In the case of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ general manager, Brian Burke, this off-season could well determine his fate in Toronto. With approximately $22-million in cap space (assuming the cap raises $4-million) and restricted free agents Luke Schenn, Clarke MacArthur, Tyler Bozak, Luca Caputi, Ben Scrivens, Jay Rosehill and Christian Hanson to re-sign, Burke should have at least $12-million (if not more) to play with in free agency. What his gameplan is to address the Leafs’ needs is anyone’s guess, but unless he pulls the trigger on a blockbuster deal at the Draft, it’s safe to assume he’ll be active when July 1 hits. It’s no secret that the Leafs’ biggest need is a centerman, and considering Brad Richards is by far the best option available, Burke will undoubtebly explore that avenue. But another pressing need for the Maple Leafs is an offensive defenseman to replace Tomas Kaberle. Leafs fans no doubt are hoping for Carl Gunnarson to fill that role, but he’s unlikely to blossom into an elite puck-moving defenseman anytime soon. And sure, if Dion Phaneuf’s second-half production is any indication (1 goal, 11 points, -8 in first 33 games; 7 goals, 19 points, +6 in last 33 games), he’ll help lessen the void and contribute on the powerplay with consistency. But the Leafs cannot rely on Gunnarson, Schenn or any other defensemen on the roster to adequately fill the role as the powerplay quarterback.

While options are limited in the free agent market for offensive defensemen, the most intriguing are Christian Ehrhoff, Joni Pitkanen, Kevin Bieksa (more of a stay-at-home defender despite two 40-plus point seasons), James Wisniewski, Andrei Markov and Ian White (I’d love to see him back in Blue and White). In terms of offensive talent, Ehrhoff probably tops the list, and because of the fact he’ll likely command at least $4-million. Should the Leafs make a serious pitch for Richards, there should be a sufficient amount of cap space left to sign a defenseman of Ehrhoff’s caliber. If Burke does manage to import both a centerman and offensive defenseman, thus filling the team’s two biggest needs, the powerplay should see a drastic improvement from last season (which ranked 23rd overall). With more firepower upfront—not to mention the inclusion of an elite playmaker— the Leafs would add new dimensions to its offense, and thus create more offensive opportunities for its defensemen, especially Phaneuf’s slapshot from the point.

This is all hypothetical, but for once, the Leafs have the cap space to match any offers teams will make to unrestricted free agents. If Burke wants to compete in the playoffs in the present instead of the future, and we all know that’s the case, then you can expect an aggressive approach this off-season to remedy his team’s needs. While many in Leafs Nation may wish to avoid such an approach and develop internal assets to fill the team’s needs instead, it’s just not feasible considering the current state of the Leafs. To realistically and succesfully execute that approach, the Leafs would have to rebuild the traditional way, and we know that’s not happening with Burke at the helm. And it is due to this fact that the off-season of 2011 may very well determine Burke’s future in Toronto. The pieces are beginning to connect, and Burke’s vision of the Leafs will come to fruition very soon. Whether that translates into success is currently unclear, but for the first time in a long time, Leafs fans have legitimate reason for optimism. And that’s something.

ronguillet@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @RonGuillet

With nine games until the 2010-11 season comes to a close, Phaneuf’s first campaign as captain has had its ups and downs. He’s on pace to finish with around 30 points in 66 games, which is well below his career-high of 60 points in 2008. While his offensive game has regressed in the past couple of seasons, Phaneuf is still effective in the defensive end. He has recorded 157 hits, 100 blocked shots, 43 giveaways and 26 takeaways despite missing 16 games with a lacerated leg injury. In comparison, Phaneuf had 194 hits, 88 blocked shots, 51 giveaways and 52 takeaways in 82 games during the 2007-08 season. The decrease in takeaways coincides with the fact that his offensive numbers have decreased, thus joining the rush less frequently and instead committing to defence, as evidenced from the increase in blocked shots(88 to 100) in 25 fewer games.

On the surface, it’s easy to cite Phaneuf’s offensive regression as evidence to his inability to return to form. However, is that really the case? As mentioned above, his blocked shots totals have increased sigificantly since his 60-point campaign. From 2008 to 2011 (and counting) he went from 88 to 86 (two less games; produced 49 points) to 100 (81 games) to the same amount this season but with nine games remaining (for a total of 66 games).

So are Phaneuf’s best days really behind him? Or is he a young defenseman building confidence while contributing at both ends of the ice? One cannot completely excuse his offensive regression, but if his play since the all-star break is any indication, Phaneuf is well on his way towards reaching the 50-point plateau once more. Since February 1, Phaneuf has produced 6 goals and 15 points in 24 games. If he could maitain that sort of consistency throughout the season, it’s within the realm of possibility that he scores 20 goals in the near future. Although it’s easy to forget, Phaneuf only turns 26 years old on April 10, so his prime is still a season or two away.

At this point, whether Phaneuf was the correct choice as team captain is irrelevant. He’s wearing the ‘C’ and no one can accuse him for lack of heart. He’s playing his best hockey during the most crucial point of the season for the Leafs. And as the team around him continues to improve, so will he. For a franchise that lacked considerable star power before general manager Brian Burke began molding his vision of a championship team, perhaps the Phaneuf era started a little too early for Toronto. Leafs fans wanted someone to turn the ship around and Phaneuf, despite dealing with his own struggles, was supposed to be our knight in shining armor. But as the Leafs continue to foster and import talent for the future, the weight of the world will lift from Phaneuf’s shoulders, and his confidence will only increase.

Expectations need to grounded, and ultimately time will unveil the result, but perhaps it’s not about the Leafs fixing Phaneuf, or Phaneuf fixing the Leafs. They’re fixing each other while paving a better tomorrow.

ronguillet@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter @RonGuillet

So on Monday we saw a few deals that some idle hands and clearly not-so-idle tongues of GMs created over the break. The cost of dmen went up as Grebeshkov and Leopold cost a 2nd rounder a-piece.

So, thanks to Monday, the market has been set and the cost is a bit high as dmen like Hamhuis, Sutton and others now cost quite a bit. Per Chris Botta, the 2nd rounder he figured for Sutton has gotten higher. This would correspond to my take cited on twitter where the Isles are asking for a 1st rounder. They would like a Campoli-like return for the hulking dman with a meanstreak and who can play high tempo and block shots like Sutton. They would like to be able to laser-in on the 1st round of the next draft which they have been doing their due diligence on all season long as another step for their rebuild. Especially when the goalie situation gets touchy as DiPietro has a swollen knee again.

Where I completely, yet kindly, disagree with Botta is his citing of the cost of Hal Gill 2 years ago, which was a 2nd and a 5th rounder. That market means nothing to this one. Apples to oranges. One year value does not equate to the next. Each season’s market depends on availability and demand. Values have been set, and if the Isles only get a 2nd rounder for Andy Sutton, then they have given up on getting the new rate for that type of dman when playoff bound teams will consider him a step-up to the two dealt yesterday. How much of one is the question.

