The celebration continues. From what I read, the Blackhawks victory tour rolls on with glad tidings still in full roar to The Tonight Show Monday night, which will be their second appearance of the season with Jay Leno.
Showboats R Us. The more they bathe in the glory, the more opponents steel their plans to bring the Blackhawks crashing back to earth just a few months from now with the relish that retribution brings to every hot dog.
No reason to stop enjoying the moment. They earned it. But they will pay a piper eventually for the dance. Just the facts of life. The party always ends and the people on the outside looking in often storm the castle and beat the satisfied holders of the throne.
Alas, champions always face a guillotine as their first order of business. The champagne bubbles always fade.
With the Los Angeles Lakers on the ropes in the NBA finals, talking hockey on a national stage in California is just another reason the NHL is happy to have the Blackhawks serve as their best goodwill ambassadors in terms of securing maximum exposure for the game.
I keep reading Helene Elliott writing repeatedly that the L. A. Kings have the Blackhawks' blueprint. They also have Terry Murray, whose coaching record leaves quite a bit to be desired and a lot of grease marks on the blueprint. Things like postseason success.
From blueprint to blue line is a huge gap, and if Leno went jaywalking and asking men and women on the street to name one Kings player, we would find out hockey is not just second to the Lakers, but secondary to life in Cal on any basis you care to name.
The Blackhawks, however, have some appealing characters that can make the virtual leap from being known on a limited basis in Chicago to celebrity status. There is an allure to Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, first and foremost, that don't make them the Jonas Brothers, but pretty darn close.
You could imagine Disney actually creating two fictional characters such as Toews and Kane and bringing them to the screen. One a free spirit, one dependable. That script has sold over and over in Hollywood since they started making movies. Used to be Clark Cable and William Powell, guys like that. Now Toews, Kane.
Antti Niemi made the biggest news of the weekend, however. Not him exactly. His agent, Bill Zito, did the talking while Niemi told Chicago media he didn't want personally to say anything about a new contract. And since Zito said he has not bothered Niemi with contract talks right now, maybe it will be news to Niemi as well that he wants a long-term contract to re-sign with the club.
Zito said he wants the Hawks to sign Niemi to one of those Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa lifetime guarantees, lock him up for 13 years or so. Of course he does, but you can bet the Hawks are not going to do it with so much yet to be learned about Niemi.
Zito talked to the National Post in Canada. "He's going to get his money," Zito said about Niemi. "But the term is going to have something to do with it, too."
Reporter Michael Traikos then came to Zito's aid by writing this speculation: "Indeed, if the Blackhawks believe Niemi is a franchise goaltender, then the best route is for the team to sign him to a cap-friendly deal with a lengthy expiration date. That is what Chicago did with defenceman Keith (US$72-million for 13 years) and Hossa (US$62.8-million for 12 years)."
Zito loved the sound of that. "Which would be smart," he responded. "If they share our enthusiasm for what he's done and what he would probably do."
Ah, there's the rub. What will Niemi probably do as the anointed No. 1 goalie that handles most of the workload during the season?
While I strongly supported Niemi during the season, long before it became popular, the answer to such a question is filled with many uncertainties. Without Niemi, the Hawks don't win the Stanley Cup. I believe that. So he has leverage.
Without Niemi, there would have been a Game 7 last Friday at United Center rather than a lovefest. While Niemi was also criticized by some for shaky play during the finals, he was the major factor in getting Game 6 to overtime and allowing time to have Kane score in such stunning fashion against a goalie in Michael Leighton that no one will confuse with Grant Fuhr.
Talk of a long-term contract for Niemi is just agent speak. Yes, Niemi requires a raise from his 2009-10 salary of $827,000. But no long-term commitments. The team is still paying a steep price for giving Cristobal Huet 4 years, $22.4 million in July, 2008.
Here's more from Traikos in the National Post: "Already there has been talk of burying Huet (US$5.625-million) in the minors. And there are rumours that any or all of Patrick Sharp (US$3.9-million), Kris Versteeg (US$3.083-million) and Brent Sopel (US$2.3-million) could be traded. But expecting Niemi to bite the bullet and accept a discount, says Zito, is not an option."
Are we really in for some hardball negotiations here? I think not. Zito is seeking to create a climate that just won't exist. As my good buddy Bill Clinton used to say, this dog won't hunt.
Like it or not, Niemi still has to prove himself before landing a big contract. He must show through a full season as the acclaimed No. 1 that he can handle it. It's not as if Niemi was flawless through the playoffs. The Hawks have leverage there.
Yes, he was sensational in spots and one of the primary reasons the Cup resides in Chicago again. And yet, there is no doubt the Hawks have to try to sign him to as short a term as possible.
