Let's get ready to rumbleeeee! (Photos: Cheryl Adams/flickr, Let's Go Amerks/flickr)

Alexander Salak and Ray Emery are both gearing up for training camp — as well as giving interviews to rival newspapers.

Salak talked to the Chicago Tribune about the unexpected battle for the backup goalie position after Emery was invited to training camp:

“Nothing changes for me — I always work as hard as I can,” said Salak, who played for Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish League last season. “What happens will happen. I’m just going to work hard and try to stop pucks. All the other things don’t bother me.”

He also mentioned that he would be willing to go to Rockford if he does lose the backup job to Emery — which is good, because the IceHogs need all the help in goal that they can get.

Meanwhile, Ray Emery spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times about being invited to training camp:

“I’m really comfortable that they have the best intentions for their club in mind when they’re making decisions like that,” Emery said. “I feel like I can do a lot better than I have in the past.”

He also talked about the surgery and rehabilitation on his hip after being diagnosed with avascular necrosis.

His rehabilitation was more of an experiment as he and trainer Matt Nichol tested a variety of exercises, including ballet, Pilates, swimming and yoga, to see what worked best. Acupuncture and hyperbaric treatment were some of the therapies used.

“At certain times, it seemed like it was going to be real hard to get back to playing,” Emery said. “That donor site was the toughest part of the rehabilitation.”

The Blackhawks have two really good choices for Crawford’s backup. We’ll see which way they decide to go in September.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: Backup Battle!”

Hello again.

The Blackhawks Convention recap will be coming soon. I just had to recover from the Convention hangover, and then recover from the sickness that followed the hangover.

Here’s what we’ve missed.

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaaaack. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Michael Frolik finally re-signed! On July 15, Frolik signed to a three-year, $7 million contract, according to ESPN Chicago. This works out to $2.33 million per year, which seems a little on the high side. However, since the Blackhawks managed to sign Stalberg to a bargain contract, it all balances out in the end.

Here’s what Stan Bowman had to say about Frolik:

“Like I said when we started this whole process, Michael’s an important part of the team. He’s the guy that we expect to be part of our group for a while. He played some of his best hockey in pressure situations down the stretch, in particular in the playoffs, and I think there’s a lot more to his game. We’re excited to have him here for three more years.”

Who else signed? Who’s leaving the team? You probably already know, but click on the jump, anyway.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: All The News I Missed”

Welcome back, Stalberg! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks have announced that Viktor Stalberg has signed a two-year deal, avoiding arbitration.

According to ESPN Chicago, the deal is worth a total of $1.75 million, for a cap hit of $875,000 — a real bargain. Stalberg had 12 goals and 24 points in his first season with the Blackhawks. He also ranked fourth on the team with 102 hits.

The Blackhawks still have two more restricted free agents to re-sign, Chris Campoli and Michael Frolik. Campoli’s arbitration hearing is set for August 3.

As you may remember, Frolik is not eligible for arbitration; this is because he has not had four years of NHL experience from the time he signed his entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers. Stalberg doesn’t, either — but since he signed his entry-level contract after the age of 20, the term is reduced. (Thanks to this site for that information.)

Update: CapGeek reports that goaltender Alec Ricards was also signed to a two-year deal worth $525,000 per year.

Happy birthday, Campoli! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Chris Campoli was born on July 9, 1984.

Yeah, yeah, happy birthday and all that — but would you please re-sign already, Campoli? Come on, man. Do it for the kids!

One of these players is not like the others... (Photos: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Chris Campoli and Viktor Stalberg were amongst the 23 players across the league who elected for salary arbitration today, according to the NHLPA website. Michael Frolik is not eligible for arbitration. No hearing date has been set for either of them, but all hearings will take place in Toronto between July 20 and August 4.

They can avoid arbitration if they are re-signed before their hearing date. The Sun-Times quotes Bowman as feeling “confident” that all three of the Blackhawks’ restricted free agents will be re-signed to the team in “short order.”

After the jump, find out what numbers the newest Blackhawks will be wearing this season.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: The Numbers Game(s)”

We have some catching up to do when it comes to Blackhawks news (thanks to my little detour to the NHL Draft). So what better time to do so than tonight, on Free Agent Frenzy Eve?

The Dearly Departed

See ya later, guys. (Photos: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks have said goodbye to three players — Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky, and Troy Brouwer.

Campbell has ended up in Florida with Dale Tallon and the Panthers. According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“I’ve had guys call me, guys I’ve played with before, saying, ‘Dude, you’re lucky, get me down there,”’ Campbell said on WQAM radio. “Dale said to me, ‘I’d like to bring you in to be the [pioneer], making this the place to be where everyone wants to play.’

“Obviously, with Dale there, I’ve had guys under contract and free agents say that to me … If it’s going to be a good situation guys want to be involved in it.”

Campbell played a similar role in the Blackhawks’ rebuilding — also thanks to Tallon. Let’s hope that it works out for the Panthers, as well. I always thought that Campbell never got a fair shake here in Chicago because of his inflated contract, but maybe his skills will be more appreciated down in South Beach since his contract is helping the Panthers make the cap floor.

