The Blackhawks have reached a deal with Nigerian-born right winger Akim Aliu, signing him to a three-year contract.
The well-traveled Aliu (born in Nigeria, raised in Ukraine, moved with his parents to Toronto in the '90s) was the Hawks' third pick in the '07 draft. Read about the deal here and see a bit of Aliu in action here.
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
In an offseason full of major moves for the Blackhawks, the most biggest of all was the annoucement yesterday that Scotty Bowman will join the team as a Special Advisor of Hockey Operations.
Bowman is the closest thing to a living hockey icon off the ice, having coached his teams to a record nine Stanley Cup victories. Bowman is the only coach to take 3 different teams (the Canadians, Penguins, and Red Wings) to Finals victories, and his 1,244 regular season and 223 playoff victories are NHL records. Bowman was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991 as a builder, and retired from coaching after winning the Cup in 2002 with the Red Wings. Since that time he's worked as a special consultant in Detroit, and has spurned offers from other teams.
So what brings him to Chicago? Family. His son Stan has been in the Hawks organization for eight years, and is currently the team's assistant general manager. Scotty said the chance to work with his son and an organization that is making huge strides prompted the move to the Windy City.
When I went to Detroit as the coach 15 years ago, the team was really on the upswing. Looking at what's here for me and for the Hawks, it's a challenge again. I would say the biggest reason is to work with my son. It doesn't happen often in sports, but it is happening here. It's certainly an exciting day for myself and for the family."
The Blackhawks organization was long-defined by former owner William Wirtz and his right-hand man Bob Pulford, a Hall-of-Famer himself. However, Pulford's involvement in the day-to-day operations of the team is believed to have been a major factor in the team's struggles. When Wirtz passed away and his son Rocky took over, one of his first moves was to move Pulford to a position in the company outside of the Hawks. While Bowman will play a peripheral role as a consultant, he is considered one of the best evaluators and ambassadors of the game, and his mere presence will make the Hawks a stronger organization and provide GM Dale Tallon an invaluable resource to return the Hawks to contenders.
In other Hawk-related news, at the first-ever fan convention July 18-20, the team announced plans to retire the #3 worn by Hall-of-Famer Pierre Pilotte and the late Keith Magnunson. Along with that nod to the past, the team solidified their future by naming 20-year old Jonathon Toews the captain. Toews is the third-youngest player to ever wear the C, and earned the honor after becoming the de facto team leader during his rookie year.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
Despite the weather's attemps to smother Chicago in oppressive humidity lately, the Blackhawks have been in the news this week.
First, the long-rumored Winter Classic outdoor game at Wrigley Field was finally, officially, announced Wednesday. The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings will face off at noon on New Year's Day.
The next day, the remaining 81 games on the Hawks schedule were revealed. The team kicks off the season in Madison Square Garden October 10 against the Rangers and in Washington the next night before the United Center home opener October 13 against Nashville.
Other notable home games on the schedule include the following:
San Jose - November 16.
New Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell's former team (for half a season) and Jeremy Roenick bring the Sharks to Chicago.
Philadelphia - December 26.
The return of the resurgent Flyers for the first time in three seasons.
New York Rangers - January 16.
An Original Six matchup with the Blueshirts.
Pittsburgh - February 27.
Superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead the Penguins into town.
Detroit - April 12.
After traveling to Detroit April 11, the teams battle in the second half of a home-and-home to finish the regular season.
Sun-Times writer Carol Slezak has an in-depth profile of team chairman Rocky Wirtz that is a great piece for anyone who wants to learn more abuot the team's dramatic turnaround in the past year. Change you really can believe in!
If you see a multitude of sweater-wearers downtown this weekend, they are not crazy, despite the hot and humid forecast. They're most likely making their way to the Hilton for the first Blackhawks convention, which opens this evening and runs through Sunday. Team president John McDonough lifted a page from his tenure with the Cubs to create the offseason festivities for fans to unite and meet past and present players. Passes sold out in two weeks last spring, and for fans from across the country, the big weekend has finally arrived. So while it's not the best sweater weather, it's for a good reason.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
It's official (sort of). The much-speculated Blackhawks game at Wrigley Field (which we wrote about earlier) appears to be a go, according to various sources. The game against the Detroit Red Wings reportedly will be held on New Year's Day, though the official announcement is slated for next week. Let's see... New Year's Day, outdoor hockey in Chicago, hangovers. Should be an interesting time.
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
The first day of free agency signing has been a dismal one for the Blackhawks in years past, as marquee players would pass up Chicago for stronger teams, leaving the Hawks to overpay for less talented alternatives (paging Adrian Aucoin).
