Unfortunately, due to some family obligations (basically having to watch my kids this weekend, including my 4 year-old Myles, who has finally removed his red Byfuglien 33 sweater due to either the trade— or rot), I can't make it to Prospects Camp this year.

But, there, among the massed throngs (and I do suspect attendance at PC this year will be bigger than ever) will be the Prospect Eyes And Ears of this blog, Harvey Keitel look-alike and my good friend, Wiz.

So look either here in my written blog or on the message boards for his observations. Anyone else going, please feel free to send your observations to me PM me here or email me at johnjaeckel@me.com. Videos would be awesome.

This is a huge group of prospects, and I suspect the compete level will be much higher than it's ever been. Among the total of 70 players are:

2010 1st round choice Kevin Hayes
2009 1st rounder Dylan Olsen
2009 2nd rounder (Toronto) Jimmy Hayes
2008 first rounder Kyle Beach
Recently signed brawler supreme Brandon Bollig (who apparently can also play a little)
2009 draftees Brandon Pirri (2nd), Dan Delisle (3rd) and Byron Froese (4th)
Canadian World Junior veteran Chris DiDomenico (acquired from Toronto along with Phillippe Paradis— a former first round choice of Carolina— who is also in camp)
2009 sleeper pick Markus Krueger, who lit up the Swedish Elite League last year
2010 pick Mirko Hoefflin, a blazing fast German center
2009 2nd round pick (Atlanta) Jeremy Morin, a goal-scorer often compared to Brendan Shanahan and Brett Hull
2010 2nd round picks Ludvig Rensfeldt (most compared to Johan Franzen or a faster Troy Brouwer), Justin Holl, goalie Kent Simpson and Stephen Johns.
Possible 2010 NHL'er D Shawn Lalonde
2009 1st round pick Nick Leddy (Minnesota)
Free agent D Mitch Versteeg (Kris' brother)

NIEMI NO . . . MAYBE, YEAH, SOMETHIN':

Not surprisingly, #1 goalie Antti Niemi has filed to take the Blackhawks to arbitration on his RFA deal. Clearly, Niemi and agent Bill Zito will point to the 4 year, $15 million deal signed in St. Louis recently by Jaroslav Halak as a benchmark for Niemi.

Before examining that, a couple of points need to be made clear. First, the Hawks and Niemi have until the actual hearing takes place to work out a deal. Second, it serves the Hawks' purposes to work out a longer term deal with their top goalie, as a 1-year contract renders him an unrestricted free agent next July 1. (EDITED)

So let's compare the netminders, shall we?

Niemi is 26, Halak is 25. But Halak has played 101 NHL regular season games to Niemi's 42. Halak's save % (.919) is marginally better than Niemi's (.910). Halak has seen more shots, playing behind lesser defenses and therefore his GAA is higher than Niemi's at 2.62 to 2.32.

In the end, Niemi's stats were accumulated playing behind what was the best team in hockey at that time. Halak, on the other hand, can be argued to have single-handedly elevated an average team to a strong playoff run in 2009-10. And although Niemi was the "Stanley Cup winning goalie," Halak's playoff stats were marginally better.

So all that said, if Halak is the benchmark, then arguably the deal for Niemi might be, oh, say, $10 million over three years. (EDITED)

But that's just what I'd say if i was the arbitrator, which . . . of course . . . I'm not.

I am your humble Hawks' blogger,


JJ

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