BREAKING NEWS: Thrashers and Blackhawks Involved In Blockbuster, Ramsay To Be Head Coach

((HT: ESPN/LeBrun))

In a trade still pending league approval, the Cup champ Chicago Blackhawks are poised to trade power forward Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and a prospect in exchange for a one, a two, a prospect, and Marty Reasoner.

The Hawks are looking to dump salary while new Thrashers GM Rick Dudley is in a win now-mode while, at the same time, trying to court a new head coach and balance the notion of not being able to know who his owners will be long-term.

This could also be seen as a move by Atlanta Spirit to make an asset look more attractive for the sale previously reported by the New York Post and the HQ...

According to nhlnumbers.com, Byfuglien has one year left on his contract paying him $3 million. Sopel has one year left on his deal at $2 million with a cap hit of $2.3 million. Eager earned $965,000 in 2010, but as an RFA should the Thrashers choose to resign him, it would take that much at a minimum.

The Blackhawks get Reasoner, who has one more year left on his contract at $1.2 million and his cap hit is $1.15 million.

Doing HQ Math, that means the Thrash would have 15 players under contract for a number close to US$33.6M. 10 players would be unrestricted free agents and five more would have restricted status- including Eager. There would be US$29.8-million left under the salary cap. Dudley needs to make decisions on Max Afinogenov, Colby Armstrong, Evgeny Artyukhin, Niclas Bergfors, Eric Boulton, Bryan Little, and Clarke MacArthur, Pavel Kubina, Christoph Schubert, Mark Popovic, Ondrej Pavelec, and Johan Hedberg.

Slava Kozlov and Chris Chelios look to retire...

The Blackhawks save five million and have decisions to make on guys like Antti Niemi, Andrew Ladd, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and John Madden. HQ Math on Chicago has them, currently, at 14 players signed for 2010-2011 for US$58.8M.

Here's what the Thrash are getting in their new power forward...
They hope...
((HT: NHL/NBC Sports))


LeBrun, FOSG Scott Burnside, and ESPNChicago's Jesse Rogers discuss...


1230 UPDATE: To get under the 50-player limit, Dudley sent the expiring contract of Brett Sterling, Mike Versace, and a Seven to San Jose for future considerations.

TSN, among other sources, is saying Craig Ramsay will be named the new Thrashers Head Coach with John Torchetti named as an assistant.

Chris Vivlamore concurs from the AJC...

It will be Ramsay's first full-time head coaching gig, but he has been interim head coach in two other situations. Ramsay will replace John Anderson who lost his locker room during the '09-'10 season.

An official announcement could come as early as Thursday.

Blackhawks Take Game 5, 7-4 In Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks power-forward Dustin Byfuglien, bumped from the top line as was Patrick Kane, had two goals and two assists to lead the home team to a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, giving the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals.

"I think he got rid of us and started performing. That's all he needed," said Kane, who also had a goal and assist. "He was a force and had some big hits, one on [Chris] Pronger I think everyone remembers."

Game 6 is Wednesday back in Philly...

Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk have the call...
((HT: NHL on NBC))

Blackhawks Sweep Sharks For Stanley Cup Berth

Dustin Byfuglien's second game-winning goal in a row has the Chicago Blackhawks in their first Stanley Cup Final since 1992.

Byfuglien's power-play goal with 5:55 remaining capped a two-goal rally and gave the Blackhawks a 4-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday afternoon.

The victory capped a four-game sweep and gives Chicago a chance to play for its first championship since 1961.

Here's the Brent Seabrook goal that started the momentum swing for Chicago...
((HT: CBC/NHL/Fel0096))


And here's the Dustin Byfuglien goal that put Chicago ahead for good...
((HT: NBC/NHL))


The Blackhawks host the Eastern Conference champ, either Philly or Montreal, when their series concludes...

Hawks Take Commanding 3-0 Lead With OT Win

The Chicago Blackhawks are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992...

Dustin Byfuglien scored his seventh goal of the playoffs 12:24 into OT beating the San Jose Sharks 3-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Blackhawks can finish the sweep and make the finals with a victory Sunday at the United Center...

Here's the game-winner, thanks to our friends at TSN...
((HT: TSN/NHL/frankfungg))

Best End-Of-The-Month Hockey Brawl

((HT:CSN-Chicago/NHL))

We always like to show you what's the best in the world of the puck...
This qualifies... Canucks vs. Blackhawks...
Dustin Byfuglien hits Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo in the chops with the butt end of the stick.
Pair-offs and dance partners evolve...