Now things slow down, as teams now balk at the costs set. Someone will blink eventually as a price is met by someone OR a team set price comes down some. Then you will see a few deals snap into place..either later today or pressed against that March 3rd deadline.

It is a sellers market thus far, and one must wonder if Atlanta should have waited a bit on dealing Kovalchuk or Calgary held out on Phaneuf for maximum return…

Ahh, 20/20 hindsight. NY Islanders once trade Zhitnik to Philly early in season, and then Holmgren turned it around and fleeced Atlanta getting Coburn. This caused Isles fans no shortage of wonder and agita. However, he was removed for “being a negative element in the lockerroom” we’ve come to find out. Well, the Isles responded with a downward spiral in the standings until they finally got themselves together, made the playoffs and lost to Buffalo.

20/20 hindsight also tells two tales. You have to add team value in removing distractions and detrimental elements always to the pre-deadline deals.

Meanwhile, besides NJ, nobody has made the boffo playoff tooling deal. This is surprising because this year looks very wide open. Expect playoff bound cup pressure to cause prices to be met for the win now mantra.

Once that series of moves get made, could be tomorrow, it will get interesting.

Join us tomorrow on Hockey Independent as we join together with XM NHL Home Ice, Lyle Richardson, and many more to provide a chat “live” show where you can hang out and get news and information as it breaks. Live show begins at 9am here on Hockey Independent.

Phaneuf took the National Hockey League by storm in his rookie season, producing 20 goals as a 20-year-old defenseman. He then had a successful sophomore campaign, breaking the 50-point barrier. In his third year, he had a 10-point increase and produced 60 points, gaining him consideration for the Norris trophy at only 22 years old.

Since then, however, Phaneuf has regressed. If his on-pace numbers are realized, this will be his worst season in terms of points, although he will pass his career-low 11 goals of last season.

While those type of numbers would warrant a top-two spot on almost any defense corps in the league, it’s a little different in Phaneuf’s case.

For one, he has a cap-hit of $6.5 million through the 2013-14 season. Phaneuf’s cap hit makes him the seventh highest-paid defenseman in the NHL, joining a group of Nicklas Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, Scott Neidermeyer, Brian Campbell, Jay Bouwmeester and Dan Boyle. So you know what kind of player the Calgary Flames were expecting. They wanted a Norris Trophy winner. Didn’t happen, and Phaneuf’s drop-off—not only offensively, but defensively— caused a backlash.

In a Calgary Sun article posted yesterday, Olli Jokinen said Phaneuf was not a cancer in the dressing room, despite certain rumours, and that the reason general manager Darryl Sutter traded him was because he was not accepted by the Calgary fans.

And why do you think that is?

Well, posting a 60-point season, getting nominated for the Norris trophy and then receiving a mammoth raise, only to struggle for the next 18 months, might do it.

But as a 24-year-old defenseman, is Phaneuf’s potential as a future Norris Trophy winner really in jeopardy?

As Gus pointed out in his article of Phaneuf’s regression in context, the rearguard played through a number of injuries while logging considerable ice-time in the 2008-09 season. Then, the addition of Bouwmeester to the Flames’ blueline cut Phaneuf’s ice-time by just over three minutes per game this season.

Also, consider that Phaneuf averaged 5:34 powerplay time-on-ice per game in 2008-09. This season, he averaged 3:46 per game with the Flames. That sort of ice-time would compare him with the likes of Micheal Del Zotto (3:53), Marek Zidlicky (3:48), Alex Goligoski (3:46), Scott Neidermeyer (3:42) and Kyle Quincey (3:41). Aside from Neidermeyer, who is 36 years old, that is not a group of elite offensive defensemen. Still, Phaneuf is ranked 7th in the NHL for PP goals in defensemen. With the Leafs, he will now log considerable ice-time with Tomas Kaberle on the PP for the remaining 25 games. Also, if Kaberle is shipped this summer, expect Phaneuf to be the Leafs’ go-to guy on the blueline.

But the point of all this is not to convince you that Phaneuf will one day win the Norris trophy with the Leafs. In fact, it’s that sort of thinking that could lead to his demise in Toronto.

While there are various reasons that could have led to Phaneuf’s downfall in Calgary, the criticism he received from Flames fans for not performing at an elite level surely did not help. Did they have reason? Sure, especially considering his salary.

But, it’s an entirely new chapter for Phaneuf in Toronto. A fresh start. A clean slate. Whatever the hell you want to say.

The point is that Leafs fans cannot regard Phaneuf as one of the league’s best defenseman. Not yet. This fan base is notorious for unrealistic expectations from their players, and it often leads to disappointment because any mistake that player makes is magnified, when it really needs to be put in context. The last thing we need is another defenseman who’s gripping the stick a little too tight and not playing his game.

If you think about it, Phaneuf, like the Leafs, is taking baby steps towards regaining his form. It would be detrimental to this team’s long-term vitality to expect instant results from a player who is 24 years old.

In time, those expectations will be warranted, but for now, patience is our best friend.

ronguillet@gmail.com

For the second goal of the game, Luke Schenn started the play with an outlet pass to Tyler Bozak. Bozak went on to be a part of the play that lead to Phil Kessel's goal, but while Luke Schenn was on his way to the bench for the line change, Dion Phaneuf put his hand out to keep Schenn on the ice until after the play. Kessel scored and Luke Schenn reveived a plus on the night for his efforts. It's nice to see that type of character from a new acquisition.

Dion Phaneuf made a comment about the remainder of the Leafs season that showed optimism on his behalf.

"It's not over yet," Phaneuf said after practice. "There's a lot of games left. We are where we are, but we have to do our best to get points and make a push for the playoffs. … If teams lose and you win a few, you're right there."

Phaneuf feels the Leafs playoff hopes are still alive and looks to continue thriving in his new environment to try and get back into the post-season picture.

"We certainly hope so. What happened here (prior to the Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom and J.S. Giguere additions) is unacceptable," said sophomore defenceman Luke Schenn.

"All three guys bring a lot of energy. Like it was said, you needed a bit of a culture change here and these guys bring intensity, you could sense it (Tuesday) night, it showed in our dressing room and then it carried over into the game."

Toronto will look to carry their momentum in the third of three meetings with the New Jersey Devils this season starting tomorrow night. They will then play host to the red hot Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
www.checkingfrombehind.com
twitter.com/michealaldred

When Travis Zajac had his face plastered into the boards, I just knew we had found our very own Chuck Norris. Then, Phaneuf dropped the gloves with Colin White and my man-crush officially began.

Okay, maybe I’m getting a little too excited. But when’s the last time Leafs fans have had reason to get excited about a potential future Norris trophy winner? I, for one, think we’re entitled to some Kool-Aid drinking tonight.

But let’s get post-game thoughts brewing here, folks:

- Dion Phaneuf. That is all.

