It was difficult to find a picture of Handzus I could use that wasn’t blurry. Now I see why. (Photo: Dinur Blum/flickr)

The Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly acquired Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick (a draft pick that originally belonged to the Sharks, according to Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area).

Way back in the dark ages of 2006, Handzus was traded to the Blackhawks from the Philadelphia Flyers. He only played eight games before he tore his ACL and sat for the remainder of the season. This season, he has exactly one goal and one assist in 28 games for the Sharks.

So why in the world would the Blackhawks trade for this guy again (even though the “trade” was really just giving back the pick they took from the Sharks in the first place)? Oh, right, because he wins faceoffs — he’s at 55.6% for faceoff wins right now, more than any other Blackhawks center not named Jonathan Toews.

The best part of this deal? To make room for him, the Blackhawks sent down Brandon Bollig to the Rockford IceHogs. This automatically makes this trade a winner.

I’m starting to think that Patrick Sharp should just be our “logo.” (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

Welcome to our newly-renamed podcast, Second Balcony Breakdown! Casey and I would like to thank Fork from HOCKEENIGHT for providing us with part of the name (the “Second Balcony” part). Seriously, go check out HOCKEENIGHT if you haven’t already. Just don’t click the links if you’re at work. You might get fired… or arrested.

Onto the topics, which include…

• Last week’s Chicago Blackhawks games against the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets (we already had a special podcast about the game against the Vancouver Canucks, which you can listen to here)
• Duncan Keith is a weirdo (talking about Brandon Saad‘s “big, hairy” body after the Sharks game). Check out his quotes to Brian Hedger on Hedger’s Twitter, for example.
• Lindy Ruff, and why the Buffalo Sabres are terrible
• Various games around the league, including the shitshow that was the Pittsburgh Penguins/Philadelphia Flyers game, the return of Luocho in the Canucks game against the Detroit Red Wings, and Evgeni Malkin‘s concussion in the Penguins’ game against the Florida Panthers
• The NHL’s proposed realignment plan and why it’s boring (check out my post about it)
• This week’s Line Cocktail Whoops, no Line Cocktail for this week, because we forgot. Next week’s will be a doozy to make up for this.
• This week’s question: With Detroit possibly out of the Blackhawks’ conference next year, who will take their place as their top rival?

Click the green button below to listen. One of these days, I will sound less like I’m talking with a scarf wrapped around my face while inside a tin shed. Hopefully by next week.

Download the podcast here. (Right-click and select “Save target/link as…” to download the MP3 to your computer.)

Brandon Saad is a man. (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

(This update is coming about twelve hours later than I would’ve liked, thanks to a migraine wrecking my shit for a day. Bear with me.)

Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks have broken the record for longest streak without a regulation loss in the NHL. (The previous team who held the record was the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. They would go on to win the Stanley Cup. No pressure or anything, Blackhawks.) One day, this streak will end, and the meatballs will scream about it to the high heavens. But let’s just enjoy it for a little bit, shall we?

Special thanks goes to the San Jose Sharks, who accounted for three of those 14 wins, including last night’s. See you next season, you teal-encrusted fishmongers.

» Continue reading “14-0-3: Chicago Blackhawks 2, San Jose Sharks 1″

Until we get a logo, you get a picture of Patrick Sharp. (Photo: David Kindler/flickr)

This week’s The Quiet Room with Casey and Kat is our longest one yet (over an hour!), since we had a lot of feelings on last week’s games. Topics include:

• Last week’s Chicago Blackhawks games against the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings
• Other games around the NHL, including the San Jose Sharks/Columbus Blue Jackets game (hahaha)
• Broadcast teams around the league, and why Chicago is spoiled in that regard despite our snark on Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk
• Why Brandon Bollig is useless (this seems to be a recurring theme)
• This week’s Line Cocktail, which is illegal in most states
• This week’s question: Do you think that coaches discourage staged fights during nationally televised games? Why or why not? 
• Alternate question: This podcast needs a new name, since The Quiet Room is already in use by another podcast. Give us a new name.

Click the green button below to listen. Hopefully, the sound quality will improve by next week.

Download the podcast here (To save this to your computer, right-click the link and “Save target/link as…”)

One goal, one assist, first star of the game… still so Swedish, it hurts. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

So I guess this is where I’m supposed to tell you that Jonathan Toews‘ dumbass fight against Joe Thornton, like, sparked the Chicago Blackhawks to victory against the San Jose Sharks or something? But really, the Blackhawks looked like the dominant team the entire game, so I don’t know if you can really spark something that’s clearly on fire already.

The fight took Toews off the ice for nine minutes and put his team on the penalty kill for four minutes for starting a fight with his visor on along with boarding. So, really, it was dumb and could have totally swung the momentum the Sharks’ way if the penalty kill wasn’t so on point this year. You lucked out this time, Toews.

Anyway, if you want to see the awful fight, it’s after the cut. Seriously, it’s terrible and embarrassing. » Continue reading “Shark Hunters: Blackhawks 4, Sharks 1″

A hastily-edited welcome to Henrik Karlsson.

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the San Jose Sharks tonight at 7:30pm at the United Center. The game will air on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, The Committed Indian, Second City Hockey
• Ray Emery will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@TimSassone) Antti Niemi will, of course, backstop the Sharks. That Finnish bastard. (Left Wing Lock)

» Continue reading “Warmups: Are The Blackhawks Shark Hunters Or Shark Bait?”

Until we get a logo, you get a picture of Patrick Sharp. (Photo: Mel Boysen)

After some delay, here we are with our second episode of The Quiet Room with Casey and Kat! Topics include:

• Concussions, with a personal view from Casey
• Last week’s Chicago Blackhawks games against the San Jose Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Nashville Predators.
• Other games around the NHL
• Fighting vs. hitting — here is the link to the Justin Bourne article we reference
• The (theoretically palatable!) Line Cocktail for the week
• This week’s question: How long can the Blackhawks go without a regulation loss?

Click the green button below to listen. We’re still working on improving the sound quality of the podcast, so bear with us.

Download the podcast here (To save this to your computer, right-click the link and “Save target/link as…”)

Well, he scored a goal, finally. That’s one thing. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

I just.

I don’t.

I can’t even words?

Sorry, this game broke my ability to think coherent thoughts.

The amount of time and effort to explain just what the hell happened in the first period of the game would overwhelm me, and this is not that sort of site, so just…

Look at the following picture.

» Continue reading “WTF Happened?: Blackhawks 5, Sharks 3″

Crawford’s going shark hunting. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the San Jose Sharks tonight at 9:30pm CT. The game will air on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Sports Network, Second City Hockey, The Committed Indian
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@ChrisKuc) Antti Niemi will most likely backstop the Sharks, but that has not been confirmed.

» Continue reading “Warmups: Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy…”

When will we see the inside of the United Center like this again? (Photo: Brian Koprowski/flickr)

The NHL announced today that the league has cancelled all regular season games through November 1. This includes two Blackhawks games.

• Saturday, October 27 vs. San Jose Sharks
• Tuesday, October 30 vs. Phoenix Coyotes

If you have already bought tickets to either of these games, keep an eye on your email for further information on how to get your money back.

You know, up until last week, this would have been met with a gnashing of teeth and capslock rage. Now, though? I’ve reached a sort of zen about it. I’ve been focusing on other things (and other leagues) to get me through the lockout. So, fine. Cancel games, NHL. That’s cool. I haven’t died without you yet, and I doubt I will any time soon.

Now, for no real reason, here’s a picture of Jonathan Toews on a CTA train.

» Continue reading “Two More Blackhawks Games Lost To NHL Lockout”