Thread: 2011/2012 Chicago Blackhawks thread

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

You know that the San Jose Offer Sheet was the reason why the Hawks couldn't afford to keep Niemi? They wanted, but they had no other choice. I would have done the same and hope that Crawford is a future #1.


But I agree with you that the Goaltending isn't good enough

I have only been keeping up with hockey for a couple of years, and really not that closely other than the fact that I knew that a lot of the Hawks' players weren't going to be re-signed because of the fact that the team was in salary cap hell. Thanks for telling me that.

Stalberg with his first career hat!

Watching the highlights now. Love hearing Chelsea Dagger. Grats to Stalberg.

It's always nice to play Columbus after you've been struggling for a little while.

Blackhawks forwards Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane have been selected for the 59th annual NHL All-Star Game, the NHL announced Thursday morning. The festivities will be held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa from Jan. 26 – Jan. 29 and include a player fantasy draft, skills competition and the game itself.

All three players are repeat All-Stars. Toews and Kane have represented the Blackhawks the past two competitions in 2009 and 2011 (there was no game in 2010 due to the Olympics). Hossa competed in the 2001 and 2003 contests as an Ottawa Senator and in 2007 and 2008 as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers.

“Every year you get to be a part of that select group across the league it’s an honor,” Toews said.

The Blackhawks representatives all have impressive statistics to go along with their All-Star nod.

Toews has scored 22 goals in 43 games so far this season, fourth-highest in the NHL. The Blackhawks captain also is one of the best faceoff-takers in the league at 61.5 percent and in the conversation for the Hart and Selke Trophies. He leads Hawks forwards in time on ice, averaging 21:06. He has scored four game-winning goals, tied for second-most on the team, and is a +12.

Hossa has the most points on the Hawks and seventh-most points in the NHL with 45. He has the sixth-best +/- rating of all players with a +23. He is tied for first on the Hawks in assists (28) and third in goals (17), with seven of them coming on the power play. He ranks third among Hawks forwards in TOI, averaging 19:43. The All-Star Game will bring Hossa back to Ottawa, where he broke into the league after the Senators drafted him in 1997 and where he spent seven seasons of his career.

Kane is tied on the Hawks for most assists with 28, putting him at tenth in the NHL. He’s fourth on the Hawks in points (38) and tied for fifth in goals (10). He takes the third-highest number of shots (138) on the team and is second among the team’s forwards in TOI, averaging 19:53.

“They all had good starts to their season,” said Head Coach Joel Quenneville. “Our offense was a big part of our success here early on. With [Patrick Sharp] as well, I think those four guys contributed a lot of not just us having some wins along the way but the production was excellent on both lines.”

The NHL All-Star Skills Competition takes place on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. CT. The NHL All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. CT. Both the skills competition and game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.

Three Blackhawks named 2012 NHL All-Star Game - Chicago Blackhawks - News

agree about the Rookies. But Bowman still has to upgrade the Forward depth.

The most glaring need I can see from my limited experience watching hockey is goaltender. Our goaltenders suck. We haven't had a solid one since Niemi.