***OFFICIAL CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS PLAYOFF THREAD*** (1 Viewer)

[Wrigley]

 

[Green94]

I should probably like the Hawks more since my wife used to work for the Wirtz organization for many years, but I didn't start getting into hockey until ~94 (thanks to Sega NHL 94) so the life history just isn't there.

Roenick, Larmer, and Chelios with a side of Eddie Belfour

 

[Green94]

 

[Green94]

 

[Hawks64]

I can't even believe it yet. It's almost surreal.

congrats, dude. enjoy it for a long, long time.

Thanks man, and I am. Sat with my two boys this morning after they got up and we watched the OT, both were yelling GO HAWKS! Took my oldest boy (6yr old) to go get some Cup shirts tonight. He was so excited to get a Cup shirt very cool to share that with them. While at Sports Authority ran into an older man and his wife, must have been early 70s or so and we were talking about the Cup. So cool listening to him talk about the early 60s and 70s teams and how excited he has been to see the Hawks on top again.

 

[Hawks64]

Blackhawks were 15-4 once Campbell returned to the lineup

I will be the first to admit I underestimated what he brought to the table and how important he is to the transition game of this team. Also, thought it was great to see Huet with the cup. Hopefully he can get another shot somewhere else next year.

 

[JetMaxx]

Congrats to all Blackhawk fans, a well deserved Stanley Cup championship. Obviously I wished for a different outcome but the Hawks were the better team and earned it. Just a great team that proved too much for my Flyers.

 

[Green94]

Congrats to all Blackhawk fans, a well deserved Stanley Cup championship. Obviously I wished for a different outcome but the Hawks were the better team and earned it. Just a great team that proved too much for my Flyers.

 

[Green94]

 

[Hawks64]

That will NEVER get old. I love watching him jump skate down the ice and then jump on Niemi.

 

[krista4]

Congrats to all Blackhawk fans, a well deserved Stanley Cup championship. Obviously I wished for a different outcome but the Hawks were the better team and earned it. Just a great team that proved too much for my Flyers.

Classy post.

 

[Green94]

I know, I love how Niemi is just standing there while Kaner jumps him

 

[crewmember]

Blackhawks were 15-4 once Campbell returned to the lineup

I will be the first to admit I underestimated what he brought to the table and how important he is to the transition game of this team. Also, thought it was great to see Huet with the cup. Hopefully he can get another shot somewhere else next year.

+11 in the playoffs I think for #51, now I know I was right to be angry and depressed after the Ovechkin hit. Agreed on Huet, will be rooting for him if he goes else where but if a trade can't happen I would love to see him back, he's a team first guy. It may have been a blessing the way it worked out, beause alot of the work horse goalies fizzeled out, and Niemi was fresh after not getting many games early in the season.

 

[crewmember]

I should probably like the Hawks more since my wife used to work for the Wirtz organization for many years, but I didn't start getting into hockey until ~94 (thanks to Sega NHL 94) so the life history just isn't there.

Roenick, Larmer, and Chelios with a side of Eddie Belfour

It's not so much me as it is Roenick.

 

[Hawks64]

Blackhawks were 15-4 once Campbell returned to the lineup

I will be the first to admit I underestimated what he brought to the table and how important he is to the transition game of this team. Also, thought it was great to see Huet with the cup. Hopefully he can get another shot somewhere else next year.

+11 in the playoffs I think for #51, now I know I was right to be angry and depressed after the Ovechkin hit. Agreed on Huet, will be rooting for him if he goes else where but if a trade can't happen I would love to see him back, he's a team first guy. It may have been a blessing the way it worked out, beause alot of the work horse goalies fizzeled out, and Niemi was fresh after not getting many games early in the season.

I don't think Huet is back next year with a 5.6 cap hit. I really don't know what they are going to do with him or how they will replace him but that's a huge hit for a backup goalie. And I am not sure that JQ would even play him.

