Thursday, I presented my All Decade Chicago Blackhawks team. Today, I'm going to celebrate some of the best (and worst) Hawk players, moves, and front office members from this past decade.
Without further ado, I give you the Blackhawks Decade Awards.
Front Office Category:
The Kenny Williams Award (Best Trade):
The White Sox GM has a penchant for making trades that fly under the radar, but end up really working out for his team. With that in mind, I've named this award after him.
WINNER : Dale Tallon - On December 5th, 2005 Tallon sent mid level prospect Matt Ellison to the Philadelphia Flyers for Patrick Sharp. Since the trade, Sharp has scored 103 goals for the Blackhawks. Matt Ellison recorded one point in 7 games in two season with the Flyers. He hasn't played an NHL game since the 2006-2007 season.
The Mike Milbury Award (Worst Trade):
In his tenure with the New York Islanders, Milbury (who is now a hockey analyst on NBC) traded away some of the best players in hockey, including Zdeno Chara, Roberto Luongo, and Olli Jokinen.
WINNER : Mike Smith - Smith wins the Milbury award for trading defenseman Bryan McCabe to Toronto for Alexander Karpovtsev. Potsie, as he was called was one of the most useless and hated Hawks off all time, while McCabe went on to Toronto and became an All Star. Ironically, Milbury is the guy who took Karpovtsev off the Hawk's hands for a 4th round pick. That pick became Niklas Hjalmarsson.
The Bill Veeck Award (Best Marketing Decision):
WINNER : John McDonough for his "One Goal" ads: Despite being hated by White Sox loving Hawk fans, McDonough's impact
on the team has been impressive. While putting home games on TV was a
no brainer, some of his outside the box ideas have really put the Hawks
on the map. The NHL's problem has ALWAYS been player identification. These commercials execute every aspect of player promotion. The players name, face, and area of expertise are highlighted quickly and concisely.
The Bill Wirtz Award (Worst Marketing Decision):
WINNER : Former Hawks Marketing Director Jim Sofranko for Tommy Hawk: Just what a tough and rugged NHL team needs. A frickin' bird jumping around annoying anyone. Defenders will say, "Kids love it." No they don't. Tommy Hawk sucks. Watch the game, screw the bird.
Player Category :
The Jeremy Roenick Award (Best Video Game Blackhawk): We've all seen the scene in Swingers where Vince Vaughn's character is singing the praises of Jeremy Roenick in the Sega Genesis version of NHL94. A perfect combo of scoring and hitting, Roenick was a video game force.
WINNER: Martin Havlat: While his virtual self never delivered the bone crushing checks Roenick's did, Havlat's speed and scoring prowess made him close to unstoppable, especially in NHL09. Whenever I needed a late goal, #24 was on the ice. More often than not, he came through.
The Alfonso Soriano Award (Least Bang for the Buck): As if Soriano's astronomical salary isn't bad enough, he has a no trade clause. At least in baseball, there is no salary cap.
WINNER: Brian Campbell: Yes, he's been better lately, but for the money he's getting (8 years, $7.1 million per) screws the Hawks down the road. His contract is going to end up costing the Hawks a good player like Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, or Cam Barker. If he played up to his contract, he'd be easier to live with but his defensive lapses seem to come at the worst of times.
The Comic Book Guy Award (Worst...Player...Ever): The last decade in Blackhawks hockey has given us some really, really, bad players, but there can only be one winner...and this is a no-brainer.
WINNER: Alexander Karpovtsev: In the words of Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore, "This guy sucks." We've already talked about the trade that brought him here, but let's talk about his time as a Hawk. When he wasn't faking an injury, he was repeatedly scoring in his own net. The guy was absolutely terrible, and Pat Foley let him have it in a legendary rant the day he was traded. "Disaster!"
The Aaron Rowand / Mark DeRosa Award (Most Overloved Player): Former Chicago baseball players Aaron Rowand and Mark DeRosa played hard and played well in their tenure, but were treated like Mantle and DiMaggio by the fans.
WINNER: Martin Havlat: Havlat had a terrific season for the Hawks last year. He was healthy, motivated, and a difference maker. Coincidentally, last season was the year when 90% of the bandwagon fans jumped on board. They didn't see the previous years when Havlat was constantly hurt, and a problem in the locker room. When the Hawks lets him walk to sign Marian Hossa (a far superior player) the gnashing of teeth was something to behold. Now in Minnesota, Havlat has spent much of the season hurt and underachieving. No surprise to me.
The Dave Wannstedt Award (Worst Coach): He's gotta leg!
