$3 Baby We’re A Dreamer, Found Our Horse And Carriage $3 The Committed Indian The REal Fan’s Program secondcityhockey.com March 15th, 2009 [email protected] LET’S GO OVER THE MINUTES... So what was that team meeting The Islanders) with silly-string. Silly-string with a 15-year about, lads? That players-only meeting, So to this afternoon, and the en- contract, that is. where you said you went over getting your counter with the clown car that is the New That’s not to say there aren’t some game together? Possibly discussing playing a York Islanders. Not only are they the NHL’s players worth watching out for. Mark Streit full 60 minutes every night? No? Not ringing worst team, but they’re also perhaps the has been a stud (more on him inside), and any bells? Maybe we should transcribe them league’s leading example of an unstable fran- there’s budding star as well. from now on. chise. Owner has been whor- One player the Isle are truly excited about Let’s be clear here: Columbus re- ing himself out to Kansas City and Hamilton is their latest 1st-round pick, center Josh quires you to play a full game. They are no and any other city with more than a mule in Bailey. He’s been thrown into the fire due longer a pushover, and a more solid team in a fashion that would make your neighbor- to all the Isle’s wounded, but has acquitted their own end you are unlikely to find. You hood cougar blush. The long-standing Long himself quite well. The numbers might not have to be willing to work in the will-vomit- Island Lighthouse Project, which would include look all that impressive, but this kid makes from-effort range, and the Hawks were only a renovation, has been things happen and is already showing quite willing to do that for spurts. That leaves no jammed up in council politics for an eternity, the hockey sense and work along the boards. room for error, and so even after battling and a solution doesn’t appear anywhere in Okposo and Bailey will be pissing off Rangers back to 2-2, the Hawks were undone by a bad sight. fans for years to come. bounce (Vermette’s 2nd ) and a silly turn- However, the Islanders have been Now Don’t Suck over and defensive play (both Keith’s for Tor- pretty spunky of late. They’ve taken seven of We’ve never hesitated to say that the res’ killer). This is the fire you play with when the last 10 points on offer, and that includes Hawks can play with anyone. But that goes you come out flat against a good team. The wins over New Jersey and Montreal, as well both ways. They can kick the Sharks’ ass in Hawks reported to the Burn Unit on Friday. as a spirited effort in a 2-1 loss in Boston their own building, and yet get stinkfisted by The Hawks have had problems put- yesterday. For long stretches of that game the the Avs at home. The Hawks on far too many ting 60 minutes together all season, but they Islanders were the better team, and probably occasions have thought their mere presence won’t get away with it these days. Hopefully, deserved more than they got. would result in two points, and they had bet- it’s lesson learned. But we’ve been saying The Islanders have been ravaged ter guard against that today. It’s all set up for that all year, and it’s still a regular trait of this by injuries, which seems akin to kicking an them to; a team with barely half of their points team. orphan in the balls as there wasn’t much tal- total, who played yesterday, and the Hawks It’s Ain’t Cris, Babe ent to begin with. , , are at home. But the Isles will skate hard, and All that being said, it says here that Mike Sillinger, , and others have if they’re taken lightly, could easily jump up this recent slump won’t have all that dam- missed or are missing significant time. Worst and bite. However, anything resembling the aging of an effect. The Hawks are still the of all, the supposed centerpiece of the orga- Hawks’ best effort ends this quickly. overwhelming favorite to finish 4th, and will nization, goalie Rick Dipietro, is put together -RZA be getting some important pieces back very All The King’s Horses And All The King’s Men Couldn’t Put Dipietro soon in Sharp, Khabby, and Pahlsson. They’ll be better for that. Together Again What we have learned over this stretch is that when the puck drops for Game 1, it will almost certainly be Khabibu- lin between the pipes -- unless he coughs up a lung, literally or figuratively, during the remainder of the season. Huet hasn’t been bad, as some claim, just merely solid. But he lets in a bad goal here and there, has a bad game when played too many times in a row, and doesn’t appear capable of stealing you a win. He hasn’t done that since the OT win in St. Louis. He’s kept the Hawks in games, to his credit, but those big saves have generally followed a softie he let in. You can’t have the bad goals, inconsistency from night to night, and the smaller possibility of a lights-out performance come mid-April. Khabby has not been significantly better than Huet this year, only slightly. But we’re sure Q’s going to give him a stretch of games to prove that he’ll be the playoff back- stop, and soon. Nobody Leaves The Island (Except “Good thing he’s here for another 13 years, then.”

FROM THE EDITOR genuinely do like him, fine. But a big fucking bird with a drum? I Right, so there’s an issue we have to get to right at the top only want to experience that after spending $5-$10 on a gel-tab, and here. I don’t know who does the market research for the Hawks only when I have a good 8 hours to kill. Gameday Production. I don’t know if they’ve ever left the house, or talked to another living human being, or have to wear a helmet -I don’t know if any of you listen to Boers and Bernstein on The when walking up stairs. But it’s clearly the work of a true giblet Score. As I’ve said before, I’m a fan, mostly because we share the who decided to use a stoppage in play to flash on the Jumbotron, same sense of humor and view of the sports world. Much like ev- “The Blackhawks welcome Nickelback.” eryone else, I do not like it when they talk about I don’t know who listens to Nickelback. hockey, because they only do it to mock hockey I’m serious, I have never met one person who fans and the sport. However, we all must realize professed to like them. Next time Canadians that their exact purpose is to piss us off enough give you shit about America, I would say Nickel- to call and engage them. For some reason, that back would be Exhibit A that Canadians haven’t show has decided its best radio is when they are exactly become a renaissance culture either. If jousting with an angry caller. They’re trying to people reading this are Nickelback fans, I’m stir us up. We shouldn’t take the bait. Let them sorry, but you’re a fucking asshat. It was all I make fun of us, or call us stupid; that’s fine. I’ve could do to profess to some Blue Jackets fans said before, I don’t want Boers and Bernstein as sitting in front of me that Hawks fans do not like hockey fans, or most of the general populace. Nickelback. They can think whatever they want Sam Fels We’re better off without them. I get angry, too. about Hawks fans, but I wanted to make sure But I have my fun, and they have theirs, and I they took that with them. don’t feel a need for our paths to cross. If I can Thankfully, the of the lead singer in his fucking box stop one person from calling that show and trying to go toe-to-toe drew mostly boos from Hawks fans, and I will put that as one of my with Bernstein about some hockey subject, I’ll consider it a success. prouder moments as a supporter of The Men of Four Feathers. But what do I know? I’m a hockey fan, which means I’m just a rac- -Here’s a question: Who gave Tommy Hawk a fucking drum? Who ist, according to Bernstein. thought that was a good idea? I really don’t know how kids feel about Tommy Hawk. I don’t object to him, as others do. If kids NHL STANDINGS *late game not included

