The Committed Indian

$3
We’ve Worked Too Hard For Our Illusions Just To Throw Them All Away
The Committed
Indian
The REal Fan’s Program
secondcityhockey.com
April 8th, 2009
committedindian@gmail.com
99 POINTS AND A BITCH AIN’T ONE
Well, doesn’t all that teeth-gnashing
in March seem a little silly now? Don’t worry,
we’re not gloating, we were right there with
you. But after last night’s solid effort, and the
Canucks win over Calgary, the Hawks need
two points out of the last six on offer to host
Game 1 next week. Also, never in our wildest
dreams in September did we think the Hawks
could top 100 points, which they have every
chance of doing now. Sure, 100 points these
days doesn’t mean quite as much as it once
did, thanks to Gary Bettman’s soccer-mompleasing-everyone-gets-a-trophy points
policy. But it sure looks cool, doesn’t it? The Hawks have managed four stellar
defensive efforts in a row, despite including
Matt Walker in some of them. It’s heartening to see that whatever game the Hawks are
required to play, they can do it. When you’re
path in the playoffs could require you to grind
it out with Vancouver, then shoot it out with
San Jose or Scum, the Hawks shouldn’t be too
worried about shifting through the gears. One Toke Over Two Lines, Sweet
Jesus
During this last little streak, the
Hawks can look at two lines, at opposite ends
of the ice. We never used to be comfortable
with Havlat playing with Daydream Nation
(that would be #19 and #88, for those who
don’t speak our language), but these past few
games that line has been weaving some sort
of black magic up and down our spine. At
times it looks like a Globetrotter routine, and
we think Pat Foley might have a brian bubble. In the four games they’ve been permanently
together, they’ve put up 16 points. Perhaps
it bunches the Hawks scoring just a little too
much, but you’d be shocked if they’re broken
up anytime soon. On the other side of the ice...actually, it’s been on both ends, is the play of
Ladd-Pahlsson-Buff. They’re +8 in the last
four games, and have been chipping in with
goals as well. Sure, the only extremely hot
line they’ve cancelled out was St. Louis’s Kids
Line, but they haven’t given Nash of Columbus
or Nashville’s top line a sniff when they’ve
been out there against them. Obviously, Buff
can count, as he must’ve figured out when
Sharp and Brouwer both got healthy it was
his ass that could very well be planted next to
Sassone and Ziehm. Maybe it’s that he isn’t
asked to score now, only check, but whatever
it is, we have to admit he’s played awfully well
the past few games. We know a lot of Hawks fans are still
trembling at the idea of a first round date with
Vancouver. But a lot of that pounding came
as the Sedins ran wild against Bolland’s line. Well, Pahlsson has already drank the Sedins’
milkshake once in the playoffs, we think he
can do it again. Should he do so, the Hawks
can easily match the Canucks in secondary
scoring. But time will tell.
Masters Week, Jackets Everywhere
To tonight, and the visit of the
panting-to-the-finish-line and banged-up
Columbus Blue Jackets. After a scorching stretch in March -- winning six of seven
-- the Jackets are slowing down and having
pieces starting to fall off. If the season were
two weeks longer, they’d look like Elmer Fudd
driving with nothing but a steering wheel and
seat after Bugs has pulled the pin causing it to
fall apart. They’re short an important d-man
in Rostislav Klesla -- perhaps searching for
Tuomo Ruutu’s knees -- and have taken a
huge hit in their scoring with the absences of
Fredrik Modin and Kristian Huselius. This was
after future-stud Derick Brassard was lost for
the year trying to beat the shit out of James
Neal of Dallas (Derick, if you’re going to injure
yourself fighting a Star, make it a Star worth
it. Ott, Ribeiro, Madano, Robidas, there’s so
many to choose from).
Still, the Blue Jackets are going to
have to fuck up in Blagojevich-proportions to
miss their first playoff berth. For that, they
can thank Steve Mason (more on him inside)
and Rick Nash, who’s pretty much had to do
$3
it himself. The Blue Jackets don’t get any
scoring from their blueline -- Hitchcock might
think hockey works like lacrosse, where your
d-men can’t cross the red line. Their power
play is beyond woeful, so they’ve had to scrap
and claw for every goal, and it’s usually Nash
doing the scoring. Still, he got knocked on his
ass twice by T.J. Oshie, so it’s hard to take him
that seriously.
Helping out a little have been the two
midseason additions, old friend Jason Williams
and Antoine Vermette. Both are averaging
just slightly under a point-per-game. After
staring out flaming like he was on Halsted St.,
Vermette has cooled to five points in his last
10 games. With their injuries, this is about all
the BJs have in attack.
You know the drill here. Though
they don’t score much, the defensemen of
Columbus do what is in the name, defend. Mike Commodore and the criminally underrated Jan Hejda make life for forwards hellish in
a way only prisoners can understand, and you
know Hitch will have landmines in the neutral
zone tonight as the Jackets chase the few
points they need to shore up a playoff spot. It’ll be another glass-chewing, goiter-ugly,
taffy-pull of a game. If the Hawks continue
to be as solid in their own zone as they have
been, it will once again only require Mason to
turn his head in disappointment once or twice,
and those two games against Scum will be
academic. -Gordon Brown
“He’s day-to-day with a lower body injury”
Perhaps I made too much of it, but I felt a certain chill at the
final horn on Friday. Judging by the wall of noise that greeted it, I’m sure
I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. When the “2009 Stanley Cup
Playoffs” graphic flashed across the United Center
scoreboard, my heart jumped, for just a second. The
waiting was over, and no more would I have to sit and
watch the 1st round and wonder when it would be our
turn.
And Lord, has it been a wait. Seven years,
and for some like myself, it’s been even longer. I
didn’t live in the country the last time the Hawks made
the postseason, and from all reports it didn’t sound like
I missed much. So my last playoff experience with
the Hawks was 1997, and their 1st round tolchocking
by the Avs. Sure, the Hawks battled back to get that
series to 2-2, but when Colorado decided they’d had
Sam
enough, they did away with the Hawks pretty easily.
The year before is the only playoff game I’ve
attended, which is a status that will change next Wednesday or Thursday.
It was Game 6 in the second round vs. those same Avs. That was Jeremy
Roenick’s last game, and the last game of a Hawks’ Era. They haven’t been
the same since. When Sandis Ozolinsh banged home a rebound in the 2nd
overtime that night, it’s probably as close as I’ve ever felt (and hopefully
will ever feel) to being shot. That Hawks team wasn’t young, it was clear
that it was Roenick’s last game as a Hawk, and I think we all knew that
night that there was no way the Hawks would be able to overhaul Colorado
and Scum, the powers of the conference at that time. Clearly, they never
did.
FROM THE EDITOR
I can’t even describe the giddiness I feel that I will be at the UC when the
next Hawks Era officially arrives. Game 1 will signal that all that garbage
and misery we’ve slogged through lo these many years is over. It will join
all of the other playoff memories that I have from
my childhood. Savard’s goal against Edmonton
(yes, I was four, but I remember the radio call); the
heartbreaker-loss to Minnesota in 1991, probably the
best team we had; JR starting the roll to the Finals in
St. Louis; Dirk Graham pounding home a dump-in
off the boards in Detroit to put the Hawks up 2-0, and
the Brent Sutter finishing them off two games later;
the 1992 Finals Game 1, which I’ve still never gotten
over; JR’s overtime winner against Toronto in 1994,
the win over those same Leafs a year later in Game
7, where I ditched a class outing in DC so I could
Fels
watch it (lots of detention for that one); Joe Murphy
tying the game with less than a minute to go in Game
6 in that ‘96 series vs. Colorado, and him leaping into
Gary Suter’s arms just as I leapt into my brother’s. And then the trash can
I knocked over on my way out after that game. And those are the ones that
are just off the top of my head. May there be many more this spring.
-We’ll have a note in Sunday’s issue about this as well, but due to our
printer’s closing on Easter, we have to print out Sunday’s issue on Friday.
Hence, we have decided to make it a Season Review Issue, with thoughts
and contributions from all our regular guests. It’ll still contain the wit and
swear words you’ve come to enjoy, just look a little different. We’ll be
back with our normal issue for the first home playoff game.
