Blackhawks News

Beach, Olsen, others head to camp
Comment
July 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The NHL entry draft is over and so, for all intents, is the free-agent signing period. Next up for the Blackhawks: next week's prospects camp. General manager Dale Tallon has invited 53 draftees and tryout players to participate at Johnny's Ice House, which is five blocks east of the United Center, beginning Monday. Those players include Kyle Beach, the Hawks' 2008 first-round draft choice, and Dylan Olsen, this year's first-round pick. Akim Aliu, the Hawks' second-round pick in 2008 who figures to be a key player in the organization soon, also will be at the camp, along with Brandon Pirri, Daniel DeLisle and Paul Phillips, the second-, third- and fourth-round picks in last month's draft. ..."
Hawks talking it from the top
Comment
July 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It might seem like the Blackhawks did a lot in these early days of the free-agent signing period. Getting winger Marian Hossa was a huge deal, one that could push the team a step closer to the Stanley Cup. ''We made a long-term [12 years] commitment to a great athlete,'' Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. ''It's going to be fun.'' Adding John Madden for the not-so-glamorous but important role of checking-line center also was big, and the Hawks will find a spot for respected Tomas Kopecky -- though just where is uncertain. In signing Hossa and Kopecky, the Hawks weakened their biggest Western Conference rival, the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings took another blow Friday when winger Mikael ..."
Report: Hawks may have goofed
Comment
July 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"The NHL and NHLPA are investigating whether the Blackhawks correctly filed qualifying offers to several key players, including Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager and Troy Brouwer, TSN reported Friday. If the offers are ruled invalid, the players could be deemed unrestricted free agents. One source told TSN the players involved didn't receive the necessary notification of the offers. The NHL is trying to determine whether the situation was remedied in time. Hawks GM Dale Tallon said the qualifying offers were mailed to the players in time -- on June 29 -- but said because of the July 1 Canadian holiday, some of the players didn't receive them in time. Additional sources said qualifying ..."
NHL and NHLPA Investigating Blackhawks Over Offers
Comment
July 4
TSN.ca
 
"Sources tell TSN the NHL and the NHLPA are investigating what might have been an enormous mistake by the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago tendered qualifying offers to several key players this week, including Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer, however the investigation underway is to determine whether the qualifying offers were filed correctly. If not, there is the remote possibility the qualifying offers could be ruled invalid and the players listed above, conceivably, could be deemed unrestricted free agents because of the blunder. There are few details, but one source says the players involved didn't receive the necessary notification of the ..."
Canada invites four Blackhawks to Olympics camp
Comment
July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Four members of the Blackhawks were invited Thursday to Canada's orientation camp for next year's Winter Olympics. Defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook and forwards Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews were among 46 players selected for the Aug. 24-27 camp in Calgary. Earlier this week, two other Hawks -- Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien -- were named to the U.S. team's preliminary Olympic roster. Canada's contingent is filled with NHL stars, meaning the selection process for the final spots could be difficult for executive director Steve Yzerman and head coach Mike Babcock. The Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver in February. The current roster includes goaltenders Martin ..."
Blackhawks make 1-year deal with Devils C John Madden
Comment
July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"After signing Detroit Red Wings players Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky on Wednesday, Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon agreed to a one-year deal with another veteran, center John Madden of the New Jersey Devils, on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed. Madden, 36, spent nine seasons with the Devils and played on two Stanley Cup championship teams. He won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward in 2001 and was runner-up in 2003, 2004 and 2008. He'll be the perfect replacement for Sammy Pahlssson -- who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday -- as the Hawks' third-line center."
No regrets for Havlat, Khabibulin, now former Hawks
Comment
July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin had voiced their desire to remain with the Blackhawks. However, general manager Dale Tallon didn't retain either when the NHL's free-agent signing period opened, and both stars were quick to express satisfaction with their new teams Thursday. Havlat got a six-year, $30million deal from the Minnesota Wild and Khabibulin a four-year, $15 million contract from the Edmonton Oilers. Havlat received the long-term deal he wanted -- something he couldn't get from Tallon -- but his annual salary is down slightly from the three-year, $18 million pact he had with the Hawks. Khabibulin, who had a four-year, $27 million deal with the Hawks, took a sizable pay cut ..."
12-year pact sends Marian Hossa from Detroit to Chicago
Comment
July 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"Central Division opponents were quick to raid the Red Wings' cache of free agents Wednesday. The Blackhawks reeled in premier forward Marian Hossa and fourth-liner Tomas Kopecky. The Blues snared goalie Ty Conklin. The Wings' hopes of keeping Hossa, a two-way, 40-goal scorer, faded as the start of free agency neared and was dashed just hours after it began when he agreed to a 12-year deal worth $62.8 million, or $5.23 million a season. "When I look at Chicago team, it's an exciting team," Hossa said. "They are big, they are strong, they are fast. They are young guys. I see a nice future in Chicago. I had a great time in Detroit. I was hoping we could get something done, but with today's ..."
John Madden signs one-year, $2.75 million deal with Chicago Blackhawks
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July 2
Trenton Times
 
