So, it had to happen sometime. I've tried to do the blog thing before for Mannequin Men (see 'Mannequin Man in a Van') but that didn't really work. It's rather hard to update a blog from the road and talk about something that you are doing all day anyway. When i actually thought about it, i realized i would much rather write about something that i really really love. Cue the Chicago Blackhawks. I'll do my best to update this regularly throughout the season and especially in the upcoming weeks with training camp about to start. There's going to some serious action on the Hawks front coming up real soon with a lot of young kids pecking at each other for a spot with the big club.
First things first, the Robert Lang deal this weekend was probably one of the silliest things that i've seen tallon do in a while (Samsonov being the other most recent thing that comes to mind). Of course, people are going to run their mouths about the cap and the reasons this needed to happen. I understand how the cap works, dude. However, why lose sixty points, get nothing in return, and leave us virtually bald in a position we have virtually no depth in?
The way it stands now the Hawks could roll one of two ways on center. Toews, Bolland, Kontiola, K Adams, and Burish would likely be roster centers with a chance at seeing a Nathan Davis or a Evan Brophey if there's flops in camp. That looks pretty shitty. Kontiola was bred a center and is a playmaker, and from what i saw in his short stay with the Hawks last year, he can play defense. He just looked gassed the entire time he was on the ice. Now i'm not expecting Duncan Keith minutes from a center, but this season will drag on and on for a guy who looked exhausted after twelve games with the team last year. Bolland is the guy i'm most confident with, but he would sit much better on a third line with Byf and Andrew Ladd. They'd be gritty and work opposing teams to death, you could try putting Kontiola on the 2nd line with Kaner and an undisclosed left wing (that's quite another big hole, dale) but dropping a rookie into a top 6 forward position on a club with big expectations is a recipe for disaster.
Unless there's a trade coming that we don't know about (please, say there's a trade Dale) we're going to have one center over the age of 24. eek. not to mention the winger problem. so tell me: why trade Lang?
A: because Lang was a hack. sure, he put up a lot of points and brought experience to a line that at times had none, but what kind of experience did he bring? was he teaching the young un's that once you prove yourself at least competent, you don't really have to work that hard? Lang was never in the corners and was definitely not a new Hawks style player. Basically, he was too soft. Remember last year when Denis went on the "commit to the indian" rant? tell me that wasn't directed at mr. robert lang. he loafed the whole season and was truly the definition of adequate. i'm not saying that Denis didn't like him, because i believe Savvy saw the value of Lang, i just don't believe he was he kind of player that Savard wanted around the kids. Oh yeah, and he cost us four million a year. People like Kevyn Adams and Martin Lapointe (please bring him back even though he didn't EVER score) are the kind of leaders this team needs.
Take a look at that photo up there. If you never saw Robert Lang play as a Blackhawk, it kinda looked like that.
See you later, Sloth.
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