However, yesterday's signing day made a strong statement that the Blackhawks are back, as the team inked two-time All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, who was the top blueliner available. The Hawks also inked goalie Cristobal Huet, one of the top netminders on the market.
The 29-year-old Campbell is a quick-skating D-man who fills one of the Hawks' biggest needs, a quarterback for the powerplay. Huet is an upgrade over former backup goalie Patrick Lalime and lead Washington to a playoff berth last season while posting a 32-14-6 record and a 2.32 goals-against-average.
The contracts given to Campbell and Huet were shocking, but GM Dale Tallon took no chances in locking up the players he coveted.
"We had to make statement with the buzz we have created in Chicago,” Tallon said. “Our franchise decided that we would try and make an impact today to try and continue that momentum. When you do that, you will overpay.”
Campbell signed an eight-year deal that will pay him $7 million annually, a huge investment for the Hawks, and Huet's four-year deal nets him $5.6 million per season. The signings put the Hawks roughly $3 million over the salary cap, so the Hawks expect a few cost cutting deals, like the trade that sent Rene Bourque to Calgary in exchange for a draft pick. Although Tallon has stated he thinks the tandem of Huet and Nicolai Khabibulin is one of the best in the league, with both earning starter's money, Habby may be trade material to get under the cap as well.
While the cost of the signings is high, Campbell and Huet will pay immediate dividends as the Hawks look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Hawks young defensive corp just earned a franchise veteran to mentor them, and Campbell's power-play skills will upgrade a special teams unit that finished 24th a year ago. Huet has posted some strong numbers since coming to the league in 2002, and his signing gives the Hawks some long-term insurance in net, as Khabibulin is in the final year of his contract.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
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Making the long-rumored official, the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed back Pat Foley into the broadcast booth yesterday.
Foley was the voice of the Hawks for more than 25 years, before being let go two season ago after clashing with management. Foley spent the last two seasons calling AHL Chicago Wolves games, and while rumors swirled of his return, the annoucement couldn't be made official until the Wolves wrapped up their championship season last week.
Foley's rehiring continues the moves new owner Rocky Wirtz has made to restore the traditions of a once-proud franchise and rebuild the fanbase. Fans have always appreciated Foley's genuine enthusiasm and "call it like you see it" approach to the game, even if that meant being overly critical of the team on the ice, and his departure left many fans as angry as when star players were shown the door.
However, all that is forgotten, and Foley is rightfully back where he belongs. It'll be great to hear Pat's voice, especially with all 82 games on broadcast TV.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (1)
Blackhawks star rookie Patrick Kane won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year last night, edging out teammate Jonathon Toews and Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom. Kane lead both the Hawks and all rookies in scoring with 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists), dispelling the worry that the 5'10", 163-pound teenager wouldn't be able to withstand the rigors of an NHL season. Kane is the first Chicago player to win the award since netminder Ed Belfour in 1990-91.
Kane and Toews were also named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team for their stellar first campaigns. The duo helped revitalize the moribund Blackhawk franchise, pushing them to the brink of a playoff berth and providing an excitement that has long been missing in the United Center.
While Kane is more than deserving of Rookie of the Year honors due to his playmaking ability and point totals, Toews was in many ways the heart and soul of the franchise. He led all rookies in goals with 24 despite missing more than a month with a knee injury, which coincided with a 10-game losing streak by the Blackhawks.
The terrific twosome will be back on the ice for their sophomore seasons next fall, hoping to lift the Hawks back into the Stanley Cup playoffs and continue their already rapid development. With both Kane and Toews in the Indianhead sweater, the future of the Blackhawks looks bright.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
Various sources are reporting that the NHL has reached an agreement to have the Blackhawks welcome the Detroit Red Wings next season in the next installment of the Winter Classic. While there is no official announcement yet, it’s expected the game will be held at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, not surprising given Hawks' team president John McDonough’s ties to the Cubs. Plus, how great will the landmark ballpark and adjoining rooftops look on national TV, provided the winter cooperates?
It's a logical choice for the NHL, featuring two Original Six markets who are also fierce rivals. With the Blackhawks' recent revitalization, a national audience in a historic setting will further enhance the team's recognition. And the Wings may come in as the defending Stanley Cup champions, as they currently are up 2-1 in the Finals.
In a strange coincidence, or coordinated marketing ploy timed with the possible announcement of the game, Hawks legends Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito will be at Wrigley tomorrow to sing the 7th inning stretch.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
The Blackhawks’ dream of hosting the next NHL outdoor game took a step closer to reality when they Commissioner Gary Bettman said recently that the proposed game for Yankee Stadium (in its last season before being torn down) may not happen.
