Welcome to Chicago Sammy Pahlsson

As you all know by now just over a week ago the Blackhawks acquired Samuel Pahlsson from Anaheim. I try to watch as many Anaheim games as I can, if there is a 10 o'clock game and the Hawks aren't on I will choose them or Vancouver. I am in no way an expert or feel qualified to truly comment on Samuel Pahlsson as a player, even though I have watched him play enough and I know what his role on the team was, I didn't feel that I was the best person to comment on him. So I asked a couple of Ducks bloggers and one former Ducks blogger to write about who Sammy is.

Finny from Girl with a Puck:

"I can tell you this much about Sammy - I loved him, I adored him, and I miss him terribly.

As a player, Sammy was the kind of player that gave a consistent performance, night in and night out.  He has a reputation for giving 110% effort on the ice.  He's very professional about what he does, and very focused on his job.  His role here with the Ducks was to be a shut down centerman.  As a defensive forward, his job was to ensure that the top scorers on the opposing team were limited in their chances and didn't have an opportunity to score.  And he's very good at it -- one of the most underrated players in the league, Sammy's been described by his coaches as a "workhorse".  He's very "No Quit" and you can see it when he plays.  He's played hard through injury in the past, and he's never been one to make excuses for a poor performance.  But it'll be a rare night to see Sammy off his game.  He's a very dependable player, and you can expect him to work hard and give all he can -- and then some.  On top of all that, Sammy has always been very good in the face-off circle as well.

Of all the moves made this year by the Ducks, Sammy's is the one I wish could be reversed.  (That includes my personal (new) favorite, Brian Sutherby being traded to Dallas)." 

I want to thank Finny for writing this. She has been taking an extended leave of absence, and I asked her never expecting her to actually write something, it was more just asking her because I have always read her blog and I wanted to ask the bloggers whose blogs I read regularly, and with how busy she has been, I really appreciate it, especially since I probably inconvenienced her. 

SK eleven from Girl with a Puck: 

"I don't know if I could have said it better myself.  Sammy is for sure going to be missed around here, and I hope he's feeling well enough for you all to experience him soon. Sammy's the kind of guy that you'll really appreciate if you just spend one game watching him when he's on the ice.  He's the kind of guy that causes coaches to change up their lines when he's opposing them.  He can completely dismantle an opponents top line just by pure frustration alone. He's not going to light your scoreboard up every night, but he'll stop the other guy from doing it!  When he's taking a face off, it's a good idea to put your money on him.  When he's on your PK...feel confident.  He works hard, he plays hard.  He's not a big guy, but hes very strong and powerful.  He's insanely underrated.  He's an amazing defensive forward, you're very lucky to have him.  Hopefully not for too long!  ;-)"

SK eleven has taken over Girl with a Puck in Finny's absence and has done a great job, and I appreciate her writing this even though it was very hard to see a guy like Sammy go. I assured both of them that they will learn to love Wiz. 

Earl Sleek from Battle of California was nice enough to take a break from getting ready to go to Hawaii (take a moment to be jealous, it's alright) to give a few points about Pahlsson. 

He was the longest-tenured Duck prior to his trade, (he made his Anaheim debut literally one day before Giguere.)

He has played in every playoff game the Ducks have had this decade, and holds the iron-man record for the Anaheim franchise. The 2007 postseason was when he was at his best.  Every round an opposing top line got split up trying to evade his checking -- Gaborik got split from Demitra, Sedin got split from Sedin, Zetterberg got split from Datsyuk, and Heatley got split from Alfredsson.  There's a pretty legitimate case for Pahlsson to have won the Selke and the Conn Smythe that year. And of course, he's my favorite.  Annually among the league leaders in PK time and facing the toughest opponents in the league (and really -- nobody's dream linemates are ever Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer, but he made it look good), he's got incredible attention to detail.

Basically I just took some bullet points and added a "he was" to make it in to paragraph form. Right before/during the SCF he wrote an "Ode to Sammy Pahlsson."  I really appreciate this especially since I know how stressful trip prep. can be. 

I also want to thank James O'Brien from Cycle Like Sedins for his help. Thanks! 

Hopefully soon Hawks fans will be able to see what Sammy can add to the Hawks.