2012-2013 Chicago Blackhawks News, Updates, and Rumors Thread

[HawkWriter]

^^^ Should be interesting to see how Quick plays after back surgery this off season. Supposedly that is why Bernier has been off the market for the most part.

 

[Captain Iago]

Started their last year, didn't he?

That line was effective, I'm thinking they did this to help protect Toews and Hossa after concussions (same line now, can't think of another reason). Seemed that with CarBomb there last year, Toews and Kane weren't being hit as much.

No, I don't think so. It was done before Toews's concussion and I think Carcillo was effective on a line with Kane.

I'm a weirdo who advocates seeing him in the top six (not all of the time, though).

 

[Jntg4]

No, I don't think so. It was done before Toews's concussion and I think Carcillo was effective on a line with Kane.

I'm a weirdo who advocates seeing him in the top six (not all of the time, though).

No, I meant him being up there now was because of concussions, not that he was there last year because of it.

 

[Captain Iago]

No, I meant him being up there now was because of concussions, not that he was there last year because of it.

My mistake; I misunderstood.

 

[icehogfan08]

I think when carbomb really was putting up the points he was with Kane & Hossa

 

[icehogfan08]

Via Tracey Myers

Q said Viktor Stalberg could see some power-play time this season. #Blackhawks

 

[icehogfan08]

Via Chris Kuc

#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said new assistant Jamie Kompon will be in charge of the power play.

 

[icehogfan08]

Stan Bowman

Do not expect the Chicago Blackhawks to sign any free agents. "It's possible but it's unlikely." GM Stan Bowman said. "At this point we feel really strong with the depth we do have. We have to see how it plays out. I certainly like the guys who have been playing in Rockford; they're in mid-season form. We've got quite a few guys who are ready to play and the other guys have been training as well. Personnel-wise we have the pieces we like."

Corey Crawford

feels like he needs to redeem himself after his rough 2011-12 campaign. Crawford had a 2.72 GAA and .903 save percentage in 57 games last season. Spent the lockout working on his game in Montreal. "I've heen waiting and waiting and waiting and finally it's here so I'm getting excited and ready to go," Crawford said.

Bryan Bickell

considers last season a "speed bump." Bickell is looking to bounce back this season and it should help that he got 27 points in 28 games in the Czech league during the lockout. "Being overseas and coming into this season where I am now, I feel good and I need to . help this team out," Bickell said. Out concern is that Bickell won't get top-six minutes with the Chicago Blackhawks. Unless he manages to work his way onto one of the top two lines, his fantasy value will be minimal at best.

Michael Frolik

is determined to improve in the coming NHL season. "I wasn't very good last year and I know I can be better," said Frolik, who had 13 goals and 10 assists in 29 games for Chomutov in Europe during the NHL lockout. "I worked this summer, played some games in the Czech Republic; I'm in good shape but I think I can prove I can be better than last year." Frolik came to Chicago after tallying two consecutive 21-goal seasons for the Florida Panthers. He hasn't scored 21 goals in the past three seasons combined. Frolik admitted last season that he was pressing. "The more you want to score the more it kind of goes against you. I just have to try to forget that and just play the game and try to be relaxed. I just want to play like the first two years (in Florida), and even better."

Dave Bolland's

fantasy value may jump this season as he skated on the second line between Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp Sunday. Bolland played on the third line last season and still managed 19 goals and 37 points so he could be looking at a 25-30 point campaign in the 48 game schedule. "We've talked about giving him an expanded role on our team for some time, and the time is now," GM Stan Bowman said. "On some of our playoff runs, he has ability to do things offensively. In that role, it's probably more important that a player has the awareness to play in his own end. We have some high-end offensive players on wings. He doesn't have to surpass them; just play the defensive role on that line and be able to read off them, which Dave can do." Take him as a late sleeper in deeper pools if you can.

 

[icehogfan08]

Per Sassone

Q said Kruger missed practice with the flu and is questionable for tomorrow as well. #Blackhawks

 

[DewsSox79]

Well he does spend less time on here than you.

You have 13,573 posts in 34 months, he has 1,172 in 18 months.

399/mo for you, 65/mo for him. Takes him over 4 months to equal your one month.

Don't feel you have a point here or that it is related to the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks season anyway.

I know poster is your boy and all, but let him defend himself on his own with his "stalking" posts. got it? great.

 

[icehogfan08]

Q on Stanton

Coach Joel Quenneville saw Stanton in Rockford this fall/early winter and likes what he’s seen.

“I really enjoyed the way he’s played this year. He’s stable and adds depth back there, brings consistency on the back end,” he said. “He’s got some experience, got some physicality. Every game, you knew what he was going to do.”

“He’s very close to playing up here; he’s seeing our system and learning from that as well,” Quenneville continued. “A lot of guys are going to get a chance to play. He’s earned it.”

Rockford call-ups haven’t ended. Late Monday, forward Jimmy Hayes was recalled and will likely be at Tuesday’s practice. Hayes has 17 points and a plus-2 rating in 37 games with the IceHogs this season.

Hayes may have been recalled due to the absence of Marcus Kruger, who missed Monday’s practice with the flu. Quenneville said he wasn’t sure if Kruger will return Tuesday. The flu has been bad this winter – it was near epidemic in the Chicago area last week – and Quenneville said it’s something the staff will watch.