NHL STANDINGS
Eastern Conference
W
L
OTL
1
Boston
51
18
10
3
New Jersey
49
27
4
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
Washington
Philadelphia
Carolina
49
43
45
Pittsburgh
43
NY Rangers
41
Montreal
Florida
10 Buffalo
11 Ottawa
12 Toronto
13 Atlanta
14 Tampa Bay
41
39
38
36
33
34
24
15 NY Islanders 26
23
GF
GA
HOME
AWAY
112
262
184
28-6-6
23-12-4
1
San Jose
102
238
205
27-12-1
22-15-3
3
Calgary
218
26-13-1
106
25
11
97
28
9
28
7
29
10
30
11
34
10
30
32
34
40
38
44
9
9
13
6
18
9
Western Conference
PTS
8
97
95
92
91
89
85
82
79
74
66
61
264
257
236
255
244
204
224
236
213
244
249
206
236
230
237
239
214
29-9-3
24-12-4
24-13-3
24-9-7
25-11-4
225
21-12-7
229
22-12-6
231
288
275
269
196 264
22-15-3
15-15-9
17-20-2
12-17-11
17-16-6
*late game not included
20-14-5
19-13-7
19-15-6
19-15-6
17-20-3
16-19-5
18-18-4
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
Detroit
HAWKS
19
45
44
Anaheim
41
Columbus
St. Louis
Nashville
18-19-4
12 Dallas
12-21-7
14 Phoenix
9-28-3
51
52
43
10 Minnesota
17-20-4
L
Vancouver
16-17-6
14-22-4
W
11 Edmonton
13 L.A.
15 Colorado
40
39
39
38
37
35
33
34
32
16
29
24
27
29
33
OTL PTS
11
115
6
96
9
11
10
10
6
31
10
33
9
33
34
8
9
35
10
39
7
36
44
11
2
111
99
96
90
88
88
86
85
83
80
77
75
66
GF
GA
252 196
290 233
HOME AWAY
31-4-4
27-8-4
21-12-7
24-11-5
249 242
26-10-4 19-19-2
244 220
23-12-5 20-15-5
237 230
19-18-3 22-15-3
254 210
218 218
229 232
205 222
205 193
23-9-7
21-15-4
25-12-3 15-17-7
22-13-5 17-18-5
24-13-4 15-20-4
22-11-7 16-22-2
228 243
17-17-6 20-17-3
203 230
17-15-8 16-21-3
224 251
199 247
197 251
20-16-5 15-19-5
22-15-3 12-24-4
18-20-0 14-24-2
teams that have clinched playoff berth in italics
teams that have clinched division in bold italics
TOP 10 LIST
PUCK DROP
Top 10 Things We Hate From Ohio
10. Mike Tomczak- lowered every Bears fans’ expectations for a QB,
which were only corrected last week
9. THE Ohio State University- otherwise known as THE team that gets
skull-fucked in the championship game
8. Thom Brennaman- Listen to him call a Reds game against the Cubs
sometime, you’ll swear he’s pouting
7. Cavs fans- you know LeBron is fucking off to New York in a year, right?
6. The BJs P.A. Announcer- which, sadly, looks like the Hawks have picked
up on
5. The Dog Pound- those people have kids, y’know
4. Speed traps- seriously, don’t the fucking cops have anything else to do?
Not like Toledo is a war zone, or anything
3. Some of it is far too close to Detroit
2. All you have is the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, and you didn’t give it near
enough space
1. Skyline Chili sucks. Really, it does.
T.J. Oshie knocking Rick Nash on his big, soft
ass twice in two days: We’re sorry, it just never
gets old. St. Louis Gametime has probably put these
photos in the St. Louis Art Museum already. We
know we’ll grow to absolutely abhor T.J. Oshie, but
come on, this is awesome, isn’t it? Rick Nash has
six inches and 40 pounds on him, and he goes down
quicker than a freshman on the school quarterback.
The best is the second one, when Nash charged
from one corner to the other to have his revenge on
Oshie, and he still get flattened. That’s your captain,
Columbus.
Chicago Blackhawks 44-24-11
Why?
Campbell was as tentative and hesitant as we’ve seen him this year last night.
Maybe it was seeing what his taxes look like now. Look, Soupy, we don’t expect
much in the defensive zone from you, but we need sound offensive decisions.
#
Pos
Player
Ht
WT
AGE
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PP
SH
GW
S
S%
Salary (Cap Hit)
24
R
The Perfect Beard
6' 2"
217
27
78
28
45
73
28
30
5
0
5
240
11.7
$6,000,000
88
R
Patrick Kane
5' 10"
187
20
77
25
43
68
-2
42
13
0
4
251
10
$3,725,000
19
C
Captain Marvel
6' 2"
209
20
79
33
34
67
12
51
12
0
7
190
17.4
$2,800,000
32
L
VerStud
5' 10"
180
22
76
22
29
51
14
55
6
4
3
133
16.5
$491,667
51
D
Brian Campbell
6' 0"
188
29
79
7
41
48
1
22
4
0
1
105
6.7
$7,142,875
16
L
Andrew Ladd
6' 2"
198
23
79
13
33
46
23
28
0
0
1
189
6.9
$1,550,000
36
C
Dave Bolland
6' 0"
188
22
78
17
28
45
18
48
1
2
4
107
15.9
$845,833
10
L
The Sharp-Shooter
6' 1"
197
27
61
26
18
44
6
41
9
0
4
184
14.1
$3,900,000
2
D
Duncan Keith
6' 1"
194
25
75
8
34
42
32
60
2
1
1
169
4.7
$1,475,000
25
D
Cam Barker
6' 3"
213
22
65
6
34
40
-4
65
5
0
1
93
6.5
$2,768,587
33
R
Dustin Byfuglien
6' 3"
247
23
74
14
15
29
5
79
3
0
3
194
7.2
$3,000,000
22
R
Troy Brouwer
6' 2"
213
23
66
10
16
26
7
50
4
1
0
124
8.1
$675,000
7
D
Brent Seabrook
6' 3"
220
23
79
7
16
23
22
60
2
1
1
128
5.5
$3,500,000
26
C
Samuel Pahlsson
6' 0"
204
31
63
7
11
18
-18
34
1
0
2
88
8
$301,000
46
C
Colin Fraser
6' 1"
188
23
78
6
11
17
3
55
0
1
0
66
9.1
$500,000
55
L
Ben Eager
6' 2"
220
24
72
10
4
14
1
156
0
0
0
73
13.7
$568,000
8
D
Matt Walker
6' 3"
214
28
62
1
13
14
9
77
0
0
0
82
1.2
$600,000
37
R
Adam Burish
6' 1"
189
26
63
6
3
9
3
89
0
0
2
80
7.5
$712,500
23
D
Aaron Johnson
6' 1"
211
25
36
3
5
8
18
33
0
0
1
27
11.1
$600,000
5
D
Brent Sopel
6' 1"
211
32
23
1
1
2
-4
8
0
0
1
15
6.7
$2,333,333
Niklas Hjalmarsson
6' 2"
200
21
18
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
13
0
$643,000
Totals/Averages
6’ 1”
202.5
24.4
250
436
14.4/g
68
10
33.0/g
9.7%
$44,607,000
4
D
*injured
See? We said we weren’t that impressed with Khabby’s stretch after his return, and he responds with possibly his best four games of the year. We knew what we were doing all along.
#
Goalie
HT
WT
AGE
GPI
Min
GAA
W
L
OT
SO
SA
GA
Sv%
G
A
PIM
Salary
39
Nikolai Khabibulin
6' 1"
209
36
40
2342
2.38
24
8
6
2
1133
93
.918
0
2
8
$6,750,000
38
Cristobal Huet
6' 1"
205
33
40
2291
2.54
19
15
4
3
1064
97
.909
0
0
2
$5,625,000
Totals/Averages
6'1"
207
35
2.58
44
24
11
5
28.6/g
204
0.909
0
2
10
$12,375,000
Probable Pairings
Probable Lines
Left Wing
Center
Right Wing
24 Havlat
19 Toews
88 Kane
22 Brouwer
16 Ladd
37 Burish
36 Bolland
32 Versteeg
46 Fraser
55 Eager
26 Pahlsson
33 Byfuglien
2 Keith
51 Campbell
8 Walker
7 Seabrook
4 Hjalmarsson
25 Barker
TOTAL CAP NUMBER:
$57,283,000
CAP SPACE:
$274,000*
*space also affected by buyouts and injured players
Injury List
Brent Sopel- Out (Talent)
Patrick Sharp- Questionable (Knee)
Committed Indian T-shirts....
