Change of plans: Huet to start now
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has switched plans and will start Cristobal Huet in goal tonight against St. Louis at the United Center.
Antti Niemi was supposed to start the game but became ill and couldn't participate in the morning skate.
Joe Fallon and not Corey Crawford was recalled from Rockford to serve as Huet's backup. According to the Hawks, Rockford had a game Wednesday night and they wanted Crawford to play.
Meanwhile, Colin Fraser will be a healthy scratch with Dave Bolland returning to the lineup for the first time since undergoing back surgery in November.
Quenneville said Bolland would start the game centering the fourth line for Ben Eager and Tomas Kopecky.
"He'll start out with Bennie and Kopecky and we'll see how it progresses from there," Quenneville said. "He's going to have to grow and earn some of that quality ice time as we go along here."
Andrew Ladd was in the morning skate after leaving practice Tuesday with a lower body injury and will play. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson also is expected to play despite being held out of the skate.
Likely forward line combinations for the Hawks:
Brouwer - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Sharp - Hossa
Versteeg - Madden - Byfuglien
Eager - Bolland - Kopecky
I was at the game. Keith gave up the puck, made some turnovers. Both Keith and Seabrook haven't been playing like the number one pair they need to be. Too many mistakes, even if for much of their ice time they are playing good hockey. Either Q or the Olympic coach gets them "fixed." They will be benched if they make as many mistakes in the Olympics. Get your glasses cleaned if you don't see they have been making far too many mistakes. Yes, hockey is a game of mistakes. Too many of them by our top players is a recipe for loosing!
The team hasn't been playing well since that Minnesota road game loss; whoever mentioned this hit the nail on the head.
Perhaps some other fans closer to Huet could see what Orchard Creek post mentions. Tr Murray on post game (heard in car on way home) said Huet could not be blamed for the goals. Well, whether he could be blamed for two of the goals is open for debate until film shows us absolute proof...I'll open myself up to the old "assume" and say Orchardcreek likely saw something not everyone else was able to see (anyone else sat close to Huet can comment here). But the fact is, Huet is more a "c" and not an "A" goalie. A top goalie has to stop the difficult shots no matter this or previous games.
Huet's unothodox style has been called out. So jacukel replied that most goalies do play butterfly. And Huet has come out of his funk from earlier this season. Nonetheless, he still waves at and allows too many soft goals. Get used to it, fellow fans, because we all know it is very diificult to move his contract and add another better goaltender. Be thankful Niemi, Fallon, and Richards hold much promise.
Last night 6628 post told me that Crawford looked good in brief games up here (balance on skates was fine), but we don't know for ourselves because he has (and probably never will) play for this team. There is more to an untold story, when both Olyzchuk and Tallon have commented in the past that Crawford is not more than back up material. Q: is that back up, like Leighton, Anderson, Mi Broduer have turned out? Only Anderson is top notch -- but he has to prove it for a couple of years.
So back to Keith. You've heard he is tough on himself, going over his mistakes after the game. Well, is he hurting the team by trying too hard to get a point per game? That is fine as long as he doesn't make the bone headed communication or poor choices/plays that leads to turnovers. It sure looks like he'll get burned out from Olympics and how much ice he gets under Q. His game will be worse as the season progresses. Any good playoff performance will be matched by too many mistakes. That combined with the probelms obvious with our 4-6 "d" means we aren't going far in playoffs. How ironic last night Keith was off but Campbell played well. The defence alone is worrisome enough. It has to become better since as aformentioned you also live to with Huet's level of play.
Queeneville is really a lot like a psycologist with this group (as 66628 mentioned to me last night). I don't know that it is enough for him to have a back to basics clinic during practice for a couple weeks -- it worked wonderfully last year. Keith and Seabrook have got to get their mistakes tuned down. And we surely need another defenseman. On this Steve Rain and brother/also a post person agreed with me last night (sory to miss you Sportsguy).
I'm just mulling this over: Wallin and Volchenkov would fit well into the puck possession style and their solid, consistent effort would be more valuable than the much needed crese clearer.
Until Queeneville gets this team back on track, don't expect a long playoff run. Bring your prayers with you for Huet and hope for the best in the playoffs. I'm counting on Keith and Seabrook to get "fixed" and be given some rest down the stretch.
Its really a case of teams adapting to us and we have to react to it!!
This is no accident that Keith and our defense as a whole are having turnover issues...teams will find a way to exploit/combat a teams strengths/weaknesses.