 

[crewmember]

What is so amazing about Hockey is that the change in the almighty Mo is so quick. The Flyers were dead in the 2nd period and the fans were already throwing in the towel, then one defelction and it looks like we are going to game 7. Now for all you Niemi haters.............time to kiss the CUP!!!!How about JR's postgame interview, I didn't think he was going to make it. How long before he is brought back as our next ambassador?????

JR would have cried if the flyers won, he's a child. He was rooting for the Sharks and picked the Flyers to win. He was doing a pre game show here in Philadelphia on comcast. He cried because somehow he thought the 2010 stanley cup playoffs was about him.

 

[crewmember]

Every Hawk's favorite player

I told my brother sometime in December that Niemi reminded me of Arturs Irbe, now I seem a bit smarter.

 

[Hawks64]

What is so amazing about Hockey is that the change in the almighty Mo is so quick. The Flyers were dead in the 2nd period and the fans were already throwing in the towel, then one defelction and it looks like we are going to game 7. Now for all you Niemi haters.............time to kiss the CUP!!!!How about JR's postgame interview, I didn't think he was going to make it. How long before he is brought back as our next ambassador?????

JR would have cried if the flyers won, he's a child. He was rooting for the Sharks and picked the Flyers to win. He was doing a pre game show here in Philadelphia on comcast. He cried because somehow he thought the 2010 stanley cup playoffs was about him.

To be fair to JR, Dollar Bill bent him over hard. I think he has a right to be bitter about the Hawks, he wanted to be a Hawk for life. I think he's still a Hawk at heart though and think if Rocky would reach out he would be back in the fold so to speak.

 

[boom king]

pic i took after game 5

 

[crewmember]

What is so amazing about Hockey is that the change in the almighty Mo is so quick. The Flyers were dead in the 2nd period and the fans were already throwing in the towel, then one defelction and it looks like we are going to game 7. Now for all you Niemi haters.............time to kiss the CUP!!!!How about JR's postgame interview, I didn't think he was going to make it. How long before he is brought back as our next ambassador?????

JR would have cried if the flyers won, he's a child. He was rooting for the Sharks and picked the Flyers to win. He was doing a pre game show here in Philadelphia on comcast. He cried because somehow he thought the 2010 stanley cup playoffs was about him.

To be fair to JR, Dollar Bill bent him over hard. I think he has a right to be bitter about the Hawks, he wanted to be a Hawk for life. I think he's still a Hawk at heart though and think if Rocky would reach out he would be back in the fold so to speak.

well they had his heritage night this year but he had to make sure it was against the sharks. Also if you think you know what is in JR's heart then I will just say good luck, I don't even think he knows. Not a guy I would ever try to figure out. Either way, crying on tv like that was embarassing. He should thank Milbury for bailing him out.

 

[Statcruncher]

Blackhawks were 15-4 once Campbell returned to the lineup

I will be the first to admit I underestimated what he brought to the table and how important he is to the transition game of this team. Also, thought it was great to see Huet with the cup. Hopefully he can get another shot somewhere else next year.

+11 in the playoffs I think for #51, now I know I was right to be angry and depressed after the Ovechkin hit. Agreed on Huet, will be rooting for him if he goes else where but if a trade can't happen I would love to see him back, he's a team first guy. It may have been a blessing the way it worked out, beause alot of the work horse goalies fizzeled out, and Niemi was fresh after not getting many games early in the season.

I don't think Huet is back next year with a 5.6 cap hit. I really don't know what they are going to do with him or how they will replace him but that's a huge hit for a backup goalie. And I am not sure that JQ would even play him.

