NHL FanHouse

Brian Campbell Signs With the Blackhawks For an Obscene Sum

Pat Lackey — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:21:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, Western, NHL Free Agency

Apparently, Blackhawks' GM Dale Tallon woke up this morning and swore to himself that he wouldn't go to bed tonight without a salary cap situation on his hands. After inking Cristobal Huet to a $5 million cap hit earlier today, he went ahead and picked up the most sought after defenseman on the market today by inking Brian Campbell. Campbell didn't come cheaply though, as it's going to take an eight-year deal worth a whopping $7.1 million per season to get him into black and red next year.

Campbell's a great pickup for the 'Hawks and he's a great offensive player and point man, but $7.1 million a year for a guy that's a bit of a defensive liability is a real indication of just how wild the market is running today. Plus, Campbell's already 29, so he'll be 37 at the end of this deal. The Blackhawks are getting a great player, but they're getting him at a high cost.

The other thing worth noting is that Chicago is now over the cap after the additions of Huet and Campbell. They're going to have to dump someone soon, and best bets are probably Nikolai Khabibulin. I don't know who's going to want a goalie with Khabibulin's price tag that plays like he has recently, but if Tallon can convince people that Havlat is healthy, he might make a nice consolation prize to whoever loses the Marian Hossa derby.

Brian Campbell Signs With the Blackhawks For an Obscene Sum originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yankee Stadium Back in Running to Host Winter Classic

Eric McErlain — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, New York, General NHL, Rangers, Blackhawks, NHL Economics

Back in May, it looked like plans to bring the NHL Winter Classic to New York's Yankee Stadium were in jeopardy thanks to some infrastructure problems.

Then, last month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the league was all but ready to announce that the game would be coming to Wrigley Field in 2009.

Now the story has taken yet another turn. As reported by Rob Yunich at Random Reality Thoughts, NHL Vice President Bill Daly, appearing on XM Radio's Hockey This Morning, said that it was "safe to assume" that the league would be making an announcement about the Winter Classic being held at either Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field.

Huh?

Looks like somebody threw a wrench in the works, eh?

At this point, I guess it's "safe to assume" that the two cities are now in the midst of a competition between one another for a chance to host the game. When you think about it, it's a heck of a turnaround for the NHL -- just three years ago the league was heading out of a devestating lockout, and now two of America's biggest cities are competing for the right to host an outdoor hockey game being held on New Year's Day?

Whatever else you want to complain about these days when it comes to the NHL, the Winter Classic isn't one of the things you'd want to carp about.

Yankee Stadium Back in Running to Host Winter Classic originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chelios Wants Another Season in Detroit

Eric McErlain — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:47:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, Detroit, General NHL, Blackhawks, Wings, NHL Videos, Stanley Cup

As I was watching Chris Chelios skating the Stanley Cup around the ice at Mellon Arena last night, I couldn't help but wonder: Was this the last we'd see of the 46-year old defenseman? After playing in 15 of Detroit's first 16 playoff games, Chelios was injured at the tail end of the Western Conference Finals with Dallas, and was a healthy scratch for all six games against Pittsburgh.

Well, wonder no more.

Perhaps Red Wings owner Mike Illitch was just caught up in the excitement, but as far as he's concerned, he's open to having Chelios back for another season, and maybe more:

"Certainly I would love to have him back,'' Holland said. "He's still a good player and he loves hockey. He loves to compete and you can't have enough of those guys in the locker room.''

[...]

"What can you say about a guy who's going to go to the Hall of Fame? One of the greatest American players, if not the greatest American player, ever. He's pulling for the team, it wasn't about him, it was about the team.''

As for Chelios, he told multiple outlets that he wanted to be back next year as well.

Back during the 1998-99 season when Chelios was dealt at the deadline to Detroit from the Chicago Blackhawks, I can recall thinking that it seemed like a fitting coda to the Chicago native's career. I figured he'd have at least one, maybe two genuine shots at the Cup and then call it a day. But now, here we are more than eight seasons later, and Chelios is still chewing up ice time. The funny thing is, as of next season, Chelios will have played as many years in a Red Wings uniform as he did in Chicago, the franchise so many fans associate him with.

Then again, Chelios never won a Cup in Chicago, and now he's won twice in Detroit. And the fact is you can't fault the man's enthusiasm. After all, he was a healthy scratch last night, yet he still came on the ice after the game wearing a full uniform to celebrate with his teammates.

So when will Chris Chelios retire? Probably when they pry the skates off his cold, dead feet. Don't hold your breath waiting.

Chelios Wants Another Season in Detroit originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wrigley Snags Winter Classic

Eric McErlain — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, Buffalo, General NHL, Blackhawks, Wings, NHL Economics

While Chicago is known as America's Second City, come New Year's Day 2009, it'll be #1 in the eyes of the NHL.