Eastern Conference Western Conference

W L OTL PTS GF GA HOME AWAY W L OTL PTS GF GA HOME AWAY 1 Boston 45 16 9 99 233 161 24-6-5 21-10-4 1 Toilet 45 15 9 99 257 207 25-5-4 20-10-5 2 New Jersey 45 20 3 93 213 167 24-10-1 21-10-2 2 San Jose* 43 13 10 96 216 166 26-3-4 17-10-6 3 Washington 43 21 6 92 228 205 26-9-2 17-12-4 3 40 23 6 86 229 214 22-8-4 18-15-2 4 Philadelphia 37 20 10 84 217 192 21-10-4 16-10-6 4 HAWKS 37 20 9 83 218 174 18-7-6 19-13-3 5 Montreal 36 25 8 80 205 206 21-7-5 15-18-3 5 35 23 9 79 202 187 19-11-4 16-12-5 6 Pittsburgh 36 26 8 80 216 212 18-12-3 18-14-5 6 Columbus 36 27 6 78 194 192 22-10-2 14-17-4 7 Carolina 36 28 7 79 200 203 19-13-1 17-15-6 7 Dallas 33 28 8 74 199 211 19-13-4 14-15-4 8 NY Rangers 35 26 8 78 173 189 20-10-4 15-16-4 8 Edmonton* 32 27 8 72 190 207 15-12-5 17-15-3 9 Florida 34 25 10 78 194 196 18-9-6 16-16-4 9 32 28 8 72 174 167 18-11-6 14-17-2 10 Buffalo 34 27 8 76 203 193 20-12-3 14-15-5 10 Nashville* 33 30 5 71 173 189 21-12-3 12-18-2 11 28 29 13 69 209 249 13-13-9 15-16-4 11 Anaheim 32 30 6 70 190 200 16-15-3 16-15-3 12 28 30 10 66 177 198 17-12-6 11-18-4 12 St. Louis 31 29 8 70 190 202 18-13-5 13-16-3 13 Atlanta 28 35 6 62 209 233 13-18-2 15-17-4 13 Los Angeles* 29 29 9 67 178 197 16-13-8 13-16-1 14 Tampa Bay 23 32 14 60 181 227 11-14-9 12-18-5 14 Phoenix* 28 34 6 62 168 210 17-13-2 11-21-4 15 NY Islanders 23 38 8 54 172 222 16-14-5 7-24-3 15 Colorado* 30 37 1 61 180 212 18-16-0 12-21-1

TOP 10 LIST PUCK DROP

Mike Milbury-Fomer GM, N.Y. Top 10 Worse Deals Then Rick Dipietro’s 15-Year Extension Islanders: No, he’s not currently 10. Native Americans sell Manahattan for $24. Simply the best deal they ever affiliated with the team, but the made Isles are still trying to extricate themselves from the scorched- 9. Byfuglien’s 3-year extension. Doesn’t have any of the comedic value and-defecated-on Earth that Mil- 8. Louisiana Purchase. United States buys all the territory that would eventually bury left. We also want everyone vote W into office. So yeah, that helped the cause. to know what kind of dipshit 7. Paris Peace Conference. Talks held to set peace terms after one disastrous you’re dealing with anytime he appears on CBC or NBC, and to totally discredit him as world war, and terms led directly led to another. Read a book! an NHL expert. Here are the prospects Milbury sent away 6. Brock-for-Broligio. You still hear about it 40 years later. from the Isle. Ahem: Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Bryan 5. Esposito, Hodge, and Stanfield to Boston for Pit Martin, Marotte, and Norris. Berard, Eric Brewer, , Bryan McCabe. Boston got two Cups, we got Wirtz. . Tommy Salo, , Todd Bertuzzi, . He also picked Dipietro ovcr 4. Van Halen replace David Lee Roth with Sammy Hagar. Ruined a band, and and Marian Gaborik, and sent the draft pick that turned possibly the 80’s. into to Ottawa for . What did 3. NBC replaces Johnny Carson with Jay Leno, and lower the bar for comedy in the Isles have to show for all that? Yashin, Don Beaupre, the country about 47 levels Bryan Berard (who left soon after), Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, an aging Trevor Linden, , Oleg 2. ESPN signing Jay Mariotti. Seeing his face and hearing his voice is why the Kvasha, and Janne Niinimaa. You go ahead and complain terrorists hate us. about Tallon all you want, we’ll probably join you. But just 1. Bill Wirtz shakes hands with Satan. How the fuck else do you explain how he remember, it could be way worse. It could be this worse. lived so long? 37-20-9

James Mirtle has invented his own system to rate the best defensive defenseman on his blog (fromtherink.com). It measures Quality of Competition, and Goals-against per 60 minutes at even-strength and shorthanded. Brent

Seabrook would be your league leader in this competition. Yes, he gets his fair share of help from Keith (who’s enough, he was certain to score. We knew what we were doing. 3rd), but Biscuit has been better than a lot of people realize. See? Bitch about Steeger’s performance on the Power Play long # Pos Player Ht WT AGE GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% Salary (Cap Hit) 88 R 5' 10" 187 20 64 22 38 60 -1 38 12 0 3 206 10.7 $3,725,000 19 C Marvel 6' 2" 209 20 66 28 30 58 9 47 11 0 6 163 17.2 $2,800,000 24 R The Perfect Beard 6' 2" 217 27 65 21 36 57 17 24 5 0 4 199 10.6 $6,000,000 32 L VerStud 5' 10" 180 22 63 19 29 48 16 51 5 4 2 111 17.1 $491,667 51 D Brian Campbell 6' 0" 188 29 66 7 37 44 1 18 4 0 1 90 7.8 $7,142,875 36 C Dave Bolland 6' 0" 188 22 66 15 24 39 18 40 1 2 4 91 16.5 $845,833 16 L 6' 2" 198 23 66 11 27 38 21 24 0 0 1 160 6.9 $1,550,000 10 L The Sharp-Shooter 6' 1" 197 27 54 23 15 38 2 39 8 0 4 163 14.1 $3,900,000 2 D 6' 1" 194 25 62 8 28 36 27 38 2 1 1 131 6.1 $1,475,000 25 D 6' 3" 213 22 53 4 30 34 -6 51 4 0 1 71 5.6 $2,768,587 22 R 6' 2" 213 23 57 10 14 24 9 48 4 1 0 109 9.2 $675,000 33 R 6' 3" 247 23 61 11 12 23 0 71 3 0 3 160 6.9 $3,000,000 7 D 6' 3" 220 23 66 6 12 18 18 47 2 1 0 106 5.7 $3,500,000 46 C Colin Fraser 6' 1" 188 23 66 5 10 15 3 51 0 0 0 52 9.6 $500,000 26 C Samuel Pahlsson 6' 0" 204 31 52 5 10 15 -16 32 1 0 1 74 6.8 $301,000 55 L 6' 2" 220 24 62 10 4 14 3 130 0 0 0 67 14.9 $568,000 8 D Matt Walker 6' 3" 214 28 54 1 12 13 10 71 0 0 0 71 1.4 $600,000 37 R Adam Burish 6' 1" 189 26 50 5 3 8 4 71 0 0 2 72 6.9 $712,500 23 D Aaron Johnson 6' 1" 211 25 29 3 5 8 18 24 0 0 1 20 15 $600,000 5 D 6' 1" 211 32 23 1 1 2 -4 8 0 0 1 15 6.7 $2,333,333 27 L Pascal Pelletier 5' 11" 185 25 5 0 0 0 -5 0 0 0 0 4 0 $145,000 4 D 6' 2" 200 21 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 $643,000 Totals/Averages 6’ 1” 202.5 24.4 215 377 14.7/g 63 9 33.1/g 9.8% $44,607,000 Congratu-fucking-lations, you finally got your big, lazy ass in front of the net and got a bunch of beat *injured writers to comment on it. Now try it more than once a month, motherfucker. # 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 29 1673 2.37 17 5 5 1 870 66 .924 0 2 6 $6,750,000 38 Cristobal Huet 6' 1" 205 33 38 2169 2.46 19 14 3 3 1003 89 .911 0 0 2 $5,625,000 Totals/Averages 6'1" 207 31.3 3842 2.56 37 20 8 4 29.4/g 162 0.91 0 2 8 $12,375,000

TOTAL CAP NUMBER: $57,283,000 CAP SPACE: $274,000* Probable Lines Probable Pairings *space also affected by buyouts and injured players Left Wing Center Right Wing 2 Keith 7 Seabrook Injury List 22 Brouwer 19 Toews 88 Kane 51 Campbell 8 Walker Brent Sopel- Out (Talent) 16 Ladd 36 Bolland 24 Havlat 4 Hjalmarsson 25 Barker Patrick Sharp- Out (Knee) Samuel Pahlsson-Out (Kissing wrong girl) 33 Byfuglien 32 Versteeg 27 Pelletier Martin Havlat- Questionable (groin?) 37 Burish 46 Fraser 55 Eager

16 years ago, David Stern sent me to ruin the NHL. I have done every- thing I can think of to drive the core I am so close to completing the task fan away, strip hockey of all that’s Stern charged me with.... great about it, and eliminate any at- tention by the mainstream media... 23-38-8

Okposo had a four-game goal-scoring streak before Bailey is at even in his last 10 games, which for an being shutout yesterday. Islander is other-wordly.

