STURM UND DRANG: The Trade Deadline
These are strange times for the Chicago Blackhawks. Not only are they scoring goals in buckets every night while playing stifling defense, they are also 10 points ahead of the Nashville Predators for the Central Division lead. At this point, the only reason to bother with the standings until after the Olympics is if worrying about seedings at the halfway point gets you all tingly. There are some points that are beyond dispute:
- The Chicago Blackhawks need to shed a significant amount of salary between now and Opening Night for the 2010-11 season
- The Chicago Blackhawks are genuine Stanley Cup contenders
- There are players who have contracts expiring at the end of the season, and some of these players are very good.
So, naturally, any top-tier player with an expiring contract will get his name thrown into any trade speculation involving the Blackhawks. For the purposes of not wanting ESPN Insider to poach any more of our stuff, and not wanting to be bothered telling people to calm down, we won't bother suggesting which Blackhawks players should be traded.
Oh, and one other reason. The Blackhawks don't need to make any trades.
All that stuff about them being Cup contenders, and running away with the Central Division? Why would you go out of your way to screw with what obviously works? Getting a superstar-caliber player would involve moving so many players that you'd basically undergo a rebuilding in the middle of a season where everything's already going right.
The two names that keep getting bandied about are Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer. It bears mentioning that both these men are their respective teams' Captain.
Kovalchuk is one of the most electrifying players in the NHL. He has the misfortune to receive his mail in Atlanta, where one NHL franchise has already failed, and the Trashers are coding. He's had a decent linemate here and there in his career, including the Hawks' Marian Hossa. However, he's never skated on a line that has featured a real playmaker. Imagine for just a second, his skating on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
OK, done? Now then...one of the big reasons for the Hawks' success this season has been the team's commitment to their responsibilities in the defensive zone. Whatever awards and accolades may come Kovy's way, you can rest assured the Selke Trophy isn't among them. You might argue that he really doesn't need to hold up his end since he's an elite scorer. It's true, he's in the Top Ten in NHL scoring, currently ranked #9. Know what else is true? The guy ranked #6 in scoring has managed to make a quantum leap in his defensive game this season...#88 in your program.
Niedermayer. Another interesting case. A veteran defenseman, leader, name on the Cup, all that. In fact, our friend Al Cimaglia talked about him on our Puckcast, and wrote a piece over at his place about the possibility of the Hawks' acquiring him. As with Kovalchuk, what would he really add? Leadership? Would you take the "A" off Dunc Norris'™ sweater in order to give it to Niedermayer? Besides, where would you skate him? Second pair? That might not be the best idea, since you can draw a direct correlation to Niklas Hjalmarsson joining Brian Campbell on the ice and Campbell skating like a $7 million defenseman. So you'd have to give up 2 or 3 guys in order to get a "veteran leader" who would skate 10-12 minutes a night.
And how much Stanley Cup leadership do they really need? You've got 3 Cup-winning players already (Madden, Ladd, and, yes, Kopecky), Hossa was in the Finals the last two years, and pretty much everyone else skated to the Western Conference Finals last season together. This isn't a batch of playoff virgins.
It ain't broke. It don't need fixing.
Categories: Sturm Und Drang, Chicago Blackhawks
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks Scott Niedermayer Ilya Kovalchuk Trade Deadline
Agreed, all this team needs is Georges Laraque.
Reply to this
Correction: George Parros
Reply to this
I'll settle for a mustache of any kind.
Reply to this
Unless there's injury, this team doesn't need to add a piece. Versteeg, Barker, Sharp, Byfuglien are all very tradeable pieces this summer. See how they finish out the season, pick and choose where you want salary relief, then stock up on a bounty of young players and draft picks. How about keeping this thing of ours going for the next decade?
Reply to this
Oh and also, dis team needs one of dem guys like Bob Proberts to protect Kaner because he's a sissy and not too tough for dis city.
Reply to this
An astute and acute assessment of the Hawkey landscape, gentlemen.
Ya know, I watched both the Hawks-Bruins and Wings-Kings last night, and the same thought that has occurred to hockey observers smarter than I am (which is basically everybody), occurred again.
That is, in their own zone, the Hawks have weaknesses.
Under pressure, Chicago will turnover the puck and will give the opposition rather high quality scoring chances.
Not often, as the Hawks do have the puck most of the time.
But enough to make us all reach for another swig of Stoli Silver.
So...taking a feather from the Wings' bonnet, and examining their past signings and trade deadline moves, the conclusion is that can never have too much veteran defense.
The Wings added Brian Rafalski for the 07-08 season and the underrated Brad Stuart at the trade deadline that year.
Result? Cup.
We detect the Scotty influence in those two successful strategems.
As it appears Cameron Barker may be expendable, would it not be reasonable to think StanBow is scoping out a savvy (and possibly robust) veteran blueliner?
A certain Pavel Kubina comes to mind, he of Cup win in Tampa, and who may be available (especially if the Thrash throw money at Kovalchuk, but even if they don't, and especially if ATL continues to slide).
There are other crafty crunchers out there, who would help spell the massive minutes DunkinSeabs now log; while shoring up the back end of the back end.