#
Pos
Player
Ht
WT
AGE
GP
G
A
P
+/-
PIM
PP
SH
GW
S
S%
Salary (Cap Hit)
61
L
Rick Nash
6' 4"
218
24
75
38
38
76
11
50
6
5
5
20
L
Kristian Huselius*
6' 1"
179
30
74
21
35
56
1
44
5
0
2
253
15
$5,400,000
212
9.9
$4,750,000
29
R
Jason Williams
5' 11"
185
28
77
18
28
46
-2
24
7
0
18
C
R.J. Umberger
6' 2"
215
26
79
26
19
45
-6
49
9
0
4
148
12.2
$1,053,000
2
226
11.5
$3,750,000
50
C
Antoine Vermette
6' 1"
197
26
76
15
24
39
-6
50
3
93
R
Jakub Voracek
6' 1"
205
19
77
9
28
37
11
44
0
1
1
168
8.9
$594,000
0
1
99
9.1
$1,271,000
51
D
Fedor Tyutin
6' 3"
216
25
79
9
25
34
2
77
27
C
Manny Malhotra
6' 2"
217
28
74
11
23
34
9
28
5
1
0
165
5.5
$2,844,000
0
0
3
113
9.7
$1,200,000
33
L
Fredrik Modin*
6' 4"
218
34
50
9
16
25
2
22
D
Mike Commodore
6' 5"
228
29
78
5
19
24
10
28
2
0
0
113
8
$3,250,000
98
0
0
0
102
4.9
$3,750,000
19
C
Michael Peca
5' 11"
183
34
69
4
18
22
-4
56
0
0
2
73
5.5
$1,237,000
25
L
Jason Chimera
6' 2"
216
29
46
8
13
10
D
Kris Russell
5' 10"
180
21
63
2
18
21
8
37
1
0
1
108
7.4
$1,875,000
20
-9
26
1
0
1
85
2.4
$629,000
14
L
Raffi Torres
6' 0"
223
27
48
12
7
19
-1
23
2
0
6
70
17.1
$2,250,000
8
D
Jan Hejda
6' 3"
218
30
79
3
16
19
22
38
0
0
1
66
4.5
$2,000,000
3
D
Marc Methot
6' 3"
225
23
63
4
13
17
6
55
0
0
0
58
6.9
$522,000
40
R
Jared Boll
6' 2"
210
22
72
3
10
13
-8
171
1
0
0
69
4.3
$735,000
17
C
Andrew Murray
6' 2"
216
27
66
8
2
10
-7
10
1
0
3
89
9
$625,000
97
D
Rostislav Klesla*
5
D
Christian Backman
6' 3"
220
26
33
1
8
9
2
38
0
0
0
28
3.6
$1,600,000
6' 4"
210
28
56
2
5
7
5
32
1
0
1
54
3.7
$2,300,000
12
C
Jiri Novotny
6' 3"
204
25
39
3
3
6
3
10
0
1
0
54
5.6
$750,000
28
L
Nikita Filatov
6’ 0”
172
18
8
4
0
4
3
0
0
0
1
10
40
$634,000
15
R
Derek Dorsett
5' 11"
187
21
49
3
1
4
-4
146
0
0
1
54
5.6
$515,000
77
C
Chris Gratton
6' 4"
223
33
24
0
3
3
-1
12
0
0
0
20
0
$171,000
55
D
O. Kristian Tollefsen*
6' 2"
211
24
19
0
1
1
-4
37
0
0
0
12
0
$675,000
24
D
Aaron Rome
6' 1"
223
25
6
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
3
0
$149,000
6' 2"
206.3
26.3
15.1/g
41
8
29.2/g
9.0%
$45,142,000
Totals/Averages
* injured
213
389
#
Goalie
HT
WT
AGE
GPI
Min
GAA
W
L
OT
SO
SA
GA
Sv%
G
A
PIM
Salary
1
Steve Mason
6' 4"
212
20
58
3480
2.22
32
18
7
10
1579
$129
0.918
0
0
2
$847,000
34
Wade Dubielewicz
5’ 10”
185
30
3
169
3.55
1
2
0
0
77
$10
0.87
0
0
0
$231,000
Totals/Averages
6' 1"
198
25
2.57
40
29
10
11
27.9/g
211
.904
0
0
2
$1,078,000
TOTAL CAP NUMBER:
$51,205,000
CAP SPACE:
$5,495,000
Probable Pairings
Probable Lines
Left Wing
Center
Right Wing
61 Nash
27 Malhotra
93 Voracek
18 Umberger
50 Vermette
29 Williams
25 Chimera
12 Novotny
15 Dorsett
14 Torres
19 Peca
40 Boll
22 Commodore
51 Tyutin
5 Backman
8 Hejda
3 Methot
10 Russell
*space also affected by buyouts and injured players
Injury List
Derick Brassard- Out (Shoulder)
Rostislav Klesla- Questionable (Upper Body)
Ole-Kristian Tollefson- Questionable (Upper)
Fredrik Modin- Questionable (Knee)
Kristian Huselius- Questionable (Head)
...COMING SOON. CHECK SECOND CITY
HOCKEY.COM FOR DETAILS
This injury really hurts, as Huselius put up 11 points in 15 March games,
and is one of very few threats for the BJs.
You may have caught the controversy over Filatov’s call-up. Instead of helping AHL-affiliate Syracuse with their playoff push, the BJs decided to have him sit and watch theirs.
Needless to say, fans in Syracuse weren’t happy. But then, who in Syracuse is?
blue Balls of Ohio 40-29-10
It’s time for a season-ending edition of...
ASK THE ICE CREW!!
What was your favorite moment of the season?
When that pasty
bizz-nitch on the
right fell on her
pasty, flat ass on
center ice. Dat
shit was muthfuckin’ comedy
gold, playa-playa!
Too bad she ain’t
got no paddin
back there like
my fine badonkadonk caboose!
SHEEEEIIIIITTT!
Favorite moment
is when Russian
Legend Khabibulin
outplayed French
surrender-poodle
to once again prove
Russia is God’s
Chosen Country!
Long live Drago!
The free Bulls
tickets I got in
January. It was
in a box, we had
so much food
and drinks, I
didn’t even have
to watch the
game!
What was your least favorite moment?
Any of dese fuckin’
road watch parties.
Bunch of fat, devilfoo’s in a Hawks
jersey trying to kick
some game on this
sistah with a fuckin’
chicken wing in his
beard and his whiny
shorty right there
cryin’ about somethin’.
SHEEEEEIIIIIIT!
Having you morons
publish my thoughts
and claim I’m from
Russia, when I’m
actually from Argentina. How short is
the bus you take to
the arena?
The construction helmets!
This job is
supposed
to be fun! I
swear there
were people
aiming for me!
If I wanted to
get hit, I’d still
date that football player
from college!
Are you looking forward to the playoffs?
Fuck yes, bitch be
needin’ her benjamins! Gots to
keep rollin wit’ my
brown and blunts.
Why you be hatin’?
Need lots of playoff
games, I got expensive tastes and shit.
Can’t be seen in no
hoopdie!
SHEEEEEIT!
Sort of, would be
better if losers were
thrown in Gulag,
like my grade-school
teams.
I guess so.
Too cold to sit
in the Wrigley bleachers and have
frat boys
buy us maitais. Though
last August
I woke up
naked in a
hotel room in
Naperville.
The
Fight
Card
HAWKS vs. JACKETS
Fight Stats provided by Hockeyfights.com
GAME
FIGHT
TIME
3-13-09
Walker vs.
Boll
2nd.
13:55
11-1-08
Fraser vs.
Tollefson
1st.
3:14
3-26-08
Seabrook vs.
Rome
3rd.
18:40
11-14-07
Vandermeer
vs. Nash
3rd.
20:00
Bloody
Nose
Black
Eye
Bruised
Ego
√ √
√
Just
Dancing
√
√ √
Analysis
Jackass Boll throws an elbow up at legendary
toughie Campbell, Walker defends his partner
with several rights.
Fraser challenges Scandanavian much larger
than he, and takes the worst of it. We must
conclude Fraser hates Scandanavians, simply
because it’s fun to do so.
Rome bumps Biscuit on the way back to the
bench, linesmen get in but #7 is able to land
an upper-cut between them.
Our favorite Nash moment ever. After taking
several shots from Vandy, calls for referees to
stop the fight. All heart, Nash.
What To Watch For: Maybe some events. These two just played, are still chasing points desperately, and the Blue Jackets can frustrate any opponent. Jackass Boll is the Jackets’ leader with 23 forays into the physical, and he was running around a bit on Sunday.
Pulls that again on UC ice, someone might have something to say.
