There is one other one that bugs my butt - Holmgren trade James Van Riemsdyk to Toronto for Luke 'Pylon' Schenn. WTF? Stan couldn't have come up with a better package to offer the Flyers? More likely, he even didn't know JVR was available.
- RickJ

Lol... Say what you want about Luke 'Pylon' Schenn.... But Pronger is now mentoring the kid and he'll be paired with Kimmo Timonen which should help his confidence tremendously. I'm not about to write him off just yet. Also his brother looks like he might win the 1st line gig with the now official team captain Giroux and Hartsy to start the season. 23 years old for Luke. 21 for Brayden. I'm excited for them both. I hope JVR finds his stride in Toronto too.... I like the kid but he could never put it all together in philly (BTW JVR got hurt in practice today, limped off the ice with a puck to the foot). But to your point.... I doubt homer even takes SB serious enough to waste energy trying to talk trade with him. Homer's too smart and too busy for that.... And he has plenty of other trade partners that are less of a pita (... In fact since Sunday he already pulled a small trade off with Carolina, kicked the tires on luongo, and signed UFA Kurtis Foster).

'Gunshy' is one way to describe his unwillingness / inability to pull off a team improving deal, I prefer to call it being inept in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of his team and then effectively doing something about it.

So if the Hawks really, really do want a top notch goalie, an effective G.M. would step up to the plate prepared to trade commensurate assets. If you want Robin Lehner badly enough (described by Coach Paul Maclean as the best player in the AHL), be prepared to deal Danault and/or Shaw and more than that if you think goaltending is your achilles heal on what would otherwise could be a championship team.

Sending a boy to do a man's job dealing with a guy like Bryan Murray is a waste of time. He aint taking Jimmy Hayes and Jeremy Morin and Shawn Lalonde back for a potential franchise goaltender.

You want Jonas Hiller from the Ducks? - step up and help re-stock them with some of the good forwards you have. They"ll listen, they've got a one line team with 2 star players who are pending UFA's.

Arguing trade-in value on your 10 year old Corolla doesn't getting much listening time with a guy selling Bentley's. He immediately sees Stanbow for what he is -a bean counter who likes rummaging thru garbage cans hoping to find an accidently discarded jackpot lottery ticket.
- RickJ

Nice post and if this young goalie is available it makes no sense why stan would not make this happen. After last years playoffs even stan should understand what an advantage it is to have a goalie that can stand on head. The whole team plays looser and better knowing they dont have to be perfect every shift

Glad you guys liked that one. Hope the new Bears coach gets a better o'line to work with next year. BTW...just heard from Omiyale...he's currently the grill man on the 4-midnight shift at a Denny's in Des Plaines.
- philco28

No Denny's in Des Plaines.

Lol... Say what you want about Luke 'Pylon' Schenn.... But Pronger is now mentoring the kid and he'll be paired with Kimmo Timonen which should help his confidence tremendously. I'm not about to write him off just yet. Also his brother looks like he might win the 1st line gig with the new team captain Giroux and Hartsy to start the season. 23 years old for Luke. 21 for Brayden. I'm excited for them both. I hope JVR finds his stride in Toronto too.... I like the kid but he could never put it all together in philly (BTW JVR got hurt in practice today, limped off the ice with a puck to the foot). But to your point.... I doubt homer even takes SB serious enough to waste energy trying to talk trade with him. Homer's too smart and too busy for that.... And he has plenty of other trade partners that are less of a pita (... In fact since Sunday he already pulled a small trade off with Carolina, kicked the tires on luongo, and signed UFA Kurtis Foster).
- moylander

Homer knows he'd be wasting his time trying to develop a power stroke by hangin with a batting practice pitcher like Stanbow.

I got nothing against Luke Schenn - he may very well develop under Laviolette and if Pronger is helping out. Might be the career break he needs. I just don't like his skating much and his reads in the defensive zone the last 2 years were just awful. The kid has some heart and physicality, he might get turned into an Adam Foote, who knows.

Nice post and if this young goalie is available it makes no sense why stan would not make this happen. After last years playoffs even stan should understand what an advantage it is to have a goalie that can stand on head. The whole team plays looser and better knowing they dont have to be perfect every shift
- molly2522

You make an important point - the players will give you all the right words and music in a media interview, but if deep down they have no faith in their goaltender when it counts then the team is primed to come up short of their real potential.

Patrick Lalime when Ottawa had a great team is a prime example. Any number of goalies with the Flyers over the years as well.

What the (frank) Stan you D!ck head get us some help in the crease you jackass

No Denny's in Des Plaines.
- powerenforcer

Damn real life fact checkers

What the (frank) Stan you D!ck head get us some help in the crease you jackass
- southernhawk

What the (frank) Stan you D!ck head get us some help in the crease you jackass
- southernhawk

- philco28

Phuck Stan Blowman

Heard a rumor that Raffi Torres suspension is over the day they play the hawks .....Feb 7
Should be interesting ...
- HurriKane

NHL marketing at its best..... Proves hockey fights belong in the game.

NHL marketing at its best..... Proves hockey fights belong in the game.
- roenick

But he has been known as one who wont answer the bell......he won't fight carcillo , bollig or Mayers .....maybe he goes with Shaw.

This
- moylander

Because in the world of moronic assumptions everyone knows that Ottawa is dying to trade Lehner

And Stan is now every Hawk fans George Bush, lets blame everything on him.

