Blackhawks News

"The Blackhawks' recent wave of feel-good news ended abruptly for paying customers Wednesday. The Hawks announced they are raising ticket prices an average of 16 percent—and as much as 85 percent for some season ticket-holders. The price of the cheapest season ticket will go from $10 per game to $15 for the various game packages. The highest-priced seat will go from $275 to $285 per game."

"The Blackhawks have fired Dan Kelly as their television play-by-play announcer in a move that almost certainly will grease the skids for Pat Foley's return to the Hawks. ''We have notified Dan he won't be returning as our play-by-play broadcaster,'' said Hawks president John McDonough, who would not comment on whether he intends to approach Foley."

"Team President John McDonough brought Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito back to the Blackhawks. He cut a deal to air every Hawks game on television next year, with WGN-Ch. 9 covering 20 of them, and switched the team's radio rights to WGN-AM 720 as well. In the all-out blitz to win back the fans, there was "one last big piece of fruit out there" for McDonough, as one local broadcast executive put it. Bring back Pat Foley, a fan favorite who was fired two years ago."

"The Blackhawks have fired Dan Kelly as their television play-by-play announcer in a move that almost certainly will grease the skids for Pat Foley's return to the Hawks. ''We have notified Dan he won't be returning as our play-by-play broadcaster,'' said Hawks president John McDonough, who would not comment on whether he intends to approach Foley. Foley is the play-by-play voice of the Wolves. His contract expires after the team's playoff run."

"The Blackhawks added another goaltender to next season's mix by signing Antti Niemi of Finland. "He's one of the top European goaltenders," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said Monday. "A lot of teams were after him. We felt we needed some depth at that position and we're very optimistic about his future." Niemi, 24, posted a 26-6-14 record and 2.35 goals-against average with the Pelicans of the Finnish Elite League last season."

"Moms and dads out there: Do you really want your kids to grow up to be professional athletes? Some of you see it as the ultimate accomplishment. This is obvious from the amount of time, money and obsessiveness you devote to your budding LeBron James and your soon-to-be Derek Jeter. You like the idea of your talented child competing at the highest level. You see it as the culmination of a dream, yours and your kid's. And maybe, just maybe, you see it as hitting the jackpot. I see Roger Clemens."

" Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists and Tim Thomas made 24 saves to help the United States beat Latvia 4-0 Friday night in the Americans' opening preliminary-round game in the world championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia."

"The Blackhawks expect to have a better product on the ice next season, and they took a big step Wednesday toward spreading the word about it. Calling it ''a big step forward in the new direction of this franchise,'' Hawks president John McDonough announced that the team's games the next three seasons will be carried on WGN-AM (720). Hawks games had aired on WSCR-AM (670) since the 2000-01 season."

"Don’t get Patrick Kane wrong. Life is amazing. He’s the cover boy for USA Hockey. He’s the toast of Chicago and the NHL. And he’s only 19. Therein lies the rub. He spends so much time in the spotlight, he never gets a chance to be a teenager. In a few weeks, that will change. "

"It wasn't long ago that the Blackhawks were buying time and begging local radio stations to take their broadcasts. Now, according to sources, they've made a deal with WGN Radio that figures to give them more airtime than they could have possibly imagined."

"The Blackhawks are expected to announce today that they will move their radio broadcasts next season to WGN-AM (720)."

"The Blackhawks haven't had a Calder Trophy winner since Ed Belfour in 1991, but they have two of the three finalists for this year's rookie of the year award. The NHL named Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on Wednesday along with Washington's Niklas Backstrom."

"The NHL on Wednesday will announce the three finalists for the Calder Trophy, given to the league's rookie of the year, and two Blackhawks likely will head the list."

"When John Tortorella looks down his Team USA roster and reads names such as Patrick Kane and Jason Pominville, he sees more than talent. He sees the new faces of American hockey."