Power Play
Team
Opp
PPG
PP%
Team OPP
WSH
329
83
25.2
VAN
DET
SJS
ANA
BOS
PHI
BUF
STL
NJD
MIN
OTT
TOR
LAK
CHI
ATL
342
343
301
301
306
348
341
296
317
333
320
352
353
345
87
84
70
69
67
73
25.4
MTL
24.5
CAR
22.9
CGY
21
NYI
23.3
21.9
TBL
PIT
70
20.5
EDM
62
19.6
COL
58
65
62
68
68
66
19.6
19.5
FLA
NSH
19.4
DAL
19.3
NYR
19.3
19.1
PHX
CBJ
364
345
368
333
346
353
307
349
299
305
308
345
332
340
318
PPG
PP%
65
18.8
60
18
Team
TS
NYR
322
18.2
NSH
329
61
17.6
CGY
53
17.3
SJS
69
67
61
59
49
49
48
52
47
47
41
19
17.3
16.9
16.4
16.1
MIN
STL
LAK
BOS
FLA
PHI
15.6
MTL
14.2
CBJ
15.1
13.8
12.9
PIT
BUF
OTT
284
351
339
351
295
293
303
384
361
337
331
324
336
Penalty Kill
PPGA PK%
38
88.2
54
35
58
56
58
49
50
52
66
63
59
58
59
64
Team
TS
VAN
360
83.6
WSH
381
83.5
NJD
87.7
83.5
NYI
CHI
83.5
ANA
82.9
COL
83.4
CAR
82.8
DAL
82.6
DET
82.8
TBL
82.5
EDM
81.8
ATL
82.5
81
PHX
TOR
352
322
317
375
291
307
318
393
314
332
281
353
303
PPGA PK%
69
80.8
74
80.6
68
63
63
75
80.7
80.4
80.1
80
59
79.7
69
78.3
63
86
69
79.5
78.1
78
76
77.1
86
75.6
65
76
76.9
74.9
Spotlight
Steve Mason
It’s clearly the obvious choice, but any discussion of Columbus begins and ends with Steve Mason. He’s made all that Versteegfor-the-Calder talk seem pretty silly, as he’s a sure bet to take that one home. He’d probably be a leading contender for the Vezina, too,
if it wasn’t for Tim Thomas’s deal with the devil. He’ll still be a finalist for that, with his league-leading 10 shutouts. Sure, he doesn’t
face that many chances most nights, the Blue Jackets are 4th in the league in shots against. Most of those are from the outside as well, as
the entire point of Columbus’s game is to keeps shots to the outside. But with a team that’s 21st in scoring, and woefully dead-last in the
power play, Mason has an awfully small margin for error, and has made all the saves the Jackets have needed. He’s second in the league
in goals-against, and 8th in SV % to go with all the no-no’s.
However, you begin to wonder if he isn’t starting to tire, just a little, from the strain of being ridden so hard by coach Ken Hitchcock (a fucking Budweiser Clydesdale would struggle under that ride). Though he certainly looked sharp against the Hawks on Sunday,
that came after coughing up eight goals in two games against St. Louis, and another four to Nashville. There have been good performances mixed in there too, but the consistency is starting to drop, ever so slightly. It would seem like an awful big ask of a rookie to start
60 games and walk the tightrope that the Blue Jackets style presents, but that’s the charge Mason has been given. For the most part, he’s
flourished, and he’s gotten Columbus to their first postseason, which was the stated goal. It’s questionable how much will be left in the
tank in order to make any noise once there, however. Still, this kid will be a problem in our division for a long, long time.
The Committed Indian is printed by Royal Omega Graphics- Elk Grove, IL
847-952-8000
kagroyalo@aol.com
KNOW THY ENEMY
For the final time this year, Bethany from Bethany’s Hockey
Rants on Kukla’s Korner is patient enough to put up with
our shit. God bless her.
So now that the playoffs are assured (barring an epic
and hilarious collapse), what is the feeling in Columbus? Are they getting more attention than what sorority girl was getting spit roasted by however many OSU
football players?
I think it’s nerves. We are waiting until the Jackets clinch
to get excited. There was so much tension in the arena on
Sunday it was ridiculous. I have noticed that there appear
to be more Blue Jacket fans popping up on the internets.
That has to be good. Also, a collapse would cause me to
have a heart attack and die, so please no epic fail.
So who do you want to catch in Round 1, Vancouver or
Calgary?
I think it’s looking more like Calgary....but either way there
are two VERY goaltenders for either team. I really like
the drama that comes with the Calgary series. A Flames
vs. Jackets series would rip my family apart, and I couldn’t
think of a better first round opponent to beat.
If it is Vancouver, then yeah, 10 goals scored, 9 by
the Jackets and 1 by the Nucks, Jackets win the series in 5
games no problem. Haha.
We’ve heard Brassard might be back for the playoffs.
How big would that be? Tell Hawks fans how good this
kid is....
Oh Brass, he won’t be back until at least May, so we would
have to win a playoff series first. If he comes back it would
be HUGE. The top line with Nash - Brassard - Huselius
was easily one of the best lines probably in Jackets history.
Brassard also played on the “Goat Line” (Chimera, Brass,
and Voracek) and that was our best line at the beginning of
the season.
I think the Blue Jackets have finally found their top
line center. Brassard can do anything, score, pass, and he
can skate beautifully.
The biggest obstacle to your playoff success would be
the flaming mess that is your power play. Vancouver
will take its share of penalties, so you need to bury
your chances when they do. Why has your power play
struggled so? Talent? System?
Our power play has never really been that great. I think
this season we missed have a right handed shot, and we
missed having a guy on the point and when we got Williams we put him down low, it doesn’t make sense to me,
because we have guys that can score, it’s just a matter of
doing it when we have the man advantage. I definitely
don’t think that the system has anything to do with it.
It has been better since Hitchcock kind of took over or
helped it along or whatever he did.
You’ve had a full month with him now, what has Antoine Vermette shaken out as?
AMAZING. I love Vermette! He is a gorgeous skater, and
makes beautiful passes. He has chemistry on nearly every
line he’s on. He can play in any situation. Great trade in
my eyes. I don’t miss Pazzy at all.
Ok, really, Nash got dumped on his ass twice by Oshie?
FUCK OSHIE.
Hawks-BJ’s: the Last 4
April 5th, 2009: Hawks 1, BJs 0 (OT)
March 18th, 2009: Hawks 3, BJs 4 (OT)
One of the better games of the year. Tight, tense,
and eventful, like fucking a teenager. Both Mason
and Khabby makes some incredible saves, before
VERSTEEG! ends it.
Hawks take the lead twice, and Huet contrives to
cough both of them up with some of the dumber
goals you’re likely to see. Vermette wins it in over
time after out-skating Campbell, who was advertised
as fast once.
March 13th, 2009: BJs 5, Hawks 3
Dec. 14th, 2008: BJs 1, Hawks 3
Hawks fight back in 2nd from 2-0 down to tie, only
to somehow manage to give up a PP-goal late in
period that they never come back from. Typical
Huet game, big saves to keep Hawks in game that
he let get away in the first place.
#4 of The December March To The Sea. Sharp
scores with less than a second left in the 2nd to tie it,
Havlat bags the winner halfway through the 3rd to
win a contest that was an absolute glass-chew.
Hockey Sabermetrics
CHICAGO
Every game, we provide you with the Behind The Net numbers. These are at even strength, 5-on-5. Key: QUALCOMP- A measure of the quality of competition each player faces on the ice. Calculated by averaging +/-/60 for opponents on the ice against player. QUALTEAM- A measure of the quality of teammates each player plays with. Calculated by averaging +/-/60 for teammates on ice
with player. TOI/60- Time on ice, per 60 minutes, that player spends on ice at full-strength. GFON/60, GAON/60- Goals for and against team per 60 min. player is on ice +/-ON/60- Team’s Plus/
minus, per 60 minutes, while player is on ice. +/-OFF/60- Plus/minus of team while player is off ice, per 60 minutes. RATING- +/-ON/60 subtracted by +/-OFF/60.