Thanks to “a variety of issues” surrounding the Yankee Stadium selection (including winterization issues like pipes that normally go unused after baseball season being asked to support fans in the dead of winter), the Hawks moved up the ladder of potential hosts. It’s a list that includes Penn State’s Beaver Stadium (for a potential game between Pennsylvania teams the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers), as well as Soldier Field.
As one of the “Original Six” teams, the Blackhawks have that bit of history on their side in the decision-making process. Hawks’ officials are pushing hard for the game to be played either at Soldier Field or even Wrigley Field. A decision is expected to be reached by the first week of June.
- Ken Green | Comments (0)
In the May installment of of righting the wrongs of years past comes news the Blackhawks have parted ways with TV play-by-play man Dan Kelly, with many people expecting that famed broadcaster Pat Foley will return to the Hawks fold next season.
Foley called Blackhawks games on TV and radio for more than 25 years before the team withdrew a new contract offer in 2006, ending his longstanding tenure over unspecified "personal" reasons. Foley was a fan favorite both for his excitable and passionate play-by-play and his unabashedly honest assessment of the team's strengths and weaknesses, which is the factor many believe led to his ultimate dismissal.
Foley moved to Allstate Arena to call games for the Chicago Wolves, but with his contract up at the end of the year, Hawks President John McDonough appears primed to welcome back the "Voice of the Blackhawks" in the latest attempt to rebuild the bridge to the team's storied history.
Dan Kelly was behind the mike for two uneven seasons, with many fans unhappy with his style and the frequent tangent discussions with partner Eddie Olczyk that often resulted in missed calls. A change was becoming necessary in any event, but the return of Pat Foley will make many a Hawks fan's day.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
With Nashville's victory over St. Louis last night, the Blackhawks playoff hopes were officially dashed. The Hawks welcome the Predators for their home finale tonight in what would have been a monumental battle for the final seed, winner take all, if the Blues held on for the win last night.
Despite the team missing the postseason for the fifth straight year, the season has been astounding to see, both on and off the ice. With two games left, the Hawks (currently 39-33-8) are guaranteed to finish with a winning record for just the second time in the past 10 years, and their current 86 points is already a marked improvement over last season's 71. Patrick Kane is leading all rookies in scoring with 69 points, and his closest competition for the Calder Trophy (given to the rookie of the year) is his teammate Jonathon Toews. The duo has led the resurgence on the ice, with a number of promising youngsters posting career years this season.
More importantly, with the team playing meaningful games this late in the season, the United Center has been rocking with the return of a long-dormant fanbase.The team's 11 sellouts are more than the last five years combined, and tonight's home finale will be standing-room only and the 12th capacity crowd at the UC this season. Overall, the Hawks are averaging nearly 4,000 more fans a game this season, as fans starved for a winner have flocked to the United Center. The buzz is back on Madison and looks to only keep building next season as GM Dale Tallon enters a critical offseason for the franchise. This year's success was a surprise to many, but the expectations will be raised for the Blackhawks next year.
I'll post a more in-depth wrap up of the highs and lows of this historical season later on, but for now, I appreciate having the Hawks back to being relevant.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
In a historic announcement this afternoon, the Blackhawks made official plans to broadcast their entire 82-game schedule, as well as playoff games, including all home games from the United Center.
And no, despite the date, this is not an April Fool's joke. Believe it, people. The Blackhawks are on TV, every game!
Combining with the team's current agreement with Comcast Sportsnet, the Hawks announced a three-year deal with WGN Television that will see the station broadcast up to 20 games per year in HD, with Comcast televising the remaining contests.
The agreement reestablishes a link between 'GN and the franchise from the '60s and '70s, when the station was the home of the Blackhawks. In fact, WGN broadcast the clinching game of the Hawks' last Stanley Cup, way back in 1961.
It's Christmas on April Fool's day for Blackhawks fans.
In other news, this year's squad is still harboring playoff aspirations, sitting four points out of the final spot with three games remaining, including tomorrow's home game against the rival Red Wings. A loss tomorrow will end the team's hopes; in fact, it can't afford to lose any of its games. But meaningful hockey in April is a rare sight, and a successful finish will help the young team carry over into next year's TV-laden season.
- Jeremy Piniak | Comments (0)
Given the recent success of the Blackhawks, the Trib profiles the team's chairman, Rocky Wirtz, and surveys the current state of the team.
- David Schalliol | Comments (0)
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