I agree with you. A guy who skates like Leddy doesn't get challenged much growing up. He doesn't have to think the game because he can blow by most opponents most of the time. But all of a sudden he's playing against men who can challenge him, coaches with a plan to run him all night long. He needs time to figure it out. I think it's a legit question as to his hockey IQ. I agree that it would have helped having him spend a lot more time in the A. The right partner would help him learn as well a coach that is a better teacher. If I'm Leddy I'm not sure that this coaching staff is the best one to take direction from. One of the other guys here suggested Housley. Good call, if anyone should be able to relate to Leddy it's Housley. Mentioned before I would prefer Yawney. Whatever transpires is going to be interesting. I wish him well.
- 6628

Right on 6628!

This has been my biggest "complaint" against this staff -- I've said the young guys here aren't in a real learning environment. Of the 3, Q is in the best position to provide the mentoring (certainly Kompon and Kitchen really are NOT), but he has never been 1 to do this. And since I don't get a chance to see how other HC's run their teams, I really have NO idea if they simply rely on someone else to take on this task or do it themselves.

I was the guy that mentioned Housley several times -- said if Leddy does go somewhere, I would like to see him go to Nashville only because Housley is there now and Leddy had credited Housley with helping him when he was still in MN developing as a player. Probably not likely to happen but I do think it is important to have someone like this to bring you along -- it's the finer points of the game at NHL speed where Leddy needs help -- you can only imagine this guy in high school skating the way he does. My gosh, it's no surprise he was MN high school hockey player of the year.

Hope Leddy is retained and gets the additional mentoring he needs to take the talent that's there and turn it into a real PLUS for the Hawks.

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

Actually I haven't been beating this drum, only started posting about this a few days ago. I've always thought he would be resigned because of him being Bowmans crown jewel. I've also stated this is less about his school record and more about other things. But as I said, there is a division in the FO as to how this will affect his long term growth. Whether or not he is moved will not mean the issue doesn't exist.

We should all jump back on the Stan is a dope, Q should be fired, and Crawford is a horrible goalie bandwagon?

I am glad they won so some of those story lines will be mute for a little bit.
- droe411

I thought the goalie issue was settled, and that this board determined conclusively that Crow and Chris Osgood are actually the same person. I mean, have you ever seen them together at the same place and time?

Does anyone know if Leddy is arbitration eligible?
- EKolb13

AFAIK, no -- this is from the new CBA -- Leddy is 22 now and I believe signed when he was either 18 or 19 (but even if he was 20) -- and would need to have 4 years of PRO experience, which he does not.

ARTICLE 12 – SALARY ARBITRATION

12.1 Eligibility for Player or Club Election of Salary Arbitration

a) A Player is eligible for salary arbitration if the Player meets the qualifications set forth in the following chart and in Section 12.1(b) below:
First SPC Signing Age Minimum Experience Req.
18-20 4 years professional experience
21 3 years professional experience
22-23 2 years professional experience
24 and older 1 year professional experience

A Player aged 18 or 19 earns a year of professional experience by playing ten (10) or more NHL Games in a given season. A Player aged 20 or older (or who turns 20 between September 16 and December 31 of the calendar year in which he signs his first SPC) earns a year of professional experience by playing ten (10) or more Professional Games under an SPC in a given season.

EDIT: Sorry, I guess I should know better than to respond w/o reading the rest of the replies! ROAR and others have already chimed in with the same answer.

Actually I haven't been beating this drum, only started posting about this a few days ago. I've always thought he would be resigned because of him being Bowmans crown jewel. I've also stated this is less about his school record and more about other things. But as I said, there is a division in the FO as to how this will affect his long term growth. Whether or not he is moved will not mean the issue doesn't exist.
- UnnamedSource

I'm not implying that you said anything to the contrary, but being a good student is not really reflective of one's base intelligence. Hell, Einstein was a poor student. There are tons of "great men" who were, too, and many of our greatest generals were mediocre at West Point. Now, common sense may be an entirely different matter ...

Leddy will make $3 mill before Subban maybe, but for sure Subban will make $7 mill before Leddy.
- Al

I'm in total agreement on this one. I've posted for 2 years now that I'd love to have Subban on the Hawks. My questions is what Bergevin would want from the Hawks in trade. The Canadiens crave Teemo T and even wonder if a package could be pursued ? IMO, PK would bring youth, energy, toughness, and the PP quarterback that this team needs to compete for the cup in years to come. I've also stated my fear of the "hangover" for the current core group and hope that the last 2 years of first round exits mean anything to the brass . I believe PK is signed through next year at around 3 mil and definitely will get upwards of 6 to 7 Mil thereafter. Would Montreal even consider trading him for the right package and what do you think that would have to include. Just a pipe dream for me I guess !

