Cullen would be a nice fit
In Sunday's paper, I wrote about the Blackhawks possibly having an interest in Carolina Hurricanes center Matt Cullen as a replacement for Dave Bolland.
Who knows if this will happen, but the 32-year-old Cullen would be a nice fit playing on the second line.
Things are going from bad to worse in Carolina, where the Hurricanes were off to a 2-12-4 start going into Sunday games, and changes are believed to be coming.
Forget this year's stats (3 goals, 4 assists, minus-9) - Cullen is a responsible player with good offensive upside and does not come with a long-term contract.
Cullen has a $2.875 million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Before this year, Cullen averaged 19 goals and 45 points over the four previous seasons and was a plus player each year.
The Hawks could put Bolland on long-term inured reserve and get some salary cap relief to add a player such as Cullen. Bolland currently is on injured reserve following back surgery and expected to miss 3-4 months.
It's becoming clear the Hawks don't think Andrew Ebbett is the long-term answer at center on the second line. He played only eight minutes there against Toronto on Friday after starting the game between Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg.
Tomas Kopecky got a lot of Ebbett's shifts Friday. Versteeg is better at wing than center and so is Patrick Sharp.
Which leaves the Hawks looking for a center.
What might it take to get Cullen? It's tough to say because Carolina needs a lot of help. If it's a defenseman the Hurricanes want, let's put it this way: The only three Hawks untouchables are Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Whitney can play center and for the short one year term he would special!
Ecklund over on the Hockeybuzz site said the Hawks are interested more in Dominic Moore of the Florida Panthers than Cullen.
If you want to deal with Carolina bring back Ruutuu or Samsonov.
I'm not interested in picking up what ever pieces the dying Hurricane casts off. As far as I'm concerned, they have no assets available. We came from behind to beat the Sharks w/o Bolland, Versteeg, and Hossa (and you too, Burish); Bickell got to show some grit, even Hendry looked energetic (not that I want him playing FW all the time).
If the right guy is available, I look into it. But I'd rather see what Robert Lang was doing before calling Cullen. I just have a bad feeling about taking castoffs from sinking ships. Maybe it's watching the White Sox attempt to turn around too many Royals.
fits better for me too.
Cullen might be a tad better defensively, but I can't see him worth anything but a Michael Blunden-type minor pro whose promise diminished as the shoulders gave way.
I just don't see the Hawks paying a roster player or good prospect for him.
Cullen's production, Tim, was tied to his linemates when he scored those totals.
Think about it...if there IS a need, in other words Bolland WILL NOT be back foe the playoff, then you wait and get a Lang for the rest of the year, with little Cap impact.
I don't think Lil Scotty wants his SECOND TRADE to be a bad one.
They are a top 8 team and are talking to other GMs...but so are lots of teams.
I don't thing there will be any dire need and hasty impulse shopping for a Cullen.
The only way we could move Campbell to Carolina would be in a monster deal. We probably would have to take Brindamour back with Cullen. Something like Campbell, Fraser, Bickell for Cullen, Brindamour, Alberts. The money comes out about even and both Cullen and Alberts are UFA at years end. Plus Brindamour's contract is much worse then Campbell's value wise.
so you would strip your team of their established fourth line centreman, and basically give away one of the NHL biggest need commodity, a rush defenseman for two forwards who DON'T FIT in YOUR FUTURE Plans and a number six defensman on a weak club?
Rethink this one, my friend.
First Fraser is a nice player but extremely replaceable. He played in what 1 or 2 games in the playoffs last year? Would I think twice about moving him in a deal? Not for a second. In this "deal" Brindamour would easily replace him.
I didn't start the Campbell to Carolina thought. I was merely pointing out what the deal would have to look like because Carolina has some cap room but not a lot and could fill a need for us. Going forward we all know that we are going to have cap issues. Personally, I would rather sacrifice Campbell then to see players like Hjalmarsson, Keith, or others on another team. I just don't think Campbell's value is near Keith, Seabrook, or Hjalmarsson's (even without Campbell's contract). You never know who becomes available in the future if you have the cap room. If Campbell was that desirable then there would be plenty of teams trying to take him off our hands.
it is pretty clear that both Brindamour and Cullen play the roles or the games that they can step in for him.