NAME
QUALCOMP
QUALTEAM
Aaron Johnson
-0.03
Andrew Ladd
0.1
Duncan Keith
N. Hjalmarsson
TOI/60
GFON/60
GAON/60
+-ON/60
GFOFF/60
GAOFF/60
+-OFF/60
RATING
-0.19
11.68
3.57
1.43
2.14
2.19
2.03
0.15
1.99
0.15
12.85
3.58
2.43
1.15
2.28
2.01
0.26
0.89
0.08
0.12
18.45
3.21
2.18
1.02
2.44
2.2
0.24
0.78
0
-0.14
12.5
1.2
1.2
0
2.42
3.11
-0.69
0.69
Martin Havlat
0.05
0.14
13.46
3.58
2.58
1
2.28
1.96
0.32
0.68
Adam Burish
-0.07
-0.11
7.16
2.34
1.37
0.96
2.68
2.27
0.42
0.55
Dave Bolland
0.1
0.25
12.58
3.33
2.51
0.82
2.38
2.02
0.36
0.46
Troy Brouwer
0.02
-0.1
11.45
2.46
1.72
0.74
2.73
2.29
0.44
0.3
Brent Seabrook
0.09
0.24
16.46
2.75
2.08
0.66
2.59
2.16
0.43
0.23
Jonathan Toews
0.02
-0.07
13.3
2.81
2.23
0.59
2.58
2.09
0.49
0.1
Matt Walker
-0.03
-0.13
14.05
2.63
1.99
0.64
2.5
1.96
0.54
0.1
Colin Fraser
-0.11
-0.14
7.78
2.23
1.72
0.51
2.77
2.18
0.59
-0.08
Dustin Byfuglien
-0.01
-0.06
11.88
2.03
1.61
0.42
2.94
2.38
0.55
-0.13
Ben Eager
-0.11
-0.12
8.36
2.25
1.84
0.41
2.71
2.11
0.6
-0.19
Kris Versteeg
0.02
-0.12
12.07
2.42
2.08
0.34
2.76
2.22
0.54
-0.2
Patrick Kane
0.02
-0.06
13.77
2.44
2.27
0.17
2.6
2.12
0.48
-0.31
Patrick Sharp
0
-0.01
12.94
2.58
2.13
0.46
2.88
1.94
0.94
-0.48
Brian Campbell
-0.02
-0.03
17.01
2.61
2.52
0.09
2.67
1.9
0.77
-0.68
Cam Barker
-0.03
-0.07
13.38
1.99
2.42
-0.43
2.8
2.01
0.8
-1.22
Samuel Pahlsson
0.06
-0.73
12.44
1.63
2.64
-1.01
2.81
1.94
0.87
-1.88
Brent Sopel
-0.1
-0.05
10.89
2.16
3.11
-0.96
3.22
2.25
0.97
-1.93
Corsi Rating
Shots attempted for a team vs. how many are attempted against while a given player is on the ice,
per 60 min.
NAME
CORSI
Jonathan Toews
18.3
Martin Havlat
16.8
Troy Brouwer
14.6
Brian Campbell
14.5
Patrick Kane
14.4
Andrew Ladd
13.6
Patrick Sharp
12.9
Duncan Keith
12.7
Brent Seabrook
12.2
Kris Versteeg
12.2
Dustin Byfuglien
11.2
Cam Barker
10.5
Dave Bolland
10.2
Matt Walker
8.7
Ben Eager
8.3
Adam Burish
7.4
Aaron Johnson
6.6
N. Hjalmarsson
3.6
Colin Fraser
2.8
Brent Sopel
-4.3
Samuel Pahlsson
-10.5
Penalties Drawn
vs. Taken
NAME
PDRAW/60
PTAKE/60
Adam Burish
1.9
1.4
Ben Eager
1.5
2.3
Patrick Kane
1.5
0.9
Colin Fraser
1.4
0.6
Kris Versteeg
1.4
0.6
Dave Bolland
1.3
0.8
Jonathan Toews
1.3
0.8
Patrick Sharp
1.3
0.8
Andrew Ladd
1.2
0.7
Troy Brouwer
1.2
0.9
Martin Havlat
1.1
0.6
Dustin Byfuglien
1.1
1.2
Aaron Johnson
0.9
1.7
Brent Sopel
0.5
1
Matt Walker
0.4
0.6
Brian Campbell
0.4
0.4
Samuel Pahlsson
0.4
1.1
Brent Seabrook
0.3
0.8
Duncan Keith
0.1
0.9
Cam Barker
0.1
0.6
0
0
N. Hjalmarsson
Power Play Ratings
Penalty Kill Ratings
This is a measure of a team’s goals-for This measures how many goals a team
per 60 minutes of player being on the gives up per 60 minutes the player is on
the ice on the PK.
ice on the power play.
Player
GFON/60
Cam Barker
9.98
Troy Brouwer
8.45
Patrick Sharp
7.93
Patrick Kane
7.82
Jonathan Toews
7.37
Brian Campbell
6.88
Dustin Byfuglien
5.8
Duncan Keith
5.68
Martin Havlat
5.66
Brent Seabrook
5.16
Kris Versteeg
4.95
Player
Player
GA/60
Troy Brouwer
4.48
Aaron Johnson
5.71
Adam Burish
5.76
Duncan Keith
6.22
Brent Seabrook
6.24
Brent Sopel
6.43
Colin Fraser
6.76
Kris Versteeg
6.93
Samuel Pahlsson
7.07
Cam Barker
7.22
Matt Walker
7.29
Dave Bolland
8.46
N. Hjalmarsson
13.82
Face-offs
Face-Offs Taken
FO%
Jonathan Toews
1227
54.6
Samuel Pahlsson
1188
53.6
Colin Fraser
750
47.7
1121
44.4
Rank: 23rd
48.0
Dave Bolland
Total
Hockey Sabermetrics
COLUMBUS
NAME
QUALCOMP
QUALTEAM
TOI/60
GFON/60
Aaron Rome
-0.17
-0.32
13.37
2.99
Jason Chimera
-0.04
0.2
11.46
3.41
Jakub Voracek
-0.02
0.1
10.28
3.34
Rick Nash
0.04
-0.03
14.35
3.12
Jason Williams
GAON/60
+-ON/60
GFOFF/60
GAOFF/60
+-OFF/60
RATING
1.5
1.5
2.23
3.06
-0.84
2.33
2.16
1.25
2.16
2.4
-0.23
1.48
2.35
0.99
2.35
2.15
0.2
0.79
2.4
0.72
2.3
2.24
0.05
0.67
0
-0.14
12.07
2.84
2.65
0.19
2.38
2.79
-0.41
0.61
Jan Hejda
0.09
-0.08
17.38
2.93
2.23
0.7
2.36
2.25
0.11
0.59
Manny Malhotra
0.03
-0.06
13.4
2.6
1.94
0.67
2.54
2.24
0.3
0.36
Fredrik Modin
0.03
-0.09
12.59
2.48
1.91
0.57
2.74
2.44
0.3
0.28
Marc Methot
-0.04
-0.07
15.25
3
2.68
0.31
2.47
2.13
0.34
-0.03
Christian Backman
-0.07
-0.12
12.46
2.15
1.63
0.52
2.7
2.11
0.59
-0.08
Raffi Torres
-0.03
-0.25
10.98
2.5
2.39
0.11
2.72
2.47
0.25
-0.14
Fedor Tyutin
0.02
-0.03
15.93
2.57
2.34
0.24
2.57
2.19
0.39
-0.15
Mike Commodore
0.08
0.1
17.4
2.65
2.43
0.22
2.53
2.14
0.38
-0.16
Rusty Klesla
0.02
-0.03
15.79
2.19
1.61
0.58
3.09
2.33
0.76
-0.18
Antoine Vermette
0.03
-0.1
12.45
1.97
2.47
-0.51
2.18
2.49
-0.31
-0.2
Kristian Huselius
0.04
0.16
14.74
2.92
2.81
0.11
2.48
2.12
0.37
-0.26
Jiri Novotny
0.04
-0.11
11.44
1.75
1.61
0.13
3.09
2.54
0.54
-0.41
Kris Russell
-0.15
-0.06
11.85
1.93
2.17
-0.24
2.69
2.3
0.39
-0.63
Derek Dorsett
-0.01
-0.29
8.68
1.13
1.55
-0.42
2.66
2.39
0.27
-0.69
R.J. Umberger
0.04
0.08
13.24
2.41
2.64
-0.23
2.64
2.08
0.57
-0.8
Chris Gratton
-0.09
-0.29
8.34
1.5
1.8
-0.3
2.4
1.85
0.55
-0.85
Michael Peca
0
-0.18
10.24
2.29
2.72
-0.42
2.55
1.98
0.57
-0.99
Corsi Rating
This measures how many shots are attempted for a
team vs. how many are attempted against while a
given player is on the ice, per 60 min.
Penalties Drawn
vs. Taken
PDRAW/60
PTAKE/60
Christian Backman
13.8
Derek Dorsett
2.5
1.6
Kris Russell
10.7
Jared Boll
1.7
0.8
Marc Methot
10.6
O.K. Tollefson
1.6
1.6
O.K. Tollefson
9.9
Rick Nash
1.4
0.9
Aaron Rome
9.7
R.J. Umberger
1.3
0.6
Kristian Huselius
9.4
Fredrik Modin
1.2
1.2
Rick Nash
8.4
Jiri Novotny
1.2
0.7
Fedor Tyutin
7.6
Raffi Torres
1
0.8
Jakub Voracek
5.2
Kris Russell
1
0.4
Fredrik Modin
5.1
Kristian Huselius
0.9
0.9
4
Andrew Murray
0.9
0.5
Jason Chimera
3.8
Jason Chimera
0.8
1
Andrew Murray
3.4
Jason Williams
0.8
0.6
Manny Malhotra
1.8
Christian Backman
0.8
0.9
R.J. Umberger
1.8
Antoine Vermette
0.8
0.8
Raffi Torres
1.1
Marc Methot
0.7
1.1
Derek Dorsett
0.8
Rusty Klesla
0.6
1
Rusty Klesla
-0.2
Chris Gratton
0.6
1.2
Jared Boll
-0.4
Fedor Tyutin
0.5
1
Michael Peca
-0.9
Jakub Voracek
0.4
0.8
Jason Williams
-3.7
Jan Hejda
0.4
0.7
Jan Hejda
-4.8
Manny Malhotra
0.4
0.5
NAME
Jiri Novotny
CORSI
NAME
Power Play Ratings
This is a measure of a team’s goals for
per 60 minutes of player being on the
ice on the power play.