"When John Madden signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, it capped a day in which the Devils lost several familiar veterans. In addition to Madden, the Devils saw right winger Brian Gionta sign with the Montreal Canadiens, left winger Mike Rupp join the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and goalie Scott Clemmensen sign with the Florida Panthers. It all happened Wednesday on the first day of NHL free agency. "They're obviously going in a different direction," Madden told me Wednesday night. The Devils, he said, never made him an offer."
Hossa's Stanley Cup pursuit takes him to Chicago for a whopping $63.8 million
Comment
July 2
Toronto Sun
 
"The previous time Marian Hossa travelled the free-agency highway as a fast track to a Stanley Cup ring, it was a wreck. So it is on from Hockeytown to the Windy City for the high-scoring winger, the blockbuster signing of yesterday's start to NHL free agency. "We felt he was the best player on the market, an elite level, world-class player," Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "(We felt) he would be a tremendous asset to our young team and help lead us to the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup." Unlike his one-year deal with the Red Wings a year ago -- which subsequently blew up in his face after leaving Pittsburgh for what he felt was the leading Cup contender -- ..."
There's lots to like about Hossa
Comment
July 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Another offseason. Another big free-agent signing by the Blackhawks. Here are five things you should know about Marian Hossa: 1. He's pretty durable Hossa has appeared in at least 80 games in six of his 11 years in the NHL. For comparison's sake, Martin Havlat, the free agent Hossa is replacing, has reached 80 games only once -- this past season, during which he scored a team-high 29 goals in 81 games. Not considering the seven-game stint he had with the Ottawa Senators in 1997-98, the least amount of games Hossa has played is 60 in 1998-99, his rookie year. A knee injury limited Hossa, but he still was able to finish with 15 goals and 30 points. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and was ..."
Hossa keeps his eyes on the prize
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July 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"He was being pushed around the ice, the Memorial Cup balanced on his lap, his left knee throbbing. That's how much the moment meant to him. That's how much he meant to his teammates. It happened 11 years ago when Marian Hossa was playing for the Portland (Ore.) Winter Hawks in the Western Hockey League. The Blackhawks' newest cornerstone had shredded his knee earlier in the cup-clinching game. After the winning goal was scored, his teammates pushed him around the ice in a chair. Hossa has been trying to relive that moment -- sans the torn ligaments -- in the Stanley Cup Finals ever since. ''That's why I chose Chicago,'' he said. ''They have a chance to win the Cup.'' There was a lot of ..."
Havlat signs with Wild, takes parting shot at Hawks
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July 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks and Martin Havlat couldn't reach a contract agreement and both sides have moved on -- albeit maybe not so amicably. Instead of re-signing Havlat, the Hawks made a deal with star winger Marian Hossa on a 12-year, $62.8 million contract while Havlat collected a six-year, $30 million deal from the Minnesota Wild. Also leaving the Hawks were veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (Edmonton), center Sammy Pahlsson (Columbus) and defenseman Matt Walker (Tampa Bay). Havlat, who led the Hawks in scoring last season with 29 goals and 48 assists, may not be leaving on the best terms, as indicated by several tweets late Wednesday. "Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and ..."
Winger signs 12-year, $62.8 million deal
Comment
July 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks saw their breakthrough 2008-09 season end rather unceremoniously at the hands of the rival Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals. On Wednesday, the Hawks made a bold move to bolster their team and at the same time fired a shot across the bow of the Wings when they signed their four-time All-Star winger Marian Hossa. The price was costly as the 30-year-old Hossa inked a 12-year, $62.8 million contract with the Hawks on the opening day of NHL free agency. "We felt [he] was the best player available on the free-agent market with his experience and durability," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "He's an elite-level, world-class player. [We felt] he would be a ..."
Devils Lose Gionta, Madden
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July 2
New York Post
 
