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Is Something Cooking ??? (Updated 5:30 CST) |
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This news has not been substantiated through a press release yet, but it appears the Hawks have signed two defensemen. The first is Doug Janik, a 28 year old defender who played for the Lightning last season and was an UFA. The other defenseman is Aaron Johnson who is 25 years old and played 30 games for the Islanders last season. I show Johnson listed as a RFA although I do not know any other details at this time involving this transaction. Both players earned $475,000 last year.
Both players shoot left and could be coming to Chicago as a precursor to a trade of another defenseman.
Cam Barker is another left hander shooter from the Blue Line...hnmm....
Release from the Hawks Media Department
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the team has signed free agent defensemen Aaron Johnson (6-2, 211) and Doug Janik (6-2, 210) and center Colin Fraser (6-1, 190) to one-year contracts.
Johnson, 25, spent the 2007-08 campaign with the New York Islanders were he saw ice time in 30 games and registered two assists along with 30 penalty minutes. Since his rookie season in 2003-04, he has appeared in 146 NHL contests and totaled seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points along with 123 penalty minutes. Besides spending last season with the Islanders, he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Johnson was originally drafted by Columbus in the third round (85th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Janik, 28, has appeared in 146 career NHL matchups during his seven-year professional career, accruing 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and 119 penalty minutes, which includes four points (one goal, three assists) and 45 penalty minutes in 61 contests with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. The Agawam, Massachusetts, native spent five years in the Buffalo Sabres organization (2001-06) before joining the Lightning for the past two seasons. Prior to turning pro, Janik skated three seasons at the University of Maine (1998-2001), which includes helping the Black Bears capture the 1999 Division I National Championship during his freshman campaign in 1998-99.
Fraser, 23, appeared in five games with the Blackhawks last season, collecting seven penalty minutes. The Surrey, British Columbia, native recorded professional career highs with 17 goals, 41 points and 165 penalty minutes in 75 appearances last season with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate. Fraser, the Philadelphia Flyers’ third pick (69th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, ranked second on Rockford in penalty minutes and plus/minus (+16) and placed fifth in points. He made his NHL debut when he appeared in one game with Chicago during the 2006-07 campaign.
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The Hawks are very high on 21 year old defender Niklas Hjalmarsson and he may be promoted sooner than later. The signings of Walker, Janik and Johnson could provide depth for the Blue Line in Chicago as well as in Rockford.
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