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.
- Al

I'll be thrilled (and surprised) if the Hawks can get Kane and Toews at a $6M cap hit. I was expecting it to be closer to $7.5-$8M but I hope you're right.

I'll be thrilled (and surprised) if the Hawks can get Kane and Toews at a $6M cap hit. I was expecting it to be closer to $7.5-$8M but I hope you're right.
- bwarner929

Think he means an add'l 6 to the cap hit. Figure 3 more apiece roughly.

The question I have for the board is how do the Hawks acquire a #2 center while keeping sharp? Sharp is an all star and Olympic gold medalist coming off a career regular season.. Sure he sucked in the playoffs but if you can keep him while addressing Center needs you are looking like an offensive powerhouse once again in 2014/15

Sharp-Toews - Hossa
saad-new center-Kane
bickell- shaw- smith
bollig-kruger-Nordstrom/morin

Think he means an add'l 6 to the cap hit. Figure 3 more apiece roughly.
- HawkintheD

Gotcha - makes sense!

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
- Al

When the first shoe drops this offseason there will be plenty of moves that occur right after that. I just don't expect the Hawks to be front and center at the beginning, it isn't their way of doing things.

The question I have for the board is how do the Hawks acquire a #2 center while keeping sharp? Sharp is an all star and Olympic gold medalist coming off a career regular season.. Sure he sucked in the playoffs but if you can keep him while addressing Center needs you are looking like an offensive powerhouse once again in 2014/15

Sharp-Toews - Hossa
saad-new center-Kane
bickell- shaw- smith
bollig-kruger-Nordstrom/morin
- EnzoD

I don't think you can unless the 2c is Shaw, Smith or Krugs.

I don't think you can unless the 2c is Shaw, Smith or Krugs.
- HawkintheD

Or TT? That may be a stretch given what we've seen so far.

When the first shoe drops this offseason there will be plenty of moves that occur right after that. I just don't expect the Hawks to be front and center at the beginning, it isn't their way of doing things.
- RickJ

Nope. Saw you and US kicking this around las night. They likely won't be big players in FA and will likely look for a Rozy signing after the others have been picked through late in the process.

Like the idea u threw out about Stralman though. Not big but have seen him throw hits and take the body. Would be a great lower pairing guy.

Kind of ironic, since Q was hired and then moved in once Savard was fired. Q should look at the team first and then worry about himself.
- powerenforcer

Never happen. I agree it's ironic. Look what happened to Haviland.

The question I have for the board is how do the Hawks acquire a #2 center while keeping sharp? Sharp is an all star and Olympic gold medalist coming off a career regular season.. Sure he sucked in the playoffs but if you can keep him while addressing Center needs you are looking like an offensive powerhouse once again in 2014/15

Sharp-Toews - Hossa
saad-new center-Kane
bickell- shaw- smith
bollig-kruger-Nordstrom/morin
- EnzoD

They're probably going to have to give up a core player next year - probably Sharp - when the new deals for Toews, Kane, Saad, Kruger kick in - perhaps* they're better off - can get better value back - dealing him this year.

*PERHAPS - see what he'll bring back this summer.

Never happen. I agree it's ironic. Look what happened to Haviland.
- 6628

Haviland is coaching at Colorado College, I think - not in the NHL - are we sure that his leaving the Hawks was due to jealousy on Q's part?

They're probably going to have to give up a core player next year - probably Sharp - when the new deals for Toews, Kane, Saad, Kruger kick in - perhaps* they're better off - can get better value back - dealing him this year.

*PERHAPS - see what he'll bring back this summer.
- StLBravesFan

IF you have to give up a guy this year or next, it makes sense to sell when you get the most value. Unless the tweaks they can make this offseason put them in a prime position to contend for the cup again...then I think you have to roll the dice.

Again, I'm thankful I'm only allowed to second guess these moves.