"Four of their heroes left Newark yesterday, one defenseman remained, and no one else joined up. Better Devils days better be coming, soon, because this was another July 1 stinker. Team-record goal-scorer Brian Gionta signed a five-year, $25 million deal with Montreal. Their only Selke Trophy winner, John Madden, left for Chicago for a one-year, $2.75M contract. Scott Clemmensen, who helped save New Jersey's season when Martin Brodeur went for elbow surgery, signed for three years with Florida. Mike Rupp, the scorer of the 2003 Cup-winning goal, signed for two years with the Stanley Cup champion Penguins. General manager Lou Lamoriello failed to make any splash on the first day of NHL-Mart ..."
Hossa rejects Wings, joins Chicago for 12 years, $62.8M
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July 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"Marian Hossa has signed a deal to join the Blackhawks for the remainder of his career, using the start of today's free agency to sign a 12-year contract with Detroit's top Central Division rival. The Blackhawks, who lost to Detroit in five games in the 2009 Western Conference finals, also have signed forward Tomas Kopecky (a fellow Slovak and good friend of Hossa's) for two years and $2.4 million (a high price) and St. Louis, also in the Central Dvision, snapped up Ty Conklin for two years and $2.6 million. The Wings had topped their 12-year offer to Hossa at a cap number of $4 million a year; his cap number with Chicago is $5.23 million. Hossa will make $7.9 million in each of the first ..."
Marian Hossa bolts to Chicago
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July 2
Detroit News
 
"Marian Hossa knew his stay in Detroit could last one season and that's exactly how long it was. Hossa signed a 12-year, $62.8 million contract with the Blackhawks on Wednesday, along with friend and Wings teammate Tomas Kopecky, who signed a two-year deal. Almost a year ago, Hossa signed a one-year contract with the Wings in hopes of winning the Stanley Cup. But that dream was crushed when the Penguins -- the team Hossa left for the Wings -- defeated the Wings in the Finals. Advertisement "I had a great time in Detroit and I was hoping we could get something done," Hossa said in a teleconference early Wednesday evening. "But with the economy and the salary cap, it's really hard to sign ..."
Hossa rejects Wings, joins Chicago for 12 years, $62.4 million
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July 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"Marian Hossa has signed a deal to join the Blackhawks for the remainder of his career, using the start of today's free agency to sign a 12-year contract with Detroit's top Central Division rival. The Blackhawks, who lost to Detroit in five games in the 2009 Western Conference finals, also have signed forward Tomas Kopecky (a fellow Slovak and good friend of Hossa's) for two years and $2.4 million (a high price) and St. Louis, also in the Central Dvision, snapped up Ty Conklin for two years and $2.6 million. The Wings had topped their long-term offer to Hossa at a cap number of $4 million a year. This is huge for the Blackhawks, a terrific young team boasting both Patrick Kane and Jonathan ..."
Oilers Get Their No. 1 Goalie In Khabibulin
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July 1
TSN.ca
 
"Nikolai Khabibulin is the latest big name off the board in free agency, as the veteran netminder has signed a multi-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The 36-year-old spent the past four season in Chicago, helping lead the Blackhawks to their first Western Conference final since 1995 this past season. He also captured the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. The signing marks the end of a tumultuous time in the Windy City for the Russian native. After signing a massive four-year deal with the Hawks in 2005, Khabibulin suffered through various injuries and inconsistent play."
Marian Hossa leaves Wings for Blackhawks
Comment
July 1
Detroit News
 
