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Ha! What a novel concept! The Blackhawks losing a player. I had heard at one time that there was an outside possibility that Patrick Kane was going to be traded, but then again, that came from The Bleacher Report, so there is probably little truth to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Benjamin
Blackhawks, Stalberg agree to 2-year deal
Jul 10, 3:46 pm EDT
CHICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Blackhawks and forward Viktor Stalberg(notes) have agreed on a two-year contract.
The Blackhawks announced the agreement Sunday.
Stalberg had 12 goals and 12 assists last season, his first with Chicago after being acquired from Toronto.
He has 21 goals, 17 assists and 73 penalty minutes in 117 career regular-season games over parts of two NHL seasons with Toronto and Chicago.
Hawks re-sign Frolik 3-years $7M total, and sign dman Sami Lepisto to a 1-year $775k deal.
The Lepisto signing is a wake up call to Campoli, with him telling Chris' camp that we will no longer be a Blackhawk because of his contract demands. Nearly identical stats across the board with Lepisto averaging just 50 seconds less ESTOI, identical SHTOI, same age, same PMD style and smooth skating. No, Lepisto doesn't have nearly the same resume as Campoli, and isn't as passable on the PP as Campoli, but he was a +10 overall, including +3 on the bad Blue Jackets during his short time there while Chris was even overall and -3 on the slightly more crappy Senators.
As for the Frolik deal, it's more than I would have liked to pay right now, but much like the Sharpie deal, it could be a steal not too far down the road. He's certainly got the upside to live up to that deal, so I won't make a big deal about it.
Hawks add vet defenseman Sean O'Donnell. Signs one year $850k deal.
New Hawk O'Donnell: 'I think I'm a good character guy'
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...3-17113536.jpg Flyers' Sean O'Donnell with the check. (Yong Kim / Philadelphia Daily News)
By Chris hine 1:35 p.m. CDT, July 17, 2011
Before hanging up his skates, Sean O'Donnell craves one more chance to hoist the Stanley Cup.
The veteran defenseman, who won the Cup with the Ducks in 2007, believes he has that opportunity as a member of the Blackhawks.
"At this point in your career you just want to be in a situation where you go into camp really feeling like it's the Cup or bust," O'Donnell said during the Blackhawks Convention at the Hilton Chicago. "I think that's what I've put myself in right now."
The 39-year-old, who has played in 1,173 career NHL games including 81 with the Flyers last season, signed a one-year, $850,000 free-agent contract with the Hawks on July 1.
While not dismissing the possibility of another season following 2011-12, O'Donnell would like to end his career on a high note.
"When you turn 35 or 36 and you're still playing you think, 'okay, we'll go one year at a time.' I thought going to Philadelphia it could be my last year and things went well and then the opportunity came here," he said. "I don't want to put limits on anything. If we win the Cup then, probably yeah, (it's my last season). It's a one-year-at-a-time process now."
O'Donnell's experience in the dressing room figures to be beneficial to a Hawks team that features a core of young players.
"I think I'm a good character guy and I'm good in the room," O'Donnell said. "I've been on a lot of teams, I've played for a lot of years and I've been in a lot of different situation good and bad. I think I can use some of that to help some of the younger guys and maybe help calm the room down if we're getting a little out of control."
The physical, stay-at-home defenseman can provide stability on the ice as well.
"I'm not as talented as a lot of guys but I think I can do some good things on the ice," O'Donnell said. "I'm certainly not going to dazzle anybody with many things but whatever the team needs I think I can help in some way.
"I still have that hunger to come play. I played 81 games (last season) and felt good when I played. It wasn't a hassle coming to the rink as far as body aches. I'm glad Chicago made that offer on July 1st."
Hawks add some veteran experience and toughness to protect their scoring machines. Losing so much size and experience due to cap issues last year may have cost the Hawks a second shot at the cup this year. These moves should help a lot.
HAWKS WELCOME ENFORCERS WITH OPEN ARMS
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http://www.csnchicago.com/common/med...158/500302.jpgSunday, July 17, 2011
Kane can protect himself but new additions will lessen the load (US PRESSWIRE)
http://www.comcastsportsnet.com/images/399849.jpg
Could Yashin return to NHL?
PHT: Blackhawks still hope to re-sign Sharp
PHT: Could restful summer help Blackhawks rise?
Posted: 4:30 p.m.
http://www.csnchicago.com/common/med...158/489172.jpg
By Tracey Myers
CSNChicago.com Blackhawks Insider
Sean O’Donnell and Jamal Mayers sat side by side at their Sunday morning session at the Chicago Blackhawks Convention. O’Donnell, at nearly 40, still had the look of a player you wouldn’t want to cross. Mayers, even in casual clothes, looked fit and ready to hit the ice – and an opposing player.