There was a rather odd ending to the National Post story where Traikos acknowledged the risk in a long-term contract for Niemi. This is where Zito implied that Niemi might not want to stay in Chicago.
Huh?
"You have to make a smart hockey decision," Zito said. "Where does he want to play? Does he want to be part of this thing?
"This city, it's unbelievable now. But he might say 'no.' In fact, he's the kind of guy who might say, 'I don't like it.' "
"The other night, we were all going to dinner and I was like, 'Hey, we're going to one of these Mexican places, do you want to go?'
"Antti says, 'No. Too many people will see me.' "
Niemi says no to Chicago? No way.
Sounds to me like the celebration is winding down. We can get back to our everyday life and our everyday hangovers.
Nothing lasts forever. Not even the innocence of Niemi, who is now afraid to eat a taco in a Chicago restaurant for fear of being mobbed.
Nothing personal, Antti. But I think you got a long way to go, baby, to be the kind of celebrity mobbed on the streets of Chicago.
You could attract a senorita or two with a yin for a Finn. If they don't interest you, just hit Kane on your speed dial. Unless he's busy with Jay Leno, he will be there quicker than you can say Michael Leighton.
And before I leave, let me interject one note. While no one lambasted that big bore Chris Pronger harder during the finals than I did, I'm afraid I must side with the big stiff in his war of words with Adam Burish.
Burish may be a media favorite in Chicago as a man for all seasons when it comes to being quoted on anything and everything, but his act is wearing thin.
Someone on the Blackhawks would be well advised to tell Burish to zip it. With a sudden boost in celebrity status, the last thing this team needs is a fool who's running his mouth when he should be seated quietly in the rear for all occasions and hoping he still has a job if he just shuts up and plays.
When Pronger joked the only place he'd be likely to run into Burish would be the minors, it was the funniest line I'd heard in a while from a guy with absolutely no sense of humor I can detect.
When Pronger beats you in a war of witticisms, time for Burish to retire his joke book and concentrate on how to be a player the Hawks need in their lineup, rather than a part-time producer and a full-time quote machine.
18 Comments
Dean Youngblood said:
The parade and rally was one of the best events I have been to. One of the largest mobs of people and one of the loudest crowds I have been in. If I were a Blackhawk, I would say that seeing and hearing that crowd, would be greater than receiving the Cup itself.
I do not think that Niemi thinks he is a celebrity. He is just more reserved, like Toews to the next level. During his interview after the final, he was calm and basically gave one word answers.
Niemi will surely get a raise, but for how long?
As for Huet, if they throw him to the minors, can they subtract his pay from the salary cap figure?
Mike Kiley said:
Yep, if he's in the minors, he gets paid the same but it doesn't count against the cap. And he's madder than hell and likely a poor influence on all those sensitive lads who are being molded to act and play "the Blackhawks way," as McD is given credit for. I really wasn't accusing Antti of being a pretty-boy celeb. But it's odd to me to forgo eating in Chicago due to fans bothering him. Just ain't that bad. Maybe it was his excuse for not wanting to go to dinner.
I agree 100% with you Mike. I mean Ive loved Burish in his role with the Hawks and give him huge kudos for working hard to get back from injury. However, I think the total disrespect for another athlete on camera during a celebration is totally uncalled for.
He could have been the bigger person and said nothing or that Pronger is a competitor like everyone else and gets paid to be that guy. I personally like Bolland a ton more the way he handles getting under the other guys skin. He speaks with his play and not his mouth. Adam needs to be on a leash from this point on..............
borg said:
Well, she lead him with the question, clearly looking for a funny and provocative answer, and he knew that. If he was asked that question at a press conference, I'm sure he's hold his tongue.
OneTeam said:
Dont worry Dean- Another parade is coming right through your neighborhood again soon and this time, you'll get to wear your true colors! Sun Times says the Cup will be coming through boys town during your gay pride parade! Cross your fingers, maybe you will get to kiss more than the Cup!!!!
jaxhawk said:
Pretty presumptuous to think dislike of crowds is based on a large ego. Some people, myself included, avoid crowds whenever possible. And believe me when I say it is not due to any celebrity I possess.
You have fallen for a Zito lawyerism, using a perfectly honest statement about crowd-phobia for contract negotiation mind game effect.
Anyway, the Hawks may have to let him walk. Perhaps the best way to look at the next year (or two) is as a "Dale Tallon contract recovery period". Then back into position to challenge for another cup.
Jerry Kayne said:
Just a bunch of Zito posturing for his own big payday. Just goes to show how you don't need a Brodeur to win it all. Unless you have a porous defense.
borg said:
Bill Zito performed similar Kabuki theater with another Fin, Tuomo Ruutu. He's just using the Blackhawks' cap issues to put pressure on, but Stan Bowman looks like someone who wouldn't flinch if you threw a live grenade at him.
