap issue, so it eventually became easy for the Bowman to walk away from Niemi. He freed up 1.45 million, and they will be able to field a full 22-man roster.

There will actually be position battles taking place at training camp. Low salaries won’t dictate who makes the NHL roster come fall. We might actually see guys like Kyle Beach and Shawn Lalonde as soon as October. Also, all signs point to Corey Crawford as back-up goaltender.

Before you grab a pitchfork and/or torch on your way to Stan Bowman’s doorstep, think twice before you blame him for disbanding your Chicago Blackhawks. First, lynch mobs are no longer in fashion. Also, he’s just working within the parameters of the current collective bargaining agreement. Last, it’s a recent league-wide trend that goaltenders don’t win Stanley Cups – defensemen do. In other words, don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Changes have been reflected on our In the Organization page above.

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Now we wait on Bowman and Co.

August 1st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

We are somewhere in the middle of the 48-hour window that the Blackhawks have before a decision needs to be made regarding Antti Niemi and the one-year, $2.75 million contract he was awarded in arbitration. The number is a little higher than expected, but it’s do-able. Once again, the Blackhawks can accept the deal, move him via trade or walk away from it making him an unrestricted free agent. Expect Bowman and company to take their time before announcing their decision whether to keep or move the 26-year-old netminder.

If the Blackhawks opt to keep Niemi, they might have to move yet another body to field a roster of 20 to 21 players. However, there have been rumors that Marty Turco has a tentative deal in place at a cheaper price tag. With Turco in net, the organization would have more wiggle room with the roster.

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