Hawks 2010 Off-Season Transactions/Rumors

[mikita's helmet]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Jason Gregor twitter:



"Pisani signs with the Hawks. One way deal for $500,000. He told me the Hawks want him in a checking role but will get other chances as well."



http://twitter.com/JasonGregor

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

On the bright side he fights as well as Burish:



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNg-2QfmDEM[/youtube]

 

[bookjones]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Pisani seems like a potentially excellent, very low-risk and low-cost signing as long as his disease is under control and he's in generally good health! Obviously meant to fill the PK badassness hole left by Madden.



From an Edmonton Journal blog:

The signing of Pisani a good bet by Blackhawks

By CULT OF HOCKEY WED, AUG 18 2010 COMMENTS(6) CULT OF HOCKEY



Oilers stalwart Fernando Pisani -- one of the final members of the Stanley Cup finalist '06 squad still on the team -- has signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.



The deal is one-year, one-way, $500,000, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug. That's a great deal for Pisani, and maybe for the Hawks as well. If Pisani is healthy, the Blackhawks are signing a useful player, even though Pisani was arguably the worst Oilers forward at even strength last season.



The Hawks are the kings of even strength play, of course, so it's not as if Pisani is needed to star in that role on the Hawks. Instead, it's likely that Pisani will be most utilized in Chicago where he is best utilized, as a penalty killing ace.



When it comes to killing penalties, even an ailing Pisani has been the Oil's best penalty killer by far the past two seasons. Indeed, his performance on the kill has been so competent, I'd venture a guess that he's one of the two or three best penalty killing wingers in the entire NHL.



Before we count the ways Pisani was great on the penalty kill, however, let's take a closer look at his weak play at even strength.



Even among Oilers forwards, the worst group in the NHL, Pisani ranked poorly. He had few shots on net, the shots that did come were from outside, he made not one, single hard play at the net that saw the Oilers score a goal, he scored goals at a slower rate than any other forward (and, yes, that includes J.F. Jacques), and he contributed to goals at a lesser rate than any other Oilers forward.



His defensive play at even strength wasn't much better. He made a high number of mistakes that led to goals against and he was out for a massive number of shots and goals against.



So why bother signing the player?



Well, for one thing, according to Behind the Net, Pisani faced the toughest quality of competition of all Oilers players last season. He was entrusted with tough checking assignments, and if he struggled, at least he was struggling against the Jarome Iginlas and Patrick Kanes of the world.



But, really, the big factor is his work on the penalty kill.



You've all heard of players with a "good stick" defensively. Well, Pisani has an excellent stick, the best stick. He has a great sense of where to position himself at the top corner of the box in order to deflect, deny or pick off passes.



In 2008-09, in 91 minutes of penalty killing, he made just one mistake that contributed to a goal against the Edmonton Oilers, by far the best rate on the team. By comparison, his teammate Ethan Moreau, now in Columbus, made 17 such goals against-contributing errors in 199 penalty kill minutes that year.



This year, 2009-10, it was the same story. In 92 minutes on the kill, Pisani made just three goal-causing mistakes. Moreau made 12 in 162 minutes, Patrick O'Sullivan 12 in 116 minutes.



If you compare the goal-causing mistakes these players made per 60 minutes of penalty killing time, Pisani's rate two years ago was 0.65/60 and his rate this year was 1.97/60.



Over those two years, the next best Oiler on the kill was Erik Cole in 2008-09 with 2.20/60, and Shawn Horcoff and Andrew Cogliano this past year, at 2.95/60. Moreau was 4.44/60 in 2009-10, 5.13/60 in 2008-09.



Pisani succeeds so well in his own end on the kill because it's a mental game, all about reading the play, positioning the stick, making the right decision. At even strength, defensive play is more about brute strength and winning physical battles. The ailing Pisani struggled a bit at those two things, but with better health, one could reasonably expect his even strength defensive play to pick up as well.



If he's not expected to check the top scorers of the NHL, that would be a plus for him as well. On a fourth line, with softer minutes, I expect he will do just fine.



He's not going to score goals or create them. He never has been anything more than a grinder with a streaky touch here and there. But if Chicago is looking for a shut-down forward on the kill, Pisani is a great bet.



If Chicago is looking for a decent defensive winger at even strength, Pisani is an OK bet. It all depends on his health.



In the past two years, he has missed large chunks of time, playing just 38 games in 2008-09, 40 games in 2009-10. This is the real risk for the Hawks.



So good luck to them, and to Pisani, on that account.



The man is still a hero in Edmonton, revered by the Oilnoscenti for his head for the game, his hustle and his stellar play in '06. He will be missed, but he makes more sense as a role player in Chicago than as someone trying to do the heavy lifting again here in Edmonton.



