| Chicago Tribune If there was any lingering doubt the Blackhawks are trying to do whatever it takes on and off the ice to regain a foothold in the Chicago sports scene, it has been erased. SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS The Hawks made the biggest splash on the free agent market Tuesday when they signed two-time All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell to an eight-year, $56.8 million contract and also obtained the top available goaltender in Cristobal Huet, who received a four-year, $22.4 million deal. "We've created a buzz here in this market", Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said. "We're starting to sell more and more tickets and more and more sponsorships, and we decided we'd try to make an impact to continue that. We had to make a statement and we felt we made a statement. Everyone on this staff -- on ice and off ice -- has grown new wings. We're flying. We want to continue the buzz." The signings should send a buzz throughout the NHL that the Hawks are serious about a return to the postseason after sitting out the last five. The 29-year-old Campbell was the top defenseman available and the prize of the free agent market, while Huet is a talented goaltender who helped the Washington Capitals reach the playoffs. "It was a great day for the organization", Tallon said. "We upgraded our goaltending and our defense and we're excited about the future." Campbell, who had eight goals and 54 assists while splitting time with the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks last season, will upgrade the Hawks' defense and, perhaps more importantly, bolster their power play. "He has ability to move the puck and to skate up ice to get you out of trouble combined with his ability to play lots of minutes -- half of the game most of the time", Tallon said of Campbell, who led the league in ice time at 29 minutes 19 seconds per game. "It gives us more foot speed, more creativity (and) more ability to move the puck out of our own end. He has the ability to pass and see the ice. (He can) go from defense to offense in a split second." Campbell was courted by many teams and chose the Hawks because of his desire to move closer to his family in Strathroy, Ontario, and because he likes the direction the club his heading. "They're doing things that are making it known in Chicago and around the league that they want to win", Campbell said on the Hawks' Web site. "The organization started to make the city take note and provide a lot of entertainment ... something the fans could hold onto. I fully expect big things next year in Chicago. We can do good things." The Huet signing was a bit more surprising as the Hawks already have a No. 1 goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin, who will be in the final year of his $6.75 million contract. "The No. 1 goaltender in this market was Huet and we made a decision ... that it's important to make sure we're really good in the net", said Tallon, whose current plan is to keep both goalies. "That goaltending tandem is as good as there is. Without strong goaltending you have no chance." The 32-year-old Huet appeared in 52 games last season playing for Montreal and Washington. He posted a record of 32-14-6 with a .920 save percentage and four shutouts. "It's very, very exiting", Hawks coach Denis Savard said of the additions of Campbell and Huet. "The commitment they're making is incredible and refreshing. We're all in -- I love it." The Hawks are so far in that the signings put them over the league's $56.7 million salary cap and knock them out of contention to sign a free agent forward. Tallon said he has all summer to pare down salaries and that it gives young players a chance to make the team. "We're going to give some of our younger players an opportunity to play up front", Tallon said. "Now we can afford to throw a couple of more kids in the lineup and let them do what they do best: play with energy and enthusiasm." Tallon began the day by trading restricted free agent Rene Bourque to the Calgary Flames for a future second-round draft pick.
(c) 2008, Chicago Tribune. Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Related News Topics:
Top sports stories
General sports briefs
Other sports news
Mixed Sports News and Releases
Sports photographs
Miscellaneous sports news
Miscellaneous sports news
|