Worrying about goalies at this point is useless when teams have figured out a way to slow us down temporarily!!!
The puck is in JQs corner now...he has to figure this out.
I thought I read that Wallin got dealt, or is about to get dealt to San Jose?
Not to mention, Hammer is playing on one leg, and can barely hold his stick. Both of those injuries are not going away, and everytime he has to race back to cover for Campbell, or handle a grenade he gets crunched. He also has blocked a TON of shots so far this year, so this guy could probably need a rest. The short term solution, has to be plugging in Hendry to relieve Hammer. Get him as close to 100% as possible, and maybe Campbell and him can give Seabrook and Keith some breaks down the stretch. It's also only a matter of time until Sopel needs some time off.
All I know is, is that this team can't stand pat. They have to make a move for a d-man. They need somebody who is going to be able to punish skill players in the postseason, and help clear out the crease, but walk the fine line without getting called for stupid pentalies.
At this point, not only is losing the #1 seed to San Jose a bit worrysome, but you also have Vancouver 8 back (with a game in hand), and you could quickly find yourself as a #3 seed with only home ice for the 1st round. Especially if Vancouver manages to not implode on their 14 game Olympic trip (1-1 so far).
hawks need to snap out of it, and stop admitting they were off, etc and get back to where they were before Minnesota. I can handle goals, but I cant handle unforced, stupid turnovers, which the hawks are becoming good at doing.
We have not been the same group since that gut-wrenching cave-in in Minnesota a month ago. Losses like that can taint a season. Just ask Calgary. They've dropped off the map since they surrendered a 5-0 lead to the Hawks in that memorable game earlier in the season. Our guys just don't look the same. The mojo is missing. The mistakes are more numerous, the little battles are being lost, and no lead is safe. Too many smurfs at forward and not enough bone-crushers. Its time for a significant trade to rev this roster up. Sorry boys, but its all about getting the Ws, and right now, it appears that this group is fading.
You are spot on with your assessement of the Hawks. Recently, the have not done JACK to make me believe they are focused. They are obviously one of the most talented teams in the league, but the redundant excuse of "we played sloppy, too many turnovers, we didn't play our game" is becoming a routine.
The Hawks have two big wins in their last ten games, Detroit and San Jose. Both of those games they squandered leads and were dominated for much of the action. A victory against Edmonton, Columbus & Calgary does little to boost my confidence. They got smoked by Ottawa and Vancouver, two teams who are actually playing good hockey right now. And now St. Louis, a great road team.
With people getting healthy, it's time to sit some guys for one game to let them know it's a priviledge to play every night, not a sure thing.
Seabrook and Keith have been god awful over the last 8 games. I liked Keith more when he wasn't trying to get a point every game to keep pace with Green. His reputation proceeds himself, so enough of this joining the rush on every play crap. Play D, which you are paid significantly to do.
Hossa was dominant again. I still think he would flourish if he could play with Toews. But, I do agree with Brouwer still being on that line.
Giving keith a pass on 3 stupid giveaways and blaming the goalie is a new low even for this board! If you didnt watch the whole game or are just too ignorant to understand the result of turnovers or deflections than i could understand these comments.
1. a deflection on a slapshot from 5 feet away that goes off seabrook on a 45% angle is stoppable???
2. Keith gives up the puck in the slot and I suppose thats an easy routine stop on a bang bang play?
3. Backe tips the puck in on another close range slapshot!
Its obvious even to someone who doesnt watch Hockey on a regular basis what the problem is....The little things that the hawks used to do well (puck control and being defensively responsible) are a sure sign a slump has already started!
Blaming the Goalie now after watching this game is just being ignorant (and blind)
or deflect it...............................
He is still Flour Dough and cannot steal a game when his team could use a steal.
Simply not Silver Chalice material.
Signed,
Jaques Cloutier.
Well you obviously know everything, just ask you, so I'll defer to you oh wise one of the internet message boards... Huet is the best! No goal he ever gives up is his fault.
Signed, Blind and Ignorant from the 200 level...
If that is all you could say about the game!
At least try to be accountable for your comments...