SOURCE: http://communities.canada.com/edmon...-pisani-an-excellent-move-by-black-hawks.aspx

 

[PatrickShart]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

He could fill the role that Ladd played with Chicago if healthy. Great cheap signing scooter!!

 

[Ton]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="pmxc12873"]He could fill the role that Ladd played with Chicago if healthy. Great cheap signing scooter!![/quote]



Agreed, Pisani could be a good replacement for Ladd provided he is healthy. Pisani is a good shutdown forward. Might look good with Bolland.



Very happy with the signing.

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Toews' plan for newbies

6:20AM ET

Jonathan Toews | Blackhawks



The Chicago Blackhawks brought in several new guys this offseason, including Marty Turco, John Scott and Fernando Pisano, among others. And these vets -- along with the new youngsters -- maybe be hearing from their captain early in training camp.



The 22-year-old captain tells the Globe and Mail, "We need to make them understand what the locker-room culture's all about and how hard we work and what it takes to be a Blackhawk. This year we're going to have a different team. ... As a captain, I've got my work cut out for me I guess."



The bigger challenge for Toews -- and coach Joel Quenneville -- may be compensating for the departures of guys like Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd. But, even with these challenges, at least one coach still thinks they're the team to beat.

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Who can pay Niemi?

8:34AM ET

Antti Niemi | Blackhawks



The two teams we've heard most linked with Antti Niemi are the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks. But they may not be able to pay the goaltender after this week.



Both teams are after Willie Mitchell and, depending on how much he signs for, these clubs may not have the cash for Niemi. The Caps have $5.3 million in cap space so it is possible that they can fit Niemi under the cap while also adding Mitchell. The Sharks, however, have $3.1 million so it's unlikely they'd sign Niemi if they added Mitchell.



Meanwhile, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon has expressed interest in Niemi -- and they have the cap space to add him -- but he'll only do it at the right price. He still has Tomas Vokoun and Scott Clemmensen, with prospect Jacob Markstrom likely coming up in 2011, so it might be a tough decision for Tallon to add Niemi. Another team that could be interested is the Nashville Predators, but they've indicated that they'll give some young goalies a chance to backup Pekka Rinne before they look on the market for another stopper.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

MassHavoc: So YOU don't have to subscribe to ESPN INsider!

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]MassHavoc: So YOU don't have to subscribe to ESPN INsider![/quote]

I gotta have something to offer around here.

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

The Huet rule?

8:30AM ET

Cristobal Huet | Blackhawks



The Chicago Blackhawks may be able to dump Cristobal Huet's cap hit by transferring him to a Swiss team. This will essentially be the same as burying him in the minors, which some think is a form of cap circumvention.



But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tells Hockey Night In Canada's Jeff Marek that it isn't circumvention -- it's "cap management."



However, Bettman told Marek that this is "something to look at." Translation: It might be a loophole the NHL looks to close when they negotiate a new CBA in 2012.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Has there been anythign else discussed about Huet and the SEL?

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Haven't seen anymore Huet, but... (and I apologize in advance since they technically aren't hawks anymore, I'll post them in the other thread too)

Sharks likely passing on Niemi

9:13AM ET

Antti Niemi | Blackhawks



Antti Niemi is still unsigned and it looks more and more like the San Jose Sharks won't bring him in.



GM Doug Wilson tells the San Jose Mercury News, "We made our move on our goaltender."



That's similar to what Wilson told us earlier in the summer when we asked whether he'd be interested in Marty Turco. And it's not a huge surprise, because the Sharks really like what they have in new goalie Antero Niittymaki. Not only is he inexpensive, but Wilson has said he has the right "style" of game to be successful today's NHL.



Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers may still have interest in Niemi, though a signing may not happen until training camps get under way.

Byfuglien may play D

7:32AM ET

Dustin Byfuglien | Thrashers



It looks like the Atlanta Thrashers have Dustin Byfuglien penciled in to play defense. Last season, Byfuglien was the forward in front of the net during the Chicago Blackhawks' Cup run. But the big guy is now in Atlanta and, as GM Rick Dudley tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "It's a position that he likes to play. It's a position that I thought he was well on his way to being a top, top defenseman in Chicago."



Dudley, who was an assistant GM with the Hawks, said they only moved Byfuglien to forward because they needed size up front. But now Dudley hopes Big Buff can make the move back.



However, he says coach Craig Ramsay has the ultimate call, so it might all depend on how those around him perform and where they need him most.

