RealGM

Just an easier recap post of the Hawks that left and what we have coming back for next season:

Traded Away:

Kris Versteeg (Toronto)
Billy Sweat (Toronto)
Dustin Byfuglein (Atlanta)
Ben Eager (Atlanta)
Brent Sopel (Atlanta)
Andrew Ladd (Atlanta)
Akim Aliu (Atlanta)
Colin Fraser (Edmonton)
Adam Burish (Dallas)
Antii Niemi (UFA)

Got Back:

D Ivan Vishnevskiy (22- 27th Pick in the 2006 Draft)
D John Scott (UFA signing from MIN)
LW Viktor Stalberg (24- 14pts in 40gms in TOR)
LW Jeremy Morin (19 - 45th Pick in the 2009 Draft)
C Phillippe Paradis (19- 27th Pick in the 2009 Draft)
C Chris DiDomenico (21)
C Marty Reasoner (33 - 223 Pts in 624 Gms)
RW Jimmy Hayes (21 - 60th Pick in the 2008 Draft)
RW Joey Crabb (27 - 9pts in 29 gms in 09)
G Marty Turco (35 - 2 below average seasons after being dominate for 10)
Atlanta 2011 2nd Round Pick
Edmonton 2011 6th Round Pick (Colin Fraser RFA Signing)

Draft:
RW Kevin Hayes (18)
LW Ludvig Rensfeldt (18)
C Joakim Nordstrom (18)
C Rob Flick (19)
C Mirko Hoeffin (18)
D Justin Holl (18)
D Stephen Johns (18)
D Nick Mattson (19)
G Kent Simpson (18)
G Macmillan Carruth (18)

Top Prospects:

1. LW Kyle Beach (20)
2. D Dylan Olsen (19)
3. D Shawn Lalonde (20)
4. C Marcus Kruger (20)
5. D Nick Leddy (19)

2010-2011 Projected Rotation (Organizational Depth):

LW Sharp - Brower - Kopecky - Beach - Stalberg - Morin
C Toews - Bolland - Reasoner - Dowell - Kruger - DiDomenico
RW Kane - Hossa - Bickell - Skille - Crabb - JHayes
D Keith - Hjalmarsson - Scott - Lalonde - Vishnevskiy - Olsen
D Seabrook - Campbell - Boynton - Connelly - Charlebois - Leddy

G Turco - Huet - Toivonen - Crawford - Richards - Simpson

That is what I think the top 6 at each position looks like right now. All in all the Blackhawks brass did a really good job of cutting pay roll while keeping our best players and getting in a new crop of young prospects. The future is still as bright as it ever was!

really excited about Stalberg and Morin. I think Stalberg can start on the 3rd/4th line now. Morin is an absolute sniper and should be a bright spot in the near future.

A name you didn't mention is Mathis Olimb, Norwegian C 5'10" 170lbs: 27 goals 53 assists in 97 games. Played in the olympics as well. Would be a solid 4th liner. His quickness/playmaking ability would pair well with a sharp shooting wingmen.

With all the dumping that the Blackhawks did, you can arguably say they kept their eight best players assuming Sharp and Hjalmarsson return. And the returns Bowman got for the guys he cut loose is staggering. Pretty much set this team up to be completely refueled in two, maybe three years.

WEFFPIM wrote:With all the dumping that the Blackhawks did, you can arguably say they kept their eight best players assuming Sharp and Hjalmarsson return. And the returns Bowman got for the guys he cut loose is staggering. Pretty much set this team up to be completely refueled in two, maybe three years.

Maybe you can say that for the regular season, but for the play-off's NO.

Jig-Saw Puzzle wrote:

WEFFPIM wrote:With all the dumping that the Blackhawks did, you can arguably say they kept their eight best players assuming Sharp and Hjalmarsson return. And the returns Bowman got for the guys he cut loose is staggering. Pretty much set this team up to be completely refueled in two, maybe three years.