"Marian Hossa just added more fire to the Red Wings' rivalry with the Chicago Blackhawks. Hossa, who became a free agent after one year in Detroit, signed with the Blackhawks on Wednesday. The deal is for 12 years at an average of about $5.2 million a season, Canadian sports network TSN reported. The total value of the contract is $62.8 million, with the majority of it -- $59.3 million -- paid out over the first eight years, according to the report. The Wings were offering a package of roughly $35 to $40 million. The Blackhawks doubled-up on Detroit free agents Wednesday, signing winger Tomas Kopecky to a two-year deal. Kopecky played in 79 games in 2008-09, with six goals and 13 ..."
Chicago Blackhawks sign Marian Hossa
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July 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks confirmed they have signed Marian Hossa, the veteran forward who scored 40 goals for the Detroit Red Wings last season. Canada's TSN reported that Hossa signed a 12-year contract that will pay him $5.2 million per season. The Hawks also signed Red Wings free agent Tomas Kopecky, a 27-year-old center, to a two-year contract. A year ago, Hossa signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Red Wings because he felt playing for Detroit would give him his best chance at winning a Stanley Cup. He had spent the previous season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had lost to Detroit in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins thwarted Hossa by beating the Wings in this year's ..."
Havlat, Khabibulin headed to free agency unless 11th-hour deals can be struck
Comment
July 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks could lose forward Martin Havlat and No. 1 goalie Nikolai Khabibulin today. The NHL's free-agent signing period begins at 11 a.m., and Hawks general manager Dale Tallon spent Tuesday negotiating with the agents of both players via phone. According to various sources, Havlat wants a long-term contract -- even if it means taking a pay cut. His three-year, $18 million deal expires when the free-agent signing period begins. Khabibulin's four-year, $27 million contract expires at the same time. He figures to move on because the Hawks have Cristobal Huet under contract for three more seasons and Corey Crawford and/or Antti Niemi ready to back him up. The only signings the Hawks ..."
Chicago Blackhawks reach out and text Havlat
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July 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"With his signature on the dotted line and five years in a Blackhawks sweater ahead of him, Dave Bolland now hopes he'll be reunited with Martin Havlat, his linemate for much of the 2008-09 season. Bolland's five-year contract worth a reported $16.8 million was approved by the league Tuesday, along with fellow restricted free-agent forward Jake Dowell's two-year deal and goaltender Antti Niemi's one-year contract. With those contracts completed, Hawks GM Dale Tallon shifted his focus to retaining unrestricted free agent Havlat and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin before they hit the open market when NHL free agency begins Wednesday at 11 a.m. Havlat finished his contract worth $6 million per ..."
NHL salary cap traps teams in free agency market
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June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Over the last three summers, the salary cap in the NHL has jumped $17.7 million. The individual increases from year to year were $5 million, $6.3 million and $6.4 million. Teams looking to add help through free agency had a little extra allowance, and many clubs bettered themselves over cash-strapped franchises by spending that allowance. In 2007, Daniel Briere signed an eight-year, $52 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks inked Brian Campbell to an eight-year, $56.8 million deal. But with the NHL's announcement last week that the salary cap in 2009-10 will increase only $100,000, to $56.8 million, some upper-echelon clubs are expecting a ..."
Blackhawks agree to 5-year deal with Dave Bolland
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June 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks have reached contract agreements with restricted free agents Dave Bolland, Jake Dowell and Antti Niemi. The contracts have been sent for league approval, and an announcement of the deals is expected Tuesday afternoon. Bolland, a center, had 19 goals, 28 assists and a plus-19 rating and is reportedly set to receive a five-year deal worth $18 million. Dowell and Niemi spent the bulk of the season playing for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, the Hawks' minor-league affiliate. The Hawks are still negotiating with Allan Walsh, the agent for unrestricted free-agent winger Martin Havlat. The veteran completed a contract worth $6 million this season and both sides ..."
Blackhawks re-sign David Bolland to 5-year contract
Comment
June 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Making selections in the NHL entry draft that concluded Saturday was an easy task for Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon compared to what awaits him in the next few days. Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, Sammy Pahlsson and Matt Walker are unrestricted free agents. They're free to sign with any other team when the free-agent signing period begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday. If Tallon can't sign Havlat, the Hawks' leading scorer last season, he could acquire one of another team's unrestricted free agents. They include Detroit's Marian Hossa, Minnesota's Marian Gaborik, Calgary's Mike Cammalleri, Montreal's Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay, the New York Rangers' Nik Antropov, New Jersey's Brian ..."
Six of Hawks' seven second-day choices are centers
Comment
June 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks have had trouble finding centers in recent seasons, but that shouldn't be a problem much longer. They drafted six of them in the second day of the NHL draft Saturday in Montreal. ''We identified some needs, and we went after it,'' general manager Dale Tallon said. ''We want to be strong up the middle.'' So Tallon used his second-round pick on Brandon Pirri, his third-rounder on Daniel Delisle, his fourth-rounder on Byron Froese, his two fifth-rounders on Marcus Kruger and David Pacan and one of his seventh-rounders on David Gilbert. All are in different stages of development. Delisle is just out of Totino Grace High School in Minnesota, and Kruger was among the flock of ..."
Chicago Blackhawks' first pick following in dad's footsteps
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June 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Darryl Olsen lived the life of a hockey vagabond, stopping in countries all over the world to keep playing the game he loved. Along for the ride was his son, Dylan, who now is creating his own path while sharing a passion for the sport. The Blackhawks gave Dylan Olsen a destination place Friday night when they selected the defenseman in the first round (28th overall) of the NHL entry draft. "My dad played hockey all over the world, so we moved all over the world when I was young," Olsen, 18, said. "Growing up he took me everywhere with him. I'd always go to the rink with him for practices and I'd pretty much do what he did. I just had a love for the game and that's all I wanted to do. Now ..."
Hawks draft defenseman
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June 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks stuck with their No. 28 position in Friday's first round of the NHL draft, using the pick to choose defenseman Dylan Olsen who played for Camrose in Canada Junior A League last season. They apparently made a more significant move away from Montreal's Bell Centre -- site of the selections which conclude with rounds 2-7 today -- when they signed second-line center Dave Bolland to a five-year $18 million contract. He appears to be the first restricted free agent to come to terms with general manager Dale Tallon. Tallon wouldn't confirm the signing, saying only that they were ''very close'' on a deal, but TSN announced that Bolland had been signed. As for the draft, the Hawks ..."
Blackhawks pick Dylan Olsen 28th overall in NHL draft
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June 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"With the present already bright, the Blackhawks took a step toward ensuring the future will be too. The Hawks selected defenseman Dylan Olsen of Camrose of the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the 28th overall selection of the 2009 NHL entry draft Friday night in Montreal. "I'm surprised I went this high," Olsen, 18, said. "I met with the Blackhawks [Friday] morning and had a good interview so when [No.] 28 rolled around I thought my chances were pretty good. Once I heard my name called I was so excited. "As a player I'm a big, physical defenseman with offensive abilities. Good on the power play and a solid defenseman." Olsen had 10 goals, 19 assists and 123 penalty minutes in 53 games ..."
Hawks offering Havlat one-year deal?
Comment
June 26
Daily Herald
 
