It would be prorated for the remainder of the season and for a few low picks you might be able to get them to eat some (or most) of the salary to give him another shot at winning the cup. I can only see that happening if he really went to Lou and asked specifically to go somewhere like this and to try and make a deal work. As for him not having anything left in the tank, I think that goes out the window when playoff time comes around. I could be wrong and he would fail miserably but I'm just guessing at what the thought process is from management if the rumors are true and they are kicking the tires.
- blackhawks30

Wrong. And they can only eat half the salary. So the Hawks would need $2.2M in cap space to get him. A roster player making at least that much would have to go. Who ya' got?

take off Bickell, and add SAAD instead....part of the deal.......

So Eklund basically reiterated what JJ said about the 'Hawks being in on Kesler. According to Ek, he also said the 'Hawks are in on Vanek and Moulson.

So what does this all mean? That the team will get none of them. He didn't say they were in on Andy MacDonald, so that still remains a possibility.
- TommyHawk

Ha. So true. I pretty much consider the opposite of what Eklund posts. I appreciate what the guy has done with this site and I enjoy interacting with all of you, but dayam that guy is a day late and a dollar short on all his rumors.

Debating/fighting over who we like or dislike is totally separate from the unemotional strategy GM's and personnel managers have to navigate. EK articulated his position like a pro, read the tea leaves and was ahead of the curve.

AS I have been lectured as to how stupid I am to infer what Q thinks or believe, those casting the aspersion see no irony in their being reassured they in fact can. Truth is we never can know, but what we can infer is that there are indeed very limited opportunities for players in this organization.

Kostka too, another example. He was an insurance policy and once the Hawks defense got through the Olympics without injury, the team was ready to risk losing him.

Anyways, its fun playing armchair hockey GM or coach for all of us. Many are anxious to shuffle the deck and create some excitement...so until it all settles I will try to bite my tongue....
- TrueGrit

All good, TG. I was saying good play to your classy comment to Eli. In this guessing game nobody's right all the time - it was nice of you to commend Eli for (finally ) getting one right.

Leddy being a "top paring" guy is debatable, at best.

I'm still looking for more of a consistent physical effort out of McNeill. There hasn't been much of a physical game from him this season.
- EKolb13

very true but he does have the size and a bit of a mean streak at times

take off Bickell, and add SAAD instead....part of the deal.......
- Canuckfan2006

Click....

You (frank)ers are hard to keep up with today.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 1

Re Bollig: With large projected increases to the cap looming, people seem to immediately interpret increased cap space as meaning more $ available for the Kane's and Toews' of the world. While that's true, it's also going to mean a substantial relative increase to all player, even 4th line winger/pugilists. "A rising tide lifts all boats"...so to speak. Congrats to B52, he's earned it.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 2

Re Handzus/2C: I'm not sure if Zeus can pull off another successful Cup Run at 2C or not, but a lot of the commentary, especially that which focuses on his speed, is beginning to remind a lot of the Sopel bashing that took place on this thread before the playoffs started in 2010. Many people on this board were ready to trade Sopel for a roll of tape that Spring, only to be pining for him to be brought back a year later. Sopel went from a slug to a warrior in one post season. Can Zeus do it again? I have my doubts, but he's been a solid pro for a lot of years, and Stan seems to have a pretty good grasp on this team's makeup, so, if no further moves are made, I'm giving both of them the benefit of the doubt.

This is the word of the lord.

You (frank)ers are hard to keep up with today.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 1

Re Bollig: With large projected increases to the cap looming, people seem to immediately interpret increased cap space as meaning more $ available for the Kane's and Toews' of the world. While that's true, it's also going to mean a substantial relative increase to all player, even 4th line winger/pugilists. "A rising tide lifts all boats"...so to speak. Congrats to B52, he's earned it.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 2

Re Handzus/2C: I'm not sure if Zeus can pull off another successful Cup Run at 2C or not, but a lot of the commentary, especially that which focuses on his speed, is beginning to remind a lot of the Sopel bashing that took place on this thread before the playoffs started in 2010. Many people on this board were ready to trade Sopel for a roll of tape that Spring, only to be pining for him to be brought back a year later. Sopel went from a slug to a warrior in one post season. Can Zeus do it again? I have my doubts, but he's been a solid pro for a lot of years, and Stan seems to have a pretty good grasp on this team's makeup, so, if no further moves are made, I'm giving both of them the benefit of the doubt.