Accountable...? Who's going to hold me accountable, you? If you were there, which you probably weren't, you would have seen that both deflections slowed the puck down considerably and turned them into saves that most NHL goalies would have made on most nights. As I said, though, Huet gets a pass on every deflection that goes into his net from his apologists, you being one of them. We get forty shots on guys and they stone us on 38 of them and Huet gets 15-20 shots on him a night and gives up 3-5 a game (lately) and his apologists will argue all of them were unstoppable.... Is that what you were saying, Huet had no chance on the last two? NHL goalies make those saves. I'll give him a pass, as I said, on the first one as it was a rocket one-timer from the deep slot, but the last two were miserable goals and daggers in the hearts of the guys that play in front of him. We're still feeling the effects of the Minnesota collapse, that falls squarely on Huet, and we're seeing defensemen and forwards that are playing scared because they know that most turnovers will end up in the back of their net. I invite your learned rebuttal to my more detailed reply to your ridiculous suggestion that people that find fault with Huet are blind and ignorant.
I saw the game on TV with replays and being a former goalie I absolutely know how difficult close in deflections/redirects are to stop!
I would be very surprised if you even played the game at all judging by your comments. I know you are just arguing to be difficult so im not going to indulge you further...
Have fun knowing it all
But I saw Mason make 3 stops off deflections last night, including the sick save he made off Buff's deflection. The excuse train for Huet needs to stop. That being said, so do the Hawks turnovers in their own zone, especially when they're trying to be cute with the puck. It's annoying.
If your happy to continue to ignore the major problems we are facing than everything is properly black and white in your world!
And Huet's a turd... a deflection doesn't have to equal a goal, unless it's Huet where every deflection that doesn't go wide or high ends up in the net. I'm tired of the Huet apologists and Judd Sirrot takes the cake... The only acceptable goal was the first goal that came off of a terrible Keith giveaway. This team cannot win the cup with Huet in net. Period.
Agreed. This guy at best has to deal with 15-20 shots a night, and is allowing 3 to four goals on avg. Better stick Niemi in and at least see what he can do, because we've seen what Huet brings to the table and it isn't Stanley Cup quality tending.
Anybody who tries to model his looks after Pierre McGuire, need I say more.
Cup contenders beat Carolina on the road. Cup teams don't lose to the Blues at home. Suddenly you have half the team in the West breathing down our neck for the #2 seed.
If they make any move need to make sure they clear cap space for next year and still get a player that will be on the roster next year. I do whatever it takes to get a #1 goalie who can play in the playoffs and ACTUALLY STEAL A GAME FOR US ONCE A MONTH!!!!!!!!!! You can give Huet a pass on a few of the goals tonight but the guy faces less than 20 shot almost every game and never stands on his head when we face a hot goalie in the other end.
I couldn't have said it any better myself. The only thing I'll add is that we have no chance at signing a number 1 contender. Last year, and this year so far have been a blast, but I would not be placing any bets in Vegas on the Hawks winning the cup this year. They're a very good club, but they are not the best in the NHL. Still a big young and prone to mental mistakes in bunches. Add in the goalie issues, and it's not a recipe for Lord Stanley.
I hate the first line...
"One, team president John McDonough is the type of hands-on executive who lives to make a splash and has the “wants” every time a big-name player comes available. There are few bigger than Kovalchuk. McDonough is involved enough that he may try to influence proceedings, even though from a hockey perspective, the interest in Kovalchuk is limited at best.
Two, the Blackhawks know they are going to have to divest some players in the off-season for cap reasons next season. The names most often mentioned are defenceman Cam Barker and forwards Kris Versteeg and Patrick Sharp. An offer of Barker and Versteeg would be entirely in the strata of what Waddell would love to get for Kovalchuk, but given the cap situation in Chicago, Kovalchuk would be virtually impossible to sign long term. The Hawks could stock their cupboard in the off season trading those players for prospects or picks, so when you add it all up, it doesn't compute that Chicago is in hard on Kovalchuk."
Of course its one mans (media) opinion!
http://www.nesn.com/2010/02/bruins-possible-deadline-additions-include-c...
i'll sweeten it, you can have them both, give me milan lucic and micheal ryder and i'll give you a 2nd rounder also. you want both of those guys peter, than you got to put lucic in play or no deal period!
if you think the Bruins are sending Lucic here for surplus.