# Pos Player Ht WT AGE GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% Salary (Cap Hit) In case you were wondering, yes, this is worst in the league. 2 D Mark Streit 6' 0" 197 31 64 13 36 49 8 50 8 1 1 130 10 $4,100,000 21 R Kyle Okposo 6' 1" 200 20 56 16 12 28 -8 28 7 0 3 138 11.6 $1,663,000 10 R Richard Park "A" 5' 11" 190 32 58 10 15 25 -8 28 4 2 1 110 9.1 $750,000 51 C 5' 11" 172 24 46 4 20 24 2 10 1 0 0 67 6 $525,000 11 L Andy Hilbert 5' 11" 194 28 57 10 14 24 0 18 1 1 0 138 7.2 $675,000 20 L 5' 10" 205 25 55 14 8 22 -3 60 0 4 5 140 10 $863,000 57 R Blake Comeau 6' 1" 207 23 43 7 14 21 -11 18 2 0 0 62 11.3 $457,000 12 C Josh Bailey 6' 1" 188 19 55 3 17 20 -10 14 1 0 0 58 5.2 $1,725,000 37 L Dean McAmmond 5' 11" 193 35 55 5 8 13 7 22 0 1 2 52 9.6 $245,000 8 D Bruno Gervais 6' 0" 188 24 56 1 11 12 -8 27 0 0 1 60 1.7 $741,000 15 L 5' 11" 186 24 52 5 6 11 -11 24 0 0 0 75 6.7 $540,000 32 D "A" 6' 2" 223 34 52 0 7 7 -33 79 0 0 0 41 0 $2,618,000 38 D Jack Hillen 5' 11" 200 23 27 1 5 6 2 12 0 0 0 28 3.6 $260,000 28 R Tim Jackman 6' 4" 210 27 56 4 2 6 -19 133 0 1 0 79 5.1 $500,000 24 D Radek Martinek 6' 1" 203 32 38 3 3 6 -14 24 0 0 0 41 7.3 $1,500,000 36 C Mike Iggulden 6' 3" 215 26 5 1 4 5 3 0 0 0 0 13 7.7 $104,000 17 D Thomas Pock 6' 1" 210 27 46 1 2 3 -9 31 0 0 0 45 2.2 $628,000 45 C Nate Thompson 6' 0" 207 24 30 2 0 2 -7 42 0 1 0 40 5 $500,000 54 C Kurtis McLean 6' 0" 190 28 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 5 20 $109,000 40 R Joel Rechlicz 6' 4" 220 21 4 0 1 1 0 9 0 0 0 1 0 $99,000 Totals/Averages 6’ 0” 201.5 27.6 169 241 14.2/g 45 11 29.3/g 8.3% $41,286,000 * injured

# Goalie HT WT AGE GPI Min GAA W L OT SO SA GA Sv% G A PIM Salary 34 Yann Danis 6' 0" 181 27 23 1351 2.40 9 11 2 2 723 54 0.925 0 0 0 $429,000 35 Joey MacDonald 6' 0" 197 29 44 2538 3.29 13 24 6 0 1398 139 0.901 0 1 6 $487,000 Totals/Averages 6' 0" 189 28 3889 3.16 23 38 8 2 33.0/g 218 0.904 0 0 6 $916,000 TOTAL CAP NUMBER: $46,849,000 CAP SPACE: $9,851,000 *space also affected by buyouts and injured players Probable Lines Probable Pairings Left Wing Center Right Wing 2 Streit 8 Gervais 10 Park 51 Nielsen 21 Okposo 24 Martinek 32 Witt Injury List Doug Weight-Out (Knee) 37 McAmmond 11 Hilbert 28 Jackman 17 Pock 38 Hillen Mike Sillinger-Out (Hip) 15 Tambellini 12 Bailey 57 Comeau Andy Sutton-Out (Foot) Freddy Meyer-Out (Groin) 36 Iggulden 45 Thompson 40 Rechlicz Trent Hunter- Out (Ankle)

...IS THIS THE YEAR? Where We Serve The Best Hawks-Themed Drinks! The Kaner-Rum n’ Coke: Perfect for The Buff-Shot of Jager Slow and black. beginner drinkers, made with Malibu. Will leave you feeling lethargic, except Sure to leave you feeling good and sing- for brief periods of frenzy that will make ing Coldplay songs, until you feel sick and your friends think you’re wild. Overly mom has to come pick you up. expensive and rated. Will leave you feel- ing queasy and hating life.

The Burish- A Shot of Absinthe And A The Khabby-Stoli and Tonic: Only per- Touch of Pure Gasoline: Rough going forms well with a decent compliment. down, will leave you going face-first into everything; walls, friends, strangers, the toilet, and apparently, lots of women’s thighs. The Dunc-Pint of Guinness: Simply The Seabs-Shot of Jameson: Will get the job nothing better in its category, solid in done and get you where you’re going, but goes every way. a whole lot better with The Dunc. Still, tough, rugged, and will leave you feeling like you just got hit by a bus after too many.

The Huet-Remy Martin: Probably not The Havlat-Bottle of Czechvar: Utterly delicious, worth the money, but having it on the shelf assuming you can find it. Usually has to be replaced will make everyone jealous. by inferior North American knock-off. Causes you to grow the most manicured beard. The Fight Card HAWKS vs. ISLANDERS Fight Stats provided by Hockeyfights.com

GAME FIGHT TIME Bloody Black Bruised Just Analysis Nose Eye Ego Dancing No recent fight history. Damn these Eastern Con- ference teams!

What To Watch For: There’s only one guy to watch, and that’s Tim Jackman. He has 17 of the Isles’ 31 bouts of anger. Probably an uneventful one today, at least when it comes to kerfluffles. However, with the Isle playing yesterday, if they need a jump in energy, look for Jackman to try and get something going. Power Play Kill Team Opp PPG PP% Team OPP PPG PP% Team TS PPGA PK% Team TS PPGA PK% DET 304 82 27 OTT 286 52 18.2 MIN 239 30 87.4 CHI 276 52 81.2 WSH 288 72 25 VAN 294 53 18 NYR 275 35 87.3 PIT 286 54 81.1 SJS 294 71 24.2 TBL 287 51 17.8 NSH 294 45 84.7 OTT 287 56 80.5 BOS 268 60 22.4 MTL 310 55 17.7 BUF 285 46 83.9 ANA 327 64 80.4 BUF 303 67 22.1 CAR 327 55 16.8 CGY 313 51 83.7 WSH 338 67 80.2 CHI 293 63 21.5 EDM 295 49 16.6 SJS 257 42 83.7 DAL 270 55 79.6 PHI 264 56 21.2 NYI 272 45 16.5 FLA 270 46 83 CAR 265 54 79.6 ANA 257 53 20.6 COL 272 44 16.2 PHI 328 56 82.9 VAN 304 62 79.6 STL 288 59 20.5 DAL 301 48 16 NYI 299 52 82.6 COL 264 54 79.6 NJD 252 51 20.2 PIT 303 48 15.8 MTL 319 56 82.4 TBL 331 69 79.2 LAK 307 62 20.2 FLA 259 40 15.4 BOS 256 45 82.4 DET 278 62 77.7 MIN 268 54 20.2 PHX 284 41 14.4 STL 306 54 82.4 PHX 243 55 77.4 ATL 287 56 19.5 NSH 270 38 14.1 LAK 287 51 82.2 EDM 281 66 76.5 TOR 282 55 19.5 NYR 285 40 14 NJD 266 49 81.6 ATL 293 70 76.1 CGY 303 59 19.5 CBJ 285 37 13 CBJ 285 53 81.4 TOR 266 65 75.6 Spotlight