I have no ill-will toward Huet but I can't see how he could ever confidently be put back in net for the Blackhawks. His contract is way too big for what he can offer. I would love to see them trade Huet and develop another back-up goalie. I honestly don't know what team would want him at his current price tag though. If he can't be traded wouldn't burying him in the minors alleviate his contract from the cap? Talk about a very expensive way to correct a mistake. Regardless, it appears we are going to have drop some coin on Niemi.Some contract numbers

 

[Hawks64]

I will be the first to admit I underestimated what he brought to the table and how important he is to the transition game of this team. Also, thought it was great to see Huet with the cup. Hopefully he can get another shot somewhere else next year.

+11 in the playoffs I think for #51, now I know I was right to be angry and depressed after the Ovechkin hit. Agreed on Huet, will be rooting for him if he goes else where but if a trade can't happen I would love to see him back, he's a team first guy. It may have been a blessing the way it worked out, beause alot of the work horse goalies fizzeled out, and Niemi was fresh after not getting many games early in the season.

I don't think Huet is back next year with a 5.6 cap hit. I really don't know what they are going to do with him or how they will replace him but that's a huge hit for a backup goalie. And I am not sure that JQ would even play him.

I have no ill-will toward Huet but I can't see how he could ever confidently be put back in net for the Blackhawks. His contract is way too big for what he can offer. I would love to see them trade Huet and develop another back-up goalie. I honestly don't know what team would want him at his current price tag though. If he can't be traded wouldn't burying him in the minors alleviate his contract from the cap? Talk about a very expensive way to correct a mistake.Some contract numbers

That's exactly it. JQ has no faith in the guy so I can't see him even being the backup at this point. And there are two options, trade him or he gets sent to the minors. I am 100% sure he makes waivers down. He might not clear waivers on the way back though, because as I understand it the claiming team would only have to pay half his salary. I would imagine that someone would claim him at 2.7MMish the Hawks would then be on the hook for the other half. I would imagine that he would be sent down and never recalled if that's the route Bowman goes.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

That's exactly it. JQ has no faith in the guy so I can't see him even being the backup at this point. And there are two options, trade him or he gets sent to the minors. I am 100% sure he makes waivers down. He might not clear waivers on the way back though, because as I understand it the claiming team would only have to pay half his salary. I would imagine that someone would claim him at 2.7MMish the Hawks would then be on the hook for the other half. I would imagine that he would be sent down and never recalled if that's the route Bowman goes.

better to have someone claim him on re-entry waivers and pay half his salary than to keep him in the minors and pay the last 2 years of his deal in full.

 

[Statcruncher]

That's exactly it. JQ has no faith in the guy so I can't see him even being the backup at this point. And there are two options, trade him or he gets sent to the minors. I am 100% sure he makes waivers down. He might not clear waivers on the way back though, because as I understand it the claiming team would only have to pay half his salary. I would imagine that someone would claim him at 2.7MMish the Hawks would then be on the hook for the other half. I would imagine that he would be sent down and never recalled if that's the route Bowman goes.

better to have someone claim him on re-entry waivers and pay half his salary than to keep him in the minors and pay the last 2 years of his deal in full.

If he's in the minors his 5.625 doesn't hit the Blackhawks cap. If a team claims him when he's brought up does the 2.7 million the Blackhawks would have to pay count toward the cap? For a team with little cap space paying only 2.8 that counts on your cap is arguably worse than 5.625 which doesn't hit the cap. I don't know much about the financial side but it appears the Blackhawks biggest enemy is the cap right now.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

That's exactly it. JQ has no faith in the guy so I can't see him even being the backup at this point. And there are two options, trade him or he gets sent to the minors. I am 100% sure he makes waivers down. He might not clear waivers on the way back though, because as I understand it the claiming team would only have to pay half his salary. I would imagine that someone would claim him at 2.7MMish the Hawks would then be on the hook for the other half. I would imagine that he would be sent down and never recalled if that's the route Bowman goes.

better to have someone claim him on re-entry waivers and pay half his salary than to keep him in the minors and pay the last 2 years of his deal in full.