- Okay, seriously… He set the tone early with a couple of big hits and it seemed to instill some energy into the lineup—something that’s been lacking the last few seasons. He was aggressive on the puck carrier and limited their time and space in the Leafs’ end. He also loaded some shotgun blasts from the point and has added a new dimension to the Leafs’ powerplay. He registered 4 shots, 6 hits, a +1 rating and logged 23:47 TOI. I’d rate his first outing in a Leafs uniform a solid A.

- Nikolai Kulemin continues to impress. While he hasn’t translated his offensive numbers from the KHL, he’s been a defensive presence for the Buds and has managed to show flashes of his offensive potential. Tonight he buried an opportune rebound from Yann Danis to score his 11th of the season. At 23 years old, Kulemin is displaying the type of hockey that will land him a job on the 3rd line for the foreseeable future. He can chip in goals when called upon and kill penalties effectively. If the Leafs can retain him for a reasonable price, what more can you ask from a player of his ilk?

- On the same note, you gotta like the defensive awareness of the Kulemin- Rickard Wallin- Sjostrom line. Yeah, that’s right, Wallin actually had a solid game and was noticeable on the ice. He was aggressive on the forecheck and his quick thinking resulted in some odd-man rushes for the Leafs. Not bad, for once.

- Anyone else think it might be worth re-signing Stempniak? He has a strong work ethic and he’s a solid two-way presence. He can chip-in anywhere from 40-50 points a season and log some PK time. Could serve a crucial role on the third-line moving forward. Thoughts?

- Jean-Sebastien Giguere was solid between the pipes tonight. His big frame covers a lot of net and it compensates for his average lateral movement. He wasn’t tested too much but he made the routine saves and, if you were to ask ex-Leaf Vesa Toskala, that’s not always a simple task. He’s composed in the crease and I don’t recall a moment where he didn’t have control of the puck. Oh yeah, did I mention he got a shutout his first game? Truculence.

- Alexei Ponikarovsky seemed to establish chemistry with new linemates, Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak. The trio produced the second goal, off the stick of Kessel, using their speed and ability to connect tape-to-tape passes. Ponikarovsky drove to the net on a few occasions and with Kessel patroling for loose pucks, it could serve as a good combo moving forward. And Bozak seems to be progressing as well. He’s a little tentative under pressure and can lose the puck, but his slick hands and vision allow him to create plays. It’s still too early to determine, but he’s making strides towards gaining consideration as the team’s number-two center next season.

- Christian Hanson had a decent game centering Stempniak and Mitchell. He did not contribute much in terms of offensive chances but he made smart decisions in his own end and he didn’t try to be flashy with the puck. He also saved a goal in the dying minutes of the second period with some quick thinking, too. Needs more time to adjust to the rigors of the NHL game but he still has the tools to become a quality third-line player.

- Gotta wonder if the inclusion of Phaneuf to the top PP unit will mean more goals from Beachemin. The Leafs now have two big slapshots in their arsenal and two defensemen—Tomas Kaberle and Carl Gunnarson– to feed them the puck on the back-end. This trade could have more positives then we originally thought.

- Sjostrom has done in one night what Jamal Mayers had failed to do during his entire stay. Okay, maybe that’s not fair and it’s only one game, but Sjostrom provided solid penalty-killing and made some timely shot blocks. He won’t turn the entire PK around, but it’s refreshing to see a player fill his role as a defensive specialist—even if it is one game. He logged the most minutes, along with Wallin, on the PK with 2:17 TOI, and he registered 2 shots to go along with his assist and +1 rating. Not too shabby.

I can literally write a book here of my thoughts on the game, but let’s hear what Leafs Nation has to say before this post becomes a little too long-winded.

ronguillet@gmail.com

I asked HendricksHockey’s Hockey Insider for some rumors back last week. He gave me a blog 2 days ago, but it sat in my inbox because of a work deadline.

Lo and behold…his Phaneuf call came true. Calgary was desperate to move him.

So here it is…

Hey all, Hockey Insider here from HendricksHockey.com; Big thanks to Hockey Independant for the invite to write a piece for all you hockey nuts! Now for the rumors and speculation;

-Ray Whitney is on the trade block and im 90% sure he will be dealt this season. If the Kings cannot land Kovalchuk i feel very confident Whitney will land in L.A. this season. There are up to 4 teams not including the Kings that have interest.

-Dion Phanuef has been rumored to possibly be on his way out of Calgary, a unamed G.M. has also came out and said the Flames are “desperate to move him” but my sources feel Phanuef will stay put unless a deal blows them out of the water.

-Sheldon Souray is not a lock to be moved this season; Yes, the Oilers are exploring all options so it looks as though it is more likely he gets dealt, but the problem is the $5.5 million dollar contract that goes along with him. That being said, Im told the Bruins have and quote “been in the most consistent contact with the Oilers regarding him” so if he is moved the Bruins look to be the frontrunners at this time.

-It looks like Kovalchuk will not reamin a Thrasher, the Kings are the frontrunners, but they are up to 5 more teams that are “serious” about squiring the Russian sniper.

-Halak is not being shopped and will not be moved at this time, it is possible that closer to the trade deadline he gets moved but my sources say “not at this time”(I think he will not get moved period). Not to mention he has better stats than Price this season…

-There have been rumors that the Canucks have been scouting David Backes; This is for sure…the Blues do not plan to trade Backes and wont. My sources feel Paul Kariya and Jay McClement are two players the Canucks may be looking at.

-The Wild are trying to find Petr Sykora a new home, but there are no takers at this time.

-Dont be surprised if Peter Mueller is dealt by the deadline. No question that many teams will be interested.

Feel free to visit HendricksHockey.com and follow me on twitter; NHLSourcesSay

Corey Johnson of HockeyLeaks.com dropped us a blog from his site, Hockeyleaks.com. He’s submitted it over to us on the HockeyIndependent rumor board to some discussion on some of those issues. So, without further adieu….

Phaneuf for Lecavalier?

What a blockbuster that would be, right? I brought it up a few weeks ago, though I think it’s too big of a deal to happen.

Phaneuf has been awful, and it’s absolutely clear that he needs a change of scenery. There is no shortage of teams who would love to add Phaneuf to their roster, despite his recent struggles.

As for Lecavalier, he’s harder to move due to his NTC, his close to $8 million per season salary, and the length of this current contract, which will be with him until he retires.

We’ve all seen the New York Rangers / Tampa rumour, that says the Rangers would send overpaid d-man Wade Redden, Matt Gilroy, who I believe has unlimited potential, and either Callahan or Dubinsky for Lecavalier. The Bolts would gain some much needed depth, while the Rangers would have their biggest name since they had Jagr a couple of years ago. Yes, they have Gaborik, but I’m still not convinced he can stay healthy for a full season.

I do like this deal for both sides, minus New York taking Redden, but with Lecavalier making so much, it’d be hard for any deal to happen without Tampa Bay taking considerable salary back.

So where could either of these big-name players end up?

I’ll start with Phaneuf, and a couple of interesting scenarios. First, what about Kovalchuk to Calgary for Phaneuf. I’m not sure if either side would have to include more, it’s really tough to call. Kovalchuk’s the better player, but Phaneuf is signed long term.