Mark Streit

The only shining light on Long Island this season, and he probably should have been wearing the Indian Head. He put up 62 points last season in Montreal, which would be the exact amount of points Brian Campbell put up. However, his contract is $3 million a year cheaper and three years shorter. What has Montreal’s power play been without him? An ab- solute mess. They’ve gone from league leaders in the category to 18th. Meanwhile, the Isle’s power play has jumped nine spots from 29th to 20th, and that’s with no discernable talent other than Streit. He’s also been more than passable in his own end, as he’s a positive player in Behind The Net Ratings. The same can clearly not be said about Campbell. In the past, #2 has been anarchy in his own zone, but he’s disproving that this season. Whereas God knows #51 in red has only enhanced his fire-drill reputation. Would the Hawks’ PP be in the same position if Streit were back at the instead of Campbell? Probably. Coach Q seems to think it’s Barker who makes the power play go, as he’s the one who’s never been removed from the first unit. The numbers also bear that out. Would a signing of Streit have left us far more flexibility? Sure would have. Is this total “hindsight being 20/20?” Bet your sweet ass it is. But we wanted Streit in the summer; we just didn’t have a paper or blog to tell you about it. Believe us, we’re geniuses. Like Wile E. SUUUPER-geniuses. But Tallon -- or possibly McDonough -- went after the big shiny thing, and it’s up in the air -- at best -- whether or not the Hawks will benefit or be handicapped by it. The Committed Indian is printed by Royal Omega Graphics- Elk Grove, IL 847-952-8000 [email protected] KNOW THY ENEMY

This afternoon, Dominik from Lighthouse Hockey (lighthousehockey.com) is kind Is Charles Wang as crazy as we think? enough to admit to being an Isle’s fan and answer our questions. Probably not as much as you think. He’s an easy whipping boy, and because he’s with the maligned and undercovered Islanders, he makes a good punchline. But As of this writing, your boys have taken 11 of the last 14 points on offer? he has made some major mistakes while learning what owning an NHL club is Doesn’t that screw up your whole Tank-for-tavares plan? What’s going on? about. So yeah, he’s still pretty batshit crazy. That said, he’s finally come around Yes, their recent form is threatening their Tank-for-Tavares standing, but fortu- to the need for a youth movement (allowing to take the reins and fire nately they dug such a big hole in the middle of the season, they can afford a little last summer), and if it weren’t for Wang and his tolerance for losing victory here and there. What’s going on is Scott Gordon’s system -- which is money, the Islanders would likely already be gone. He’s like the crazy uncle fairly aggressive and requires a lot of energy -- is finally sinking in. A huge part you’re stuck with: Embarrasses you in public, somewhat lovable, and the source of that is that veterans who either didn’t fit that system (Floating Comrie, plus Bill of what you hope is a large inheritance. Guerin, who got most of his goals just firing shots on the power play) or didn’t like their role () are gone. Other than that, those remaining are kids who are hungry, who have been progressing all season, and who are free of the We have to ask about the uncertainty surrounding the Isles. You could pressure of a playoff push. I think Gordon is a very good coach, and we’re going probably take four pages to talk about it, but tell us about the Long Island to se that in the next few years. Lighthouse Project, and why it’s having a tough time getting passed. Essentially, is a plan by Wang and a real estate partner -- One of the few lights at the end of the tunnel is Kyle Okposo. What’s the funded mostly by them, not taxpayers -- to renovate the Coliseum and redevelop ceiling for this guy? What should we look for in his game today? the surrounding land (it’s just parking lot and grass right now) to create a new The way Okposo has turned it on lately, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score business and nightlife “hub” for Long Island. The bass-ackward nature of Long 30 goals next year. He’s still 20, he uses his size to win battles and shake off Island politics (Nassau County and Town of Hempstead in particular) is why defenders, and his motor never stops. I don’t know if he’ll ever be considered an nothing has been finalized yet. There is some “not in my backyard” resistance elite “power forward” (he has yet to fight), but he will be an exciting scorer who going on among politicians -- not so much citizens -- also holding things up. always wants the puck and never shies from contact. But the often fraudulent owners the Islanders have had over the last 15 years (during which time four have been arrested) have been trying to get a new arena arrangement forever. That it hasn’t happened is in part due to severe political Who else is on display this afternoon that will be building blocks of the incompetence future? Frans Nielsen is a sleeper -- a budding two-way forward who is going to be a real gem. Josh Bailey, just 19, is a top-end passer who is still finding his way at this Bottom line: Will the Isles stay on the Island, or where are they headed? level. He should also be a very good two-way center. He oozes hockey sense 2009 is the critical year. If something isn’t finalized now, they likely won’t be at and they see him as a future captain, which is why they traded down (from 5, then Nassau Coliseum after 2015. That said, it’s still an enticing market. If they don’t from 7) last summer when they knew he’d still be available. Blake Comeau is stay in Nassau, (which has tried to get the Nets but are failing) and another young nifty passer with a decent shot. (which now proposes to put a roof and rink in the home of the U.S. Open. Yeah, right.) are salivating at the chance to lure them. With all this interest, I think it’s 80% chance the Islanders remain in the area, and 20% chance they head Is Dipietro ever going to be of use again? Either way, Yann Danis’s numbers to Canada or {gasp} Kansas City. I have no numerical basis for these numbers, look pretty impressive. May he be the one you go ahead with? of course, but that’s my gut feeling -- and numbers make every answer sound like I hope they re-sign Danis, because they have to plan as if DiPietro will never you have a clue, right? play again. Now, DiPietro will play again -- probably early next season -- and he might even turn in five more good years on that insane deal. But a butterfly guy with that many injuries so far is bound to break down again -- which is why I’d never bet 15 years on the physical health of anyone who shreds his groin and unnaturally flexes his hips for a living. Oh, also: Because when someone better comes along, you’re still stuck with a Kolzig for the life of the contract.

Hawks-ISLES: the Last 4

Oct. 31st, 2006: Hawks 2, Isles 5 Jan. 17th, 2006: Isles 2, Hawks 1 (OT) Part of an 8-game winless streak that helped seal Something named scores an OT win- Trent Yawney’s fate. Arkhipov and Cullimore ner, on an assist from Brent Sopel. Vandermeer score for the Hawks, you know what kind of a scores for the Hawks. Why did this event even take night it was now. place? Who did that help?

