The Hawks picked up a hard fought, quality 2-1 victory over a tough St.
Louis Blues team last night. Antti Niemi was spectacular, and the
Hawks were good enough to get the win.
But once upon a time, the Hawks would beat their opponents into submission. Even in games they lost, they were the better team, outshooting their opponents by 15-20 shots.
What happened to those days? Why aren't the Hawks skating circles around their opponents anymore?
The Hawks are still one of the best teams in hockey, and stand as good a chance as any to win the Stanley Cup. Their recent "slump" (5-4-1 in their last 10) still has them 2nd in the conference standings by a long shot, but they aren't the same team. This recent stretch has revealed a few things to me.
Very simply, opponents are figuring out the formula to competing with the Hawks. Clog up the neutral zone, eliminate cross ice passes, and play physical. This, combined with a tired pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook have slowed the team down.
So how can the Hawks combat this? Very simply, they need to make a trade or two.
I love this Hawks team. They are great...best since the early 90's...and like I said, good enough to win the Cup, but they seem stuck in a rut. It's the perfect time for a shake up. The Hawks need to focus on upgrading two parts of their team.
1) Goaltending : I've seen enough of Cristobal Huet to know I can't trust him. It sounds harsh, but I've waited and waited for him to gain some consistency. Just when I feel he's finally found it, he stinks up the joint. Time after time he fails to make routine saves. I LOVE what I've seen from Antti Niemi, but THIS IS THE YEAR the Hawks are in the best shape to win the Stanley Cup. Next season, they'll have to dump some salary, and lose a couple of good players. Now is the time. If a quality, proven goaltender becomes available, the have to jump at the chance. I don't want this crucial season in the hands of a rookie.
If a deal for a goalie were to happen, you would assume it would almost certainly HAVE to include Huet. That makes it a tough sell to any potential trade partner. If they CAN'T acquire a goalie, I think it's time that Antti Niemi gets an extended look in goal. He needs three or four starts in a row to see how he responds. If he plays as well in those starts as he did last night, the number one role should be his to lose. He's been the better goalie all year, and needs to be treated as such...salary be damned.
2. Defense: It's clear that Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith are tired. They are making mistakes I've never seen them make before. Mental lapses and insecure passes have become an almost nightly occurrence for them. The Olympic tournament isn't going to help them in that regard either. I think they will be fine, but getting another defenseman to take 3-4 minutes of ice time from them would be ideal.
Cam Barker, in my opinion, has regressed this season. He still has a ton of value on the trade market, but a lousy playoff could severely damage his appeal to other teams. They need to move him now.
Acquiring a defenseman is the most likely scenario in my opinion. Some of the names that have been floating around have been Andrej Meszaros of the Lightning, former Hawk and current Duck James Wisniewski, and future Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer.
From all reports, the Hawks will do everything they can to get Niedermayer, but the Ducks are gaining ground on a playoff spot. If they continue their winning ways, he won't be going anywhere.
Wisniewski is no stranger to Hawk fans. He was a fan favorite when he was here. He plays a physical game and has some offensive flair, but is somewhat prone to defensive mistakes. With a top 4 of Seabrook, Keith, Campbell, and Hjalmarsson, the Hawks don't need more offense on their blue line.
Meszaros is big and can score, but still isn't completely reliable on the blue line.
The guy I'd like to see the Hawks land is Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason. He can play the shut down role the Hawks need, and won't be completely useless offensively. After this season, he'll have 2 years left on a deal that will pay him $3 million in 2010-11, and $3.5 million in 2011-12. If the Hawks could move Cam Baker, Jack Skille, and / or a pick for him, I say pull the trigger.
Regardless of who the names are, I think a shake up can only help the team. It could breathe some life into a team that seems to be coasting, and at the very least, give them a new look for teams to figure out.
Hawk fans, join Hawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville and I next
Thursday, February 11th at Cork and Kerry (106th and Western on the South Side) for the first ever "Q at the
Cork" event. Coach Q will be answering your questions and signing
autographs from 7pm-8:30pm. Come on out and meet the man behind the
moustache.
Jay Zawaski is the Executive Producer of the Danny Mac Show (9am-1pm M-F) on WSCR, 670 the Score.
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