Versteeg, Byfuglien return to lineup
We may have got a peek at coach Joel Quenneville’s opening day roster in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 loss to the Zurich Lions on Tuesday.
Kris Versteeg (upper body) and Dustin Byfuglien (groin) returned to the lineup for the final preseason game, although Versteeg skated mostly on the fourth line.
Quenneville was allowed to dress 21 players, including goalies Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi.
Here’s how the lines and defense pairings broke down:
Brouwer-Toews-Kane
Ladd-Bolland-Sharp
Eager-Kopecky-Byfuglien
Versteeg-Fraser-Skille/Smolenak
Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Campbell
Barker-Sopel
Sitting out Tuesday’s game were Evan Brophey, Jake Dowell, Rob Klinkhammer, Jordan Hendry, Aaron Johnson and Corey Crawford.
The Hawks must reduce their roster to a maximum of 23 before Friday’s regular season opener against Florida in Helsinki.
In today's Sun-Times there is an article by Len Ziehm about the "Battle to Backup Huet". But here's the weird part, he talks about Stan Bowman determining the final roster.
Really?
I thought the coach did this sort of thing.
Len Ziehm also said the other day that the Hawks face the coming year with the "big three" coming into UNRESTRICTED free agency. Len Ziehm does not understand much about this team. Come on- you're paid by the citys second biggest paper to write about the Hawks and you don't know the difference between restricted and unrestricted or a basic understanding of the cap issues? Disappointing for sure. Tim S. of course is the undisputed champ of Hawks journalists in this city.
I think this is a non-issue because the team that picks him will have to have decided their back-up is getting launched and will be unclaimed in the wavier draft. So a team has to drop their present back-up, kind of a risk, and Crawford is their man as back up. Then there is a competent back up there any team (Hawks) can pick up for half salary.
Johnson the same. I really do not think Henry is better, but Cap friendlier.
We will see but not an issue...
One day after being told he had MADE THE TEAM, Chris Bourque was placed on waivers by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday because of salary cap concerns.
Salary Cap Concerns Force Waiving of Bourque....HE WAS PICKED UP BY PITTSBURGH on waviers!
Bourque likely wouldn't have been waived had the Capitals managed to move Michael Nylander as the team had hoped. Despite ongoing attempts, however, the Capitals have been unable to secure a deal to transfer the 36-year-old center to a team outside of the NHL and thus must absorb his $4.875-million cap hit.
Because Nylander was not waived, it's expected he will be on the opening night roster by 3 p.m. Wednesday, at which time teams must cut down to a maximum of 23 players and be under the salary cap ceiling of $56.8 million.
http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=500516&navid=DL|CHI|home
No way!!
Crawford and Neimi let in 2 combined against Davos, which was a much weaker team.. Why not ask why Barker didn't go harder on the Lion player coming for the rebound.. or why Barker just didn't clear that puck out of there.
It was one of "those" games and one of "those" goals..
I have faith in Huet and Niemi has definitely won the backup position
So the hawks got beat. And gave up breakaways and a penalty shot. Club footed defencemen with a dose of jet lag on an olympic surface is a recipe for disaster. And Huet gave up a soft rebound and couldn't find it? No kidding, get used to it. But all that said, if Huet gives up 2 goals a game I will consider it a good year for him, no matter how ridiculous he looks giving them up. We all know the hawks have to score more than two a game to win anyway. So this loss is no disaster. The real recipe for disaster is jet lag, club foot dmen, and the first 8 regular season games in the first 15 days and then an olympic year schedule.
If the Hawks go far and Huet finishes the season with a 2.00 GAA as the #1, then I would think it would be more than a good year for him. With a GAA like that you're probably talking Vezina as last years winner (Thomas) had a 2.10.
All goalies give up soft goals and some dont have perfect form, but if they and the team win who cares? Last year at this time everyone wanted Khabby gone why, because he couldnt stop a beach ball for 3-years, then a month later he was Khabby the magnificent.
Hawksfan
You're right, 2.00 GAA is Vezina stuff. That was stupid. (it was early) My point was supposed to be that anytime Huet allows 2 goals in a game, no matter how ugly they are, the hawks should win the game. I do feel that the hawks are going to need to average at least 4 goals a game to win on a consistent basis with this guy. A short side high goal from an angle is a bad goal. Looking right for a rebound that went left is a gimme. Facing the goal judge (or at least where they used to be) at any time for any reason is bad goaltending. Huet is famous for all of this and more. When he spins around on his knees and faces backwards I LMAO. But if the hawks can not get demoralized after a softie, and even learn to laugh knowing that they can score how many ever they need to win, then what the heck. But in a tight playoff series, Huet will never inspire confidence. And if an average or soft goaltender is all you need to win, then 5.5 million for a goalie like that is a waste of money. I love how all the Huet guys defend him by saying "he's not as bad as you think". For 5.5 a year, I would want a difference making goaltender in a positive way, not someone who just might do.
Here we go again. Can't even wait for the regular season to start. I thought Huet looked solid yesterday, especially in the 3rd. Could've been worse than 2-1 with the chances the Hawks were giving up while trying to get that tying goal.
