Two with out TT one with out Shaw or Leddy (who barely played) so by your logic the center position is vastly upgraded, Leddy who barely saw the ice is a wash meaning Oduya is the real only loss to significantly upgrade that position.

Seems like kind of a no brainer.
- fattybeef

I am thinking more general terms, I think Bowman should have addressed this position season's ago. It will come back to bite him.

Hammer also switched sides...
- fattybeef

I wouldn't be switching sides if I was married to his wife.

I am thinking more general terms, I think Bowman should have addressed this position season's ago. It will come back to bite him.
- powerenforcer

I keep forgetting we haven't won a Stanley Cup in nearly 9 months... If only we had that 2C....

I am thinking more general terms, I think Bowman should have addressed this position season's ago. It will come back to bite him.
- powerenforcer

He addressed last TDL: Handzus.

Worked in last year's play-offs.

May not work in this year's.

TT, leddy and a draft pick ( 1st or 2nd) seems like a more than fair offer for a 29/30 year old center if Gillis wants any more than that then puck him

I rarely say this, but read Ecklund's blog up now.

He took league won-loss records since December 1.

Hawks are 4th in the Central with 16-9-10=42 points in 35 games.
- StLBravesFan

1-6 in shootouts since that time. The Blues are 4-2. The Avs are 3-2. The fact is the Hawks suck at shootouts and the other teams in their division don't. The Hawks suck at 4v4 OT, the other teams don't. Those things don't matter in the playoffs.

Whats that from?
- SimpleJack

Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel. Smart dude.

Although this is an interesting rumor I have a hard time believing the Hawks would trade 3 young, affordable players for a declining veteran. I also find it strange that your sources always clue you in to these wild possibilities ( and yes I understand that deals are discussed all the time and maybe 1 out of 50 happen) but the Hawks made 3 real trades this year, none of which were mentioned beforehand.

Regardless, keep it up, always makes for a fun read.

I gotta say that JJ is correct with the idea that you must process the entire summation, including the Kane resigning part and there looks to be more than mud to start a trade construction.

I have not talked to JJ but I also heard whispers that Kesler was being selective and specific about where he wanted to land.

If the price is centered around Leddy and Tuerovainen I say do it.

Not trying to go negative on the certain improvement I think Leddy is making, but unlike the majority here I am less than certain TT is a NHL centre over possible wing, and even less certain when he makes a strong impact.

The hawks squad is not long in tooth but I am compelled to say Kesler with Kane now is scarier than TT with Kane (or Kane with anyone else we have acquire) in the next five years.

I don't think the hawks need Kesler with Kane to win with Kane, and actually I have trouble digesting Kaner going to Bowman and asking (even very naively) for a speciifc player to play with.

Kane: "Yeah I really liked having Kesler as my centre in the Olympics even though I we weren't a scoring juggernaught, but I thought we clicked, wish we could get him for me to play with!"

Wouldn't the entire scouting community including the hallowed Chicago braintrust have to be making that determination without the need for Kane to pointed it out?

Gilles did say teams couldn't give him what he wanted now.

and I am sure there are many creative ways to make the Kesler salary fit but again, they all are by way of combinations of subtractions off the roster, and thinking the hawks would decide in one fell swoop that both Leddy and Oduya are leaving to get a centre for Kaner seems to go against the fiber of the way this team engine runs from the back end. (and why wouldn't Canucks want Oduya if they are saying bye bye to Edler?)
Yeah you could argue the Toews line and Kane are the engine but I just don't think that paints the real picture.

You notice I have neglected so far to even mention Shaw.
It hurts me to think of this average player with extra sized heart would be gone, and again IF that was the components, the hawks would be
1.Sacrificing a REAL prospects (not lik ethe lesser lights you saw sent in deals for Jagr, Morrow and in deals this deadline)
2. Distrupting a line (and powerplay component) that has nothing to do with the kane line.
3. Subtracting two backliners in you top five, expousing TWO openings there.

for

Kesler
and possibly keeping Kane a happy camper?
(Is Kane taking less than ten mil a year at re-up so there is space for his new centre's salary?)