Why do I write that? According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the league is expected to announce that the next NHL Winter Classic will be awarded to Chicago, where the Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field.

The choice has to be seen as something of a darkhorse, as the early word on the 2009 game had it being played in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium between the Rangers and the Bruins or at Beaver Stadium in Pennsylvania between the Flyers and the Penguins. Word that all was not well with the plans to bring the game to Yankee Stadium surfaced just recently, after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned that there were a number of issues regarding construction at Yankee Stadium that might no be able to be overcome.

In any case, awarding the game to Chicago and the Blackhawks has to be seen as a nod to the fact that hockey is finally on the comeback trail in that city after what seemed like an inevitable slide into irrelevance. But now, thanks in part to co-Calder candidates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, things are looking up in Chicago.

One thing is for certain about the 2009 game: Tickets are going to be far more dear. The capacity at Ralph Wilson Stadium, host of the inaugural Winter Classic, was just under 74,000. Wrigley, which was home to the Bears between 1921 and 1970, seats just over 41,000. I'm sure the folks at eBay are very excited at the prospect.

Wrigley Snags Winter Classic originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 29 May 2008 09:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Kane: International Ladies Man

Eric McErlain — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, International Hockey

What's it like to be 19 and one of the world's top athletes? I'm guessing that Patrick Kane, center for the Chicago Blackhawks, has a pretty good idea. Just a few days back Kane was named NHL Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News, and he made an appearance on Sporting News Radio to talk about the honor.

Which was where Kane, who has traveled pretty extensively as a member of various U.S. national teams, got sidetracked onto a topic most athletes generally don't talk about: Where to find the best looking women:

You've played in a lot of different countries in this world ... who's got the best chicks?

Russia. If you go there, you'll see the hottest chicks you'll ever see. It's not a great area but the girls down there, they're pretty good.

You've played in Canada ... how are Canadian ladies?

They're pretty good. You know it's funny - they know if you're a hockey player. It's pretty good. You don't really have to initiate much out there, they'll just come up and talk to you out there so it's pretty cool.

What about the Euro girls? What about the Swedes and the Fins?

Yeah, the Swedes - they're all blondes out there. If you like that, I'd head out there too, because they have some pretty good looking ones. I didn't see too many in Finland that I really liked but I would probably have to say Sweden and Russia were the best for the European countries.

HT: Larry Brown Sports

Patrick Kane: International Ladies Man originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 May 2008 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chances Increase for Chicago Winter Classic

Greg Wyshynski — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, NHL Rumors

Remember those days following the Winter Classic, when the greatest wave of positive P.R. hockey has seen since Mario returned from cancer was cresting? When everyone wanted to know who and where was next: Penguins and Flyers in Happy Valley? Hockey on the Frozen Tundra? Any combination of the New York teams at Yankee Stadium? In hindsight, the NHL actually made a shrewd decision in choosing not to rush its commitment to future installments of the Winter Classic, using the All-Star Game to announce the next slate of European games and keeping its options open for New Year's Day 2009 and beyond.

Meanwhile, the idea of outdoor hockey continues to be a topic of conversation in NHL cities. Like in Chicago, where there's a full-on hockey revival occurring. According to the Sun-Times, a recent municipal government decision could kick-start a potential week-long hockey festival at Soldier Field that would include a Blackhawks' game:

A Chicago Park District panel recommends that a new contract to manage Soldier Field go to SMG, which made a pitch of hosting an outdoor Blackhawks hockey game at the lakefront stadium. "I know SMG and the Blackhawks have been talking about trying to do an outdoor game," said Park District Supt. Timothy Mitchell. "I know the Hawks are interested and they're going to work with the NHL to see if that's something we can do in the near future."

Mitchell said the district would like the hockey plan to include a college contest and a way to allow people to use the rink for pleasure skating in a week-long event. "We think there would be a great interest in citizens skating inside Soldier Field between the colonnades," said Mitchell.

Blackhawks president John McDonough downplayed the urgency of the talks with SMG, calling them "informal" and "on a what-if basis." (He was also careful to bring Wrigley and U.S. Cellular fields into the discussion as well.) But as Kenn.com points out, it's a credit to McDonough that this discussion is even happening -- out of the box thinking and imaginative promotion weren't exactly the late Dollar Bill's bag, baby.

Chances Increase for Chicago Winter Classic originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can Chicago Blackhawks Fan Pride Defeat the Politically Correct?

Greg Wyshynski — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

Ever since Chicago coach Denis Savard uttered the words "Commit To the Indian" in his frustrated tirade last week, the phrase has taken on a life of its own. From two competing Cafe Press sites to MSM attention on the phenomenon to a battle over whether this is a culturally insensitive catchphrase or simply a culturally insensitive catchphrase that will replace the Blackhawks' current slogan, which appears to be a celebration of Communism of some kind.

