Then TT looks like he is in junior high.
- Elbows15

No debate here...

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

And have Vancouver retain half of his salary
- Ogilthorpe2

I am dying here.

The player Kane was quoted as saying he was the best he ever played with was Phil Kessel....during the Olympics.
- Al

I thought it was all a joke between him and toews. I thought Toews started it joking about one of his Canada teammates being the best he played with or something like that. And toews and Kane just teased each other

I found that place just before I joined here. After about 10 minutes of posting there, I just gave up. That place is cray-cray.
- EKolb13

It was truly special.

I thought it was all a joke between him and toews. I thought Toews started it joking about one of his Canada teammates being the best he played with or something like that. And toews and Kane just teased each other
- tomcat24

It was. They love to bust each others' balls.

I agree Kruger will fine tune his skills but he is pretty much what he will be in many ways.

He is as tough as nails but I doubt he will gain much more weight at this point.

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

I would like to keep both kruger and shaw. I guess if one had to be included it would be kruger. I think shaw brings a lot to the table. I think he brings more offense and he is huge in the room. Jamal mayers even mentioned how important his personality is. Keeping things loose

It was. They love to bust each others' balls.
- Elbows15

Yeah that's what I thought. I wouldn't read too much into those Kessel comments. I bethe does want to play with kesler, though

Yeah that's what I thought. I wouldn't read too much into those Kessel comments. I bethe does want to play with kesler, though
- tomcat24

Its not exactly like he is an excellent judge of character.

Whatever this guy is smoking I want a hit of....

- bhawks8819

He's not smoking. Now if you ask about consuming edibles, you'll get a different answer.

Edit: or....

This explains a lot. You're one of those...
- Ogilthorpe2

What are the Hawks actually losing in such a deal? sure - anything can be an asset, however the real asset the Hawks need is a legitimate 2nd line center.

The problem is that many are looking at "straight up value" instead of team needs.

A lot of people thought Calgary was insane in hindsight for giving up Brett Hull - truth is that trade filled team needs and won them a cup...

A guy like Kesler is certainly more valuable than Bickell, so who really cares about the prospects or picks beyond TT - the Hawks have too many prospects, and most are 1st or 2nd line or bust players or top paring defensemen or bust. The only real prospects the Hawks have are prospects that could be elite someday playing in a bottom 6 role or as a #5 or 6 defensemen on the Hawks - where they could flourish on other teams given the opportunity - an opportunity the Hawks can't give them.

So why sit on a bunch of prospects - players you're not even using to upgrade drastically at a #2 center? it makes no sense.

And as far as Bickell, he's not one of a kind - hes a coaches player. He has no unique skills other than size. Quite frankly an argument could be made that the Hawks should have kept Jayes instead of trading him to Flrodia - beause Jayes is doing exactly what Bickell has done for the Hawks - and in my opinion - a lot more effectively.

It doesn't matter tho because most Hawks fans have no interest in ideas on how to improve the team but would rather criticize those that do.

There is no way Vancouver is going to eat half of that cap hit. Anyways, Kesler is more than likely going to another team with a better trade offer.
- EKolb13

In a trade with the hawks, I don't see this happening either. It would have to be something out of bizarro world, in which Vancouver demands Burrows is part of the deal (oh, God no) and the Canucks end up getting back basically prospects and draft picks. I feel dirty for typing that...

What are the Hawks actually losing in such a deal? sure - anything can be an asset, however the real asset the Hawks need is a legitimate 2nd line center.

The problem is that many are looking at "straight up value" instead of team needs.

A lot of people thought Calgary was insane in hindsight for giving up Brett Hull - truth is that trade filled team needs and won them a cup...

A guy like Kesler is certainly more valuable than Bickell, so who really cares about the prospects or picks beyond TT - the Hawks have too many prospects, and most are 1st or 2nd line or bust players or top paring defensemen or bust. The only real prospects the Hawks have are prospects that could be elite someday playing in a bottom 6 role or as a #5 or 6 defensemen on the Hawks - where they could flourish on other teams given the opportunity - an opportunity the Hawks can't give them.

So why sit on a bunch of prospects - players you're not even using to upgrade drastically at a #2 center? it makes no sense.

