Blackhawks go deep in goaltending depth

USA TODAY, July, 2008 by Kevin Allen

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon believes in the importance of goaltending to the point he will spend $12.35 million next season with the hope that his netminding will be better than it was in 2007-08.

Tallon committed $56.8 million over eight seasons to land prominent free agent defenseman Brian Campbell, but the move that had the hockey world talking was his signing of goalie Cristobal Huet for $5.6 million a season when he's already paying Nikolai Khabibulin $6.75 million for 2008-09.

"Khabibulin and Cristobal Huet will play together, and they will be a great tandem for us," Tallon said. "Without strong goaltending, you will have no chance."

Besides the moves of Campbell and Huet, the New York Rangers landed Wade Redden, the New...