LONG TIME NO SEE ! WELCOME BACK BLACKHAWKS !

A double entendre for certain. I haven't written a blog since the playoffs last year. I was so disappointed in last years team that I decided to give writing a break.  A break....yes, I needed one,....and apparently so did the NHL. Nearly 4 months of a ridiculous lockout by the NHL owners chopped this season down to a minuscule 48 games. So,.....what did we miss?

Two minor signings,  (Sheldon Brookbank, Michal Rozsival).  What do those signings show us?
1) That Dylan Olsen isn't ready....for certain.
2) They need "at home" defenseman.

Who is on the chopping block (if any)?
1) Coach Quenneville: ESPN and others are putting Coach on the block,...and after 2 first round exits, that would put him at the top of the block.

2) Corey Crawford: An abysmal playoffs, Corey looks to rebound. ( I truly don't give a shit he won 30 games...as he so poignantly pointed out yesterday when asked if he had a sophomore slump).

3) Bryan Bickell: Making near the league minimum, and he played like that all regular season. He did wake a up a little bit during the playoffs. I say he'll play for "the contract"...but, I think it's going to be a little too little too late.

4) Michael Frolik: So, two seasons ago he played for that extension....He got it,....then he sucked ass last year. Block time!.

5) Niklas Hjalmarsson: The greatest hose job. Seriously. S.J. suckered the Hawks into signing Hammer for over 3m a year. OMG!! He has been a pretty big disappointment.

6) Nick Leddy: He was so soft in the defensive zone, and was often a hindrance on the ice. Still put up points, and has an amazing upside, but he is definitely on the block.

7) Steve Montador: When he's healthy, he is a good compliment to the 2nd line defensive pairing. He actually showed some skills on the PP last year. I wonder if he'll get another crack at it again this year.

Okay.....that fills out my "chopping block" part of of the blog. How about players to watch?

1) Dave Bolland: absolutely has to be at the top of the list. He just got moved up to 2nd line centerman. He deserves the shot. He'll be initially paired with Sharp and Kane. Remember, when he was in the minors this man was a scoring machine. (check out his stats below). 57 goals and 73 assists for the London Knights in 05-06...Even at the AHL level, he was still a scorer. I believe he can be again.

2) Viktor Stalberg: He scored 22 with 21 assists in 79 tilts last year. I am hoping being paired with (most likely...if he stays on the 1st line) Toews and Hossa,....he should be able to get 35 easy. He needs to control his speed and focus more on the ice.

3) Marian Hossa: Finally back after a season ending cuncussion  by Raffi Torres (prick!). He started on a blistering pace when he started last years season. Less lulls in the scoring, and hopefully a point a game guy.

4) Patrick Kane: When is he going to break out and become one of the premier players in this league? Can he do it? Can he hit 100 points in a season? (well, not this year obviously...but can he do it?) How about 50-55 points this season? No reason he can't be there.

5) Dan Carcillo: I actually liked the way that Car Bomb fits in with the Hawks. He has a nice game. He even had moments where he skated on all 4 lines. Very versatile. Now, if he can control (pick and choose) his opportunity to drop the gloves and focus more on filling the net,...I think we all will be extremely pleased with Daniel. If he racks up 20-25 points this year we'll all be smiling when others thought the Hawks were crazy for signing him.

6) Brandon Saad: This kid is the real deal. Will he make the roster?

7) Marcus Kruger vs. Brandon Pirri: I was upset when the Hawks put him down last year. I still believe he is the better centerman, (better player overall). However, Kruger has a year under his belt playing for the Hawks. Will the Hawks go back to him? MOST LIKELY. I think unfortunately, that Pirri will revisit the IceHogs again this year. So sad.

8) Johnny Oduya: There are many Hawks fans that were not happy the Hawks penned him to a lengthy contract. I, on the other hand,...am not one of them. I like Johnny, and I am happy he's a Hawk. Very excited to see what Johnny does this year.

The Hawks have the opportunity to buy out 1 contract for next season. Will they exercise that option? I believe so.  Depending on how Hjalmarsson, Montador or Frolik play. Hammer and Fro' have one year then remaining on their contract,.....so it might not be them, unless they seriously suck this year. Montador's 2.75m a year contract ....or even Oduya's 3.38m contract could be buyouts if they so wish. It will certainly be interesting to watch to see whose contract they buy out at the end of the season...for, i do believe the Hawks will exercise that option.


As I wrap up a nearly 9 month layoff from my blog,....I certainly wish to say that I am excited that hockey is back. Now, I can go in my closet, and dig out my Johnny Toews sweater and wear it proudly. (I've done that anyway,.....but it sounded fun to say).  Seriously though,....Let's Go Hawks!!!!



