Havlat and the Blackhawks

[Ferris]

Just browsing through the NHL stats and I'm very impressed with the numbers that Martin Havlat is putting up this year. I know it's easy to write off his great offensive numbers by saying he's getting lots of quality minutes on a crappy team. But one thing you may not know - the dude is a +15 this year on that same crappy team, and has only played something like 18 games!! Over a full season those are MVP-type numbers. On top of that the 'Hawks are a .500 team as of this post and with Havlat and Khabibulin healthy are a legit contender for the postseason. With those two guys in the lineup their winning percentage would make them one of the middle-tier teams out West. Mighty impressive indeed.

With all the fingers being pointed at the three members of the top line in Ottawa is it possible the Sens let the wrong guy go? Tell me that a line of Havlat-Spezza-Heatley wouldn't be a little more appealing?? Maybe the 'C' should have gone to Redden and Alfredsson should have been shown the door?

Thoughts?

 

[dburzyn]

Can't agree with you on the fact that havlat should have stayed in ottawa... the amount of money that he wanted, and was awarded was ridiculous; $6 MILLION for a guy that has big time troubles finishing a season unhurt?

I do agree with you however that he is having a great year (have him in my hockey pool and if he didnt miss all those games I would have been 1st no doubt instead of 2nd) along with the rest of the team... i actually ENJOY watching their games whenever they are on the tele, now i certainly could not have said that in the past few years.

They are my underdog pick to squeek into the eigth and final playoff spot in the west

I guess we;ll have to wait and see

Dave

 

[langway05]

Ryan

WOWZA........

An enlightened & informative post? LOL! I see that the new resolution is working very well for you?

Anyways, all joking aside. This was an interesting thread and I was unaware of the Plus + 18 thingy?

Then 'Hawk's under Denis have become a very fun team to watch. Hopefully the general populace of the 'Windy City' discover this? Cause watching them play in a below capacity rink ain't right!

Brian

 

[nickscards16]

As a Hawks fan I am glad the Sens decided to dump Havlat. Sure they over payed a bit but a team like the Hawks have to, but they are a much better team with him in the line up. Also as stated have been very fun to watch since Savard has taken over.

 

[peacefrogdog]

With all the fingers being pointed at the three members of the top line in Ottawa is it possible the Sens let the wrong guy go? Tell me that a line of Havlat-Spezza-Heatley wouldn't be a little more appealing?? Maybe the 'C' should have gone to Redden and Alfredsson should have been shown the door?

Thoughts?

I'm not suprised Havlat is shining - he's finally getting top ice team as the main offensive guy. Smolinksi, who isn't a great player, is even looking good. If Havlat carries the Hawks not only into the playoffs, but through 1-2 rounds, then the answer is yes, Ottawa should have kept him.

I'm a Sens homer, so I'm biased, but Havlat was cut loose rather than attempted to be signed as a RFA because : 1) having held out once before, he likely wouldn't have resigned after this season with Ottawa once he became a UFA, 2) he never excelled enough in the playoffs (not like any other Sens did!) to make it worthwhile to pay him 5-6 million, 3) he was injury prone.

No team would get rid of its captain in favor of someone with the relative 'flaws' above (subject to opinion of course). Especially since Alfredsson is signed for a relatively cheap 4.1-4.5/year for the next 2-3 years.

Ottawa does miss having him as another scoring threat in addition to the big line. But if Havlat was in place of Alfredsson, it wouldn't have solved the problems with Ottawa's horrible team defense and goaltending the first 1/3 of the season.

I would have preferred if Ottawa found a way to sign Havlat to a one-year deal, and accept that he would be gone after this year. But good for Chicago.