Right on 6628!

This has been my biggest "complaint" against this staff -- I've said the young guys here aren't in a real learning environment. Of the 3, Q is in the best position to provide the mentoring (certainly Kompon and Kitchen really are NOT), but he has never been 1 to do this. And since I don't get a chance to see how other HC's run their teams, I really have NO idea if they simply rely on someone else to take on this task or do it themselves.

I was the guy that mentioned Housley several times -- said if Leddy does go somewhere, I would like to see him go to Nashville only because Housley is there now and Leddy had credited Housley with helping him when he was still in MN developing as a player. Probably not likely to happen but I do think it is important to have someone like this to bring you along -- it's the finer points of the game at NHL speed where Leddy needs help -- you can only imagine this guy in high school skating the way he does. My gosh, it's no surprise he was MN high school hockey player of the year.

Hope Leddy is retained and gets the additional mentoring he needs to take the talent that's there and turn it into a real PLUS for the Hawks.
- savvyone-1

The NHL is not the place for a player to learn! An NHL coach's job is to win and to win he needs developed players. It's not up to an NHL coach to do anything more than to tweak a players skill set and of course to teach him how to play a specific system.

No prob with you disagreeing, either; you have your reasons and I have mine. Agree on Fivineze ... so much hate he turns a blind eye to reason. Hell, I've despised Bicks n Leddy their entire careers, but when they've improved you have to recognize their importance to the team.
- Q...argh

Exactly! Was not a big fan as he'd show glimpses of a pretty decent player and disappear. He was money this year (in more ways than one) and I am hoping this was a lightbulb moment or career changing year for him if you will...

I'm not implying that you said anything to the contrary, but being a good student is not really reflective of one's base intelligence. Hell, Einstein was a poor student. There are tons of "great men" who were, too, and many of our greatest generals were mediocre at West Point. Now, common sense may be an entirely different matter ...
- Q...argh

Not to take up Unnamedsource's mantle, but I don't think that he has said or implied that Leddy's intelligence is related to book smarts, but has suggested that he hasn't picked up Q's defensive schemes and makes the same mistakes repeatedly. Now, that said, I grew bored of this topic after a few posts, so I haven't examined all the posts about Leddy's intelligence to know whether that has been modified over the course of the last few days.

I'm in total agreement on this one. I've posted for 2 years now that I'd love to have Subban on the Hawks. My questions is what Bergevin would want from the Hawks in trade. The Canadiens crave Teemo T and even wonder if a package could be pursued ? IMO, PK would bring youth, energy, toughness, and the PP quarterback that this team needs to compete for the cup in years to come. I've also stated my fear of the "hangover" for the current core group and hope that the last 2 years of first round exits mean anything to the brass . I believe PK is signed through next year at around 3 mil and definitely will get upwards of 6 to 7 Mil thereafter. Would Montreal even consider trading him for the right package and what do you think that would have to include. Just a pipe dream for me I guess !
- Hawkytalk

Lets just put this to bed now. NO they will not trade him. That is because of all the reasons you stated.

I don't believe that he'll be successful in the NHL just from what I've observed in Rockford. Who knows, I could be dead wrong.
- EKolb13

I just wonder if playing alongside Hossa and Toews (amoung others) will set his development to a higher level. Say what you want, but Saad sure grew up during the year.

Interesting nugget. Gillis completely botched that whole situation. What was he looking to get for Lou again; something like a roster player, prospect and #1 pick?

I'm sure that was a negotiation starting point or should have been but sounds like he never backed off those demands and now has to live this mess. He even made some statement after trading Schneider basically reiterating his stance on not trading Lou because they had an idea of what he was worth and just never got that offer. Overestimation much? Just like a lot of the VAN fans that post over here it's like he completely ignored Lou's albatross of a contract and believed they would actually recoup those demands for him.


- HawkintheD

That organization takes arrogant to a whole new level.

Reportedly Hawks and Ray Emery close to a new deal

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/chi130702.html

That organization takes arrogant to a whole new level.
- Al

Either arrogance or incompetence.

The NHL is not the place for a player to learn! An NHL coach's job is to win and to win he needs developed players. It's not up to an NHL coach to do anything more than to tweak a players skill set and of course to teach him how to play a specific system.
- paulr

While I don't disagree in theory, in practice I'm not 100% with you here. All players at this level MUST (or are expected) to have more than a basic understanding of the game -- and my presumption is, they do.

