Post by Hawks on Oct 20, 2008 2:39:46 GMT -5
The first season of the Chicago Blackhawks 2003-2004 wasn't a strong one, after drafting talent such as Rick Nash (who was later traded to Anaheim for Simon Gagne), Jason Spezza, Evgeni Nabokov and Jonathon Cheechoo, among others, the Hawks knew it wasn't going to be strong coming in but drafted the original Fantasy Draft for the future, not the present.
The Future has come and gone; during that time the Blackhawks earned 3 back-to-back-to-back Division titles (04-07), a Presidents' Trophy (06-07), a Maurice "Rocket" Richard (Cheechoo 06-07), a Jenning's (Nabokov 06-07) and Vezina (Nabokov 06-07) respectively; but ultimately missed their goal of the Stanley Cup.
Chicago's GM Gavin Steidele became disappointed with the start of the 07-08 season and quickly began to realize it was time to begin again. He began unloading talent which the Blackhawks had worked hard for over the last 5 seasons. Trading away such stars as Simon Gagne, Brian Gionta, Martin Gelinas, Curtis Joseph, and Scott Hannon.
For those 5 players, Mr. Steidele (who some of the other GMs have come to call "G-man") a stunning five 2nd round draft choices (4 of which are this year, with the last in 2009), as well as Lee Stempniak, Paul Ranger, Lauri Korpikoski, Perttu Lindgren, Yuri Alexandrov, Stephane Veilleux, Teemu Laakso, Andrei Zyuzin, and Will Weber.
After all of that, the future was still uncertain, the REALLY big moves were still to come. Still to go was Evgeni Nabokov, a trade that shocked Chicago, to Dallas. In return the Blackhawks received Blake Wheeler, Derick Brassard, and Dallas' 1st Round Pick 2008 (10th Overall). Most recently, just this last day, the Blackhawks traded Jason Spezza and Jason Smith to Buffalo for Josh Harding, Karl Alzner, and Buffalo's 1st Round Pick in 2008 (8th Overall).
The Blackhawks have repeated their 3-peat in a new form, 3 back-to-back-to-back 1st Round Draft Choices. This combined with five choices in the 2nd round, and two in the 3rd, and a strong pool of current prospects, the Blackhawks are poised to recapture their glory. It may take 1-3 more years to really show its face, and this coming season looks grim as far as production, but the future looks bright. The Chicago Blackhawks have hit the reset button, Chicago has begun again.
Edit - I got the 10th overall from Dallas, not the 9th
The Future has come and gone; during that time the Blackhawks earned 3 back-to-back-to-back Division titles (04-07), a Presidents' Trophy (06-07), a Maurice "Rocket" Richard (Cheechoo 06-07), a Jenning's (Nabokov 06-07) and Vezina (Nabokov 06-07) respectively; but ultimately missed their goal of the Stanley Cup.
Chicago's GM Gavin Steidele became disappointed with the start of the 07-08 season and quickly began to realize it was time to begin again. He began unloading talent which the Blackhawks had worked hard for over the last 5 seasons. Trading away such stars as Simon Gagne, Brian Gionta, Martin Gelinas, Curtis Joseph, and Scott Hannon.
For those 5 players, Mr. Steidele (who some of the other GMs have come to call "G-man") a stunning five 2nd round draft choices (4 of which are this year, with the last in 2009), as well as Lee Stempniak, Paul Ranger, Lauri Korpikoski, Perttu Lindgren, Yuri Alexandrov, Stephane Veilleux, Teemu Laakso, Andrei Zyuzin, and Will Weber.
After all of that, the future was still uncertain, the REALLY big moves were still to come. Still to go was Evgeni Nabokov, a trade that shocked Chicago, to Dallas. In return the Blackhawks received Blake Wheeler, Derick Brassard, and Dallas' 1st Round Pick 2008 (10th Overall). Most recently, just this last day, the Blackhawks traded Jason Spezza and Jason Smith to Buffalo for Josh Harding, Karl Alzner, and Buffalo's 1st Round Pick in 2008 (8th Overall).
The Blackhawks have repeated their 3-peat in a new form, 3 back-to-back-to-back 1st Round Draft Choices. This combined with five choices in the 2nd round, and two in the 3rd, and a strong pool of current prospects, the Blackhawks are poised to recapture their glory. It may take 1-3 more years to really show its face, and this coming season looks grim as far as production, but the future looks bright. The Chicago Blackhawks have hit the reset button, Chicago has begun again.
Edit - I got the 10th overall from Dallas, not the 9th