Welcome to the AHL
Hello everyone! I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted. It has been a long few weeks for me and I didn't feel like my head was in the right place to write a blog for you guys. I am back now and will be giving you all regular updates on my season. Thanks for understanding! About 3 weeks ago, the Blackhawks informed me that they had placed me on waivers and sent me down to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Illinois. For those who are unfamiliar with the AHL, it is the hockey equivalent of AAA baseball. Younger players who are hoping to crack an NHL lineup play in the AHL until they get the call from their parent club. Although it isn't as good as the NHL, the AHL is quite a competitive league with tons of good players looking for their chance to break into the NHL. I was pretty upset getting demoted to the minors after only getting a chance to play in one game with the Hawks, playing a position I never really felt all that comfortable in. I was frustrated with the situation when I got sent down, and still am. All I thought about growing up was playing for the Blackhawks, and helping them win. Now that I am unable to do that, it stings a little bit. The silver lining is that I am now back playing my natural position and playing a lot every game. When playing in the minors, you have to have a different attitude than you do in the NHL. In the NHL, you play for one thing: to help your team win every night. I keep that attitude in the AHL, but I realize that I am not only playing to help my team win, but I am working to catch the eye of 29 other teams in the NHL, hoping they have enough interest in my to trade for me and use me with their NHL club. Now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you some of the big differences between the NHL and AHL off the ice. The main difference for me so far, has been the travel. In the NHL the travel is very nice. We have our own chartered jet every game and have great meals on the plane both before and after games. In the minors, we either fly or take the bus to away games. Instead of chartered jets, we fly commercial. While playing for the Hawks, every player pretty much gets their own row, so it is pretty easy to spread out and make yourself comfortable on the flight. In the two flights we have taken so far in the minors, I have been crammed in the middle seat of the back row. That wouldn't be so bad except the seats in the back row don't recline! Not very comfortable. While flying with the Hawks, we just drive our cars to a private hanger and walk right up to the plane. It is painless and very nice. In the minors, we have to go through the whole check-in and security process everyone else does. Flying in the minors is a bit of a pain, but the bus on the other hand, is a little more enjoyable. Our team bus in Rockford is very nice. There are about 20 bunk beds, a couple couches, tables and satellite TV. Most of the guys sleep on the way to road cities, but a few of us sit in the back couches and play cards. The game of choice is Schnarples, which is similar to spades. The card games always pretty interesting with everyone shouting at each other getting fired up. I hope this gives everyone a little insight on what life is like in the AHL. Post game meals on the Hawks jet are very nice. We usually get our choice of a nice steak or chicken of some sort. In the minors, it is a totally different story. We place our orders from a sandwich shop as soon as we get to the rink for the game. They usually deliver the sandwiches during the second period. The perfect amount of time for them to become cold and soggy! It is pretty hard to choke those down, so I usually rely on about half my sub and big protein shake. Yummy! We have a pretty good team here in Rockford and there are a great group of guys down here who will be ripping around on the United Center ice in no time. I encourage any Blackhawk fans to make the drive to Rockford and check out the future of the Hawks. It isn't that bad of a drive from the city to Rockford, I do it every morning :) Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season, and as always, bring on the questions. Take care, Richie
Awesome said December 06, 2007
Thanks for staying in the Yard even though you've had a rough go at it lately. I don't know much about hockey, but I'm pulling for you to make it back to the big time.
Good luck.
Just looking through our roster, over half of our roster has played at least a game in the NHL. Hopefully a few more guys get their first taste somewhere down the line.
Thanks a lot for your words of encouragement!
-Richie
ShakespeareD said December 06, 2007
Roger_Dorn said December 06, 2007
mike_68147 said December 06, 2007
-Richie
JimmyChowda said December 07, 2007
Good luck!
Dynasty said December 06, 2007
General_Zod said December 07, 2007
pbcoyotes said December 07, 2007
Keep fighting...it'll work!
stevens8204 said December 07, 2007
Saraaa said December 08, 2007
tcoleman86 said December 08, 2007
-Richie
milbs066 said December 09, 2007
http://www.thehockeyherald.com/?p=34
keep up the good work. you'll be in the show in no time.