I covered this situation over on Deadspin this morning -- where, in case you were unaware, I'm writing the hilarious (and occasionally NSFW) NHL Closer every weekday morning -- and interviewed one of my favorite Blackhawks fans, Mr. Miller from ~~Wirtzsucks.com~~ Blackhawkzone.com about the slogan, which I believe is absolute marketing gold. I mean, it's "Beware the Penguins" without the crappy beer endorsement. One of Miller's comments that didn't make the cut spells out the hockey history vs. political correctness debate quite well:

I think any momentum that it might foster will soon be cut down by the PC crowd. White people who have no reason to be involved will take it upon themselves to "speak for" some Indian group claiming it's offensive or racist. That said, McDonough acknowledged that it's been getting some decent conversation within the organization. But I think Savard clearly was echoing the idea that the symbol on the front of the uniform is much more important than the name on the back. And in a blue-collar town like Chicago, that especially holds true.

The "McDonough" is team president John McDonough, who told the Chicago Tribune he was amazed "how much life" the slogan has been given by Blackhawks fans. A Tribune online poll showed strong support for "Commit To the Indian" as of Tuesday afternoon. I hope the team gives the fans what the want: A formidable, tradition-laden motto for a rejuvenated franchise. Read Savard's comments yesterday about honor and commitment, and you'll see why the PC police need to turn off their sirens.

Can Chicago Blackhawks Fan Pride Defeat the Politically Correct? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jonathan Toews is "A"-OK

Jes Golbez — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

The meteoric rise of Jonathan Toews from just another first round draft pick to NHL star continues on a rapid pace. Along with helping the Hawks with his offensive prowess and l33t puckhandling moves (20 points in 24 games), the 19-year old Toews has shown a maturity level far above that of the average young punkard. For this, Toews has been rewarded and been named an alternate (Assistant) captain, getting a nice shiny 'A' to stick on his uniform.

"There's been a lot of talk that maybe I could be part of that leadership group down the road, that I have maybe some of those qualities, and to get compliments like that is a huge honor considering the experience we have in this locker-room," Toews told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald on Monday.

While many fans and pundits wonder why a young kid would be 'burdened' with leadership responsibility, Toews' on-ice play has shown us that he's already a leader, in that regard. Giving him an 'A' should help Toews' further develop his leadership skills, as well as give him an extra boost to ensure that his effort level does not start to slide as the season progresses.

Heck, if Toews continues to play as well as he has and keep progressing as rapidly as he's done in the first quarter of this season, the kid may very well be a captain in the near future.

Jonathan Toews is "A"-OK originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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November NHL Attendance Report

Jes Golbez — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, New York, General NHL, NHL Economics

The NHL, having an inferiority complex rivaled by only the average reader of OK! Magazine, constantly feels the need to trumpet any little business milestone as if the rest of us have a stake in how much money the NHL owners rake in. Are fans supposed to be happy if the NHL takes in more revenues?

Back to my original point: The NHL isn't hesitating to blow its own horn and announce "W00T, we had a record November, baby!"

The National Hockey League posted record attendance for the month of November, attracting 3,367,547 fans to 199 games for a per-game average of 16,922. The per-game figure eclipsed the previous November high of 16,818 set during the League's successful re-launch season in 2005 and was 2.3% ahead of last season's 16,538.

Ah, selective statistics, anyone? Notice how the NHL doesn't say that this was PAID attendance? Notice how the NHL didn't tell you that this wasn't the best November TOTAL they've ever had? No mention of low TV ratings, or revenues earned, etc ...

Over at The Globe and Mail, our pal James Mirtle crunches the numbers like a Christmas walnut, and the data shows that the overall average for this season is actually down 162 seats per game. Basically, for all intents and purposes, attendance is pretty much flat, and there's no real reason for any celebration or panic.

The real 'positive' that could be gleaned from the data is that Chicago, New Jersey, and New York (Long Island) have gained attendance. The NHL definitely needs three of their biggest markets to put more butts in the seats.

November NHL Attendance Report originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Khabibulin: Most Dehydrated Player?

Greg Wyshynski — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:11:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

Maybe it's the fact that he's finally earning some of the biggest contract in Blackhawks' history that's given me Nikolai Khabibulin on the brain. Or maybe it's the press room coffee run that's currently being completed before tonight's tilt at the Verizon Center between the Hurricanes and the Capitals.

You see, there was a point in Khabby's career when the goalie would guzzle cups -- sometimes pots -- of java before and during a game -- a practice that stopped in Tampa Bay when he adjusted some bad habits and got into Stanley Cup shape. He switched from coffee to sports drinks while with the Bolts; one of the reasons for the lifestyle change was a simple equation: Caffeine plus an athlete with a propensity for dehydration equals bad news for a guy like Khabibulin, who has battled dehydration as far back as the 2002 Winter Olympics for Russia. If he's not the NHL's Most Dehydrated Player, he may be at least the League's Most Dehydrated Goalie -- a trend that continues in Chicago as he tries to turn around his luck with goalie coach Stephane Waite. From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Khabibulin hasn't been able to explain why, because he has paid the price for both of those hard-earned victories. He experienced dehydration in both and had long intravenous treatments immediately after leaving the ice. "He lost 12 pounds against Detroit and probably about nine [at Calgary]," [Coach Denis] Savard said. "Khabby takes a lot of fluids. He has this purple drink he takes between shifts. He's always been like that. It's not unusual."

