I saw Strome play against the Gens and Petes a few times and really liked him as a junior. He can play and he's one togh hombre as well. Haven't seen him play as a pro so I'll take your word on development. I'm going to leave you a PM.
- paulr

Strome is the NYI hoped for eventual #2 center or a wing in their top six. They are heavy on dmen prospects but could use more forwards. Especially if Neilsen is traded.

Might you explain what would entice Garth Snow to trade Strome? Seems crazy to develop Strome and now that he is here to stay in the NHL, gets moved.

Please do not suggest any dmen going to NYI. At least not until Boyle does not sign on... If that even happens. They also Vishnovsky who could stay put for one year while some of those high draft choice dmen prep in the AHL.

Why would they do that? It would be a cap hit of over a million $, and they would be down a player. They don't have the cap space to make that move.
- Tanuki

Don't worry, they can't. They already used their buyouts.

Strome is the NYI hoped for eventual #2 center or a wing in their top six. They are heavy on dmen prospects but could use more forwards. Especially if Neilsen is traded.

Might you explain what would entice Garth Snow to trade Strome? Seems crazy to develop Strome and now that he is here to stay in the NHL, gets moved.

Please do not suggest any dmen going to NYI. At least not until Boyle does not sign on... If that even happens. They also Vishnovsky who could stay put for one year while some of those high draft choice dmen prep in the AHL.
- jhawk59

I was replying to someone else who made the suggestion.

Don't worry, they can't. They already used their buyouts.
- Lido_Shuffle

They can still buyout players but those buyouts would count against the cap.

Why would they do that? It would be a cap hit of over a million $, and they would be down a player. They don't have the cap space to make that move.
- Tanuki

Ok, guess we are stuck with him but he could be released at some point in the season for a lesser hit on the salary cap.

Savard didn't hire Q, Management did.
- paulr

Correct, but you'd think that since Q has been fired in other organ-I-zations, he understands how things work. Plus, maybe Stan should hire Oates as a paper shredder, Just get him in the building.

They can still buyout players but those buyouts would count against the cap.
- paulr

Ok, didn't know that. My belief is that they will try and move Versteeg and Rosy but if there are no takers, they will be back.

Correct, but you'd think that since Q has been fired in other organ-I-zations, he understands how things work. Plus, maybe Stan should hire Oates as a paper shredder, Just get him in the building.
- powerenforcer

Unless replacing Q is imminent do you think Oates is going to take that paper shredding job? Besides what has Oates done that would make you think he is a better coach than Quenneville?

When Quennville signed on with the Hawks he received total autonomy to coach how he sw fit. There is no way Management can tell him who to hire.

Ok, didn't know that. My belief is that they will try and move Versteeg and Rosy but if there are no takers, they will be back.
- Lido_Shuffle

That is probably the case, unless the Hawks can somehow include them in deals.

Well you may be right.

Answer this: would you prefer to keep a core player like Sharp for one more season knowing that his trade value diminishes to some extent the following summer? To keep Sharp here therefore could mean that the big physical forwards many say Chg needs are in house: Bickel and the other later in the season being McNeill.

Bickel might well be that physical and goal producing wing early part of the season. The scenario may unfold whereas Bickel and McNeill could be importantly social checkers in the playoffs in fact, I have floated the idea of McNeill and Kruger on a third or fourth line. With maybe Shaw or Morin/other rockford recall.
- jhawk59

I'm for trading sharp now

Paul, Strome would be yet ANOTHER centre who needs time to develop.

If you are talking throw in after they send us Matt Martin to tenderize, I see a possibility, but everone with a hungry sense of our presnet roster must approach 2014 as a season you get VETs who go stand tall and attack well with the puck too.

Now is not the time for potential additions or guys like backlund, or prospects, unless you are stripping six of the forwards and starting fresh...

I am still trying to figure out how Rozsival is slow.

I am betting in terms of game play he is in the top half in terms of short area quickness and that is the important place to be fast. He is not expected to carry the length of the ice...just scratching my head as HIS deal being an issue.
- wiz1901

It appeared this past season that Rosival lost a step (stride). Yet being injured often and alternated with Brookbank, maybe he never was in top shape. It is a concern. While he is a heady veteran, he is not a master of positional hockey like Larry Murphy, a slow dman late in his career.

You can correct me if I am over reacting to Rosival slowing down. I trust that you would know better than I.