Dec. 6th, 2003: Hawks 2, Isles 5 You know what? Who gives a shit? Number 13 of 14 straight winless games for the Hawks. Alexei Yashin calls us bitch. Christ, we’re gonna have a brain bubble after all these. 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. Calcu- lated 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 TOI/60 GFON/60 GAON/60 +-ON/60 GFOFF/60 GAOFF/60 +-OFF/60 RATING N. Hjalmarsson 0.04 -0.21 10.67 0 0 0 1.41 4.57 -3.17 3.17 Aaron Johnson -0.04 -0.17 11.74 3.88 1.23 2.64 2.15 2.02 0.13 2.52 Andrew Ladd 0.11 0.11 12.88 3.46 2.19 1.27 2.35 2.1 0.25 1.02 Duncan Keith 0.08 0.07 18.45 3.04 2.05 1 2.62 2.3 0.32 0.67 Adam Burish -0.09 -0.07 7.14 2.52 1.51 1.01 2.67 2.23 0.45 0.56 Dave Bolland 0.11 0.2 12.63 3.24 2.3 0.94 2.44 2.05 0.39 0.55 Martin Havlat 0.06 0.12 13.49 3.35 2.53 0.82 2.4 1.97 0.43 0.39 Matt Walker -0.04 -0.11 13.9 2.8 2 0.8 2.45 2.03 0.42 0.38 Troy Brouwer 0.01 -0.16 11.56 2.46 1.64 0.82 2.69 2.19 0.49 0.32 0.02 -0.19 12.21 2.81 2.11 0.7 2.65 2.22 0.43 0.27 Colin Fraser -0.12 -0.14 7.85 2.32 1.74 0.58 2.74 2.2 0.53 0.05 Brent Seabrook 0.09 0.22 16.58 2.52 1.97 0.55 2.75 2.21 0.54 0.01 Ben Eager -0.12 -0.1 8.28 2.34 1.75 0.58 2.79 2.14 0.65 -0.07 0.02 -0.06 13.19 2.82 2.34 0.48 2.6 2.03 0.56 -0.08 Patrick Kane 0.03 -0.1 13.87 2.57 2.3 0.27 2.55 2.1 0.44 -0.17 Dustin Byfuglien -0.03 -0.02 11.93 1.98 1.73 0.25 3 2.34 0.65 -0.41 Brian Campbell -0.03 -0.04 17.35 2.78 2.62 0.16 2.6 1.82 0.78 -0.62 Patrick Sharp -0.01 -0.02 13.25 2.52 2.26 0.25 2.9 1.83 1.07 -0.82 Cam Barker -0.04 -0.09 13.31 2.13 2.64 -0.51 2.8 1.85 0.94 -1.45 Pascal Pelletier -0.01 0.02 8.39 0 7.15 -7.15 1.34 3.02 -1.68 -5.47

Corsi Rating Penalties Drawn Shots attempted for a team vs. how many are at- Face-offs tempted against while a given player is on the ice, vs. Taken Player Face-Offs Taken FO% per 60 min. Jonathan Toews 1038 54.0 NAME CORSI NAME PDRAW/60 PTAKE/60 Samuel Pahlsson 1016 53.5 Jonathan Toews 16.4 Pascal Pelletier 2.9 0 Colin Fraser 684 47.8 Martin Havlat 15.9 Adam Burish 1.7 1 Patrick Sharp 556 46.0 Troy Brouwer 14.3 Kris Versteeg 1.5 0.7 Dave Bolland 969 44.8 Brian Campbell 14.3 Dave Bolland 1.4 0.7 Krs Versteeg 230 44.8 Andrew Ladd 14.2 Colin Fraser 1.4 0.5 Total Rank: 27th 47.6 Patrick Kane 13.3 Patrick Kane 1.4 1 Power Play Ratings Penalty Kill Ratings Kris Versteeg 12.7 Patrick Sharp 1.4 0.9 This is a measure of a team’s goals-for This measures how many goals a team Brent Seabrook 12.4 Ben Eager 1.3 2.5 per 60 minutes of player being on the gives up per 60 minutes the player is on ice on the power play. the ice on the PK. Patrick Sharp 11.9 Andrew Ladd 1.2 0.7 Player GFON/60 Player GA/60 Duncan Keith 11.8 Jonathan Toews 1.2 0.9 Cam Barker 11.24 Adam Burish 4.97 Adam Burish 11.8 Dustin Byfuglien 1.2 1.2 Troy Brouwer 9.08 Aaron Johnson 5.4 Dustin Byfuglien 11.6 Martin Havlat 1.1 0.6 Patrick Kane 8.65 Andrew Ladd 5.67 Dave Bolland 10.9 Troy Brouwer 1.1 0.9 Patrick Sharp 8.61 Brent Seabrook 5.68 Cam Barker 10.8 Brian Campbell 0.5 0.4 Jonathan Toews 8.22 Duncan Keith 5.73 Pascal Pelletier 10 Aaron Johnson 0.4 1.9 Brian Campbell 7.61 Matt Walker 6.52 Matt Walker 9.4 Matt Walker 0.3 0.6 Dustin Byfuglien 7.06 Colin Fraser 6.8 Ben Eager 8.3 Brent Seabrook 0.3 0.8 Brent Seabrook 6.61 Kris Versteeg 6.89 Aaron Johnson 8.1 Duncan Keith 0.2 0.7 Duncan Keith 6.53 Dave Bolland 7.6 Colin Fraser 4.6 Cam Barker 0.1 0.7 Martin Havlat 6.47 Cam Barker 7.84 N. Hjalmarsson 0 N. Hjalmarsson 0 0 Kris Versteeg 5.95 Hockey Sabermetrics 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. Calcu- lated 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 TOI/60 GFON/60 GAON/60 +-ON/60 GFOFF/60 GAOFF/60 +-OFF/60 RATING Andy Sutton 0.02 0.23 15.92 2.79 2.62 0.16 0.99 4.06 -3.07 3.23 Mark Streit 0.04 0.07 16.61 2.91 2.68 0.23 1.69 3.04 -1.35 1.58 Dean McAmmond -0.06 0.04 8.84 2.51 1.63 0.88 2.13 2.77 -0.64 1.52 Jack Hillen -0.08 0.1 12.66 2.55 2.01 0.55 1.72 2.51 -0.79 1.34 Andy Hilbert 0.05 -0.05 11.99 2.37 2.37 0 1.91 3.14 -1.22 1.22 Trent Hunter 0.03 0.13 11.54 2.02 2.5 -0.48 2.19 3.32 -1.13 0.65 Sean Bergenheim 0.04 -0.03 11.51 2.08 2.65 -0.57 2.07 3.2 -1.13 0.56 Frans Nielsen 0.03 0.09 11.04 2.35 2.22 0.12 1.99 2.39 -0.4 0.52 Josh Bailey 0.03 -0.02 11.76 2.31 2.89 -0.58 2.04 2.82 -0.79 0.21 Kyle Okposo 0.05 -0.05 12.74 2.09 2.62 -0.52 2.19 2.63 -0.44 -0.08 Richard Park 0.02 -0.11 12.12 2.21 3.45 -1.24 1.76 2.91 -1.15 -0.09 Doug Weight 0.04 0.22 12.97 2.04 3.55 -1.51 1.89 3.25 -1.36 -0.15 Thomas Pock -0.01 0.16 12.13 1.35 2.47 -1.12 2.39 3.3 -0.91 -0.22 Blake Comeau 0.04 -0.18 12.95 2.71 3.5 -0.79 2.02 2.5 -0.47 -0.32 Bruno Gervais 0.05 0.08 16.58 1.88 2.48 -0.6 2.47 2.66 -0.19 -0.41 Nate Thompson 0.05 -0.16 8.48 1.26 3.03 -1.77 1.71 2.83 -1.12 -0.65 Jeff Tambellini -0.02 0.09 11.59 1.22 2.23 -1.02 2.59 2.8 -0.21 -0.81 Freddy Meyer 0.08 -0.23 15.86 1.82 4.34 -2.52 2.06 3.44 -1.38 -1.15 Radek Martinek 0.07 -0.23 16.85 1.78 3.07 -1.29 2.43 1.92 0.51 -1.79 Tim Jackman -0.01 -0.08 9.75 1.14 3.42 -2.28 2.4 2.71 -0.3 -1.98 Brendan Witt 0.07 -0.28 15.89 1.51 3.93 -2.42 2.15 2.51 -0.36 -2.06