"Apparently one of the reasons why the Blackhawks and Martin Havlat haven't yet agreed on a new contract is the length of the deal. According to a source, the Hawks' initial offer to Havlat was for a one-year contract. It's not known if the team has moved off that negotiating position. Havlat likely would receive a multiyear deal should he reach unrestricted free agency on July 1. Signing Havlat for just one year would assure the Hawks of having more money to spend next summer when Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane are up for new contracts. Meanwhile, there was plenty of trade buzz in Montreal on Thursday ahead of today's NHL entry draft. There was a rumor claiming the Hawks as ..."
Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon: We'll get good player with 28th pick
Comment
June 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Blackhawks' much-improved season has one drawback: General manager Dale Tallon won't have the high draft picks he has been used to getting when the NHL entry draft is held today and Saturday in Montreal. Thanks to finishing in the Western Conference finals, the Hawks are relegated to the 28th selection in the first round. They've had just one first-round pick lower than that since the NHL began drafting players in 1963. In 1996, the Hawks' first pick was No. 31. They used it on Remi Royer, a defenseman who played in 18 games for the team, all in the 1998-99 season. That draft class was the worst in franchise history. They picked six other players, none of whom ever played a game for ..."
The pick is ...?
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June 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Among players who could interest Tallon & Co. with the 28th overall selection in Friday's NHL draft: FORWARDS Drew Shore and Kyle Palmieri, United States' developmental program; Landon Ferraro and Cody Eakin, Western Hockey League; Peter Holland, Ontario Hockey League; Louis LeBlanc, U.S. Hockey League; Jordan Caron, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League; Marcus Johansson, Sweden DEFENSEMEN Ryan Button and Stefan Elliott, WHL; Nick Leddy, Eden Prairie High School, Minn.; Dylan Olsen, Alberta Junior Hockey League; David Rundblad, Sweden; Dmitri Orlov, Russia"
Low NHL draft pick just fine with Chicago Blackhawks
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June 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"It's a nice problem for the Blackhawks to have, picking 28th in the first round of this weekend's NHL draft in Montreal. Their surprising 2008-09 season, which ended with a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference finals, placed the Hawks near the bottom of the first round Friday night, ahead of only those Wings and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. "Finally," Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said of leaving behind the days of Top 10 selections following disappointing seasons. "This is what the draft was meant to do -- to help us get better -- and we think it has and as a result we're picking where we want to pick." Barring an incredible trade, Tallon and his ..."
Heatley gives Sens wishlist
Comment
June 24
Ottawa Sun
 