Absolutely if there was a comer on the farm but there is NO one who can instinctive play that 4th line centre or the PK as well as he does. Not fast. No thinking involved in his game, he just KNOWS where he is to go, what he is to do.
and to think that either Cullen or Brindamour can play physical centre role day in and out is...a bit of a stretch.
I'll just agree to disagree. I agree that Fraser is a low-maintenance role player. He does his job just fine but I also think we have other guys that can do it, Dowell being one. We didn't need Fraser in the playoffs except when Kane was sick. Cullen wouldn't fit the physical center role but that isn't why the Hawks are looking at him. He would be a replacement for Bolland until Bolland is back. He fits that role just fine and Brindamour fits the 4th line role at this point in his career.
would be a terrible trade
I agree that potential wise we would get the short end but unfortunately that is necessary given Campbell's contract. I think it would be worse to lose someone like Keith, Hjalmarsson, or even Ladd because of Campbell's contract. That is how we need to look at trading Campbell. It isn't really what Campbell gives us but more of what we are going to lose. Is it better to have Campbell for our PP or have Keith/Seabrook/Hjalmarsson for every other part of the game? I am not saying Campbell isn't a good offensive player or we don't need him. Personally I am not a fan of his because I rather have guys that can play a more well rounded game.
I didn't mean this as an idea but more of what the deal would need to look like if Campbell were to be included in the deal.
Gee, always interesting to see how some fans give up the ship halfway through the game...don't they know The Heart Attack Hawks aren't done until the final horn?
;-)
Seabrook spear-guns the Sharks tonight as the Blackhawks battle back...Ladies and Gentlemen, they just beat the West's Best. And that's without Hossa, Burish, Bolland and Versteeg.
Yes, Cristobal Huet WAS better than Eugene Nabokov tonight.
Pretty darn impressive overall.
OK, enough celebration...what's up with Kris Versteeg? He was scratched from the game tonight, but no word as to why...could he be an element in a pending trade?
According to the San Jose announcers (had to watch their coverage) Versteeg has the ever-popular "upper body injury." Guess that fits as Tim noted he didn't practice Sat.
I agree with those who say Madden was #1 star last night. A goal, 9-0 on face offs, and a couple of those were large.
According to the post game notes on NHL.com
Blackhawks LW Kris Versteeg sat out with an undisclosed injury sustained Friday against Toronto
I have to admit, the Hawks PP was looking good tonight. They probably would have put one or two in on the PP with a couple more chances. They moved the puck around well and Nabokov had to stay sharp.
How about that Troy Brouwer, he is playing some great hockey. Lately he seems to have a scoring touch that he hasn't found before at the NHL level. He is redirecting a lot of pucks on net and playing very physical.
Yes, Brouwer has turned out to be a reliable power-type forward. He has improved over last year and has some toughness. He runs over people sometimes! He is the soldier-type player while the scorers get the glory. It is tough to win a cup w/o the soldiers!!!
Since the Habs took Gomez's inflated deal anythiung is possible.
Did you switch to the Colts-Patriots game? Stick with the Hawks.
The Sharks showed our ass how far we are from being an elite team tonight. Yes you can and should pad your record with 80% of your games at home against sub par teams to start the year, but any advance to the Cup will be going through the bay area this year.
Elite teams have world class talent who scores that goal like Heatley in the first. Who on the Hawks can score that goal? I didn't even see the puck on the the replay.
Elite teams have goalies that win big games like Nabokov. Huet can pad his GAA facing 20 shots a game but when a team like the Sharks can pour the shots on Huet will let up goals.
The answer is Marian Hossa, who can EASILY score goals like Heatley did.
Hawks showed last night they can play with the Western Conference leaders while missing two of their best offensive players, who are also excellent defensive players.
Hawks pass the test!
They are tagged as the leagues best team for a reason, but the Hawks got better as the game went on. Period 1 and 2 the Hawks couldn't get the puck out of their end, but they slowly stole momentum from the Sharks. Heatley has a great shot but that goal wasn't that special. Sharp, Kane, Versteeg Brouwer, Toews have all scored goals like that in the past, so I don't know what your point is.
I will shut up the rest of the year. Great win for the Hawks.
No offense, but weren't you the guy that recently said the Hawks will not make the playoffs?
Hawks have been awesome the past week but are still only 4 points ahead of the #9 team in the conference while playing 75% of our games at home.
