2007-09-20 15:14:42 · 7 answers · asked by WARREN 3 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Oh Boy (rubbing hands with glee)
First of all, allow me to tag this answer with 'I am a former employee of the Chicago Black Hawk organization from the early 1960s through the mid 1990s, mostly as a amateur scout)' and may be slightly biased!
I think the team will be slightly improved over last year, but not improved enough to make the playoffs.
Goaltending is solid with Khabibulin between the pipes and Patrick Lalime as a capable back-up. As with any goaltending duo, they are only as good as the defense in front of them
Defense is anything but solid. In fact, until I saw the Leafs-Coyotes game last night I thought Chicago had the worse defense in the league. Thank God for Phoenix! Cam Barker is an up and coming youngster that will make people get out of their seats. Brent Seabrook is already doing that. Zyuzin and Vandermeer are the experienced defencemen on the team........and that's not saying much. Duncan Keith, Jim Fahey, Magbus Johansson, James Wizniewski are fighting for the last two spots.
Forward has been upgraded. The acquisitions of Robert Lang, Yanic Perreault, and Sergei Samsonov along with Martin Havlat gives the team a strong core of talented forwards. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Jason Williams, Rene Bourque, Tuomo Ruuttu, and Patrick Sharp should fill the top 10 forward spots out nicely. Veterans Kevyn Adams and Martin Lapointe are still in camp and should round out the roster.
There will need to be some time for chemistry to develop, it won't happen right away though. Patience will still be needed.
2007-09-20 15:20:51 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
They are still a few years away and could really use atleast two solid veteran DMen. I too am high on Barker and Seabrook but they are youngsters. I like their forwards and Khabibulin is decent (still don't understand signing a high profile goalie to big money when they were not ready to contend) but they need more on the back end.
They are decent in the prospect department. Atleast the top 6 guys.
Top Prospects
Jonathan Toews, C
Patrick Kane, RW
Cam Barker, D
Troy Brouwer, RW
Jack Skille, RW
Dustin Byfuglien, D
Dave Bolland, C
Danny Richmond, D
Evan Brophey, C
Igor Makarov, RW
Petri Kontiola, C
Michael Blunden, RW
Niklas Hjalmarsson, D
Corey Crawford, G
Nathan Davis, C
Simon Danis-Pepin, D
Billy Sweatt, LW
Akim Aliu, C
Bryan Bickell, LW
Dan Bertram, RW
2007-09-20 22:48:31 · answer #2 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not a Blackhawks fan but I expect a huge improvement this year. If you're a Chicago fan you've gotta be optimistic this year I would think.
2007-09-21 18:36:52 · answer #3 · answered by Babber420 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this must be the most anticipated season in a long time for the blackhawks (who have teh best jerseys in the league). but whether they will play well is yet to be seen. i see them in the 6 7 or 8 spot. i still see anaheim making it to the SCF's this year and winning against toronto or new york rangers
2007-09-20 22:59:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wow; simon limon... Blackhawks in 6th and Toronto in the Stanley Cup playoff finals... You're quite the optimist.
2007-09-21 08:27:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are Blackhawk fans?
2007-09-21 09:16:12 · answer #6 · answered by Canadian Biology Man 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they had a TON of work that needed to get done this off season and all they did was add one of the laziest centers in the NHL.
2007-09-20 23:41:28 · answer #7 · answered by DC FURY 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