Everything Else

Hawks Acquire Karlsson

By Sam Fels 1387 0

No, not that Karlsson, silly.

For a 7th round pick, the Hawks have picked up former Flames backup Henrik Karlsson. What it means, I can’t tell you. But I don’t think it’s simply because of Carter Hutton’s upcoming suspension in the AHL, as the Hogs had already called up Kent Simpson to back up Alec Richards for that. At least I think. It could be that Stan saw what we all saw last night from Emery, and thinks it’s something more than just rustiness and lack of games in the past eight months.

What Karlsson brings is a big frame, which the Hawks seem to like as it probably means he’s in his crease and his defenders know where he’ll be. That doesn’t mean he’s going to stop the puck while everyone knows where he is, however. Karlsson has only had 26 appearances the past two seasons in the Flames continuing attempts to turn Mikka Kiprusoff into flubber. In that limited sample he’s got a .905 SV% and a 2.79 GAA. His performance two years ago in 17 appearances of .908 and 2.58 would probably just clear the acceptable hurdle considering what kind of dog-breath he was playing behind in Calgary.

But it doesn’t look like Karlsson has played anywhere this season, and would face the same sharpness issues as Emery. Guess someone is going to have to explain this one to us.

Update: Karlsson has been assigned to The Rock, but not clear if he’s there to get in shape to replace Emery or to just fill in for Hutton while he’s on “leave.”

Everything Else

Grinds My Gears 1/21

By Sam Fels 1643 0

Good to have this one back.

As expected, the NHL returned this weekend with full houses (for the most part) and record TV audiences for its biggest rivalry (Flyers-Pens) or defending champs raising a banner against one of its most popular teams (Kings-Hawks). This was met with derision from tons of commentators inside and outside the sport. “Look at the rabble,” they mocked, “this is why owners think they can get away with lockouts multiple times per decade. Because they can.”

Do you understand now, hockey fan? You are the Great Enabler, without principle or conviction. When will you understand your plight like everyone else?

Except when you look back almost exactly one year, that is.

Everything Else

Going Down In The Valley: Hawks at Yotes Preview, Pregame Thread, Snowbird Migration

By Sam Fels 1478 0

  @  

 FACEOFF: 9pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, Comcast, WGN Radio 720
ACME’S FAVORITE CUSTOMER: Five For Howling

Turn it right around. That’s how this season is going to go. Any gleam from a win is going to be quickly washed away with the flow of another game right on its tail. So it is as the Hawks return to the Valley Of The Sun/Invisible Owner to face the Coyotes in their home opener tonight.

A lot of the narrative will be about a rematch of last year’s playoff series, Raffi Torres not playing and Marian Hossa playing, Mike Smith, Corey Crawford, etc. But with the urgency now spiced to taste in every game this year thanks to there being only 48 of them, no one should pay too much attention to it. It’s a game on the schedule you need to win, no more no less.

Everything Else

Well, We’re Waiting – The Committed Indian.com’s Season Preview: Q (And The Axe Over His Head)

By Sam Fels 1192 0

The last one, and perhaps the biggest storyline and question the Hawks having going into this season. And with the shortened version of it, the axis has gotten completely tilted. Does the cramped schedule make Q unfireable? Did his margin of error just shrink? Is Jamie Kompon really the bag of broken hammers that Kings fans say he is? It’s going to be fun finding out. And by “fun” I mean “not at all.”

First, we’ve been sitting on this little nugget for a while, and we can finally share it with you.

Everything Else

Well, We’re Waiting – The Committed Indian.com’s Season Preview: The Goalies (Duck!)

By Sam Fels 1141 0

Saving the best for last, eh? Obviously, nothing is going to get the stomach acids and tension headaches going more for Hawks fans than thinking about the goaltending situation. It was the biggest question heading out of last season and it still is heading into this one (and make no mistake, Martin Fucking Brodeur would have solved exactly nothing about it). A lot of you have already chalked this one as the Hawks downfall this season. I won’t say you’re wrong. But I’m not sure I’m there yet.

Ok, put your waders on. This is not going to be clean.

Everything Else

Well, We’re Waiting – The Committed Indian.com’s Season Preview: The Rest Of The Defense (Part 2)

By Sam Fels 1192 0

Ok, let’s keep going.

Johnny Oduya

2011-2012: 81g – 3G – 15A – 18P – -6 – 3.3 SH% – -0.22 Behind The Net Rating

Oduya quickly became the apple of Quenneville’s eye, which led to its share of problems. Oduya showed up proclaiming that he wasn’t a power play player, and yet after one goal against the Rangers he found himself QB-ing the second unit. He got a lot of minutes. It seemed like he was expected to carry the mail at times more than Leddy was.

And then it all crumbled against Phoenix where he got his head kicked in.

Everything Else

Well, We’re Waiting – The Committed Indian.com’s Season Preview: The Rest Of The Defense (Part 1)

By Sam Fels 1297 0

We’re starting to run a little short on time here, so I’m just going to wrap up the rest of the blue line in a two-part post here. Another reason to do that, based on what we’ve heard have been the pairs in this “training camp”, is it’s hard to discern which is the second and which is the third. It might just be that the Hawks have their top pair, and then two others that are going to split the rest of the time evenly. This one we’ll just have to see play out.