07-08 RECORD: 40-34-8 88 pointsDIVISION: 3rd
CONFERENCE: 10th
RESULT: Missed playoffs
OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: C Tim Brent(PITT), D Brian Campbell(BUFF/SJ), D Matt Walker(STL), D Doug Janik(TB), D Aaron Johnson(NYI), G Cristobal Huet
DEPARTURES: C Robert Lang, RW Jason Williams, LW Rene Bourque, G Patrik Lalime, C Yanic Perreault, D Andrei Zyuzin
It was a buys off-season for the Blackhawks after they made huge strides last season and were in contention for the playoffs right to the end of the season. The Blackhawks wanted to make a splash in free agency and had more than enough money to do it. They signed the best defensemen available to fill their need of a puck moving defensemen and a PP QB, Brian Campbell. Campbell has emerged into an elite defensemen in the last couple of years and the Blackhawks paid the price for it, giving Campbell a 8 year contract worth 56 million dollars. Campbell will be looked to lead the young group of players on the Hawks but will have to live up to his gigantic contract at the same time, it shouldn't be a problem for Campbell. The Hawks also signed goaltender Cristobal Huet which was a very surprising move. Huet will now join Nikolai Khabibulin in Chicago's eleven million dollar crease. With these moves it put the Hawks over the cap, so they dealt Robert Lang to the Canadiens. It left the Blackhawks without a veteran centerman and less depth.
CAP HIT: 55.21 million
FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- P.SHARP-J.TOEWS-P.KANE
2- A.LADD-D.BOLLAND-M.HAVLAT
3- D.BYFUGLEIN-P.KONTIOLA-J.SKILLE
4- B.EAGER-A.BURISH-C.ADAMS
E- K.VERSTEEG-T.BRENT-T.BROUWER
The Hawks are full of youth up front especially after now since they traded away Lang. The Hawks will be lead by young Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Both players will be looked to take the next step and become top line players night in and night out. They will be joined by surprising 36 goal man Patrick Sharp, who has all the speed in the world and found his finish last season. Martin Havlat is the veteran of the group but can never by counted on to play more than 70 games a year. The Hawks are hoping he can play at least 70. David Bolland steps into Lang's vacant spot but has never played as a top 6 forward. Andrew Ladd who was acquired from Carolina at the deadline last season also has to take his game to a higher level and become a top 6 forward. Dustin Byfuglein who has been converted from defense to forward was also a nice surprise last season notching 19 goals. He will be looked upon to give the Hawks some secondary scoring. Peter Kontiola and Jack Skille will be everyday players on the hawks this season and will join Byfuglein on the 3rd line. Skille has the potential to be a top 6 forward one day. Ben Eager, Adam Burish and Craig Adams will bring more than enough toughness back on the 4th line.
DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- B.CAMPBELL-D.KEITH
2- C.BARKER-B.SEABROOK
3- B.SOPEL-J.HENDRY
E- M.WALKER-J.WISENIEWSKI(INJ.)
The Hawks have a very good young defensive corps. Lead by Campbell, the Hawks are only going to get better at this position. Campbell will play in all situations and will help the PP. Duncan Keith has emerged as a legitimate top 2 defensemen and is only going to get better. He will probably win the Norris trophy one day. Brent Seabrook has also made great strides since entering the league and will be looked upon to help Cam Barker reach his potential. Barker finally looked like he was making strides to be a top 4 defensemen like the Hawks hoped for when they took him 3rd overall in the '06 draft. He will be looked upon to QB the second PP unit. Brent Sopel brings leadership and will be paired with either Jordan Hendry or Matt Walker on Chicago's 3rd pairing. James Wiseniewwski had a very strong season as well but will be out a couple of months after tearing his right ACL.
GOALIES:
1- C.HUET
2- N.KHABIBULIN
3- C.CRAWFORD
The move to sign Huet was a questionable one, that no one in the NHL could figure out. The Hawks already had Khabibulin, though not playing up to his worth, signed for one more year at 6.75 million dollars. With the Huet signing the Hawks now have over 12 million dollars committed to two goaltenders by far the richest in the league. One of them, most likely Khabibulin could still be moved but at this point, GM Dave Tallon has let it be known that the Hawks plan to have them split time.
OVERALL:
I think the Hawks will eventually be forced to trade Khabibulin whether it is in their plans or not. The Hawks will want to add some leadership up front, most importantly down the middle. Bolland will be given a shot to be the #2 center but if it doesn't work out, Tallon will have to pull the trigger. With Toews and Kane up front and Campbell and Keith on the back end, the Hawks will make the playoffs this season.
PREDICTION: 2nd Division, 7th Conference
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