2011-2012 Chicago Blackhawks Rumors, Ideas & Chatter Thread

[icehogfan08]

Corey Crawford

will play between the pipes on Wednesday. Crawford will enter the season as the Blackhawks' number one goaltender, so these exhibition games are just to get him warmed up. He had a 2.30 GAA and .917 save percentage in 2010-11. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Patrick Sharp

(appendectomy) has been skating for three straight days. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is "very encouraged" by Sharp's progress. It remains to be seen if Sharp will be available for Chicago's season opener. However, even if Sharp ends up missing that game, he probably won't be held out of too many games due to this injury. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Bryan Bickell

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is not happy with Bryan Bickell's performance in training camp. "He needs to get going," Quenneville said. "I know [Bickell] is coming off [an injury] last year [and is] dealing with that. But we're looking for Bick's game to improve as we go along here." Bickell missed Game 7 of Chicago's first round series against Vancouver due to a wrist injury that required surgery, but that was after playing through it for three games. He had 17 goals and 37 points in 78 games last season, but he's capable of reaching the 50-point mark in 2011-12. (Source: Chicago Sun-Times)

Marian Hossa

potted a goal in his first preseason game Wednesday. Hossa has had a tough training camp as he is trying to get over the death of his close friend Pavol Demitra, who was tragically killed in the Russian air disaster on Sept. 7. Patrick Kane also played for the first time this season and added two points. "For the first game that was pretty good," Hossa said. "Down low we need to be maybe a little bit better but overall I think Kaner did an excellent job. He was creative when he threw the puck in the middle. Overall he played excellent game." (Source: csnchicago.com)

Viktor Stalberg

suffered a knee injury at the end of the first period on Wednesday and did not return. It did not look good for the big winger who was looking to start the season with Jonathan Toews. Stalberg will undergo additional testing on Thursday and a better diagnosis should be available. Stay tuned and lower his value in all drafts. (Source: csnchicago.com)

Ben Smith

suffered a head injury when hit by the shoulder from Detroit's Brendan Smith. The Blackhawks were irate with the Red Wings' Smith. "Both referees said that was a classic example of what we're talking about, that's the illegal hit. It was pretty black and white," a frustrated coach Joel Quenneville said. "I'm not happy about it." Detroit coach Mike Babcock took an opposing view. "You come across the middle, toe-dragging like this, and you get dinged. And I'm not saying that our guy isn't guilty, his shoulder hit his head, but you better not put yourself in those situations I would say," Babcock said. "There will be a video report about it [Thursday], I'm sure." Nevertheless, Smith is likely to be out indefinitely, but we will know a lot better on Thursday. Stay tuned. (Source: csnchicago.com)

 

[Capt. Serious]

Q says Kaner will start Friday at center

 

[tbo41fan]

^ good


Bolland on 3rd line

 

[HawkWriter]

According to Jesse Rogers...

Kruger, Pirri, Hayes, Leblanc, and Olsen all were sent down.

Kruger didn't impress me one bit this pre-season.

Pirri looked great out there but to succeed he needs to be in the top 6 (I thought him on line 2 could have been solid). Olsen also impressed me in a big way this pre-season.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=590896&navid=DL|CHI|home

 

[icehogfan08]

Marcus Kruger

The Chicago Blackhawks have sent Marcus Kruger to the minors. Although Kruger entered the preseason with a real shot of making the team, this might be better for him in the long run. Chicago didn't really have a spot for him on one of their top two lines and he should get a lot more playing time in the AHL. Kruger should have some fantasy value in a few seasons. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

John Scott

It looks like Chicago will carry eight defensemen and John Scott will be arguably at the bottom of their depth chart. Unlike last season where Scott occasionally played as a forward, that isn't likely to happen in 2011-12. Chicago added a number of players capable of fighting, which diminishes Scott's role and will likely negatively impact his playing time. However, Scott is still the team's primary heavyweight and that will be reason enough for him to be inserted into the lineup occasionally. We don't expect him to have any fantasy value in standard leagues, but the Blackhawks will be happy to have him around. (Source: Chicago Sun-Times)

Ben Smith

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said that Ben Smith (concussion) should practice with his teammates early this week. Smith sustained the injury when Brendan Smith hit him in the head on Wednesday. Ben had 19 goals and 31 points in 63 AHL games last season. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Dave Bolland

