You have beat this drum loudly for awhile...

If there is a real concern they don't commit about $ 9 mill to keeping him. ...and if the opinion is shared by a only a few around the league then there will be a lack of interest.

I think there will be a lot of interest if Leddy is made available, which BTW I have not heard is the case.

Fact is this...This is the NHL and not the NFL where a Devin Hester can't learn the playbook and run routes correctly.

If a player screws up when the pressure is dialed up or makes the same turnovers over and over or is poor fundamnetally like a Stalberg ...That is a bigger concern to me.

I don't see those things as an issue with Leddy.

The part about not being good in school doesn't mean much to me and I don't see making stupid mistakes as being a factor in his play on the ice.

If the people in the Hawks front office who are the decision makers think differently this is a perfect opportunity to get out with a nice return.

If that happens I will give credence to what you have heard.
- Al

Grant Fuhr was not a highly intelligent guy, but he was a player. There are only so many reads and reacts in sports, that the most basic mind can adapt. IT is all patterns. 90% of the game is not super dynamic.

Factor in a players talent, like Leddys speed and Fuhrs reflexes and you do not have any problems.

Botched
You think!

Imagine what Schnieds could have brought them at the deadline
- PEIHawkFan

Just like Luongo. Lesson of the whole deal is you do not hijack your team and season to prove a point. When you decide to go another direction...you go that direction. You don't forsake the mental state of your dressing room...those costs are greater than losing on a trade.

I wish more players thought this way. But to do that the lesser players have to see the stars take less. If Toews and Kane sign for $10M on their next contracts why would Crow or another role player want to take a significant cut less of the pie? Let's see if Toews' leadership extends out to the new contract.
- paulr

No way Toews and Kane are "equals", or of similar value to the team. When I think of the "core", I usually think of Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and now Bickell and Hjalmarsson, who have emerged as stars.

But you can't count Toews in this group, because he's in his own category. Any other Hawk could have been swapped for another player with a similar skill set, and we might well still be celebrating the 2nd Cup since 2010, but without Toews, none of this happens. JT is the straw that stirs the drink. He's our Beliveau, Potvin or Messier. I don't think it's too early to start making comparisons like that.

There is a school of thought in sports that too much analysis slows a players instincts. I am not concerned at all whether Leddy can find Chicago on a Map or even spell Chicago. He was born to play hockey.
- TrueGrit

I'm sure when Leddy's intellect is brought up they mean his hockey intellect. So far Leddy hasn't shown himself to be a very cerebral player nor has he shown himself to be a complete dunce either. What I love about Leddy is that skating ability but I don't see him as a top pairing defenceman now or in the future.

No way Toews and Kane are "equals", or of similar value to the team. When I think of the "core", I usually think of Hossa, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and now Bickell and Hjalmarsson, who have emerged as stars.

But you can't count Toews in this group, because he's in his own category. Any other Hawk could have been swapped for another player with a similar skill set, and we might well still be celebrating the 2nd Cup since 2010, but without Toews, none of this happens. JT is the straw that stirs the drink. He's our Beliveau, Potvin or Messier. I don't think it's too early to start making comparisons like that.
- Tugboat

I didn't say anyone was an equal. I said if Toews and Kane wish to continue being a contender they have to take less so they can be surrounded with good complimentary players ... or you can have what Pittsburgh have, 3 players taking up almost 45% of the cap and a sub par group of support players.

Kompon is an asst coach and we won the cup ... where's HIS credit?

- Q...argh

Where's the PP success?

As far as I'm concerned, he isn't worthy of credit until the PP actually start producing.

I'm sure when Leddy's intellect is brought up they mean his hockey intellect. So far Leddy hasn't shown himself to be a very cerebral player nor has he shown himself to be a complete dunce either. What I love about Leddy is that skating ability but I don't see him as a top pairing defenceman now or in the future.
- paulr

That is great news for Leddy....lol...I would have been more worried if you thought highly of him. Just kidding.

He has been on a nice growth trajectory. He had a nice stretch of play with Seabrook for a period of time this season. I have no doubts that he continues to improve.

Where's the PP success?

As far as I'm concerned, he isn't worthy of credit until the PP actually start producing.
- EKolb13

Worst power play I have ever seen in my entire life. We have to blow that up and start from scratch, if that means dumping Kompon, fine with me. Simply inexcusable given the talent on the team to be that inept.

Hey, by the way, who was the poster that had the picture of Stan with Fail on his head? I thought that was pretty funny but also nice to see he's changed his picture. Can't argue with success.

That is great news for Leddy....lol...I would have been more worried if you thought highly of him. Just kidding.

He has been on a nice growth trajectory. He had a nice stretch of play with Seabrook for a period of time this season. I have no doubts that he continues to improve.
- TrueGrit

I wish he had developed in the AHL rather than in the NHL.

I wish he had developed in the AHL rather than in the NHL.
- paulr

Like Brandon Pirri, who many say won't be able to play in NHL because of his success there.

Worst power play I have ever seen in my entire life. We have to blow that up and start from scratch, if that means dumping Kompon, fine with me. Simply inexcusable given the talent on the team to be that inept.

Hey, by the way, who was the poster that had the picture of Stan with Fail on his head? I thought that was pretty funny but also nice to see he's changed his picture. Can't argue with success.
- PitMartin7

The talent you speak of doesn't include the two most important components, a powerplay quarterback and a big shot. Dumping Kompon won't hide those facts. Kompon may not be a good powerplay coach but it isn't fair to dump him when he doesn't have the personel.