Haviland is coaching at Colorado College, I think - not in the NHL - are we sure that his leaving the Hawks was due to jealousy on Q's part?
- StLBravesFan

None of us could be sure. But it sure fits. Dog eat dog world, especially in coaching at that level. Powerenforcer is not as crazy as most make him out to be.

They're probably going to have to give up a core player next year - probably Sharp - when the new deals for Toews, Kane, Saad, Kruger kick in - perhaps* they're better off - can get better value back - dealing him this year.

*PERHAPS - see what he'll bring back this summer.
- StLBravesFan

ya even with the cap reportedly rising to 76mil in 2015/16 it seems like it would be tough to add another top 6 contract given Saad's imminent raise after next year. It'd be rough to watch Sharp score 35 for another team without getting a big return that makes the Hawks a better team now and moving forward

Nope. Saw you and US kicking this around las night. They likely won't be big players in FA and will likely look for a Rozy signing after the others have been picked through late in the process.

Like the idea u threw out about Stralman though. Not big but have seen him throw hits and take the body. Would be a great lower pairing guy.
- HawkintheD

It's a longshot I know, but I really like this kid Stralman and would replace Leddy and his salary with him. That is if he would sign for about $3.0M/year which isn't likely.

The Maple Leafs put him in their lineup when he was about 20 and when he wasn't Bobby Orr in his first 10 games they threw him on the trash heap.

One thing the Blackhawks have done is established a solid connection with Sweden as far as a player pipeline is concerned. The Swedes know their kids will get a chance in Chicago and will be treated fairly if they play hard and well. I'm sure guys like Hammer, Kruger and Oduya are influencing that. All of a sudden a guy like Rasmussen pops up because we need some help down the middle. Don't think that is by accident.

I'll be thrilled (and surprised) if the Hawks can get Kane and Toews at a $6M cap hit. I was expecting it to be closer to $7.5-$8M but I hope you're right.
- bwarner929

No....$3 mill more than now.. so about $ 9 mill

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

Haviland is coaching at Colorado College, I think - not in the NHL - are we sure that his leaving the Hawks was due to jealousy on Q's part?
- StLBravesFan

Yep Haviland just got that gig ....Evidently a vg job.

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

It's a longshot I know, but I really like this kid Stralman and would replace Leddy and his salary with him. That is if he would sign for about $3.0M/year which isn't likely.

The Maple Leafs put him in their lineup when he was about 20 and when he wasn't Bobby Orr in his first 10 games they threw him on the trash heap.

One thing the Blackhawks have done is established a solid connection with Sweden as far as a player pipeline is concerned. The Swedes know their kids will get a chance in Chicago and will be treated fairly if they play hard and well. I'm sure guys like Hammer, Kruger and Oduya are influencing that. All of a sudden a guy like Rasmussen pops up because we need some help down the middle. Don't think that is by accident.
- RickJ

speaking of Swedes, does anyone think there is an international player that could be signed to add center depth and contribute in the top 9? I would think a KHL or euro league C would be relatively cheap...

When the first shoe drops this offseason there will be plenty of moves that occur right after that. I just don't expect the Hawks to be front and center at the beginning, it isn't their way of doing things.
- RickJ

Maybe not but I can't see them standing pat...Although they may not acquire big names. Have holes to fill and not sure they can be done from within.

But Bowman did jump the deadline when he acquired Versteeg early...
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

speaking of Swedes, does anyone think there is an international player that could be signed to add center depth and contribute in the top 9? I would think a KHL or euro league C would be relatively cheap...
- EnzoD

They apparently just signed one yesterday.

I believe Vaclav Nedomansky, Radek Bonk and Ivan Hlinka are still entertaining offers as well.

1. There is a better chance of a collaboration of guys on this board becoming a working GM panel for the Hawks, then the Hawks offering up a SUB PAR package compared to the rest of the league AND the Canucks accepting it AND the Canucks retaining 50% of Kesler's salary. Next to Stalberg's benching last year to Detroit ruining morale in the locker-room, that is the craziest thing I have read.