Kopecky, too, has ended up on the Panthers. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was signed to a four-year contract worth $12 million. Wow, really? The Panthers really do need to make the floor, don’t they? (As of right now, they’re about $23 million below the floor, according to CapGeek. Jesus.)

Troy Brouwer, however, was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for their first-round pick in this year’s draft. Though there was some controversy earlier this week when he claimed that Blackhawks players were “frustrated” by the recent moves, we still wish him the best of luck in Washington. He hopes to bring some leadership to the Caps, according to USA Today:

“Sometimes you need a little bit of outside views, just to come in and make sure that guys are doing what they need to do in important games,” Brouwer said. “There’s no boundary on leadership age. Whether you’re wearing a letter on a team, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not a leader. I want to come in and help out with all the experience that I’ve had.”

The Capitals made him a qualifying offer on Monday.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: The Free Agent Frenzy News Round Up”

A message for Winnipeg.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Mike Haviland will be interviewing with Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Winnipeg NHL team’s new general manager, for the vacant head coaching position today. He joins Manitoba Moose head coach Claude Noel, TSN analyst Craig McTavish, and Atlanta head coach Craig Ramsay in the interview pool.

As much as I would love to act like an adult and wish Haviland the best of luck — you know what? No. I would like this poaching of the Blackhawks’ talent to begin and end with Cheveldayoff, no matter how much Haviland deserves to be a head coach of an NHL team. Is it selfish? Hell yes, it’s selfish! I want Haviland to stay here and work his magic, okay? I don’t want to be stuck with only Mike Kitchen backing up Coach Q! I’ll cry!

…Er, sorry, Kitchen.

After the jump, Campoli talks about joining the Competition Committee (turns out he’s a bright guy with a keen interest in the union — who knew?):

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: Don’t Leave Us, Haviland!”

Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr

It was announced today that Chris Campoli would be joining the Competition Committee.

According to Article 22 of the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement (link opens a PDF):

The NHL and NHLPA will establish a Player/Club Competition Committee (the “Competition Committee”) for the purpose of examining and making recommendations associated with issues affecting the game and the way the game is played. The issues to be considered by the Competition Committee will include: (1) the development, change, and enforcement of Playing Rules; (2) Player equipment regulations and standards; (3) Player dressing room and in-arena facility standards; (4) the scheduling of games played outside a team’s home arena and facility standards relating to said games (e.g., “outdoor”games, neutral site games, etc.); and (5) issues relating to schedule, compression andstart times for games. By mutual agreement the NHL and NHLPA can expand the issuesto be considered by the Competition Committee.

Campoli and Mike Cammalleri of the Montreal Canadiens join David Backes of the St. Louis Blues, Chris Clark of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres on the committee, replacing Mike Commodore and Mathieu Schneider. The committee will meet tomorrow, June 13.

After the jump, get the full press release from the NHLPA:

» Continue reading “Campoli Joins Competition Committee”

Was ANYONE healthy at the end of this season? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Your Daily Cup is a daily gathering of links from around the web that we think you should check out.

Chris Campoli, who apparently will not live down the fact that he turned over the puck that led to Alex Burrows’ series-winning goal for the Canucks for a while (seriously, guys — let it GO), underwent knee surgery on Tuesday.

Here’s the press release from the Blackhawks’ head physician, Dr. Michael Terry:

“Chris Campoli underwent successful right knee surgery on Tuesday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus. The procedure went very well and he will gradually return to normal off-season workouts. I anticipate a full recovery in approximately two months.”

Chris Campoli became a restricted free agent at the end of the season. I would not be surprised if he was re-signed, since he blended in well with the defense as soon as he came in and was a vast improvement over everyone else (must I remind everyone of Hendry, Cullimore, and especially Boynton?) in that position this year.

Here’s hoping that he gets well soon, and that he’s on the blue line for the Blackhawks next season.

After the jump, learn about some of the Blackhawks’ best prospects, as well as why Rocky Wirtz is still the man…

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: Campoli Undergoes Surgery”

And so, the Blackhawks begin their summer vacation a little earlier than last year.

But not before facing the media.

(The links will lead to the video on the Blackhawks website.)

Top priority to re-sign: EVERYONE.

Stan Bowman on…

Re-signing Crawford: “a top priority. It’s nice to know we’ll have stability in goal next season.”
NHL experience gained by the new kids this season: “There’s a lot of things to be excited about.”
Offseason priorities: “This summer is much different, fortunately, for us. We’re not in the crunch that we were in a year ago.”
Re-signing Sharp: “It’s no secret here — Patrick’s been a huge part of our success over the past four or five seasons.”
On Brouwer and Campoli: Brouwer: “His offensive production was down a little bit, but he was one of the more physical guys on the team.” Campoli: “It’s like he fit right in with the system we play here.”

» Continue reading “The Blackhawks Clean Out Their Lockers”