Here's what is unusual about Khabibulin, according to Hockey Blog in Canada: He's one of the few goalies to have escaped "The Graveyard" of the Phoenix Coyotes with his career still intact two years later. Brent Johnson's the other lucky soul; Darcy Wakaluk, Sean Burke, Brian Boucher and Curtis Joseph are among the victims. Enjoy it while you can, Ilya...

Khabibulin: Most Dehydrated Player? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kane Named Rookie of the Month

Jes Golbez — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

Patrick Kane, the #1 overall pick in this past summer's NHL Entry Draft, has certainly had a meteoric rise into the spotlight these past few months.

Unlike some previous #1 picks (Crosby, Ovechkin, etc), the diminutive Kane didn't have nearly as much hype and expectations placed on his young shoulders by most hockey fans as did the prodigies before him. Yet, here he is, one month into the season, and the winner of the NHL's Rookie of the Month award after putting up a team-leading 16 points in 12 games.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, whose 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) were the most by an NHL rookie in October since 1992-93, has been named the League's Rookie of the Month.

Kane edged Blackhawks linemate Jonathan Toews (5-5--10 in 10 games), Edmonton Oilers forwards Andrew Cogliano (3-5--8 in 13 games) and Sam Gagner (1-6--7 in 12 games), and Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding (2-2-1, 2.36 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage) for the award.

The last rookies to score as many points in October were Winnipeg's Teemu Selanne (11-9--20) and Boston's Joe Juneau (5-12--17) in 1992-93.

I have to admit that I am quite astonished that Kane has been this good this quickly. Very few 18-year olds ever excel and adapt to the NHL this fast, and Patrick Kane never caught my eye as one of those super prospects that was destined for quick NHL stardom. I figured there would be ye olde usual 2-3 year training period where Kane would struggle behind a woeful Hawks team.

Hawks prospects doing well? Hawks home games on TV? How cold is it down in Hades today?

Previously on FanHouse:
Patrick Kane Has Delusions of Grandeur

Kane Named Rookie of the Month originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL: Who's for Real and Who's Not?

Jes Golbez — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Columbus, St. Louis, General NHL, Flyers, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues

Every season, there are a few surprising teams that rise up from the ashes of a poor season and get off to a bullish start. Some teams, like the Carolina Hurricanes two seasons back, keep the momentum and show that they are 'for real'. For many other clubs, the clock strikes midnight and they go back to being as crappy as they usually are.

This season is no different, as a few misfits from last season, as Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch notes, are off to great starts, and have some potential to make the leap from pretender to contender.

Let's have a look at who is for real, and who is bound to come back to earth.

Chicago Blackhawks: After the death of "Dollar Bill" Wirtz, the whole club seems to come out of a decades-long dark cloud, and into the 21st century. Young stars like Jon Toews and Patrick Kane have the chiefs off to a 5-5-0 start. A 27-29 goal differential shows that the club isn't a total fluke. They have managed to do this without Martin Havlat in the lineup, as well.

That said, a 5-5 start isn't overly impressive, and one losing streak is enough to take care of any playoff hopes. With a young team and a lack of depth up front, chances are that this team will struggle eventually and finish out of the playoff race. Still, this is a true building year and Hawks fans ought to be hopeful for the future.
Sergei Samsonov: What a waste of skin. Just two assists and -6 in 10 games?
Columbus Blue Jackets: After a 5-3-1 start, BJ's fans are asking "Is this the year we finally break through?" Young goalie Pascal Leclaire already has four shutouts this season, Rick Nash is on a tear with eight goals in nine games, and misfit Nik Zherdev seems to actually have found his game. The BJs also have the best PK unit in the league, which is an utter shock to my lymphatic system.

I look at the BJ's defense, which seems well below-average, and have to think that once Leclaire's hot streak passes, the BJ's will be back to their usual struggles. Their offense finally seems to be kicking into gear, but they may often be unable to keep up with the goals they let in. In the end, I think they'll fall short as well, but definitely make a giant leap from last season. With new management, BJ's fans, too, can feel some real hope.

Sergei Fedorov: 3 points and -3 in 9 games. Clearly, Fedorov is near the end, and probably dragging down his Hall of Fame chances.

St. Louis Blues: After a smart coaching change last season, Andy Murray has had his club playing over .500 hockey, and this trend of success isn't a short-term thing.

