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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
As of this writing, a lot remains up in the air in Chicago.
Will the Hawks re-sign Martin Havlat? And if so, to what money and term?
What about Nikolai Khabibulin?
Is Rick Dudley headed (as rumored) to Florida to take the vacant GM's job? If not, does he get an expanded role in a revamped Chicago front office? Speaking of which, what of the rumored rift between Dale Tallon and other members of the front office? Is there anything to this?
Is there any merit to the rumor of the Hawks' interest in UFA Matthias Ohlund, apparently hinging on a draft day trade?
Why ask all these questions?
Why ask why?
Well, one thing's certain: none of the usual sources have any idea what's going on at 1800 West Madison. But what do we know for sure?
We know the Hawks have been making noises about an imminent signing of Havlat, going back to February. And yet, here we are, June 10, free agency three weeks away, and no deal.
One rumor out of Canada has it that the Hawks are now offering Havlat a one-year deal, with Tallon taking heat in the front office for giving too many long-term, big money deals to questionable players. Havlat supposedly wants a longer term contract.
I think there might be something to this. Havlat has been twittering extensively as to his interest in staying in Chicago, as well as a deal being imminent. That said, as much as you can take that on face value, you can just as easily view it as trying to curry support for a deal among the fan base.
So contract length could be the hold up.
Another rumor from yesterday has the Hawks possibly more inclined now to re-sign Khabibulin. Hard to say what's going on here. One possibility is Khabibulin being amenable to returning for a one-year, reduced dollars deal. Another possibility is there's really nothing to this rumor. And yet another possibility is the Hawks now know that Havlat is going to leave July 1, and they see signing Khabibulin as a p.r. imperative. If both players leave and nothing significant is brought in this offseason, it gets a lot harder to keep the "happy, happy, joy, joy" momentum going.
And I really hope that last scenario is not the case.
Signing Khabibulin is a much higher risk/lower return endeavor than signing Havlat. Yes, Havlat has the injury history. So does Khabibulin, especially over the last two years. And he's ten years older. Plus, Khabibulin's contribution is much easier replaced than Havlat's.
One would have to think for the Hawks to re-sign Khabibulin in nearly any circumstance, they would have some solution in place that sees Cristobal Huet leaving town — perhaps as part of the rumored draft day deal. Still, that seems very unlikely.
The larger issue vis a vis the Hawks' goaltending is a real lack of quality prospects. The Hawks' only real potential #1 (after Huet and Khabibulin) is Antti Niemi. And yet another rumor has him possibly returning to Finland to play next year.
As for the Ohlund scenario. That one's more than a bit of a head-scratcher. Ohlund is said to be looking for a deal starting at $5 million a year. For the Hawks to take that on, they would have to be sending some salary elsewhere, and/or taking a pass on both Havlat and Khabibulin.
But as the days peel off the calendar without a Havlat deal, I become more inclined to believe there are possibly bigger changes brewing, either in the front office and/or on the ice.
And clearly, with the impending salary cap issues a year or two out, and the real gap between the Hawks and the Red Wings, the Hawks' offseason to-do list is probably a lot more complicated than just re-signing Havlat and/or Khabibulin.
So stay tuned.
Will the Hawks re-sign Martin Havlat? And if so, to what money and term?
What about Nikolai Khabibulin?
Is Rick Dudley headed (as rumored) to Florida to take the vacant GM's job? If not, does he get an expanded role in a revamped Chicago front office? Speaking of which, what of the rumored rift between Dale Tallon and other members of the front office? Is there anything to this?
Is there any merit to the rumor of the Hawks' interest in UFA Matthias Ohlund, apparently hinging on a draft day trade?
Why ask all these questions?
Why ask why?
Well, one thing's certain: none of the usual sources have any idea what's going on at 1800 West Madison. But what do we know for sure?
We know the Hawks have been making noises about an imminent signing of Havlat, going back to February. And yet, here we are, June 10, free agency three weeks away, and no deal.
One rumor out of Canada has it that the Hawks are now offering Havlat a one-year deal, with Tallon taking heat in the front office for giving too many long-term, big money deals to questionable players. Havlat supposedly wants a longer term contract.
I think there might be something to this. Havlat has been twittering extensively as to his interest in staying in Chicago, as well as a deal being imminent. That said, as much as you can take that on face value, you can just as easily view it as trying to curry support for a deal among the fan base.
So contract length could be the hold up.
Another rumor from yesterday has the Hawks possibly more inclined now to re-sign Khabibulin. Hard to say what's going on here. One possibility is Khabibulin being amenable to returning for a one-year, reduced dollars deal. Another possibility is there's really nothing to this rumor. And yet another possibility is the Hawks now know that Havlat is going to leave July 1, and they see signing Khabibulin as a p.r. imperative. If both players leave and nothing significant is brought in this offseason, it gets a lot harder to keep the "happy, happy, joy, joy" momentum going.
And I really hope that last scenario is not the case.
Signing Khabibulin is a much higher risk/lower return endeavor than signing Havlat. Yes, Havlat has the injury history. So does Khabibulin, especially over the last two years. And he's ten years older. Plus, Khabibulin's contribution is much easier replaced than Havlat's.
One would have to think for the Hawks to re-sign Khabibulin in nearly any circumstance, they would have some solution in place that sees Cristobal Huet leaving town — perhaps as part of the rumored draft day deal. Still, that seems very unlikely.
The larger issue vis a vis the Hawks' goaltending is a real lack of quality prospects. The Hawks' only real potential #1 (after Huet and Khabibulin) is Antti Niemi. And yet another rumor has him possibly returning to Finland to play next year.
As for the Ohlund scenario. That one's more than a bit of a head-scratcher. Ohlund is said to be looking for a deal starting at $5 million a year. For the Hawks to take that on, they would have to be sending some salary elsewhere, and/or taking a pass on both Havlat and Khabibulin.
But as the days peel off the calendar without a Havlat deal, I become more inclined to believe there are possibly bigger changes brewing, either in the front office and/or on the ice.
And clearly, with the impending salary cap issues a year or two out, and the real gap between the Hawks and the Red Wings, the Hawks' offseason to-do list is probably a lot more complicated than just re-signing Havlat and/or Khabibulin.
So stay tuned.
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