[The Stache]

Blackhawks agree to terms with Corey Crawford

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Corey Crawford on a three-year contract.

Crawford, 26, paced rookie goaltenders with 33 wins (33-18-6), tied for rookie lead with four shutouts and ranked eighth among National Hockey League netminders with a 2.30 goals-against-average during the 2010-11 regular-season. He also led all NHL rookies with a .927 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

During the 2010-11 campaign, his first full NHL season, the Montreal, Quebec, native became the second Blackhawks goaltender since 1994 to reach the 30-win plateau. He tied a franchise rookie record established in 1963 with eight consecutive wins in February and March, and earned the victory in seven consecutive starts in November and December. Crawford compiled a 176:09 shutout streak in January, the longest by a Chicago netminder since Tony Esposito in 1972 and turned aside 16-of-19 shootout attempts during the season, including all eight he faced at the United Center.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=563229

[The Stache]

Yes sir madden!

[cubbiefan009]

Huge news. Glad Stanny took care of this early.

[Indianplaya17]

What happened to the NHL forum with all our threads?

Anyways, GREAT MOVE!

[Indianplaya17]

Hawks sign Alexander Salak and two others
Source: Jesse Rogers / ESPN Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks announced the signings of three players Tuesday, including goaltender Alexander Salak to a two-year deal.

Salak, 24, was acquired on February 9, 2011 in a trade with the Florida Panthers. He played for Farjestad BK in the Swedish Elite League in 2010-11. He ranked second in the league with a 1.97 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

Sources familiar with the deal say Salak's contract is for $1.2 million or $600,000 per year. ESPNChicago.com reported the signing on May 20. Salak's deal is a one-way contract, according to the source, meaning he's paid the same if he plays in the AHL or NHL.

The Hawks also signed forwards Byron Froese and David Gilbert to three-year, entry-level deals. Froese was a fourth-round pick of the Hawks in 2009 while Gilbert was drafted in the seventh round the same year.

Froese scored 43 goals playing for Red Deer in the Western Hockey League. Gilbert had 28 goals and 51 points playing in juniors this past season before joining the Rockford (AHL) IceHogs for five games, amassing two goals and an assist.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/n ... id=6610894

[moolamaka]

Getting Salak was huge, he will be a decent backup goal tender behind the Crawsome Corey Crawford. As for the other two guys they will contribute well but dont imagine them to play like Frolik did. The hawks still need a big body in front of the goal on the forecheck. caugh (buff) caugh

[Indianplaya17]

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566377

Preseason schedule is out!

[Indianplaya17]

Blackhawks being year vs. Stars
Source: Jesse Rogers / ESPN Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks will open the 2011-2012 NHL season with a home and home series against the Dallas Stars on Oct. 7 and 8.

The Hawks will play in Dallas on Friday Oct. 7 before their home opener against the Stars the next night. The full NHL schedule will be released on Thursday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/n ... id=6694840

[cubbiefan009]

2011-2012 schedule released, here's some bigger games and the full schedule at the link:

October 7th @ Dallas (Season Opener)
October 8th vs. Dallas (Home Opener)
October 13th vs. Winnipeg (No trip to Toews hometown this season)
October 15th vs. Bruins (Defending champs at our house)
November 6th vs. Canucks (First game vs. Vancouver)
November 16th @ Canucks (Circus trip begins)
November 26th @ Kings (Circus trip ends)
December 20th @ Penguins (Good inter-conference matchup)
December 30th vs. Red Wings (First game vs. Detroit)
January 5th @ Flyers (Good inter-conference matchup)
March 18th vs. Capitals (Good inter-conference matchup)
April 7th @ Red Wings (Season finale)

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm

[Indianplaya17]

Blackhawks trade Brouwer to Caps
Source: ESPNChicago.com

The Washington Capitals acquired winger Troy Brouwer from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the first round, Brouwer confirmed in a text message to ESPNChicago.com.

"Its tough to leave chicago. Happy for everything they have done for my career, bringing me into NHL, but excited for new challenge," he wrote.

Brouwer, had 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 79 games for the Blackhawks last season. He underwent shoulder surgery to repair a right shoulder tear during May.

The 25-year-old was drafted by the Blackhawks in the 7th round of the 2004 NHL draft. He scored a career-high 22 goals during the 2009-10 season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/n ... id=6702373

[cubbiefan009]

We also traded Campbell for Rostislav Olesz

[Indianplaya17]

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

[cubbiefan009]

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Meh, Campbell is overpaid and it is a good salary dump.

[The Stache]

With the emergence of Ben Smith, Brouwer was movable. Campbell hurts because hes still a really good player and a top 3 defense-men on just about any team, but his money will help build a more complete team.

[Indianplaya17]

Blackhawks trade Tomas Kopecky
Source: Jesse Rogers / ESPN Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks traded the rights to forward Tomas Kopecky to the Florida Panthers on Monday, days before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The team said Monday it will receive a 2012 pick, conditional to Nashville. If that pick is not available, Chicago gets Florida's seventh-round pick in 2013.

Kopecky, 29 , had career highs with 15 goals and 27 assists in 81 games played before injuring himself in the Western Conference playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Panthers have exclusive negotiating rights to Kopecky until Friday when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

It's the second trade in three days between the Hawks and Panthers and third in less than a year. The Hawks traded defenseman Brian Campbell to the Panthers on Friday for forward Rostislav Olesz. Last February, the Hawks traded forward Jack Skille for Michael Frolik and goalie Alexander Salak.

Former Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon became the Panthers' GM in May, 2010.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/n ... id=6710317

[Indianplaya17]

Agent: Jake Dowell to become UFA
Source: Jesse Rogers / ESPN Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks decided not to "qualify" center Jake Dowell making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1, according to his agent Neil Sheehy.

Qualifying offers were due at 4 p.m. CT Monday and Dowell is the lone Hawks' restricted free agent not to be qualified.

Qualifying a player guarantees the Hawks the right of first refusal and compensation if another team makes an offer to the player starting on Friday. It also ties the player to the club for one year with a potential raise using a formula based on the previous year's salary. Dowell, 26, made $550,000 in 2010-11. If he had been qualified he would be due a 10 percent raise.

The sides can still work out a short or long term deal in the meantime and Sheehy says a return to the Hawks as an unrestricted free agent is still a possibility.

As an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Dowell can sign with any team, including the Hawks. They made a similar move with defenseman Jordan Hendry last summer as he re-signed with the team for one year. Dowell played in 79 regular season games but only two of seven postseason contests. He had six goals and 15 assists but didn't score in his final 27 games of the year, including playoffs. Dowell led the Hawks with nine fighting majors.

The Hawks have three other restricted free agents: Michael Frolik, Chris Campoli and Viktor Stalberg. All three have been qualified, according to league sources. General manager Stan Bowman reiterated this past weekend, at the NHL draft, negotiating deals for his restricted free agents would be a priority beginning this week.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/n ... id=6710275