No disrespect taken. I can see meeting up with Scobby and others from BC in Seattle. Would be a hoot.



Yes, I've had several VW's..
- Beaver-Warrior

How did I know that.

So I will ask you as the ultimate authority. Is there a Big Foot?

BTW, can you hook me up with Velma if I make it out there. Have a hunch she is hiding a firm rack and tight ass under that garb.....

I still routinely purchase vinyl. I also still subscribe to National Geographic.

I see neither of these as anitquated, or in any way sub-par.
- InvisibleOrange

Not at all, just having some good natured fun with Hemingway.

I just hope you are not looking at National Geographic for the chicks still....

If you are still drawing on an Etch-O-Skech and need a backup I've still got my daughter's in the basement somewhere. Available cheap.
- RickJ

If something works why stop using it.

Besides, I like the nostalgia of vinyl records...started buying them in the early 70's when I was a young, and I bought an excellent turntable when I was in the military before CD's were common.

Hey now...I still use a 6 yo flip phone.

Does the phone thing well and that's all I need.

Oh...and I still have a turntable and spin vinyl.
- ArlingtonRob

DJ AROB...of course you are spinning wax....and I know you check your pager regularly at the club.

Just being silly rob...I am that flip phone guy in my family as well. Although I finally changed 4 years ago.

DJ AROB...of course you are spinning wax....and I know you check your pager regularly at the club.

Just being silly rob...I am that flip phone guy in my family as well. Although I finally changed 4 years ago.
- TrueGrit

I've gone thru about 4 batteries. Figure I'll upgrade when the phone dies. I'm actually surprised it's lasted as long as it has.

How did I know that.

So I will ask you as the ultimate authority. Is there a Big Foot?

BTW, can you hook me up with Velma if I make it out there. Have a hunch she is hiding a firm rack and tight ass under that garb.....
- TrueGrit

Sasquatch? I'm neutral on the subject. As for Velma, There's a hempfest here later this month or show up for the Further concert in Sept.

I still routinely purchase vinyl. I also still subscribe to National Geographic.

I see neither of these as anitquated, or in any way sub-par.
- InvisibleOrange

Speaking as a former Sub Sonar Tech Analog/vinyl sound IS better.

We could argue Leddy's worth until,the cows come home

His worth is what other teams will pay
2,3,4 million...... whatever

It comes done to his play and his age
He is 22

I would say it is 3.2 million x 3 years

The market may say it is higher or lower ....so 4 million or 2 million

Either way it's a roll of the dice

A million either way
As I see it a million is less than 2% of the Cap so who really cares
It's all about the player not so much about the million.

If you think he fits sign him and if not someone else will.

I would sign him for 3 mil ....but the last time I checked who really cares what I think.

The hawks have a solid core, maybe spectacular core. They then have depth and solid role playing behind that. Made them a Cup champ in 2010, and allowed them to retool around that core to win again in 2013.

But I think about which player or two from that "depth" can maybe rise to future "core". All-star upside. If we're betting on future all-star upside on the current roster (including all prospects in the system), ill take Leddy. Who else is anyone taking?

Shaw's and Krueger's upside feels to me like...Bolland. Bolland was very impactful player on Cup team, bit falls just short of core.

Saad? Love him, bit ill take my chances on future all-star appearances for Leddy before Saad.

At some point, we need to replace one or more of the core. I hate the thought of giving up on Leddy. Maybe he never reaches his ceiling. But that ceiling is very high.
- Cmonalready

How do you define "core"? It's more of a continuum that a solid yes/no thing IMHO.

I think Kruger's potential upside is very, very high, especially if he can fill out his frame a bit more, which should make him better at the dot, and get more offensive minded. I can envision him developing into the 2C the Hawks have been missing for a few years now.

Leddy is a long, long way from being a top-flight PP QB, and may never become a shutdown D man. As good as he is at skating out of the zone with the puck, he hasn't yet demonstrated the passing/distribution skills nor the ability to "see" and react quickly to where his teammates are in space on the ice. He's really still a prospect working it out on the NHL level. I have no idea what his upside is, and am not an astute enough hockey fan to even venture a guess.

I enjoyed reading Wiz' draft reports, but am not qualified to have an opinion on any of the draftees either.

I'm still sad about Bolland, mad about Fro, and happy about Bicks, who is certainly "core" now, along with Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Hammer (who I now think of as core too). Is Shaw core? He's on the bubble, and I hope at this time next year we will all be saying that he's definitely core. Saad, like Leddy, is still a work in progress...

One more thing: I really, really hope that Rozy is back for another year.

We could argue Leddy's worth until,the cows come home

His worth is what other teams will pay
2,3,4 million...... whatever

It comes done to his play and his age
He is 22

I would say it is 3.2 million x 3 years

The market may say it is higher or lower ....so 4 million or 2 million

Either way it's a roll of the dice

A million either way
As I see it a million is less than 2% of the Cap so who really cares
It's all about the player not so much about the million.

If you think he fits sign him and if not someone else will.

I would sign him for 3 mil ....but the last time I checked who really cares what I think.
- PEIHawkFan

But you give 3 players an extra million and all of a sudden you can't sign that extra d-man or third liner you need to help out next year. Its all about getting proper value for the money. 4 million isn't proper value for Nick Leddy

But you give 3 players an extra million and all of a sudden you can't sign that extra d-man or third liner you need to help out next year. Its all about getting proper value for the money. 4 million isn't proper value for Nick Leddy
- rollpards19

Unfortunately there are desperate idiots like Jay Feaster around.