Because in the world of moronic assumptions everyone knows that Ottawa is dying to trade Lehner

And Stan is now every Hawk fans George Bush, lets blame everything on him.
- TrueGrit

I think both GM's think they have the upper hand by having what the other needs when in fact its a push....they should just get it done leddy and say Hayes for Bishop and Z,Smith

I think both GM's think they have the upper hand by having what the other needs when in fact its a push....they should just get it done leddy and say Hayes for Bishop and Z,Smith
- southernhawk

I would love to see a deal for a goalie, but Lehner has more value than Bishop and you pay accordingly. You also begin the negotiation going after who you want. I am sure the target is Lehner. In reality, Bishop may be the card Ottawa will deal.

A lot of people love Ray Emery and his story, I have great respect for him. What concerns me is his age and real ability. I know he will compete, and could see him succeeding more with a Ranger style defense, but with Hawks...not so much.

Question remains, is Lehner really available, or is he bait and a way to establish a high negotiation price, in order to maximize return on Bishop? Bishop is likely the one they would deal.

Anyways it does not appear that there is much dealing going on around the league anyways. I think many people are surprised.

I like you think Bishop is the odd man out in Ottawa .... and if Stan shoots for him from the get go.instead of settling for him he could bypass the Lehner over payment route, with bishops size and skill set I think that alone is a upgrade over C2 add Z Smith and the 3rd line c hole left by bolland moving to 2c is filled not patched and face off % is helped

I would love to see a deal for a goalie, but Lehner has more value than Bishop and you pay accordingly. You also begin the negotiation going after who you want. I am sure the target is Lehner. In reality, Bishop may be the card Ottawa will deal.

A lot of people love Ray Emery and his story, I have great respect for him. What concerns me is his age and real ability. I know he will compete, and could see him succeeding more with a Ranger style defense, but with Hawks...not so much.

Question remains, is Lehner really available, or is he bait and a way to establish a high negotiation price, in order to maximize return on Bishop? Bishop is likely the one they would deal.

Anyways it does not appear that there is much dealing going on around the league anyways. I think many people are surprised.
- TrueGrit

I really like the idea of Leddy and something else for Smith and Bishop. I don't know who or what else it takes, but getting those 2 could really solidify the team. Like you said, Smith could fill in for Bolland wih Shaw and either Bickell or Stalberg. I do think Stalberg might be the one that has to go in a trade but I would like to keep him

I really like the idea of Leddy and something else for Smith and Bishop. I don't know who or what else it takes, but getting those 2 could really solidify the team. Like you said, Smith could fill in for Bolland wih Shaw and either Bickell or Stalberg. I do think Stalberg might be the one that has to go in a trade but I would like to keep him
- tomcat24

If its stalberg that has to go so be it ...I like him to....but I like Smith. More....

If its stalberg that has to go so be it ...I like him to....but I like Smith. More....
- southernhawk

I agree. I actually like the lines they are trying. Smith would really make a difference, imo. I think this team would have a good mix of skill and grit on every line.

I agree. I actually like the lines they are trying. Smith would really make a difference, imo. I think this team would have a good mix of skill and grit on every line.
- tomcat24

And with Brookbank and that other guy...lol D will be better.Could you imagine us rolling 4 lines...and 3d pair on a nightly basis ...

This was all spot on JJ. really well done. you're one of the best parts of bein a hawk fan..its good to be talkin hockey again

You make an important point - the players will give you all the right words and music in a media interview, but if deep down they have no faith in their goaltender when it counts then the team is primed to come up short of their real potential.

Patrick Lalime when Ottawa had a great team is a prime example. Any number of goalies with the Flyers over the years as well.
- RickJ

the flyers/no goalie is to bears/no qb! Gotta be tough to be a flyer fan the last couple of decades. ownership tries so hard, and does SOOO much right, but cant find that stud goalie to carry them. i hate philly (in a good-natured sports way) but I sympathize with them on this issue

This was all spot on JJ. really well done. you're one of the best parts of bein a hawk fan..its good to be talkin hockey again
- miked23

Wow thx Mike

Because in the world of moronic assumptions everyone knows that Ottawa is dying to trade Lehner

And Stan is now every Hawk fans George Bush, lets blame everything on him.
- TrueGrit

EVERYONE has a price tag. EVERYONE is tradable. That is a fact. Look at all the great players way more talented than lehner that have been traded if you need proof. If SB doesn't pry a goalie out of Ottawa then someone else will and SB will have missed another opportunity. Face it.. Ottawa can't play 3 goalies at once. Wasn't bishop traded to Ottawa for a 2nd round pick... Why wasn't Stan in on that originally and if he was then why did he lose out on the trade negotiations, again?

EVERYONE has a price tag. EVERYONE is tradable. That is a fact. Look at all the great players way more talented than lehner that have been traded if you need proof. If SB doesn't pry a goalie out of Ottawa then someone else will and SB will have missed another opportunity. Face it.. Ottawa can't play 3 goalies at once. Wasn't bishop traded to Ottawa for a 2nd round pick... Why wasn't Stan in on that originally and if he was then why did he lose out on the trade negotiations, again?
- moylander

Teams do not have to trade with teams they do not. Like teams in a division will not trade with each other. You do not help your enemies. Like why Stan traded players to Atlanta and Florida back in 2010.

So St. Louis would not have moved Bishop to Hawks for a variety of reasons.

While a lot of fans want to see results, that is SB obtaining a goalie from Ottawa, you can't assume that Ottawa is in any hurry to move any of them. JJ confirmed talks and offers. If indeed Leddy was offered up, that is significant.