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2009 Season Preview and Predictions: Airmaq79

Is it really time to drop the puck already? I guess that's what happens when you make a deep run into the playoffs.; you get to cut out a lot of that annoying down time where this is no Hawks hockey.

The Hawks offseason certainly kept them in the headlines often. And I know I'm in the minority here; but I think the Hawks had a great offseason. Out is Marty Havlat, who was a key contributor to last year's team; but he has been replaced with Marian Hossa; who if he returns 100% from the shoulder injury, is an upgrade over Havlat. Out is Sammy Pahlson (who was a pretty poor acquisition in the first place IMO) and in is John Madden , who should also be a significant upgrade in that shutdown role. Mercifully out is Matt Walker, who has to be one of the worst defensemen that has ever worn the Indian Head on his chest, and in is...who cares? It's not Matt Walker.

Out is the overpaid, broken down, contract year wonder Nikolai Khabibulin, who just could not handle the grind and long haul of the playoffs anymore. In is Cristobal Huet. Many people wonder if Huet can be THAT guy that can carry the Hawks to promised land. Actually many people do not wonder at all; they think that he is absolutely NOT that guy.

When evaluating the goaltending question this is what I consider: Nikolai Khabibulin played very poorly in the playoffs. He had a 2.93 GAA and an .898 sv percentage. Yet this was still good enough for him to win 8 games ( and started the Hawks 9th win.) This leads me to believe that a team with more playoff experience, that will be able to score more goals and will be able to tighten things up and protect a lead should NOT need spectacular goaltending to make it to the promised land. I'm betting that Huet will have better than a 2.93 GAA and .898 save percentage in the playoffs. I am also betting that he is not going to break down and get hurt in the playoffs like Khabibulin.

I will bet that at worst, he will be a lateral move come playoff time. But unless they win the cup, it won't matter. Huet will be roasted and people will (foolishly) think that Khabibulin could have taken them there. Also mercifully out is the cap dunce Dale Tallon. Many people are in an uproar about him being fired because of the manner in which it occurred. My reaction is; I don't care who, how , or why. I am just happy he is gone. This is perhaps the most important time ever in the history of the Hawks. I did NOT trust Tallon to somehow manage to get Dunc, Toews and Kane under contract without sacrificing the wrong parts.

Now without further adieu; here are my stat line predictions:

Centers

  1. Jonathan Toews- primed for a break out season- 80 games 41G- 45 A- 86 pts plus 17
  2. Dave Bolland- Bolley takes another step forward this year- 77 games 25G- 34A- 57 pts plus 22
  3. John Madden- will be a true shut down center and add valuable veteran leadership- 79 games- 9G- 19A - pts minus 3
  4. Colin Fraser- should be a solid contributor to the 4th line again; may be benched in favor of an inferior player again however. 62 games- 4G-16A-20 pts plus 2

LW

  1. Patrick Sharp- at the right age for a big break out season as well- 80 games- 43G-27A- 70 pts plus 18
  2. Kris Versteeg- immaturity? Check zero hockey IQ? Check. lack of toughness and misses games because his pinkie hurts? Check. sophomore slump? Check. 68 games 14G- 22 A- 36 pts plus 7
  3. Andrew Ladd- A very solid and under appreciated member of the team; will have another nice season 74 games 16G 30 A- 46 pts plus 20
  4. Ben Eager- a 4th liner with some skill; a solid component in the lineup 77 games- 9G- 9A- 18 pts plus 2
  5. Radek Smolenak- He's on the opening day roster? Really? I just can't imagine him being on the NHL roster long. In fact, I'm predicting that he will not get into a game.

RW

  1. Patrick Kane- Kaner puts an offseason he'd like to forget behind him, and like his buddy Tazer, has a big break out year- 81 games- 31G- 61A- 92 pts plus 9
  2. Marian Hossa- returns from injury and fits in perfectly- 55 games- 21G- 34 A-55 pts plus 15
  3. Dustin Byfuglien- IF he can bring what he did in the playoffs; he will be a tremendous force. I'm betting on a pretty good year from Big Buff 78games 23G-30A- 53 pts plus 12
  4. Troy Brouwer- I feel he is a bit of an under appreciated part as well; I think he will find the net a little more this year- 77 games- 15G- 22A- 37pts plus 12
  5. Tomas Kopecky- a pretty curious signing this summer; but should fill Burish's spot as the 4th line RW perfectly- 75 games- 7G- 10A- 17 pts.
  6. Adam Burish- I think he will only play a few games towards the end of season, if it all, and will be a spare part for the playoff run; barring any major injuries.

D

  1. Duncan Keith- Dunc makes a serious run at the Norris this year; 81games- 13G-42A- 55pts and finishes a plus 38.
  2. Brent Seabrook- Seabs takes another step forward and helps form one of, if not the best defensive pair in the league. 82 games- 10G 20A 30 pts- plus 28
  3. Cameron Barker- The team's REAL power play QB takes another step forward this year as well. 79 games 9G- 41A- 50 pts plus 2
  4. Niklas Hjalmarsson- Not really too sure what to expect out of Niklas; he showed flashes of being very steady; but also played tentative at times in the playoffs; hopefully he will show what all of the hype has been about both defensively and in the physical game.- 75 games 2G- 12A-14 pts plus 13
  5. Aaron Johnson- probably going into the year as the number 7 d man- 34 games- 1G - 11A-12 pts plus 2
  6. Brent Sopel- likely going into the year as the number 6; hopefully he can regain his 07-08 form; 64 games- 2G-15A-17pts plus 3
  7. Brian Campbell- well, one year closer to his contract being up; will provide his usual offense first second and third game mentality while providing next to no defense and limited effort. 82games 7G- 42A- 49 pts; and he manages to find a way to be minus 4.
  8. Jordan Hendry- I don't really see where he fits barring a few injuries/trades. 8 games-0 pts plus 1

Goaltenders

  1. Cristobal Huet- I really don't understand the hate when it comes to Huet; was very good during the portion of the season when he was alternating starts and the first time Khabibulin was hurt. Huet will have a very good season; but nobody will seem to care, and he will be criticized. 31-19-10 2.45 GAA; .912% sv ------- this will not be good enough to eliminate the criticism
  2. 2. Antti Niemi- hopefully he will show what the hype has been about, but I'm really not sure what to expect here except that I expect him to be the backup all year, with Crawford being sent down once the team returns from Europe. 11-7-4 .905% sv 2.62 GAA
  3. 3. Corey Crawford- will only get into a game if Niemi falters; or if there is an injury.

My preferred lines-

Pre-Hossa:
Sharp-Toews-Kane Keith-Seabrook
Ladd-Bolland-Versteeg Barker- Hjalmarsson
Byfuglien-Madden-Brouwer Johnson- Sopel
Eager-Fraser-Kopecky

With Hossa
Sharp-Toews-Kane Keith-Seabrook
Versteeg-Bolland-Hossa Barker-Hjalmarsson
Ladd-Madden-Byfuglien Johnson-Sopel
Eager-Fraser-Brouwer

Team Prediction

Division: 1st
Conference: 2nd (105 pts)

I'm going to be optimistic, go out on a limb, believe and enjoy the ride…… the ride of the Chicago Blackhawks' 4th Stanley Cup championship.

Let's get this thing started!



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