"As many as three rookies could find their way onto to the Hawks' roster next fall as the solid drafting in recent years by Tallon and his scouts continues to pay dividends. At the end of the season the Hawks had four No. 1 draft picks in the lineup in Kane, Toews, Barker and Brent Seabrook - and a fifth, Andrew Ladd, who was acquired in a trade for Tuomo Ruutu, a former first-rounder."

"Remember when they said he was too small? Patrick Kane was listed at 5-foot- 10 (on skates, they whispered) and 163 pounds (in equipment), and this wasn’t street hockey behind St. Martin’s Church. This was the best travel circuit in the world, the National Hockey League."

"The Hawks plan to target puck-moving defensemen, and there could be four good ones available in San Jose's Brian Campbell, Ottawa's Wade Redden, Colorado's John-Michael Liles and Montreal's Mark Streit. It's no secret that the Hawks would love to come out of the summer with either Campbell or Redden."

"The offense would be boosted by a defenseman who can play quarterback on the power play and Sharks free agent Brian Campbell fits the bill perfectly. The veteran scored eight goals and added 54 assists splitting time with the Sabres and Sharks but is rumored to want up to $8 million per season. The Hawks are well below the salary cap. Other defensemen the Hawks could be interested in are Ottawa's Wade Redden and Colorado's John-Michael Liles."

"While not ruling out a trade, Tallon has targeted some potential free agents who would fit the bill. Heading the list is San Jose's Brian Campbell, who tied for third among NHL defensemen with 62 points and averaged more than 25 minutes."

"Tallon said he expects to sign all of his restricted free agents, a list that includes Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Adam Burish, James Wisniewski, Jordan Hendry and Rene Bourque."

"Blackhawks coach Denis Savard is hoping for a big comeback season for Martin Havlat in 2008-09."

"The Chicago Blackhawks want to bring back the glory days, when they were one of the city's most popular sports franchises. Toward that end, the professional hockey team announced Tuesday it is launching a review to pick an ad agency that can help the Blackhawks reconnect with old fans and create new fans."

"The Blackhawks will pick 11th in the first round of the June 20 draft as a result of the NHL draft lottery conducted Monday."

"Fittingly, Kane scored the final goal of the season for the Hawks during their 4-1 loss to the Red Wings on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena. Following the selection of Kane with the first overall pick in the entry draft in June, the Hawks underwent a major makeover that spanned from the team on the ice to the front office, from marketing to broadcasting."

"Thankfully, the Blackhawks' first full season under coach Denis Savard won't be remembered for the last game. The Hawks were a listless bunch Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the first-place Detroit Red Wings."

""Now we can focus on the playoffs," said Dominik Hasek, after Sunday's 4-1 victory in the regular season's last game, against Chicago."

"Nicklas Lidstrom scored twice to reach double digits in goals for the fifth straight season, Jiri Hudler added a goal and an assist, and Mark Hartigan scored as the Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, at Joe Louis Arena."

"One lousy point. When the Zamboni fumes dissipated Sunday following the Blackhawks' final game of the season at Joe Louis Arena, that's all that separated them from a playoff spot. One lousy point."

"Four Hawks — Patrick Kane, James Wisniewski, Dustin Byfuglien and Adam Burish — have been contacted about possibly playing for the U.S. team in the world championships May 2-18 in Quebec City and Halifax, Nova Scotia."

"The Blackhawks' best season in six years ends today. It was a good one, based on the recent past, but it wasn't good enough. Moral victories are fine in amateur sports, but not in the big leagues."

""It's disappointing that it's over," said rookie Jonathan Toews, who scored the first goal Friday night in the Hawks' 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators."

"Toews helped them do just that, scoring the first goal in a 3-1 victory. It was the Hawks' fourth win in a row and gave them a 5-1-2 series edge on the playoff-bound Predators."

"There were no tears shed in the Predators' locker room following the team's season-ending 3-1 loss to Chicago on Friday. Back in Nashville, there were probably plenty of fans that were downright pleased with the outcome."

"Dustin Byfuglien, who developed into a solid forward after starting the season as a defenseman, is nursing a bulging disc and wouldn't have been able to play in at least the last two regular-season games."

