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

nice analysis
That's why if I'm Leddy I only sign for one or two years and bet on his own development.
I think if the hawks sign him for three years at 3 mil he will regret it. He should bet on his ability and take less years

Cam No Muscle Russell?
- Ogilthorpe2

More like Steve POP TARTS Poapst

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

A couple of things....

I would be surprised if Olsen is anywhere near Chgo in the near future. He didn't take a step back last year he tumbled back.

The point that is constantly misstated or misssed here is this....

Sheehy has limited levearge, actullay none except for an offer sheet or if to have Leddy sit out a year, which won't happen.

You are probably correct, unless a really long deal the Hawks want go over $3.3 mill per...

I haven't checked lately but I think the compensation cut off is $3.3 mill per. which is a 2nd round pick and many teams would give that up for Leddy.

The next level above $3.3 mill per is a 1st and 3rd and that gets iffy....

If someone comes in with areally high offer at $4 mill for example, then Bowman can collect a 1st/3rd rounder.

But to say Sheehy is the one stirring this drink is not correct....He may try to drag his feet, just like Hammer's agent did hoping for an offer sheet but...

Bowman knows what he is looking at this time.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Wiz or JJ, where is TT, last year's #1, and how close is he, where will he be next year?
- scottak

I think he may want to come but there is no rush, as he will satrt in the AHl, and he will have an adjustment to the smaller ice, and country...

I would guess he sees a game after Christmas in 2014, and that will help evaluate how much he needs, or if he CAN make the transistion...

Draft grades are the most annoying thing ever.....because no one knows how good a draft until 3-5 years later.
- UnnamedSource

that's why I keep all mine and every year get a more conservative in describing prospects.

but this year lots of HIGH grades...

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

Leddy did a nice job of playing top 4 minutes at different points in the season and he did play all 48 games which a testament to his durability...but is that durability a result of avoiding contact ? Could be.

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...
- wiz1901

Either way I don't hold any of the that against either.

How would you grade the Hawks draft?
- BearsnHawks

Chicago Blackhawks
Grade A

The Cup-winning Blackhawks added Johnny Oduya in return for their second and third rounders, in a move that helped make their defense arguably they more mobile in the history of the game. By virtue of the great talent available in this year's draft, they were able to add more skill and grit by selecting Ryan Hartman. They were able to recapture a few more picks with their Cap castoffs, and jumped back into the second to take a huge Swedish defender in Dahlström, who probably was only there do to the fact he had concussion issue that forced him out of the international tourneys. In John Hayden who they selected with another captured draft pick, they see a big down low presence who can be mush much more once he gains a bit more speed. They traded picks in order to jump up and take Robin Norell before anybody else did. The Swedish defender is almost 200lbs. but a tad under sis feet at this juncture. He nonetheless has good up ice ability and a excellent three zone game. So far Tyler Motte hasn't jumped up to show prolonged excellence, and Luke Johnson is also a project. Lil Anthony is tiny but fast and skilled and fearless. There final pick was used to select one of their other sleeper favorites.Swedish defender Robin Press, who few teams viewed was seen by the hawks and they thonk he is big and talented.

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 . . .
- savvyone-1

And Leddy's exposure to the NHL game alongside skaters like Seabs and Rosy may benefit a player with decent instincts who may learn by watching and having veteran presence around moreso than the environment other young defenders are enduring in Rockford.

Leddy did a nice job of playing top 4 minutes at different points in the season and he did play all 48 games which a testament to his durability...but is that durability a result of avoiding contact ? Could be.
- philco28

Phil...You remember when Keith and Sebrook were 22??

I do and they weren't bruisers back then either.

Wiz or JJ, where is TT, last year's #1, and how close is he, where will he be next year?
- scottak

TT, in Finland, with a plate of herring

I think he's in North America for good next year, but that is an educated guess only. Can be a great player in the NHL depending on how much he wants it. Great player in space, plus to great passer, terrific shooter, skating is so fluid and clean over 360 degrees.

BTW, all those people saying the Lightning are going to be near unstoppable on their top line with Drouin and Stamkos are . . . correct. Drouin is the real deal.

Phil...You remember when Keith and Sebrook were 22??

I do and they weren't bruisers back then either.
- Al

Holding on to Leddy if it comes at no great cap cost in terms of keeping guys like Kruger or Bickell, is the smart play, by a long ways

But as has oft been speculated here...how much of keeping Leddy is about Bowman Jr. needing to massage his own ego...since the Leddy/Johnson for Barker deal was obviously won by Jr. ?
- philco28

No No No NO...Sorry, Leddy is here because they see a legit upside and special talent. If not, he would be yesterdays news.

My history has shown a lack of interest in the ego speculation. This is a championship organization. Winning and success is priority 1.

Phil...You remember when Keith and Sebrook were 22??

I do and they weren't bruisers back then either.
- Al

Al...I do..and Keith still isn't and Leddy never will be either.

Where are you getting these numbers?
- StLBravesFan

My ass....

Actually, just used the PK subban RFA deal signed right at beginning of this season. Did he get an offer sheet for more? Just think if he could have been had for 3.5?

