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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Chicago Blackhawks Win 5th Cup AMAZINGLY!

Okay,...where do I begin?
I was glued to my t.v. set when my girlfriend looks at me and says, "You have a patient coming to the clinic at 10:00 (Since I live in Jakarta, I am 12 hours ahead,...note that okay?)

I was so happy to have this Tuesday morning off of work, so that I would be able to watch game 6 (Monday night in the States).

When she spoke to me there were 3 minutes left to go in the game. "What?"......I actually was on-call,...what a quandary. Should I leave or not? I was starting to get a bit disgruntled and saw that the Hawks just messed up with less than 5 minutes to go on their final power play. It even appeared the Hawks had given up.

"Okay,... tell them I'll be there in about 10 minutes." I start to tie my shoes, and I looked up at the t.v. and saw that Crawford (in a PIP) was getting ready to take off to the bench. I had to watch.

"Honey,...they're waiting for you!" She yells again.

"In a minute!" Patrick Kane makes it across the blue line. "I'll be right there."

Kane takes a shot on goal,... and the rebound goes to the near board where Duncan Keith flips it to Jonathan Toews who centered it in front of the net. I don't even remember the shot. It happened that fast................GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!" Bryan Bickell just went 5 hole on Tuukka Rask to tie the game!

"Oh my God!!!!!!" I screamed with excitement.

"Honey,...what happened?"

"The Hawks just fucking scored. Oh my God. " Realization that my patient was still waiting finally arose. Lucky for me my clinic is simply across the street a 7 minute door-to-door walk. Now, I am thinking how fast must I go there, so that I don't miss overtime.

As I am getting ready to take off my #19 Jonathan Toews jersey, the last 1:16 started. I just stared at the t.v. set and within a blink of an eye.........17.7 seconds to be exact, Dave Bolland jumps on a deflected shot off of Johnny Oduya (deflected by Michael Frolik),and puts it in behind Rask. Again, we didn't see the puck go in,...only Bolland jumping around with his gloves off.

My entire family is going nuts......I stepped in,..........."HUSH!!!!!. Let's see if it's a good goal first." I didn't feel like getting too excited to only have the refs take it away,........AGAIN...

They show the replay almost simultaneously with my speech,........and once I saw it in slow mo,..."OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Bolly just fucking scored. Oh my God."

My girlfriend said the last minute of play that I was shaking and was literally counting down the seconds.........all 58 of them..... I did,....until about 5 seconds when Jonathan Toews pushed the puck down ice. I watched it,... and then saw the Hawks rush the ice only seconds afterward.

"Oh my God." I jumped like a little girl. "The Hawks just won the cup. The Hawks just won the cup. The Hawks just won the cup."

As I started to settle down, my girlfriend said, "You have to go." I gave her a quick kiss goodbye, and ran out the door................forgetting to change out of my jersey.

Oh well, I was too excited to care. For,...........THE HAWKS JUST WON THE CUP!!!!!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Hawks planning properly for 2013-14 with future roster

As I look at Pittsburgh's roster and see that their roster is loaded with 'rentals',  how are the Penguins going to compete for the following season?
1) Granted that Malkin and Crosby are the 2  best players on their team (if not the league), so paying them each $8.7m, although a ton under the lowered cap,...is still probably at proper value.  But, that chews up a ton of money 17.4m/64.3m : 27% of the entire teams allotted payroll to 2 guys on the team. 2 of 23 players.....WOW!

2) Iginla, Morrow,  Dupuis, Adams, Murray, Cooke, Eaton and Kennedy(RFA), are all free agents. They have $7.8m left to pay all those players.........ain't gonna happen.

Can you say "dismantle and reassemble"?
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Now,...let's take a look at L.A.

1) They appeared to be a little better off.  The have $16.9m left on their cap space with fewer rentals.

