Salak? Emery? Other In The Crease?

[5Minutes4Fighting]

What concerns me about this is Craw may end exhausted when the playoffs start from too many games. Two years ago, when Q finally figured out that Niemi was good and Huet sucked, Huet barely played again. Same last year. Once Q figured out that Corey was the real deal and Turco was finished, Turco barely played again.



Based on what I've seen of Emory in the preseason, looks like he may be this year's sucky backup goalie who does not play. Corey get ready for a lot of games. Of course the Hawks could have solved this problem by having a backup who they are willing to have start a game every once in a while, just as they could have went out and got a center for the second line. oh well. If they did, we'd have nothing to complain about.



-5Minutes

 

[IceHogsFan]

BLACKHAWKS ASSIGN SALAK TO ROCKFORD



Chicago, Ill.-The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Ray Emery on a one-year contract and assigned goaltender Alexander Salak to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.



Rockford’s training camp roster now stands at 28 players, including 17 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders.



“We’re in the fortunate position to have to make a difficult decision on two netminders that impressed throughout our entire training camp,” said Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman. “Having both Ray Emery and Alexander Salak as a part of the Chicago Blackhawks organization makes us stronger in both the short-term and long-term.”



Emery, 29, is a veteran of 173 career regular-season games over parts of seven NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators (2002-08), Philadelphia Flyers (2009-10) and Anaheim Ducks (2010-11). The Cayuga, Ontario, native has also posted 20 wins in 36 career appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which includes backstopping the Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Originally selected by Ottawa in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2001 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Emery compiled a 7-2-0 record, 2.28 GAA and .926 save percentage in 10 regular-season tilts with Anaheim last season and appeared in six postseason contests with the Ducks.



Salak, 24, helped lead Farjestad BK to the 2011 Swedish Elitserien championship, ranking second along league netminders with a 1.97 GAA and .926 save percentage in 33 regular-season contests. The goaltender was acquired by Chicago, along with forward Michael Frolik, in a trade with the Florida Panthers on February 9. The Strakonice, Czech Republic, native made his North American debut during the 2009-10 season, being honored as an American Hockey League All-Star in the midst of compiling a 29-14-0 record and a .910 save percentage over 50 games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.



Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 8 vs. Grand Rapids. The IceHogs open the 2011-12 season against the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7:05 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Every fan in attendance will get an IceHogs 2011-12 magnet schedule. For tickets call (815) 968-5222 or visit icehogs.com.

 

[PatrickShart]

It's pre-season...not sure why Emery is getting written off. He signed for 600K.



He played 15 games at the end of last season with ANA -

Playoffs - 6gms - .897% - 3.16ga... facing 32 shots per game (played 1 per in 1 game)

Regular season - 10gms - .926% - 2.28ga ..facing roughly 30 shots in each game

AHL - 5gms - .943% - 1.98ga....facing 33 shots in each game



Total body of work last year....1149min played..2.47ga... .907%....facing 31.9 shots per game



The Hawks last year in the system had Turco (36) and Toivenen (27)...to Emery (29) and Salak (24)



I assume the coaches see these guys in practice. Waite works with all of them, and has input if his mobility is ok, and base their decision on that - not just preseason games where there is no scouting, AHL players in/out of lineups, etc.



And if he shits the bed..they send 600K down, and bring Salak up - who will be getting a full work load in the Rock.

 

[EspoForever]

It's pre-season...not sure why Emery is getting written off. He signed for 600K.



He played 15 games at the end of last season with ANA -

Playoffs - 6gms - .897% - 3.16ga... facing 32 shots per game (played 1 per in 1 game)

Regular season - 10gms - .926% - 2.28ga ..facing roughly 30 shots in each game

AHL - 5gms - .943% - 1.98ga....facing 33 shots in each game



Total body of work last year....1149min played..2.47ga... .907%....facing 31.9 shots per game



The Hawks last year in the system had Turco (36) and Toivenen (27)...to Emery (29) and Salak (24)



I assume the coaches see these guys in practice. Waite works with all of them, and has input if his mobility is ok, and base their decision on that - not just preseason games where there is no scouting, AHL players in/out of lineups, etc.



And if he shits the bed..they send 600K down, and bring Salak up - who will be getting a full work load in the Rock.

Agree that he MIGHT be OK--couple bad outings in preseseason does not write him off--yet. I was impressed with him last year, but because of his loaned games, Salak must clear waivers to be called up for reasons other than injury emergency. Like it or not Emery is our only backup option this year barring injury because other teams would be too likely to steal Salak at half his salary.



I will say that it is hard to play goal when there are players of tremendously varied talent level playing...like it was in preseason. The "normal" anticipation you use when only good players are on the ice can lead to odd goals--and thinking back, a lot of the goals on Emery were weird bounces. Hoping Ray can play like last season! We shall see.

 

[EspoForever]

What concerns me about this is Craw may end exhausted when the playoffs start from too many games. Two years ago, when Q finally figured out that Niemi was good and Huet sucked, Huet barely played again. Same last year. Once Q figured out that Corey was the real deal and Turco was finished, Turco barely played again.