What about Phaneuf to Toronto? Luke Schenn would fit much better as a fourth or fifth defenseman in Calgary, while Phaneuf would look pretty good in the top Toronto pairing. The question is, how much on top of Schenn would Calgary want from Toronto? The Leafs only have so much future to give up. Getting Phaneuf would make dealing Kaberle in the off-season a lot easier.

Finally, Phaneuf to Dallas would make a lot of sense. The Stars have no offensive presence on the blueline, and are shopping hard for a top-pairing d-man. The Stars have a ton of good, young forwards to shop, and giving one up wouldn’t hurt them too much, especially with Brad Richards stepping up like he has.

Flip over to Lecavalier, who’s inflated Salary makes him almost impossible to deal. The Montreal rumours are officially dead, as Montreal has no cap room to work with, and won’t for a very long time.

The Islanders are another team I would keep an eye on, if Lecavalier didnt have a NTC. Him and Tavares would be a great 1-2, while the Islanders actually have the young forwards to fill out a proper top-two lines, something Tampa Bay currently doesn’t.

One source mentioned to me a few days ago that he wouldn’t be surprised if Columbus went after Vinny. While I don’t think it would be a good fit, a Rick Nash – Vinny Lecavalier combination could be lethal. However, like the Islanders, I don’t see Vinny waiving to spend the next ten years in Ohio.

So in closing, Phaneuf I feel will be on the move in the next six months, while Lecavalier will likely spend at least another year in Tampa Bay. However, is a Phaneuf – Lecavalier trade that far fetched? Iginla – Vinny has potential, while Phaneuf – Hedman could be one of the most feared defense combos for years to come.

One thing is for sure, heading into the 2010 Trade Deadline, more of this interesting scenarios are sure to pop up.

Everyone should know Lyle Richardson, otherwise known as Spector of SpectorsHockey.net. He is a busy man who works for FoxSports, THN, Puck Daddy’s Free Agent Chats, and also has his own site. I’ve asked Lyle to take part in our Rumor Board, where each week he will weigh in on the hot ones that you, the fan, or that we have added to our Rumor Board system.

Anyone and everyone can add items to our rumor board. Please check it out.

And away we go….

BD:

Howdy Lyle. Happy 2010. Ok, looks like we’ll have to hit the Kolvy rumors again as they keep on coming…

One theory I’ve been considering is that perhaps Kolvy’s agent is pushing around the trade rumor in order to heat up a market as Atlanta and their star player need to hammer out a long term agreement. Am I far off here? Just seems when a star player is in the last year…someone seems to heat the market for them…and the one who would gain the most from that is the player’s agent who’s main interest is the %.

LYLE:

It wouldn’t be surprising if Kovalchuk’s agent is stirring the trade rumor pot a little. That’s what agents sometimes do to spur along stagnant contract talks. I am however still cautious of believing the Thrashers could trade him, especially if they’re still in the playoff hunt by the deadline. Remember what happened last season with the Panthers and Bouwmeester.

BD:

LA Kings rumors seems to be front and center. Our pal, Dapper Dave Pagnotta from the FourthPeriod.com had some stuff on it. And even if not for Kolvy, I recall Deano being interested in a key figure to be with the kids over there. Now the kids are a blooming and LA has some depth on youth, especially on D. If not the Kolvy rumors, might they be active this trade deadline to step up?

LYLE:

If the Kings are still playing well and holding onto a post-season berth by the deadline I don’t see Lombardi making a blockbuster move. He could tweak but he won’t make a massive shakeup. Perhaps a guy like Ray Whitney with his experience and leadership could be a good addition there as a playoff rental without costing too much in return.

BD:

This is for my pal CREW99AW over on HFBoards, a longtime Isles poster and good egg. CREW was wondering if there would be any takers for Isles Brendan Witt this trade deadline,who hasn’t exactly been a smart contract extension for the team. He’s still on for another year past this one. You see any market for Mr. Yukon?

LYLE:

I don’t see much interest in Witt this time around, especially with another season remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $3 million. With the salary cap not expected to move much for next season teams will be a little more choosey over which players they acquire at the deadline.

BD:

Speaking of Isles…Marty Biron will be looking for a home as long as Rick DiPietro stays healthy. What is he worth? Who might be interested?

LYLE:

As for Biron, given his performance this season he could fetch a mid-range draft pick but I don’t expect much more than that. I’m not sure what teams might be interested in him now but I can tell you the Red Wings certainly aren’t interested now that Jimmy Howard has finally blossomed, nor are the St. Louis Blues interested as they’re sticking with Mason and Conklin the rest of the way.

David Grohl & Marty Biron: Seperated At Birth?

BD:

EDM seems to be lost in translation. One would think the high priced vets go first. Who might they try to move?

LYLE:

I expect the Oilers will move vets like Ethan Moreau and Steve Staios, who’d be affordable and valuable to playoff-bound teams. Cogliano could also attract interest if they opt to move him. Sheldon Souray agreed to waive his NTC but given he has two more years at $5.4 million per I doubt he’ll be going anywhere since GMs tend to shy away from players under expensive multi-year contracts during a season.

BD:

Dion Phaneuf rumors have been abound ever since Jay Bouwmeester came to the Flames. Any legs to any of all this?

LYLE:

The Phaneuf rumors are BS. ‘Nuff said.

BD:

Super sports agent Allan Walsh loves Jaroslav Halak. “Halak’s him a lot”, as Walsh has been known to say of Twitter. With Montreal fluttering once again, it seems that they have more eggs in the Carey Price basket. Might they trade Halak for longterm help?

LYLE:

If Canadiens GM Bob Gainey were to get an offer of, say, Jeff Carter for Halak he’d do that deal in a heartbeat, but such an offer isn’t out there at this time and given how well he’s playing – and the Habs winning record with Halak in goal - I doubt he’ll be moved unless Gainey gets a sweetheart offer. And no, I don’t believe this means Carey Price is now available.

BD:

Ducks seem to be trembling across the din as they are with some high priced contracts post-Burke…clearly willing to move some players (as we saw with Chris Pronger), and stuck as the trailer in the Western Conference. Who gets moved from this, what teams might be seeing Duck chum…and what will it take?

LYLE:

Should Ducks GM Bob Murray decide to pull the trigger the most likely to move is Saku Koivu and maybe Scott Niedermayer although Murray would love to retain the latter. He’d also like to move Giguere but his salary ($6 million for next season) and movement clause makes him all but impossible to shop at the deadline. Forget about trading Bobby Ryan, the kid’s got 20 goals in 45 games and isn’t available.