Player
GFON/60
Antoine Vermette
7.15
Jason Williams
5.99
Kris Russell
5.38
Fedor Tyutin
5.3
Kristian Huselius
4.82
Fredrik Modin
4.77
Rick Nash
4.56
Jakub Voracek
4.32
R.J. Umberger
4.31
Jason Chimera
4.15
2.52
Christian Backman
Player
Penalty Kill Ratings
This measures how many goals a
team gives up per 60 minutes the
player is on the ice on the PK.
Player
GAON/60
Rosti Klesla
3.18
Jason Chimera
3.21
Jiri Novotny
4.15
Fedor Tyutin
4.75
Marc Methot
5.73
Jan Hejda
5.79
Andrew Murray
5.86
A. Vermette
5.93
Michael Peca
6.33
M. Malhotra
6.61
Mi. Commodore
6.77
R.J. Umberger
6.78
Rick Nash
7.59
Chris Gratton
8.37
Face-offs
Face-Offs Taken
FO%
Manny Malhotra
1314
58.1
Antoine Vermette
1053
58.1
Michael Peca
822
49.9
840
48.0
Rank: 9th
51.2
R.J. Umberger
Total:
Referee Stats For The Hawks
Referees
1st NHL
Game
Hawks Games
Hawks PP’s
Hawks
PK’s
Pens/Game
Hawks PP/Game
Hawks PK/
Game
W
L
OTL
2 Fraser, Kerry
1980
3
14
17
10.3
4.7
5.7
3
0
0
3 Leggo, Mike
1997
5
19
22
8.2
3.8
4.4
4
0
1
4 McCauley, Wes
2003
5
11
14
5.0
2.2
2.8
2
2
0
5 Rooney, Chris
2000
2
6
2
4.0
3.0
1.0
2
0
0
6 Marouelli, Dan
1984
3
14
11
8.3
4.7
3.7
1
2
0
7 McCreary, Bill
1984
5
25
19
8.8
5
3.8
3
3
0
8 Jackson, Dave
1990
6
28
24
8.7
4.7
4.0
4
1
1
10 Devorski, Paul
1989
4
15
25
10
3.7
6.2
1
3
0
11 Sutherland, Kelly
2000
2
11
14
12.5
5.5
7
0
2
0
12 Koharski, Don
1981
4
19
20
9.8
4.8
5.0
3
0
1
13 O’Halloran, Dan
1995
6
34
23
9.5
5.6
3.8
3
2
1
14 LaRue, Dennis
1991
6
28
24
8.6
4.3
4
4
1
1
15 Auger, Stephane
2000
5
25
17
8.4
5
3.4
4
0
1
16 Shick, Rob
1986
1
2
2
4.0
2.0
2.0
0
0
1
18 Kimmerly, Greg
1996
5
26
25
10.2
5.2
5.0
3
2
0
20 Peel, Tim
1999
5
21
20
8.2
4.2
4.2
3
2
0
21 VanMassenhoven, Don
1993
4
17
10
6.7
4.2
2.5
2
0
2
23 Watson, Brad
1996
4
15
8
5.7
3.7
2
2
1
1
25 Joannette, Marc
1999
3
19
7
8.6
6.3
2.3
2
0
1
26 Martell, Rob
1996
1
3
1
4.0
3.0
1.0
1
0
0
27 Furlatt, Eric
2001
6
27
26
8.8
4.5
4.3
2
3
1
28 Lee, Chris
2001
2
11
10
10.5
5.5
5
1
1
0
29 Walsh, Ian
2000
2
2
5
3.5
1.0
2.5
1
1
0
30 Hasenfratz, Mike
2000
5
26
24
9.6
5.2
4.8
1
2
2
32 Kowal, Tom
2000
5
16
13
5.8
3.2
2.6
5
0
0
33 Pollock, Kevin
2000
4
14
15
7.2
3.5
3.7
1
1
2
34 Meier, Brad
1999
5
17
23
8.0
3.4
4.6
4
1
0
35 Warren, Dean
1999
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
36 Morton, Dean
2000
3
24
13
12.3
8.0
4.3
1
1
1
38 St Laurent, Francois
2006
2
14
15
14.5
7.0
7.5
1
0
1
39 Dwyer, Gord
2003
5
30
24
10.8
6
4.8
3
0
2
40 Kozari, Steve
2006
5
30
23
10.6
6
4.6
2
2
1
42 O’Rourke, Dan
1999
3
17
15
10.6
5.6
5
2
0
1
43 Pochmara, Brian
2006
3
12
14
8.6
4
4.6
2
1
0
45 St. Pierre, Justin
2003
6
29
26
9.2
4.8
4.3
3
1
2
Points
Goals
1
2
3
GAA
Player
Team
G
A. Ovechkin
WAS
55
1
Evgeni Malkin
PIT
110
1
NJ
44
3
S. Crosby
PIT
101
3
Jeff Carter
Zach Parise
4
I. Kovalchuk
16
J. Toews
5
NHL LEADERS
M. Hossa
PHI
ATL
DET
CHI
45
42
40
33
Player
2
4
5
26
A. Ovechkin
Pavel Datsyuk
Zach Parise
Martin Havlat
Team
WAS
DET
NJ
CHI
P
108
97
93
73
Player
2
4
5
6
SV%
Player
Team SV%
Team
GAA
Tim Thomas
BOS
2.07
1
Tim Thomas
BOS
.933
Pekka Rinne
NSH
2.20
3
Craig Anderson
FLA
.924
Steve Mason
N. Backstrom
Jonas Hiller
N. Khabibulin
CBJ
MIN
ANA
CHI
2.22
2.31
2.32
2.38
2
4
5
8
T. Vokoun
N. Backstrom
Pekka Rinne
N. Khabibulin
FLA
MIN
NSH
CHI
.926
.923
.920
.918
Block Party
At Some Point, This Shall Not Pass
Redefining the brand that is the Chicago Blackhawks so far has gone more swift or
smooth than anyone could’ve ever imagined. But rougher waters remain ahead and
key decisions on highly-touted prospects and their easily-detectable imperfections are,
in some cases, only months away.
To date, the following passages may quickly be discerned as rookie mistakes or crossing the learning curve. However, warning signs are clear and evident.
Dale Tallon has drafted several players of questionable character during his tenure as
Blackhawks’ GM and those individuals’ arrivals are on the immediate horizon.
One prospect at the forefront of those concerns is Akim Aliu, who we’ll
pertinently deem “The Nigerian Nightmare.” A fearsome force on the ice, Aliu was
born in Okene, Nigeria on April 24, 1989 but was raised until the age of eleven in
Ukraine, where his mother hailed and father was an athlete. By 12, Aliu and his
family moved to the Toronto area. Until then, Aliu did not know the sport of hockey
existed. By the age of 16, he played on elite midget teams in Toronto and was a teammate of future Edmonton Oilers’ 2007 1st round pick Sam Gagner. And in four short
years, he’d become one of Canada’s hottest young prospects.
Aliu’s junior hockey career began in Windsor as a 16-year
old rookie in the Ontario Hockey League. But his stay there would
be short after a rookie hazing incident orchestrated by team veterans,
including current NHL agitator Steve Downie, befell a major team
blow up.
On a bus ride back from Sept. 9, 2005 preseason game in
London, Ontario, Downie and other vets ordered the rookies (reportedly six or seven), including Aliu, to strip nude and cram into the rear
bus bathroom, which was the equivalent in size of a airplane laboratory. Aliu refused, as he did for any subsequent rookie ‘initiation’ rituals. In some eyes, Aliu’s actions were seen as insubordination. Others
saw a young man steadfastly guarding his morals.
Chris
Tensions between Aliu and Downie escalated to a boiling
point later that month when the two exchange words during a practice
leading to Downie charging Aliu from the bench and cross-checking the rookie in the
mouth, chipping three of Aliu’s teeth. Aliu received brief treatment before returning
to the practice and challenging Downie to a fight. The two brawled and both suspended by the team. Downie never played for Windsor again and Aliu was eventually
traded to his second OHL team, Sudbury, and his second of four stops in four OHL
seasons.
