Cristobal Huet

At the end of the Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp 'Hawks general manager Stan Bowman addressed the media and let it be known that they will match the San Jose Sharks offer sheet extended to Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Hjalmarsson was a key defenseman throughout the season and during their Stanley Cup run, scoring 17 points in the regular season and eight in the playoffs while also sporting a combined plus-minus of plus-18.

NHL.com recently released an article "Best Free Agent Team" looking at the best free agent signings since the lockout by position.

So I thought it'd be fun to write an article on the worst free agent team. Enjoy!

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The NHL Draft is just a little over a week away, and there are 29 teams trying to figure out how they can be the next to lift the Stanley Cup above their heads next June. As each team evaluates their individual situations, trade rumors are running wild throughout the NHL.

Some are interesting, some are junk.

The Chicago Blackhawks have had their best season since the 1992-93 season where the had 106 points. Although they have spent much of the season 1st in the Central Division and clinched it for their fist time in years, they still have had some problems they need to improve throughout the season. Last season, they had their farthest playoff run since the 1994-95 season.

Six Flags could have sponsored the Chicago Blackhawks month of March, but now that the dust has settled there is reason for hope.

The Hawks ended March with a 6-7-2 record that, at times, felt more like a 0-15-0 tailspin. Cristobal Huet formally lost the gig as the Hawks top netminder to rookie Antti Niemi, Duncan Keith staggered to a -9 month, and Tomas Kopecky scored more goals, five, than Patrick Kane, three, despite playing four fewer games.

On Thursday night, the Blackhawks got blown out in Columbus by a Blue Jackets team that sits at the bottom of the Central Division. On paper, the Jackets are terrible. Against the Blackhawks this year, not so much.

For a team that’s been offensively challenged all year, Columbus has given the Blackhawks fits.

On Dec. 1, the Blackhawks needed 11 rounds of a shootout to finally defeat the Jackets 4-3. In that contest, Cristobal Huet allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 save percentage).

A lot of people, including me, have questioned whether or not the Blackhawks have the right goalie to make a run at the Stanley Cup in 2010.

Consistency, recent struggles and a lack of playoff success have all been cited as red flags between the pipes for the Blackhawks as they approach the playoffs with Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet.

But looking across the Western Conference, the Blackhawks aren't alone in having some concerns about their netminder(s).

After Tuesday night's shut out of the Phoenix Coyotes, it appears that Antti Niemi is the man in net for the Chicago Blackhawks. A deeper look at the numbers should give Blackhawks fans more confidence in the rookie moving into April.

Niemi has had some rough patches this year just like veteran Cristobal Huet. Certainly his start at the New York Islanders on March 3, where he allowed three goals on 12 shots before being removed, was cause for concern.

Cristobal Huet will not dress for Wednesday night's game in Anaheim because of the flu, and the Blackhawks have recalled Corey Crawford from Rockford. Given the issues the Blackhawks have had in net this season, should the Hawks start Crawford?

Circle March 13 on your calendar.

If the Blackhawks lose a Game 6 or 7 in San Jose that keeps them from playing for the Stanley Cup, Saturday’s loss to the Flyers will likely be the cause for that elimination game being played somewhere other than the United Center .