 

[icehogfan08]

Corey Crawford and Ray Emery

will split all the back-to-back games this season according to coach Joel Quenneville. The Blackhawks play 12 back-to-back games as the NHL has a compressed schedule in which Chicago will play 48 games in 99 days, so both netminders will get plenty of action this season. Crawford was mediocre last season and will look to rebound but Quenneville said that he will likely go with the hot hand, so Emery has an opportunity to steal the job from Crawford. That being said, we are looking for Crawford to show his rookie form when he was one of the top goaltenders in the NHL, rather than his less than stellar performance of last season.

Marian Hossa

said he is ready for Saturday's opener following the second day of Chicago's training camp on Monday. "It's been a long time without hockey for me," said Hossa, who suffered a concussion in the first round of the 2012 postseason last April. "I tried to stay in the best shape I could (during the lockout) and so far I feel good." He has received some contact, which is a good sign after he took an accidental big hit from teammate Brandon Bollig during practice three days ago. Hossa appears to be all systems go, which is great news for the Blackhawks and potential fantasy owners.

 

[icehogfan08]

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: "Senators GM Bryan Murray said he’s been on the phones talking deals for a defenseman, but the asking prices are high."

“We keep talking. I’ve been talking to a variety of teams about what they might have available,” said Murray. “It doesn’t sound promising at the moment. Not a lot of people are going to give unless you give a lot back.

“We’ll keep looking and talking. The priority right now is to promote our own people. We’ve got a number of young guys that are probably deserving of a look early on in particular, and then we’ll have to see.”

 

[Jntg4]

LeBrun:

Blackhawks rested and ready
The Chicago Blackhawks made very few roster changes in the offseason other than adding defensemen Michal Roszival and Sheldon Brookbank.

Otherwise, it’s largely the same team that returns, and I’m one who believes that in this short season with a short camp, NHL clubs with the smallest amount of roster turnover will get off to better starts. Especially a talented team like Chicago.

"It’s funny because everyone around here was up in arms last summer, why we didn’t make all these changes, not that we listen to that stuff anyway,” Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman told ESPN.com Monday. "But we had 101 points last season and, while our playoff performance was below expectation, you don’t want to overreact."

No new system to learn, these players are used to each other. No adjustment period.

I like the Hawks’ chances of getting off to a flying start.

Having star forwards Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa both in perfect health also helps, of course. Toews returned in time for the playoffs after missing time with a concussion, but he wasn’t quite the same. Hossa got decked by a brutal hit from Raffi Torres in Game 3 of the playoffs and needed months to recover from that concussion. The rest did him well.

"Marian’s probably never been this healthy if you think about all the hockey he played with Pittsburgh, Detroit and with us with all those Cup runs (2008 through 2010),” Bowman said. "He had an extended period to get himself strong and completely healed. He’s feeling better than ever. Same thing with Jonathan. They’re your key guys. You have to have your top guys rested and healthy. And we are, we’re totally healthy heading into the season and that gives us reason for optimism."

The question mark in Chicago remains in goal after Corey Crawford struggled last season. Much is riding on how he rebounds. Two years ago, Crawford was sensational late in the season in helping Chicago get into the playoffs and nearly stole a first-round series upset win over Vancouver with a magnificent performance.

"It’s the tale of two seasons with him, and this season will show us which of those was accurate," Bowman said. "You go back to two years ago, at the end of that season, I think any team would have been excited to try and acquire Corey because of the way he played. He was great down the stretch. Was that a fluke? I guess it’s possible, but not likely it was a fluke. You don’t lose your skills in five months. But it’s a whole different dynamic when you come in expected to do well. Your mentality changes. He didn’t play badly last year, I wouldn’t say he was great but he was steady."

It’s pretty simple, if Crawford rebounds, the Hawks are once again big Cup contenders.

"Corey needs to rebound and we think he will," Bowman said. "Time will tell if we’re right or we’re wrong."

 

[icehogfan08]

I know poster is your boy and all, but let him defend himself on his own with his "stalking" posts. got it? great.

Lets not get it twisted, he's my boy...

 

[icehogfan08]

Melrose, Kevin Weekes, Bob Mac, and the rest of the NHL Tonight Crew say that they have the Blackhawks winning the division. They said Crawford really needs to improve to another level of play, and they hinted towards Emery possibly being the starter

 

[Jntg4]

Melrose, Kevin Weekes, Bob Mac, and the rest of the NHL Tonight Crew say that they have the Blackhawks winning the division. They said Crawford really needs to improve to another level of play, and they hinted towards Emery possibly being the starter

Still don't think that we're better than St. Louis, but I'd definitely take that haha.

 

[HawkWriter]

Melrose, Kevin Weekes, Bob Mac, and the rest of the NHL Tonight Crew say that they have the Blackhawks winning the division. They said Crawford really needs to improve to another level of play, and they hinted towards Emery possibly being the starter

Delusional.

I see it being a two horse race between the Blackhawks and Blues. I still like the Blues from top to bottom and they have some new blood in Tarasenko who could have a great rookie season. With what Nashville and Detroit lost, I just can't see them keeping up their pace from last season (which both were well within reach of the Blackhawks last year). Then Columbus...well they are Columbus. Even if they get better (I think they'll improve from last year) they are still a ways away.

 

[icehogfan08]

Pretty much what they were getting at is this division has 4 playoff teams again. However with the shortened season and playing one another more it could cost 1 or 2 teams from the central to miss the playoffs

 

[HawkWriter]

Pretty much what they were getting at is this division has 4 playoff teams again. However with the shortened season and playing one another more it could cost 1 or 2 teams from the central to miss the playoffs

I would think that the Blues, Blackhawks and 1 of Detroit/Nashville make it. Both of those teams (Det/Nas) took some real big hits this offseason.