There are so many improved teams in the West breathing down our neck that a few bad road trips or another key injury means the #9 seed is not impossible.
You're saying we still got a shot?
You bash and bash all the time.. Nothing is ever good enough for ya.. lighten up.. you'll live longer...lol
It was great that the managed to turn the game around.
your comment is amusing but not so for actual Shark fans I suspect, they do this EVERY year, great regular season team and then they go golfing asap. If this is as tough as it gets in the bay area next spring, the Hawks are a lock for the finals.
...the game I am watching is tied 3 -3 with nine minutes left.
Agreed Huet botched on the Heatley goal and the next one and it is against teams like SJ the goalie has to stop big shots.
After you deify Nabokov, he missed (so Far) on the same number of shots as our "starter."
Come from behind.
"Elite teams have goalies that win big games like Nabokov."
Not this team my Hawk brother...hawks win!
Skille and a 3rd rounder in '10 for Cullen
you think Carolina would do it?
(Bolland would probably need to be on LTIR for this to work)
unless the draft pick is in the terrible third round of the 2010, the worst draft in the last dozen....as it will be like a fourth rounder.
UNLESS YOU ARE GETTING ERIC STAAL IN RETURN, NO WAY DO YOU TRADE BRIAN CAMPBELL, YOU LOSE CAMPBELL AND YOUR TEAM BECOMES 25% WEAKER, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT TO YOU BUT MAYBE TIM COULD! ALL OF US AMATUER GM,S NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, STOP WITH THE CAMPBELL TRADE TALK(ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF THE STEP AND FETCHES SOME FANS ARE TALKING ABOUT!) CULLEN AND CORVO WOULD BE GREAT BUT NOT FOR FRICKEN CAMPBELL! AND LET TIM EXPLAIN IT!
Why are you yelling?
Why do you ask? lol
sthsnc you hit the nail on the head. If some team took him, what would they be thinking about their payroll long term -- even if we gave them some dollars? Can Campbell block any trade, as a post mentioned? Quenneville isn't getting maximum out of Campbell, but he's doing enough and the big point is that he is part of this offense from any pair of our defense pairings. That dimension makes our offense so much better. When we are behind, this team has the confidance it can come back, aided by that defense. Other teams do not easily hold us back, although I say Lemaire and NewJersey might. RealWiz has mentioned that we overlook Campbell's full contributions -- and without going into a long explanation, he is so very much correct. Quenneville would do better if he can get more out of Campbell. He has Coffey like feature. Yes, the big three is Seabrook, Keith and Hjalmarsson -- not Campbell. But we can win with Campbell. He gives us that additional offensive threat. We have to hope we can MAXIMIZE Campbell's contributions and MINIMIZE his weak part of his game. Lastly, it is not Campbell that stops us from a long playoff run; it is that the other teams step up with superior talent and that Huet may not be consistently a good enough playoff goalie. Moreover, I'd take most of the other Western Conf goalies over Huet. Gustavsson Tor is going to be a good one, too. Interesting scenario in Boston: Raask emerges: Fernandez is above avg but always inj; but Thomas may be on the Olympic roster! Is anyone available through trade better/upgrade over Huet? Maybe not. Think Wings will go after K Lehntinen from Atl? Pavelec has earned his stay in this league. Big mistake going after expensive Giguere. He has nagging inj last few years and is he a for sure upgrade nowadays?
I agree totally. Soup has improved his game from last regular season, and had a decent playoff. He is fun to watch lug the puck out of his own end! It is TALENT like this that makes the Hawks an elite team! I would worry more about Huet, than anyone else on the roster. Wait til Hoss gets back, and watch the GoalsPerGame rise. We have a decent D, but still not good at clearing the front of our net. Are the Hawks showcasing Huet to maybe trade him? Otherwise, I don't know why Nieme hasn't played more. He has looked decent so far. Boy, Chara would sure look good in red, black and white!!!
was given a NO TRADE clause when he agreed to sign here.
Not sure what the Bruins have to offer. But since they have the Leafs' draft pick, it is the Bruins best interest that the 'Canes are better than the Leafs.
>Two expiring contracts
>Corvo is a right-handed D-man
>Campbell would have to be the centerpiece going to the Canes (plus picks, Skille?)
>No way would I trade any of our young wingers currently playing in a Cullen deal
@Grinder> good to see you here.
