If someone wants to pay $4-6 mil for Nick Leddy...find someone else to wear the #8
- philco28

Exactly. Which is why I think you don't wussy foot around with Sheehy. Here you go Nick - minimum qualifying offer. Then let the agent and Nick fight it out and see if $2.5-3MM to play in the tundra of Winnipeg is in his best career interests.

You picky bastages. I won't change my name, but maybe adding an avatar will do the trick and teach you all to pay attention to who stands on what side of the force ...
- QStache

It should be the other guy who has to change his name.

No problem Savvy...Nick was the last line of defense and HE opened up the Panama Canal to let the puck get centered and he's supposedly a D'MAN
- philco28

No one was happy with that play -- I'm sure least of all Nick. Highly doubt he wanted to look like the fool there.

Yes, and as we heard from Q, Scotty B and our Wiz chiming in -- Leddy saw limited minutes after Game 2 (thanks Phil for reminding us of that play -- Leddy left holding the bag after Sharp makes an absolutely asinine play bringing the puck back down low and making it SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM ) in order to protect him from carrying a game-losing memory with him moving forward. Not a bad decision and one I actually applaud Q for executing.

I think Leddy raised him game this year -- over the entire campaign -- in large part due to one Michal Roszival doing a great job of mentoring young Nick. How often did we see #32 talking to Nick on the bench or on the ice???

If Nick can keep his head on straight -- he'll have a lot to live up to with all you guys expecting perfection -- but he has ALL the tools.
- savvyone-1

I think he did a great job this year and was pleasantly surprised by his growth. When I say mental aspect I mean smarts. People that I know that are close to the team mention he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.......and that is why I say it could be his biggest obstacle.

From Wikipedia:

Qualifying offers

The current team must extend a "qualifying offer" to a restricted free agent to retain negotiating rights to that player.

Players who earned less than $660,000 in the previous season must be offered 110 percent of last season's salary. Players making up to $1 million must be offered 105 percent. Players making over $1 million must be offered 100 percent.
If the qualifying offer is not made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
If the player rejects a qualifying offer, he remains a restricted free agent.
If the player does not sign before December 1st, he is ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of the season.

Possible outcomes

If a player accepts a qualifying offer he remains with his current team for a one- or two-year term. The length of the contract is determined by the player. At the end of this contract the player becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. While the player is in negotiation with his current team, other teams are allowed to extend Offer Sheets to him. Should the player sign a proposed Offer Sheet, his current team is notified as such, can no longer negotiate a new contract or trade the rights to negotiate and is left with 2 options, Accept or Decline. The current team has 5 days to make its decision.
Accept The player remains with his current team on a contract identical to that of the Offer Sheet. The team is not allowed to trade the player for one year.
Decline The player becomes a member of the team with whom he signed the Offer Sheet under all the terms of said Offer Sheet. His now former team claims draft picks from the player’s new team as compensation. Compensatory draft picks are determined by the player’s new salary on a sliding scale.

So, why would the fo qualify Leddy for more than absolutely necessary?

If he makes a mil and they qualify him at the same figure for another year, reevaluate him at this time next year.

If another team steps in and gives Leddy an offer sheet, then they can make a choice: match or take compensation.
- Fistafury17

Everyone gets qualified except players a team wants no part of and have no trade value.

Once a player is qualified than his parent club has the right to match and offer sheet or accept the compensation.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Here's how I think this will go down...

I said there were 2 sell high candidates, Oduya and Frolik...Bowman punched Frolik's ticket.

Given a choice he probably would want to bring back the same defense, if not he has options.

A Leddy OS will likely be matched unless it is super high but it is highly unlikely an offer comes above the $3-$3.3 mill per mark....

Bowman will match and then could look to trade or keep Leddy or look to trade Oduya.

What is probably most likely is the # comes in around $3 mill per for Leddy and he is resigned and everyone stays, pending Roszy coming back.

Nexy summer will be talking about either Oduya going if Clendening is improving or maybe Leddy if he takes steps backward.

Hammer needs to be resigned as there isn't anyone else with his skill set.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

If Bowman were to match a Leddy offer sheet, he wouldn't be able to trade him this year. Would have to be the next. Oduya would be a tough trade with his modified NTC.

Exactly. Which is why I think you don't wussy foot around with Sheehy. Here you go Nick - minimum qualifying offer. Then let the agent and Nick fight it out and see if $2.5-3MM to play in the tundra of Winnipeg is in his best career interests.
- Return of the Roar

Wonder is Sheehy will settle for a top out offer of $3 mil per ? Have my doubts.

No one was happy with that play -- I'm sure least of all Nick. Highly doubt he wanted to look like the fool there.
- savvyone-1

Nick is well capable of improving in his own zone and being a more disciplined defender, but he must COMMIT to it.

Sorry about the confusion but you guys know how many times Maggie was punched in the head
- Maggie

No, I know how many time he should be though.

Just kidding.

I think he did a great job this year and was pleasantly surprised by his growth. When I say mental aspect I mean smarts. People that I know that are close to the team mention he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.......and that is why I say it could be his biggest obstacle.
- UnnamedSource

I havbe known and spoken to many hockey players over the years....Some guys who would have a problem stringing a few sentences together are some of the best players.