But you give 3 players an extra million and all of a sudden you can't sign that extra d-man or third liner you need to help out next year. Its all about getting proper value for the money. 4 million isn't proper value for Nick Leddy
- rollpards19

We will see
The only thing that matters is the cap

The Hawks made 90 million in gate receipts in the playoffs alone at $7 million per game
so what is 4 million if it works for the cap
Peanuts

But you give 3 players an extra million and all of a sudden you can't sign that extra d-man or third liner you need to help out next year. Its all about getting proper value for the money. 4 million isn't proper value for Nick Leddy
- rollpards19

Neither is three IMO. Ink him at 2.33~ or let him sit for a while like the Canadians did if he really is asking the moon and stars

But you give 3 players an extra million and all of a sudden you can't sign that extra d-man or third liner you need to help out next year. Its all about getting proper value for the money. 4 million isn't proper value for Nick Leddy
- rollpards19

Exactly, and Stan already gave Bicks at least $1.0 extra...$2.1 extra if JJ's info is right.

Overpay a little here, a little mre there...starts to add up.

So is Leddy the new whipping boy now? Now that Bickell and Crawford (the previous two whipping boys) were arguably the players most instrumental in getting us the cup? Did we learn nothing? That players actually have to develop before they reach their potential?

How do you define "core"? It's more of a continuum that a solid yes/no thing IMHO.

I think Kruger's potential upside is very, very high, especially if he can fill out his frame a bit more, which should make him better at the dot, and get more offensive minded. I can envision him developing into the 2C the Hawks have been missing for a few years now.

Leddy is a long, long way from being a top-flight PP QB, and may never become a shutdown D man. As good as he is at skating out of the zone with the puck, he hasn't yet demonstrated the passing/distribution skills nor the ability to "see" and react quickly to where his teammates are in space on the ice. He's really still a prospect working it out on the NHL level. I have no idea what his upside is, and am not an astute enough hockey fan to even venture a guess.

I enjoyed reading Wiz' draft reports, but am not qualified to have an opinion on any of the draftees either.

I'm still sad about Bolland, mad about Fro, and happy about Bicks, who is certainly "core" now, along with Toews, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Hammer (who I now think of as core too). Is Shaw core? He's on the bubble, and I hope at this time next year we will all be saying that he's definitely core. Saad, like Leddy, is still a work in progress...

One more thing: I really, really hope that Rozy is back for another year.
- Tugboat

Until yesterday the Hawks front office since 2010 defined the core as follows...

Keith, Seabrook, Toews, Kane , Sharp, Hossa and Bolland.

Change Bolland for Hammer and that would be my core today.

on Twitter@AlCimaglia

So is Leddy the new whipping boy now? Now that Bickell and Crawford (the previous two whipping boys) were arguably the players most instrumental in getting us the cup? Did we learn nothing? That players actually have to develop before they reach their potential?
- mcmasterkev

Players still needing time to develop into their potential should be paid accordingly. In Leddy's case I'd say $2.5 max.

How do you define "core"?

Is Shaw core?
- Tugboat

I define a core player as one that, when another GM brings up their name, Stan quickly says "not available" and moves on.

By that definition, Shaw is core, since we have heard from a few sources that other GMs are asking about him and it's a non-starter for Stan.

Exactly, and Stan already gave Bicks at least $1.0 extra...$2.1 extra if JJ's info is right.

Overpay a little here, a little mre there...starts to add up.
- Ogilthorpe2

That is part of what caused the cap issues three summers ago. Several players were just a bit overpaid.

The Bickell situation sounds similar to the Hammer situation in 2010. Stan waited to get the deal done and ended up paying a lot more than he thought he would.

That is part of what caused the cap issues three summers ago. Several players were just a bit overpaid.
- NewToHockey

...........And three key players got really big raises and extensions.

I define a core player as one that, when another GM brings up their name, Stan quickly says "not available" and moves on.

By that definition, Shaw is core, since we have heard from a few sources that other GMs are asking about him and it's a non-starter for Stan.
- NewToHockey

By your definition IMO, the core is reduced to one player. The Captain.

...........And three key players got really big raises and extensions.
- Al

Good gosh. Thought this latest cup would finally put the ghost of 2010 to rest. Guess not.

By your definition IMO, the core is reduced to one player. The Captain.
- Beaver-Warrior

Not true. How many players would Stan not even talk about trading right now? After 2010 Stan identified the players he was going to retool the roster around. The subsequent OS mess with Hammer ended up costing them Ladd and Niemi.

Now, the same thing. The Hawks aren't nearly in the cap straights that they were three years ago, allowing Stan to expand this "untouchable" list further. Short of a steal deal, do you really see any of the following moving? I'm talking about Toews, Kane, Saad, Hossa, Sharp, Bickell, Kruger, Shaw, Keith, Seabrook, Hammer and Crawford.

That's a dozen off the 2013 roster. Very solid base moving forward, while keeping a degree of cap flexibility.

Not picking on Leddy but the comment I made before about his intelligence was not based at all about his school performance. Again, someone who is very close to the situation qualifies it as a legitimate concern and people have voiced concern within the organization. Some in the FO think he will be able to overcome and reach his potential, others are not so sure.

Also, Stan was quoted in today's Tribune as saying the trades yesterday were mostly about opening up roster spots for the kids in Rockford to advance. I found it interesting that he mentioned Pirri, Smith, Hayes and Morin in that order.