And at less than designer prices.
That said, if you are going top drawer, Scott Niedermayer (paired with anybody on Hawk D) works for me. Nieds fills a variety of needs, and plays well with others, and "is strong in all situations" as Q is wont to say.
Bob Murray would probably be very happy to have Barks as a Duck. He might ask for Skille too, but whatever.
Remember, the Red Wings will likely finish 7th or 8th and so, a likely first round opponent.
And watching them do their '300' impression last night against the Kings? Impressive to say the least.
So forget Mahovlichuk. The Hawks need the best d-vet they can get.
Reply to this
Back to Niedermayer - it would take more than Barker to squeeze him under the Hawks' cap. Any move they make has to be dollar-for-dollar.
Reply to this
Hey Fork, what do I know?
Just tossin' the trade football here.
Who do you think The BowMan should target?
Reply to this
Barring injuries, they should stand pat.
They will make two acquisitions in the next 6 weeks - Dave Bolland and Adam Burish.
Reply to this
I got one name for you...Kyle Beach.
Reply to this
I've got two words for you...next year.
Reply to this
Oh come on, he could make a Roenick-like impact in the playoffs.
Reply to this
I like your thinking, Mr. Rizz.
Reply to this
The Hawks currently have 14 forwards when you include Bolland & Burish. Beach makes 15.
When they move contracts after the season, Beach (and Bickell) will be full-time Blackhawks next season.
Reply to this
Beach N' Bickell...works fer me.
Reply to this
That depth would allow them to trade a couple of salaries for a guy like Kolvachuk. Not necessarily recommending it, but the next 12-15 games will determine if Junior makes a deal or not.
Reply to this
The complete buy-in the team has for two-way play would be jeopardized by picking up a one-dimensional player like Kovalchuk.
This all being said, one injury to a key player is a game-changer.
Reply to this
My HawkeyFriend Mister Lift, while I tend to agree with you, I still sense that Guru Scotty is scouting and scouring the 'scape for another smart bird to add to the flock.
A certain Dennis Seidenberg has caught my attention on occasion. Value-priced responsible, experienced, mobile big-minute defense person.
Works well against speedy and annoying forwards dressed in red.
Reply to this
I can't imagine them doing much at the deadline. I think they will roll the dice with what they have an re-evaluate in the offseason.
Reply to this
The notion of signing a 'goonsmen' bothers me.
Take a wild guess at who the least penalized teams were the last two years?
Reply to this
Gentlemen, I believe we agree Stan Bowman may be referred to at the trade deadline as 'Stan Pat'.
Still, Madame Zara, whose crystal ball sees all, suggests a veteran d-man will join Les Hawques.
Reply to this
This entire concept of getting an enforcer, along with the BS in Rozner's column today, is moot.
Having an enforcer or playing an extrememly physical brand of hockey to win a championship....is dead.
It's dead.
Please get over it.
As much as you guys love posting clips of fights (and I love them) it doesn't mean anything more.
Anaheim won the cup three years ago playing an old style that won't win again.
It just won't.
The two teams that tried to rough up the Hawks in the playoffs last year were Calgary and Vancouver. Both lost.
The one team that focused on challenging the Hawks on crossing the blueline, the team that was willing to be physical but not stupid (that means getting majors for stupid fights), the team that had more skill (last year)...they WON their series against the Blackhawks.
And after two years of success by the two most skilled teams in the NHL (followed by the recent surges of Washington), people still want some goon to skate around looking like Tiger F'n Williams.
People, it's over.
The death started with the new rules, and now GM's from all over the league have adapted.
It seems to me the only ones that haven't are stubborn....and they'll be stuck trying to muck it up against teams that skate faster, control the puck more, and have smarter defenseman.
If you guys want the Blackhawks to try to win the 1995 Stanley Cup, be my guest.
But the closest thing the Hawks needed to get to a grinder was the signing of John Madden. I said at the time it was the biggest signing of the off-season.
And when it comes to playoff time, you'll see why.
It comes down to grit in the corners...winning the stick game...getting in front of the net...sliding on the ice to defend a shot....
These tough aspects above are still and always will be a part of the game.
But the equation that fists equals team toughness is moot.
When you can't skate and you try to rough up talent...you know who you become: The St. Louis Blues.
This team is going for a cup. It has the players to do so. I hope Stan doesn't lose it and feel that the winners of 15 years gone by are the winners of today.
Reply to this
@JD> I think the comments here regarding tough guys are more of the laconic variety (the comments that is).
But I leave the Laconic Ones to confirm or deny their intent.
For me, the Hawk issue is turnovers, not toughness.
Reply to this
Ah, I think JD is more mad at Barry Rozner and his idiotic suggestions than anything else. I guess now that the Chris Chelios as captain and mentor for the team ship has sailed, Roz had to find a new drum to beat.
Reply to this
I'd like to see Roz come out in favor of eating glass.
Reply to this
The roz will start demanding Neidermeyer and Marmalard.
Also he will say the reason why the hawks can't win the stanley cup is because they don't have a Heatley, Thornton, Marleau line and the only reason they don't is because Trent Yawney is now in San Jose.
Reply to this