2) Free agents: Jonathan Bernier, Jake Muzzin(RFA), Rob Scuderi, Slava Voynov,  Alec Martinez, Dustin Penner, Kyle CLifford(RFA), Trevor Lewis(RFA), Brad Richardson and Jordan Nolan(RFA).

Appears to be much easier for them to go after free agents and to be able to sign Voynov, Penner, Muzzin, and Scuderi without issues. So, they'll be competitive in 2013-14.

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Now,...let's take a look at Boston.

1) With a cap space of $12.657m left they have also some wiggle room after the season.

2) Free agents: both goaltenders (Khudobin, and Rask(RFA) ),  Andrew Forence, Wade Redden, Nathan Horton,  Jaromir Jagr, Kaspars Daugavins (RFA),  Jay Pandolfo.........that's it? They're looking REALLY good.  They'll definitely be competitive and be favorites for the Eastern Finals.

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Now,...let's take a look at our CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!!!!!!

1) STAN BOWMAN has done a marvelous job since having to disassemble the team after 2010. Now, let's see where the Hawks stand when it comes to their team.

1) Hawks appear to only have $2.1m left on their cap space. Sounds like an issue.....Not really.

2)  Hawks free agents: Emery, Karlsson, Hutton....Emery will probably be let go. Karlsson and Hutton will get 2 way contracts therefore not affecting the cap, since they'll both be in the minors.

3) Michal Rozsival:  He probably will be gone. Hawks won't have room to sign him to a $2m contract.

4) Minor leaguer Shawn Lalonde: He's not going to make the team.

5) Ryan Stanton: Could make the team, but I think the Hawks really have their eye on Adam Clendening as that guy to replace Rosie.

6) Bryan Bickell: His playoff play is going to get him some offers. So, I now think that the Hawks lose him. Replacement?......Jimmy Hayes. Long shot (Kyle Beach).

7) Viktor Stalberg: I believe his play is going to get him a $2m/yr contract. So, I think he'll be gone.

8) Jamal Mayers:.....ever consider coaching?

9) Michal Handzus: $2.5m/yr? He has been valuable, but I  think the Hawks need to trade away Bolland in order to keep Handzus. If that cannot happen, I think he's gone. Too bad. We like Zeus. His replacements?: Drew LeBlanc, Brandon Pirri (hopefully), Phillip Danault, Garret Ross, Max Sauve and  possibly a free agent.

10) Nick Leddy: Hawks WILL resign him. but, their may be some $3m offer come by where the Hawks will have a hard time matching. WIll S.J. pull another Hjalmarsson and offer a $3m offer to make Chicago match? We'll see.

11) Drew Leblanc: 2013 College player of the year? I think he gets a 2 way contract. He probably won't make the team, but we'll see.

12) Marcus Kruger: He has been valuable to our team,...especially on the PK. Will he get more than a $1.5m offer? I don't think he will. I think the Hawks resign him.

Hawks look good for 2014.  Should be a top 4 team again. (Fingers crossed).
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Sunday, June 2, 2013

As the WCF 2013 starts....

As this years NHL's Western Conference Finals against the L.A. Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks kick off today, we can briefly reflect upon the Detroit series ....and we can look back at L.A. and their series with San Jose.

As many of you know, I don't like to write during a series (about the present series)...I don't know if it's superstition, or I don't like pumping the tires of my team to only have my heart popped by some balloon,...if they were to lose.

So, since my team was down 3 games to 1 before getting their act together, what did I see?

I saw that Detroit was OWNING the blue line. The Hawks couldn't create plays or any type of opportunities, and it got to the point they were simply happy just to get it out of their own zone with dump out passes with really no intended forward to go to.

After that game, I'll never forget looking on FACEBOOK and seeing a sign. ...Here , I'll let you read it,...



I remember reading that and thinking... "how can they ask me to calm down?" ..."Really?. How can the Hawks fan be calm about this situation or even the Hawks be calm about this situation?" They're down 3-1 for God's sake!!!

Then watching post interviews and still seeing the "we believe" attitude.