"Dany Heatley has told the Senators where he wants to go. But if the Senators can't trade him before a $4-million (all terms US) bonus kicks in on July 1, they may tell him where to go. Senators GM Bryan Murray expects talks will heat up this week at the NHL draft in Montreal as several league sources confirmed Heatley's agents have given the club a wishlist of up to 10 teams. But there could be some flexibility -- he may agree to go somewhere not listed. Sources told Sun Media the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were among the teams submitted to Murray by Heatley's agents J.P. Barry and Stacey ..."
Chicago Blackhawks GM has much on to-do list
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June 24
Chicago Tribune
 
"General manager Dale Tallon headed to Montreal to address the Blackhawks' future -- both short- and long-term. Tallon and his staff are preparing for this weekend's NHL entry draft, but before they make their first-round selection (No. 28 overall) Friday night, the GM will talk to the agents for free agents Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin. The veterans both are unrestricted and have indicated they would like to return to the team that reached the Western Conference finals before falling to the Detroit Red Wings. Havlat's return is Tallon's most pressing matter, and time is beginning to run short with the opening of free agency July 1. That's when the winger, who had a career-high 77 ..."
Heatley gives Senators wish list of destinations
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June 23
Toronto Sun
 
"Dany Heatley has told the Ottawa Senators where he wants to go. But if the Senators can't trade him before a $4-million US bonus kicks in on July 1, they may tell him where to go. Senators general manager Bryan Murray expects talks will heat up this week at the NHL draft in Montreal as several league sources confirmed Heatley's agents have given the club a wish list of up to 10 teams. But there could be some flexibility -- he may agree to go somewhere not listed. Sources told Sun Media the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were among the teams submitted to Murray by Heatley's agents, J.P. Barry ..."
Hawks' Kane a cover boy for 'NHL 10'
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June 23
Daily Herald
 
