Blackhawks ink Aliu Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks signed right wing Akim
Aliu to a three-year contract on Monday.
A native of Okene, Nigeria, Aliu tallied a career-high 61 points (28 goals) in
60 regular-season games last season for London of the Ontario Hockey League.
The 19-year-old also made his professional debut last year, playing two games
with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League after signing an
amateur tryout contract on April 4.
Aliu was Chicago's third choice (56th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.... More...
Pascal Pelletier singed a 1-year contract on Friday to remain with the Blackhawks organization, according to the Associated Press.
Our View:Pelletier played six games last year in Boston before being traded to Chicago in late July. He offers little fantasy value even though he has scored 71 goals in 206 games at the AHL level.
The Chicago Blackhawks introduced Cristobal Huet , who signed a four-year, $22.5 million free-agent contract on July 1st, at a news conference at the United Center on Monday, and now the team plans to ask him to share time in net, according to the Chicago Tribune. Huet joins Nikolai Khabibulin in a goaltending tandem that will earn more than $12 million combined next season and said he is looking forward to battling for ice time during the 2008-09 campaign before taking over the No. 1 job the following season when Khabibulin's contract expires.
Our View:Huet split time between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals last season and had a record of 32-14-6 with a .920 save percentage, posting four shutouts. The Hawks feel he could be the answer but Khabibulin is a veteran tender with a proven ability to perform. It seems both are likely to lace up the skates, depending on the night, and as such fantasy owners should be cautious of adding either to the roster.
