Staff reportContrary to what might be common perception, Vancouver Canucks fans aren't doing handsprings over the Blackhawks' trade of playoff nemesis Dustin Byfuglien to the Atlanta Thrashers.
Sure, Big Buff no longer will be rooted in front of the net, obscuring the view of flustered Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, when next the two teams meet. Although that might help Vancouver win that particular game, Canucks fans are none too happy that the Thrashers helped bail the Blackhawks out of huge salary-cap problems.
Writes Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province, "In one of the most remarkable deals in recent memory, the Hawks flushed the toilet on the Thrashers as teams are wont to do over the history of this franchise, sending a load of rubbish to Atlanta for draft picks and a couple of warm bodies Chicago can cheerfully send to the minors."
Photo: Dustin Byfuglien's presence in front of the Canucks net distracts goaltender Roberto Luongo. (Scott Strazzante/Tribune)
Noting that "only Byfuglien's mother could call
this a blockbuster and not an exercise in composting," Gallagher lauds Hawks general manager Stan Bowman for not only digging out from under his mountain of salary-cap woes, but landing a first-round draft pick from Atlanta in the process.
"If there was a real commissioner in this league," Gallagher writes, "there would be an investigation into this one ... Don't you wonder, even just a tad, whether Rick Dudley is still on the payroll of the Hawks?"
Others also are hailing the Hawks' deal. Writes Ryan Kennedy of the Hockey News, "At first blush, this is a master stroke for (Bowman) ... (Prospect Jeremy) Morin's inclusion should make Atlanta fans uneasy. The youngster tallied 47 goals and 83 points in 58 games for Kitchener after cutting his teeth with the U.S. national team development program. ...This deal sets the Hawks up well for the future."
"If there was a real commissioner in this league," Gallagher writes, "there would be an investigation into this one ... Don't you wonder, even just a tad, whether Rick Dudley is still on the payroll of the Hawks?"
Others also are hailing the Hawks' deal. Writes Ryan Kennedy of the Hockey News, "At first blush, this is a master stroke for (Bowman) ... (Prospect Jeremy) Morin's inclusion should make Atlanta fans uneasy. The youngster tallied 47 goals and 83 points in 58 games for Kitchener after cutting his teeth with the U.S. national team development program. ...This deal sets the Hawks up well for the future."
The Thrashers look foolish until they make a late season trades involving three guys who have won the cup (Buff, Sopel and perhaps Eager). They could easily secure back an even better #1 for Buff in that scenario.
The Hawks could easily package both the pick and Morin as enticement for another team to further help solve the cap problem.
I'd wait until around next March to judge this one.
Nobody in Chicago wanted Buff to go, but he is the most marketable both now and in the spring.
SloJim...I think I know why they call you SLOW. They ARE getting rid of Johnsson and Huet. Those two will definitely not be back. IT'S NOT ENOUGH!! No two ways about it - we need to lose some people from the team that we all like and that were key parts. But this actually was a great trade and Byfuglien's value will NEVER be higher.
Why not getrid of Johnsson & Huet?
The more ex-Blackhawks or ex-Blackhawk administration people in other organizations the better. The Blackhawks have ready made trading partners.
Doug Wilson with San Jose
Dale Tallon with Florida
Rick Dudley with Atlanta
As difficult as it is to see Buff and the rest go, Hawks fans HAVE to be happy with the way Bowman is dealing with a really difficult situation and still leaving us in good shape for the future.