Hey, by the way, who was the poster that had the picture of Stan with Fail on his head? I thought that was pretty funny but also nice to see he's changed his picture. Can't argue with success.
- PitMartin7

Return of the Roar was the poster in question.

I think the draft pick compensation for RFAs lines up very well w Leddy. The key number is $3.3m. If Leddy gets an offer w average salary less than $3.3m, and hawks let him go, they get a 2nd round pick as compensation. If above $3.3m (and all the way up to $5m), they get 1st and 3rd round picks.

If offer is less than $3.3, I certainly want to keep him. Much more than $3.3, say $4m, and those two picks start to look attractive...especially if the offer is from a bad team where the #1 might be a high #1.

Like Brandon Pirri, who many say won't be able to play in NHL because of his success there.
- TrueGrit

Pirri has earned a chance to show what he can do.

Read in interesting story in the Toronto Star on the weekend. A professor at Simon Fraser University has been following the NHL draft for 10 years and concluded draft players is complete luck or bad luck. What seperates good teams from not so good teams is development.

Here's the problem, though: all it takes is one silly GM and Leddy's agent has a comp that's hard to argue with. P.K. Subban's deal might make you think Leddy should be a relative bargain, but then have a look at Roman Josi. His stats and Leddy's are pretty close, and he's locked in at $4M a year for seven years, I think.

Now, granted Josi was a top pairing guy in Nashville and Leddy was in our 3rd pair, but still. The market is what the market is, no matter what we think it should be.

And if Leddy's agent wants to be a hard ass, he can. If what he really wants is the cash, then he can (and might) do the same thing Kyle Turris's agent did: make the demand so high that it becomes a ticket out of town.
- MartiniMan

If he's too much of a hard-ass, without an offer sheet, his only leverage is to have his client hold out, maybe lose a year's pay (can Leddy afford to blow $2-3MM) and (I think) lose a year to UFA.

His only real leverage is an offer sheet.

Where's the PP success?

As far as I'm concerned, he isn't worthy of credit until the PP actually start producing.
- EKolb13

Maybe without him the PP would be around 0%............ think of it that way?

I am neither antipasto nor the antichrist; maybe I'm Antii Niemi?
- Q...argh

That's pretty big of you to give the Q bashing a rest for the summer. I thought True Grit was the angriest guy on the board. I say was because whoever kidnapped him and hijacked his avatar is masquerading as a kindler, gentler TG.

Try enjoying the fact that the Hawks won the Cup in spite of your assessments on Q. Sometimes it's ok to be wrong.

Maybe without him the PP would be around 0%............ think of it that way?

- droe411

It IS around 0%: what was it, 1 for twenty-something in the finals? That's pretty close to 0%.

That's pretty big of you to give the Q bashing a rest for the summer. I thought True Grit was the angriest guy on the board. I say was because whoever kidnapped him and hijacked his avatar is masquerading as a kindler, gentler TG.

Try enjoying the fact that the Hawks won the Cup in spite of your assessments on Q. Sometimes it's ok to be wrong.
- HawkintheD

True Grit was angry because a bunch of beach bullys stole his beach ball. I made them give it back and now TG has become more humble and less abrasive. So I deserve all the credit!

The talent you speak of doesn't include the two most important components, a powerplay quarterback and a big shot. Dumping Kompon won't hide those facts. Kompon may not be a good powerplay coach but it isn't fair to dump him when he doesn't have the personel.
- paulr

Both of those can be in the form of one guy, but good point. The other thing they were missing for much of the season was consistent net front presence on the pp. My guess is Bickell has been tabbed to be that guy and to a lesser extent (smaller guy) Shaw can too.

True Grit was angry because a bunch of beach bullys stole his beach ball. I made them give it back and now TG has become more humble and less abrasive. So I deserve all the credit!
- paulr

Thanks Paul!

If he's too much of a hard-ass, without an offer sheet, his only leverage is to have his client hold out, maybe lose a year's pay (can Leddy afford to blow $2-3MM) and (I think) lose a year to UFA.

His only real leverage is an offer sheet.
- StLBravesFan

Turris held out, and ultimately got dealt and got a contract for more than he was worth, more than offsetting what he lost during his holdout. Not saying it will happen here, but it could.

It IS around 0%: what was it, 1 for twenty-something in the finals? That's pretty close to 0%.
- StLBravesFan

Haha it could always get worse I guess? I really think it is about entries and putting better options on the ice. Bickell would be nice instead of Shaw, they need to figure out how to stop putting Keith on the top unit.

Both of those can be in the form of one guy, but good point. The other thing they were missing for much of the season was consistent net front presence on the pp. My guess is Bickell has been tabbed to be that guy and to a lesser extent (smaller guy) Shaw can too.
- HawkintheD

Absolutely, the ideal powerplay QB has that bomb from the point. But the Leafs had a great powerplay QB in Tomas Kaberle, who not only didn't have a bomb, he never even shot at the net, but man he could pick apart an opponents penalty killers like very few.

Said it before...Toews' performances in Games 4 and 6 especially is the stuff of LEGENDS


- philco28

If you didn't already have a man crush on the Captain, you did after Game 4