2. I love how everyone just has Versteeg disappearing. Sorry. Regardless of what the Jay Zawaskis want you to believe, he isn't going anywhere. LIke Bickell, this summer will be BIG for Versteeg to be 100% for camp and at 2.2 million he is a perfect salary and low risk/high reward for what he can be. He didn't have that Versteeg extra step this year and if he can regain it....he will be a steal and a viable bottom 6 player.

3. If you are an opposing team and you are looking over the Hawks roster.....I don't see Bowman letting Saad go. I would think he would hold Leddy close to his vest so if the day comes that Leddy hits his potential Bowman has his legacy trade. So that leaves Oduya or Sharp. they need to move money. everyone knows that. So do you want Oduya or Sharp? You want Sharp. Doesn't mean Sharp will be traded, but the Hawks will have to listen IF they want to improve this current roster through trades.

4. Until TT PROVES on the ice in a REGULAR season game he is the real deal, all he is a hyped prospect right now and hyped prospects sometimes fetch large returns. How does adding another midget to this lineup help them beat the Kings? It doesn't. You need to get big. Somebody has to go. Look at Saad. Everyone gushed over Saad, but he is still slowly improving and is a border line top 6 guy. What makes anyone think that as of today TT > Saad? He isn't.

5. Shaw vs Kruger. Kruger is a good center. However, good 3rd line centers are replaceable. Kruger replaced Bolland. Bolland replaced Pahlsson. And so on. Kruger gets destroyed every game, and until he learns how to skate with his head up or avoid putting himself in vunerable situations he could be the Sweedish Lindros. I don't question his heart, but I don't see a frame capable of adding all this beef. Again, 1 empty net goal in 19 games iS NOT acceptable for a guy who is going to want to 3+ million on his next deal. This kid needs to chip in the playoffs.

Kruger has 4 goals ( at least 1 is an empty net) in 48 career NHL playoff games. I know he's a defensive center, and his PK value is extremely important.....but you need more out of him. A lot more. Key to the cup is always having depth guys score....Stoll, Bolland, etc....the unsung heroes.

Also, every time LA wins, I have a flash back to my seat last Sunday and seeing f-ing Keith toe dragging in the slot with under a minute to go in a tied game 7, with a chance to go to the cup final. I really want to know how A. No mass media member chastised him for that. B. What the F he was thinking?

For a guy who has made a living firing shots into shin pads, if there was EVER a time to shoot it was then!!!!

Kruger has 4 goals ( at least 1 is an empty net) in 48 career NHL playoff games. I know he's a defensive center, and his PK value is extremely important.....but you need more out of him. A lot more. Key to the cup is always having depth guys score....Stoll, Bolland, etc....the unsung heroes.

Also, every time LA wins, I have a flash back to my seat last Sunday and seeing f-ing Keith toe dragging in the slot with under a minute to go in a tied game 7, with a chance to go to the cup final. I really want to know how A. No mass media member chastised him for that. B. What the F he was thinking?

For a guy who has made a living firing shots into shin pads, if there was EVER a time to shoot it was then!!!!
- SteveRain

Duncs did a Jean van de Velde.

Another play where the Kings could have been torpedoed but escaped to live another day. As good as LA is, they have been unbelievably lucky in these playoffs.

Duncs did a Jean van de Velde.

Another play where the Kings could have been torpedoed but escaped to live another day. As good as LA is, they have been unbelievably lucky in these playoffs.
- RickJ

So the pixie dust was passed from Col to LA?

Duncs did a Jean van de Velde.

Another play where the Kings could have been torpedoed but escaped to live another day. As good as LA is, they have been unbelievably lucky in these playoffs.
- RickJ

If by "lucky" you mean "taking advantage of (seemingly) every opportunity they've been given....

I think it's more a well coached, disciplined, "leadered" team of good to very good players working together to make sure that when the "puck luck" finds them, they are ready to act.