The Blues have started off the season at 5-3, Paul Kariya is truly enjoying himself, and the Blues are showing attention to deal in their game. Goalies Manny Legace and Hannu Toivonen are both playing very well, and Brad Boyes (stolen from Boston) has a point a game. Few clubs work as hard as the Blue-collar Bluenotes.

Injury problems with Jay McKee, Erik Johnson, and Eric Brewer (no shock) will definitely make it hard for them to maintain their success, but there seems to be enough offense up front to make up for this. In the end, I think the Blues will definitely be fighting for a playoff spot and have a solid chance at making it in at the 8th slot.

Doug Weight: What is wrong with this guy? ZERO goals and two assists in eight games? The team is churning out goals, and this guy has no hand in them.

Philadelphia Flyers: How could we mention teams making the leap without mentioning the Broad Street Bullies? After the disaster that was last season, the Flyers spent a load of cash and loaded up on some key talent. All of the improvements have helped, as the Flyers sit in first place in their division with a 6-3-0 record, and a renewed sense of hope.

Last season, the Flyers truly did finish well below the level of their talent. Guys like Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne played well below what they are capable of, and everything just seemed to go wrong for the club. It didn't help that their goaltending reeked like moldy cheese.

Daniel Briere? He's the real deal (nine points in 12 games), Mike Richards has 10 points, Joffrey Lupul has re-found his scoring touch, and new goalie Martin Biron is giving the Flyers some stability in the nets. The young talent is playing like they were expected to, and it seems like almost everything is going right for the club.

With the NHL not enforcing clutching and grabbing like they once were, guys like Mike Rathje and Derian Hatcher will be more effective. Given how the Flyers truly do have good talent, I'd be surprised if they didn't make the playoffs. Folks, this team is talented and won't suck like they did last season.

The Washington Capitals? Not with that defense. Try again next year.

NHL: Who's for Real and Who's Not? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawks to Join the 21st Century, Televise Home Games

Jes Golbez — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, NHL Economics

In today's visual media age, it seems utterly insane that a major sports franchise would not want to have their team's games televised. Getting eyeballs to view the product is key to opening their minds to the wonders of advertising, product placement, and brand loyalty.

Well, as we all know, it has been the long-running joke that the Chicago Blackhawks, under the late Bill Wirtz, refused to televise their home games, expecting that more people would show and shell out $100 for a ticket if they couldn't watch it for free at home.

Well, after a string of incredibly bad seasons, trades, and drafts, Hawks fans just plain stayed away, regardless of whether the games were on TV or not. A whole generation of potential hockey fans was basically sacrificed for Wirtz's bottom line, with most existing Hawks fans seemingly of the older variety. Playing in one of the world's best markets for sports certainly doesn't guarantee success, and the Hawks may be paying for their short-sightedness for many years to come.

Now, The question we all had when Dollar Bill kicked the bucket: Will the Hawks finally join the rest of us in the 21st century and put some games on TV?

The answer: A resounding YES!

In his first major move with the Blackhawks, Rocky Wirtz is trying to do what fans long have asked for: televise the team's home games.

In a Monday memo, Wirtz told employees that Blackhawks representatives met with Comcast SportsNet executives last week about getting some home games on the air during the current season.

A source within Wirtz Corp. says up to a half-dozen home games may be broadcast this season, the majority of them coming by the end of this year. The first game most likely will be Nov. 11 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Wirtz also said the team is working on a "long-term strategy" for televising more home games in future seasons.

A half-dozen isn't much, but it is certainly a good start, especially given how this is essentially a last-second deal. The NHL badly needs Chicago to be a successful market, and giving the fans easier access to the product is an easy first step in repairing the relationship the NHL and the Blackhawks have with the sports fans of Chi-Town. With Patrick Kane and Jon Toews looking like stars-in-the-making, Hawks fans certainly have reason to come out of the woodwork and start cheering again.

Hawks to Join the 21st Century, Televise Home Games originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yardbarker Signs Up NHL Blogger

Mirtle M.D. — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

Yardbarker has a stable of athlete bloggers that's actually pretty impressive, ranging from Ray Lewis and Donovan McNabb in the NFL to Greg Oden in the NBA.

Up until last week, however, the site's NHL roster was vacant.

Now? Well, Danny Richmond has taken up the torch and entered the blogosphere, addressing the masses with the details of what's on his iPod and his pregame ritual of eating with teammates.

Danny who?

Ah, right. To be fair, I knew of Danny Richmond and that he played in Chicago, but I didn't know he was "a forward/defenceman" or "born and raised in Chicago and really excited to be able to suit up for the home team."

(As an aside, Richmond's one of just three NHLers from Chicago, the other two being Chris Chelios and Bates Battaglia.)

At age 23, he's played in just 42 NHL games, and was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' opener against Minnesota on Thursday night. Richmond's not bringing a lot of star power into this blogging adventure, especially compared to other kids like Oden, but maybe we can hope to see some gruesome YouTube shots of a hockey-caused surgically repaired knee in the near future.