(upper body) should start to practice early this week, according to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. The exact nature of Bolland's ailment isn't known, but Quenneville said it isn't related to his concussion he suffered in March. Bolland had 15 goals and 37 points in 61 games last season. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Marian Hossa

has two goals in three preseason games. That should help ease the fears of anyone who wondered if Hossa would get off to a sluggish start after missing the first part of Chicago's training camp. Hossa was gone for the first five days of training camp to attend the funeral of his friend Pavol Demitra and be there for the birth of his baby daughter. "I feel pretty good with my speed and timing," said Hossa. "I still have to work on a couple of things. I need to play a little bit better without the puck in our zone. The whole team could be a little bit better in that department." (Source: Chicago Tribune)

Brandon Saad

has earned a spot on the Chicago Blackhawks' opening game roster. Saad was a long shot to make the team out of training camp, but he forced his way onto the roster with his preseason play. Saad has done so well, that Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville decided to give him Sunday's exhibition game off. "We figured if we're going to start with him, we wanted to give him a break," Quenneville said. "He put himself in a pretty good spot." Of course, just because Saad made the team doesn't mean his spot is secure. The team will begin the season without Dan Carcillo (suspension) and Viktor Stalberg (leg). If Saad starts the season off on a cold streak, then he'll probably get sent down to the junior level when those two return. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

 

[Capt. Serious]

Happy to have John Scott around?

Yeah, lets waste a spot once again on a guy who provides nothing.

:yeah:

 

[derosabomb]

Happy to have John Scott around?

Yeah, lets waste a spot once again on a guy who provides nothing.

:yeah:

U mad brah?

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Good to see that Smith should be back soon. Maybe by the second or third week of the season.

 

[icehogfan08]

Happy to have John Scott around?

Yeah, lets waste a spot once again on a guy who provides nothing.

:yeah:

No they stated the reason in the quote

However, Scott is still the team's primary heavyweight and that will be reason enough for him to be inserted into the lineup occasionally.

 

[tbo41fan]

No they stated the reason in the quote

its not worth it bro...lol

 

[icehogfan08]

its not worth it bro...lol

just showing why he is on the roster

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Him being on the roster is so pointless. Instead, a wing that deserves to be on the Hawks will go to the minors.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Him being on the roster is so pointless. Instead, a wing that deserves to be on the Hawks will go to the minors.

Lets send Pirri down & keep a guy who can't play hockey.

:dunno:

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Lets send Pirri down & keep a guy who can't play hockey.

:dunno:

Exactly. And when Stalberg and Smith come back either one of them or Saad will go down. Just so that we have a fighter in our roster who hardly plays. Awesome.

 

[Captain Iago]

Him being on the roster is so pointless. Instead, a wing that deserves to be on the Hawks will go to the minors.

Scott had zero impact on any of the wings's chances to make the team. Zero.

 

[icehogfan08]

Him being on the roster is so pointless. Instead, a wing that deserves to be on the Hawks will go to the minors.

Lets send Pirri down & keep a guy who can't play hockey.

:dunno:

Exactly. And when Stalberg and Smith come back either one of them or Saad will go down. Just so that we have a fighter in our roster who hardly plays. Awesome.

You guys want a young wing who are all going to be sitting out most nights instead of playing in Rockford to develop. I can't believe I am hearing this. So what Scott doesn't play every night, why waste our future to lose out on development to come and sit.

I just really don't know what to say, drafting and developing has gotten this team to where they are today, now everyone wants to just rush everyone along :shrug:

 

[tbo41fan]

Scott had zero impact on any of the wings's chances to make the team. Zero.

THANK YOU!

He is a defenseman on this team

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Scott had zero impact on any of the wings's chances to make the team. Zero.

He's taking up a roster spot that could be used by a deserving forward.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

You guys want a young wing who are all going to be sitting out most nights instead of playing in Rockford to develop. I can't believe I am hearing this. So what Scott doesn't play every night, why waste our future to lose out on development to come and sit.

I just really don't know what to say, drafting and developing has gotten this team to where they are today, now everyone wants to just rush everyone along :shrug:

I wouldn't consider Smith and Stalberg young wings that won't play every night. They both have experience on the team and deserve to be on the team. One of them won't be on the team because of Scott. That's all I'm saying.

 

[tbo41fan]

I wouldn't consider Smith and Stalberg young wings that won't play every night. They both have experience on the team and deserve to be on the team. One of them won't be on the team because of Scott. That's all I'm saying.

Except that Scott is playing defense this year...even if we sent scott outta town, we would just call up/sign another defenseman

Q has said Scott will be defense