Credibity gap widens................
and the Hawks would go into the playoff down one more defenseman and up one additional forward (and who would take the two years 4 million on that Ryder contract, no one!)
wiz, i wouldn't call sharp ,versteeg, barker, ect surplus players, they're very good players, do you think bowman is gonna settle for a stiff like wideman or ryder for a 35 goal scorer plus a d with still alot of potential upside? nothing probably to this, but you damn right i'm asking for lucic to be inplay if you want sharp and barker!i got a gut feeling that we're gonna be in on the atlanta situation anyway, we got what atlanta wants, mcdonough wants the center stage, and he'll re-sign kovy with a big hoopla right before the convention next summer, probably,versteeg, barker and our 1st this year for kovalchuk. how'they gonna fit him? let stan bowman worry about it. they have another issue, which is why i bring up lucic repeatedly, last night and lately it seems teams are figuring the hawks out--clog up the middle of the ice and in front of the net..these guys will stay to the outside, not too many of them interested in going to the heavy traffic areas in front of the net, no matter what some may say.
another example of pre-tarde deadline wind bag fan boys imagining their teams improving in leaps and bounds for nothing!
The Bruins are getting Versteeg and Barker?
oh, the Bruins "want" guys "but the other team will have to take contract back there way?"
Yeah that's gonna happen....
The only thing they are offering is the screwed up bloated contract of Michael Ryder at 4 mil a year for two more!
Now is the time to just sit back and actually wait because this is the time when there are more experts about who is going where, than there are tradable players...
I missed Lil Scotty on the between period interview, but I am sure he told the fans just waht they wanted to hear....
Yeah its all about how we can help the Bruins forgetting that is must be mutually beneficial! Maybe D Morris or Widemans bloated contracts may interest us as well!!!!
I missed Bowman too but I fear we are trending down and maybe a little shake up is necessary!
what did you think of the game tonight?
At the bottom of the article is a hilarious commentary by the fans in Atlanta about their team!
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/02/03/thrashers-tell-kovalch...
Reports Kovy trade could happen in a few hours to a few days to a few months or not at all....
count on it!!!!
The Atlanta Journal Constitution stated "The Thrashers’ last offer on the table was for $101 million. But that spanned 12 seasons for an annual average of $8.42 million."
He wants a 12 year deal for max money (20% or 11.3 mill per year) ouch
Doesn't anyone have jobs anymore. Tons of posts during the working day.
Latest news is Kovalchuk has been told he has been traded by Atlanta.
Hawks would be an interesting landing spot - but not likely. He is a left wing. We need a center or right wing. If we do get Kovalchuk a left wing will have to be included in the package. Sharp? Versteeg? Probably Barker, Crawford or Fallon and a 1st round pick too. And/or maybe a highly rated prospect? I think that is too much for a rental player. That is especially true considering we could add all the offense we want but if our keeper is just so so we may not get as far as last year.
Lets see if Barker and/or Byfuglien try to step up their game over the next 6 games to keep a spot on this team. My guess is they will.
I would hate to move Versteeg. He could be something special in a year or two.
Centres and Right Wings??????
Versteeg special in a year or two (at the end of his contract)?
Clean the television monitor....
I would have thought Left Wing is perfect. Hossa and Kane already own RW on the top lines.
My pension and my wives`s job keep me at home but i can tone down the posts on my end and I like to think i have earned this R&r time!
BTW Kane and Hossa are RWs and Kovy should we acquire him would fit opposite of either of them!
I concur with Versteeg!
I am not criticizing anyone for posting. I think it is wild. It shows that Tim Sassone's blog is the place to be anytime anywhere.
When I say they need a center first I mean they have Toews (great), Bolland (very good when healthy - but know one knows for sure if he is), Madden (very valuable - but not great offensive skills), Fraser (so so at best), Sharp (playing out of position).
Then we need a right winger. Kand and Hossa (Great), Byfuglien (debatable), Kopecky (so so). Great at the top but not much depth.
Left wing - Brouwer (young cheap good power forward), Ladd (young cheap good power forward), Sharp (solid two way, with scoring touch), Versteeg (GM's would give there left nut to have him be the 4th best left wing on their team), Eager (fierce fast power forward). Pretty deep.
So sure Kovalchuk would be our best left wing. But would he be a good fit. Kane and Toews need a power forward on their line. Hossa and Kovalchuk with Bolland would definitely work. But it is for just one year and you would have to give up Versteeg. You would then put Sharp on the 3rd line and Ladd on the 4th line.
I do not think it is a good overall fit.
Kovalchuk is the girl with the great face and body. You kill to go out with her. But once you do you realize you would have a lot more fun on the date with the very pretty girl with brains, wit and personality. Resist the temptation Hawks.
Is measured in many ways.... Ill put our mental toughness and gamesmanship vs the Blues low scoring hacks any day!