Hmmmmmmm, I thought. I hope this isn't overconfidence, but rather a demeanor that is to focus on 'what's at hand'........whatever it was,.....it freakin' worked. they regained that swagger in Chicago. How?

For goodness sakes......the defensemen broke the blueline. They were the ones to create the opportunities. The Redwings were so focused on stopping Toews, the specialty guys took over. However,.......it was lovely to see the Captain break through with a ringer of the noggin of Howard .....AND it was during the power play, no less.

They fought and played with the same character in game 6. Frolik with a lovely penalty shot (and eventual game winner).

Heading into the 7th game, I was able to breathe slightly better,..but that was short lived as the Redwings did the same thing to the Hawks that happened to them a night earlier. They scored early in the 3rd period to make it a game. It looked like the game was still being controlled by the Hawks, and it looked to be over with less than 2 minutes to go as Hjalmarsson top shelved a goal.....only to be wiped out by a total bullshit call by the ref. He called incidental penalties to a non related play. Hawks had to regroup and they came out in the O.T. and scored within the first 4 minutes of the period as Seabrook moved in uncontested and got a lucky deflection that altered the pucks direction.....and SCORED.

Whew!!!!!!

Grit, willpower, determination, not easily being frazzled.  What else can you say about this team? Spectacular comeback. Everyone left them for dead when they were down 3-1....but, they still believed. They overcame and conquered.


L.A. Well, I would have to put that into 2 words. Jonathan Quick. He's been their entire team. He's proven to be the best goaltender in the league, and he has not allowed nano-mites to enter his net.  Unbelievable.

I expect this series to be fun and exhilarating.
Forwards: I have to give that edge to Chicago. Although Kopitar, Carter and Richards are no joke, I do like the fact Chicago roles out 4 lines. 4 very quick lines. Don't underestimate the Hawks speed. They'll tire you the hell out with their puck possession game.  I know that L.A. has huge forwards, but the Hawks will hit you also. They just prefer to run the puck down your throats.
Defense: I also give that edge to Chicago. Although Doughty isn't less than an All-Star in anyone's mind, I  love the way Duncan Keith and Nick Leddy are bringing up the puck. Even,....Johhny Oduya for that matter. They have 3 defenseman that will join in on the rush....all with SPEED. In addition, I think Michal Rozsival is playing better and Brent Seabrook is a solid defenseman and is playing at his best right now. (Seabrook is still considered one of the 6 Blackhawks superstars.)
Goalies: Well,....have to give the slight edge to L.A. But, does everyone forget that BOTH Hawks goalies won the William M. Jennings award? Both goalies finished the season with a 1.94 GAA. How sick is that folks? So,....I'll barely go with the Quickie hype. But, only on paper. I have to go with Crow in my heart.
Coaches: Have to go with Quenneville here. He's one of the best coaches in the entire NHL. Other than Bobby Bowman,.....who else could the Hawks want? Noboddy. His resume is stellar. And he's a coaches coach. They love playing for him.
Intangibles: Home ice advantage, the crowd noise, : both Chicago. Special teams: I'll go with the Hawks there as well.
Now....NOT ONE of these things means the Hawks will slide by L.A. NOT EVEN CLOSE. There are some experts picking L.A. When you have a Conn Smythe goalie in Quick,....and if their offense turns on,...that would mean it's a handful of a team. A HANDFUL. So,...Hawks have to remain focused and simply take care of business. They'll be fine.

I understand that Jonathan Quick is all world. But, if the Hawks can throw 35-45 pucks at him every night,.....he's in trouble. Oh,.....and don't underestimate how good Corey Crawford actually is? Everyone seems to be. Announcers, media, fans.......He is playing well enough that if the Hawks were to win today,.....He or Duncan Keith would be my two votes for the Conn Smythe award.

Okay.......Game on L.A. Talk to you guys soon. Need to get my Jonathan Toews jersey washed. It's starting to smell.