Maybe then Kaner should go to Buffalo where he may have grandchildren before they are competitive...
(That really sound like I want TT, Oduya and Leddy doesn't it? Or maybe I am just afraid...of change.)

I am thinking more general terms, I think Bowman should have addressed this position season's ago. It will come back to bite him.
- powerenforcer

yeah it isn't very easy to just get a true second line centre unless you develop one....a guy who is a true third line centre make 4 - 5 mil in the UFA market.

yeah it isn't very easy to just get a true second line centre unless you develop one....a guy who is a true third line centre make 4 - 5 mil in the UFA market.
- wiz1901

Look at the crazy money (at the time anyway) guys like Brooks Laich and Olli Jokinen got when that was the going price for a second liner.

Cap goes up next year and the year after. $5MM for two years for Kesler does not look so bad, nor would it require to lose both Leddy and Oduya.

Any draft day trade is going to be influenced by how they do in the post season.

If the Hawks go deep into the post-season, there will be no need or pressure to make a Kessler size deal.


I highly doubt Stan would trade TT for anyone, let alone a crumbling beauty like Kessler. He's no longer Kes-lord like he was in 2010.

- yahoodi

yeah...I thought that about Tony Tanti.

There might be a lot riding on a clear evealuation of IF Tevo Teravainen really is a possible offensive generating second centre candidate and not just a guy who becomes a good pro forward.
I have to believe if they truly believe tat Teravainen can play and distribute the puck in the NHL soon, he goes nowhere.

The key to the argument really is how you hear teams say build down the middle.
If TT is your guy and things don't need massive renovations, they play him there.
I think every one knows what Kesler brings what the body issues are and it seems clear you know what you are getting...
Is that the clear weakness addng a centre with presence behind the goal line, or adding a guy who looks to be able to get Kane the puck, and not embarrass myself as an NHL centremen soon.

Cap goes up next year and the year after. $5MM for two years for Kesler does not look so bad, nor would it require to lose both Leddy and Oduya.
- Return of the Roar

see that is where we may differ...they are gonna need bucks for kane Toews and RFAs Kruger and Saad, and I have trouble believing they are going to attempt to low ball them...eventhough they are RFA's.

see that is where we may differ...they are gonna need bucks for kane Toews and RFAs Kruger and Saad, and I have trouble believing they are going to attempt to low ball them...eventhough they are RFA's.
- wiz1901

May already be baked in the bread - as in for the glory of team the low ball may come from the player side. Not much, but maybe enough.

That would take a leap of faith to move Runblad into a top 4 position with Hjalmarsson. Keeps a pair so Swedes on the second pairing, but Pizza man would be missed. Makes the bottom pairings any of the following: Johns/Dahlbeck/Roszival (if he does not retire this summer).

That is a colossal amount of inexperience at the bottom 3 defensemen level.

Think Brookbank, Handzus, and Roszival all leave this summer via FA or retirement

Using the Leddy, TT, and Shaw proposal it makes the team look like this IMO:

Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Kesler-Kane
Bickell-Kruger-Versteeg
Bollig-Regin/Nordstrom-Smith

Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Rundblad
Johns-Dahlbeck

Leaves the offseason shopping list as:

-#3/4 center (Malhotra type)

-probably 2 #6/7 depth defensemen so Johns plays in Rockford and Dahlbeck rotates in and out of the #6 defenseman role.

- Backup goalie (unless Raanta can be resigned

- Rockford depth (similar to the Winchester signing from last offseason)

Leddy has the $2.7 mil cap hit next year, Shaw has a $2 mil cap hit, and TT has a $925k which is $5.625 mil heading to Vancouver, and Kesler's $5 mil cap space coming back barring any other players coming back with Kesler
- ikeane

You lost me when you started posting lines and pairings!

Leddy is a 3rd pairing guy who I think will be over taken by Rundblad next season and no one knows what TT will amount to.
- paulr

I really don't understand how you can have a concrette opinion on Rundblad based on the twelve games he wasn't in the press box....