What I am speaking of is more your last part -- playing a specific system or scheme. In the Hawks case, their D is expected to do things a bit differently than many other teams because they have the personnel that allows them to.

My issue is that Leddy is expected (with under 200 NHL games under his belt) to immediately grasp, for every situation, what he is expected to do and know where his teammates should be based upon that scheme. There is no replacement for experience, no matter how talented you are -- and as everyone has agreed, it takes the longest to mature on D. Simply saying that there isn't anyone on the staff that can help these young guys improve faster than simply by having the EXPERIENCE of making the mistake and learning from it.

Those mistakes are magnified probably 10x or 50x when you're on D. As a forward, not nearly as much. We saw that with Saad, we saw that with Shaw, we saw it as well with Toews and Kane when they came up. None were without flaws and each needed (and still needs to) learn to do a better job -- but their mistakes typically can be covered up by the D and ultimately by the G. As we saw when Leddy bit on that fake in Game 2 -- the only way he's getting bailed out of that is by Crawford. Didn't happen, everyone is unhappy. I'm sure he learned from that little episode and it likely won't happen again like that.

The learning I'm speaking of are truly the finer points of the game about when and how to do certain things and for a defenseman, you only get this by 2 things: experience AND by being mentored. As others have commented, big strides for #8 in part because he was being helped by #32 quite a bit.

Reportedly Hawks and Ray Emery close to a new deal

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/chi130702.html
- golfbard

WOW! I didn't expect that at all. Glad he is coming back though.

Just saw on twitter from The Fourth Period that the Hawks are close to resigning Emery. That's a nice surprise.

WOW! I didn't expect that at all. Glad he is coming back though.
- paulr

+1

+1
- EKolb13

Clearly, Razor a good locker room/team guy -- and maybe more than we know, was instrumental in helping Crawford get through the playoffs and help us bring home a CUP!

Good move if they can get it done.

Cleary, Razor a good locker room/team guy -- and maybe more than we know, was instrumental in helping Crawford get through the playoffs and help us bring home a CUP!

Good move if they can get it done.
- savvyone-1

Hopefully Emery comes back for around the same salary.

No...fellas, read what i have written on this issue, it is not that big of a deal. It really is not too complicated. Risks are minimal.

And I will tell you all this. Any hiccups will be because of Leddy and his agent. Not the Hawks. He will get a fair offer. There is a decorum in any negotiating setting. There is no doubt FO and everyone believes in Leddy. They have invested a lot to get him to where he is now.

If I were Leddy, I would take the 2.5 - 3.0 mill for 2 years and have faith that the Chicago situation is best for his growth. As he continues to grow and improve, he will be able to call his next shot.
What if you were the Blues with Petrangelo? He is an RFA too. A much more polished defensemen. If you were a team, who would you go after with offer sheet?
- TrueGrit

If I were Leddy, I would take $3MM for 4 years, take the security of the $12MM, and look to a big contract at 26 years old - time enough for 2 more big ones, if he works out.

Meantime, he's got what's left of the $12MM.

That's great!!! Thanks. But since I don't speak Finnish, I have no idea what all the excitement was about. Something to do do with Bickell and Bolland? LOL.

EDIT: I know this is petty, but I still can't watch highlights of game 6 without absolutely cringing at DK's turnover before the Lucic goal. Maybe the worst pass by a Norris winner I've ever seen... I need to get over it.
- Tugboat

Totally agree........... not much made of that terrible turnover by 2 was there. Doc and Eddie didn't even make mention of it. If that was Leddy ???? He would have been tortured.

Just saw on twitter from The Fourth Period that the Hawks are close to resigning Emery. That's a nice surprise.
- dan9189

I just read that myself. I'd love to see Ray back, 2 years at $2 million per season would be good. That would give us some cushion if Stan is unable to re-sign Crawford after next season. I live the Crawford/Emery duo, regardless of who's playing I feel we have a chance to win with either of them in net.

Reportedly Hawks and Ray Emery close to a new deal

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/chi130702.html
- golfbard

Yes, please!

I actually think it is pretty easy to understand. People don't like to admit when they are wrong. So instead, they shift their argument or become further entrenched on a position. For some, holding the same, albeit wrong, position is more "honorable" than admitting they are wrong.
- QStache

And - exactly how many people here have not given credit to the FO and Coaching Staff, and Crawford and Bolland and other supposed "whipping boys", since the last Monday?

Except for one or two posters, I don't see very much negativity - some concerns going forward, but almost all of us have given credit where credit is due: to everyone except Kompon.