Maybe you can say that for the regular season, but for the play-off's NO.

And?

Jig-Saw Puzzle wrote:

WEFFPIM wrote:With all the dumping that the Blackhawks did, you can arguably say they kept their eight best players assuming Sharp and Hjalmarsson return. And the returns Bowman got for the guys he cut loose is staggering. Pretty much set this team up to be completely refueled in two, maybe three years.

Maybe you can say that for the regular season, but for the play-off's NO.

That's funny cause I thought the only way to get to the playoffs was through the regular season. weird.
Byfuglien is replaceable. Brouwer will do just fine. Sharp/Hjaml were critical to keep. Would've liked to keep Ladd as well, but that's the breaks. Future is still bright, but be sure to tune-in in October rather than April.

The Sharks have signed Hjalmarsson to an offer sheet, Blackhawks have a week to match.

First real test of the offseason.

Looks like we'll have to let him walk and take the 2 picks unless we want to not keep one of Niemi or Sharp. I don't see how we can match and keep those two other guys.

Sign Hammer. Do it. I appreciate what Niemi did for us last season but I don't think he's as good as he's about to be paid. Take the picks and say goodbye.

We just matched the Sharks offer. Hammer is staying put.

The right move to do.

Yes the right move. Now we desperately try and move Huet before Niemi's arb hearing. Hopefully the Hawks and Niemi can come together on an agreement before then.

This team has certainly lost a lot of pieces, but I think management has done a great job in bringing in picks and prospects who will make this team a force well into the next few years.

If you're wondering why I am posting here while having a Red Wings avatar, the answer is that I'm a hockey fan first and foremost, and I really admire, respect and support all the Original Six teams, so I count myself as being something of a Hawks fan.

pktmotion wrote:Yes the right move. Now we desperately try and move Huet before Niemi's arb hearing. Hopefully the Hawks and Niemi can come together on an agreement before then.

Huet to the minors would wipe out $5 million

The Next Big Thing wrote:If you're wondering why I am posting here while having a Red Wings avatar

That's the best looking Red Wings avatar I've ever seen.

SportsWorld wrote:

The Next Big Thing wrote:If you're wondering why I am posting here while having a Red Wings avatar

That's the best looking Red Wings avatar I've ever seen.

I had a Red Wings avatar, but I like this Hawks girl, so I'm going with that at the moment. Seriously though, I can't wait until my team (which is still the Wings, even though I like all the Original Six teams) faces you guys next year.

Ugh we lose a 26 year old goalie with little miles on him for NOTHING.

Really really sucks

I mean for my money is clearly a top 10 goalie in this league

would the bruins lose Rask for nothing over tthomas???? F no!

Im updating my orginal post to reflect this crap

goalies

Vets Huet and Turco

I expect them to be solid but not to win us many games

Turco 27-15-3 2.63ga
Huet 20-13 -4 2.61ga

I think that the hawks would be lucky to get to 100points now. If we went 47-28-7 with 101 I would be thrilled!!!! I think more likely it's like 44-29-9 for 97 in which i also would be happy. IF we can make back into a top 4 seed then next season would be a huge success given that we have lost our best goalie and most of our depth.

Thoughts on the young goalies in the system????

Toivonen?
Crawford - there is a reason we don't give him the chances ya know?
Richards?
Simpson?
Carruth?

My thoughts are this; Hannu is about ready. Crawford is a career minor leaguer. Richards has some skill with his big frame and butterfly take up and could be a potential #2 in the league. Simpson and Carruth are too young to know yet, check back in 3-4 years.

Huet is going down to the minors. Corey Crawford will be the back-up.

Crawford underperformed like mad in the minors last year, Toivonen isn't anything special. That being said, Crawford was better than Niemi at the end of the 08-09 season when they both had their shots with the Hawks and would have been Huet's backup last season but the team couldn't send Niemi to the minors without him becoming a free agent.

And Niemi is not one of the ten best goalies in the league, especially not for $2.75 million.