Based on what I've seen of Emory in the preseason, looks like he may be this year's sucky backup goalie who does not play. Corey get ready for a lot of games. Of course the Hawks could have solved this problem by having a backup who they are willing to have start a game every once in a while, just as they could have went out and got a center for the second line. oh well. If they did, we'd have nothing to complain about.



-5Minutes

Marty Brodeur plays a lot of games. Antti and Corey seemed to handle it too. I thought last year's talk of Corey being tired were over-inflated. I am not too worried if Corey plays a lot. I pray he does not get hurt though!

 

[PatrickShart]

I thought it was established Salak would not have to clear waivers?

 

[LordKOTL]

Something tells me that if Emery plays the weaker team of Back-to-backs, and against weaker offensive teams when Dr. Craw needs a breather for a total of about 20-25 games, we should be fine.



I think the success of goals against this year will hinge on the D, and right now my only worry is Montador. If he can't turn it around I fear the coaching staff will leave him in a position of responsibility far beyond his use-by date in a display of futility not unlike Stalberg in the top-6 last year, Icing Cam Barker, Jassen Cullimore, or Andrei Zyuzin, or Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner.

 

[Pez68]

I think Emery will be lucky to get 20 games. I'm thinking Crawford plays no less than 65.

 

[EspoForever]

I thought it was established Salak would not have to clear waivers?

The language says that games loaned from an NHL team to an elite European League count, so I am pretty sure he is eligible for waivers due to pro experience. "He Shoots He Scores" covered it in the thread that came out when the news first broke that Emery was getting a tryout. I will go get a link and link it here.



Here is the link I refer to:



http://www.indianheadnation.com/index.php/topic/3070-ray-emery-invited-to-hawks-camp/page__view__findpost__p__90796

 

[dlrob315]

The language says that games loaned from an NHL team to an elite European League count, so I am pretty sure he is eligible for waivers due to pro experience. "He Shoots He Scores" covered it in the thread that came out when the news first broke that Emery was getting a tryout. I will go get a link and link it here.



Here is the link I refer to:



http://www.indianhea...dpost__p__90796

According to this he is eligible for waivers, unless I am reading it wrong.

 

[R K]

According to this he is eligible for waivers, unless I am reading it wrong.

Must be reading it wrong as he was assigned to Rockford and did not need to clear waivers. No Hawks were sent throught he waivers other than Segal.



60 games or 4 years from signing the NHL contract. Per Kuc and Stan Bowman

 

[R K]

I thought it was established Salak would not have to clear waivers?

It was and he didn't. Assinged to Rockford.

 

[klemmer]

I will say that it is hard to play goal when there are players of tremendously varied talent level playing...like it was in preseason. The "normal" anticipation you use when only good players are on the ice can lead to odd goals--and thinking back, a lot of the goals on Emery were weird bounces. Hoping Ray can play like last season! We shall see.

Good point. For example, my numbers are better in the higher divisions for the reasons you mentioned...



I just didn't like his mechanics at all. Looked like he was just coming back from surgery.

 

[R K]

Good point. For example, my numbers are better in the higher divisions for the reasons you mentioned...



I just didn't like his mechanics at all. Looked like he was just coming back from surgery.

Not to mention your all batty as shit!

 

[klemmer]

Not to mention your all batty as shit!

That's a perquisite for playing the position.

 

[CaveMan]

I don't know much about Salak, but from what I heard he will be up here within a year or two. Right now this move makes sense for all involved. I would like to see Emery punch Luongo in the face a few times too.

 

[mikita's helmet]

60 games or 4 years from signing the NHL contract. Per Kuc and Stan Bowman

So until he plays 58 more NHL games or 5/29/13 (he signed with the Panther on 5/29/09), Salak can be called up from, or sent down to, Rockford at will?

 

[EspoForever]

That's a perquisite for playing the position.

Yeah, I sit back there and talk to the net. It is not much of a conversationalist but it says *PING* all the time for some reason.

 

[EspoForever]

So until he plays 58 more NHL games or 5/29/13 (he signed with the Panther on 5/29/09), Salak can be called up from, or sent down to, Rockford at will?

The language in Waivers 101 (posted by Sharpton above) states that the player gets a certain number of years and games from their FIRST pro contract....so, that is either his contact in 2007 with TPS Turku of the Finn Elite League or 2009 with the Panthers. Assuming that the first contract is the one in 2009, at that time he was 22 years old, so if waivers 101 is right, he was exempt 4 years or 60 games. It goes on to say that, for players over age 20, AHL and loaned games count so his 2 NHL games with Florida and the 48 played for Rochester put him at 50 games experience...so he would have 10 games left at most before he is waiver eligible. The odd thing is that he played 32 games last year in the Swedish Elite League while under contract to Florida when he was traded to us, so if the language of waivers 101 is right, I don't know why those games would not put him over 60.



The first day of the season which players are subject to waivers is twelve days prior to the start of the regular season, so being sent down Monday without having to clear must mean he is OK, and for some reason the loaned games in Sweden last year must not count.



That is good for the Hawks but a bit puzzling.

 

[klemmer]

Yeah, I sit back there and talk to the net. It is not much of a conversationalist but it says *PING* all the time for some reason.

I always wear some red so the posts know who they are playing for!