Perhaps the lingering stain on Aliu’s reputation in Windsor was his father
Tai’s accusation that his son’s teammates frequently threw racial slurs in the younger
Aliu’s direction, including allegedly referring to him as “8 Ball.” After another OHL
investigation, those accusations were dismissed.
But Aliu has created his own troubles as well. He’s walked out on coaches
on multiple occasions and has been sent home for team disciplinary reasons more
times than even Antonio Alfonseca’s hand can signal.
This spring Aliu was sent away from the London Knights’ preseason camp
to “get his head straight.” After an impressive summer rookie camp in Chicago, where
Aliu arguably turned in the Hawks’ best performances, Aliu too believed his own
hype. As he told the Canadian Press in August, “Hopefully my junior career is over.”
Knights’ head coach, and former Washington Capitals’ center, Dale Hunter
was none too impressed with Aliu’s effort in the ensuing OHL preseason camp, accusing Aliu of saving himself for upcoming Hawks’ camp and half-assing drills. As
a veteran entering his final season of junior eligibility, Hunter couldn’t accept Aliu’s
behavior and dismissed him from London’s camp and put Aliu on a plane to Chicago
four days earlier than planned.
When Aliu’s NHL camp was derailed by a groin injury, Aliu returned to
London with mixed emotions and fought back and forth with Hunter. Things came to
a head after the Christmas break when Aliu was unwilling to adhere to coach Hunter’s
rules and was again, for the third time in four months, sent home. Aliu was traded
back to Sudbury two weeks later and recently finished his junior career there after
a first round playoff loss to Belleville. Aliu was then assigned to Rockford by the
Blackhawks. In two games he has seen limited time on the third line and has already
been booted from a game for verbally abusing a referee.
Aliu is a tremendous prospect though with an amazing upside if he can
allow himself to be led by the best teachers and compadres in the game. He’s strongwilled and defiant, but now he’s arrived to the pro-level and maybe he’s ready to
learn? Or will the Nightmare’s reign be just that?
Kyle Beach however, for sure, is trouble in waiting. Kyle’s on-ice behavior
has observers and scouts split into two schools of thought. Either Beach is a childish,
irrational egotist or a staunch believer in the Sean Avery-school of antagonism. Take
your pick.
It’s not like Beach is a bad kid. From all reports, he’s a stand-up person in
the dressing room, always available to the media and never avoids the tough questions.
He’s a spotlight guy and relishes in being the focus of attention. There’s nothing
inherently wrong with that (unless you’re someone who prefers your hockey players
be the dumbed-down farmboy rednecks Hockey Canada unknowingly portrays them
as) as long as his on-ice discretions don’t get in the way of the team’s goals. But in
Beach’s case, you can debate they have.
Arguably his most deplorable 2008-09 suspension (of three) played out
near the end of a blowout loss at the Medicine Hat Tigers on Feb. 21. Beach (6’3
– 220), entering the play off a line change, snuck behind diminutive Tigers’ center
Brennan Bosch (5’7 – 169) and jumped the unexpecting skill player, pummeling him
with fists to the back and side of the head before wrestling him to the ground. It was
a scene which could’ve easily been reminiscent of the infamous Todd Bertuzzi/Steve
Moore episode (the right hand to the back of the head that ended Moore’s career) had
Bosch not seen Beach approaching in a split second’s notice. Beach received a threegame suspension for his actions. A full-out line brawl ensued.
Beach started this season with his original junior team, Everett Silvertips.
He was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Jan. 6 as the ‘Canes
stacked up for a playoff drive. He didn’t take long to make an impression.
In his first seven games with Lethbridge, Beach scored seven
goals and three assists. The last of those seven though was the most
notable; an empty-net shot that ignited a good ‘ol teenage-line brawl.
As Beach strode alone into, again, the Medicine Hat zone, he slowed
down, turned towards the oncoming ‘Hat checkers and eventually
fired the puck into the empty Tigers’ goal with more emphasis than
was necessary. In response to this, a Medicine Hat player hurled
his stick at Beach resulting in everyone on the ice converging into
the space Beach had picked to celebrate. All gloves were dropped
and each hammered his frustrations on the other. Beach was not
Block
suspended.
But three nights later karma caught up with the controversial
centre. After the regulation clock timed out in a 5-3 loss at Red Deer,
Beach erroneously fired a wicked slap shot over the glass and into the crowd, injuring
a male fan. For that, he received a three-game suspension. Beach most recently was
suspended for one playoff game for cross-checking Saskatoon Blades defenseman Jyri
Niemi in the head on Mar. 20.
Bill Peters, now the head coach of Chicago’s AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs, was fined last year by the WHL for being quoted as saying Beach was a “high
maintenance guy” as well as saying Beach’s on-ice behavior is simply “a charade” and
“schtick.” Peters was the head coach of the Spokane Chiefs, an intra-state rival of the
Everett Silvertips (Beach’s junior team up until this past January), at the time. Ironically, he may be more right than mistaken in his assessment.
2008 third-round draft pick Shawn Lalonde, a wiry slick-skating offensive
defenseman, quit his junior team, the Belleville Bulls, for a day in late February after
a dispute with his coach over how Lalonde, 18, felt he should be used. After the disagreement, Lalonde chose not to join his teammates for a bus trip to Brampton, and a
first-place showdown game the next day, leaving an already injury-depleted Belleville
group another player short for the all-important game. When Belleville returned home
after the Brampton game, Lalonde met with his coach and agreed to return to the team
with both sides suggesting he never “quit” the team.
Lalonde told the Belleville Intelligencer, “I looked at everyone of my
teammates and told them I wouldn’t do anything stupid like that again. I told them,
that yes, I may be mad at [head coach George Burnett] sometimes but I can’t take it
personally and I have to move on.”
2005 sixth-round draft selection and University of New Hamphire cocaptain Joe Charlebois was ruled academically ineligible in January by the NCAA
for the second half of his senior season. Charlebois, who turned 23 in February, is a
right-shooting defensive defenseman who led all UNH Wildcats in plus/minus last season. For his ‘efforts’ Charlebois was rewarded with an amateur-tryout contract with
Rockford in February and has appeared in eleven games so far, registering one assist,
thirteen penalty minutes and an even plus/minus rating.
Don’t dismiss these insubordinations and trials or think they’re going unnoticed by those in the Hawks’ front office with more pull than Dale Tallon. At some
point, a message will be sent to these and all Blackhawks’ prospects that behavior like
those outlined above will not be tolerated. John McDonough’s background is in promoting a fun, friendly environment both on and off the field of play. Aliu and Beach
in particular skate in stark contrast to current flag bearers Messrs Kane and Toews.
Their anticipated fall arrivals to the NHL club will test the Blackhawks’ locker room
chemistry, if not McD’s patience.
ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com
TheThirdManIn.com, puckchatter.net
The Making of The
Chicago Blackhawks
YEAR
2008-2009
DRAFT
2007-2008
Patrick Kane (1st round)
2006-2007
Jonathan Toews (1st round)
2005-2006
Niklas Hjalmarsson (4th round)
2004-2005
Cam Barker (1st round)
Dave Bolland (2nd round)
Troy Brouwer (7th round)
2003-2004
2002-2003
Brent Seabrook (1st round)
Dustin Byfuglien (8th round)
Duncan Keith (2nd round)
Adam Burish (9th round)
GM HISTORY
Dale Tallon (2005-Present)
Bob Pulford (Too Fucking Long)
Mike Smith (2001-2004)
Bob Murray (1999-2000)
TRADE
info in part provided by hockeyreference.com
Samuel Pahlsson (COL 7th round 1996) and
Logan Stephenson (PHX 2nd round 2004) from
ANA for James Wisniewski (CHI 5th round
2002) and Petri Kontiola (CHI 7th round 2004)
FREE AGENT
Brian Campbell (BUF 6th
round 1997
Cristobal Huet (LA 7th round
2001)
Matt Walker (STL 3rd round
1998)
Aaron Johnson (CLB 3rd round
2001)
Ben Eager (PHO 1st round 2002) from PHI for Brent Sopel (VAN 6th round
Jim Vandermeer (FA PHI 2000)
1995)
Craig Adams (HAR 9th round 1996) from CAR
for future considerations.
