Yawney’s Hawks beef up all over

When the Blackhawks played their last game in April of 2004, they were one of the worst teams in the NHL. Now they at least have a realistic chance at a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Hawks used the last two summers to stockpile free agents, giving them a solid group of veterans to surround their nucleus of potentially very good young players. They also have a new coach in Trent Yawney, who earned a reputation in his five years at Norfolk in the American League of having teams that were very difficult to play against. None of the Hawks’ free agent signings was bigger than the one pulled off by first-year GM Dale Tallon in August when he bagged goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who left Tampa Bay after leading the Lightning to…

Good vibrations in Tinseltown

The Kings will be one of the teams to benefit most from the new collective bargaining agreement. They have been a big market team with small market revenue. They’ve had a billionaire owner always conscious of the bottom line. They have had a team that has never won a Stanley Cup since joining the league in 1967. All that could change now. With the same $39-million salary cap as everyone else, the rink has been leveled. The Kings, who acknowledged they often have been frugal at the expense of building a competitive team, say those days are over. “There is a great atmosphere here,” said Kings veteran Luc Robitaille, after he was re-signed for this season. “The commitment is there from both sides. The fans are excited and so are we.” When Robitaille signed a…

You’ll be seeing more of…

A year off for many veterans and a collective bargaining agreement that puts a dent in the NHL’s middle class has opportunity knocking for dozens of young players hoping to make it in the bigs for the first time. Here’s a team-by-team look at likely candidates for promotion, compiled with the help of a well-respected NHL scout. ANA Kurtis Foster, D Big shot from blueline. Can add to PP Ryan Getzlaf, C Big, strong & skilled. Brian Burke’s blueprint Chris Kunitz, LW Free agent from college can skate & score Corey Perry, RW Great development, will continue to get better ATL Braydon Coburn, D Big, strong, mobile; 30 minute a game type Kari Lehtonen, G Dominant capability, intimidates opponents Karl Stewart, LW In the mold of a Kirk Maltby BOS Brad Boyes, RW Skilled winger has found a…

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