Corsi Rating Penalties Drawn Face-offs This measures how many shots are attempted for a Player Face-Offs Taken FO% team vs. how many are attempted against while a vs. Taken given player is on the ice, per 60 min. Nate Thompson 311 50.2 NAME CORSI NAME PDRAW/60 PTAKE/60 Richard Park 727 49.7 Frans Nielsen 6.2 Sean Bergenheim 1.7 1.1 Frans Nielsen 586 45.9 Trent Hunter 3.4 Frans Nielsen 1.6 0.5 Doug Weight 575 45.6 Mark Streit 1.9 Kyle Okposo 1.4 0.7 Dean McAmmond 458 44.8 Total: Rank: 29th 45.8 Dean McAmmond -0.9 Doug Weight 1.4 0.9 Sean Bergenheim -1.2 Richard Park 1.2 0.6 Power Play Ratings Penalty Kill Ratings Dean McAmmond 0.9 1 This is a measure of a team’s goals for This measures how many goals a Jack Hillen -3.8 per 60 minutes of player being on the team gives up per 60 minutes the Andy Hilbert -4.3 Tim Jackman 0.9 1.1 ice on the power play. player is on the ice on the PK. Jeff Tambellini -6.1 Andy Sutton 0.8 2 Player GFON/60 Player GAON/60 Kyle Okposo -6.3 Andy Hilbert 0.8 0.5 Mike Sillinger 9.69 Bruno Gervais 4.25 Thomas Pock -8.2 Josh Bailey 0.8 0.3 Doug Weight 7.39 Frans Nielsen 4.26 Doug Weight -8.6 Blake Comeau 0.8 0.3 Blacke Comeau 7.3 D. McAmmond 4.53 Bruno Gervais -8.8 Jeff Tambellini 0.8 1 Trent Hunter 6.99 Andy Sutton 5.89 Blake Comeau -9.2 Thomas Pock 0.7 0.9 Josh Bailey 6.22 S. Bergenheim 6.18 Radek Martinek -10.1 Mark Streit 0.6 1.1 Mark Streit 5.88 Brendan Witt 6.5 Nate Thompson -10.9 Trent Hunter 0.5 1.2 Frans Nielsen 5.74 Freddy Meyer 6.51 Josh Bailey -11 Radek Martinek 0.5 0.9 Richard Park 5.73 Mark Streit 6.78 Richard Park -13.8 Brendan Witt 0.5 1.5 Kyle Okposo 5 Nate Thompson 7.13 Freddy Meyer -16.1 Bruno Gervais 0.3 0.7 Jack Hillen 3.7 Richard Park 7.75 Andy Sutton -18.4 Nate Thompson 0.3 0.8 Bruno Gervais 3.28 Andy Hilbert 8.07 Freddy Meyer 0.3 1 Radek Martinek 8.13 Referee Stats For The Hawks

Referees 1st NHL Hawks Games Hawks PP’s Hawks Pens/Game Hawks PP/Game Hawks PK/ W L OTL Game PK’s Game 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 1 4 1 5.0 4.0 1.0 1 0 0 6 Marouelli, Dan 1984 3 14 11 8.3 4.7 3.7 1 2 0 7 McCreary, Bill 1984 4 17 15 8.0 4.3 3.8 2 3 0 8 Jackson, Dave 1990 6 28 24 8.7 4.7 4.0 4 1 1 10 Devorski, Paul 1989 3 12 16 9.3 4 5.3 1 2 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 4 22 17 9.8 5.5 4.3 2 1 1 14 LaRue, Dennis 1991 6 28 24 8.6 4.3 4 4 1 1 15 Auger, Stephane 2000 4 17 13 7.5 4.3 3.3 3 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 3 15 16 10.3 3.3 5.3 2 1 0 21 VanMassenhoven, Don 1993 3 10 5 5.0 3.3 1.7 2 0 1 23 Watson, Brad 1996 3 13 6 6.3 4.3 2 1 1 1 25 Joannette, Marc 1999 2 13 5 9.0 6.5 2.5 1 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 1 1 3 4.0 1.0 3.0 0 1 0 30 Hasenfratz, Mike 2000 3 22 13 11.7 7.3 4.3 0 1 2 32 Kowal, Tom 2000 4 13 10 5.8 3.3 2.5 4 0 0 33 Pollock, Kevin 2000 3 10 12 7.3 3.3 4.0 1 1 1 34 Meier, Brad 1999 4 14 20 8.5 3.5 5.0 3 1 0 35 Warren, Dean 1999 ------36 Morton, Dean 2000 2 16 10 13.0 8.0 5.0 0 1 1 38 St Laurent, Francois 2006 2 14 15 14.5 7.0 7.5 1 0 1 39 Dwyer, Gord 2003 4 23 19 10.5 5.7 4.7 3 0 1 40 Kozari, Steve 2006 4 26 20 11.5 6.5 5.0 2 2 0 42 O’Rourke, Dan 1999 2 11 13 12.0 5.5 6.5 1 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

NHL LEADERS Goals Points GAA SV%

Player Team G Player Team P Player Team GAA Player Team SV% 1 A. Ovechkin WAS 49 1 Evgeni Malkin PIT 97 1 Tim Thomas BOS 2.06 1 Tim Thomas BOS .932 2 Zach Parise NJ 40 2 A. Ovechkin WAS 89 2 Steve Mason CBJ 2.20 2 T. Vokoun FLA .925 3 Jeff Carter PHI 38 3 S. Crosby PIT 87 3 Pekka Rinne NSH 2.27 3 Yann Danis NYI .925 4 I. Kovalchuk ATL 36 4 DET 84 4 N. Backstrom MIN 2.34 4 N. Khabibulin CHI .924 5 P. Marleau SJ 35 5 Zach Parise NJ 82 5 Jonas Hiller ANA 2.37 5 Craig Anderson FLA .923 22 J. Toews CHI 28 37 Patrick Kane CHI 59 6 N. Khabibulin CHI 2.37 Matt’s Musings