Andrew Ladd (CAR 1st round 2004) from
CAR for Tuomo Ruutu (CHI 1st round 2001)
Martin Havlat (OTT 1st round 1999) from
OTT and Bryan Smolinski (BOS 1st round
1990) for Tom Preissing (FA SJ 2003), Josh
Hennessy (SJ 2nd round 2003) and Michael
Barinka (CHI 2nd round 2003)
Kris Versteeg (BOS 5th round 2004) from BOS
for Brandon Bochenski (OTT 7th round 2001)
Patrick Sharp (PHI 3rd round 2001) from PHI
for Matt Ellison (CHI 4th round 2002) and CHI
3rd round pick 2006
Nikolai Khabibulin (WIN 9th
round 1992)
Colin Fraser (PHI 3rd round 2003), Jim Vandermeer (PHI FA 2000) and 2004 2nd round
pick from PHI for Alex Zhamnov and 2004 4th
round pick (WIN 4th round 1990)
COACHES
Head Coach-Joel Quenneville
Assistant Coach-John Torchetti
Assistant Coach-Mike Haviland
Assistant Coach- Marc Bergevin
Goaltending Coach-Stephane Waite
The Making of The
Columbus Blue Jackets
info in part provided by hockeyreference.com
YEAR
DRAFT
TRADE
2008-2009
Nikita Filatov (1st round)
Antoine Vermette (OTT 2nd round 2000) for
Pascal LeClaire (CLB 1st round 2001) and 2009
2nd round pick
Jason Williams (DET Undrafted FA 2000)
from ATL for Clay Wilson (ANA Undrafted FA
2006) and 2009 6th round pick
Raffi Torres (NYI 1st round 2000) from EDM
for Gilbert Brule (CBJ 1st round 2005)
2007-2008
Jakub Voracek (1st round)
2006-2007
Derick Brassard (1st round)
Steve Mason (3rd round)
Derek Dorsett (7th round)
Fedor Tyutin (NYR 2nd round 2001) and
Christian Backman (STL 1st round 1996)
from NYR for Nikolai Zherdev (CBJ 1st round
2003) and Dan Fristche (CBJ 2nd round 2003)
Aaron Rome (LAK 4th round 2002) from ANA
for Geoff Platt (CBJ Undrafted FA 2005)
2005-2006
2004-2005
Kris Russell (3rd round)
Jared Boll (4th round)
2003-2004
Marc Methot (6th round)
2002-2003
Rick Nash (1st round)
Ole Tollefson (3rd round)
2001-2002
2000-2001
FREE AGENT
Kristian Huselius (FLA 2nd round
1997)
R.J. Umberger (VAN 1st round
2001)
Mike Commodore (NJ 2nd round
1999)
Chris Gratton (TB 1st round 1993)off waivers
Wade Dubielewicz (NYI Undrafted
FA 2003) - off waivers
Jiri Novotny (BUF 1st round 2001)
Michael Peca (VAN 2nd round
1992)
Jan Hejda (BUF 4th round 2003)
Fredrik Modin (TB 3rd round 1994) and Fredrik Norrena (TB 7th round 2001) from TB for
Marc Denis (COL 1st round 1995)
Jason Chimera (EDM 5th round 1997), Cale
Hulse (NJ 3rd round 1992, and Mike Rupp (NJ
3rd round 2000) from PHX for Geoff Sanderson
(HAR 2nd round 1990) and Tim Jackman (CBJ
2nd round 2001)
Manny Malhotra (NYR 1st round
1997)
Andrew Murray (8th round)
Rostislav Klesla (1st round)
GM HISTORY
2007-Present: Scott Howson
2007: Jim Clark (interim)
1998-2007: Doug MacLean
COACHES
Head Coach-Ken Hitchcock
Asst. Coach- Gary Agnew
Asst. Coach- Gord Murphy
Asst. Coach- Claude Noel
Goaltending Coach- Clint Malarchuk
The Hawks Record When...
Playing at home............
23-9-7
Playing on road...........
21-15-4
Scoring first..........
31-5-4
Opponent scores first........
13-19-7
Shoot the puck bimbo scores......
5-2-1
Shoot the puck bimbo doesn’t score......
18-6-6
Shoot the puck bimbo blows editors of Commited Indian..... 0-0-0
Shoot the puck bimbo is a former Fifth Feather Flame .... 1-0-0
Playing on a Monday..............
2-2-1
Playing on a Tuesday................
7-4-0
Playing on a Wednesday...........
10-1-3
Playing on a Thursday..............
2-3-0
Playing on a Friday................
6-4-4
Playing on a Saturday.............
7-5-3
Playing on a Sunday................
10-5-0
Savard changes lines during game...
1-2-1
Coach Q keeps lines as they are..... 43-22-10
Are out-muscled by opponent....
10-18-4
Outshoot opponent.......
33-14-6
Are outshot by opponent....
11-10-5
Havlat shies from contact.........
16-6-6
Patrick Kane scores............... 12-7-3
Jonathan Toews scores.......... 16-3-6
Martin Havlat scores............. 18-4-1
Patrick Sharp scores............ 16-4-2
Dustin Byfuglien scores......... 8-2-1
Dustin Byfuglien wins a foot-race??!!!!!.....
2-1-0
Andrew Ladd scores............. 11-0-1
Dave Bolland scores.........
11-1-4
Adam Burish scores.......
3-2-1, and totally ruins that joke
51 Phantom scores.......
3-2-1
Duncan Keith scores........
5-3-0
Brent Seabrook scores......
5-1-1
VerStud scores....
13-7-1
Troy Brouwer scores....
8-0-0
Scoring a Power Play goal....... 29-10-9
Not scoring a Power Play goal...
15-13-2
Allowing a Power Play goal......
19-18-10
Not Allowing a Power Play goal.......
25-6-1
Scoring a short-handed goal...........
6-2-0
Allowing a short-handed goal.........
Taking 30 or more shots......... Taking less than 30 shots..... Allowing 30 shots or more......
Allowing 30 shots or less......... 100 Level doesn’t cheer for anthem. 1st of a back-to-back......
2nd of a back-to-back..... Opponent played night before....
Taking more than 5 penalties.....
Taking 5 or less penalties....
Seabrook gets a flat-footed penalty....
Burish takes a penalty.......
Keith takes a penalty......... Sharp takes a penalty....... Toews takes a penalty.....
Havlat takes a penalty....
Sopel takes a penalty...... Sopel looks 6 steps slow......
51 Phantom blows a coverage......
Toews is trying too hard......
At least 1 fight in 300 Level...
No fights in 300 Level..... Playing Eastern Conference.....
Playing Western Conference..... Playing Central Division...... Playing Northwest Division....
Playing Pacific Division Playing Atlantic Division Playing NASCAR Division Playing Northeast Division
Playing in October.... Playing in November....
Playing in December......
Playing in January.....
Playing in February.....
Playing in March......
Playing in April......
UC plays really stupid goal song.....
Huet’s five-hole open like Lindsay Lohan’s.....
2-4-1
33-16-8
11-8-3
17-9-6
27-15-5
22-8-7
5-6-3
8-5-1
10-5-2
16-16-5
28-8-6
8-5-6
8-6-2
14-5-2
10-3-2
10-5-3
8-3-1
3-2-1
7-5-5
28-20-9
3-8-3
4-3-4
19-5-3
9-7-3
35-18-8
8-7-6
12-6-1
15-5-1
2-3-2
4-1-0
3-2-1
4-3-3
6-3-3
10-1-1
7-6-1
7-4-1
6-7-2
4-0-0
23-5-7
3-11-4
Getting obliterated on face-offs.......
18-11-4
Are even close on face-offs.....
26-13-7
Eddie O tells crew to “stop it right here!”....
37-18-11
Eddie O tells us D have the forwards and forwards have the D
during 4-on-4........
37-17-11
Pat Foley screws up a name......
42-19-11
Ice Crew wear skirts.......
7-1-3
Ice Crew wear pants.......
3-1-0
Ice Crew wear shorts....
13-7-4
Member of Ice Crew hilariously falls on her shapely ass.... 0-1-0
Leading after 2 periods......
34-2-3
Losing after 2 periods...... 2-17-4
Tied after 2 periods......... 8-5-4
In overtime.......... 6-5
In shootout.......
4-6
Cam Barker plays....... 36-20-8
Cam Barker is in Rockford due to GM incompetence.....
6-2-3
Lacking a #2 center........ 38-22-9
In 1-goal games.....
12-7-11
In 2-goal games...... 15-7-0
In 3-goal games....... 8-6-0
In 4+ goal games...... 8-3-0
Scoring 3+ goals..... 40-7-7
Scoring less than 3 goals...... 4-16-4
PA plays Ministry....... 0-0-0
PA plays Modern Cock-Rock.....
23-9-7
PA plays Stranglehold....... 8-3-4
PA plays P.J. Harvey........ 0-0-0
Fraser fights...... 7-3-1
Burish fights....... 5-2-0
Seabrook fights.....
1-0-0
Barker fights......... 0-0-2
Buff fights......... 1-1-2
Sharp fights........ 1-0-0
Eager fights..........
10-4-1
On Comcast...... 34-13-8
On WGN....... 10-7-3
On Vs........
0-3-0
On NBC....
0-1-0
Judd Sirott hates Adam Creighton
43-24-11
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