What you are hearing has been around since Leddy got here...And the reason he was here so quickly was largely due with not being academically eligible in college...same as with Dylan Olsen..So says the story I got which is correct I believe.

Having natural ability trumps all usually but some players have trouble with the basics and that doesn't seem like Leddy....But it does seem like an issue with Stalberg.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I think he did a great job this year and was pleasantly surprised by his growth. When I say mental aspect I mean smarts. People that I know that are close to the team mention he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.......and that is why I say it could be his biggest obstacle.
- UnnamedSource

You've mentioned this before. Don't know if it has anything to do with him dropping out of college -- some are just not made for college. He's always seemed to have a good grasp of the game but wonder whether what's expected of the D in Q's system is beyond the level of many? If that's the case -- if you have a guy with the right tools, you'd hope they make the effort to tutor him and bring him along so he can execute what is expected.

Maybe this is why Al always talked about Keith and Seabrook learning the ropes under Yawney . . .

Wonder is Sheehy will settle for a top out offer of $3 mil per ? Have my doubts.
- philco28

I also have doubts about paying a guy like Leddy much more than like $1.5MM for a few more years, who is quite frankly still for the foreseeable future, a third paring guy on this team. Say what you may about the pizza man - Leddy has a long way to go to get to his level of all around play.

Wonder is Sheehy will settle for a top out offer of $3 mil per ? Have my doubts.
- philco28

Huge Leddy fan - hard to believe 2.5 isn't reasonable for the next couple of years...but hey, he shows "potential" and many teams appear willing to gamble on it?
once leddy & krugs solved, then time to worry about hammer & shaw? After next year, hawks probably have 3 dmen making well over $5M.
I can see where Al is going with this - sign leddy for $3m or more and Oduya looks like odd man out...if not this year, definately next year

I dont hear anyone chatting about Kruger - what's his fair value gonna be? $2m tops?

If Bowman were to match a Leddy offer sheet, he wouldn't be able to trade him this year. Would have to be the next. Oduya would be a tough trade with his modified NTC.
- HawkFan27

Yes correct I should have said next summer for Leddy...

But he could sign and trade him before the offer sheet which is the best way to get full value. Usually teams know offer sheets are coming.

NTC mean little in the big picture....It only gives the player a say as to where he is going. Oduya has a modified NTC which means he will give a list, it can be worked around because he will be in demand.

I don' know one case where a player refused a trade, except in his final year, and wasn't dealt at some point in the near future anyway.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I also have doubts about paying a guy like Leddy much more than like $1.5MM for a few more years, who is quite frankly still for the foreseeable future, a third paring guy on this team. Say what you may about the pizza man - Leddy has a long way to go to get to his level of all around play.
- Return of the Roar

I smell a potential hold out.

Hey c'mon Phil, let's be fair here.

I'll bet I can find you several of those videos of Seabs getting walked -- BADLY -- this year. For a guy making nearly $6 large a yr. Or of Keith getting badly walked -- not so much this year but the intervening 2 between the last Cup and this shortened season.

I'm sure I can find the same kind of video on EVERY D on the Hawks, whether this yr or prior. It's just part of the game. It's the HARDEST position to play and play well -- and playing it well begins with the feet and the defender's ability to be able to move laterally quickly in any direction.

This is exactly why Olsen was a FAIL at the NHL level. You guys keep ripping on poor Nick. I get it. He's a young kid just 22 yrs old and learning in the most difficult league in the world on a championship team filled with top notch players.

IF Nick gets an offer sheet, it will be because smart hockey guys realize that Leddy's ability on the blades is not something that's easily gained. If it was, Olsen would be up here now. If Nick puts in the time -- trains, eats right, and continues to get good mentoring from teammates, he'll be a steal at $3M before the yr is up. You won't have to wait for an entire season + the way you did with Hjalmarsson.
- savvyone-1

Olsen has a better shot of improving his skating than Hayes and may still be a find. Next year is make or break for him. A lot of this is hit or miss - but you are right on Leddy's skating ability now. He can very easily get stronger and learn to take and give punishment. The question is what Sheehy will demand and what some other organization with real cap space and time will be willing to pay.

No way the Hawks should go over $3.5. Real value now is well under $3m. I'd love to see him stay. If not, let's hope it is a Buffalo or Calgary who OS's him over $3.5 so we see a high 1 and 3 next year.

The silver lining is Leddy leaving should guarantee Hammer stays.

I also have doubts about paying a guy like Leddy much more than like $1.5MM for a few more years, who is quite frankly still for the foreseeable future, a third paring guy on this team. Say what you may about the pizza man - Leddy has a long way to go to get to his level of all around play.
- Return of the Roar

$1.5 mill will not work and if Bowman thought so little of him he probably would have been gone on draft day.

Not sure..but i see Mike Hartman was born in Detroit and Ryan was raised in Illinois...maybe Ryan's Pops and Mike are brothers or cousins.
- philco28

Wiz said they are not related yesterday I think.