"The Blackhawks' battle for a postseason berth has reached an end. The Nashville Predators' 3-2 victory Thursday night over the St. Louis Blues eliminated the Hawks from the playoff hunt."

"The Blackhawks kept hope alive into the final four days of the season, but their postseason drought will extend to six years. For the second time in three days, the Nashville Predators came from behind to beat the St. Louis Blues, with the 3-2 decision Thursday night eliminating the Hawks from playoff contention."

"The Blackhawks are determined to take this thing down to the wire. With their postseason lives hanging by a thread, the Hawks raced to a three-goal lead in the first period Wednesday night and defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 before a capacity crowd of 21,365 at the United Center in a game played with the emotion and intensity of a playoff match."

"The Blackhawks did what they needed to do Wednesday. Now they need a little help. A must-win 6-2 victory over the first-place Detroit Red Wings before another sellout crowd of 21,365 at the United Center kept alive the Hawks' hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2002."

"The Presidents' Trophy will have to wait another game. Any thoughts of clinching the league's best regular season record were dashed fairly quickly Wednesday in Chicago. The Blackhawks jumped on the Wings in the first period and held on for a 6-2 victory. "

"What hope the Red Wings had of capturing the Presidents' Trophy on Wednesday was squashed before the game was eight minutes old. The Blackhawks, whose playoff hopes retain breath, ran up an early lead before a delighted and rambunctious crowd of 21,365 at the United Center and then answered every time the Wings threatened to rally, leaving Detroit with a 6-2 defeat."

"No matter how it ends, general manager Dale Tallon believes this Blackhawks season has been a giant step in the right direction. "We wanted to play meaningful games in March and April and that's what's happening," Tallon said. "It has been pretty good considering the injuries, tragedies, suspensions, etc. These guys have really shown a lot of resilience. Very rarely have they not competed in a game and that's all you can ask. I'm pretty proud of these players. They're a great bunch and it bodes well for our future.""

" Jonathan Toews doesn't want the regular season to end. Not when the rookie center believes he's playing his best hockey."

"The Blackhawks are hanging a "Help Wanted" sign on the side of this roller-coaster season that's nearing a conclusion. With three games remaining, the Hawks have to take care of their own business—win all three—and get help from other teams to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002."

"All 82 Blackhawks games will be on TV next season. All 82 in high-def. All around the United Center banquet room, there were handshakes and smiles. The Blackhawks, Comcast SportsNet and WGN-Ch. 9 now are locked arm in arm."

"No longer will the Hawks face criticism for not televising home games. Starting next season, all 82 games will be shown, with 20 of them on free TV on WGN-Channel 9. WGN was the Hawks' TV home in the 1960s and early '70s, and the station televised the team's last Stanley Cup-clinching game on April 16, 1961."

"Adams, acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 17, scored a game-winning short-handed goal Saturday night to defeat the St. Louis Blues, and then the winger sparked his teammates with an impassioned speech during the first intermission of Sunday night's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets."

"Still, the Hawks are in 11th place in the Western Conference and need to get to eighth. Vancouver holds that spot after snapping a four-game losing streak Sunday with a 6-2 victory at Calgary. The Canucks have 88 points, the Hawks 84. Both have three games left. "

"The Blackhawks plan to broadcast some very good news Tuesday—all 82 of next season's games will be televised. The deal will be particularly satisfying to hockey fans who don't have cable TV. Industry sources say that as many as 20 games will go to WGN-Ch. 9, which carried the Hawks in the 1960s and early '70s."

"No matter what happens this week, whether the Blackhawks make the playoffs or not, general manager Dale Tallon will consider the season to be a success. With three games to play, the Hawks still are mathematically alive in the Western Conference playoff chase, 4 points out of the eighth spot, and they have surpassed their totals from last season for wins and points. "It's been a good year with all that's gone on, to have a winning season and still be in the playoff race going into the final week," Tallon said."

"But the Hawks wouldn't allow it. They rallied from a two-goal, second-period deficit and then again after being down a goal midway through the third for a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory Sunday night before a crowd of 20,885 at the United Center."