Friday, October 30, 2009

Kane, Toews, or Keith?


So the Blackhawks seem to have the best team they've had in years. They currently lead their division with the NHL's biggest off-season acquisition, Marian Hossa, sitting on the sidelines recovering from rotator-cuff surgery, Jonathan Toews trying to get his mind right after a big jolt from Willie Mitchell which gave him a concussion, and their two ruffians (Adam Burish and Ben Eager) out for a long stint. It's hard to imagine what they'll be like when they are healthy. However, it seems that the Blackhawks will not be able to hold together all the talent at their core. The major names that come up are young phenoms: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith.

These three guys have played at a level way beyond their years and losing even one of them would be a fairly big hit. As it stands, though, it seems that the Blackhawks might only be able to keep one of them. As I mentioned earlier, the Blackhawks signed Marian Hossa to a $62.8M/12-year deal. As great as the name sounds, the contract is crippling. Many praised the Blackhaws right after the signing for coming to terms on such a long deal in order to spread out the money enough to avoid paying such a high price per year. However, the Blackhawks have backed themselves into a corner that will make it difficult for them to excel after this year. The Blackhawks now have (and yes, I borrowed these stats from ESPN) 12 players for next year for $42.5M, leaving 11 roster spots to fill with $11M of cap space left. How can the Blackhawks afford more than one of these phenomenal young players?

Kane and Toews have been playing for $875K/year for the last 3 years, because they were still on their rookie signing contracts. I'm not sure what Keith was being paid, but he'll want more than that too. As a Blackhawks fan, you'd really want to believe that these guys would take a hometown discount to stay together and win some championships, but the likelihood is nil. First of all, these guys know they're worth a lot of money, and if they don't, I'm sure their agents will inform them. Either way, they're gonna want their payday. Second of all, it's not easy to take less than what you're worth because the Player's Association won't be too happy with you driving down the price of skilled hockey players.

What can we do?
1. Do what the Blackhawks organization will probably let happen: let them go. Wave goodbye to the guys that have earned you millions in attendance and merchandise sales; the guys who you built an entire advertisement campaign around; the guys who brought hockey back to life in Chicago. Say, "Thanks!" and let someone else pay them what they're worth.

or

2. Cut some minor characters

Dustin Byfuglien is a pretty interesting character. He's a big guy we can throw in front of the opponents net to completely blind the goalie, then have him move out of the way just in time for the puck to hit the net. However, this seems to be the only thing he can do (other than stuff in rebound goals), which a lot of people can do. We're paying him too much money for what he does ($3M)<---and no, that's not three Monopoly dollars, that's three million. Drop him like he's hot, put him on waivers. Save that $3M for someone who's worth it.

Cut Brent Sopel. There's $2.5M of defense that someone from Rockford could easily make up when he's gone. Put the $2M that he's gonna be paid next year to Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, or Duncan Keith.

Brian Campbell. Sounded like a good idea at the time. Get rid of him. He sucks. He's nothing close to what we paid him for. Twice last year, during the playoffs, Campbell turned over the puck to the Red Wings for breakaway goals. Here's where you could really cut some losses: $7.14M. I'd rather have Jordan Hendry.

Cristobal Huet. He finished the season 11-2 with the Capitals in the post-season prior to the Blackhawks signing him. Another guy who sounded like a good idea at the time. However, he's terribly inconsistent. Let him go. Antti Niemi has played just as well as he has and for less money. $5.65M back in the Blackhawks pockets.

This won't solve all our problems, but at least we might be able to sign one more of those guys. The rest of our spots can be filled by guys from Rockford. The Blackhawks have turned lots of minor-leaguers into success stories (Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Niklas Hjalmarsson). I think that with enough solid players around the call-ups will help them develop enough that they can play at a high level.

I'm no contract genius. Maybe everything I've said is illegal or stupid, I don't know. But, all I know is I want to see Kane, Toews, and Keith in the red, Indian-head sweater next year.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Week 4

We're now four weeks into the NFL season. I don't think me or Bryce have blogged as much as we've wanted to, but I've decided that there are too many things to blog about to stay silent.

Antwan Odom and the Bengals are impressing the hell out of me
Not that I like it. I was near inconsolable when the Bengals beat the Packers while I was at the game. I felt a little better when they continued to beat the Steelers a week later. Then again, they had to go to OT to beat the Browns. The Bengals are 3-1 and really, they ought to be 4-0 had Stokley not made that fluke of a catch for a TD at the end of their game on Week 1.

We see a Bengals team this year that features a decent defense with Antwan Odom racking up sacks and tackles. Rey Maualuga was not a bad addition either. To that, add a healthy Keith Rivers who was knocked out for the season with a broken jaw by the most beastly receiver I've ever seen, Hines Ward.

The Bengals lost T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Seattle Seahawks in the off-season, however, this offense seems more alive than it's been in a while. Carson Palmer is healthy this year--a much better option than Ryan Fitzpatrick--and Chad Johnson has not been disappointing either. Cedric Benson, whose career seemed to be dead, is running pretty well this year.

It's things like this that make the NFL interesting.

Josh McDaniels blunders in the off-season, starts the season 4-0?

Should I subtitle this "Orton looks less like a pedophile, more like a QB?"

Everyone shook their head and said "Idiot" when McDaniels got caught trying to trade his Pro Bowl quarterback, Jay Cutler, for his man-crush, Matt Cassel. Cutler proceeded to pout and make a big scene until he got traded to the Bears. Who was going to take Cutler's place? The Broncos acquired Kyle Orton--amongst many draft picks--who seems to be managing games and making throws to lead the Broncos to a 4-0 start. It seems, maybe, that Cutler wasn't the critical piece, but defense was. Their off-season acquisition of Brian Dawkins was smart and whoever was responsible for that move is probably preparing to move into a bigger house.

Another rookie QB tearing it up?

Mark Sanchez, other than today, has looked awesome this season and has taken his team to a 3-1 start. Sanchez still has a lot to learn, as he exhibited today, but he looks to be the next Matt Ryan/Joe Flacco. It doesn't hurt that Sanchez has considerably more pieces in place than fellow rookie start, Matthew Stafford. With guys like Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller to throw to and Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to hand off to, Sanchez doesn't have to carry the whole load.


The defense isn't too shabby either. Shaun Ellis, Kris Jenkins, and Darrelle Revis are good places to start. I predict the Jets to make it to the playoffs--for real this year.

The Titans are 0-4?
Who could have predicted this? This team started out the year 10-0 last year, right? They only lost 3 games last year, right? Needless to say, this team has already missed the playoffs this year...


Packers/Vikings
There's never been a more heart-breaking game...and it hasn't even happened yet. Either way it turns out, it won't be okay. Ultimately, I want the Packers to win, but if they do, what does that say to whatever legacy Favre has left. I know that I was mad at Favre for coming back again this year and for playing for the enemy, but last week's last second TD pass made me remember Favre's magic and I missed having him on our team. I kinda don't wanna see him lose. However, I would hate to see him beat his old team. It just isn't right. I would hate to see Favre happy to see the Packers lose.

My predictions? Packers lose by 10 or more. The Vikings have a balanced attack and Favre has something to prove. I don't think we can really stand up to that. Best case scenario? Packers are hungry on the ball on defense and send a lot of blitzes, force a lot of turnovers. Ultimately, we'll just have to see.