"Hawks star Patrick Kane has earned the prestigious honor of being on the cover for the EA Sports "NHL 10" video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Kane follows in the footsteps of previous cover boys Dion Phaneuf, Eric Staal, Alex Ovechkin, Vincent Lecavalier, Marcus Naslund, Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Owen Nolan, Chris Pronger, Eric Lindros, Peter Forsberg and John Vanbiesbrouck. Kane and Vanbiesbrouck are the only American-born players to be on the cover. Kane also is the youngest cover athlete. "It's pretty special for me to be on the cover," Kane said. "I remember looking back at guys like Iginla and Pronger, guys like that that you really looked up to and saw them on ..."
Clock keeps ticking on Havlat contract talks
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June 23
Daily Herald
 
"This could be a key week in the Blackhawks' attempt to re-sign Martin Havlat before the veteran winger becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Hawks general manager Dale Tallon plans to speak face to face with Havlat's agent, Alan Walsh, this week in Montreal while there for the entry draft. "We've still got time, but not a lot of time," Tallon said Monday. "We're going to do everything in our power to keep him." The lengthy negotiations indicate there are obvious differences in what Havlat feels he's worth and what the Hawks are willing to pay and for how long. Should Havlat reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, it is believed there would be a number of teams interested, ..."
Blackhawks assistant GM Rick Dudley steps down
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June 19
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Rick Dudley, a former Buffalo Sabres player and coach, resigned Thursday as Blackhawks assistant general manager. Dudley spent four years in the Hawks' hockey operations, the last three in the role of assistant to general manager Dale Tallon. ''He did a lot of traveling and scouting for us,'' Hawks spokesman Brandon Faber said. ''He was not released, as some rumors suggested. He said he wanted to pursue other opportunities.'' TSN reported that Dudley was hired as assistant GM of the Atlanta Thrashers. After retiring as a player, Dudley coached in the minors before being hired to coach the Sabres from 1989 to 1992. He served as general manager of the Ottawa Senators during the 1998-99 ..."
Assistant GM leaves Chicago Blackhawks
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June 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Blackhawks lost a member of their front office Thursday with the resignation of assistant general manager Rick Dudley. Dudley, a former NHL player and coach, served four years in the Hawks' hockey operations, including the last three as assistant to GM Dale Tallon. TSN reported that Dudley was hired Thursday as the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers. "Rick has informed me that he has resigned from his position with the Blackhawks to pursue other opportunities," Tallon said in a statement. "I would like to extend my gratitude to him for his work with our organization and certainly wish him well in the future." Dudley, who was general manager of the Ottawa Senators for ..."
Blackhawks, Oilers seem to be possible destinations for Heatley
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June 14
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray has already received calls and everyone seems to be speculating about where Dany Heatley might land. The possibilities seem endless, but some appear to be more plausible than others. Among Western Conference teams, the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks were the most mentioned by agents and league sources on Friday, with the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks also mentioned. The Oilers have a glut of defencemen and could put together a package from a group that includes defencemen Tom Gilbert, Sheldon Souray and Lubomir Visnovsky, and centre Patrick O'Sullivan. From the Blackhawks, defenceman Brian Campbell's $7.14-million U.S. salary ..."
3 ex-Blackhawks fighting for Stanley Cup
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June 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Craig Adams was rooting for the Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals against the Detroit Red Wings. For the Pittsburgh Penguins winger, the reason was more personal than professional, though avoiding the defending champion Wings to take on an NHL upstart would likely have made things a bit easier in the Stanley Cup finals. Instead, Adams was hoping for a chance to play against old friends and teammates after spending much of the season with the Hawks before being placed on waivers March 3. "I was cheering for those guys for sure," said Adams, who had two goals and four assists in 36 games with the Hawks. "I wanted to see them do well. It would have been tough to play them as well. ..."
Salary cap issues could drag Blackhawks down
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May 31
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"Two years ago, the Buffalo Sabres became a cautionary tale, a reminder of how it takes a long time for an organization to build a contender but only a few seconds for a team to fall apart. They were in the conference finals two straight seasons before a few missteps led to a nasty spill. Buffalo is still trying to regain its feet and brush off its knees, a fact the Chicago Blackhawks need to remember as they proceed through the offseason. The Blackhawks reached the conference finals with a young team. With that success come the same decisions that led to the Sabres' downfall. And it gets very tricky. The Blackhawks have 11 regulars who were 23 years or younger, giving them a strong core ..."
Hawks, Wings and prayers
Comment
May 31
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"They skate around a rink and suppose. But in the midst of the fury that was the NHL's Western Conference finals, it was a moment of electronic eloquence and grace that gently reverberated in a hospital room hundreds of miles away. The Blackhawks were step-toeing near the brink in the second period of Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday night. Only the serious-putty contortions of goalie Cristobal Huet appeared to be holding the score at 0-0. Many hockey angles could have been going through the Mach-jawed mind of analyst Eddie Olczyk on the Versus telecast. Instead, as the cable network came out of a break, playoff hockey gave way ever-so-briefly to sportsman's heart. On the screen, ..."
Demand and supply: Tallon can't rest easy
Comment
May 31
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Dale Tallon is the man behind the best-selling story in hockey, architect of the most exciting young roster in the NHL. The group of players he has assembled not only revived a long-dormant franchise, but should keep an Original Six city hosting an elite team for years to come. Then there's an alternative view of the Blackhawks' success, as voiced by Calgary Flames general manager and ex-Blackhawk captain Darryl Sutter, among others. ''If you don't make the playoffs for that long, then you better have a good, young team,'' Sutter said while his Flames were ousted by the Hawks in the first round. That's the thing about Tallon. As familiar a face as his has been during his three-decades-plus ..."
Chicago Blackhawks look to fine-tune in the off-season
Comment
May 31
Chicago Tribune
 