Hye 6628, don't we have some sort of bet going for this season? You said the Hawks can't finish higher than 8th with Huet in net.
Hey 313, how ya doin. Huet plays 50+ games and the hawks finish higher than 8th place, you win. Something like pizza or rib dinner, or suggest something. I lose & I'm good for it.
If he plays 50+, they will finish higher than 8th.
To add to hawkfan27's comment the hawks were horrible defensively during Khabby's three years fighting off beach balls and therefore the quality offensive opportunities by the opposition resulted in poor numbers for a qreat goalie. Last year the Hawks improved greatly in their own end and Khabby got more support than ever. For example, can you imagine Khabby's numbers if he played for Detroit the last three years.. Osgood is a very average goalie and on paper he looks like another Marty Brodeur. The Hawks defense is not too bad but Barky and Soupy need to be a little more disciplined when they decide to pinch in, seems like they gamble a little too much. This is just my opinion but I feel it is a fair one.
On every point.
But I think where we disagree is you and a few others want to say Huet is the problem. He's not. And I don't care if Pierre Maguire says he is.
The lack of defensive discipline, inability to get the puck deep (just dump it in when you're 1 on 4 for f---'s sake!) by some of the forwards and two defensemen in particular was the problem in the WCF last year. And it was the problem against Zurich.
When you're giving up odd man rushes and breakaways because your defensemen are way too far up ice with no forward rotation, it doesn't matter who your goalie is. Even great goalies chances of success go way, way down. See game 2 of the WCF. See Zurich game.
he had tons of experience including obviously a cup ring and made many huge, key saves that bailed out a young defense & forwards throughout the year, & ultimately helped them get home ice for the playoffs, which turned out to be decisive in the first two series.
a young team especially feeds off their goaltending - and i'm sure khabi also appreciated the offensive support he finally got after 3 long years of knowing that giving up 2 in a game coule be a problem & 3 an almost sure loss.
i don't see the hawks changing their game with khabi's departure - they are trying to emulate detroit's puck possession game but unfortunately are nowhere near as practiced at it. the hawks (as many teams) are more vulnerable to a strong forecheck, especially slower guys like barker & obviously sopel. campbell had a hard time adjusting to different D partners, but should be better this year, imo, tho even keith & seabrook were caught sometimes if they tried to do too much or waited too long.
that means that huet is going to have to be prepared to make the big stop to bail out his teamates like khabi did - if he doesn't, it is going to suck the life out of these young guys who are then going to be forced to expend more energy in the defensive zone, which isn't going to be nearly as much fun (or financially rewarding) for them.
huet still has a lot to prove even tho he is the undisputed #1 & the margin for error is smaller than many people think. just like confidence often feeds on itself, lack of confidence can do the same...and if the team loses or lacks confidence in huet, they are not going to go very far.
so just like washington, philly, san jose & montreal, the hawks chances of going really deep are going to come down to as yet unproven goaltending.
I can't speak for everyone else, but my main concerns about Huet are:
1. The weak goals. They happen far too often, and happen at the strangest time. He'll make a ridiculous save, and then give up some crazy goal out of no where. It's maddening.
2. Drop to the knees, and flop his arms. Exposes the whole top half of the net and gets beat on long shots. See game 4 of the WCF. When he does give up a goal, it's always up high. It seems to me he moves like a puppet. Covers the net below very well, but he gets smoked up top....and the WHOLE league knows it. Every national broadcast they hammer this home.
3. Lastly, if the idea is to improve on last season, and if everyone expects a SCF appearance, then how can you NOT be worried about the fact the guy has never won a playoff series? Maybe the appearances were low, but Khabibulin stole game 1 and 2 vs Calgary and if he would have wilted....the Hawks would have been gone in the 1st round. Can we assume that Huet will do this? The first 10 minutes of game 1 vs Calgary, Bulin stood tall. Granted, he wore down later on....but you can't discount the impact he made. We need the same from Huet.
Look, I hope he shines. I hope he steps up, and carries this team, and proves every hater wrong. However, I am just concerned that if he implodes, who can step in? Niemi may be athletic but he's unproven. Crawford? Guys plays very well in 2007, yet never gets a chance.
The regular season means nothing to me. Get in, be healthy, get home ice advantage, contend for the division. My expectations are to make a run for the cup. That's where al lthese guys SHOULD be judged.
No doubt the Hawks met a goalie playing a strong game. Could they have played harder and smarter.... probably. Did this game mean as much to them as it did to Zurich... not a chance. The Lions wanted it more, played a great team game and got great goaltending. Huet played OK and the Hawks did get their scoring chances. These last couple games in Europe are hardly a good measuring stick for the teams and these players. These games are just a chance for the Hawks to get used to the ice surface. The real test starts Friday and I still think the smart money is on the Hawks over Florida.
The Hawks team that hits the ice on Friday is way ahead of where they started out last season. They have confidence, they have a good coach and they know they have the ability to score a lot and win. Last year at this time it was a dream to imagine the Hawks sneaking back into the playoffs. Savard, as good of a man as he is, was over his head. The team was trying to do anything to move their #1 goalie and a lot of the players were unproven.