BTW I thought you were not particularly enamored with Backlund when I suggested he may be an inexpensive pick up during last season. Backlund is a smallish center,and not good enough in puck pursuit? I don't know. But if he is less than 50% face off why waste an asset to acquire him when Chg has Danault, McNeill, Nordstrom not far away from NHL. Not to mention TT, however and whenever he may fit. Even if Nordstrom turns out to be the only true center of that bunch.

Right now I am not even considering Vermette comes here. Would be nice, but cannot expect it happens. He is the center Bowman should go after, not more expensive two year worth of Kesler. If they do pick up a center, there will have to be corresponding moves related to the salary cap. But Vermette and Backlund are paid much less.

I expect Versteeg will be back. Not too thrilled with that but hopefully he is here only as long as one last year on his contract. What past year's version of Versteeg might we expect?
- jhawk59

According to CapGeek, Versteeg has 2 years left at $2.2M each. Hard to imagine anyone trading for that contract based on his 13-14 showing unless it's a throw-in on a bundle. Maybe the knee story is true and a summer of rehab can really make a difference?

According to CapGeek, Versteeg has 2 years left at $2.2M each. Hard to imagine anyone trading for that contract based on his 13-14 showing unless it's a throw-in on a bundle. Maybe the knee story is true and a summer of rehab can really make a difference?
- bwarner929

If Stan can move Versteeg then all the better...but I'm not expecting it. If Steeger can somehow regain some of his form he can be a useful bottom 6 forward. When he returned to Chicago he was so excited and played with so much enthusiasm, but it didn't take long for things to drop off. I really wonder what's going on with him.

Hawks would have smoked NYR

Hawks would have smoked NYR
- mrpaulish

one rebound clear from the cup cakewalk

According to CapGeek, Versteeg has 2 years left at $2.2M each. Hard to imagine anyone trading for that contract based on his 13-14 showing unless it's a throw-in on a bundle. Maybe the knee story is true and a summer of rehab can really make a difference?
- bwarner929

Irregardless of a summer of rehab making a difference, I would give him away for a bag of pucks if it means enough in brushing up against the salary cap. For a bottom line player he gets paid too much for my liking. He makes too many poor decisions and brain farts defensively too often. Regin is a cheaper alternative. Moreover, minus Versteeg the better the opportunity Morin gets to play. Assuming Morin is not purged.

Scenario....L.A buys out Mike Richards.....would you rather have Mike Richards as your 3C at the same cost or a tad less as Kesler as your 2C...


Plus given Q's reputation MRichards plays on both the 2nd and 3rd line...

Keep in mind you give up nothing to get Richards.....you then trade Oduya or Leddy for picks...remember next years draft is suppose to be deep.....
- UnnamedSource

I made the same observation yesterday. These buyout candidates are not going to get the big money they are getting now. Everyone points to Vinny and how he got 4.5 or whatever, but that was down from 7.5. Grabovski was clipping at 5.5 before the leafs cut him loose and he was at 3.0 last year.

So the Richards' might come on the cheap. Is it worth it for stan to sign a Mike Richards to play 2/3C at $4M per (because he's arguably not worth the 5.75 he's getting now, or else LA would keep him) and not give up any assets? Or is it worth Stan to pay $1M more in cap space, give up assets to get a guy who would be a legit #2C in Kesler?

I'm going w/the former, rather than the latter. Not based on preference but history

I wonder what the cost would be? He does bring offense..when he plays. I would much rather go for kesler but he would cost more to get. I still think hawks make a move. I also think anaheim gets one of them
- tomcat24

There will be a line of suitors...

Can't compare to Kesler.....Spezza has only 1 year left on his deal.
That's a huge difference and if he was ever going to be motivated it will be in a contract year.

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

Hawks would have smoked NYR
- mrpaulish

Debatable. Or are you being sarcastic. Chg had a lot of beat up, worn down players. Particularly perhaps the top four dmen. I am not sure whether Crawford was nearly gassed as well.

The Hawks move Bickell, Rundblad and a 1st, trade Rozy and potentially Versteeg and if the Hawks can get Van to eat any deal for Kesler@ 50% they're major players in the UFA market, especially on one-year deals,

IF Bowman could pull something like that off.... Kesler at 2.75 and 10 in cap space looks nice to me.

The Hawks could do so much with that space.....

Keslers contract isn't even up until the TV deal kicks in and the cap will go up another 2-3.

Don't underestimate cap space is worth when you're a contending team.
- Tazer19

Why would the Canucks swallow any money on a player many teams could want?

