Oh and that was a helluva trade for the Blues on Friday.

Shoring up the net with Miller is a big add. No more soft goals allowed by Halak. Miller only facing 20 shots a game will keep him fresh...Guy had a .923 sv percentage behind that crap in Buffalo...

And then there is Ott.....Great add. STL will be an extremely tough out...

but I know....phuck the blues.....silly me.

It does really suck for him to have 2 Cups by 25 years of age, and a Conn Smythe.

To me, though, the main thing is the team's performance. I'm less concerned about how Kane is doing than how the team is doing. But that's just me....
- mohel

Meh, it is about mindset at a certain point in time.

Most elite athletes hit a point where they want to be the best, get the accolades for being the best and collect as many trophies as possible. At a certain point in time personal stats matter. Scoring points and winning mattered to Jordan, scoring points AND winning matters to Lebron, running the offense matters to Peyton Manning, scoring goals matters to Ibrahimović and Louis Suarez.

He has already won two Cups. He HAD a tremendous opportunity this year to be the first United States born player to win the scoring title and that went down the toilet when he was forced to drag around Handzus and Versteeg.

Winning is neat, but if that was me I would start getting frustrated that my stat line is being compromised for who knows what reason AND it isn't contributing to the greater good in any capacity.

Look at the W vs L for when Kane was scoring stupid vs when he got anchored and slowed down. AMAZINGLY enough the Hawks have been on a bit of a skid. Shooting 3% sucks, but not having any other competent players on his line has to be getting old.

Stan:

PLEASE STAY AWAY from Gomez. He is not a #2 center

In other less obvious news:

Conacher would be a nice claim for Rockford but don't think he will last that long.

My question on TT is if he comes over, is he restricted from playing in the playoffs like LeBlah was last year?

Stan:

PLEASE STAY AWAY from Gomez. He is not a #2 center

In other less obvious news:

Conacher would be a nice claim for Rockford but don't think he will last that long.

My question on TT is if he comes over, is he restricted from playing in the playoffs like LeBlah was last year?
- ikeane

I think the only stipulation is it burns a year off ELC IF he plays + 10

13 minutes ago
@FarhanLaljiTSN: RT @brianlawton9: Don't be surprised if Kesler ends up in CHI via a blind three way deal....... Lot going on behind scenes on this one!

Yes...I do realize that. I also realize he is the same who paid Corey Crawford 6 million a year until the apocalypse and gave Bickell that nice deal.

Oh...hold on...Eklund is NOW reporting the Hawks are standing pat. Wow....shocker.
- SteveRain

Its a three year deal and after this year....with all of the goalie FA's he will be cheap. Bickels deal will also be cheap when the term is finished......the cap will keep rising and 4 million per will be what 2.5 million is today.

Did you see that goof wants 5+ million a year? And people on here think Toews and Kane are coming in below 10 million per year.....
- SteveRain

Haha. I like Bolland quite a bit (more his game, than him), but I do wish the Hawks got more from him during his time here. Due to a dearth of centers on the market, he'll probably get $4.5, but the 5/yr is his starting point.

And I do think Toews and Kane will get less than 10M on a cap hit, like 9-9.5. I wouldn't be surprised if the front office gets creative with the way the dollars are set forth and how that is paid out. Consider me skeptical, but I don't think the cap is going to rise as much/fast as some may think.

Guys, did you know Cory Conahcer won an AHL MVP?!?!?! We have to sign him. He deserves a chance. Phucking Q won't even sign Conacher. AHL MVP, he's shown he's a top 6 guarantee!
- rollpards19

No worries...TT is going to come over and score 40 goals and net 100 points playing the #2 pivot next year. McDonough will have his bobble head in production in no time.

Seriously though, sucks for him and sucks for fans of the sport to see one of the most exciting players in the league getting neutered by his own coach \ front office.
- fattybeef

I know, having a team as a perennial contender and just coming off a cup win sucks and obviously shows how incompetent the coach and GM are.

13 minutes ago
@FarhanLaljiTSN: RT @brianlawton9: Don't be surprised if Kesler ends up in CHI via a blind three way deal....... Lot going on behind scenes on this one!
- PFD_Hawks

Only way I see this is if Kane said he wants Kesler as his #2 center and the Hawks are trying to appease him for his upcoming contract negotiations. Having said that, I agree with the masses and respect Al a lot so am only expecting perhaps a bottom 6 role player and a depth defenseman at most.

I know, having a team as a perennial contender and just coming off a cup win sucks and obviously shows how incompetent the coach and GM are.
- paulr

Sucks for us fans.....seeing two cup winning teams in four years.

If you need measuring stick: Marcus Kruger 2011. Same age, same stage of development, coming off a good year in the Swedish Elite Pro league. Came over, played and contributed down the stretch and in the playoffs.

They're probably not the same kid: TT has the higher skill level, Kruger has the heart of a world champ prizefighter.

But I also don't think you can say TT has never seen physical competition or won't be ready to contribute in some way. It's a nice card for Bowman to have.

But I wish he could kill penalties and privde energy like Frolik.
- John Jaeckel

Who has more skins on the wall??

No worries...TT is going to come over and score 40 goals and net 100 points playing the #2 pivot next year. McDonough will have his bobble head in production in no time.
- SteveRain

I don't think anyone has said that but I know it made you feel better to write that

Sucks for us fans.....seeing two cup winning teams in four years.
- UnnamedSource

But don't bring up the fact they won two cups, that just clouds the issue!