He seems to be well-received so far from fellow Yardbarkers (is that what they're called?), and the blog might really takeoff if he, you know, plays in a game. And with Martin Havlat on the injured reserve especially early this season, that may happen fairly soon.

Yardbarker Signs Up NHL Blogger originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Humpty Havlat Hurt Again

Jes Golbez — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, NHL Injuries

Martin Havlat is the ultimate fantasy league tease. He's got more skill than most NHL players, and he's just entering his prime.

Unfortunately, he's also more brittle than a three-month old gingerbread house, and a lot less tasty.

Yes, it took only one game for the Blackhawks biggest star to get himself injured ... AGAIN!

When the Hawks' go-to guy skated off the ice, bent over from the waist in obvious agony late in the third period after being sandwiched by a pair of Minnesota players in front of the Wild net, it suddenly didn't matter that they had played so well in dropping a 1-0 decision in the season opener.

What mattered was that after the game Havlat's right arm was in a sling and his right shoulder had already been X-rayed with results to be announced today.

It mattered what this would mean for a Hawks season that got off to such a promising start.

No one had an answer ... yet.

"The guy took a free punch at him and (Havlat) kind of lifted up his shoulder to protect himself," Savard said.

It is not as if this is an isolated incident, considering Havlat has missed over 80 games in the past two seasons due to injury. Looking at Havlat's recent career totals, this guy is a sure bet not to play a full slate of games.

SEASON   TEAM   GP   G   A   PTS

2002-03   OTT   67  24  35   59

2003-04   OTT   68  31  37   68

2005-06   OTT   18   9   7   16

2006-07   CHI   56  25  32   57

The Hawks were looked at in disdain when they first traded for Havlat and then signed him to a massive $6mil per season contract. It's not as if Havlat doesn't ooze skill out of his sweat glands, but personality and physical issues seem to plague the Czech brat far too often. How can a player truly be a 'franchise player' if he is constantly battling injuries and/or other problems?

To those with him in your fantasy leagues, Havlat might be tempting to keep around, waiting for that breakout 100-point season, but you might just be better off trading for somebody who can stick around and provide more guaranteed production. Havlat's brittle body may never improve, and him playing 70+ games in a season might just be a pipe dream.

Humpty Havlat Hurt Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Surreal Day for Chicago Hockey Fans: Bill Wirtz, Dead at 77

Greg Wyshynski — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:18:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

To get a sense for how polarizing Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz was, one simply needs to utilize that great cultural barometer, the Google Search. "WirtzSucks.com - Bill Wirtz, Worst Owner in Sports," is one of the first entries. "Kill Bill Wirtz" quickly follows, an unfortunately named Web site in light of his death at age 77 this morning. Then there's ESPN's look at the "greediest owners in sports," and a petition to "Remove Bill Wirtz from the Hockey Hall of Fame" and...well, you get the picture.

The Blackhawks Web site was the first to announce that Wirtz had died Wednesday at Evanston Hospital after battling cancer. The AP fills in the details:

The family, led by Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Chicago Blackhawks in 1954. In 1966, William Wirtz became team president. Wirtz was chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Hockey League for 18 years and helped negotiate the merger of the NHL and the World Hockey Association in the late 1970's.

Together with Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Wirtz helped back the construction of the United Center, which replaced the Chicago Stadium, the long-time home for Blackhawks. But since moving there 12 years ago, the Blackhawks have made just four playoff appearances - only two since 1997. The Blackhawks haven't played in the Stanley Cup finals in 15 years. As a result, the Blackhawks - one of the six original NHL teams - average about 12,700 fans per game in an arena that seats 20,500.

Over on WirtzSucks.com, one of the more overtly hostile critics of his ownership of the team, the message board is just starting to attract the kind of conflicted tributes one might expect on a day like this. Mr. Miller, the site owner who I've interviewed in the past, writes that, "it's odd -- now that he's gone, i have to admit, i'm a little bummed. at the very least, i'm not as 'happy' as i always claimed i'd be when this day would come." Another post sums up the feelings for many Chicago hockey fans, I imagine: "GOOD FOR HOCKEY BAD FOR FAMILY...."

Keep an eye on the Chicago Sun-Times Blackhawks page for more details and coverage. The Forechecker was one of the first bloggers to offer a comment on the death, and Eric McErlain's FanHouse piece on Wirtz potentially selling the 'Hawks provides further context on the controversial hockey legend.