We have a much better idea of what we'll see from most of the players and it's something to be excited about. Lets enjoy the fact that we can truly start this season optimistic and with higher expectations because they are reasonable and not some fantasy of Tuomo Ruutu becoming the next Forsberg. P.S. I hope everyone remembers when Tuomo was supposed to be "The best player not in the NHL"...
especially if Huet & Hossa (who are essentially replacing Khabi & Havlat) don't respond to the pressure of higher expectations for the team. They are certainly going to get their share of the media & fan focus & attention whether they want it or not.
Also not sure what you are trying to suggest about ruutu, but knocking him for not single-handedly turning the inept hawks into the colorado avalanche of the mid 90s to 2000's seems a bit rich. the goal scored in the 2004 World Cup Championship game to tie Canada 2-2, before he suffered his injury woes, was world class that even forsberg would have been proud of.
his first full season with carolina after leaving the dysfunctional hawks was the best in his career, got him his first taste of the playoffs and a new 3 yr deal that will pay him 4.4M in the last yr of the deal - not forsberg numbers, but he's finally in an environment where he can focus on playing the game without trying to carry an entire dysfunctional organization on his back. he was unfairly knocked in chicago, like so many others that didn't lift the team out of its 10 year funk outside the playoffs.
as to what the ice size will be for the Florida games.
I guess it will probably be wider also,right?
I think that the Swiss games had the Hawks taking advantage of the space, skating stickhandling and passing a whole lot more than necessary. There was far more lateral side to side movement than attack-they were in a keep away match and there was not much seriousness to attack the net, or at least put yourself in position to receive and shoot on goal.
I don't know if they were brain cramp and tired or just not serious and adjusted and intent to win. Toews was. The wider ice could have made guys tentative, but it is nice to lose when there are no standings, like a do over.
I am very excited about teh fact there will be a revolving door with Rockford and that the injuries make the team weak now, but stringer when the real season starts in April.
>I would bet that John Madden is part of the opening day roster
I'll be interested to see how Quenneville uses that line this season. Sort of figured we'd see Byfuglien on a different line from Eager, but what do I know.
Good thing the season starts on friday, losing today does not look good and thankfully it was just an exhibition game. Anyone know what went wrong today??
I saw the last ten minutes. It looked like their goalie was having a stong game. I didn't see the goals Huet gave up but he did stop a penalty shot with about two minutes left. If I had to venture a guess I would say the Hawks may have taken them a little too lightly. This could be a good learning experience for the Hawks. They are good but if they don't bring their 'A' game any team can beat them.
Every forward on this team thinks he is Patrick Kane. Too much 1-on-2, 1-on-3, 1-on-4, Zurich's defense played like Detroit and pushed everything wide, guys don't know when to dump the puck or peel off and look for a trailer. Our defense, especially Barker, got caught up ice way too much, they had odd man breaks and breakaways the whole game, guys left uncovered in the defensive zone.
The second goal was partially Huet's fault because he failed to control a rebound, but a totally uncovered Zurich player came in untouched and slammed it by him before he really had a chance to react. The first goal he got deked by a great move on a breakaway, that lots of goalies get beat on. He was not great, but he wasn't terrible. When you give up 2 goals under that kind of pressure, you deserve to win.
The real problem to me is a lack of discipline and smart puck decisions by: Versteeg, Barker, Skille, and to a lesser degree Campbell and Bolland. It was like watching Radim Vrbata. On every line. Kane, Toews, Barker and Sharp were great. Buff was good. Whole team looked tired I thought.
I hope this team doesn't start to try to "outskill" everyone they play. I agree. It's maddening when guys like Dave Bolland try to deke everyone and get away from what makes them successful. I have yet to see him walk anyone at the NHL level that gives him the confidence to do this.
Hopefully, this serves as a stern warning that this team really needs to start picking it up. Toews was critical of them before leaving for Europe, and apparently it still hasn't taken effect. Maybe they are disinterested in the preseason, but that better change quickly.
I'm not a huge Huet backer, but when you let in 2 goals, you deserve to win. It's that simple. 3 or more...that's a different animal. We are talking regular season only. However, I think the lack of a proven back up is going to hurt this team along the way. Hawks got a lot of points last year, because they could roll out 2 #1 goalies, and didn't skip a beat when Bulin went down wth his groin issues. Can we say the same this year? No. Huet has got to bring it, and eliminate the soft goals. I will pull every hair out of my head, if I have to sit there and watch him flop down, and get smoked over and over again high glove or blocker. That can't happen.
I hope these contract extensions either get done quickly, or go behind closed doors. It's only going to be a distraction. Only a matter of time before Kane, Toews, or Keith get distracted from it.
Bottom line is that the cute/honeymoon time is over. The marketing BS, the ads, the gimmicks all won't work if this team doesn't live up to expectations. Hang a banner in the UC for the first time since arriving. Start with the division and move on from there.............
Coach Q will deal with all this individual play, just give him a little time to straighten out the bad habits. I can see Barker being moved if he does not figure it out soon. On the other hand when and if he ever figures it out he will be a stud dman and might be worth the wait.