This is the word of the lord.
- Ogilthorpe2

Amen to all of the above.......

Ooof...just wrap the guy in bubblewrap

take off Bickell, and add SAAD instead....part of the deal.......
- Canuckfan2006

Pass. Saad is just a hair below untouchable at this point. He's the only top 6 capable young'n we have right now.

Pass. Saad is just a hair below untouchable at this point. He's the only top 6 capable young'n we have right now.
- Ogilthorpe2

Not to mention cap room. If Hawks were to get Kesler, Bickell MUST go to make cap work

Leddy has top pairing potential and would be in the top 4 of almost every other NHL team..Bickell is only 27 and could have won the Conn Smythe last year. Mark McNeil is a former 1st rounder that plays a solid 200 foot game and he brings physicality as well...maybe throw in another 3rd rounder or low level prospect and that offer is way better than the brandon sutter and simon despres package from pittsburg
- EnzoD

Since when?

Since when?
- rollpards19

Since Savvy's first wet dream?

According to CapGeek, Bollig's extension is for 3-years; $3.75 million ($1.25 million per). Sounds like a bargain to me. Nice deal for both sides.

Debating/fighting over who we like or dislike is totally separate from the unemotional strategy GM's and personnel managers have to navigate. EK articulated his position like a pro, read the tea leaves and was ahead of the curve.
- TrueGrit

Again, thanks.

Provided that Morin isn't traded before the end of training camp, you can pencil him in on next season's roster.

As for where Pirri lands, I don't know? Maybe Miami, maybe San Antonio?
- EKolb13

Where do you see Morin fitting in next year?

Sharp - Toews - Hossa
Versteeg - Vacant (TT?) - Kane
Bickell - Shaw - Saad
Bollig - Kruger - Vacant (Smith)?

Morin should be a shot on an NHL team, I just don't see it being with us. Plus, if Morin gets put though waivers somebody will claim him. So he's either with the big club for 82 games or 0.

It's not a bad idea to hold onto Morin until the summer, he can be used as leverage in the Smith signing.

take off Bickell, and add SAAD instead....part of the deal.......
- Canuckfan2006

Put down the pipe....

You (frank)ers are hard to keep up with today.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 1

Re Bollig: With large projected increases to the cap looming, people seem to immediately interpret increased cap space as meaning more $ available for the Kane's and Toews' of the world. While that's true, it's also going to mean a substantial relative increase to all player, even 4th line winger/pugilists. "A rising tide lifts all boats"...so to speak. Congrats to B52, he's earned it.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 2

Re Handzus/2C: I'm not sure if Zeus can pull off another successful Cup Run at 2C or not, but a lot of the commentary, especially that which focuses on his speed, is beginning to remind a lot of the Sopel bashing that took place on this thread before the playoffs started in 2010. Many people on this board were ready to trade Sopel for a roll of tape that Spring, only to be pining for him to be brought back a year later. Sopel went from a slug to a warrior in one post season. Can Zeus do it again? I have my doubts, but he's been a solid pro for a lot of years, and Stan seems to have a pretty good grasp on this team's makeup, so, if no further moves are made, I'm giving both of them the benefit of the doubt.

This is the word of the lord.
- Ogilthorpe2

<---Are we sure this isnt Bowman in disguise?