Forwards

Patrice Bergeron, L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que. (Boston Bruins)
Sidney Crosby, Cole Harbour, N.S. (Pittsburgh Penguins) Alternate captain
Ryan Getzlaf, Regina, Sask. (Anaheim Ducks)
Dany Heatley, Calgary, Alta. (San Jose Sharks)
Jarome Iginla, St. Albert, Alta. (Calgary Flames) Alternate captain
Patrick Marleau, Aneroid Sask. (San Jose Sharks)
Brenden Morrow, Carlyle, Sask. (Dallas Stars)
Rick Nash, Brampton, Ont. (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Mike Richards, Kenora, Ont. (Philadelphia Flyers)
Corey Perry, Peterborough, Ont. (Anaheim Ducks)
Eric Staal, Thunder Bay, Ont. (Carolina Hurricanes)
Joe Thornton, St. Thomas, Ont. (San Jose Sharks)
Jonathan Toews, Winnipeg, Man. (Chicago Blackhawks)

Defence

Dan Boyle, Ottawa, Ont. (San Jose Sharks)
Drew Doughty, Ottawa, Ont. (LA Kings)
Duncan Keith, Penticton, B.C. (Chicago Blackhawks)
Scott Niedermayer, Cranbrook, B.C. (Anaheim Ducks) – Captain
Chris Pronger, Dryden, Ont. (Philadelphia Flyers) – Alternate captain
Brent Seabrook, Tsawwassen, B.C. (Chicago Blackhawks)
Shea Weber, Sicamous, B.C. (Nashville Predators)

Goalies

Roberto Luongo, Montreal, Que. (Vancouver Canucks)
Martin Brodeur, Montreal, Que. (New Jersey Devils)
Marc-Andre Fleury, Sorel, Que. (Pittsburgh Penguins)

- official roster posted HERE

While there were a few surprises when Steve Yzerman announced Team Canada’s 2010 entry into the Vancouver Olympics yesterday, the reality was that every single player selected to the roster was a viable candidate to represent Canada and while we can squabble over who was left off of the team, there’s no turning back now so we might as well get used to this lineup over the next 6 weeks as we get ready for the most anticipated Winter Games in history.

The deliberations were long and thought out and the group of men in charge of creating a winning team did their best to bring us, what they think, will be the best Hockey team in the world. Amen to that.

Canada is the money tree when it comes to hockey players and, although we lay claim to many records and winning teams, Canada always wins due to the strong work ethic that is instilled in young Canuck hockey players at the age of 3. Every single member of this Team Canada squad would hands down make any other roster submitted for the upcoming Olympic competition.

The reality is that Canada could very well have two elite squads participating in the Olympics. But that’s not how it works.

But if it did, this is how Pierre Lebrun of ESPN would have chosen Team Canada’s “B” Squad:

Forwards

Brad Richards
Ryan Smyth
Marc Savard
Vincent Lecavalier
Jeff Carter
Mike Cammalleri
Steven Stamkos
Martin St. Louis
Derek Roy
Jordan Staal
Dustin Penner
Mike Fisher
Patrick Sharp

Defensemen

Jay Bouwmeester
Mike Green
Dion Phaneuf
Stephane Robidas
Robyn Regehr
Dan Hamhuis
Francois Beauchemin

Goaltending

Cam Ward
Marty Turco
Carey Price

- For more of Pierre’s breakdown of Canada’s “Shadow Squad”, click here.

As interesting as it would be to see Mr. Lebrun’s team participate in the Games in Vancouver, that is obviously not a possibility.

What is certain is that with little to no practice time available for Team Canada, it is going to be up to the coaches and management to decipher which combinations will yield the greatest results.

So, with that in mind, let’s play the job of Mike Babcock and Steve Yzerman.

Below are my line combo’s as well as special team units, feel free to counter my lineup with one of your own.

Line 1:

Nash-Crosby-Iginla

- Crosby and Iginla…just seems right. Adding Rick Nash to Sid’s other wing could make this the most ferocious line in the tournament.

Line 2:

Staal-Getzlaf-Perry

- Eric Staal is a center, but he is also a left-handed shot and will provide an incredible compliment to one of the most solid duo’s in the NHL since the lockout. Staal will also compliment Getzlaf as a backup option at center, shoring up the line’s ability to win key face-offs. Oh yeah, and there’s all that offense…although Eric has had a slow start with a rocky Hurricanes team, his play of late has been nothing short of Olympian and it was clear to see why Stevie Y & co. chose the Thunder Bay native.

Line 3:

Marleau-Thornton-Heatley

- Yes, yes. This could very well be your first line, second line or the absolute best line in the tournament. They are, after all, the best line in the NHL this season. The versatility of this line will be in its ability to set the tone for Team Canada as well as provide them with 3 legitimate lines that could double as some of the strongest power play units ever assembled. Place this line wherever you want, the reality is that this is one combo that the coaches won’t have to worry about when it comes to chemistry.

Line 4:

Morrow-Richards-Bergeron/Toews

- Your ultimate checking line. Morrow is a solid two-way forward and may be the grittiest player on Team Canada. He will guide the trio of youngsters in Richards, Bergeron and Toews as they will combine to make Team Canada’s 4th line. With 3 centers on this line, it is plain to see that management focused on bringing in capable defensive minded forwards who can win key draws. Canada will not make the mistake of leaving their team vulnerable on the draw, so this 4th line will provide Coach Babcock with a tremendous arsenal of centermen.

Defense

1st Pairing:

Pronger-Boyle

- I personally would have loved to have seen a pairing of Pronger and Mike Green, but since Boyle proved the better offensive candidate to compliment Pronger(mainly because of his defensive awareness), it will be Danny boy skating with the nastiest defenseman in all of the tournament. The dynamic of the hard-hitting Pronger and smooth skating Boyle will force opponents to second guess their approach into Canada’s zone and will also force the opposition’s D-men to stay on their toes due to both Pronger and Boyle’s incredible ability to make brilliant stretch passes.

2nd Pairing:

Weber-Niedermayer

- Again, 1st or 2nd pairing, this combination of Shea Weber and Canada’s captain only makes sense. Weber is a younger version of Chris Pronger and given Chris and Scotty’s former chemistry with the Ducks, it’s a safe bet that if Neidermayer and Pronger do not end up as a regular combo that it will be Scott playing with Shea. Weber is an explosive hitter who possesses an incredible shot. Neidermayer, of course, is the ultimate defenseman, capable of performing every on-ice task that could be demanded from a premiere defender. Avoiding pairing Pronger and Neids together for awhile will help Canada have better balanced and quicker defensive pairings.

3rd Pairing:

Seabrook-Keith

- Although many people suggest that Seabrook got to ride Duncan Keith’s coat-tails onto Team Canada’s blue line, the truth is that the Tsawwasen, B.C. native is exactly what Babcock is looking for in a stable but dynamic 3rd pairing. Seabrook may lack in a few areas, but that can be made up by inserting Drew Doughty into the lineup occasionally.

Alternate:

Doughty

- Drew is the youngest member of Team Canada, but plays like a veteran. He, along with Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews will not necessarily be regular fixtures in Team Canada’s lineup in February, but they will play their fair share and will be relied upon to provide their team-mates with excellent play when they do get their shot. Doughty is phenomenal shooter and one of the most defensively aware D-men in the NHL. The scary part is that this is only Doughty’s second year as a Pro and yet, his play has not suffered one iota from a “sophomore slump”, but rather only improved. His selection basically to this team basically denotes how much the play of guys like Jay Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf has fallen off in the last 2 seasons. Both are still tremendously capable and would have made fine additions to Canada’s roster, but not compared to Doughty. Drew is likely being groomed to take on a “Scotty Neidermayer-like” role in the future for Team Canada which also makes his selection a logical move. He will learn and mature in leaps and bounds this February so LA Kings should be very grateful for what Steve Yzerman has done for their hope for the future!