DAVE BOLLAND'S STATS:

CAREER REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

SEASON	TEAM	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
2000-2001	TORONTO RED WINGS-GTHL	95	79	67	146
2001-2002	TORONTO RED WINGS-GTHL	36	35	35	70		40
2002-2003	LONDON KNIGHTS-OHL	64	7	10	17		21
2003-2004	LONDON KNIGHTS-OHL	65	37	30	67		58
2004-2005	LONDON KNIGHTS-OHL	66	34	51	85		97
2004-2005	LONDON KNIGHTS-M-CUP	4	1	2	3		8
2005-2006	LONDON KNIGHTS-OHL	59	57	73	130		104
2005-2006	CANADA-WJC-A	6	3	2	5		14
2006-2007	BLACKHAWKS	1	0	0	0	-1	0	0	0	0	1	0.0
2006-2007	NORFOLK ADMIRALS-AHL	65	17	32	49		53
2007-2008	BLACKHAWKS	39	4	13	17	6	28	0	0	0	49	8.2
2007-2008	ROCKFORD ICEHOGS-AHL	16	6	4	10	2	22	3	0
2008-2009	BLACKHAWKS	81	19	28	47	19	52	2	2	4	111	17.1
2009-2010	BLACKHAWKS	39	6	10	16	5	28	1	0	0	52	11.5
2010-2011	BLACKHAWKS	61	15	22	37	11	34	4	0	1	102	14.7
2011-2012	BLACKHAWKS	76	19	18	37	0	47	7	3	2	126	15.1
	NHL TOTALS	297	63	91	154	40	189	14	5	7	441	14.3

Here is the PRE-SEASON roster. Remember that only 23 can fill a roster. 3 ride the pine every game.

Forwards

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
29	BRYAN BICKELL	6' 4"	233	MAR 9, 1986	26	BOWMANVILLE, ON, CAN
36	DAVE BOLLAND	6' 0"	184	JUN 5, 1986	26	MIMICO, ON, CAN
52	BRANDON BOLLIG	6' 2"	223	JAN 31, 1987	25	ST. CHARLES, MO, USA
13	DANIEL CARCILLO	6' 0"	203	JAN 28, 1985	27	KING CITY, ON, CAN
67	MICHAEL FROLIK	6' 1"	198	FEB 17, 1988	24	KLADNO, CZE
39	JIMMY HAYES	6' 6"	221	NOV 21, 1989	23	BOSTON, MA, USA
81	MARIAN HOSSA	6' 1"	210	JAN 12, 1979	34	STARÁ LUBOVNA, SVK
88	PATRICK KANE	5' 11"	181	NOV 19, 1988	24	BUFFALO, NY, USA
16	MARCUS KRUGER	6' 0"	181	MAY 27, 1990	22	STOCKHOLM, SWE
22	JAMAL MAYERS	6' 1"	222	OCT 24, 1974	38	TORONTO, ON, CAN
37	BRANDON PIRRI	6' 0"	183	APR 10, 1991	21	TORONTO, ON, CAN
20	BRANDON SAAD	6' 1"	202	OCT 27, 1992	20	PITTSBURGH, PA, USA
10	PATRICK SHARP "A"	6' 1"	199	DEC 27, 1981	31	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
65	ANDREW SHAW	5' 10"	180	JUL 20, 1991	21	BELLEVILLE, ON, CAN
25	VIKTOR STALBERG	6' 3"	209	JAN 17, 1986	26	GOTHENBURG, SWE
19	JONATHAN TOEWS "C"	6' 2"	208	APR 29, 1988	24	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN

Defensemen

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
17	SHELDON BROOKBANK	6' 1"	202	OCT 3, 1980	32	LANIGAN, SK, CAN
4	NIKLAS HJALMARSSON	6' 3"	207	JUN 6, 1987	25	EKSJO, SWE
2	DUNCAN KEITH "A"	6' 1"	200	JUL 16, 1983	29	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
8	NICK LEDDY	6' 0"	191	MAR 20, 1991	21	EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, USA
5	STEVE MONTADOR	6' 0"	210	DEC 21, 1979	33	VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
27	JOHNNY ODUYA	6' 0"	190	OCT 1, 1981	31	STOCKHOLM, SWE
32	MICHAL ROZSIVAL	6' 1"	212	SEP 3, 1978	34	VLASIM, CZE
7	BRENT SEABROOK	6' 3"	221	APR 20, 1985	27	RICHMOND, BC, CAN
55	RYAN STANTON	6' 2"	196	JUL 20, 1989	23	ST. ALBERT, AB, CAN

Goalies

#	NAME	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	DATE OF BIRTH	AGE	BIRTH PLACE
50	COREY CRAWFORD	6' 2"	208	DEC 31, 1984	28	MONTREAL, QC, CAN
30	RAY EMERY	6' 2"	196	SEP 28, 1982	30	HAMILTON, ON, CAN