Taking you back to a time two years ago when the Blackhawks were not only a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they won the damn thing:
I was reminded of this goal from the 2010 playoffs today when I heard more rumors about the Hawks dangling center Dave Bolland in discussions about a possible trade for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo.
Can I just say the thought of Luongo in an Indian Head sweater is enough to make me want to throw up all over my keyboard? Under no circumstance should the Hawks trade for Luongo, who is 33 years old, in decline and has 10 YEARS remaining on his albatross of a contract. The Hawks do not want this player at any cost.
I understand Corey Crawford is no sure thing in goal. I even agree the Hawks should explore avenues to upgrade in net. But these days, Luongo is no sure thing either. There's a reason the Canucks are trying to get rid of him -- he lost his starting job and isn't the player he used to be. And did I mention his contract is an albatross?
There is literally no player on the Hawks' roster I would trade for Luongo. I wouldn't even part with a bum like Michael Frolik. And, I certainly wouldn't part with a player like Bolland, who along with Jonathan Toews is one of the only two legit centers the Hawks have.
I've been sorely disappointed by the Hawks' inactivity this offseason. All they've done is fire an assistant coach, sign a mediocre defenseman to play on their third pairing and insist they are Cup contenders -- despite evidence to the contrary.
I had hoped to see a couple impact moves over the summer. I haven't seen any. That said, no moves at all are still better than making bad move. Make no mistake about it, any deal for Luongo is a BAD MOVE.
Even if you think Luongo-for-Bolland would be a good trade from a talent-for-talent perspective -- and you're right, it maybe isn't -- you're also right about that contract.
If the Blackhawks got Luongo for free, it only makes sense in a world where the CBA increases the salary cap dramatically so that albatross can fit beneath it. Or in another world where the Hawks are willing to do the same thing they did with Cristobal Huet, and maybe have to with Marian Hossa on the back end of their deals, which is keep eating that money while the guy plays in the minors or in Europe.
Maybe we're in that second world. I know these long contracts that keep these guys under control into their 40s are a way circumvent the cap, and the NHL started putting its foot down on that when it voided the 17-year deal the Devils tried to give Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk ended up with a 15-year deal, and obviously these hugely long contracts are here to stay unless the new CBA really comes down hard against it.
Still, the Hawks are a rich team, and judging by the direction the ticket prices are moving, they aim to get richer. This very well could be an opportunity for big market teams to scoop up players who are still useful from teams who can't afford to keep paying on the back end of those contracts, even if they can avoid the cap hit.
Not saying that makes Luongo a fit here. Could he even be a better-than-average goalie for half of his remaining deal? Could his cap number even fit in the short term, even if the Hawks were willing to just eat the last chunk at the end? With this much money, and the team maybe in more dire need of a center, it still doesn't make financial sense.
Still, as a fan getting squeezed out of even the nosebleed seats because of the cost, I'd be happy to see the team reinvest it in talent any way they can to put a better product out there.
I sent an e-mail to my Hawks ticket rep today explaining why I wasn't renewing my tickets. The main reason, of course, is that I'm priced out. Even with the season ticket holder discount, it's damn near $100 per game for two tickets to sit at the very top of the United Center. I realize that price is a function of demand, and I realize that demand for Hawks tickets is still high in the post-Cup era. But the reality is I'm a sportswriter and I don't make enough dough to pay those prices.
I also told my ticket rep that I'm not happy with the inactivity this offseason. I told him I know that isn't his department, but if you say something, there's always a chance an e-mail will get forwarded along. The Hawks haven't done anything this summer to address the holes on their roster. It's too bad, because they aren't that far away. Just seems like they are content to make the playoffs as something between a No. 5 and No. 7 seed in the West, while charging fans premium prices. As much as I hate giving up my ticket plan, I'm left with no choice but to take a pass on that action.