You (frank)ers are hard to keep up with today.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 1

Re Bollig: With large projected increases to the cap looming, people seem to immediately interpret increased cap space as meaning more $ available for the Kane's and Toews' of the world. While that's true, it's also going to mean a substantial relative increase to all player, even 4th line winger/pugilists. "A rising tide lifts all boats"...so to speak. Congrats to B52, he's earned it.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 2

Re Handzus/2C: I'm not sure if Zeus can pull off another successful Cup Run at 2C or not, but a lot of the commentary, especially that which focuses on his speed, is beginning to remind a lot of the Sopel bashing that took place on this thread before the playoffs started in 2010. Many people on this board were ready to trade Sopel for a roll of tape that Spring, only to be pining for him to be brought back a year later. Sopel went from a slug to a warrior in one post season. Can Zeus do it again? I have my doubts, but he's been a solid pro for a lot of years, and Stan seems to have a pretty good grasp on this team's makeup, so, if no further moves are made, I'm giving both of them the benefit of the doubt.

This is the word of the lord.
- Ogilthorpe2

Let me know when you get to the part of your gospel where you turn water into wine.

You (frank)ers are hard to keep up with today.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 1

Re Bollig: With large projected increases to the cap looming, people seem to immediately interpret increased cap space as meaning more $ available for the Kane's and Toews' of the world. While that's true, it's also going to mean a substantial relative increase to all player, even 4th line winger/pugilists. "A rising tide lifts all boats"...so to speak. Congrats to B52, he's earned it.

Ogi Chapter 14 verse 2

Re Handzus/2C: I'm not sure if Zeus can pull off another successful Cup Run at 2C or not, but a lot of the commentary, especially that which focuses on his speed, is beginning to remind a lot of the Sopel bashing that took place on this thread before the playoffs started in 2010. Many people on this board were ready to trade Sopel for a roll of tape that Spring, only to be pining for him to be brought back a year later. Sopel went from a slug to a warrior in one post season. Can Zeus do it again? I have my doubts, but he's been a solid pro for a lot of years, and Stan seems to have a pretty good grasp on this team's makeup, so, if no further moves are made, I'm giving both of them the benefit of the doubt.

This is the word of the lord.
- Ogilthorpe2

Verse 1 is exactly correct. Agents know that the cap is going up. They, like other teams' GMs, are not in business to make the Hawks better. When the team wants a longer-term deal it is partly to lock in the player to a known number - smart move when the cap is expected to go up. The agent knows this and advises the player that a longer deal means he'll be underpaid by the end of it (assuming he's not old). To offset this, they need to raise the AAV to about where they believe the market will be at the midpoint of the contract. Not doing so would be malpractice. This causes people on message boards to moan and groan that "so-and-so equal player who signed two years ago only makes x." As a service, they should include in press releases the % of the current cap space the contract eats. 1.7% for Bollig - Stan's a wild man!!

<---Are we sure this isnt Bowman in disguise?
- hockey nut 28

I've met Ogie in person, so I'll vouch that he isn't Bowman.

Ooof...just wrap the guy in bubblewrap
- keatondixon

Who, Pronger?

Where do you see Morin fitting in next year?

Sharp - Toews - Hossa
Versteeg - Vacant (TT?) - Kane
Bickell - Shaw - Saad
Bollig - Kruger - Vacant (Smith)?

Morin should be a shot on an NHL team, I just don't see it being with us. Plus, if Morin gets put though waivers somebody will claim him. So he's either with the big club for 82 games or 0.

It's not a bad idea to hold onto Morin until the summer, he can be used as leverage in the Smith signing.
- DarthKane

Smith is a RFA. Unless he has arbitration rights, he has little leverage.

As for Morin, who is also an RFA with no arbitration rights, he'll be a cheap re-signing who could be a valuable platoon player and/or 13th forward.

It would be prorated for the remainder of the season and for a few low picks you might be able to get them to eat some (or most) of the salary to give him another shot at winning the cup. I can only see that happening if he really went to Lou and asked specifically to go somewhere like this and to try and make a deal work. As for him not having anything left in the tank, I think that goes out the window when playoff time comes around. I could be wrong and he would fail miserably but I'm just guessing at what the thought process is from management if the rumors are true and they are kicking the tires.
- blackhawks30

I'm surprised the CBA doesn't allow teams to carry more than half a cap hit for players over a certain age. It would be a solid way to get players like Brodeur or Jagr some final chances at a cup.

Let me know when you get to the part of your gospel where you turn water into wine.


- EKolb13

He's much better at turning wine into piss.