“I know my role,” he said. “I’m willing to hit, stick up for a teammate.”
It’s good to hear. It’ll even be better to see again.
After watching his star players get beat up, with few teammates coming to their defense on the ice, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman saw the writing on the wall. Actually, he saw the bumps, bruises and stitches his players were brandishing after getting pushed, hit and pummeled on a regular basis.
Between O’Donnell, Mayers, Steve Montador, Andrew Brunette and Daniel Carcillo, the protection, the veteran leadership and the mouths are back among the Blackhawks. And the Blackhawks, especially those who suffered on last year’s softer team, are loving the changes.
“Especially with the amount of skill we have, we got exposed a little last year with the amount of toughness we had,” said Patrick Kane, who suffered from the Blackhawks’ lack of toughness most in Game 7 against Vancouver. He came out of that game battered, sporting a nasty black eye.
“You look at these moves, we gain a lot of experience, too, and that’ll help with our hockey team,” Kane said.
Duncan Keith, who at 28 briefly became elder statesman on defense with Brian Campbell gone, likes how the Blackhawks have more balance now.
“You look at the guys we have, they all bring different elements. And they’re all elements we could use,” he said. “They’re all physical, and they bring a lot of leadership as well. That’s something you can never have enough of. They know what it takes, they know their role. I think it’s going to be great.”
Coach Joel Quenneville has a gleam in his eye every time he talks about this new group. You could imagine the wheels are already turning, not just about line combinations, but also on how to install the new blood to protect his stars.
“We addressed our needs,” he said. “We’ve got size, toughness and a lot of guys with the motivation behind them as well. And we’ve got a great core. Guys should compliment our team game. We’re excited going into this season.”
The new guys, minus Carcillo and Brunette who had previous plans, were brought into the Blackhawks fold this weekend. Their on-ice work and locker-room character will be even more welcomed.
Mutual respect
New Blackhawks defensemen Montador and O’Donnell saw each other plenty last postseason with their respective previous teams Buffalo and Philadelphia. The Sabres and Flyers had a contentious, hard-fought first-round series last April, which the Flyers won in seven games.
But what happened in Buffalo and Philly stayed in Buffalo and Philly.
“That’s the past,” O’Donnell said. “We’re teammates now.”
Said Montador of O’Donnell, “He’s as dependable a guy you can have on the ice. He’ll bring a strong, physical presence.”
We love Car-bomb?
Daniel Carcillo was absent at this weekend’s convention, as he was attending a wedding. But O’Donnell, who played with Carcillo in Philadelphia, said the Blackhawks fans will warm to the feisty forward.
“He’s one of the guys you hated the most when he was on the other team. And when he was on you team, you loved him the most,” he said. “You realize when he’s on your side, those are the kind of guys you want with you. I guarantee you’ll like him.”
Sharp attack
Patrick Sharp’s penchant for pranks is becoming well known among the Blackhawks. Fans love it. But teammate Bryan Bickell? Not so much. Bickell when he and John Scott roomed together once in Columbus, they came back to find their room ransacked. Bickell has a pretty good idea who was involved.
“I think (Sharp) is the guy who tornadoed my room,” he said. “I did the math and I’ve got it narrowed down to five guys. Payback comes next year.”
Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.
Hey Sharpie, Bickell is mad at you. Bet ur really scared huh ? LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by soulman
The Bleacher Report should shut the hell up. Kane is a potential HOF player. Lotta those on the Cubs right now huh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dagan81
good news sharp ssigns a 5 year extension
One Chicago team is making the right moves signing their players.Quote:
Originally Posted by motownbear
It's a good damn thing that I follow the Yankees instead of the Cubs. My team is tied for first place in the AL East with the Red Sox while the Cubs are sifting the bottom of the pond in the NL Central. At least you all can say that you've got the Houston Astros in your division, whereas the worst team in the AL East every year is the Baltimore Orioles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe
All of my other teams are based in Chicago. I like the Bears, of course, and the Hawks and the Bulls. I've been a fan of the Bulls since the days of Michael Jordan. He was the main reason I started following the NBA. Tennessee didn't have an NBA franchise back then, and even now, no one really gives a damn for the Memphis Grizzlies. In the South, few people really care about hockey, though Nashville supports it really well and that support keeps growing with every successful season the Predators put together. I like the Blackhawks, admittedly, because they have the coolest uniforms and have a great history. Lastly, football is king down here. Pro football is popular, but college football, especially UT football, is king. In fact, there are FBS teams in Nashville (Vanderbilt), Murfreesboro (Middle Tennessee State Univ.), and Memphis (Univ. of Memphis), and the Vols are more popular in those towns than the teams are that they represent the cities for.