As for the rest of the team, despite winning the Cup, this may still be the most interesting off season in memory. One thing to pay attention to: the Thrashers want to start winning with their nice, young team, and have picks 8 & 24 in the first round.
Dave Morris said:
Mike, you have to remember one thing about the National Post.
Nobody reads it here in Canada.
It does make a good liner for the recycle bin, though.
Mike Kiley said:
C'mon, you're telling me no one follows Conrad Black's every word. Just not possible. He's been one of our finest right wingers for years.
VegasHawksFan said:
There is no shortage of love for Rocky for what he has done with this team, but it will be interesting to see how people feel if he doesn't do what everyone expects which is to just set a match to the money Huet will earn by burying him in the minors. Looking at some of the comments around, Hossa and Campbell are probably in for loads of shit talk next year because of how much they make and because neither one is likely to lead the team in scoring. For whatever Tallons shortcomings with contacts were, he nonetheless built a team that won and still sits in good shape for some time to come depending on how well Stan and Scotty manage this year's need to trade away talent.
As interested as I am in seeing who stays and goes, I will be even more interested in seeing if there really is a new "Blackhawk Way" that will be drilled into players starting at the minors level. I dunno if any of the crap I say ever makes sense, but it seemed to me that it took all the way into the WCF for the team to finally figure out they were not going to go all the way unless they could simplify and work their asses off in every zone. If they pick up where they left off with that, I think the future looks very good.
Dean Youngblood said:
Hossa could easily be the goal scoring leader of this team. His past records indicate that. Also, for a couple of months during the regular season, Hossa was top in goals per games played. But, Kane will be harder to top as time goes on.
VegasHawksFan said:
I'm not sure Hossa was ever back to one hundred percent but I still felt he was very central to why this team turned the corner. Be that as it may, the bar is now set, and if he is not scoring an amount of goals near to Kane, the geniuses are going to open up on him and say dump him. You can't argue with that kind of one dimensional thinking. Well, actually I think you could by mentioning how many goals the Capitals scored and how little good that did them, but it wouldn't change many minds.
Jerry Kayne said:
Turns out Hossa tore his MCL in the round 1.
Ironicideaman said:
Before writing about Niemi possibly being interested in attracting women, shouldn't you have stated that he is married? Or maybe you didn't bother to check that fact? Irresponsible of you.
JRogue said:
Niemi is married. The reporter saying he is reluctant to be seen in public is probably more from the Finnish tendency to not to want to cause a scene; Finnish modesty. He has no doubt seen the absolute mob scene that's followed the Hawks players since they brought the Cup home; it's wild.
JRogue said:
My gut feeling is Niemi would want to stay here. Why wouldn't he?
Chicago is similar climate-wise and city-wise to Helsinki, so it feels like home. He chose Chicago over other offers to begin with, so there's that. And after relatively little time in the AHL, he got to step up and wrest the 1st job away from Huet, and then go on to a double-record-making year as both the 4th rookie & 1st Finn to win the Cup, which makes him a national sports hero in Finland. The team loves him and has spent the whole year praising him to the heavens; and the team put unwavering trust in him, especially after Huet tanked. He obviously really likes his teammates, too, and has been a great team player. The city and its sports fans have warmly and joyfully embraced him, and you see more "Niemi" jerseys/t-shirts walking around Chicago than any GOALIE in Blackhawks history has seen (except perhaps for Esposito). The club loves him, the city loves him.
Gee, you're right, Zito... why on EARTH would Niemi want to stay in Chicago? /sarcasm off
Zito needs to make sure that in his own hunger to earn a bigger slice of % of the paycheck, he doesn't screw things up for Niemi - or the Blackhawks. Mike, you had very valid points about the place Niemi is in his career right now. I'd expect the Hawks to put an offer on the table around $2.5-3M, in the 2-4 year range. Too many UFA goalies in the market right now, so if I was really going to peg it down, maybe $2.65M/3 yrs.
iplagitr said:
Niemi was great this year and I've been a huge fan since day one. But if the Hawks and all other NHL teams have been learning anything lately, it's that goalies are a risk. Big-name, high-salary goalies are generally not worth it in the new NHL. Do we need to look any further than Huet and Khabby for proof of that? I don't need to go down the long list of well-known veteran netminders who've never even earned their keep in the playoffs. All goalies go through phases and the winning formula seems more based on timing and if a goalie/team peaks at the right time than anything else. Niemi had a great year, but hasn't proved anything long-term yet. They can't possibly think that signing him to a big-money long-term deal on any team is going to happen at this point.
And BTW, I agree 100% on Burish. There was no reason for him to make those comments. I've never really seen him do anything significant for the Blackhawks on the ice. All he does is shoot off his mouth. Replace him and we'll never know he was gone.
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