"Thanks to their deep postseason run, the Blackhawks have less time before the start of the 2009-10 season to improve their team than previous years. But it was that magnificent ride into the Western Conference finals that helped show they have fewer moves to make in order to reach the next level. Before the halt to their season at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 on Wednesday night, the Hawks proved to themselves and the rest of the NHL that the off-season will be spent fine tuning more than overhauling. "Why do we need to be drastic?" general manager Dale Tallon said. "We just have to keep adding our own. We look forward to having some of our young guys come and compete for ..."
For Campbell, playoff run was icing on the cake
Comment
May 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Brian Campbell was still wincing Friday about the Blackhawks' elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he had no regrets about coming to the club in the first place. Campbell rejected an offer from the San Jose Sharks, who won the Presidents Trophy for best regular-season record in the NHL, to become the Hawks' prize free agent signee in the last offseason. ''You talk to people after you sign, and they ask, 'Why did you go there?' '' Campbell said. ''I saw a team that would be successful, but I didn't think we'd be playing until the end of May. Our goal at first was to make the playoffs, then they kept going up. In early December we realized we had a team that could be a threat in ..."
Havlat's a wanted man
Comment
May 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Look for the Blackhawks to solve one offseason problem in a hurry. On Thursday -- a day after they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs -- general manager Dale Tallon resumed contract talks with Allan Walsh, the agent for winger Martin Havlat. Then on Friday, as the Hawks began scattering for summer vacation, Havlat declared, ''I'd love to stay here.'' ''[Walsh] is a pleasant fellow, and we'll continue to talk,'' Tallon said. ''We want Marty back. We'll keep working to get it done.'' The Hawks have 30 days to get Havlat signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. ''We'll see how it goes,'' said Havlat, who led the Hawks in scoring in the regular season and postseason. ..."
A little success means a lot for Chicago Blackhawks franchise
Comment
May 30
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Bob Verdi
"With an overtime goal at home, the Detroit Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 2-1 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals to win the series, four games to one. Three games went to sudden death, an encouraging sign for the Hawks, who eliminated two Canadian teams to advance and felt the learning experience against Detroit would propel them onward and upward. Sound familiar? That happened in 1995, and not again until last week. It is highly unlikely the Hawks will wait another 14 years to sniff the Stanley Cup, but ground rules for this franchise and its fans have changed. The separation is repaired, yet the honeymoon is over. From this moment on, as it is with the Bears, Cubs, White Sox and ..."