Pointman
12-14-2004, 09:54 AM
Whatever Chicago Blackhawks were this season, they will be quite different team after yesterday’s trade for one of CPHL best wingers Alexei Kovalev.
“Kovalev is far and away the best Hawks player, this season we didn’t have anyone anywhere near his level”, said Hawks GM Pointman. “Kovalev will be asked to be carry this team on his shoulders and we’ll see if he can lift Hawks up”.
Hawks are currently in 3-way tie for 28th place and 2-3-0 in last 5. If there is something Hawks can brag about it’s their penalty killing, which is currently 9th in the league. Hawks powerplay is the worst in the league but showing signs of improvements recently. Hawks are extremely tough team, 4th in the league in penalty minutes. Hawks are 25th in shots, shots against and goals against, they are also 29th in goals scored. Overall, Hawks stats are far from being worse, however huge goaltending woes let Hawks down to where they are now. Neither Brent Johnson nor Andrew Raycroft managed to be up to the challenge of being CPHL starter.
At the start of the season Hawks hopes relied mainly on Jeff Jillson, who was tremendous Hawks leader, but he was injured indefinitely after dirty hit from Dallas defenseman Jason Strudwick. Strudwick is still serving suspension for his actions. With Jillson on the sidelines, Jiri Hudler emerged as new Hawks leader.
Rookie Jiri Hudler started the season as second line center on the farm, but was called up after 10 games and made his way up to the top line. Hudler is currently rookie of the week, second Hawk to win this award after Nikita Alexeev. Eric Rasmussen won player of the week award at the start of the season. Unlike Hudler, who scored 12 points in his young CPHL career, good for 7th place in rookie scoring race despite playing much less games, another rookie Alexander Ovechkin is struggling with 5 points, 2 game misconducts and 5 games suspension under his belt.
“The difference between Hudler and Ovechkin is that Ovechkin was signed from ECHL”, said Hawks GM. “It’s much harder to adopt to pro game. But we believe, after Ovechkin will serve his 5 games suspension, he’ll take his game to the new level. He’s one of the best stickhandlers in the league, even better than Kovalev, and we expect him to contribute”.
Key to success:
1) Kovalev must carry his new team on his shoulders
2) Ovechkin should step up and score.
3) Brent Johnson and Andrew Raycroft should not let team down in close games.
“Kovalev is far and away the best Hawks player, this season we didn’t have anyone anywhere near his level”, said Hawks GM Pointman. “Kovalev will be asked to be carry this team on his shoulders and we’ll see if he can lift Hawks up”.
Hawks are currently in 3-way tie for 28th place and 2-3-0 in last 5. If there is something Hawks can brag about it’s their penalty killing, which is currently 9th in the league. Hawks powerplay is the worst in the league but showing signs of improvements recently. Hawks are extremely tough team, 4th in the league in penalty minutes. Hawks are 25th in shots, shots against and goals against, they are also 29th in goals scored. Overall, Hawks stats are far from being worse, however huge goaltending woes let Hawks down to where they are now. Neither Brent Johnson nor Andrew Raycroft managed to be up to the challenge of being CPHL starter.
At the start of the season Hawks hopes relied mainly on Jeff Jillson, who was tremendous Hawks leader, but he was injured indefinitely after dirty hit from Dallas defenseman Jason Strudwick. Strudwick is still serving suspension for his actions. With Jillson on the sidelines, Jiri Hudler emerged as new Hawks leader.
Rookie Jiri Hudler started the season as second line center on the farm, but was called up after 10 games and made his way up to the top line. Hudler is currently rookie of the week, second Hawk to win this award after Nikita Alexeev. Eric Rasmussen won player of the week award at the start of the season. Unlike Hudler, who scored 12 points in his young CPHL career, good for 7th place in rookie scoring race despite playing much less games, another rookie Alexander Ovechkin is struggling with 5 points, 2 game misconducts and 5 games suspension under his belt.
“The difference between Hudler and Ovechkin is that Ovechkin was signed from ECHL”, said Hawks GM. “It’s much harder to adopt to pro game. But we believe, after Ovechkin will serve his 5 games suspension, he’ll take his game to the new level. He’s one of the best stickhandlers in the league, even better than Kovalev, and we expect him to contribute”.
Key to success:
1) Kovalev must carry his new team on his shoulders
2) Ovechkin should step up and score.
3) Brent Johnson and Andrew Raycroft should not let team down in close games.