The Hawks signed Tomas Kopecky away from the Red Wings this offseason.<< MORE >>

While from a pure hockey standpoint, letting Martin Havlat get his money in Minnesota (6 years, $30MM) rather than Chicago was a sound decision. While he brought the United Center crowd to its feet more than a couple times this year, the fact is that it's probably wise to let him take his shoulder, groin, and concussion elsewhere, with our sincere thanks and fondest good wishes.

Now about the Hossa deal...

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The Free Agency period started at 12 noon, New York time.

While people in New York went out and ordered sandwiches, here in Chicago, Wings were on the menu.

The Blackhawks, for the second straight Canada Day, made the biggest splash in the free agency market, signing Marian Hossa for 12 years and Tomas Kopecky for 2.

What does this mean? Well, Martin Havlat gave us some thrills this season, but next time we see him, I expect next time we see him he'll be wearing the bleu, blanc et rouge of the Canadiens.

It also means Hossa is a Blackhawk for the remainder of his career. The contract is worth $62.8 million dollars, mainly front-loaded. The last 4 years are worth a combined $3.5 million, according to TSN.

Finally, between Hossa (#81), Kopecky (#82) and Kane (#88), the Hawks now have more players with uniform numbers in the 80s than the Bears do.

The first 7 years are worth over $7 million each, which sets the bar for negotiations for The Three (Kane, Toews, Keith). How the Hawks manage to finagle the cap (which will almost certainly fall next season) over the next couple seasons will be intriguing, to say the least.

This also means that, if you count Andrew Ladd, the top 6 forwards are Hossa, Toews, Kane, Dave Bolland, and Patrick Sharp and Ladd. Not bad.

Kopecky's signing probably means the man-love I've felt for Sammi Pahlsson will end in a tearful goodbye.

It's probably also a safe guess that some other players (Huet, Big Fugly, VERSTEEG!, Barker) are on the block, especially if Josh Mora's report that the Hawks are closing in on a 2-year deal for Nikolai Khabibulin are true.

Today means that anything less than the Western Conference Finals is a failure. The Stanley Cup finals are no longer a pipe dream.

As I said after the Campbell/Huet signings a year ago, Holy Fucking Shit.

        

Once again, we at HOCKEENIGHT welcome the musings of former Blackhawks farmhand Pierre Duguay, holder of the Central Hockey League record for hooking penalties in a game, with 9. Take it away, Pierre!

Les salutations et le Jour de Canada Heureux aux lecteurs de Nuit d'Hockee de Longueuil! ...<< MORE >>

This week's PUCKCAST features Julian from Pension Plan Puppets, yet another excellent Maple Leafs Blog.

We discuss Michael Jackson, Profiles on Match.com for gay guys who like tigers, Michael Jackson some more, a website for people who want to screw around on their spouses, and the Greatest Moustache-for-Moustache Trade Of All Time.

Oh, and the draft, free agency, trades, and shit like that too.

Enjoy.

        

The Blackhawks addressed orgazinational depth in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, grabbing 7 centers and two defensemen, inccluding first-rounder Dylan Olsen.

The 6'2 206lb. Olsen is by all accounts similar to Brent Seabrook, a big kid who is competent with the puck, and likes to take the body. At some point you may very well see him riding shotgun for last year's third rounder, Shawn Lalonde.
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Dale Tallon cares not for your "salary cap"!<< MORE >>

So, we're two weeks into the offseason, and I'm already bored.<< MORE >>

This week John and Bob from The Fifth Feather join Fork and CT to discuss the draft, Martin Havlat, and other matters hockey and not...somehow Rick Dudley never got mentioned.

Enjoy.

        

Everybody has a favorite "below the radar" player<< MORE >>