More of Blackhawk Smack-Down, my go-around with Tim Currell, one of the writers at Blackhawk Up…
Round 1–Tim decided to lead off with a hit to the numbers on Brassard and was going on about our beloved cannon. These are my questions and Tim’s answers. For your enjoyment, Round 2…
1) Was it really necessary to spend all that money on players and buy a Stanley Cup, then trade half of your roster away and return to mediocrity?
>> The thing few realize about the Blackhawks team from last year is, 11 of our roster regulars were drafted by US. Everybody talks about us buying the Cup, that’s simply not true. We bought the refs. Much more cost-effective.
…So NOW we have the truth…wonder if they own the guy who flipped all of us off at Nationwide?!
2) So the Indian head logo seems to get tons of praise as being the best logo in sports, so I’m told. Lots of pressure for a team that has only 4 championships in it’s history? Your third jersey looks like a candy bar wrapper, as well. But, we have an ugly third…we’re even.
>> Chief Blackhawk is, as legend goes, one of the best and most recognizable logos in sports. I didn’t really appreciate that until I could my first honest-to-goodness jersey. The minute I put that on, I understood. It’s phenomenal. And yes, we look like the Skating Snickers Bars when we put the third jerseys on. And, accordingly, by the third period we start to melt
…Well, I appreciate that. Maybe you folk might want to start yelling, “Packed with Peanuts, Snickers Really Satisfies” at home games when you wear the thirds…
3)I really do like the Hawks and they way they play and all the hoopla around their puck possession style offense. Seems like they aren’t being very possessive this year. Why is that? Roster turn over too much, players rather get rid of the puck than hold on to it? Or is it that ex Florida Panther coach who now handles your defense? Seems like they play as though they are in the kitchen…lol
>> I have a number of theories about our pucks getting re-possessed this year. First of all, Keith and Seabrook were the anchors of that strategy last year. This year, they were ~strapped~ to the anchor and sinking fast. We added a new element to the team in the form of a goaltender who wanders up to the 300-level seats and fling pucks out on to Madison Street. This tended to confuse our set-in-their-ways blueliners. And Kitch is Coach QStache’s lap dog from the St. Louis days. They’ve known each other a long time. Kitch still cleans his house, I think.
4) And, congratulations on winning the Stanley Cup last season. Must have been a very proud moment for you as a fan to finally have the 49 year drought end. That being said, seems like your young roster is playing as though they are the definition of Stanley Cup Hangover? True?
>> I actually think Patrick Kane only stopped drinking shortly after Christmas. The younger guys got thrown to the wolves very early on: some rose to the challenge, and some were named Jack Skille. You see what happened to him — traded to the Toledo Mud-Hens.
Final Round of Blackhawk Smack-Down Before the game. Last punches and of course, the friendly wager and making good…