2008 Season Thoughts: MrMiller

Thanks to the Trophy Generation mentality and the effects of the "No Child Left Behind Act", grading the success of the 2008-2009 Chicago Blackhawks should be as easy as giving all the players, coaches and management across the board A's and B's.

Here at Blackhawkzone, it doesn't work that way.

Arimaq79 gave Pahlsson, Walker and Campbell season ending F's. theFoss also didn't have the highest regard for Campbell, Eager and General Manager Dale Tallon. Individual performances require a closer look and statistics often tell difference stories. There are no consensus, opinions vary, and what seems obvious to some was completely lost by others.

With that, the 2008-2009 Season Review of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Kane/Toews (or Toews/Kane).
The names are virtually synonymous. One is rarely mentioned without the other. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are the cornerstone of the youngest team in the NHL and the poster children for the resurgence of hockey in Chicago.

Toews' 34 goals led the team. Kane's 25 goals and 45 assists placed him second on the roster. As much as people marvel at the skills of Martin Havlat, this was the first season in nine he hit the 70 point mark. Kane has done it twice in two seasons.

They were #1 and #2 in powerplay goals. Both were at, or near the top, in shooting percentage. Both are seriously too young to grow any sort of real playoff beard.

Defensively there's room for improvement in Kane's game (he was -2 for the season). Toews doesn't have many flaws and should only get better.

MrMiller's year-end grades: Toews...A; Kane...B

Martin Havlat
Due to a variety of injuries over the past few seasons, Havlat's $6 million per year worth has often been questioned. This season - a completely healthy one in which he played in 81 games scoring 29 goals and 48 assists - should put those critics to rest. But they won't.

"Yeah he had a good season, but...

Not looking into what his future in Chicago may bring, but rather looking at his contributions for this past season, Havlat deserves high marks. He broke the 70 point plateau for the first time in his career and finished the season with other career highs with 249 SOG and a +29.

MrMiller's year-end grade: A

Dustin Byfuglien
Was last season's 19 goals and 17 assists worth a $3 million year contract extension? His numbers dropped this year with only 15 goals and 16 assists. With the return on investment factor always present in today's salary cap environment, I can't honestly answer that question with a resounding YES.

But his contributions seemed to have came at key times and his play in the playoffs was certainly taken to another level. Although he needs to show more consistency and play a more physical game, Byfuglien has some real worth to this team. He's no longer a project and fan patience might be running thin on the big forward.

MrMiller's year-end grade: C+

Duncan Keith
Keith finished the season with 8 goals, 36 assists, and had 173 SOG. He most always led the team in total ice time and yet somehow only Blackhawk fans see that he's not only the best blue liner on the team, but perhaps one of the best in the league. He also was the team leader with a +33.

At 6'0", 195 lbs. he may not be the most intimidating defenseman around but he truly makes his presence felt night-in and night-out. And when paired with Brent Seabrook, the pair creates a lot of problems for the opposition.

MrMiller's year-end grade: A

Brian Campbell
Hands down not worth $7+ million per year. His contract and the expectations that go with it will continue be a proverbial noose around his neck for three more seasons. Fortunately, though, his offensive numbers helped - but not eliminate - with the struggles he brings as a defenseman.

As a so-called "offensive defenseman", Campbell netted 7 goals and 45 assists in 2008-2009. His stat lines on YAHOO! Sports for the year comparing him to other defensemen was above average, but fans expected more than just being "above average".

MrMiller's year-end grade: C-

Matt Walker
Walker was not a fan favorite. Fans seem to compare him to the likes of Boris Mironov and Alexander Karpovtsev. He wasn't that bad. But he wasn't very good either.

Matt Walker played to the level that was expected of him: a #5 or #6 type guy providing minutes of serviceable play. If there can be such a thing as a poor-man's Steve Poapst, it's Matt Walker. For $600k, he's alright. For much more, pass.

MrMiller's year-end grade: C-

Nikolai Khabibulin
Often referred to as simply "the overpaid Russian", Khabibulin finally lived up to his 4-year $27 million deal. His GAA average was third in the league; his save percentage was sixth.

Khabibulin stole more than his share of games in 2008-2009. The sold-out crowds chanting his name and the numerous Three Stars of the Game (brought to us by Bud Light) he earned was well deserved. He could've been better in the post-season, but he still helped get this team to the conference finals.

Was his good play a result of being on the last year of his contract? Was it because of the better team in front of him? Maybe having a strong backup allowed him to remain well focused and rested? Who knows and who cares? With back-up Christobol Huet set to earn $5+ million for the next three seasons, the odds of Khabibulin staying in Chicago are remote.

MrMiller's year-end grade: A

Cristobal Huet
A backup making starter money, Huet was supposed to be the #1 guy as an apparent summer trade for Khabibulin fell through. Blame John McDonough for that.

Huet, however, stepped up and played well when asked. He posted a 20-15-0 record with a .909 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA.

The highest paid backup in league history (probably) did his job very well.

MrMiller's year-end grade: A

Management: John McDonough
If filling seats is the main criteria in which to judge team president John McDonough - he more than earns an A+ for his efforts. Sell out after sellout and his work in bringing the Winter Classic to Chicago helped solidify Chicago's real place in the NHL landscape. But there's more to the McDonough story than that.

He admitted that he wants to make a Blackhawk game an "event" as opposed to a "game". And while it's not entirely his fault that many from this new generation of Blackhawk fans can't comprehend the phrase "Wait for the whistle", McDonough must realize that quantity over quality isn't always the answer.

He's also the man responsible for the firing of Denis Savard four games into the season because of an internal power play of wanting his guy, Coach Q, behind the bench. He also raised my ticket price over 25% (300% for the post season).

MrMiller's year-end grade: B (He deserves an "A", but the 'W' Flag fiasco is just too annoying to let pass.)

Leave it to me to find things to complain about for a season where Chicago finished with 104 points, 2nd in the Norris Division, 4th in the Campbell Conference and bowing out in the Stanley Cup semi-finals.

Things are looking up for the Blackhawks and their fans. The team is the youngest in the league, it's stars are talented, media and fan friendly, and will probably be around for a long time. The team's prospects have developed nicely and their recent drafts have been graded high.

And finally, with the end of another season comes another moment of humility for MrMiller. The success of Blackhawkzone simply would not exist without all the visitors to the site and the posters on the BHZ Message Boards. To those who provide the real success of this site, I say Thank You. Your continued support has turned this site into more than I ever could have hoped. Myself and my ego are truly indebted to you.

MrMiller



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