Kesler = Elite NHL Player
TT = Good European Player MAYBE good NHL player

Winning today Kesler is probably the safer bet. Also Gillis is a huge pooh face and doubtful he trades a player of that caliber in conference.
- fattybeef

I'm sorry, but Kesler is not elite. He's very good but he's not elite. I wouldn't take Kesler over Toews, Kane, Sharp or Hossa. I wouldn't take him over Saad either.

It is gamesmanship. Short of offering Toews or Kane, Vancouver will not accept any deal for Kessler, however, Vancouver can use the Hawks offer to get more from someone else. So in effect the Hawks up the market to hurt their potential competition. That is they force whoever ultimately trades for him to likely give up more than they would like.

In the end, I do not think he goes anywhere. Kesslers do not grow on trees.
- TrueGrit

Seabrook + Shaw maybe gets it done. Heavy cost but fills all kinds of holes and next year is a throw away year or hope to high heaven Johns or Dahlbeck is the real deal. Keith and Hammer skate 30 each in the playoffs and hopefully no one gets injured and they score a multitude of goals.

Leddy + Shaw\Kooga may be ok too if a pick comes back the other way. Gillis allegedly wants NHL caliber players under 25 and the hawks have some of those.

Would have to give up a lot but I think they can get around giving up anything too detrimental to repeat hopes. But again Gillis. And I don't think Stan has it in him to pull the trigger on a big deal.

Is it true that Toews and Kane are gonna both ask for max contracts coming up? 12 million each? Yinz guys did great with the window you had but its gonna become a lot harder soon. Not trying to troll either. Bowman has shown he is a good gm, but if I was him or a fan of Chicago the I would try to put it all on the line now before it becomes much harder to ice the depth your team has.

Kesler has become injury prone. He's been trending down enough that he's playing wing now for Van (although Torts is an idiot, so this could be on him). Kesler of old, I'm all in. Old Kesler, I'm not so sure. I'd be glad to have him, but not for an elite-level haul. And I think Van would need an elite-level haul to trade him, especially to the Hawks.
- mohel

TT and a 2nd.

Eurosmurf and a pick.

Done.

Gotta wait for summer though for cap reasons.

"Source out of Canada..."


- hankthetank

Here's what's funny.

That source reads this thread. That source knows where the information comes from.

And is laughing at you, not with you.

Seabrook + Shaw maybe gets it done. Heavy cost but fills all kinds of holes and next year is a throw away year or hope to high heaven Johns or Dahlbeck is the real deal. Keith and Hammer skate 30 each in the playoffs and hopefully no one gets injured and they score a multitude of goals.

Leddy + Shaw\Kooga may be ok too if a pick comes back the other way. Gillis allegedly wants NHL caliber players under 25 and the hawks have some of those.

Would have to give up a lot but I think they can get around giving up anything too detrimental to repeat hopes. But again Gillis. And I don't think Stan has it in him to pull the trigger on a big deal.
- fattybeef

Dude, you gotta put down the crack pipe.

Is it true that Toews and Kane are gonna both ask for max contracts coming up? 12 million each? Yinz guys did great with the window you had but its gonna become a lot harder soon. Not trying to troll either. Bowman has shown he is a good gm, but if I was him or a fan of Chicago the I would try to put it all on the line now before it becomes much harder to ice the depth your team has.
- ChrisMS

The cap is going up, they'll be fine. Not worried.

Good ole number 12

On pace for 11 goals in the last 22 games.
- Ogilthorpe2

You can't stop him, you only hope to contain him.

Here's what's funny.

That source reads this thread. That source knows where the information comes from.

And is laughing at you, not with you.
- John Jaeckel

Prolly the mysterious poster 6628 or whatever that guy's screen name is with no team affiliation and no location.

Is it true that Toews and Kane are gonna both ask for max contracts coming up? 12 million each? Yinz guys did great with the window you had but its gonna become a lot harder soon. Not trying to troll either. Bowman has shown he is a good gm, but if I was him or a fan of Chicago the I would try to put it all on the line now before it becomes much harder to ice the depth your team has.
- ChrisMS

They're not going anywhere especially with the cap rising. If you think they are re-signing all these players without those two future deals in mind, you're crazy.

Kesler = Elite NHL Player
TT = Good European Player MAYBE good NHL player

Winning today Kesler is probably the safer bet. Also Gillis is a huge pooh face and doubtful he trades a player of that caliber in conference.
- fattybeef

Kesler = playoff warrior each season. But he is so injury prone he probably misses time in playoffs as well.

Question: if Gillis moves Kesler and goes with rebuild next year, safe bet to say team:s record continues downward trajectory. Might Gillis then fear loosing his job? He does have two descent prospects to break in maybe next year. Horvat and Shinkaruk. Though wasn't the latter out inj for a while this season? With Sedin's older although they were re-signed the Canucks need quality drafts coming in. But to sacrifice Kesler for more prospects is a tough call. Any GM has a Kesler "type" should never want to move him.

Hi Al. I agree with your view on the Hawks at the TDL. But how do you reconcile that with the rumors that JJ has posted here, which I'm sure are an accurate reporting of what he's heard? Just curious.
- mohel

People I talk to in Winnipeg tell a different story on Kane. All I'll say. But . . . one's man's trash is another man's treasure. The kid has all the tools. But some say, he is one.

