Rocky Knows How to Re-Sign the “Big Three”

The Hawks beat the Oilers 4-3 for their third straight win in front of 20,124 at the United Center. It was announced last night’s attendance was the 55th consecutive capacity crowd. I am not sure if “capacity crowd” was the correct verbiage, but indeed it was the 55^th straight sellout which is very impressive.  

The Blackhawk organization has risen from the ashes because the team was bad for a long time and used the high draft picks they were awarded correctly. They also made some nice acquisitions in the trade market and utilized some great marketing. As much as anything else the team has benefitted from the shrewd ownership of Rocky Wirtz, who loves the sport and has deep pockets. 

Now all eyes are focused on the Hawks salary cap situation, as they will be in every other trade rumor for the rest of the season and beyond. There was a time in the summer, before the Marian Hossa shoulder surgery and long before the start of another sellout filled campaign when I believed the Hawks would make a significant trade. 

Those times have past. Now there is too much to lose by making a trade to create salary cap space for next year. 

The difference between a sellout and 15,000 fans a night equates to somewhere around $300,000 in gross revenues per game, maybe more, for Rocky and company. If the Hawks did not have their high powered offense and a roster full of skill they would not be as good. Nothing earth shaking about that statement. Most important is a less exciting more average team likely will not sellout every game. 

The city of Toronto can be compared to Chicago in some ways but there are big differences. The Blackhawks have to be a team full of promise and good results to achieve the highest average attendance in the NHL. 

The Hawks need to create about $ 10 million in salary cap space to re-sign Pat Kane, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews considering their new contracts call for an average of $6 million per season.  The $10 million amount is about right,  considering the salary cap limit will  remain the same. From a business standpoint alone the increase in their salaries can be absorbed as long as fans keep flowing into the United Center. My premise is that will happen for quite awhile, as long as fans are watching a high caliber club. 

If the Hawks jettison salary by trading top performers away for draft picks or young prospects, this team won’t be as good. There will be not equal value coming back from  transactions; young guns will be dealt for those who earn far less. That is option “A” for Rocky; he can find another home for some very good players which would enable him to have enough cap space to re-sign Kane, Keith and Toews. 

Rocky doesn’t need a calculator to realize if skilled depth is sacrificed in a cost cutting attempt to create cap space, trouble could soon follow. By trouble, I am referring to less wins which at some point will mean less revenue per game. The worse of all scenarios would be this club would not be strong enough to stay in the playoff picture. That is the risk of option “A” for Wirtz, a less than capacity filled United Center and possibly no playoff revenue. 

At first blush option “B” is more costly, but not really. If the salaries for those who don’t live up to expectations disappear the Hawks can still re-sign the “big three”. Most likely at least one contributor on today’s roster will have be to be dealt at some point. But significant cap space can be opened up as long as Mr. Wirtz is willing to swallow salaries. 

Smart business people know taking a loss to stop continued bleeding is necessary sometimes. Calculating owners realize mistakes have to be quickly absorbed before they lead to other problems. There is no truer adage than one mistake leads to another.  Rocky won’t let misguided signings of the past jeopardize the organizations future profitability. 

Before a leading scorer like Patrick Sharp or a promising sniper like Kris Versteeg is sent off for draft picks or hopes, Rocky will realize this is not the time. 

Any player who clears waivers can be sent to the AHL, or parts unknown and the biggest loser is the person paying the salaries. Granted the player or players demoted may not like the accommodations in Rockford but they have little choice. Once a player is sent down his cap hit disappears even though his pay checks don’t.  

You can fill in the blanks, but about $8 million in cap space can be opened up with a couple of demotions. Factoring in one trade and there’s the $10 million needed for the talented and popular core players to be re-signed. There is no hurry for such bold action unless the Hawks have to fill a glaring hole for this season…..like between the pipes. 

It will be costly for Rocky initially. But he realizes dollars spent now can save a lot of money in years to come. 

Now for last night’s win. 

This shouldn’t have been a one goal game. The Hawks dominated the Oilers but couldn’t convert on many chances. Although shot totals at the end of the game can be misleading, the totals after the second period can be useful to look at. The Hawks outshot the Oilers 30-10 after two periods. Actually the Oilers did not have a shot in the last 10 minutes of the middle frame. 

Nikolai Khabibulin did keep his club in the contest with some nice saves. But unless he has better rebound control the Oilers will struggle with him in net. 

Antti Niemi benefitted from another solid effort from those in front of him. Interestingly the Hawks and Oilers both scored on their first shot on goal. Most important is Niemi was good when it counted.  In third period the Hawks lost focus and committed some sloppy penalties. Niemi was sharp and confident in the final frame.

Niemi is very good stopping pucks aimed at the lower part of the net and that is where the Oilers often shot. He carries his glove very low and we will see if opponents can exploit him up high. For now it is a win he can build on, although he still leaves some juicy rebounds. 

Cristobal Huet will get a chance tonight against a team which has exhibited little offense. The Predators have been outscored 12-1 in their last two games. The Preds should be in an ornery mood and the Hawks will have to bring another good start with them to Nashville. 

Huet will be hoping the scoring drought continues for the Predators as they have scored only seven goals all season. 

Al’s Shots 

Considering Brent Sopel missed almost all of last season he has performed pretty well this year. Joel Quenneville utilizes him on the penalty kill and he is good shot blocker. Sopel and Barker usually don’t have to defend against the opposition’s top line. Both on the ice against speedy skilled forwards will be an issue. 

Barker has the best shot from the point for the power play. He is a luxury considering his salary and playing time. At 13 minutes or so a game he is certainly highly paid. But the Hawks do benefit from his passing and ability to get pucks to the net with the man advantage. 

Not sure about using Sharp on the point for the power play. He is so good in close to the net…. 

Good point men are not easy to find as some teams do use forwards. Ryan Getzlaf was on the point for the Ducks last night. Unless Anaheim gets swamped with injuries, I think they make the playoffs. 

Very good game by Jack Skille last night. That boy has some nice hands and is paying the price to stay in the tough areas. He was rewarded with his first goal of the season.

blackhawkswin@comcast.net