And as far as Bickell, he's not one of a kind - hes a coaches player. He has no unique skills other than size. Quite frankly an argument could be made that the Hawks should have kept Jayes instead of trading him to Flrodia - beause Jayes is doing exactly what Bickell has done for the Hawks - and in my opinion - a lot more effectively.

It doesn't matter tho because most Hawks fans have no interest in ideas on how to improve the team but would rather criticize those that do.
- Tazer19

Then using this logic. Why would the Canucks accept these useless assets AND pay 50% of Kesler's salary?

And did you just call Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri elite?

I would like to keep both kruger and shaw. I guess if one had to be included it would be kruger. I think shaw brings a lot to the table. I think he brings more offense and he is huge in the room. Jamal mayers even mentioned how important his personality is. Keeping things loose
- tomcat24

I completely agree - Shawzy reminds me a lot of Wendel Clark, he has the heart and soul and willingness to belong in the NHL - not to mention he is captain material.. The guy is everything you want in a gritty hockey player - not to mention the guy can score. I think he had 19 or 20 goals last year...

Kruger is great at the dot and plays a nice gritty defensive game but Shaw is by far the more valuable between the two.

I would have no problem giving Kruger up in a deal for Kesler.

Shaw gets 3rd line center duties and it opens a spot on the bottom 3 for a kid to come up and show what he can do - and there is plenty competition there.

I would like to keep both kruger and shaw. I guess if one had to be included it would be kruger. I think shaw brings a lot to the table. I think he brings more offense and he is huge in the room. Jamal mayers even mentioned how important his personality is. Keeping things loose
- tomcat24

As it stands now there isn't a replacement for either....You saw how the Hawks looked without Shaw...

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

As it stands now there isn't a replacement for either....You saw how the Hawks looked without Shaw...
- Al

Agreed.

...and if the idea is to get stronger down the middle, trading Kruger to get another center doesn't help - it just leaves the Hawks in the same position.

I completely agree - Shawzy reminds me a lot of Wendel Clark, he has the heart and soul and willingness to belong in the NHL - not to mention he is captain material.. The guy is everything you want in a gritty hockey player - not to mention the guy can score. I think he had 19 or 20 goals last year...

Kruger is great at the dot and plays a nice gritty defensive game but Shaw is by far the more valuable between the two.

I would have no problem giving Kruger up in a deal for Kesler.

Shaw gets 3rd line center duties and it opens a spot on the bottom 3 for a kid to come up and show what he can do - and there is plenty competition there.
- Tazer19

Yeah ideally shaw is on line 3. I still wonder what kane, shaw, and Saad would do for a complete season, but I think Shaw on the 3rd really spreads out the offense. I still like kruger and want to keep him, but I think nordstrom could center 4. Maybe next year Danault will. Maybe even sometime this year.

Time to clarify, methinks.

1) How high are the odds that the Hawks get Kesler? Not overly. Are they higher than some believe? Yes.

2) The Hawks got beaten down the middle with, essentially, Toews, Kruger, Shaw and Handzus at center. Handzus is probably done. Shaw is probably out of position there. The Hawks need a center, and more importantly, the front office KNOWS they need a center. And probably more than some guy from Sweden named Rasmussen.

3) There's a difference between a "what if" or "the Hawks could use a guy like" rumor and one where someone knows the Hawks are actually shopping specific guys and/or looking at specific guys.

4) The Hawks have had interest in the recent past in Nielsen, Plekanec and Kesler. There's a good place to start as far as possible 2C's.

5) They will be looking possibly to also add forwards with size and speed, because they know they got beat physically upfront against LA
- John Jaeckel

Hawks need a couple more guys that can pound opposing D-men to slow them down...just like the other teams do to the Hawks. Hawks were too easy on D-men IMO.

Then using this logic. Why would the Canucks accept these useless assets AND pay 50% of Kesler's salary?

And did you just call Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri elite?
- Elbows15

I never claimed the Hawks prospects were "bad" or lacked even talent - what I implied was that the Hawks have TOO MANY DAMN PROSPECTS and we can just keep them in the system forever because there isn't a roster spot for them.

And NO I made no comparison between Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri... Who the hell would do that?

