Posts Tagged ‘Marty Turco’

Chicago’s net belongs to Corey Crawford

December 19th, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Along with the announcement that Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg won’t lace up for Sunday night’s match against the Los Angeles Kings, Coach Quenneville stated that he will turn to Corey Crawford once again. It will be his third consecutive start, and his tenth start in the last 13 games for the Blackhawks. After Marty Turco was pulled 20 minutes and four goal into Monday’s game in Colorado, any residual goaltending controversy ended.

Going into the season there was always the chance Crawford would un-seat Turco, but I for one never gave thought it would ever happen. In my experience covering the Blackhawks and their prospects for three seasons, Crawford didn’t have the skill-set to be a starter at this level. He didn’t move well within the crease, and his rebound control left a lot to be desired. I had my apprehensions whether he’d be an adequate backup.

What we saw Friday night from the 25-year-old rookie in the 4-1 victory over the Red Wings was one of this better performances in his short career. He was quick, moved well from side-to-side, he didn’t give up any juicy rebounds and stopped 29 of the 30 shots faced. Detroit’s only tally happened after the puck took a generous bounce off the backboards, and Crawford couldn’t recover in time.

The starting gig is his to be lost.

Come season end, the Blackhawks’ brass will be faced with a similar problem last summer with Antti Niemi. Granted they won’t be faced with the payroll problems, as the salary cap ceiling is expected to rise again on top of the $4M is performance bonus penalties will be alleviated, but they will have a goaltender in their mid-20s with an expiring contract (RFA).

Don’t expect the same outcome, however. The Blackhawks have nothing in the pipeline that is anywhere close to being NHL-ready and I doubt Bowman will turn to the free agent pool keeping the goaltending carousel spinning. Crawford is the Blackhawks’ goaltender for the immediate future.

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Five thoughts about five Blackhawks

October 22nd, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Hossa's second goal vs. St. Louis in Game #7 (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

It’s two weeks into the season, the Blackhawks have rattled off four straight wins to find themselves sitting atop the central division after a slow start. We’re eight games in, a tenth of the season behind us, and we’ve learned a few things about the 2010-11 version of the team thus far.

Marian Hossa is a beast

We finally get a chance to see what a healthy Marian Hossa looks like, and it resembles greatness. He has always been this good, but this is the first time he has played at this level in a Hawks’ jersey. I can only compare it to Alexander Ovechkin. Every time Hossa gets the puck, you get the feeling that something great is about to happen, and he has yet to disappoint. He was the reason the Blackhawks won both Game #3 in Buffalo and Game #7 vs. St. Louis in come from behind fashion.

Hossa spoiled us, and our expectations have been raised. Now that we’ve been treated to hockey such as awesome as this from the Slovakian right winger, we should never expect anything less. Hossa is on pace for 70-plus goals and 40-plus assists.

Marty Turco will do

Marty Turco has successfully wiped everyone’s memory of Antti Niemi. In six appearances, he has a record of 4-1-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .929 SV%. Keep in mind that Turco is seeing an average of 35.2 shots against per game — the Hawks averaged 25.1 in 2009-10 — with a thin blue line in front of him. What impresses me the most about our new 35-year-old goaltender are the long up-ice passes. In Monday’s game against the Blues, Turco hit Bryan Bickell square in the chest, as he stood on the offensive blue line, from the crease.

Our new Brent Sopel is…

…Nick Boynton. Yea, he has his flaws, and in a perfect world he’d be skating on the third pairing with either Jordan Hendry or John Scott. But for what he is, I’ve been relatively pleased with the job Boynton has done so far this season. He is the league leader in blocked shots with 23 in seven games, and is averaging over 22 minutes a night.

In Wednesday’s 2-1 (SO) victory over the Canucks, Boynton was on the ice for 27:38 — of which 2:27 was on the penalty kill — behind only Duncan Keith in time-on-ice.

Nick Leddy wasn’t ready

When the news broke last weekend that Nick Leddy was assigned to Rockford, I smiled. Not because it gave me the opportunity to say, I told you so, but because it’s what’s best for the 19-year-old defenseman at this point in his career. The speed of the game at this level was too fast for Leddy. He was tentative when it came to making or receiving a pass, his decision making was sub-par and his positioning, which is the most important aspect of playing defense, left a lot to be desired. If Jassen Cullimore is brought in as your replacement, that’s humbling.

Jack Skille can play

It took the former first round draft pick long enough to prove he belonged in the NHL, but he’s been a source of energy on the fourth line with Viktor Stalberg and Jake Dowell. Skille is making the most of his current situation, and it’s only a matter of time he gets promoted. He was a candidate to be this year’s whipping boy, but John Scott has a firm grasp on the title.

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Eight fantasy relevant Blackhawks, plus sleepers

October 1st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Fantasy drafts are well underway, and the Blackhawks have eight players that should find their way on to a team in every possible format. For the purpose of this article we’ll stick with the standard 6 x 4 category league. Goals, assists, plus/minus, penalty-minutes power play points and shots on goal for skaters, and wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies.

Patrick Kane (RW) – He led the Blackhawks in scoring last year, and is poised to break the century mark in his fourth season. Kane has pin-point accuracy with his wrist shot, and could see 35-plus goals on Chicago’s top line. Not much of a scrapper, but he can produce in each category. Kane has the potential to be the best fantasy right winger this year. (2009-10: 30 G, 58 A, +16, 20 PIM, 29 PPP and 261 SOG)

Marian Hossa (RW) – Despite playing on the second line, Hossa can produce a point-per-game, had the potential to reach the 40-goal plateau again and rack up the shots on goal. He has dropped on many draft boards because he only played about two-thirds of the season (57 games) recovering from shoulder surgery. Hossa would be a steal if he fell to third round. (24 G, 27 A, +24, 18 PIM, 7 PPP and 199 SOG)

Jonathan Toews (C) – Notoriously a slow starter, the fantasy hockey world hopes Toews’ hot stick that propelled Team Canada to a gold medal and Blackhawks to the Stanley cup hasn‘t cooled. Two seasons ago he was snakebit, and last year he suffered from post-concussion symptoms. Despite playing at the deepest position, you’re going to want to grab him early. Expect big things from Captain Serious. (25 G, 43 A, +22, 47 PIM, 22 PPP and 202 SOG).

Duncan Keith (D) – He may not be the fantasy juggernaut that is Mike Green, but the reigning Norris Trophy winner will be a top point producer on defense. There isn’t much selling needed when it comes to Keith. He’s one of the hardest working players out of the ice each night, and he won’t have any trouble living up the lofty expectations. Keith it near or at the top in every category. (14 G, 55 A, +21, 55 PIM and 213 SOG)

Patrick Sharp (C,LW) – Playing on the Blackhawks’ second line with Hossa for a full season will add to this already solid fantasy value. As will the duel position eligibility at center and left wing. Sharp will help owners across the boards, minus the penalty minutes. The pretty boy doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. (25 G, 41 A, +24, 28 PIM, 16 PPP and 266 SOG)

Marty Turco (G) – Turco is no longer the elite fantasy goalie he once was at the ripe age of 35, and is far from worthy of being drafted anywhere in the first five rounds. He’ll be productive for the Blackhawks because of their puck control style of play. Turco will be a great No. 2 goaltender on any fantasy roster, and should start anywhere between 55 to 65 games. (22 W, 2.72 GAA, .913 SV% and 4 SO)

Brian Campbell (D) – 2009-10 was a bit of a down season for the puck moving defenseman. Owners can normally rely on Campbell for 50-plus points this year. He was forced to miss a handful of games down the stretch because of a broken collarbone. Campbell will be the quarterback of the first power-play unit, and see around 20 minutes a night per usual. (7 G, 31 A, +18, 18 PIM, 11 PPP and 131 SOG)

Brent Seabrook (D) – Much of what Seabrook does on the ice doesn’t translate to the fantasy game, and he will never the sexiest fantasy defenseman. He’s still young, but with five full seasons in the league don’t expect a jump in offensive production. Seabrook will have a point total in the 30s, but his stellar plus/minus rating gives him value. He will also rack up a decent amount of penalty minutes and see time on the power-play unit. (6 G, 24 A, +20, 59 PIM, 6 PPP and 129 SOG)

The Sleepers –

Troy Brouwer (RW) – Brouwer will have the role of being the muscle somewhere within the top two lines in Chicago. Coach Quenneville will need him to battle in the corners and in front of the net each night. As a result his penalty minutes and goal totals should be on the rise this year. Brouwer could see time on the power-play as well. (22 G, 18 A, +8, 66 PIM, 13 PPP and 116 SOG)

Dave Bolland (C) – There might not be anyone on this roster with as much to prove as Bolland at 24-years-old. There are lofty expectations for the pivot, who signed a long-term deal with the Blackhawks last summer. Bolland is coming off a season where he missed 43 games due to back surgery, and showed signs of what could be. From all accounts, Bolland is going into the season healthy. Oh, and there is a chance he centers the second line with Hossa and Sharp. (6 G, 10 A, +5, 28 PIM, 2 PPP and 52 SOG)

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Doug Wilson’s master plan comes full circle

September 1st, 2010 by Leigh Michael Dengis

Hockey player turned hockey analyst Nick Kypreos broke the news this afternoon that Antti Niemi will sign with the San Jose Sharks as soon as tomorrow. Early reports have Niemi signed to a one-year deal worth $2 million. More details will come out soon enough regarding his contract, but my initial reaction to the numbers at hand is Niemi could have had a similar deal in Chicago.

He can’t be too pleased with the job his agent Bill Zito did this off-season. He failed to acknowledge the 2010 goaltending market. It was oversaturated, and goalies made far from top dollar. Zito postured and claimed to have his client’s best interest all summer, but went into the arbitration hearing with an asking price well upward of $3 million. When Niemi was awarded $2.75 million by the arbitrator, it was easy for Stan Bowman to walk away knowing he had Marty Turco locked up as Plan B.

Niemi leaves a familiar setting behind with the organization that brought him into the NHL, as well as a good situation for any goaltender. He would start over 60 games for the Blackhawks, with one of the best defensive teams in the league playing in front of him every night. In San Jose, Niemi will split time in net with Antero Niittymaki – who also has a $2 million salary-cap hit – for a team built around scoring. His open market value as an unrestricted free agent in 2011 would have been higher if he stayed in Chicago.

Once again, I digress. Doug Wilson’s latest act as general manager of the Sharks was the second part of hopefully a two part plan to screw over the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. First was the $3.5 million offer-sheet to Niklas Hjalmarsson, and now this. His master plan came full circle. Wilson has a Stanley Cup winning goaltender at a reasonable price tag.

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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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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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