Blackhawks, Niklas Hjalmarsson Report: Slow Return On Risky Investment

[Savoir_Faire_18]

Just as any business looks for ways to ensure profitability, the Chicago Blackhawks look for the same out of its players. Many risks were taken during the 2010 off-season, unknowing of what was to come. It was simply the price to be paid of a long-run to a Stanley Cup and a couple years of salary inflation.

Now in the midst of a season in which the Blackhawks have yet to carve an identity, we can start to measure some of the off-season moves that were routinely debated.

Check out the entire article: Blackhawks, Niklas Hjalmarsson Report: Slow Return On Risky Investment |

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

This year, I did not think Dustin Byfuglien would become a legitimate star defenseman.

Likewise, I did not see Nick Hjalmarsson becoming essentially the highest paid shot-block specialist in the league.

 

[IvyPickin87]

This year, I did not think Dustin Byfuglien would become a legitimate star defenseman.

Likewise, I did not see Nick Hjalmarsson becoming essentially the highest paid shot-block specialist in the league.

no kidding last year H4 was amazing and looked like a stud and the thrashers are showing us we should have had buff on d. One of those times where you wish you had a time machine and tell the front office what to do.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Hammer is overpaid but so is Soupy by a ton.

 

[Jntg4]

When is Buff a FA?

 

[IvyPickin87]

When is Buff a FA?

after this year he is a RFA so hopefully we can make a play for him but i dont think we have the cap room maybe we can offer atl H4 for buff?

 

[Capt. Serious]

Soupy is making more than Lidstrom...that's just silly.

Hammer has picked his play up. Offensively...meh.

But, his physical play is gone...very disappointing.

 

[Savoir_Faire_18]

Buff is a RFA at the end of the season...

 

[Savoir_Faire_18]

Atlanta has 14.3 mil in cap space... I don't see them parting with Buff now or at the end of the season.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Buff is a RFA at the end of the season...

He'll be making over 5 mil for sure.

 

[AddisonStation]

Hammer is overpaid but so is Soupy by a ton.

Soupy is among the most overpaid players in the league. He's a good player and is probably worth 4.5 - 5 million. A least he is good unlike Wade Redden. What a fail by NYR

 

[Jntg4]

Dean from the place brett05 works has some connections and said some main people in the Hawks FO were trying to spin a deal for Buff a while back.

 

[AddisonStation]

Dean from the place brett05 works has some connections and said some main people in the Hawks FO were trying to spin a deal for Buff a while back.

I don't know why Atlanta would trade him... They have a really good shot st making the playoffs... They are a solid team.

 

[Captain Iago]

Many of us stated when Hammer was offersheeted that he wasn't worth the big raise he was going to get (one way or another). However, it would eventually be set right. While Niemi has been meh, he's not the sole reason SJ is in the hole it's currently in.

Oh, and please stick to the article - don't make this thread a Byfuglien vs Hammer thread.

 

[AddisonStation]

Many of us stated when Hammer was offersheeted that he wasn't worth the big raise he was going to get (one way or another). However, it would eventually be set right. While Niemi has been meh, he's not the sole reason SJ is in the hole it's currently in.

Oh, and please stick to the article - don't make this thread a Byfuglien vs Hammer thread.

I think matching the SJ offer will end up being a good decision. I was and am happy we didn't retain niemi but Hammer is not the worst $3million+ dman in the league. Far from it IMO

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Oh, and please stick to the article - don't make this thread a Byfuglien vs Hammer thread.

Hey, I didn't mean to turn this into a Byfuglien thread. I wasn't comparing the two- I was simply saying that players can really surprise you with the way they change their games... good or bad. (besides... nobody would take #4 over Byfuglien right now)

As mentioned earlier, Hjalmarsson's physical game has all but disappeared. He showed it early in the year when he killed Pominville, but since then it seems like he's not hitting much at all. His overall play has picked up since his rough start and the shot blocking is definitely welcome, but he's hardly been the indispensable 4th d-man that his contract says he is.

Bottom line: he's young and he's far from a bad player. He's good. Best case scenario- he turns into the next Lidstrom (didn't someone in the Hawks management supposedly make that comparison or am I imagining things?). Worst case- he doesn't really progress a lot and ends up being pretty nice trade bait. Lots of teams could use a solid 4th d-man.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Yeah, after he pummeled Pominville, Hammer has been playing a stick check game with guys.

 

[Captain Iago]

Hey, I didn't mean to turn this into a Byfuglien thread. I wasn't comparing the two- I was simply saying that players can really surprise you with the way they change their games... good or bad. (besides... nobody would take #4 over Byfuglien right now)

As mentioned earlier, Hjalmarsson's physical game has all but disappeared. He showed it early in the year when he killed Pominville, but since then it seems like he's not hitting much at all. His overall play has picked up since his rough start and the shot blocking is definitely welcome, but he's hardly been the indispensable 4th d-man that his contract says he is.

Bottom line: he's young and he's far from a bad player. He's good. Best case scenario- he turns into the next Lidstrom (didn't someone in the Hawks management supposedly make that comparison or am I imagining things?). Worst case- he doesn't really progress a lot and ends up being pretty nice trade bait. Lots of teams could use a solid 4th d-man.

Despite you being the first to bring him up, I wasn't picking at you; I understood your point. I was hoping the conversation wouldn't degrade to it as the questions about Buff's contract came flying in.

You're not imagining things - it was actually Scotty Bowman who compared Hammer to Lidstrom.

He was run all to hell in the SCF last season; Philly wrote the book on how to break him. To me, there is really only one good reason why we've seen the horrid start and the turnaround...familiarity. As mentioned, the return of Soupy after the month off due to injury has allowed him to be who he can be at this time.

 

[Relapse]

Buff is simply a rover and power play machine. He still is terrible in his own end and once his numbers cool down people will stop riding him. I will say he has really improved his conditioning and skating this off season and he has surprised me.

Hammer is not the biggest issue right now... Dave Bolland is. Bolland was suppose to be able to take over 2nd line center duties this season. Not only has he not done that but he is not even playing the shut-down role very well this season.

Also Joe Soupy is very overpaid but he has been out best player thus far into the season, and by a lot.

Also did someone seriously say that Hammer could turn into the next Lidstrom? Seriously that made me cry from laughing, Lidstrom is a top 10ish player in NHL history.

 

[AddisonStation]

Buff is simply a rover and power play machine. He still is terrible in his own end and once his numbers cool down people will stop riding him. I will say he has really improved his conditioning and skating this off season and he has surprised me.

Hammer is not the biggest issue right now... Dave Bolland is. Bolland was suppose to be able to take over 2nd line center duties this season. Not only has he not done that but he is not even playing the shut-down role very well this season.

Also Joe Soupy is very overpaid but he has been out best player thus far into the season, and by a lot.

Best player or best Dman?

Also hopefully Bollands huge game will get him going...