Philco dont be putting the hex on us on the first game back!!
I agree Ivan...our mental toughness and overall team camaraderie dwarf the mental midgets wearing the Bluenote.
P.S. I wasn't putting a hex on us bro....i was just saying i hope we debunk that theory with extreme prejudice.
I forgot to wink....Those days off hopefully put some spring back in their steps as the last few games the team looked exhausted.
Maybe a prayer, but the Kovalchuk sweep stakes are officially on....
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=308800
Ive been watching Atlanta play every game for the last 2 weeks as I think we will be players for him and I think he is a very dynamic player in the offensive zone but I feel he may not fit on our club with his lack of zest or effort in the defensive zone!
I hope im wrong but given the players we lose to acquire him and his shortcomings we could have a slightly different team if we acquire him!
One player or attitude has been known to shake up a locker room..just ask any team who has had Jokinen!
but it is hard to ignore his tremendous speed and play making ability (ie Goals)
The thought of him playing opposite of Hossa or kane should be illegal. The question is what we would have to give up and there is sure to be a bidding war for his services.
TSN reported last week Atlanta wanted 4/5 assets one being a first rounder!
He has a 6.4 cap hit so whose spot in the top 6 does he take? I say Sharp as his salary would line up closer than Ladd or Brouwer!
Glad i dont have BowJr`s Job as it is sure to shake up the locker room..if we were to acquire him!
this petulant, cherry-picking floater is not even on our GM's radar.
I tried to look at him objectively but i would be happy if we got him but wouldnt lose sleep if we didnt!
I wonder about other peoples opinions of him?
He has floater tendencies, no doubt, but he is exceptionally well-schooled and can conform his game to more two-way hockey. So, that aside . . .
Elite skater and especially shooter, one of the best in the world on the left point on the PP, also takes the body and can deliver crushing hits. More a scorer than a playmaker.
I would trade Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker for him in a heartbeat.
For a chance at the cup I would too but ill bet he costs more.
Im thinking they would probably ask for Sharp/ Hjallmarsson 1st rnd Draft pick plus one more player for starters.
In the end ill bet he is too expensive
A case could be made. :) RT @NJerseyDevil: Dudley at Lowell game tonight + Waddell at NJ/Kings + Dudley also at NJ/Leafs. SOMETHING is up!
He thinks NJ is the fav for Kovy I think!
I was just stating that the official bidding is on. Looks like he and Atlanta have hit an impass on his potential deal, and now I'm sure he'll be dealt. Probably before the Olympic break as well, as I would assume the Thrashers don't want to be on the hook for a guy who is not coming back next year getting hurt in the Olympics. Then again, maybe the proposals get better post Olympics....God only knows.
Sure glad to see Andrew Ladd getting a chance to play top six and I am convinced he will develop into a pretty good scorer if given the opportunity. He has heart and grit and goes to the net hard. He has always been one of my favourites beside the obvious Captain Toews and Coach Q is finally rewarding him for his hard work. I also hope the hawks are not showcasing him to send him in a package to the Thrashers for Kovalchuk?? A package without Ladd would be great.
I guess this is why I think it is a little puzzling that the Hawks didn't take a chance on Boynton. He isn't a heavyweight but he can play at the back end of the defense and is pretty solid in his own end. Not a bad skater, is only signed for this year, and if the Hawks have things develop on other avenues after they pick him up they can just put him back on waivers. Seemed like a low risk addition, no players involved.
Just my opinion but I thought he was a nice fit for what the Hawks need and what they are looking to add.
He stepped up twice vs these clowns last time fighting Crombeen and Jack*ff. I don't want to see Tazer throwing down tonight...no way, no how.
With Bolland on the ice with Eags, the Blues should have their most physical line out. Hopefully, Bolly doesn't take many heavy shots in his first comeback game.
Really wanted to see Niemi tonight. Huey better step up and shine. He seems to be much better at home so that's a plus.
There's a very credible theory that home teams lay an egg in their first home start after a long road trip. I hope we crush that theory and the enemy handily tonight.
I just saw that the Icehogs have a guy named Ryan Flinn who looks pretty big. 6'5" and 230 and he's got 2 goals, 2 assists, +5, and 74 PIM's in only 19 games.
That's nice... If this kid can throw 'em, send the bus over to pick this kid up and take him directly to the UC for tonights game!
Icehog's property as far as I know. The Hawks would have to sign him, which I'm sure they could, but he's not currently in the organization... (again, as far as I know)