A Surreal Day for Chicago Hockey Fans: Bill Wirtz, Dead at 77 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Kane Has Delusions of Grandeur

Greg Wyshynski — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

The NHL sends out a daily e-digest of news and notes to media each day -- usually a collection of newspaper highlights, upcoming events and the occasional shout out to the online hockey community. At the end of today's edition was a quote from forward Patrick Kane, selected first overall in the 2007 Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. I don't know where he said it, or who reported it, but I do know it's a hell of a sound byte for a rookie in the Windy City:

"I remember how good Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were for the Bulls, and who doesn't know about Brian Urlacher and the Bears? Maybe Jonathan (Toews) and I could re-energize Blackhawk fans the way Savard and Larmer did in the 1980s and Jeremy Roenick did later."

I know we're talking about a kid here -- although one that's been compared to a young Pat Lafontaine -- and I know this is the kind of "rah-rah" thing that a newbie on a team that's missed the postseason in eight of the last nine seasons needs to say. But could you imagine a rookie on the Islanders in Kane's position saying, "I remember how good Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were for the Yankees...?" That's some serious Blackhawk bollocks right there...

It's true that Kane and Toews have brought some sunshine to Chicago -- even as they skate under that eternal cloud of melancholia named Bill Wirtz -- with Kane potentially making the big leagues as a true rookie and Toews being mentioned as a candidate to win the first Calder for the Blackhawks since Ed Belfour in 1991. But it's not like we haven't seen rookie duos hyped as the future of a franchise only to see them become footnotes; ask Pavel Brendl and Jamie Lundmark about that. Or for a more Windy City appropriate comparison, ask Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler.

Patrick Kane Has Delusions of Grandeur originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Season Preview: Chicago Blackhawks

Mirtle M.D. — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks

Who's In: Kevyn Adams, W (Phx); Jim Fahey, D (SJ); Wade Flaherty, G (Van); Magnus Johansson, D (Swe); Patrick Kane, RW (jr. high); Robert Lang, C (Det); Yanic Perreault, C (Tor); Sergei Samsonov, LW (Mon); Jonathan Toews, C; Andrei Zyuzin, D (Cal)

Who's Out: Nikita Alexeev, W; Denis Arkhipov, C; Adrian Aucoin, D (Cal); Peter Bondra, W (old); Jassen Cullimore, D; Jeff Hamilton, C (Car); Michal Handzus, C (LA); Mikael Holmqvist, F; Reed Low, W; Tony Salmelainen, F (Tor); Radim Vrbata, W (Phx)

What's Changed? The cavalry has arrived, albeit still in training pants. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be the peach-fuzzed face of the 'Hawks franchise from now until they escape as unrestricted free agents, but just what kind of an impact they can have as teenagers on a team bereft of talent remains to be seen.

All signs point to the pair making the team in training camp, although one wonders if burning a year of free agency on the youngsters is the wisest call. Still, with the United Center sitting empty on most nights (Chicago again had the second-worst attendance in the league), this is a club desperate to start filling some seats, and the promise of watching two of the game's budding young stars just might be that draw.

In goal, the same tandem returns in Nikolai Khabibulin and Patrick Lalime, and a modest improvement there would go a long way toward bettering a goals against (3.06) that was tied for 22nd in the NHL. (To be fair, the 'Bulin Wall had a decent rebound campaign last season, and the team was always more competitive with him in goal.)

The defence core, too, remains similar to the 2006-07 entry, although Adrian Aucoin has been mercifully dealt away. The Blackhawks will employ the youngest blue line in the league this season, a group with six players 24-and-under among the top eight.

A lot of the pressure there falls to Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith, both of whom saw more than 20 minutes a night last season against difficult opposition and lived to tell about it.

Up front, the additions of Robert Lang and Yanic Perreault will help, but the pickings are still slim. Chicago was dismal at producing goals last season, and they're going to need a healthy campaign from lone star Martin Havlat and a rebound season from Sergei Samsonov to entertain thoughts of staying in the playoff race by the trade deadline.

Those aren't good things to need.

Who's on the Hook? Khabibulin and Havlat are pulling down the big coin, so it stands to reason a lot of the weight of the season falls to them. In truth, little is expected of this club once again, so perhaps the real pressure is on coach Denis Savard to develop his younglings into players that will pay off in the future.

Where They'll Finish: Battling neck and neck with division "rival" Columbus for the rights to the basement in the Central Division. Barring Crosby-esque turns from Kane and Toews, there's not a hope of postseason action here, although this will be a team on the rise in the very near future. The front-office brass have drafted reasonably well and seen their charges fare admirably when thrown to the wolves.

That - and their last 100-point season was when Kane was four years old.

Blogs to Watch: Kill Bill Wirtz, Gorilla Crouch, other applicants wanted

Gratuitous YouTube Embed: In better times, Chicago's Jeremy Roenick made Gretzky's head bleed:

NHL Season Preview: Chicago Blackhawks originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally, Stanley Comes Back to Chicago

Greg Wyshynski — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:09:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, General NHL, Blackhawks, Ducks, Sharks, Stanley Cup

When Bob Murray was fired as general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks in Dec. 1999, it symbolized two underlying cancers that continue to eat away at the moribund franchise: Disrespect, in the way a man who was "first and foremost, a Chicago Blackhawk through and through" got kicked to the curb; and paralyzing cronyism, in the way owner Bill Wirtz reached back and reinstalled friend Bob Pulford as G.M.