Block Party

Thankfully, Chris hasn’t figured out that he’s far too smart and informed to be wasting did the day he died, untouched and unoccupied. Apparently a homage to Arthur, Bill his name on us, so we’re glad to have him here again. Wirtz would have never approved of such a thing. Being now the first Wirtz family member to be resoundingly celebrated is In the November issue of Chicago Magazine, there was an article done by fitting Rocky just fine. Whether it’s putting himself front and center prior to puck drop Andreas Larsson on and the Wirtz family that is worth going out of your for the home opener, glad-handing on the concourse or watching just way to find. While containing some interesting facts and insight into the business of about every game from his usual perch in section 119, he’s embracing his newfound the Blackhawks this is more of a story about Rocky, his late-father Bill and Grandfa- notoriety with a frisky wide-smile that sometimes borders on giddiness. ther Arthur, and the association amongst those men than it is a chronicle of a hockey As mentioned in the article, it was his brother Peter who insisted the team organization. honor their father before last season’s home opening game with Detroit. The entire It’s been 17 months now since Rocky Wirtz, on his 55th birthday, an- Wirtz family stood in the 100-level center ice suite mortified as a large percentage nounced he would be taking over the Blackhawks and occupy the Chairman’s position of the 18,000 fans in attendance booed and shouted obscenities during a ceremony that had been vacated since Arthur M. Wirtz, his grandfather, died in 1983. Preceding conducted by general manager and Bill Wirtz underling . Catcalls rained the October 5, 2007 announcement that Rocky would assume the Blackhawks’ saddle, during a moment of silence for the Wirtz family patriarch. According to Rocky, he the team also made it known that his younger brother Peter Wirtz was resigning from was the only one in the family who expected it. his position within the organization to the shock of just about everyone. Peter Wirtz was not interviewed for the story (I would assume he declined Rocky himself claimed he was blindsided by Peter’s resignation, saying but that isn’t stated) and there are some obvious hard feelings still within the family it “hit me like a sledgehammer.” But Rocky is either being coy or over Rocky’s treatment of his brother. Even though the two must deceiving based on the facts as we know them. co-exist as business partners inside the United Center and work in the It was at his own father’s wake where Rocky took brother same offices at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive (Rocky on the 19th floor and Peter aside and informed his younger kin that things within the Peter on the 20th) they barely speak to one another. Hawks’ organization were about to change. Peter had been groomed Asked by the interviewer if he thought Peter felt spurned by the under his father and expected to take on the role of Blackhawks presi- decision to not immediately name him president last October Rocky dent whenever Bill passed away since “Dollar Bill” certainly would said, “I don’t know.” never step aside. Because of his father’s failing health in recent years, No matter how much money Rocky made for his family running Peter had already taken on many of the responsibilities of President the liquor businesses or assisting in the various other family holdings, and it was slowly becoming his organization. he was never a really public figure until he took over the Blackhawks. However, when Rocky Wirtz did what seemingly no one The public legacy of the Wirtz family has always been the Blackhawks in the family expected him to do, take over the Blackhawks, Peter was and Rocky had been separate from it until now. Seventeen months instantly disenchanted. ago, it was predestined for Peter to become the face and ruler of the Rocky’s ace-in-the-whole was a decade-old succession Chris Block franchise but in one swift and harshly cold swoop his brother took that plan detailed by his grandfather Arthur, written at a time when Arthur away from him. Again, whether right, wrong or ultimately best for the presupposed his eldest grandson Rocky would follow in the footsteps team’s future existence, it is the path Rocky as inheritor of the family of his father in running the family company and Blackhawks when the time came. But business chose. ever since graduating from Northwestern, Rocky exhibited little interest in the Black- Briefly touched upon is John McDonough’s entry. McDonough, as men- hawks and focused on a more lucrative facet of the family business, liquor distribu- tioned in this month’s Forbes, fired more than half of the Hawks existing 35 employ- tion. ees after months of evaluating operations. Included in the blood-letting was long-time Scenes have now been documented of Rocky offering advice in years Blackhawks public relations director Jim DeMaria who quickly took a role as Vice past to his father and younger brother on how to improve the Blackhawks such as President of Bismarck Enterprises, which operates the United Center concessions and televising home games but his thoughts were always ridiculed and as Rocky told the vending, thanks to his good friend Peter Wirtz. Daily Herald last year - “I wasn’t putting my nose in the hockey team because the last Undoubtedly the biggest admission in the article came from its most un- few years, I knew -- and their body language made it pretty clear -- that they didn’t likely source, former executive vice president , who had this to say about welcome my opinion”. being removed by Rocky from his position with the Hawks just days after serving as Taking the Chairman’s spot and informing his own brother his place in the pall bearer for long-time friend and associate Bill Wirtz: “I’ve been in hockey since organization was up for evaluation was the elder brother’s revenge. For Rocky, as cal- 1955,” Pulford says. “I was probably obsolete. It’s time to move on.” culated as it could possibly be waiting for his father to die, he planned this all along. It’s evident there are mixed feelings within Rocky today and he does his As he told the Daily Herald - “Sitting back, I knew there’d be a time for me, and I was best to summarize his actions in his first year on the job: hoping the franchise wasn’t too far gone that I couldn’t bring it back.” “My father was a superb businessman and he did what he believed was Peter Wirtz served under his father with the Blackhawks for twenty years right for the team. But what he really was adamant about was moving the business mostly on the marketing side. In 1999 he was promoted to Vice President after ahead,” the son says. “So how we get there is going to be different, but he’d be quite Tommy Ivan passed away. He endeared his father and in many ways Bill was admit- happy with the way things are going.” Of course he adds, “if he was living, I couldn’t tedly Peter’s best friend. Peter wanted to be just like him and there would be no better have done it.” way in his mind than to carry the family legacy running the Blackhawks. But Rocky Mark Weinberg, former editor of the Blue Line and author of the book wasn’t going to let that happen. Career Misconduct: The Story of Bill Wirtz’s Greed, Corruption and the Betrayal of While officially Peter Wirtz left the Blackhawks on his own accord, it was Blackhawks’ Fans was interviewed for the article, summarizing the past year with this more like a dismissal. Rocky admits in the Forbes article that he and his brother have quote: never been close and the two have barely spoken since Peter sat down with him last “From a fan’s perspective it’s great – he’s doing everything right. October to explain his decision. “On a deeper psychological level, I think one has to ask, ‘What’s going on There is nothing intrinsically wrong with what Rocky did. In the wake here?’ With the things Rocky has done, and the speed with which he’d done them, of Bill Wirtz’s death, not only did he get the Hawks, William Rockwell Wirtz also there’s almost and ‘In your face, Dad’ quality.” inherited the family business Wirtz Corp and thus presided over all operations includ- ing the Blackhawks. Ultimately the succession plan was irrelevant. His insistence And in your face too, brother. referencing the succession plan could just be a way of pointing out to his brother this is the way it was supposed to be all along; a wait your turn kind of thing, or simply http://www.chicagomag.com/ satisfying a guilty conscious. Rocky didn’t even attempt talk his brother out of leaving the Blackhawks, instead choosing to send an attorney to convince Peter to stay on board. Hardly an Chris writes the incomparable Third Man In (thethirdmanin.com), probably the most illustration of a sincere sibling. thorough Hawks blog, and also Puck Chatter (puckchatter.blogspot.com), his NHL In a sense you never get a depiction of Rocky’s true allegiance. And blog. whether that’s fair or not I don’t know, but his words and more importantly his actions would indicate he may have rarely seen eye to eye with Bill. While he makes it clear [email protected] he loved his father, his reverence seems to be reserved for grandfather Arthur. Most telling is how Rocky wasted little time moving into Arthur’s old of- fice at corporate headquarters. Since Arthur passed in 1983, his office has sat just as it The Making of The Chicago Blackhawks

info in part provided by hockeyreference.com YEAR DRAFT FREE AGENT 2008-2009 Samuel Pahlsson (COL 7th round 1996) and Brian Campbell (BUF 6th Logan Stephenson (PHX 2nd round 2004) from round 1997 ANA for (CHI 5th round Cristobal Huet (LA 7th round 2002) and Petri Kontiola (CHI 7th round 2004) 2001) Pascal Pelletier (BOS Undrafted FA 2006) from Matt Walker (STL 3rd round BOS for Martin St. Pierre (CHI Undrafted FA 1998) 2005) Aaron Johnson (CLB 3rd round 2001) 2007-2008 Patrick Kane (1st round) Ben Eager (PHO 1st round 2002) from PHI for Brent Sopel (VAN 6th round (FA PHI 2000) 1995) Craig Adams (HAR 9th round 1996) from CAR for future considerations. Andrew Ladd (CAR 1st round 2004) from CAR for (CHI 1st round 2001) 2006-2007 Jonathan Toews (1st round) Martin Havlat (OTT 1st round 1999) from OTT and Bryan Smolinski (BOS 1st round 1990) for (FA SJ 2003), (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) 2005-2006 Niklas Hjalmarsson (4th round) Patrick Sharp (PHI 3rd round 2001) from PHI Nikolai Khabibulin (WIN 9th for (CHI 4th round 2002) and CHI round 1992) 3rd round pick 2006 2004-2005 Cam Barker (1st round) Dave Bolland (2nd round) Troy Brouwer (7th round) 2003-2004 Brent Seabrook (1st round) Colin Fraser (PHI 3rd round 2003), Jim Van- Dustin Byfuglien (8th round) dermeer (PHI FA 2000) and 2004 2nd round pick from PHI for Alex Zhamnov and 2004 4th round pick (WIN 4th round 1990) 2002-2003 Duncan Keith (2nd round) Adam Burish (9th round)