I have my doubts Campbell is part of the equation, given the Canes' cap squeeze and Rutherford's fiscal philosophy (not to mention Soupy's NTC).
However, anything is possible.
Barker for Corvo is more logical in my opinion, with a clear win-win for both parties.
>Corvo's toughness, shot and performance in today's game reconfirm his potential value to the Hawks
>Barker has lots of upside for Carolina and no NTC
>such a deal would also reduce Bowman's cap exposure for 2010
A Cullen deal could theoretically some involve young Hawk talent like Skille; Paul Maurice likes fast skating, robust forwards. Chicago has more than a few in their prospect pool.
You can forget him being traded to Carolina anytime soon. I could be mistaken, but I am 99% sure his fat contract came with a no movement clause. The Hawks can't just trade him and they can't demote him to the AHL. Do you think he would want to be shipped to a team going nowhere fast? Brian Campbell and his contract are here to stay until his final year or until the wheels come off and the Hawks start rebuilding the team again.
CHF....Read my suggestion/solution down below and tell me what you think....
Campbell will probably veto most of the available / decent trades that come up anytime soon for him. Once you pull that off, you have to consider what you might be getting in return. Is it players that are overpaid at 3 or 4 million that will be equally hard to move? The concept is good, but I don't think Campbell is going anywhere.
Has made some bonehead plays but has also been steady more than less (think about the games u don't hear his name mentioned due to a bad play). I will say I'm more disappointed about his lack of offense lately and how's he's had no impact on the PP
I heard last night on HNIC that both Toews and Kane are a week away from both signing new contracts. Excellent!
Of course with them signed and Keith and Hjalmersson yet to be signed, some others HAVE to be moved out to make room. The first person to go?
Brian Campbell. His contract is just too much and he just doesn't rack up enough points to justify that contract. Barker pretty much does everything he does(including the cough ups!) at 4 million less.
So how do we trade a 7 million per year player? I gots an idea.
You can't trade him away to another team trying to dump the contract. You just can't. The teams are either pressed against the cap and have no room or they are teams that don't want 7 million piled onto their budget. So the best way is to do it in a two step manner.
First step: Trade him to a team and get two players back that equal that 7 million amount. So maybe you get a forward at 4 million per year plus a defenseman at 3 million a year. As long as its close to the 7 million mark.
Step two: Then you dump those players off on teams for cheapers players or even draft picks. Its a whole lot easier to find a team that wants a 3/4 million a year player than a 7 million per year player.
If 4 million is still too steep, you use step 1 on that 4 mil/yr player and then go to step 2 again.
Just an idea.
MGMT wants to lock up Keith for 13 years!!! GREAT NEWS!!! He is team MVP, IMO! Not as flaky as Soup, and trains hard in the off-season. Kane is playing up to his potential lately, and his stats reflect that. The future looks bright in HawkyTown!!!
As much as I'd like it to happen, I doubt there's another team out there dumber than the Hawks were to take Campbell's salary on for 5 more years, other than something like the Heatley-Campbell rumored deal where both teams swap horrible contracts. It's wishful thinking there's a team out there that would do a 2 for 1 deal for Cambpell, unless they were dumping bad fits. You can't forget they are paying $7M a year for a guy with limitations. That just can't happen in the cap era. They're stuck with him, so the best hope is he get it together and plays to what his strengths are supposed to be, including having an impact on the power play.
Tim, thanks for sharing this. Amid the chatter from ESPN's Pierre Lebrun that the contract extensions of Toews and Kane are a matter of 'a few weeks' as he claims, the current need Chicago has for a replacement center has gotten little media coverage.
Jim Rutherford's main issue, if one can take his statements at face value, is that the Hurricanes relied too much on veterans, and that he knows it's time to go with youth.
His next issue is that having spent so close to the cap, making major changes will require some deft asset management.
In your view, what can the Hawks expect to pay for a player like Cullen? One view expressed suggests prospect(s) and pick(s).
Reviewing the Hurricanes' roster and depth chart, they could use an infusion of talent across the board.
Noting that several players are impending UFAs, (Cullen and Corvo to name two), leads me to wonder if Stan Bowman has an opportunity to shed a few contracts in the process, like Barker, Hendry and Skille, for example.
Looking forward to your, and everyone's, thoughts on this.
