Day one of camp: Trib
Stalberg expects more ice in NSH: TSN
The next HOF Class will be announced today: PHT
Grading the Black Friday in July: PD
We’ll probably need another lockout: Sporting News
Dallas already disappointed with Seguin: SI
The Blackhawks’ annual Prospect Camp opened up this afternoon with two practice sessions at Johnny’s Ice House West. Although the kids mainly just went through typical drills that a normal hockey practice features, it was a great opportunity to impress the coaches, staff and fans with their skills.
Time for camp: Chicago Tribune
Players to watch: SunTimes
Welcome to the future: Daily Herald
Free Agent Recap: Cheer the Anthem
A good place: ESPN Chicago
Corsi and Moneyball:The Leafs Nation
This kid is something else: TSN
With Ray Emery’s understandable departure for a shot at the starting gig in Philadelphia and Carter Hutton signing with the Preds, that left a void that Stan Bowman would have to fill outside the organization in the form of a backup goalie. Antii Raanta and Mac Carruth both appear to have bright futures ahead of them, but need work in the North American-slash-Pro game respectively. Simply put, the Hawks needed a backup for Corey Crawford, who himself is entering a contract year.
I don’t think anyone thought it was going to mean the return of Nikolai Khabibulin.
So far the Hawks offseason, when not soaked in booze, has been about not losing too much ground. And today they’d done that.
The Hawks re-signed their two Michals, Handzus and Rozsival. Both are on one year deals, which will be part of the continued plan next year as the Hawks will want to open up spots for kids (Danault at center? Clendening or Olsen on the blue line?).
The money for Zus is $1 million, or basically nothing. Handzus, if properly slotted and used, can be still be a pretty good support player. He can’t play 82 games and nor should the Hawks make him, and he really would have no business on the 2nd line other than spot duty. But he might allow Shaw to move to wing where he can make up some of the Frolik-Stalberg gap, can win some draws, and at least be Pirri-pissing-himself insurance.
As for Rozsival, he turned out to be the sneaky-effective signing we thought he might be, and as volatile as the #6 spot on your blue line can be, it’s probably safest to go with what worked before but not go over the top. If Rozie indeed only got another one year deal to stay, that’s fine. He’ll take some games off and will platoon with Brookbank again (or any Hog that pops up big time), and that’s exactly how it should be. We have seen for two consecutive seasons now with two different teams that in the crucible of the playoffs, Rozsival brings his best.
Only Kruger to bring back and to find another backup goalie, which might end up being Antti Raanta anyway.
Update: Rozsival got two years, but not really a huge deal unless the money is just ungodly stupid.
Discuss everything here, and we’ll post stories as they happen. If they happen, which they probably won’t around here.
Waite heads to Montreal: ESPN Chicago
Q and the Cup in another parade: Blackhawks
There is a salary cap right?: PHT
We get mad when athletes use cliches and we blast them when they speak their mind: PD
‘Murica: Sporting News
The Hawks will be seeing more Seguin: TSN
As promised, it’s available today. And there are two ways you can get it. First, you can order a hard copy of it and have it mailed to you for $5 by hitting this button right here, and have something to hold and put over the mantle or roll it up and smoke it or whatever you want:
As promised, it’s available today. And there are two ways you can get it. First, you can order a hard copy of it and have it mailed to you for $5 by hitting this button right here, and have something to hold and put over the mantle or roll it up and smoke it or whatever you want:
Leddy gets 2, no # yet, should be cheap as they didn’t buy UFA years from him: ESPN Chi
The names you’ll need to know for after the next Cup sell off: Hockey’s Future
Cullen looking for more than he should be: PHT
Nobody thought to fix this before it was released?: Puck Daddy
This is kind of terrifying: ESPN LA
Muir sizes up free agency: SI
A festival of stupid kept the Yotes in the dessert and set them up to succeed: USA Today