I keep forgetting we haven't won a Stanley Cup in nearly 9 months... If only we had that 2C....


- CBHawks88

It's been that long? Time to blow this team up and rebuild!

It's been that long? Time to blow this team up and rebuild!
- DarthKane

Don't worry...if and when we ever fill the 2c position...there will be complaints about defensive depth....back up goaltending.....or whatever hole there happens to be. 2 Cups in 4 years without 2c and yet this year.....is somehow different.

Interesting rumor. Thanks for reporting it, JJ.

My thoughts..... this deal only happens if Kane commits to the Blackhawks beforehand in someway shape or form. They're not going to let TT go if there is any chance that Kane walks as TT is Kane's closest replacement. Albeit an unproven one.

The deal is dependent upon Hossa's health. Kesler is a similar two way player with good puck possession skills. I have a gut feeling Hossa hangs them up after this season and this also explains the additional interest in Kesler.

Shaw wouldn't be too difficult of a loss(DaNault, Hartman, McNeil) but Leddy and Oduya would be. It's hard to imagine Stan getting rid of Leddy and then moving Oduya for cap space, then inserting two rookies and an underachieving Swede.

He addressed last TDL: Handzus.

Worked in last year's play-offs.

May not work in this year's.
- StLBravesFan

Do you really think that he was added as 2c for last year?

Dave Bolland was, Zus was brought in for depth.

Lets not re write history....

I really don't understand how you can have a concrette opinion on Rundblad based on the twelve games he wasn't in the press box....
- wiz1901

Wiz,
I said the same thing but of course, am dismissed because I'm Leddy's "keeper" here (or at least the keep of the Leddy "flame").

The shortcomings posted about Rundblad are exactly the same things this board rails about all the time when conversation turns to Leddy's failings.

Interesting rumor. Thanks for reporting it, JJ.

My thoughts..... this deal only happens if Kane commits to the Blackhawks beforehand in someway shape or form. They're not going to let TT go if there is any chance that Kane walks as TT is Kane's closest replacement. Albeit an unproven one.

The deal is dependent upon Hossa's health. Kesler is a similar two way player with good puck possession skills. I have a gut feeling Hossa hangs them up after this season and this also explains the additional interest in Kesler.

Shaw wouldn't be too difficult of a loss(DaNault, Hartman, McNeil) but Leddy and Oduya would be. It's hard to imagine Stan getting rid of Leddy and then moving Oduya for cap space, then inserting two rookies and an underachieving Swede.
- Bjm84

If Hossa hangs them up after this season he more or less screws the Hawks....he won't do that. Hossa keeps himself in top physical form like Selanne does....there is no reason to think Hossa does not play until he is 40.

Agree on your other points....

Do you really think that he was added as 2c for last year?

Dave Bolland was, Zus was brought in for depth.

Lets not re write history....
- TrueGrit

But he was mostly the 2C in the play-offs, after Bolland proved he couldn't do it.

Good thing too: if Bollan wasn't on the fourth line with 59 seconds left against Boston, the rebound off of the post may not have gone in.

But he was mostly the 2C in the play-offs, after Bolland proved he couldn't do it.

Good thing too: if Bollan wasn't on the fourth line with 59 seconds left against Boston, the rebound off of the post may not have gone in.
- StLBravesFan

Bolland was the 2c before he was hurt and Handzus was the 2C after he was brought in so you are correct......I do not believe Bolland played 2c once he came back from injury......I think we even have video evidence to prove that.....

On the subject of deadline trades, here's potential compliance buy-out candidate Brooks Laich:

“You can make a trade, and the guy can come in and totally not work out,” he noted. “And sometimes the chemistry on your team is so good, that if you rock the boat a little bit it just changes the whole complexion of your team. … One thing [the team's front office is] very cognizant of, they want to bring in a player who not only can help the team win but who also is gonna help the locker room and not hinder it. Because you can get one bad apple in there that just stinks like a fart, and just wrecks the whole room or derails it a little bit.”