Were You Really That Surprised?
It was the rumor that just wouldn't go away.
It started as soon as it was clear this particular Hawks team wasn't
going to contend for anything but the No. 1 pick in the draft. There
was the "handshake agreement", the increasingly desperate calls from
Flyer GM Bob Clarke, and the refusal of Hawks GM Bob Murray to deem
anyone untouchable other than Tony Amonte and Jocelyn Thibault.
All the while the guys who knew weren't admitting a thing. Owner
Bill Wirtz and hot property Chris Chelios denied even considering a
deal.
Of course, as the questions kept coming and the denials became more
plaintive, one said to oneself:
"Methinks the big-nosed Greek doth protest too much."
So it couldn't have shocked any Hawks fan too greatly to hear that
Cheli had been dealt just prior to the trade deadline March 23rd.
Ah, but to Detroit? Now THAT was a surprise.
Oh, sure, we know Cheli wanted to win another Cup. And the Wings
would have traded for Idi Amin if they thought he'd help them
three-peat.
(Crap, do I owe Pat Riley money for that last sentence?)
But remembering how Darren McCarty tossed him around in the '95
Conference Finals and thinking about every cheap shot he's
delivered to the various waterbugs scooting around the Detroit
lineup, you just wouldn't think Chelios as a Red Wing could ever
work out.
Then again, hockey players like winning, and the Wings have done
plenty of that since the trade. Though Cheli's influence might not
be as obvious as that of other newcomers Wendel Clark and Bill
Ranford, you just can't argue with 6-0-0.
Draft Picks, Get Your Draft Picks Here
For the second year in a row Tampa Bay is lapping the competition in
the race for the first overall pick in the draft, but the Hawks can
still make a decent showing.
With a chance at third and not likely to drop below sixth, the Hawks
will certainly have a chance to select a quality youngster. And with
eight teams having records equal to or better than Detroit's, the
first rounder acquired in the Chelios deal could turn out OK as well.
However, the Hawks are talent-poor and have just traded away a fan
favorite for the third time in four years. Drafting a promising
young Swede or a Czech who dazzled at the world juniors won't bring
those fans back anytime soon.
If they can get a reasonably young but established player for those
two picks and whatever else Murray can scrape up, look for the Hawks
to deal.
One writer has already suggested atoning for past sins by
re-acquiring Jeremy Roenick, who's averaging nearly a point a game
for Phoenix but is reportedly feuding with Olympic teammate and
fellow pain in the ass Keith Tkachuk. This would certainly be a
fan-friendly move but not very wise in the long term. J.R. is
almost 30, and anyone who saw him play his first few years in the
league knows that his small frame has endured far too many jolts to
be expected to last much longer.
News and Notes
Expect the Hawks to offer interim coach Lorne Molleken the permanent
position within the week. Hawks brass think they might have in
Molleken what they thought they were getting in Dirk Graham: a guy
who players respond to and who they can pay next to nothing . . . .
Molleken seems much more willing to turn to his backup goalie than
his predecessor. When he didn't like what he saw out of Jocelyn
Thibault in successive home games he had Mark Fitzpatrick in net
for the next two.