If he's in the minors his 5.625 doesn't hit the Blackhawks cap. If a team claims him when he's brought up does the 2.7 million the Blackhawks would have to pay count toward the cap? For a team with little cap space paying only 2.8 that counts on your cap is arguably worse than 5.625 which doesn't hit the cap. I don't know much about the financial side but it appears the Blackhawks biggest enemy is the cap right now.

good point. for cap reasons, they probably can't afford to give him anything so they'll just have to eat that money and bury him in the minors unless they can offer up some other good pieces to convince a team to take the contract off their hands entirely.a buyout would also hurt them against the cap so the minors option seems most likely at the moment. kind of sucks for him that he'll be playing in Rockford for the next 2 years, but at least he'll bank $11 million I guess.

 

[Hawks64]

That's exactly it. JQ has no faith in the guy so I can't see him even being the backup at this point. And there are two options, trade him or he gets sent to the minors. I am 100% sure he makes waivers down. He might not clear waivers on the way back though, because as I understand it the claiming team would only have to pay half his salary. I would imagine that someone would claim him at 2.7MMish the Hawks would then be on the hook for the other half. I would imagine that he would be sent down and never recalled if that's the route Bowman goes.

better to have someone claim him on re-entry waivers and pay half his salary than to keep him in the minors and pay the last 2 years of his deal in full.

If he's in the minors his 5.625 doesn't hit the Blackhawks cap. If a team claims him when he's brought up does the 2.7 million the Blackhawks would have to pay count toward the cap? For a team with little cap space paying only 2.8 that counts on your cap is arguably worse than 5.625 which doesn't hit the cap. I don't know much about the financial side but it appears the Blackhawks biggest enemy is the cap right now.

good point. for cap reasons, they probably can't afford to give him anything so they'll just have to eat that money and bury him in the minors unless they can offer up some other good pieces to convince a team to take the contract off their hands entirely.a buyout would also hurt them against the cap so the minors option seems most likely at the moment. kind of sucks for him that he'll be playing in Rockford for the next 2 years, but at least he'll bank $11 million I guess.

It will suck if he gets buried in the minors, and not because the Hawks will have to pay him. He seems to be very well liked and a really nice guy. I really hope they can move him so he can get another shot, he was playing ok until the second half of the season. Wonder if Steeger and a pick would be a sweet enough deal to move him.

 

[Limp Ditka]

It's a proud day for the Blackhawk organIzation

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

downtown is nuts. tons of people showed up for this parade/rally.

 

[Cawbird]

It's wall to wall people down there for the parade. What a day to enjoy for Hawks fans!!!!!!!

 

[Cawbird]

Can someone clarify which players are definite free agents now and which ones that Hawks may definitely lose? I was on the Blackhawks website, and it was showing that Buff and Sharp were under contract for next season.........but a lot of talk is that they won't be able to keep them.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Can someone clarify which players are definite free agents now and which ones that Hawks may definitely lose? I was on the Blackhawks website, and it was showing that Buff and Sharp were under contract for next season.........but a lot of talk is that they won't be able to keep them.

Kane, Toews, and Keith all get big raises next year so the Hawks will be way over the cap if they keep everyone. they'll need to trade players to get back under the cap.the most likely players to be moved are probably Byfuglien and Versteeg.

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?tea...amp;season=0910

free agents are:

RFA

Ladd

Eager

Fraser

Bickell

Hjalmarsson

Hendry

Niemi

UFA

Madden

Burish

Johnsson

Boynton

 

[Limp Ditka]

Can someone clarify which players are definite free agents now and which ones that Hawks may definitely lose? I was on the Blackhawks website, and it was showing that Buff and Sharp were under contract for next season.........but a lot of talk is that they won't be able to keep them.

Kane, Toews, and Keith all get big raises next year so the Hawks will be way over the cap if they keep everyone. they'll need to trade players to get back under the cap.the most likely players to be moved are probably Byfuglien and Versteeg.