Only way I see this is if Kane said he wants Kesler as his #2 center and the Hawks are trying to appease him for his upcoming contract negotiations. Having said that, I agree with the masses and respect Al a lot so am only expecting perhaps a bottom 6 role player and a depth defenseman at most.
- ikeane

Me as well, just copy/pasted what I saw!

Its a three year deal and after this year....with all of the goalie FA's he will be cheap. Bickels deal will also be cheap when the term is finished......the cap will keep rising and 4 million per will be what 2.5 million is today.
- UnnamedSource

Crawford is signed until 2020. Check out cap geek, and do what I did...pour yourself a drink.

We'll see on Bickell. He could very well become Buff where his deal is far too expensive to be a role guy. He's been BAD this year, and people can claim he's hurt all they want but he hasn't contributed much besides goal scoring and why he found his @ss benched prior to the Olympics.

Short term this deal is bad...long term...maybe but Bickell has to progress and show that his 2013 playoff production wasn't just a guy looking to get paid.

Guys, did you know Cory Conahcer won an AHL MVP?!?!?! We have to sign him. He deserves a chance. Phucking Q won't even sign Conacher. AHL MVP, he's shown he's a top 6 guarantee!
- rollpards19

I mean, Conacher at least proved he can put up points at the NHL level, which got him traded to Ottawa in the first place. I don't think he'd be that bad of a waiver pickup. Somebody will probably claim him, it'd be even funnier if Tampa gets him back. Then Ottawa basically just gave them a starting goaltender in Bishop for free

Sounds like Bowman is playing poker
- 6628

I was wondering yesterday about the dual story lines out there - he's not taking calls AND they are in on some big names. Sounds like poker indeed. I guess we'll see what everyone's holding by tomorrow afternoon.

I don't think anyone has said that but I know it made you feel better to write that
- UnnamedSource

It did....LOT of TT love on here. Some guys need to get a room.

Sucks for us fans.....seeing two cup winning teams in four years.
- UnnamedSource

sure, but what about the other two years they didn't win?
how come they don't go 82-0 every year?
Why do they ever give up a goal?
fish rots from head down...losers



(red font)

And got his bell rung a few times figuring out how to keep his head up on a smaller surface too. Just sayin.
- 6628

And wasn't brought in to the a top-6 forward on a Cup contending team: no one had any hopes about the play-offs that year.

Meh, it is about mindset at a certain point in time.

Most elite athletes hit a point where they want to be the best, get the accolades for being the best and collect as many trophies as possible. At a certain point in time personal stats matter. Scoring points and winning mattered to Jordan, scoring points AND winning matters to Lebron, running the offense matters to Peyton Manning, scoring goals matters to Ibrahimović and Louis Suarez.

He has already won two Cups. He HAD a tremendous opportunity this year to be the first United States born player to win the scoring title and that went down the toilet when he was forced to drag around Handzus and Versteeg.

Winning is neat, but if that was me I would start getting frustrated that my stat line is being compromised for who knows what reason AND it isn't contributing to the greater good in any capacity.

Look at the W vs L for when Kane was scoring stupid vs when he got anchored and slowed down. AMAZINGLY enough the Hawks have been on a bit of a skid. Shooting 3% sucks, but not having any other competent players on his line has to be getting old.
- fattybeef

First off, its stupid to think Kane could outscore Crosby. He can't and won't ever. Second, tell me how many goals Brandon Pirri and Patrick Kane combined for. Third, if you were getting frustrated go score a phucking goal, it's not like he hasn't had chances. Fourth, Patrick Kane just had his best regular season playing with nobody, it doesn't really matter who's on his line.

Only way I see this is if Kane said he wants Kesler as his #2 center and the Hawks are trying to appease him for his upcoming contract negotiations. Having said that, I agree with the masses and respect Al a lot so am only expecting perhaps a bottom 6 role player and a depth defenseman at most.
- ikeane

If you are talking 'appeasement', I'd argue they've already done on a base level when they brought Versteeg back, as it doesn't hurt that he was one of Kane's good friends.

Haha. I like Bolland quite a bit (more his game, than him), but I do wish the Hawks got more from him during his time here. Due to a dearth of centers on the market, he'll probably get $4.5, but the 5/yr is his starting point.

And I do think Toews and Kane will get less than 10M on a cap hit, like 9-9.5. I wouldn't be surprised if the front office gets creative with the way the dollars are set forth and how that is paid out. Consider me skeptical, but I don't think the cap is going to rise as much/fast as some may think.
- eburgio

They keep pimping these outdoor games it will continue to sky rocket. And that is why a deal like Kane and Toews will be very important for the NHLPA. They need those guys to cash in to allow the 2nd and 3rd and 4th tier guys to make more. It's the Fehr way.....

But don't bring up the fact they won two cups, that just clouds the issue!
- paulr

Funny bringing up Jordan.....we all know he was the best to ever live and to compare him and his motivations to Kane is ridiculous. What is not mentioned is how Jordan took less money so he could build a team around him.....what is not mentioned is how Jordan would rather have more than the six NBA Championships than a scoring title or MVP.......what is also not mentioned is how the dynamic of basketball is different than hockey....but hey if it helps fit the narrative then include it in the body of evidence to support your point.

Oh and Jordan also played with Bill Wennington, Jud Buechler, Luc Longley & Dennis Hopkins to name a few.....