 

[the canadian dream]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="pmxc12873"]He could fill the role that Ladd played with Chicago if healthy. Great cheap signing scooter!![/quote]





I actually disagree. I like the Pisani siging with the "if he stays healthy" scenerio. But he is no Andrew Ladd. Ladd won't be replaced. I'm telling you he will be the one body that is missed this season.



Im just not as confident as everyone else that Ladd is that easily replaceable. The other guys we lost... maybe Ladd...no. Other than Toews I don't there was another FORWARD on the team that came out to compete as hard as Ladd did game in and game out. And that's not a knock on the other guys like Kane, Brouwer, Eager, Buff, etc etc. Thise guys certainly put the effort in every game (Buff is a question mark) but they seemed to be easily distracted and frustrated at times. Didn't see that from Ladd very often. Guy played hard nose 2 way hockey and seemed pretty damn focused every shift.



Really think Ladd is underestimated by some. I think the hole will be felt. And that's not to discredit the rest of the roster. I still love it and have high expectations for the team and players.





P.S. on the Buff blurb havoc posted....so Atlanta doesn't need big bodies up front? RIIIIGHT!!

 

[Ton]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="the canadian dream"]





I actually disagree. I like the Pisani siging with the "if he stays healthy" scenerio. But he is no Andrew Ladd. Ladd won't be replaced. I'm telling you he will be the one body that is missed this season.



Im just not as confident as everyone else that Ladd is that easily replaceable. The other guys we lost... maybe Ladd...no. Other than Toews I don't there was another FORWARD on the team that came out to compete as hard as Ladd did game in and game out. And that's not a knock on the other guys like Kane, Brouwer, Eager, Buff, etc etc. Thise guys certainly put the effort in every game (Buff is a question mark) but they seemed to be easily distracted and frustrated at times. Didn't see that from Ladd very often. Guy played hard nose 2 way hockey and seemed pretty damn focused every shift.



Really think Ladd is underestimated by some. I think the hole will be felt. And that's not to discredit the rest of the roster. I still love it and have high expectations for the team and players.





P.S. on the Buff blurn havoc posted....so Atlanta doesn't need big bodies up front? RIIIIGHT!![/quote]



I don't disagree, but Pisani certainly can be utilized as a good shutdown forward along with Bolland in the same way Ladd was.



Not saying he will replace him, but he can play his role if he is healthy.



That said, its pretty obvious that Ladd>Pisani... Ladd will definitely be missed but his role as a shutdown forward can be replaced. I'd love to have both. Hope Pisani can live up to it and find chemistry with Bolland to form a decent shutdown duo.

 

[roshinaya]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="bubbleheadchief"]Has there been anythign else discussed about Huet and the SEL?[/quote]



FYI, SEL refers to the Swedish Elite League, the Swiss is known as NLA, National League A.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="roshinaya"]



FYI, SEL refers to the Swedish Elite League, the Swiss is known as NLA, National League A.[/quote]

Whichever, has there been anymore talk of him being "loaned"

 

[MassHavoc]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

What Byfuglien to D means

8:52AM ET

Dustin Byfuglien | Thrashers



The Atlanta Thrashers could move Dustin Byfuglien back to defense, which would cause a domino effect on the roster. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that this opens up a potential hole for Spencer Machacek, a 2007 third-rounder who had a good season in the minors last year.



However, Machecek will be back in the minors of the Thrashers sign forward Lee Stempniak. They've been interested in the veteran winger, but it might come down to how much money he asks for. Also, it could depend on how coach Craig Ramsay wants to shape his roster, because GM Rick Dudley said it would be up to Ramsay whether Big Buff moves to defense.



Meanwhile, it might also open up a spot for Alexander Burmistrov, the 2010 first-rounder, but most suspect he's not ready for the physical toll of the NHL.

 

[EspoForever]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

[quote name="bubbleheadchief"]

Whichever, has there been anymore talk of him being "loaned"[/quote]

I heard somewhere that the move to send a player to Europe could only be done within like 12 days of training camp or so. If that is true, that's likely why news has died down. For now.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Grand Forks, North Dakota represent!



http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=333151



Have fun in Rockford

 

[Guest]

Re: Hawks' Offseason Transactions/Rumors

Adding depth. I like it. Reading most comments on him, they are mostly positive as potential.



Last year it was said Jack Skille was unhappy about making just 55k in the AHL. Other AHL teams paid players 65k, making the Hawks, at the time, one of the lowest salary scale AHL teams I believe. It's great to see the Hawks raise the bar as several players now on two way contracts are making 105k in the AHL. Making this an organization to play for at all levels only shows the change in Ideal for this organization. Making money or not they are continuously building a place players want to play in. At any level of the organization.