Goes to my point that offer sheet fears are over blown.

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

You make a valid point, however, you want to engage in good faith negotiation with your player to demonstrate your desire to keep him and have him be part of your future.

They may do as you say, however, I am sure that both sides have thrown out a realistic figure.

He played with Sharp and Kane during most of the year, so he gets a little break in terms of his puck possession because that line was a blackhole this year
- rollpards19

And both Kane and Sharp drove puck possession while Bolland did not.
So, does he 'get a break' because he played with them, or did he contribute to the ineffectiveness of that line?

Strike out miserably on a FA replacement.
- QStache

Can I just asked; Who Peed in your cherrios? I could understand all your anger and frustation if this was the Bruins forums... BUt the Hawks just won the Cup and your acting like they got swept by the Av's..

Holding on to Leddy if it comes at no great cap cost in terms of keeping guys like Kruger or Bickell, is the smart play, by a long ways
- John Jaeckel

I want to keep Leddy...just don't want to be paying $ 4-5 mil/yr for him just yet...at least Bicks had a great playoff. Can't say that about Nick.

nice analysis
That's why if I'm Leddy I only sign for one or two years and bet on his own development.
I think if the hawks sign him for three years at 3 mil he will regret it. He should bet on his ability and take less years
- molly2522

Leddy is 22: if he signs for 4 years / $3MM, that's $12MM in his pocket by the time he's 26 - just in time for the big one, if he's earned it.

If not, he's got the $12MM (or what's left of it, but should be a couple of million) as security, plus he still signs lesser contracts.

What Subban did was unusual - 22 year olds should take the security of a couple of years at decent money with time left for a big contract at 26-27-28 years old.

It's not extortion if someone else is willing to pay.

Sheehy is only doing his job: getting his client the best deal possible. Same with Bickell's agent.

It's Bowman's / FO's job to work with the agents to get deals done: my problem with is that Bowman didn't do that earlier with Bickell, and hasn't done it yet with Leddy. I would be much more upset if Leddy left because the FO couldn't work with Sheehy than if they overpay somewhat for Leddy.
- StLBravesFan

Would never happen. I used to do some small time baseball agent stuff. I know different sport. But what I learned is that I was able to get access to GMs and everyone you think you would not be able to. Even though nobody knew me, they were professional because one day they may have to deal with me when they really wanted someone.

I do not doubt Sheehy or any agent is well thought of and FO hate dealing with these guys, but in the end, it is about the player. Because the agents job is to negotiate the deal, the player in teh end can accept or refuse the offer.

So Sheehy being involved will mean bupkis in the teams willingness to sign/keep Leddy. That is not slant to JJ or what others say. Just my opinion from my experiences.

I want to keep Leddy...just don't want to be paying $ 4-5 mil/yr for him just yet...at least Bicks had a great playoff. Can't say that about Nick.
- philco28

Deep breath....read what I have written. It will not be 4 to 5 million. Shattenkirk did not get that, he is more polished.

Relax boys...relax....

I have ahd very littel sleep over the last three days and that is all on me.

I KNEW that this was going to be a tough draft to call because there wer so many possibles in the 45 or so top group.

But pride sometimes takes over...

As I was wearly rushing to finish and I am close, I was angry at myself for having FIVE incorrect picks.

I pride myself on at least typing Bobbby MCKenzie and have managed to do just that three straight years now.

I know, he says his scouts don't "pigeon-hole" the player to destinations (sounds like a convenient excuse) but still this all about pride.

So...all day I am doing this and feeling bad, like I am the loser in the competition I have
set with him (in my mind only) ....
and when I rewatched the broadcast while working the other gusy were saying, yeah, Bob all of your top 5o are off the board, you called it again....

and I just went back to look at his scouts list.

They got SIX wrong in the first round!

and now, I am rejuvinated...and ready for finishing this stupid grading exercise.

I win! Hawks win!
It doesn't get any better....

I want to keep Leddy...just don't want to be paying $ 4-5 mil/yr for him just yet...at least Bicks had a great playoff. Can't say that about Nick.
- philco28

This. Even though Nick was great all regular season, his benching in the SCF will be a major card in the deck. You cant hand a guy redic coin bc he is going to be good. He deserves 2 mil a year for 3 years.

What are peoples thoughts on the bickell contract?
Also are you guys happy with bolland?
- RF_4eva

I am very ok with Bolland going to Toronto and he can help them but in Chicago for a lot of reasons he was not an everyday player.
R
As for Biclel the Hawks paid him around 2.4 million the last four years so after the next 4 he cost them 18.4 million for 8 years or about 2.3 million per
Very fair in my opinion.

Is Briere a pssoible second line center for the Hawks? My knowledge of the less known centers is week so I defer to many of the posters who seem to have vast knowledge of more obscure talent.


Last summer 80% of the board wanted Hammer traded.....not so much now!

As for Leddy
Value is in the eye of the beholder and whatever that number is will be his market value.

Despite alll the talk about what his value is I suspect for the right team who has Cap space it is 4 years @ 16 million or at least close to that.

Time will tell.