Power Play:

Unit 1:

Nash-Getzlaf-Heatley

Pronger-Neidermayer

- This trio has been a lightning rod for success for Team Canada in the World Championships in the past and should/will scare the hell out of the opposition.

- As for your top PP duo, the logical choice would be to play it safe and go with the greatest chemistry offensive chemistry on your blue line.

Unit 2:

Staal-Crosby-Perry

Keith-Boyle

- Smooth skating and quick, this power play unit is chalked full of slick passing and sniper shooting. Many people may suggest that Corey Perry isn’t much of a sniper, but I beg to differ. Pairing Crosby with Perry will confuse opposing coaches as this unit will not be able to contained through physical play. Eric Staal is a sniper and a play-maker and would be the ultimate ‘front of the net’ player. Using his size and hands, Staal is magical in close and blocks a lot of the goaltender’s view. With Keith and Boyle manning the points, I expect the tic-tac-toes to fly.

Unit 3:

Marleau-Thornton-Iginla

Doughty-Weber

- Marleau and Thornton have a strong connection on the power play and Jarome Iginla is the most dominant power-forward on the roster. Capitalizing on Thornton’s incredible passing and Marleau’s pin point accuracy, it only makes sense to have someone like Jarome Iginla manning the high slot or causing absolute havoc in the crease. Doughty and Weber may be a bit ‘green’ for an Olympic power-play unit, but Weber is a rock on defense and Doughty’s blasts from the point make him an obvious candidate to see some power play time.

Ok, so the I mixed and matched a lot of the top lines to create some new(and old) PP combinations. One thing I tried to do was to stay away from repeating the same combinations as the regular lines. In order for Canada to keep their opposition on their toes at all times, I feel that it would only make sense to move players around based on their specialties.

Of course it is easy to start with this types of combinations because with so many dynamic pairings on the team already, the coaches can always revert back to the safety of some predetermined power play units. For example, playing the Marleau-Thornton-Heatley trio together would make tons of sense, if it didn’t already make a lot of sense to use them together as a regular line combination.

The same can be said for keeping Perry and Getzlaf together as well as using Nash-Crosby-Iginla as a power play unit, but, in the end, if my proposed mixed power play units didn’t work, they could always revert to that.

As for the D pairings, I feel that it would be wise to use Neidermayer and Pronger together on the top unit. They have the chemistry, leadership and responsibility to handle the load of playing on the top PP unit. Team Canada also boasts a secret weapon in terms of chemistry if they want to pair Getzlaf and Perry together with Neidermayer and Pronger as they won a Stanley Cup together.

Boyle and Keith offer a near complete contrast of what Pronger and Neidermayer bring to the table as they are all about puck control and management. Both are adept stick-handlers who boast a bag full of tricks. Both are spectacularly quick on their feet and can win almost any foot-race you could think of. They are accurate shooters, but most of all, they have incredible vision on the power play and will compliment a Power Play General like Sidney Crosby, perfectly.

Finally, pairing Doughty and Weber together is a way of including these two into the offensive mix. As I mentioned, Doughty is an up and coming offensive juggernaut. He has the shooting and passing instinct to make him a dangerous addition to a power play unit while Weber’s shot is even more powerful and frightening than Doughty’s. Both play large and do a great job of stepping up at their own line to shut a play down, something that is very condusive to helping the Team capitalize on turn-overs and their ability to create odd-man rushes.

Penalty Kill

Unit 1:

Morrow-Richards

Pronger-Neidermayer

- Morrow and Richards are perhaps the two best shutdown-power forwards in the game and will create an incredibly antagonistic combination. Richards and Pronger have chemistry playing in Philly together, while Neidermayer is just as impressive on the penalty kill as he is on the power play.

Unit 2:

Crosby-Bergeron

Keith-Seabrook

- Yes, Sidney is all about the offense, but he and Bergeron share a chemistry from back in their days of Gold Medals with Canada’s World Junior squad. Bergeron is a fierce defender and excellent face-off man so by playing two centermen together who boast prior chemistry simply shores up the PK. Keith and Seabrook share chemistry from their time in Chicago and, although Seabrook doesn’t necessarily figure into the power play plans, he will be key in helping keep the puck out of Canada’s net when they are down a man.

Unit 3:

Staal-Toews

Neidermayer-Weber

- These three youngsters all boast excellent defensive skills, so it would not surprise me to see Babcock give them the occasional chance to kill off penalties together under the careful watch of Team Canada captain Scott Neidermayer.

Expecting chemistry on the penalty kill is always the hardest thing to do as a coach and it always takes a fair bit of time to put together succinct units that can be relied upon, but with so much defensive aggression in the bottom half of the lineup, Canada will likely have no problem mixing and matching combinations as the tournament progresses.

Oh yeah! My goaltenders rank in this order:

1. Brodeur
2. Luongo
3. Fleury

That’s it.

Those are my proposed line combinations for Team Canada as we bid adieu to 2009.

Of course, many things can change between now and mid-February, so we will re-visit this issue as we sit and watch these recently named members of Team Canada battle it out in the NHL.

Have at it folks!

Create your Team Canada combo’s and we’ll see who makes the right call.

Have a very Happy New Year everyone! Be safe and enjoy yourselves.

I will be back with full Capitals coverage over the next couple of days. There is beyond plenty to talk about so we will be sure to dig deep into a bunch of issues that have reared their head over the last 2 weeks.

This article was originally posted on Hockeybuzz.com and can be found HERE.

Go Canada!!!!!
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Go Caps!!!!!

The Hawks have now outscored the Flames 13-1 over the last five periods. The stunned Calgary crowed appeared to stay around for the final frame  although the team provided a listless effort to conclude the match. The score could have been more lopsided as Cristobal Huet was great and the Hawks hit the post on three occasions.

Huet was in control for almost the entire game. The scrambling Huet was not seen very often last night. He stayed poised and was able to stonewall the Flames.

Except for a goal by Olli Jokinen, who recently has been scoring at a dismal clip, Huet was flawless. He was almost beat in the second period while the Hawks led 2-1. But with great reactions and a little luck Huet was able to make a highlight reel save on Jay Bouwmeester. It came at a key time and the Hawks rolled on from there.

The best Christmas present for Hawk fans would be for Huet to prove he is not the weak link on this potent team. He has a chance in the next month to erase many doubts. It is true Huet has never won a playoff series but he looked like a Stanley Cup winning goalie last night.

New Calgary coach Brent Sutter, had to be fuming over the embarrassing home loss. What should be very concerning is the lay down effort the Flames put forth in the final period.  After the Hawks scored their fourth goal the boys from Calgary packed it in. That type of effort on home ice, against a divisional rival can’t be tolerated.