What I said was Hayes easily could have played Bickells role, given the fact he is 6 foo 6, strong and has more talent than Bickell.... I don't know where the hell you got the Pirri idea from.

Pirri was a top 6 or bust player, and given our top 6 he had no chance on the Hawks. He certainly was too small and too offensively skilled to play a bottom 6 role - which is why he was traded.

Believe it or not - some teams aren't as blessed as the Hawks with their top 6 talent and actually seek and or draft players that possess that ability.

Then using this logic. Why would the Canucks accept these useless assets AND pay 50% of Kesler's salary?

And did you just call Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri elite?
- Elbows15

Finding the pricetag on Kesler prohibitive, Bowman the conservative GM decides to wait and see how some of his prospects develop. By next spring he could have TT, McNeill, Danault and Nordstrom all knocking loudly for playing time. And the swede they just signed as well. At that time the prospects may be more attractive to peddle but would Bowman be willing to trade any of them? Maybe then the timing is right to deal. I could see one forward and one dman from Rockford gets moved if Bowman thinks there is a forward acquired in trade who could step in and make a difference.

That forward would not be Kesler. Maybe someone from the Leafs. Who knows. But would not be surprised if no major trade this summer.

Agreed.

...and if the idea is to get stronger down the middle, trading Kruger to get another center doesn't help - it just leaves the Hawks in the same position.
- EKolb13

I think we have four valuable assets that should be used if Stan wants to upgrade the roster:

1. Patrick Sharp
2. TT
3. Nick Leddy
4. 1st round pick

Using a combination of these 4 assets Stan should be able to land a top 6 or top 9 forward. Preferably a centre, but if not then a big winger. If Stan really wants to get a deal done there's no reason he can't.

As it stands now there isn't a replacement for either....You saw how the Hawks looked without Shaw...

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

Yeah I think it would be a big mistake to trade Shaw. He really makes a difference. Kruger is the main penalty-killer and really improved on draws. I wouldn't mind nordstrom playing right wing with keuger and being his pk partner

I am currently in Baytown Texas and my friend dee sent me this :

23-årige Dennis Rasmussen gjorde i år sin tredje säsong i Växjö och fick sitt stora genombrott i år då han smällde in 40 poäng på 52 matcher. Därefter gjorde han ytterligare sex poäng på tolv matcher i slutspelet. Han var en lagets bästa spelare under säsongen och belönades med en plats i VM-laget som tog brons.
Rasmussen fina spel har resulterat i att han dragit till sig intresse från NHL och enligt vad SportExpressen.se erfar har han nu skrivit på ett ettårskontrakt med Chicago Blackhawks.
– Jag kan inte kommentera någonting om det här eller min framtid, säger Rasmussen till SportExpressen.se.

Hawks signed the big centre-wing to a one year deal.

Less than 1 hour here, and more comments than the entire month to date on the Blues blog.


- carcus

Your second home...be careful, we'll have to approve of any other Blues friends--besides stljam

I am currently in Baytown Texas and my friend dee sent me this :

23-årige Dennis Rasmussen gjorde i år sin tredje säsong i Växjö och fick sitt stora genombrott i år då han smällde in 40 poäng på 52 matcher. Därefter gjorde han ytterligare sex poäng på tolv matcher i slutspelet. Han var en lagets bästa spelare under säsongen och belönades med en plats i VM-laget som tog brons.
Rasmussen fina spel har resulterat i att han dragit till sig intresse från NHL och enligt vad SportExpressen.se erfar har han nu skrivit på ett ettårskontrakt med Chicago Blackhawks.
– Jag kan inte kommentera någonting om det här eller min framtid, säger Rasmussen till SportExpressen.se.

Hawsk signed hime to a one year deal.
- wiz1901

Have you seen this guy before, wiz?

I think we have four valuable assets that should be used if Stan wants to upgrade the roster:

1. Patrick Sharp
2. TT
3. Nick Leddy
4. 1st round pick

Using a combination of these 4 assets Stan should be able to land a top 6 or top 9 forward. Preferably a centre, but if not then a big winger. If Stan really wants to get a deal done there's no reason he can't.
- DarthKane

You can add Oduya to your short list. Same with Morin.