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
- prd797

Fantastic asset management by Ottawa there. #1 goalie for unplayable forward. But at least he has that AHL MVP, at younger than Pirri too! Can't imagine how any team without Q would ever scratch a guy like that

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

Not much more needs to be said.

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

If and when winning is no longer important to Kane is the day Kane is no longer important to the Chicago Blackhawks.

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.
- mohel

You'll never hear any GM tell the media what he is trying to do, only what eventually happens. If Bowman refuses to gut sucked into a trade he's not comfortable with that's a good thing for the hawks.

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.
- prd797

Maybe Kane is a greedy bastage....

Brian Lawton ‏@brianlawton9 35m
Don't be surprised if Kesler ends up in CHI via a blind three way deal....... Lot going on behind scenes on this one!(as already reported by someone here)

He is also saying that Clendening's name has been mentioned. I would surmise that Clendening would only be moved for more than just a 'depth' player.

Anyone have any feedback on this guys' accuracy or credibility? JJ? thoughts?

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.
- SteveRain

MY mistake on the CC deal...still not overtly expensive when you consider what Howard, Henriq, and others will be getting....

I agree with you on Bickel.

Not much more needs to be said.
- mohel

One of the most ridiculous comments ever......

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

C'mon Steve - the real question to ask is whether you think he can play better than Regin, who is likely the last roster spot at forward. Doesn't need to be a star, just a better player than they've got. Maybe he's not, but an 8 game tryout would tell a lot.

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.....
- UnnamedSource

Jordan also had Pippen, Rodman, Ron Harper, Tony Kukoc as well.....lets not discount the role players that were very good. Pippen alone.

Didn't the Bulls make the conference finals when Jordan was off getting rehab for his gambling problem?

Bryz to the Wild and Penner to the Caps.

Brian Lawton ‏@brianlawton9 35m
Don't be surprised if Kesler ends up in CHI via a blind three way deal....... Lot going on behind scenes on this one!(as already reported by someone here)

He is also saying that Clendening's name has been mentioned. I would surmise that Clendening would only be moved for more than just a 'depth' player.

Anyone have any feedback on this guys' accuracy or credibility? JJ? thoughts?
- Bjm84

Beat me to it. From what I have read, Lawton is a worse "Insider" than he was GM. Supposedly Eklund has a better track record than him

BTW
Anaheim trades Fasth to EDM, Penner to Caps from Ducks (opening spot for Bicks?), Bryzgalov to MIN for a 4th

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.
- StLBravesFan

I hear ya. But they are both small. Europe might be just as fast or faster. But on the smaller surface things happen quicker. Krueger got rocked with his head down a few times. Sure wouldn't want to see this TT guy get his eggs scrambled prematurely. Or at all for that matter.

Bryz to the Wild and Penner to the Caps.
- DarthKane

And Fasth to Edmonton...

Beat me to it. From what I have read, Lawton is a worse "Insider" than he was GM. Supposedly Eklund has a better track record than him

BTW
Anaheim trades Fasth to EDM, Penner to Caps from Ducks (opening spot for Bicks?), Bryzgalov to MIN for a 4th
- ikeane

At least this Trade Deadline appears to be better than last years!

Beat me to it. From what I have read, Lawton is a worse "Insider" than he was GM. Supposedly Eklund has a better track record than him

BTW
Anaheim trades Fasth to EDM, Penner to Caps from Ducks (opening spot for Bicks?), Bryzgalov to MIN for a 4th
- ikeane

Anaheim gets a 4th for Penner. Ironic he was traded on National Pancake day

Beat me to it. From what I have read, Lawton is a worse "Insider" than he was GM. Supposedly Eklund has a better track record than him

BTW
Anaheim trades Fasth to EDM, Penner to Caps from Ducks (opening spot for Bicks?), Bryzgalov to MIN for a 4th
- ikeane

This makes me happy. Penner's a beast in the playoffs

C'mon Steve - the real question to ask is whether you think he can play better than Regin, who is likely the last roster spot at forward. Doesn't need to be a star, just a better player than they've got. Maybe he's not, but an 8 game tryout would tell a lot.
- mohel

He's better then Regin...that much I don't discount.

Is he in the Saad category? Not sure. Saad is the real deal and if he follows hossa's foot steps will be a legit power forward very soon. Guy continues to progress.....that's why I nicknamed him jesus last year....

As far as TT goes....I'm just holding back assuming he's gong to be the shoe in for 2c next fall, like so many in the media tweeted when Pirri got dealt. Are they being fed a line of crap by Faber and friends? Who knows....but lets wait to see what the kid can do against the best of the best.

Jordan also had Pippen, Rodman, Ron Harper, Tony Kukoc as well.....lets not discount the role players that were very good. Pippen alone.

Didn't the Bulls make the conference finals when Jordan was off getting rehab for his gambling problem?
- SteveRain

Right...and Kane has Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Saad....


Even so...comparing hockey to basketball is where you lose me.....

MY mistake on the CC deal...still not overtly expensive when you consider what Howard, Henriq, and others will be getting....

I agree with you on Bickel.
- UnnamedSource

Hopefully not...I like CC just don't like the deal.

Anaheim gets a 4th for Penner. Ironic he was traded on National Pancake day
- ikeane

That's too perfect.

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.....
- UnnamedSource

What is also not mentioned is that he became Jordan only after his coach convinced him that they would not win unless Jordan made his team better rather than looking at them as anchors.

I think Kane is much less concerned about the personal stuff than is fattybeef.

Anaheim gets a 4th for Penner. Ironic he was traded on National Pancake day
- ikeane

another move coming for Anaheim???? Penner was playing well....something is up.

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.....
- SteveRain

John Shannon (SportsNet) estimated the salary cap won't get to 70M next year because of the shrinking canadian dollar. It was estimated that the cap would be over 71M next year...that's a sizeable gap.

Yes, Kane and Toews are important, just like Crosby, Getzlaf, etc. They're all important, but those two aren't any more important to the NHLPA than they are to the Hawks

And McKenzie thinks the Ducks are getting Robidas. Not a bad addition if that's true.