The Hawks have a great opportunity to jump off to a solid start on their long road trip. The Oilers are a team they can beat especially if they put forth the same type of complete effort. The second half of the back to back against the Canucks on Sunday should be a more formidable test.

There are no soft games in the NHL these days so the Hawks can’t get caught looking ahead.

Al’s Shots

Not sure why there was a rush to get the re-signing story out earlier this week. It didn’t make sense in front of the long road trip. All sides are close to getting a deal done and unless some major snags are hit look for the signing parade to happen in early December.

With an affordable $1,000,000 contract, Troy Brouwer could be the best Hawk bargain of this season.

Bryan Bickell came up with another solid effort last night.

The Hawks best players were great as was everyone else.

Brent Sopel and the rest of the defenders had some nice blocks.

John Madden was the team leader with five blocked shots.

Jonathan Toews won 11 out of 15 faceoffs….73%.

Niklas Hjalmarsson has been playing more physical in the last few games. He laid a big hit on Rene Bourque, which did not land him in the penalty box. He did leave his feet on the check….so Colin Campbell may have something to say.

Dion Phaneuf gets a ton of media attention in Canada. But from a pure hockey standpoint there is no way he should make the Canadian Olympic team ahead of Duncan Keith or  Brent Seabrook. Phaneuf isn’t even one of the Flames top two defensemen.

Dion is another big “tough” guy who drops his gloves and leaves his shield on.

Any player who initiates a fight and keeps his visor on while his opponent doesn’t have a shield…… should receive a game misconduct.

Patrick Kane celebrated his 21st birthday with a goal.

blackhawskwin@comcast.net

• The fourth line of Prust/Nystrom/Sjostrom was excellent all night long and they were used! Under Iron Mike, any time things went back for the Flames last year he’d throw whichever line had Iginla on it over the boards, even if it was that line at the root of the problems. B Sutter didn’t do that on Thursday and with the fourth line having the ability to play a solid ten minutes like they did against the Canucks, here’s hoping he doesn’t. Especially since Prust (a personal favourite before he was dealt to Phoenix) is willing to step up for any teammate and give—or more frequently, take—a beating if he feels there’s liberties being taken with teammates. That’s something the Flames missed last year after dealing him away and it’s good to see he’s returned to be part of an effective fourth line.
• While it fell apart towards the second half of the game, the Flames system is something I like already. As with the Devils in previous seasons, I suspect it will take the first month of the season for the Flames to get B Sutter’s system down to the point where they can respond without thinking. Also, using the umbrella on the powerplay and setting up Bouwmeester or Phaneuf up for a shot is going to make a huge difference to special team effectiveness. Keenan didn’t have a powerplay system and famously didn’t practice it. Moving away from that will probably help the Flames add some goals with the man-advantage and help the team scoring. Speaking of which…
• It’s amazing to read and listen things coming from outside Calgary, which think the Flames are going to have big troubles with secondary scoring. While I suspect they’re may be some drop-off the talk is way overblown and shows ignorance of the team. A full season of Olli Jokinen will make up for a lot goals of Mike Cammalleri. Add in Bouwmeester who can easily surpass Aucoin’s totals from last season and then things aren’t as desperate as people try to paint. Even the loss of Bertuzzi’s secondary scoring is overrated. For the 15 goals he scored as a Flame, his frustrating defensive play, tendency to take terrible penalties and slothfulness were a bigger issue. If Dustin Boyd, Curtis Glencross and Nigel Dawes have seasons close to or slightly better than their ok outputs of last season that more than makes up for any offensive deficiency that Calgary is suppose to have.  That’s without even mentioning the benefits of improved defense will have on the overall club.

Game 2: Flames @ Edmonton Oilers

Calgary heads up the QE2 highway tonight to help a slightly renovated Edmonton Oilers club open their season. It’s the Oilers’ home opener and the late game on Hockey Night In Canada so the crowd should be pretty lively. As if Flames and Oilers games needed more reason to be entertaining.

Better Know Your Enemy:

The Oilers have added a new coach and signed a 36 year old goaltender with back troubles for four seasons and added a couple of decent coaches, but the moldy core of last year’s team still remains. Their forwards remain undersized and they lack a player to play on the first line to compliment Ales Hemsky. Their defense can provide some offence, especially if Sheldon Souray is allowed to charge up his shot, but they’re prone to running around in front of their own net. Not the best trait in a corps that costs just $2.5 million less this season than the Flames much steadier defense.

Collectively the Blackhawks are a very good hockey team. Individually they are not a group of battle tested veteran, all star caliber players…..yet. Now that they are 0-3 for the preseason there are some who may consider giving up their seats on the Hawks  bandwagon. Three preseason losses in a row doesn’t  mean very much, but if you are considering grabbing an available seat be cautious if your expectations are unrealistic.

This group with better than avaerage goal  keeping and some good luck can win the Stanley Cup. Without either it could be  a difficult task to even make the playoffs,  and the same can be said for almost every NHL team. Although the Hawks overcame a few serious injuries last year they were lucky to be almost completely healthy at the start of  the playoffs. They were able to beat the Flames and the Canucks because they were the deeper healthier team. They swarmed both oppononets with all four lines and  the goal tending was  decent, as everyone matters on this club.

Losing Marian Hossa for the first twenty five games or so will matter. Losing a fourth liner like Adam Burish will also matter. Burish could be at the bottom of the depth chart but he was a key factor in the playoffs. Actually the Hawks fourth line was very important all of last season. In my view they were the best set of grinders  in the NHL.  Burish is a strong penalty killer, his speed will be missed and can’t be replaced by any of the younger boys competing for a roster spot.

The path to the Stanley  Cup is not like getting on the escalator in the lower level at Macy’s and staying on until the top floor.  Before jumping off the bandwagaon, even if the Hawks start off this season slowly be careful. Until proven otherwise I won’t sell their chances of another very good year short. Last year this group responded better when they were under pressure, and they may have to show that strength in this campaign.  Don’t be too high or too low, as this is still somewhat a work in progress.

The Hawks should be loaded up for a victory on Friday night. If they don’t win again stay in line for your bandwagon seats, some could be opening up shortly.

Here are my answers to the questions presented a  few days ago.

   1. Would you rather have Marty Havlat under contract at $5 million per season for five years, or Marian Hossa at $5 million per, for each of the next 12 years?

Not meant to be a trick question but this isn’t an apple for apple issue. It isn’t even an apple for an orange issue.

I do believe the Hawks could have signed Marty Havlat to a five year contract, in the $4.5 -$5.0 million range. If Havlat stays healthy he could have comparable numbers to Hossa over the next five season. Although Havlat is a couple of years younger he has been injured more often. If we were comparing similar terms I would take Hossa over Havlat, even if Marian’s contract was 30% more per season over the same five year period.