By now hard core fans know that the better prospects are mainly in the next wave. Some whom you may see at rookies camp. But everyone looks like an all star - well most do, anyway -- in this essentially a glorified version of rat hockey. It is fun and exciting to watch these youngest of hopefuls, but beware some may disappoint you.

I was overly impressed by Makarov, for example. Two years ago or was it three I sat with RealWiz and liked very much what Birch showed. Olsen looked promising, too. We see now that he needed time to develop and you hope that he might turn a corner in his development the upcoming season.

Now I am no expert, Mr Crankypants. And I need to be very clear on whatever I say, lest you jump all over with your negative attitude. But I just feel a need to clarify a thought from now two blog columns ago regarding Pirri.

At the rookies camp we could see he was slow skating but already a good idea where to go with the puck. He thinks the game well, it is a strength of his. Pirri has improved his skating, or so, I have heard. I will not pretend to be an authority on him when I only attend 5-6 games and tape a few. But I concur with the opinion Crankypants has made, as well as the common view many have given in the last blog.

Give this kid a chance, let him fail .....but he has an opportunity to elevate his game by turning from poor effort defensively to at least make a good effort. That may earn him a longer look in Q's eyes. I suspect it is difficult for players to have the mindset to change the way they play and to change from reliance so much on their strength. But this is what Pirri must do. He thinks the game and has the smarts and skill to be a secondary scorer or second line center as his ceiling IMHO.

He does not fit the face off two way center maybe ever that Chicago needs. But he could become a useable part for Q if he wants it badly enough and is willing to do what it takes. Five preseason goals - was there a hat trick, too - and AHL scoring title at age 21 looks impressive but that is not good enough for him. A superstar skill Kane slides by with a weak effort in defensive coverage over the years. But to tose who aspire to be the # 2 center for Chg ......no one can take a pass on defense....even if a star comes along he needs to make an effort defensively as the #2 pivot. Pirri has ability, but he is not ever a big star.

Again I am no expert. I appreciate those who see lots of Icehogs action and I respect their opinion. Hey EKolb peace brother . Relax. If you are annoyed by a post, you could just ignore it and not post over its content. Mature reaction. Life is too short to be attacking people too often on these blog sites. I would like to have a discussion some time at a Rockford home game, maybe on a bobble head promotion night. A friend is a collector. I give him my bobble head, except when they had the Presidential bobble heads.

Savvy...knew it wouldn't be long before you stepped in to defend your boy and PROPS ALWAYS to your for that. We all know how much you love Nick


I was fair though in citing his on ice assets and listed them. And no doubt...you make a good point about 2 and 7. There is ample video TO THIS DAY of both messing UP BADLY in their own zone...so your point is well taken.

Long story short....Leddy 3 years/$ 9 mil...DONE...but he better get a lot more SNARL in his game otherwise his flashy rushes that usually amount to squat are a luxury we simply cannot afford.
- philco28

I'd prefer to see that longer than 3 years. Hate to develop him and then see him go UFA.

They did a great job with the first pick. The rest don't seem to be near adequate comp for the players they traded.

Wiz, thanks for all the work!
- Q...argh

As fellow hawk fans, you are especailly welcome!

I spend all of today writing extensive Draft Grades Reports, as I am trying to beat, my nemesis, Grant Sonier (that is as funny as it sounds), and get mine done before his and then make fun of his...

I have about 8 more and want to finish before my debut on Sirius XM NORM at NIGHT between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m I am gonna do 20 minutes about the draft, and they want the empahsis to be on Calgary's choices.

Olsen has a better shot of improving his skating than Hayes and may still be a find. Next year is make or break for him. A lot of this is hit or miss - but you are right on Leddy's skating ability now. He can very easily get stronger and learn to take and give punishment. The question is what Sheehy will demand and what some other organization with real cap space and time will be willing to pay.

No way the Hawks should go over $3.5. Real value now is well under $3m. I'd love to see him stay. If not, let's hope it is a Buffalo or Calgary who OS's him over $3.5 so we see a high 1 and 3 next year.

The silver lining is Leddy leaving should guarantee Hammer stays.
- tredbrta

More like Olsen had better have improved his sakting before the Fall...

What you are hearing has been around since Leddy got here...And the reason he was here so quickly was largely due with not being academically eligible in college...same as with Dylan Olsen..So says the story I got which is correct I believe.

Having natural ability trumps all usually but some players have trouble with the basics and that doesn't seem like Leddy....But it does seem like an issue with Stalberg.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

In the case of Olsen, there was ugly divorce he was in the middle of and I don'y think he was mature enough for school.

Leddy has a terrible on ice start at college and as that grew to less and less ice time, I think he saw handwriting on th e wall, no matter if it was really there, beside the passing in school...

More like Olsen had better have improved his sakting before the Fall...
- wiz1901

Easier said than done.
I don't expect great improvement on his turns or lateral quickness. He's a big boy and just doesn't seem to have the footwork. Also wonder if he's got the desire to make the necessary effort to improve.

If someone wants to pay $4-6 mil for Nick Leddy...find someone else to wear the #8
- philco28

Cam No Muscle Russell?