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Well, here's the first blog of what should be a very busy June.

The only thing I can add to the praise heaped on Nicklas Lidstrom is that I think he was the best defenseman to play since Bobby Orr, and I think Orr was the best player ever.

And even though Johnny Oduya was signed to an extension the day before Lidstrom officially announced his retirement, I am told that the Hawks' decision was somewhat influenced by Lidstrom's—in that they had some intel which way he was leaning.

Lidstrom's retirement basically sucks all the air out of the market for free agent defensemen. If the Nashville Predators can't re-sign the marquee UFA blueliner in this year's crop, Ryan Suter, then Detroit, as well as Minnesota are going to throw big, big dollars at Suter.

I don't know if this officially drives the Hawks out of the Suter Sweeps (more on that in a second), but I think it did push the Hawks toward re-upping the (former) Devil they know, Oduya.

Once Oduya was re-signed, a lot of attention shifted to Niklas Hjalmarsson. If the Hawks go into the season with a defense corps of Keith/Seabrook, Oduya/Hjalmarsson, and Leddy/Montador, that is nothing to cry about.

But Hjalmarsson, I'm told, was on the trading block as far back as late April and I continue to hear that he is. The question becomes why? I'm not sure subtracting his $3.5 million creates enough money for a run at Suter, or even, say, Bryan Allen. So one scenario might be that the Hawks feel they can sign a cheaper free agent like, say, Scott Hannan, and do just as well, while giving them some room to make other deals.

And make no mistake, although Hjalmarsson's steady, unspectacular game, coupled with his $3.5 million salary, makes him the target of a lot of Hawk fans, he has fans around the NHL. So another theory I have is that Hjalmarsson (and perhaps Viktor Stalberg as well) could be the pot sweetener for a larger deal the Hawks want to, or feel they need to, make.

And that leads us to Patrick Kane.

Without going into a lot of the hearsay, I'm told the Hawks have reached a point with Kane where they feel he needs to take some concrete steps to mature and become a better person off, and indirectly on, the ice. I am also hearing that thus far, the Hawks are less than thrilled with Kane's attitude toward this matter. And if that continues, he will likely be traded.

Rumor has it, there are suitors. I have heard of four teams that have either made offers or at least discussed deals involving Kane, two from each conference, Columbus, Anaheim, Montreal and the Islanders. I suspect there could be more, including the Bruins, who I have heard vague whispers about regarding interest in Kane. And where Kane's game might be the missing piece.

Much of the discussion on this blog's message board surrounding this topic has been the relative value of Kane and potential return for Kane, on the ice.

But I don't think that's really the issue in Chicago. And I do believe the Hawks would get a very good forward back in any deal.


RETURN OF THE WIZ:

I am working on developing a couple of video/podcast sessions to be posted within blogs, pre- and post- draft, focusing on the Hawks, with none other than Bill "Wiz" Placzek. Look for the first session sometime laster this month.


SKATE WITH BOB TO FIGHT PANCREATIC CANCER:

About three years ago, I mentioned this charity, run by Bob Klem, a Hawk fan (and a goalie!). I will be periodically updating readers on the events associated with this now five-year-old charity. In the meantime, I urge all readers to learn more at www.skatewithbob.com


More later,



JJ

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