tcoleman86 said December 09, 2007
cnhawk said December 10, 2007
sorry if this is a double-post. you definitely are NHL material. Did the Hawks - whether it be Tallon or Bowman or Savard indicate to you that "hey we want you to get some gets in, in Rockford on "d" and then you will be back up " or did they pretty much make it seem like it was Rockford for the rest of the year ?? again sorry if this is a double-post my other message did not pop up. cn
cnhawk said December 10, 2007
danny,
btw, I e-mailed Rozner from the Daily Herald and told him what an injustice it was that you got sent down after absolutely proving yourself in the "a" last year and in 22 games with the Hawks. He e-mailed back and completely agreed. I also e-mailed Tallon directly and told him how disappointed I was that a heart-and-soul, team-first guy like yourself was sent to Rockford. I was surprised that he e-mailed me back and said "danny will get some games, just don't know how many. " I see you played extremely well this past weekend and were on the ice for the late third-period goals and the o-t goal by Prestin Ryan, you seem to playing in all the clutch situations and your +- continues to rise. Way to go, you've got a big fan here in Kansas City Missouri.
cnhawk said December 10, 2007
I've been a hawk fan for 40 years and was thrilled when the hawks traded for you in early 2006... I thought it was good forsight for the hawks to trade for a chicago-kid(i'm from buffalo, ny. my aunt and uncle live one street over from the Kanes). I e-mailed Mike Haviland when they had him on a Hawkchat on the team website in August, he responded that he thought you were ready to fill the #5, 6 or 7 defense role with the Hawks. When you got sent down, I e-mailed Tallon and told him how disappointed I was. He actually responded that "danny will play some games for us, just don't know how many. " My question is, has anybody from the Hawks said anything to you about a possible recall if you continue to play stellar in Rockford ???
cnhawk said December 10, 2007
i've watched a lot of hockey in my day and know that any 23-year-old who puts up 10 goals, 24 assists and 34 points...plus 140 penalty minutes, challenges Kirk Maltby...and has the brass to swing with Brad May is NHL material. did the hawks give you any hope that if you play solidly with Rockford, you might get recalled( course you might get claimed on re-entry waivers) after all, Buff is now playing wing and the Hawks are reeling a bit having lost 4 in row, they could really use your energy and team-first attitude ?? or did they really not say much ??
Craig N.
Thanks a lot for your comments and support. I really appreciate it. When they sent me down, they just told me to go down and keep the same attitude and play my game. I am hoping to get called up or maybe moved to a team that will use me with their big club. That being said, I love playing in Rockford. I have great teammates and we are one of the best teams in the league. My coaches down here have shown a ton of confidence in me over the last couple of years and love playing for them. There isn't any other team in the AHL I'd rather be playing for. haha it's pretty funny you remember the Kirk Maltby thing. Ever since I was a kid, I couldn't stand that guy. I have a ton of respect for him with all he has done in his career and think he's a real good player, but for some reason I just can't stand him and I try to let him know that any way I can.
brimirfos said December 12, 2007
I'm glad to see that you're back! If you ask me, you and Cam Barker got screwed this year! If it makes you feel any better Koci only got to play 50 seconds the other night ( love him too by the way). My parents and i are so frustrated right now. The Hawks have all of these extra players right now and aren't utilizing them, and to make matters worse they keep bringing up people (not dissing any of them by the way) that we don't need. It's gotta suck being jerked around like that. Enough of my ranting! I live closer to the QC, so the next time the Hogs play the Flames, I will try to be there. GO HOGS and HAWKS!
Bri
P.S. Don't let the man get ya down!
thanks for the words of encouragment. It is pretty tough to deal with but that's just part of the business. I feel like I can contribute to a team in the NHL and hopefully the Hawks can see that. If not, its like I said: When you play in the AHL, you are marketing yourself to 29 other NHL teams, not just the one that we are under contract with. Regarding Barker, he was playing really well down here and just got called up to Chicago. He's a good player a real good teammate and I hope he is up there to stay.
zakhawk91 said December 16, 2007
What do you and your teammates do after games?? Do you hit some clubs and have some fun or do you just head home? Also goodluck to you I've been preaching everywhere (especially Blackhawk message boards lol) to bring you back up. Thanks for posting your blogs it's really cool of u!!
newfan1 said February 19, 2008
I am a new hockey fan and enjoy watching you play. You play like you love the game and want to win. With that passion, you will be back in the NHL in no time. Fight hard for what you want and don't give up. Sorry to hear about your injury and hope you make a quick recovery. I heard you will be out for the rest of the season, will you still go to the games to support the rest of the team? Do any of the players that are injured go to the games and do the meet and greets? Thanks for playing so hard, that makes watching hockey fun, that and the fights!