WINNER: Alpo Suhonen: Another great move by Mike Smith. Good lord. Does anyone remember the "town hall meeting" the Hawks held? They introduced Smith and Alpo to the Chicago fans. Wow...that was impressive. I swear to God Suhonen fell asleep at the podium. He was supposed to bring a Euro mindset to the Hawks. Nope...he just brought more losing.
The Ditka Award (Best Coach / Moustache Combo):
WINNER: Joel Quenneville: Duh. Q's face is defined by his stellar silver moustache. The refs know he means business then the face turns red. It turns the 'stache from gray to chrome.
The Pierre Pilote Award (Best Defensive Player):
WINNER: Duncan Keith: Keith began his career as an undersized, raw defenseman. Since then, his combination of skill, work ethic, and hockey smarts have made him one of the top defensmen in the NHL. In February, he will represent Canada at the Vancouver Olympic games. With all eyes on him, he will finally get the national attention he deserves, and may finally have a fair chance at winning the Norris Trophy.
The Bobby Hull Award (Best Offensive Player):
WINNER: Jonathan Toews: Just 21 years old, Toews is in his second season as the Blackhawks captain. He is the total package. He scores, wins faceoffs, kills penalties, and most importantly, leads the Hawks on and off the ice. He is the right guy at this critical point in Hawks history. When the Hawks finally win a cup, he will be the first guy to touch it, and rightfully so. He is the face of the franchise and the heart and soul of his team.
So there they are...your Blackhawks Decade Awards. Let me know your thoughts, and add your own category. Best category / award in my comments section wins a Patrick Kane bobble head doll. Thanks for reading!
Filed under: Blackhawks, Chicago Sports, danny mac show, duncan keith, end of year awards, hockey, jonathan toews, NHL, patrick sharp, sports, wscr
Tags: blackhawks, chicago sports, danny mac show, duncan keith, hockey, jonathan toews, NHL, patrick sharp, Sports, wscr
Posting a picture or story of Mike Smith makes Jesus cry.
The most memorable moment of the Potsie era:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iviLY1RvNc
Hull Award...I nominate
Patrick Kane. Toews is a nice captain and a solid player, but how can you not choose Kane in the best offensive player category? He leads the team in pts. and has been solid every night. The half-boards should just be officially re-name the Patrick Kane Slot!I'm a little younger, so I rename the Pilote award
the Doug Wilson Trophy. I give it toKeith & Seabrookbecause as a pair they make the perfect 1-2 punch.Wanny's Award gets renamed,
"Alpo Soup Award"because as bad as Wanny was, Alpo defines this honor.Honorable mentions should go to Brent Sutter (year 2) & Trent Yawney who did their best to give Alpo a run for futility.
Rowand/DeRosa award should be renamed the
Michael Handzus memorial pin(he played how many games as a Hawk and some people were ready to crown him the next great Hawk center). This award doesn't belong solely to Havlat, as Khabibulin had basically 1 good year and some injury plagued seasons too. I'd give this award to two players I didn't mind as Hawks:Bryan Smolinski, who criticized the Hawks when they got rid of him. And,Jason Williamswho amounted to very little and was puzzled why the Hawks let him go. Both were way overrated and haven't been seen much since their departure.Comic Book Guy Award (title is great) but Karpo as the selection is wrong...Nobody, not even Theo Fleury in his finest Hawk moments (strip club brawl comes to mind) comes close to the
Boris MironovHawk tenure. He was brought here to be a pp QB, and he was overweight, always complaining about ice time, and that wasn't when he was holding out for more $, presumably so he could buy more food or die his hair another shade of gold.JR. Award: Havlat's fine, but have you see how good Toews and Hossa are in the NHL 10, unstoppable!
The Geico "So Easy a Caveman could do it" tm. award goes to...Brent Sopel! (followed by Sopel looking angry when he sees the name of the award then walking away without even accepting it)Seriously though, he is deifnitely overpaid but he has been pretty solid this season.
How about the Dustin Hermanson award (1 year wonder). I guess there are a lot to pick from but I thought Eric Daze was gonna bounce back and kill after his 2001 effort. Much like Dustin he had that great year and slowly fizzled away soon after. It's a shame he took so much heat for being so big and not wanting to be more physical.
I'll admit I wasn't watching any Hockey during the Karpovtsev era and I have never heard that rant so thanks for that treat. By the time Karpovtsev was here is was firmly in the not until Wirtz dies camp. Sadly I'm starting to feel the same way about the Bears top brass....uurrghh LOL Mike Smith and Alpo uurrgghh LOL