The heart of the issue comes into play because Hossa is two years older and in essence the Hawks are going to pay an additional $35 million over the extender seven year term of his 12 year agreement. One must realize in so many instances the point production for all players, even superstar caliber snipers declines significantly past their early 30’s.  Havlat’s contract is a better value,  although he has not yet proven to be better player.

So to the question as stated, I would take Havlat. Although I would rather have Hossa on a five year $6.5 million contract compared to Havlat at $5 million for the same period. Front loaded contract or not, Hossa in his mid to late 30’s most likely will have significantly less point production  than today.

Lastly, the NHL investigation surrounding the Hossa, Pronger and Luongo contracts is a joke. There is no way to prove wrong doing unless the discussions were taped, or the parties involved actually said they were trying to circumvent the CBA. It is smart business to find a way to handle salary cap consequences in the most effective way, and no rules appear to have been broken. A question for the next CBA negotiations would be if there should be rules in place to restrict long term front loaded contracts, based on age and other considerations.

As I have written in the past, this investigation is more of a smoke screen.  The real focus should be about the continued sorry financial state of many franchises. Seven of the ten least profitable teams before the lockout were the same as in 2008. It is not like the CBA was thrown together over a long weekend, both sides had a season or longer to have difficult issues buttoned up, and they failed.

Don’t mistakenly compare parity with regards to the standings in the same way as financial well being throughout the league. In 2008 seven of the 10 least profitable franchises were the same as in the year preceding the lockout.

I am being nice when I say least profitable, because in the NHL being in the black is not within reach for many teams. In the NHL the bigger issue is how much red ink some franchises continually drown in.  Until more revenue sharing is created or different team locations are realized, little will change. Most of the weakest franchises will stay that way regardless if long term front loaded contracts are not allowed someday.

   2. What player will make the cut….Fraser, Skille, Dowell, Bickell or Beach?

It is put up time for Jack Skille. He does some good things on the ice, but watching him trying to stick check Havlat the other night shows his weaknesses. On Havlat’s first score he went right by Skille near center ice, way too easily. If Skille has a solid 20 game NHL audition he will be far more attractive on the trade front, if that is the end game. Either way it is his time, and if he doesn’t make it out of camp I doubt he will finish the year in the Hawk organization.

Now with the injuries, Skille, Dowell and Fraser may all stick around.

* Forwards Bryan Bickell and Rob Klinkhammer have been recalled from Rockford and could be back into the mix.

   3.  What goalie will start the season as a back-up….Crawford or Niemi?

Strictly a guess based on there being more urgency in finding out if Antti Niemi is the real deal. Corey Crawford is on a two year contract while Niemi is signed only through this season. Because of that Niemi could get the first sink or swim test. As far as trading either one, that is highly unlikely unless an NHL goalie is coming back in return. I did not speak to anyone who thought that the Hawks have another future NHL caliber goalie waiting in the wings besides this pair, and they are  aren’t a lock.

   4. What player will lead the Hawks in scoring?

Last season I was right and really wrong, as I picked Havlat and Dustin Byfuglien. I do think big Buff will be in the top group of scorers this season as well. My pick is Jonathan Toews, who as Joel Quenneville has commented, just keeps getting better. I think Toews will have more power play goals with the addition of Hossa.

  5.Will the Hawks make a trade to acquire a physical defenseman to replace Matt Walker before the season opener?

Walker being going gone is a problematic issue which I have spoken about with former NHL players and coaches. The conclusions reached by them is always the same, Walker’s toughness will be missed and somehow has to be replaced.

BD Gallof wrote a nice piece the other day following the Dion Phaneuf head shot to Kyle Okposo. BD’s comments pointed out the Islanders lack a player who will instill fear into the hearts of opponents. Hockey is about fear and intimidation and Walker was the one who had the veteran moxie to stop opponents from taking unnecessary liberties.

In total the Hawks are a tough bunch but even Coach Q. has made comments Walker’s prescence  will need to be replaced. If not, a player like Brent Seabrook will spend a lot more time in the penalty box, which will not be a good thing. In addition Cam Barker and Brent Sopel as a defensive pair means two slower footed players will be on the back end together….also not too good. I still think the Hawks will make a trade to acquire another defenseman either by the opener or before the first month of the season has ended.

Will the Adam Burish injury  open the door for a career minor league hard nose player like Danny Bois to make the roster and fill in for Walker’s toughness?   Unlikely…..until proven otherwise Bois still appears to be AHL material.

* Bois and  defenseman Richard Petiot have been put on waivers Thursday afternoon…..not a surprise.

    6. Do you think  Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker or Patrick Sharp are being shopped?

If Hossa wasn’t hurt there probably would have been a good chance Patrick Sharp or Kris Versteeg would have been dealt for a crease clearing defenseman. The trick would be to fill a current  need and  tie up less salary cap space in the future.

If this is the load up for the Stanley Cup year, which wouldn’t be my game plan, most likley none of the three can be dealt. It is more likley Skille and picks could be used for trade bait. That said, Barker, Sharp and Versteeg may not be held in the same high esteem as they were in the Dale Tallon administration, at least whispers have indicated as much.

Barker can not be traded unless a different type of defenseman is coming back in return. Which in essence means the Hawks would sacrifice Barker’s passing and power play ability for a big, tough, faster crease clearer, who is signed for less money and for a shorter term than Barker.

     7. What do you feel the Hawks are lacking?

Realistic  expectations for the future.

When the team was awful fans were fed the mantra  the franchises was building for the future. Dale Tallon said many times the Hawks wanted to make the playoffs for not just one season, but year after year. They wanted to become an elite franchise and in many ways they are on their way….But has the franchise over shifted gears? With the Hossa signing and the fact  the Hawks will have to create significant cap space after this season, this appears to be a Cup or bust year. Just maybe the exectations have swung too far.

There were comments last year that  it was a playoff or bust season, and for this season Patrick Kane said it is  Cup or bust. It is a natural progression for him to speak that way, after all the team was eliminated in the Western Conference championship series. So Kane has the right attitude….But does the franchise have the right plan for continued success?

The re-signing of Duncan Keith, Toews and Kane have to be a priority as well. In my view two out of three won’t do. That said at least $7 million dollars of cap space will have to be created for next season, if so it is prudent to believe the 2010-2011 group will not be as talented to begin with as this season’s club. That would indicate  a rush to succeed with not a strong likelihood for continued success.

   8.  Where will the Hawks power play rank at the end of the season?

They will finish ninth as Hossa won’t hit stride until the second half of the season.

    9.  Where will the Hawks penalty killing unit rank at the end of the season?

The penalty killing unit could have been top five, but the Burish loss will hurt. They will finish ninth, which is a solid  improvement over last year. 

   10. What will be the total amount of points the Hawks will accumulate for this season?

Last year the Hawks were one of the least injured teams, I have the feeling that won’t be the case this season.  I am afraid the Burish and Hossa injuries are a foreshadowing of the future. The Blackhawks will finish with fewer points than last season…. 99 points… although on paper the team is better. The key will be hitting the playoffs healthy and in full stride.

*Hawks press release  came out after blog was originally posted.