COACHES GM HISTORY Head Coach-Joel Quenneville Dale Tallon (2005-Present) Assistant Coach-John Torchetti Bob Pulford (Too Fucking Long) Assistant Coach-Mike Haviland Mike Smith (2001-2004) Assistant Coach- Marc Bergevin Bob Murray (1999-2000) Goaltending Coach-Stephane Waite The Making of The New York Islanders info in part provided by hockeyreference.com YEAR DRAFT TRADE FREE AGENT 2008-2009 Josh Bailey (1st round) Dean McAmmond (CHI 1st round 1991) Mike Iggulden (SJ Undrafted FA 2006) and 2009 1st round pick from OTT for Chris Kurtis McLean (Undrafted FA) Campoli (NYI 7th round 2004) and Mike Joe Rechlicz (Undrafted FA) Comrie (EDM 3rd round 1999) Nate Thompson (BOS 6th round 2003) - off Doug Weight (NYR 2nd round 1990) Thomas Pock (NYR Undrafted FA 2004) - off waivers Mark Streit (MTL 9th round 2004) Andy Sutton (SJ Undrafted FA 2000) Yann Danis (MTL Undrafted FA 2004) 2007-2008 Tim Jackman (CLB 2nd round 2001) Jack Hillen (Undrafted FA) Freddy Meyer (PHI Undrafted FA 2003) - off waivers Joey MacDonald (DET Undrafted FA 2001) 2006-2007 Kyle Okposo (1st round) Andy Hilbert (BOS 2nd round 2000) Richard Park (PIT 2nd round 1994) Mike Sillinger (DET 1st round 1989) Brendan Witt (WSH 1st round 1993) 2005-2006 Jeff Tambellini (LA 1st round 2003) and (LA 1st round 2002) from LA for Mark Parrish (COL 3rd round 1996) and Brent Sopel (VAN 6th round 1995) 2004-2005 Blake Comeau (2nd round) 2003-2004 Bruno Gervais (6th round) 2002-2003 Sean Bergenheim (1st round) Frans Nielsen (3rd round) 2001-2002 2000-2001 Rick Dipietro (1st round) Trent Hunter (ANA 6th round 1998) from ANA for 2000 4th round pick 1999-2000 Radek Martinek (8th round)

COACHES GM HISTORY Head Coach- Scott Gordon 2007-Present: Garth Snow Asst. Coach- John Chabot 1996-2007: (HI-larious!) Asst. Coach- Dan LaCroix Goaltending Coach- Mike Dunham The Hawks Record When...

Playing at home...... 18-7-6 Allowing a short-handed goal...... 2-3-1 Getting obliterated on face-offs...... 13-10-4 Playing on road...... 19-13-3 Taking 30 or more shots...... 28-14-7 Are even close on face-offs..... 24-10-5 Scoring first...... 25-5-3 Taking less than 30 shots..... 9-6-2 Eddie O tells crew to “stop it right here!”.... 32-17-9 Opponent scores first...... 12-15-6 Allowing 30 shots or more...... 17-7-5 Eddie O tells us D have the forwards and forwards have the D Shoot the puck bimbo scores...... 5-1-1 Allowing 30 shots or less...... 20-13-4 during 4-on-4...... 32-16-9 Shoot the puck bimbo doesn’t score...... 13-5-5 100 Level doesn’t cheer for anthem. 18-6-6 screws up a name...... 35-17-9 Shoot the puck bimbo blows editors of Commited Indian..... 0-0-0 1st of a back-to-back...... 4-5-3 Ice Crew wear skirts...... 7-1-3 ANYONE blows editors of Committed Indian ...... 0-1-0 2nd of a back-to-back..... 7-5-0 Ice Crew wear pants...... 3-1-0 Playing on a Monday...... 2-2-1 Opponent played night before.... 8-4-1 Ice Crew wear shorts.... 8-5-3 Playing on a Tuesday...... 6-2-0 Taking more than 5 penalties..... 16-14-4 Member of Ice Crew hilariously falls on her shapely ass.... 0-1-0 Playing on a Wednesday...... 8-1-2 Taking 5 or less penalties.... 21-6-5 Leading after 2 periods...... 29-2-3 Playing on a Thursday...... 2-3-0 Seabrook gets a flat-footed penalty.... 8-4-4 Losing after 2 periods...... 2-13-3 Playing on a Friday...... 4-4-3 Burish takes a penalty...... 7-5-2 Tied after 2 periods...... 6-5-3 Playing on a Saturday...... 7-5-3 Keith takes a penalty...... 11-3-2 In ...... 4-4 Playing on a Sunday...... 8-3-0 Sharp takes a penalty...... 10-2-2 In shootout...... 3-5 Savard changes lines during game... 1-2-1 Toews takes a penalty..... 9-4-2 Cam Barker plays...... 30-16-6 Coach Q keeps lines as they are..... 36-18-8 Havlat takes a penalty.... 6-3-1 Cam Barker is in Rockford due to GM incompetence..... 6-2-3 Are out-muscled by opponent.... 10-16-4 Sopel takes a penalty...... 3-2-1 Lacking a #2 center...... 37-20-9 Outshoot opponent...... 26-11-4 Sopel looks 6 steps slow...... 7-5-5 In 1-goal games..... 9-6-9 Are outshot by opponent.... 11-9-5 51 Phantom blows a coverage...... 26-17-8 In 2-goal games...... 12-7-0 Havlat shies from contact...... 16-6-6 Toews is trying too hard...... 3-7-2 In 3-goal games...... 7-4-0 Patrick Kane scores...... 11-6-2 At least 1 fight in 300 Level... 3-3-4 In 4+ goal games...... 8-3-0 Jonathan Toews scores...... 12-3-5 No fights in 300 Level..... 15-4-2 Scoring 3+ goals..... 34-6-5 Martin Havlat scores...... 13-4-1 Playing Eastern Conference..... 8-3-3 Scoring less than 3 goals...... 3-14-4 Patrick Sharp scores...... 15-3-2 Playing Western Conference..... 29-17-6 PA plays Ministry...... 0-0-0 Dustin Byfuglien scores...... 7-1-1 Playing Central Division...... 4-7-5 PA plays Modern Cock-Rock..... 18-7-6 Dustin Byfuglien turns down a hit...... 30-16-7 Playing Northwest Division.... 12-6-0 PA plays Stranglehold...... 5-2-3 Andrew Ladd scores...... 10-0-1 Playing Pacific Division 13-4-1 PA plays P.J. Harvey...... 0-0-0 Dave Bolland scores...... 11-1-2 Playing Atlantic Division 1-1-2 Fraser fights...... 7-3-1 Adam Burish scores...... 3-2-0, and totally ruins that joke Playing NASCAR Division 4-1-0 Burish fights...... 5-2-0 51 Phantom scores...... 3-2-1 Playing Northeast Division 3-1-1 Seabrook fights..... 0-0-0 Duncan Keith scores...... 5-3-0 Playing in October.... 4-3-3 Barker fights...... 0-0-2 Brent Seabrook scores...... 4-1-1 Playing in November.... 6-3-3 Buff fights...... 1-1-2 VerStud scores.... 11-6-1 Playing in December...... 10-1-1 Sharp fights...... 1-0-0 Troy Brouwer scores.... 8-0-0 Playing in January..... 7-6-1 Eager fights...... 10-2-1 Scoring a Power Play goal...... 27-8-8 Playing in February..... 7-4-1 On Comcast...... 28-11-6 Not scoring a Power Play goal... 10-11-1 Playing in March...... 3-3-0 On WGN...... 9-6-3 Allowing a Power Play goal...... 15-15-9 Playing in April...... 0-0-0 On Vs...... 0-2-0 Not Allowing a Power Play goal...... 22-5-0 UC plays really stupid goal song..... 18-4-6 On NBC.... 0-1-0 Scoring a short-handed goal...... 6-2-0 Huet’s five-hole open like Lindsay Lohan’s..... 3-11-3 Judd Sirott hates Adam Creighton 37-20-9

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