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?tea...amp;season=0910

free agents are:

RFA

Ladd

Eager

Fraser

Bickell

Hjalmarsson

Hendry

UFA

Madden

Burish

Johnsson

Boynton

Niemi belongs on the RFA list, doesn't he?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Niemi belongs on the RFA list, doesn't he?

yeah, correct. he'll be getting a nice raise as well.

 

[Christo]

Wow

 

[Cawbird]

Thanks for the great information and stats.

Watching the parade on TV is amazing right now. They have completely filled the streets behind the last bus and are following the parade right over to the rally site.

They just said that there is an estimated 150,000-200,000 fans just by Michigan and Wacker alone right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't this city knows...or better yet cares......that the Crosstown series between the Cubs/Sox begins today.

LET'S GO HAWKS.....LET'S GO HAWKS........LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!

 

[Statcruncher]

Locked up through at least 2012:

Forwards

Hossa (2020)

Kane (2014)

Bolland (2013)

Toews (2014)

Defensemen

Campbell (2015)

Keith (2021)

Goalie

None

From my armchair point of view Niemi and Seabrook are must signs. I hate to see Buff and Versteeg go but I don't see how they can keep them. Unless they expect significant raises I'd also like to see Ladd, Kopecky, and Hjalmarsson stick around. I don't follow prospects so I don't what's in the pipeline, but I have a feeling that will be the key to the Blackhawks' success the next few years or so. Getting quality playing time out of young (inexpensive) up and comers is exactly what's need to fill in around the core of talent.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Don't know who else saw it, but a officer went down in crowd behid the bus. When the officer on the ATV behind her saw it he paniced and just ran over like 2-3 people to get to the office on the ground.

 

[otello]

thats a great website

 

[ditka311]

downtown is nuts. tons of people showed up for this parade/rally.

I was on the 6 something AM train this morning for my morning commute and it was already full of high schoolers going to the rally. I was kind of surprised by that but it was cool to see. I expect the train home may be full of drunk Sox/Cubs fans . I just got back and it was really hot and uncomfortable but it was cool to get a picture of Kane raising the Cup. Glad I took an early lunch for that.

 

[otello]

These guys are having some fun on the parade route. Kane just slammed a beer while on camera on Channel 5, after opening the can with his mouth.

 

[ditka311]

Thanks for the great information and stats.Watching the parade on TV is amazing right now. They have completely filled the streets behind the last bus and are following the parade right over to the rally site.They just said that there is an estimated 150,000-200,000 fans just by Michigan and Wacker alone right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I don't this city knows...or better yet cares......that the Crosstown series between the Cubs/Sox begins today.LET'S GO HAWKS.....LET'S GO HAWKS........LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!

Last estimate I heard was 750,000 total but that was on sports radio so take it for what it's worth. It wouldn't surprise me. Washington/Wacker was ridiculously packed and that is only one of a bunch of places to see the parade and doesn't include the rally.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

These guys are having some fun on the parade route. Kane just slammed a beer while on camera on Channel 5, after opening the can with his mouth.

you can take the kid out of South Buffalo but can't take South Buffalo out of the kid.he also said earlier that he took a call from the president and called Obama a "Chicago-born kid".

 

[otello]

I could go for some Duff's wings right now, now that you mention Buffalo.

 

[Limp Ditka]

OK, this rules

 

[Statcruncher]

These guys are having some fun on the parade route. Kane just slammed a beer while on camera on Channel 5, after opening the can with his mouth.

McGuire: "Be on your best behavior at the parade."Kane: "Not a chance, not a chance.''

 

[ditka311]

OK, this rules

 

[Limp Ditka]

OK, this rules

I'm all good with Eddie O, but how isn't Pat Foley doing this?

 

[Limp Ditka]

Eddie O bustin on Stan Mikita's pants

 

[otello]

What belt does Buff have?

 

[Limp Ditka]

Hey Versteeg, don't quit your day job.