Blackhawks New Defense Is Deeper, But Is It Better?

[tbo41fan]

Blackhawks

It might have been one of the last times Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brian Campbell worked together.

So in some ways, it was strange when the Blackhawks’ second defensive pairing the last two seasons met for a workout before the team’s annual convention.

“It’s a bit weird,” Hjalmarsson said. “You always think he’s going to show up to camp when camp starts. But he’s going to be in Florida *instead.”

From a player’s perspective, life without Campbell officially began this past weekend. Instead of being with “Soupy,” there was Steve Montador, Sean O’Donnell and Rostislav Olesz, the winger acquired from the Panthers for Campbell, meeting the media, signing autographs and *answering questions from fans at the convention.

“I loved playing with Soupy,” Hjalmarsson said. “He’s a great guy on the ice and off the ice. It’s tough to find players like him on the ice. He’s always so confident with the puck and always calms the game a bit. It’s always tough to replace.”

General manager Stan Bowman’s goal wasn’t to replace the style of player the Hawks had in Campbell, especially with puck-movers in Duncan Keith and Nick Leddy coming back. It was to improve the team’s depth with Campbell’s $7.1 million cap hit off the books.

With Montador, O’Donnell and Sami Lepisto joining Hjalmarsson, Keith, Leddy, Brent Seabrook and John Scott, the Hawks’ blue line is significantly deeper, especially compared with last season, when injuries and their lack of experience hurt. Now the Hawks have a bevy of seasoned players with a wide range of skills.

“I sat by Soupy in the locker room for three years, and we got along pretty good,” Keith said. “But at the end of the day, decisions have to be made for whatever is going to happen to make the team better. We’re better now, as tough as it is to lose Soupy. The extra guys we were *allowed to bring in and sign is a good thing.”

There’s no guarantee that the new mix will work, and Bowman’s decision not to sign edgy puck-mover Chris Campoli might come back to haunt him. But another transition period should be expected as Leddy continues to develop and everyone plays in new pairings.

The hope is that is doesn’t last long. In the Hawks’ puck-possession system, everything begins with the defensemen.

“You can never really have too many defensemen who are experienced,” Keith said. “The whole game really starts in your own end and how you’re able to get out of the zone. Being a defensemen myself, maybe I’m biased, but being good defensively and especially having defensemen who know what they’re doing can help win hockey games.”

The Hawks’ brass promises it will be a more physical unit, too, with Montador and O’Donnell.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough of it,” Seabrook said. “Anytime you can make them think twice or make it tough on them physically or whatever it may be, it’s going to help you out.”

With that in mind, the Hawks’ D-men are excited about their potential.

“This could compete with any team in the league as far as defense,” said O’Donnell, 39. “You have the top high-end talent, and then you also have quite a bit of depth. It needs to translate on the ice, but on paper, I’m excited that this team is as good any in the league.”

 

[southern_cross_116]

There’s no guarantee that the new mix will work, and Bowman’s decision not to sign edgy puck-mover Chris Campoli might come back to haunt him.

Wow, last year it was Niemi leaving that would haunt (the Hawks). Now a journeyman defenseman that never has actually statistically realised his potential is supposed to haunt Bowman.

So basically everything is "scarey" -which all adds up to:

The Blackhawks Section Business Report.....

-invest in Depends - everything's supposed to be scarey now.

 

[icehogfan08]

I think it depends on how look at the Defense, and what it is you want. Will they be as offensive minded, probably not, but it is possible with Leddy, Lepisto, Keith, and Seabrook. Will it be more reliable defensively, most likely. It's so hard to say beause you don't know what players are going to show up and play, also what player gels with the other.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Its certainly different.

This team will have a major dynamic change this season.

 

[Uman85]

If Stalberg played D, we'd win the Cup for sure.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

If Stalberg played D, we'd win the Cup for sure.

:crazydance:

 

[DMelt36]

The only issue I worry about with the Hawks D is their ability to move the puck up to our forwards on the breakout.

Campbell was incredible at that, and Campoli was pretty good as well. Keith/Seabrook shouldn't have trouble with it, but I want to see the rest of the players chip in as well.

When the Hawks can use their D to start the rush while the forwards are flying around on the rest of the ice, it's one of the most beautiful things I've seen at the United Center.

 

[LonghornBob]

I'm not concerned that our D will out of position, outhustled, or whipped on the boards, but I am concerned that they won't be able to skate the puck out of the zone or outskate someone to it they way they did the last few seasons.

Different styles of play I suppose. As long as Frankenstein is gone I'm happy, and I don't care how many shots he blocked...

 

[southern_cross_116]

This is interesting- as for me, in watching various highlights -and the very few games I have been able to get (mind you 4 of those were the winning games in the Finals)...

the Hawks' Defense had issues clearing the slot from guys that would go in and camp there -the goalie screeners. It was particularly noticeable on nights where the goalies had trouble controlling rebounds. Campbell couldn't move anyone- but to be fair, the guys opposing teams use there would be bigger guys than Campbell.

--

Also for me, is that Campbell was a great luxury to have on a team - I doubt many, if there are any, would have a guy paid top dollar like he was and not be their top defenseman. It isn't a knock on Campbell so much as acknowledging the depth chart on the Hawks for the past couple of seasons.


Incidentally, Stalberg doesn't play ld or rd - he happens to be this seasons' back up goalie. Get that man a cape with #25 on it .. stat.

 

[Diehardfan]

This is interesting- as for me, in watching various highlights -and the very few games I have been able to get (mind you 4 of those were the winning games in the Finals)...

the Hawks' Defense had issues clearing the slot from guys that would go in and camp there -the goalie screeners. It was particularly noticeable on nights where the goalies had trouble controlling rebounds. Campbell couldn't move anyone- but to be fair, the guys opposing teams use there would be bigger guys than Campbell.

--

Also for me, is that Campbell was a great luxury to have on a team - I doubt many, if there are any, would have a guy paid top dollar like he was and not be their top defenseman. It isn't a knock on Campbell so much as acknowledging the depth chart on the Hawks for the past couple of seasons.


Incidentally, Stalberg doesn't play ld or rd - he happens to be this seasons' back up goalie. Get that man a cape with #25 on it .. stat.

Hey Southern, you a Doctor or nurse or do you just watch a lot of Hawthorne or House? The only one I know who uses that term is my wife and she's a nurse.

 

[southern_cross_116]

Hey Southern, you a Doctor or nurse or do you just watch a lot of Hawthorne or House? The only one I know who uses that term is my wife and she's a nurse.

No, unfortunately not ... that was just one of Mike Myers' lines he used as Wayne from Wayne's World...

"Get this man some coffee and cruellers, stat!!!!" I think Garth was having some issue and they hurried him into Stan Mikita's Donuts (in the first movie).

On another note, I have a brother who actually went looking for Stan Mikita's Donuts in North Aurora ( ... yeh, "where's the basement of the Alamo" type things...). :shrug: