Hope you were able to catch the Spartacus series on Starz!!! Talk about some T&A and killing!!!
- resqmed99

Loved it. Didn't think ROME on HBO would be beat...it was, and it wasn't close.

Today's article...Sharp, Oduya, Leddy not Seabrook could be in play...Kesler unlikely but Spezza or E. Kane??... Bowman may need to open cap space and if not a big splash look to add some size and experience for bottom six.


Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR
On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Evander Kane is intriguing. Sharp + TT + Leddy is a lot to give up for him. I think Bowman would have to hang on to TT or Leddy to swing a deal for a 2C.

Bettman's doing! Laugh at it, but it is true.
- powerenforcer

I shouldn't do this - I should go bang my head against the wall instead - but:

HUH?

Evander Kane is intriguing. Sharp + TT + Leddy is a lot to give up for him. I think Bowman would have to hang on to TT or Leddy to swing a deal for a 2C.
- Hawks82

Interesting because there is a chance the Jets may try to move him and get a bunch back in return...

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR

Like the article a lot. Especially the part about Q giving more kids a chance to get experience during the season. Looked to me he could have used more fresh legs this playoff year. Love how the first thing Q commented on after the playoffs was how they were not fatigued. Gotta call BS on that.
- 6628

Players never admit they are tired in the playoffs....And if they were Q had something to do it.

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR

Evander Kane is intriguing. Sharp + TT + Leddy is a lot to give up for him. I think Bowman would have to hang on to TT or Leddy to swing a deal for a 2C.
- Hawks82

You think Kesler has locker room issues? Evander Kane is in a class by himself. I'm surprised Ladd hasn't knocked him out yet. No thanks to that guy.

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?

You think Kesler has locker room issues? Evander Kane is in a class by himself. I'm surprised Ladd hasn't knocked him out yet. No thanks to that guy.
- z1990z

THIS.

Go google the picture of him holding a stack of money in Vegas during the lockout. And then try to figure out when in mid January he disappears forever...why he gave up the farm.

If Bowman trades for E Kane, I will pull Olgie and threaten my allegiance to this team.

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?
- z1990z

I'm guessing he will go home to St. Louis.

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?
- z1990z

STL is a very probable landing spot for the guy.

However, would the lure of playing with Kane on a 2-3 year friendly deal be enough and legit chance at a cup?

Can I just ask how TT plays with Kane? How can those 2 coexist on the same line....both small, both need the puck to have their game humming along. Plus, if I'm Kane do I want to ride another year with another "potential center" like they did with Saad this year in the fall? I think not.

What have we seen with TT? Not much. We here the hype. Is it warranted? I don't know. Count me as a NO. If he were that good, he would have been in the lineup this spring to give this team a shot.

Johns I am with you, which is why I think outside of Brookbank at least 1 maybe 2 others could be going.

I just don't think a fine tune will do.....the division is catching up. Lets not forget this team finished 3rd. The Blues are very close to breaking through and Stasny could land there. You have whispers of Vanek going to Minny. Colorado has the Hawks number. Anaheim had a great season. LA is a beast.

What I am getting at is, IF this organization thinks a veteran winger or D man and plugging in prospects is going to be the fix this team needs to win 16 playoff games.....then count me as screaming NO right now. They need more then just a fine tune, and really need address some issues that have been plaguing them every year they don't win.....depth.

I'm hoping Bowman shocks us all.......just resigning Kane/Toews wont' be enough to fulfill my Hawks fix this summer. We all should want more and demand more.
- SteveRain

Well, remember, the #1 reason the Hawks brought TT over, NUMBER 1, was to sign him while Jokerit was still a team in the finnish league because next year Jokerit is in the K-league and getting him out of there is much more expensive and technical and who needs it….. Sign him, get him over here and work on him this summer. Goodman has him now….

As for how they'll play…. they both skate like the wind, both have great vision and are excellent passers. They'd supposedly have the Beast on their opposing wing. And you lay it out for Mr. Kane pretty simply: Look, we believe TT is vital to our success going forward. And if we're to try and win the cup everyone of the eight ( or seven, or 6) years of your extension, then we need to infuse the lineup with players like TT…..You played with Sam Gagner, well, picture him,with better hands and better skating….

For all this need for change, the Hawks were an overtime deflected goal away from going to their 3rd stanley cup in 5 years……does that sound like a team ready to mix it up that much…….?

I'm guessing he will go home to St. Louis.
- mrpaulish

Or stay in Denver on a discount. His fiancée lives there and owns a business there.

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?
- z1990z

Too much...

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?
- z1990z

I still think that Hossa can get him to take a discount to play here, at least 1 year.

Or stay in Denver on a discount. His fiancée lives there and owns a business there.
- EKolb13

I'm thinking St. Louis or Colorado as well for him as well.

Interesting because there is a chance the Jets may try to move him and get a bunch back in return...

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR
- Al

The Jets definitely should shop him. It's become obvious that whatever the reason he's just not a good fit in Winnipeg.

I did not realize that Paul Stastny is gonna be an UFA. Wow... what a guy to have on that #2 line. Wonder what he will command salary wise?
- z1990z

Too much for us to waste our time on.

Well, remember, the #1 reason the Hawks brought TT over, NUMBER 1, was to sign him while Jokerit was still a team in the finnish league because next year Jokerit is in the K-league and getting him out of there is much more expensive and technical and who needs it….. Sign him, get him over here and work on him this summer. Goodman has him now….

As for how they'll play…. they both skate like the wind, both have great vision and are excellent passers. They'd supposedly have the Beast on their opposing wing. And you lay it out for Mr. Kane pretty simply: Look, we believe TT is vital to our success going forward. And if we're to try and win the cup everyone of the eight ( or seven, or 6) years of your extension, then we need to infuse the lineup with players like TT…..You played with Sam Gagner, well, picture him,with better hands and better skating….

For all this need for change, the Hawks were an overtime deflected goal away from going to their 3rd stanley cup in 5 years……does that sound like a team ready to mix it up that much…….?
- yahoodi

Splitting straws a little bit.....but we all know they don't win 4, maybe not even 8 games without Crawford being the best player in each of those series. The LA series, the rest of the guys picked him up. So while they were an OT goal away, I still think you have to look at the big picture. For the entire year they were very inconsistent, got away from their system, and without CC bailing them out...are probably home after round 1.

I don't doubt about the TT dilemma just curious to see if Kane will BUY into it and believe the kid can be his white whale in the 2C spot.

I'm thinking St. Louis or Colorado as well for him as well.
- golfbard

Agreed. Maybe Toronto might have an outside shot at him, provided the money is stupid high enough.

Well, remember, the #1 reason the Hawks brought TT over, NUMBER 1, was to sign him while Jokerit was still a team in the finnish league because next year Jokerit is in the K-league and getting him out of there is much more expensive and technical and who needs it….. Sign him, get him over here and work on him this summer. Goodman has him now….

As for how they'll play…. they both skate like the wind, both have great vision and are excellent passers. They'd supposedly have the Beast on their opposing wing. And you lay it out for Mr. Kane pretty simply: Look, we believe TT is vital to our success going forward. And if we're to try and win the cup everyone of the eight ( or seven, or 6) years of your extension, then we need to infuse the lineup with players like TT…..You played with Sam Gagner, well, picture him,with better hands and better skating….

For all this need for change, the Hawks were an overtime deflected goal away from going to their 3rd stanley cup in 5 years……does that sound like a team ready to mix it up that much…….?
- yahoodi

Also in some respect they were also a bounce or two away from losing to the Blues or Wild. You could say Crawford was the difference in both series.

They don't have to do much and can continue to play one line short....or then again the Hawks were the overwhelming favorite to win the Central and never were really close.

The Central is vg and Kings and Ducks aren't going anywhere.
Hawks front office knows the same...

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR

THIS.

Go google the picture of him holding a stack of money in Vegas during the lockout. And then try to figure out when in mid January he disappears forever...why he gave up the farm.

If Bowman trades for E Kane, I will pull Olgie and threaten my allegiance to this team.
- SteveRain

If the worst thing the guy has done is pretend use a stack of money as a phone, I'd say people are getting their panties all twisted up for no good reason.

The Jets definitely should shop him. It's become obvious that whatever the reason he's just not a good fit in Winnipeg.
- Hawks82

Only 22 years old but if he doesn't want to play there better to move him now while value is high and there is contract certainty for awhile.

Hawks may not be able to stand pat this summer. Competition is fierce big names could be in play around NHL. Fox Chgo:http://bit.ly/1oDBYHR

If the worst thing the guy has done is pretend use a stack of money as a phone, I'd say people are getting their panties all twisted up for no good reason.
- Hawks82

He's immature, and floats.

He has far less talent then Kane, or else Chevy might be willing to wait on him. Fact that he ISN'T speaks volumes.

PASS.

I will argue that THIS is the most important summer the Hawks have had since 2009. Maybe even bigger. Back then you were coming off of a conference final lost and added 3 veterans...Madden, Kopecky, and Hossa. Forget the RFA snafu.

This is the 1st year in the Kane/Toews era they failed to meet expectations. For those saying conference finals isn't a failure, I beg to differ. The other 15 playoff teams that didn't win 16 playoff games, will argue that as well. If the "One goal" philosophy is just that and not a marketing gimmick to make it seem like this organization cares about winning, then more then a fine tune is in order these next 30 days.

They lost to the Kings because their center depth was a joke. Their size was a joke. They need 1-2 larger big bodied guys, who can skate, and play a high octaine possession game. They need an actual center to play with Kane. The kid had 20 points skating with Handzus and Shaw. What happens if he gets somebody that doesn't force the opposition to double team Kane. Hossa/Toews have that advantage right now.

The biggest struggles I see Bowman are:

1. Leddy vs Oduya...Youth and what could be vs the short term with Oduya because come UFA status you can't pay 4th d man 5+ million which Oduya will get.

2. Shaw vs Kruger....if you are dangling guys to put together a package for Kesler I have to assume after Saad and leddy it comes down to these 2. Probably Shaw. However, IMO, I'm not so sure Shaw is slam dunk over Kruger. Will Kruger EVER be more then a poor man's Dave Bolland? I don't know. An empty net goal in 19 games isn't very appeasing to me. Smith and Shaw have some a more "clutch" side then Kruger. The Hawks need Shaw's grit and a 3rd line defensive center is a helluva lot easier to replace then a kid with grit and some versatility and upside in Shaw.

3. Sharp....do you trade him to free cap space and hope that a healthy Bickell playing with Toews-Hossa and an emerging star in Saad replace those 35 goals? Plus a 2nd line center?

Again....very curious to see how these next 30 days plan out, but June 27th should be very entertaining. I'm sure IF the Hawks are IN on Kesler they will push to make that deal PRIOR to the draft so they can get Toews and Kane in line and then go after their RFAs so they can have their cap in order so they can look for any "deals" when the market opens on July 1st.

Big summer for Bowman.....
- SteveRain

Most on this board will go apoplectic over this, but I suspect the Hawks are more likely to deal Shaw than Kruger, although I don't think either is being shopped. Shaw is probably never going to be more than what he is, Kruger will be.

Kruger is, or will soon be, a classic shutdown 3C. Shaw is really more of a true wing, on a team loaded at wing and weak at center, and therefore already somewhat less valuable.

Kruger is NOT physically mature. When he is, he WILL be a better player than he is today. And he is already a good NHL player, with real value as a PK guy and able to spot anywhere from lines 2-4 as a center, great defensively.

Too much for us to waste our time on.
- DarthKane

DK!?



Now is the time to kick the can on stuff like this. Didn't Q coach him at one time?