GM Pulford outlines plans for free agency By Tim Sassone Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Monday, June 28, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - Now that the draft is over, the Blackhawks have turned their attention to Thursday's start of the free-agent signing period.
Once again, Hawks general manager Bob Pulford is talking a good game plan.
Pulford for the first time has outlined exactly what the Hawks will attempt to do before there is another NHL season. But Pulford was quick to warn that the Hawks will not spend money on any top-end talent until there is a new collective-bargaining agreement in place between the players and owners.
"I think we're going to get a couple players soon (after July 1), but we are probably not going to do the major work that has to be done right away," Pulford said. "This is all going to be timing as to when things are going to happen.
"Are we going to have hockey next year or not? We don't know. If there's not hockey, then maybe we're a year away from getting the top players that we're looking for."
Pulford has been saying for months he hopes to add two "good" defensemen. He now is adding as many as three or four forwards to that wish list.
"We've got to do two things: we've got to build a first line and we've got to build a third line," Pulford said. "And get two defensemen. Right now (starting July 1), I think we're going to build our third line. We think those type of players will be there for us."
Pulford believes the only first-line player the Hawks presently have is winger Kyle Calder. The Hawks plan to keep Tyler Arnason, Tuomo Ruutu and Eric Daze together as a second line based on the success they had as a group late last season.
"We consider Ruutu a second-line player," Pulford said. "We feel that line was a pretty decent line last year (and) will be a good line for us.
"We feel Calder is a first-line player. We think he's a pretty good player."
This appears to leave the Hawks in the market for a No. 1 center and a first-line winger to play with Calder. It also appears to have them searching for a third-line center and a third-line winger to skate with Mark Bell.
Several top centers available as unrestricted free agents are Craig Conroy, Petr Nedved and Michael Nylander. Top-end wingers set to test the market are Paul Kariya, Ziggy Palffy, Glen Murray, Val Bure (a Brian Sutter favorite) and Brian Rolston.
Those third-line centers and wingers who might interest the Hawks are John Madden, Yanic Perreault, Mike Sillinger, Jason Wiemer (another Sutter favorite), Matthew Barnaby, Dallas Drake, Todd Harvey and Ian Laperriere.
Detroit's Kris Draper will be one of the most attractive unrestricted free agents, but the Red Wings are said to be working hard to re-sign the Selke Trophy winner before Thursday.
Those believed to be at the top of the Hawks' wish list are Conroy, Kariya, Murray, Bure, Rolston, Nylander, Madden, Wiemer and defenseman Jaroslav Modry.
"First of all, we can't name names because they're not free agents yet," Pulford said.
"Were going to be looking for character guys who will help our young kids develop," assistant GM Dale Tallon said.
The Hawks want Scott Nichol to anchor a fourth line and have made the veteran center a qualifying contract offer despite the many minor penalties he takes. Nichol averaged almost 16 minutes of ice time last season, finishing a minus-16 with 18 points. Pulford admitted Nichol was used too much away from a fourth-line role.
"We consider him a character kid and as a center on our fourth line," Pulford said. "We like him. He's got jam and enthusiasm. If you surround him with the right players, we think he can be a good player for us. He was way out of his role (last season)."
Pulford will be interested to see what happens around the league Thursday in terms of signing players with so much labor uncertainty.
"I've told you what our plans are, but I don't know when we're going to be able to complete it - that's the secret to it," Pulford said. "But it will be done before we start to play hockey again."
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``I'd love to have a pre-game skate tomorrow and be getting ready for Game 8,'' he said wistfully. ``It just makes me excited for training camp.''
- Shean Donovan, two days after losing Game 7 of the SCF
