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Chicago Stronger - Detroit Weaker
by Paul on 07/05/09 at 07:42 AM ET
Comments (9)
from Len Ziehm of the Chicago Sun-Times,
In signing Hossa and Kopecky, the Hawks weakened their biggest Western Conference rival, the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings took another blow Friday when winger Mikael Samuelsson signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. They also lost backup goaltender Ty Conklin, who signed with the St. Louis Blues. All the Wings have done in free agency is re-sign winger Johan Franzen.
In short, the Hawks got stronger and—perhaps just as important—the Wings got weaker.
‘‘I never thought of that,’’ Tallon said, stifling a grin. ‘‘Really, we just wanted to make ourselves better—and Detroit’s an elite team. Why wouldn’t you want to emulate what they do?’‘
Sooner or later, the Hawks will have to beat the Red Wings to win their first Stanley Cup since 1961. But for that to happen, Tallon has a bit more work to do.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
they won’t be able to
Posted by DrW from Royal Oak, MI on 07/05/09 at 08:47 AM ET
I agree that they won’t be able to - but that is because Toronto fans are recovering from the sadness of the long Rick Nash contract by setting their sights on Barker and Versteeg, and the Burke will be on them like stink on a monkey. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/05/09 at 08:54 AM ET
All the Wings have done in free agency is re-sign winger Johan Franzen.
Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg were both signed to extensions during the regular season.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 07/05/09 at 12:03 PM ET
Dude’s not looking at the whole picture. Like what monkey said, Zetterberg and Franzen were the main cogs Holland HAD to sign before Hossa. We’ve seen what Kopecky can do and quite frankly, we have a couple of other guys on the farm who can step up into his role.
Jeez, doesn’t anyone ever talk to Scotty Bowman first and get his opinion on these things? He knows the Wings farm.
Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 07/05/09 at 01:00 PM ET
short-sighted article thinking that new roles for all the wings players wont make them just as lethal. especially with guys like Helm still emerging and getting even more comfortable.
it would probably be a little bit closer of a series but id still bet on Detroit winning.
Hell, Chicago (or Detroit) could even lose to Anaheim or San Jose, etc,etc. nothing is in stone.
Chicago has about one season before they have to throw fat cash at Keith, Toews and Kane anyhow. if all three get signed id expect about 15-20 million total at least for all three.
Posted by Death Metal Nightmare from MKE on 07/05/09 at 01:37 PM ET
I don’t see losing Kopecky hurting anyone, including my nephews AAA team. Hossa ? Maybe, we won it without him…
Posted by yreland from Van Dieman's Land on 07/05/09 at 02:51 PM ET
Funny, I don’t remember Detroit failing to qualify any of their RFA’s…
Posted by Primis on 07/05/09 at 05:56 PM ET
The Hawks have goalie!!! Their Defense is also very average!!! The Wings won teh cup without Hossa and lost it this year with him.
Posted by Jason from Detroit on 07/05/09 at 07:44 PM ET
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I agree with this article right now, but let’s see what happens with this bizarre RFA situation. If the Wings were able to sneak in a deal with Versteeg or Barker it’d really hurt the Hawks otherwise productive offseason, and massively bolster the Wings otherwise disappointing (if expected) offseason.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 07/05/09 at 08:41 AM ET