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

Hawks would have smoked NYR
- mrpaulish

And that makes all this panic about gutting the roster, overpaying for players, firing the coaching staff etc. so bizarre. The Hawks were the second best team in the NHL with a team who had a few holes, they need to make a few adjustments not rebuild or even retool the team.

Ok you are dragging me in to this Vancouver Kesler thing.

I will play.
Here's what I agree on:
Why Kesler?
Because he is a perennial Selke finalist besides a centre who has handled 2nd line duties.
The return has to cover the entire CAP. You dreamers who think Canucks are not only stripping their squad at second line centre AND going to pay for your hawks to have one? Grow up.

So some contract goes their way...whether that guy is the reason they truly are trading for. So they get a CONTRACT Sharp/Oduya, plus another centre (Kruger) and third piece that also looks to be a return as he develops.
Let's for right now USE Leddy as the third part.

THERE IS NO WAY THE BLACKHAWKS trade two rostered forwards plus a rostered defender for one centre, mostly because that is way too much openings in a line up that was already short forwards that could play regular against the Kings.
No one can tell me the losses against the Kings were because defensive breakdowns by Kruger and Sharp.

We can argue until morning what Kruger's upside is but it's clear he has improved his play and is regarded as a much better player and will want to be paid like one.
We all probably would agree that as a secondary for Kesler we would uck up the hit. No matter what his final upsides is , even if he becomes the third tougher sister, he doesn't cover the Cap return so someone else goes if you want Kesler so bad.

Now if you were to deal Bickell and Kruger and the potential of Johns, I think you fit the criteria fron the Canuck end but again I don't see the hawks willing to deal Kruger and Bickell simply because now you subtracted more of that four rolling lines to and no matter if you find two pluggers for Sharp to replace them you are still talking chemistry lesson gone awry....

Too me it simply doesn't work...they want Seabrook one up.

And whether you agree or disagree that Spezza's availabilty changes the market, you want both offense and defense from the guy if you MUST GET A PREMIER GUY.

You could give Vancouver everyone in our system born in the BC Province....but you still have to figure away for the offset the FIVE MILLION Kesler makes....forget about Spezza and SEVEN million he gets and have NEVER earned.

and why would the Canucks simply take on "a veteran contract" unless the pot is so sweet and the pressure by kesler is so intense that they succumb to a Cap return replacement part in Sharp that is three years older, and two years longer in contract than Kesler's.

To do that they MUST get some real upside...
and that is where my head starts exploding....

I done trying to do it...I will wait to see what is actually attempted at this point because it simply doesn't work....
- wiz1901

You were on target until Spezza....He is $7 mill...Sharp is about $6 mill and Spezza will be motivated in a contract year.

But Hawks will have to deal more than Sharp but getting Spezza is a bridge until TT is ready or it will be figured out when he will ready.

Kane and Toews are going to cost about $6 mill in cap space so a couple of players making real money have to go to get a legit 2nd line player.

The thought of dealing 3rd/4th line players only is silly if the aim is to get a proven top 6 forward....And the same goes for making TT the center piece of a trade unless it is a Spezza like situation who only has 1 year left.


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

Regardless of a summer of rehab making a difference, I would give him away for a bag of pucks if it means enough in brushing up against the salary cap. For a bottom line player he gets paid too much for my liking. He makes too many poor decisions and brain farts defensively too often. Regin is a cheaper alternative. Moreover, minus Versteeg the better the opportunity Morin gets to play. Assuming Morin is not purged.
- jhawk59

Fixed. Irregardless isn't a word

I agree with your post. I'd take a conditional 6th round pick for Versteeg at this point.

And that makes all this panic about gutting the roster, overpaying for players, firing the coaching staff etc. so bizarre. The Hawks were the second best team in the NHL with a team who had a few holes, they need to make a few adjustments not rebuild or even retool the team.
- paulr

Retool, tweak? Call it what you want but I think they need another center. 2c would be my first choice and if that means Sharp goes so be it.

If they can't get a 2c then at least another guy at 3 or 4 who can take take draws, can skate, better than Zus anyway, strong on D and chip in a little O. A little size would be nice too.

Don't think a rebuild is in order but agree with Al's column title and will take it a step further. The Hawks shouldn't stand pat this summer. Maybe not a major move though like I said if they got a good deal Sharp is the core guy that makes the most sense to move.

Fixed. Irregardless isn't a word

I agree with your post. I'd take a conditional 6th round pick for Versteeg at this point.
- eburgio

I'd give away a 6th rounder to get rid of Versteeg.