This is more of a presentation of some things I've noticed, not really a proposal for moving players on to and off the present roster.
First of all, Carolina has recalled and looked at Boychuk, #1 '08 & a definite NHL future..fast, skilled etc al. He at least came back, made an effort defensively and was not overmatched or without confidance. That was what I was looking at, for the most part, that he sort of gets what it takes and is willing...so he needs perhaps some more experience on the farm club. It is a Boychuck, Sutter that assume centerice position eventually for Canes. Sutter has been playing on wing, though, since latest call up & Brind'Amour is the center. Brind 'Amour's offensive days are certainly past his prime, but he does compete, has experience & is one of the best in face offs. Have you considered the aging Ray Whitney, as well he can play center (how well/originally this Whitney and P Marleau (Sharks) were together linemates in junior and both #1 choices. Canes also have D Bowman on farm club, not much after that...yes, I think they would be interested in a robust forward, a defenseman, and a skill forward like Versteeg. Bowman has to be careful, however, whom he moves off our current defense. It may look inviting on some fronts to move both a Campbell and Barker, but we should very much keep the ability of each pair among our defensemen to jump into a play, lug the puck, keep the opponent guessing (and maybe reeling) when the option of that offense coming from the "D" is a very real threat. You move two players off that defense -- one who has that good shot on PP, the other who could be like a Coffey if the players on the ice at the same time protect him ....so do we have someone else taking their spot on defense?
Those thoughts about Horton on Florida, he is a winger unless he has sometimes been put at centerice, where he is not best employed. We already have a Sharp and Versteeg who reall are best left on the wing..Horton doesn't look like the player we most need. But yes, I would not be surprised at all if Horton one year blooms and continues to be a force after that. He is sort of wasting away the early part of his career on Florida's roster. They have a good coach, so if they are smart they will eventually find the correct linemates for Horton to excel. I see Horton as a talent who isn't maximizing his ability-- like Big Buff -- and because teams should desire a player who plays with an edge, I say Bowman's move Buff out after the season. Yeah, so he is able and willing to play in the playoffs the way we need him to in the regular season. Guess Buff needs to learn the hard way what he must do to stay in Chicago and become a star.
I went to see prospects for Calgary's team (Abbotsford -- who knew that team is in BC, Canada?) against Icehogs-- and I may well see them again near the end of the month. Here's a team with the "other" last names on it, names we all know....KEITH Seabrook, BRETT Sutter. Whereas once Calgary was not considered to have much in the way of top prospects, now I say they have several good looking NHL prospects. More are on defense, but I came away really impressed with Sutter. NHL right now. Probably could score more if he concentrated on it, but can skate well, very tenacious and always on the forecheck/very responsible all over the ice, is aggressive. Of course my attention to Backlund on DH posts so yeah, he scored. Interesting line combo's for Rockford: Bickel with Aliu and Brophey; Skille with Davis and Cullen. I'm telling you, Fraser may not surrender his job but if Brophey can score more, he is a good all around player. Dowell is a good fit for a 4th line checker because he is physical, skates ok and has descent skill. Will they make it to NHL? Don't know, but do not automatically assume REALWIZ and Jacukel is always correct. Their opinion is to be respected, but I've seen enough hockey over many, many years and those two are descent players. Aliu, he sometimes sits half a game...learning program for him/heard players don't really like Peters, the Iehogs coach -- so what, that usually means he forces them to play how he feels they must to help team and for their own development.
Fallon is not over-matched, has ability, cannot provide concrete answer based on one gp I've seen him. Brennan may actually be their best defenseman; Denis-Pepin has looked slow, akward often, fans say. He sat again last night. Petiot -- easy to boo him, but he does have good knowledge and makes easily overlooked, smart plays...just not physical for a big player. Connelly is so much like D Keith in his style of play. M Keith returns to Chicago & AHL and at least he competes/no NHL future/skill issue. Tanguay (you know his brother now on Tampa) up from ECHL: ability, slow for a skill, small guy. Bois probably could come up and be effective in role of skating, hitting, maybe some fights. The thing with Bickel is, he has a good shot, skates well, but regularly plays indifferent or disappears each season...big guy who will play physical, he just has never taken that next step. Is either a star of game or not noticable. BTW Everyone among die hard Icehog fans I spoke to....says Skille is a selfish player.