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Posts Tagged Viktor Strahlberg
State of the Chicago Blackhawks: NHL Trade Deadline Edition
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on January 25th, 2012
Today is the 1st installment of our expanded NHL Trade Deadline coverage. We’ll be posting team outlooks leading up to trade deadline over the next couple weeks from a variety of contributing writers.
Written by Tab Bamford of TheFourthPeriod.com and can be found on twitter at @The1Tab
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the mix for the best record in the Western Conference, but are equally close to fourth place in the Central Division. With a good, young core locked up and over $5 million in cap space, the Blackhawks will be buyers at the deadline.
What will be the Blackhawks wants/needs?
1. Top-four defenseman
The Hawks have one of the best top pairs in the league with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but have been searching for the right formula all season in the wake of Brian Campbell being traded to Florida during the draft.
Nick Leddy’s developing nicely, but has been better when held under 20 minutes per game over the last month. Meanwhile, Niklas Hjalmarsson appears to have peaked as a number 4-5 defenseman who excels at blocking shots and killing penalties, but has not taken the next step in his development yet.
Some players the Hawks might target include Tim Gleason in Carolina, Hal Gill and/or Chris Campoli in Montreal, and, if Brian Burke puts him on the market, Cody Franson.
Leafs Make Changes
Posted by Derek in NHL News, NHL Rumors on October 13th, 2009
Sources indicate that the Toronto Maple Leafs have re-called Tyler Bozak from the AHL Marlies and will have Viktor Strahlberg back from a concussion for tonights match-up against the Colorado Avalanche.
To make space on the roster it appears that Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman will both be healthy scratches as the Maple Leafs look for their first win. After getting off to the worst start in franchise history, with 1 point in an overtime loss to Montreal to open the season, the Leafs are winless through 5 games.
It should be noted that Stajan and Hagman have combined for almost half of the teams scoring (3 and 2 respectively, for 5 out of the teams 12 goals) but it’s more then likely a move to send a message to the rest of the team to wake up defensively.
After an off-season spent bolstering the defense, the Leafs have been horrible defensively. At times looking like they’re short-handed while at full strength, playing a 5 man box in their own zone while leaving opposing forwards open to chip in rebounds in front of the net, or giving half efforts when attempting to block shots from the point.
Veterans like Stajan and Hagman are expected to lead by example, not just talk about “playing with desperation” and ” being accountable in our own zone” while being questioned by reporters.
Although it is only 5 games into the season what has most Leaf fans worried is the lack of willingness to compete being shown thus far. The pressure is only going to increase as the losses mount, and the players need to realize it’s up to them to right the ship. A leader needs to emerge and give this team an Identity, a Heart, a Soul…But who?



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