As for what I think the Hawks will do. Probably much as Al has reported and I have as well. Surprised you missed that.

Maybe a reserve defenseman. Maybe a 3rd/4th liner who can kill penalties.

Does that mean that they haven't made a run at Kesler or didn't at Nash or Carter and others in years past. I will tell you. No, it doesn't mean they didn't make runs at those players. I'm 99% certain they did.

Here's what's funny.

That source reads this thread. That source knows where the information comes from.

And is laughing at you, not with you.
- John Jaeckel

That IS funny! A reliable "source in Canada" that reads hockeybuzz!

EDIT: Hi Canadian source!

Seabrook + Shaw maybe gets it done. Heavy cost but fills all kinds of holes and next year is a throw away year or hope to high heaven Johns or Dahlbeck is the real deal. Keith and Hammer skate 30 each in the playoffs and hopefully no one gets injured and they score a multitude of goals.

Leddy + Shaw\Kooga may be ok too if a pick comes back the other way. Gillis allegedly wants NHL caliber players under 25 and the hawks have some of those.

Would have to give up a lot but I think they can get around giving up anything too detrimental to repeat hopes. But again Gillis. And I don't think Stan has it in him to pull the trigger on a big deal.
- fattybeef

NO

The cap is going up, they'll be fine. Not worried.
- Ogilthorpe2

even with the cap going up its gonna be harder to ice a team with depth. You guys do have good young players and I expect you'll be a top team for years.... my point is that you are one of the favorites this year and that may not be the case when 2 players take up close to a third of your cap. Go for Kesler, go for edler, go for brodeur... I'd do whatever I could to get that third cup in 6 years cause it is gonna get harder.

It is just interesting to hear at one time from Stan that he's not even getting calls, and to also hear that the Hawks are discussing trading for all these guys. And I know and believe the reporting by you and JJ is accurate about what was said. But you've answered about what your position is, so thanks.
- mohel

Will you stop bugging AL.

Prolly the mysterious poster 6628 or whatever that guy's screen name is with no team affiliation and no location.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ha, way off.

Generally speaking, ALL my sources at least read here, some post here occasionally. Some players read here actually.

The source on this is very "well positioned" vis a vis a top, top source in Canada. All I'll say. A source that some of the "grandstanders" genuflect to every morning.

So ironic. And funny.

Dude, you gotta put down the crack pipe.
- mohel

Or the beef sandwich.....cholesterol is having an impact on his thinking...

That IS funny! A reliable "source in Canada" that reads hockeybuzz!

EDIT: Hi Canadian source!
- hankthetank

If only you knew. Seriously, you are just really wrong. And, no, I won't divulge.

They should have copyrighted the term "slider" 40 years ago, instead of fighting it.
- StLBravesFan

Its a wink wink thing Sage.

You can't stop him, you only hope to contain him.
- Elbows15

He's as cool as the other side of the pillow... Actually, Zues gets hammered here a lot, but the team tends to win with him in. To me, that is more important than how many points the second line (or Kane) gets. Regin is 0-for-2 so far, in a very small sample size. We'll see how that goes, but I'm not gonna get all cray cray if Zues is the 2C. If the team also wins with Regin in the lineup, that's all the better. This was not directed at you, Elbows, just general chatter...

They're not going anywhere especially with the cap rising. If you think they are re-signing all these players without those two future deals in mind, you're crazy.
- golfbard

With those two taking up so much cap % it is gonna be hard to have the depth you guys have... the solid 3th 4th lines and depth d. Just saying go for it now, make a splash at the deadline...

If only you knew. Seriously, you are just really wrong. And, no, I won't divulge.
- John Jaeckel

I'm really wrong about what?
Feel free to chime in here whenever you'd like, Canadian Source.

Ha, way off.

Generally speaking, ALL my sources at least read here, some post here occasionally. Some players read here actually.

The source on this is very "well positioned" vis a vis a top, top source in Canada. All I'll say. A source that some of the "grandstanders" genuflect to every morning.

So ironic. And funny.
- John Jaeckel

Great - now the REAL hockey world knows we're all idiots.

Kesler = playoff warrior each season. But he is so injury prone he probably misses time in playoffs as well.

Question: if Gillis moves Kesler and goes with rebuild next year, safe bet to say team:s record continues downward trajectory. Might Gillis then fear loosing his job? He does have two descent prospects to break in maybe next year. Horvat and Shinkaruk. Though wasn't the latter out inj for a while this season? With Sedin's older although they were re-signed the Canucks need quality drafts coming in. But to sacrifice Kesler for more prospects is a tough call. Any GM has a Kesler "type" should never want to move him.
- jhawk59

He isn't anymore injury prone than Toews or Hossa, especially Hossa. And he already has 21 goals on an anemic Vancouver offense.

The Canucks need NHL ready younger players to eat minutes and compliment the Twins and the rest of the "Core" there. If Kesler gets them a young solid offensive defensemen and a NHL ready player or two with upside then that may help them more as this year looks like a throw away.