Blackhawks' MVP? It has to be Keith
The Blackhawks Alumni Association got it right, selecting Duncan Keith as the team's most valuable player for 2007-08.
While Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been difference-makers as rookies and Patrick Sharp has had a terrific breakout season, Keith has been the rock behind the Hawks' success on defense.
Keith went into Wednesday's game against Detroit a plus-28, which ranked fifth in the NHL and was the second-highest number among defenseman behind only the great Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings.
Toss in Keith's 12 goals and 30 assists, the fact he plays almost 26 minutes a night, and that he always plays against the opposition's top line, and it's a slam dunk as MVP pick.
Keith is signed through the 2009-10 season, thanks to a deal he agreed to a few years ago. His salary next season will be $1.6 million with the deal topping out at $1.9 million and year after that. This means next season Keith could be the Hawks' fourth highest-paid defenseman behind Brent Seabrook ($3.5 million), Brent Sopel ($2.5 million) and the top-end blue liner general manager Dale Tallon hopes to bring in as a free agent.
Is this going to create a contract "situation" for Tallon? Likely not because Keith doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to get too upset by the money part of the game right now.
What Keith has to remember is he's only 24 years old and in two years it's going to be his turn to sign what figures to be a very lucrative contract.
Such a no-brainer: How many times have we sat around with our friends over the years talking about the Hawks and saying here's what they must do: They need to put every game on television and try to hook back up with Channel 9.
Well, Rocky Wirtz, John McDonough and Jay Blunk have made it happen. Does that make then geniuses? No, just sharp guys who understand the right things to do and have the power to make them happen.
It's about time someone running the Hawks figured out the common-sense approach often works after all those years of mismanagement based on poor decisions or, worse yet, no decisions.
Wanted … Heavyweight: While Hawks coach Denis Savard believes Ben Eager can fill the enforcer role next season to help protect the team's skill guys -- and maybe he can -- it still would be nice to see GM Dale Tallon go out and get a true heavyweight to test the courage of Central Division pests such as David Backes and Jordin Tootoo.
It worked for Anaheim all the way to a Stanley Cup, having two or three tough guys in the lineup. Hawks fans would eat it up, too, as long as we're looking for ways to keep filling seats in the United Center.
Pittsburgh tough guy Georges Laraque will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he can play the game a bit. Hint. Hint.