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Mirages and Deadline Thoughts |
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False alarm crew, that 7-1 win the other night was merely a mirage.
The Hawks came out flat with a capital “F” last night with a 3-1 loss to LA. I’ll give LA credit, they are a hungry team looking to get into the playoffs, so you shouldn’t have expected anything else. The Kings are also a team that has a nice spark by adding a top 4 dman in Phaneuf, as well as role player Nate Thompson. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them bump a team out of the playoff mix.
After the loss last night and the recent losing streak, the Hawks know that their playoff fate has been sealed. Therefore, no longer do I need to post probability % of them making it, nor will I comment on the Hawks “effort”.
The older Hawks on this team are a bit broken right now and in unfamiliar territory, as they will be packing their lockers up mid-April this year. Will they be giving it 100% every night, jumping in front of pucks and driving the net, putting themselves in a vulnerable position? No.
What I have been hoping to see since this Hawks tailspin is that the Hawks younger players get ice time, valuable responsibility and a chance to prove themselves for next year. Will you see some of these guys jump in front of pucks and drive through danger to the front of the net? If I were them, I would be.
For the younger wave of Blackhawks (and possible some older players), the rest of this season is an audition. Let’s see who’s up to the task.
Now, on to some trade deadline thoughts and chatter:
* Listening to TSN 1050 radio last week, Darren Dreger made an interesting comment (and I’m paraphrasing) saying, “When you used to hear a name out there available to be traded, there was a good chance he was gone. Now, when you hear someone, you have no idea. Teams tend to float names out there to see what they can get.”
The Hawks have done this in the past and I believe they are doing this now with Ryan Hartman.
I don’t think there is any coincidence his name has been popping up, it’s been strategically placed there to see, if they actually wanted to move him, what they could get back in return.
I did hear at one point that the Hawks were trying Hartman at centre as a showcase to other teams (maybe one team specifically), but I am not 100% sure on the creditability of the source.
Remember, Stan Bowman doesn’t have a lot of assets to sell and this is his first time as an actual “seller” so he is looking at how crazy teams may get around this time.
I know a lot of fans are against a Hartman trade, but if he gets you a up-and-coming top 4 defenceman (maybe just on a cusp of making the NHL or playing overseas) + a pick – would you do it?
* Anisimov and Saad have been coming up as well in trade chatter. I believe the Hawks would like to move Anisimov eventually, however, their centre depth is, uh, not good, so don’t be surprised if he stays around for another year or so.
With Saad, I don’t think they move him, it sounds to me that teams have inquired (trying to buy low) and that’s why his name has surfaced.
* I’ve been preaching that the Hawks need to upgrade their defence if they want to get back to their winning ways and after last night, how can you not agree. Wow. Carl Dalhstrom looked like Nik Lidstrom out there compared to everyone else. And the scary thing is, I’m not even sure if Carl Dahlstrom is that good.
I wouldn’t be opposed if the Hawks tried to find new homes for Gustafsson and Rutta to get a fresh start. Then next year role out Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Oesterle, Forsling and upgrade the final 2 spots with legitimate #4-#5 D; one of those has to be a shutdown type player.
* That’s a good segue to Connor Murphy; for the reasons listed above, I believe there is a chance that he could be moved. It would be a shame because that Hjalmarsson trade should have been for a defenceman that would grow into a “Hammer Lite”. I don’t hate Murphy, and there’s a chance he can still grow, but with the current coaching staff and on-ice strategy, he doesn’t appear to be a fit.
* Michal Kempny fetched a conditional 3rd round pick this year, which was more than I thought he would get. I will be interested to see how he progresses in Washington and where his NHL career takes him next year. He has skill and in the right system, he could flourish.
* I looked back at the last 2 times the Blackhawks were “sellers” and here is what their trade deadline looked like with Dale Tallon as their GM:
2008
February 26th, 2008: Blackhawks acquire Andrew Ladd from Carolina Hurricanes for Tuomo Ruutu
February 26th, 2008: Blackhawks acquire 2018 6th round pick (Ben Smith) from Ottawa Senators for Martin Lapointe
2007
February 26th, 2007: Blackhawks acquire Kyle Calder from Philadelphia Flyers for Lasses Kukkonen and a 2007 3rd round pick (Garrett Klotz)
February 26th, 2007: Blackhawks acquire Jason Williams from Detroit Red Wings for Kyle Calder
February 26th, 2007: Blackhawks acquire 2007 2nd round pick (Akim Aliu) from Vancouver Canucks for Bryan Smolinski
February 27th, 2007: Blackhawks acquire Nikita Alexeev from Tampa Bay Lightning for Karl Stewart and a 2008 6th round pick (Luke Witkowski)
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So, there you have it. The moral of the story is, don’t get too excited for the Hawks deadline this year.
I’ll pop back on the boards with more as I have it.
See ya out there,
JL
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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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