Murray was the assistant general manager for the Anaheim Ducks last season, which means he earned a day with the Stanley Cup this summer. So Murray did what no player has done since 1961, bringing the chalice to the Windy City. His day was spent first at his suburban Chicago home and then at Ridgemoor Country Club on the Northwest Side. As the Daily Herald reports, it was a bittersweet moment for a man who logged 1,008 regular season games with the Blackhawks:

"It hurts us that it's been a long time here. You ask any old Blackhawk and they'll tell you the same thing. No matter where they are or where they've been, or what's happened to them in Chicago, they'll tell you they regret it not happening for the fans here.''

Murray has every right to be bitter about never getting the chance to do his job properly as GM in Chicago before Bob Pulford pulled the rug out from under him, but he spews no venom. On paper, he had the job for two years until he was torched in December 1999, but in reality, with a summer being taken away by the powers above, Murray had less than a year to do the job. Not a fair shot for anyone, and certainly not one who had given 25 years of his life to the sweater, who played 1,008 games for only one NHL team, who is still No. 4 all time on the Hawks' games-played list.

"Dougie Wilson and I talk all the time about how we're in this to win Cups, just like we were in it to win Cups as players," Murray said of the San Jose GM, who is not only a close friend but was Murray's defensive partner in Chicago for 10 years. "It's all we ever wanted. It's what you grow up wanting. It bothers us that things haven't worked in Chicago."

Hell, it bothers all of us, Bob. There are very few opportunities for the NHL to repeat the transformative success of the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup run of 1994, but having the Blackhawks in the Finals again is one of them. Unfortunately, Chicago is cursed with the worst owner in sports, which means its dwindling number of hockey fans will spend less time on Stanley Cup dreams and more time on devising ways to juice attendance...like Mike Lavaty's innovative Fan Participation Night list on Da Sports Critic. (Sample prose: "February 17, vs. Colorado - If Denis Savard has autographed page 19 of your program, you get to coach the Blackhawks in the third period.")

Finally, Stanley Comes Back to Chicago originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schneider In, Niedermayer Out?

Greg Wyshynski — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Anaheim, Buffalo, General NHL, Devils, Rangers, Bruins, Lightning, Blackhawks, Wings, Flames, Ducks, Eastern, Western, NHL Rumors

The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks added Red Wings free agent defenseman Mathieu Schneider, signing him to a two-year deal worth $11.25 million. Matt Saler of On the Wings reacts as if Schneider just took a fat dump on Detroit and cleaned himself up with an Yzerman jersey:

If he wanted a lot more money than the Wings could pay, that's one thing, but leaving at a price the team could probably afford is an insult. And the fact that he left to go to the team that eliminated the Wings from the playoffs is even worse (if you recall, Sergei Fedorov did the same thing). I thought Schneider was better than that.

Once this signing was announced, two questions sprung to mind. First, who will accompany Chelios to those AARP meetings now? More importantly, is the Ducks' signing of a mobile defenseman with solid offensive skills an insurance policy in case Conn Smythe winner Scott Niedermayer decides to hang up the skates? It sure seems that way when the team's official site runs a headline that reads "Ducks Sign Schneider; Niedermayer May Retire." Here's a statement from GM Brian Burke:

"Scott Niedermayer has informed me that he is leaning toward retirement," said Burke. "Typical of his character and leadership, he made the call this morning in order to allow us to make alternative plans in the event he does not return. Although he has not retired and would be welcomed back, we felt adding another top NHL defenseman was critical to defending our championship. Mathieu Schneider fits into that category and will be a great addition to our team."

In other recent "free agent frenzy" developments:

Calgary signs Tampa Bay defenseman Cory Sarich to a five year, $18 million deal. If the Flames end up flipping Brad Stuart and Roman Hamrlik for Sarich and Adrian Aucoin, then it's been a good off-season ... well, save for the Keenan thing.
Tom Gulitti, a beat writer for the Devils, reports on his blog that rumors Scott Gomez had signed with the Rangers were, in fact, just rumors. Doesn't mean it can't happen; but if it does, remember that it wasn't because he was jogging with Brendan Shanahan.
The Blackhawks have signed Yanic Perreault to a one-year deal; an indication that they don't believe either Jonathan Toews nor Patrick Kane can win an NHL face-off yet.
Douglas Flynn of the Boston Herald reports that the Bruins have inked tough guy Shawn Thornton of Anaheim to a multi-year deal. Yeah, let's see some team ante up Wayne Primeau, Marco Sturm and Brad Stuart for this Thornton...

Schneider In, Niedermayer Out? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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