Are you willing to pay a guy Bolland money for less offense?

I am not. You can find a defensive center anytime. Hawks found one last year in Handzus. IN 2008-09 in Pahlsson. Those guys are available.

Kruger needs to start scoring MORE for him to warrant a 3+ million a year deal which he will want. For all the whispers of all this skill and offensive creativity, the proof is in the pudding.....
- SteveRain

Are you being serious? You're equating Pahlsson or Handzus to Bolland?

Defense, not offense wins in the playoffs.

Unnamed Source thought of the day:

Having a NMC and fear they may be shopping him over the offseason Patrick Sharp goes to Bowman and Q and says.....Hey I will be your 2C next year, I've done it before....

Then the Hawks tighten up their 3rd line by adding a quality veteran and moving Shaw to wing.....while being a cheaper addition than a 2C

Bickel-Toews- Hossa
Saad- Sharp - Kane
Morin - New Center - Shaw
Smith-Kruger- Bolling/Nordstrom
- UnnamedSource

I like your idea, BUT....we have been done that road before and outside of taking a draw here or there, center is not Sharp's position. Why? Who the hell knows, but I don't see it happening.

IF Bowman stands pat.....your top line come October will be Sharp, Toews, Hossa followed by Saad, Shaw, Kane.....and then Bickell Smith Versteeg, and then Bolig, Kruger and some rookie Morin vs Nordstrom

Even if we keep Sharp and leave Shaw as the 2C I'd like to see Stan acquire another centre. I'm not holding out hope that Rasumssen is the answer for the 4th line.

Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Shaw-Kane
Bickell-Kruger-Morin
Bollig-New 4C-Smith
Versteeg

- Morin, Smith and Versteeg could be swapped depending on their play.
- DarthKane

My point is move Sharp to center.......He's actually pretty good at it

Irregardless the word "regardless" would've been perfect to begin that sentence
- UnnamedSource

Edited

Are you willing to pay a guy Bolland money for less offense?

I am not. You can find a defensive center anytime. Hawks found one last year in Handzus. IN 2008-09 in Pahlsson. Those guys are available.

Kruger needs to start scoring MORE for him to warrant a 3+ million a year deal which he will want. For all the whispers of all this skill and offensive creativity, the proof is in the pudding.....
- SteveRain

I'm not saying he's worth over $3 million either, his next contract could be a tricky one. Right now, aside from Toews, Kruger is the only true centre we have. Krugs is a great bottom 3 centre and he's the type of forward we need for long playoff runs. I would say Krugs is worth about $2.5 million/season based on other players out there.

You answered your own argument and made the same point I and others have been trying to make...

What have the Hawks won with? a 2C or great depth.........stabilize the depth on this team you don't need a 2C.
- UnnamedSource

It's great depth.....just have to wonder IF the Kane rumors about him wanting a legit C have Bowman painted into a corner.

That's a lot of pressure on Kane to make that 2nd line productive when he doesn't have a 2C. We all saw how a guy out of place, Handzus, can shut down/negate Kane.

My point is move Sharp to center.......He's actually pretty good at it
- UnnamedSource

The ship has sailed on that idea, long ago. Although it would likely be the best move.

Dhalbeck is ready for the NHL - a few games of course but not 82 games.

How many players that aren't top 5 picks beyond Shaw just walk into the NHL and are ready?

2%
- Tazer19

He's not "just walking into the NHL" - he has played two full years in the AHL, including last year at a very high level. Shaw also did not "just walk into the NHL" - he played half a season in Rockford on an AHL-only contract.

It's great depth.....just have to wonder IF the Kane rumors about him wanting a legit C have Bowman painted into a corner.

That's a lot of pressure on Kane to make that 2nd line productive when he doesn't have a 2C. We all saw how a guy out of place, Handzus, can shut down/negate Kane.
- SteveRain

He should win the Selke for how well he shut down Kane.

Are you being serious? You're equating Pahlsson or Handzus to Bolland?

Defense, not offense wins in the playoffs.
- paulr

Correct....but being all defense and not contributing offensively doesn't earn you 3 million. Not a chance. that's where the Kruger dilemma will be.

At least Bolland contributed, and some even thought he was the solution to 2C because he was some magical OHL player.

He should win the Selke for how well he shut down Kane.
- DarthKane

I'm not saying he's worth over $3 million either, his next contract could be a tricky one. Right now, aside from Toews, Kruger is the only true centre we have. Krugs is a great bottom 3 centre and he's the type of forward we need for long playoff runs. I would say Krugs is worth about $2.5 million/season based on other players out there.
- DarthKane

I agree....and at 2.5 he's worth it. Extremely valuable on the PK, draws, etc. Just can't justify paying him over 3 million when offensively....he doesn't give you much.

New Blues Blog up Carc

Go get 'em.
- Ogilthorpe2

Just saw this. There were still only 3 comments this morning.

The ship has sailed on that idea, long ago. Although it would likely be the best move.
- DarthKane

Irregardless....I agree it is the best move for the team....dollar wise, transaction wise. However, this could be the year it finally happens

Irregardless is not a word.
- mohel

THIS

When you see post after post of people saying "we need a 2C"....."we've finally been exposed without a 2C".....I wonder if they've been watching the same team I have for the past 6 years....the same team who's won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 4 WCF's......and if had quality depth this past year they are in the Stanley Cup.....in fact the WCF's doesn't go 7 games......

Kane will sign with the Hawks....there. is. no. doubt. .......and I will buy 4 Duluth Trading Co. shirts if he doesn't.....

When you see post after post of people saying "we need a 2C"....."we've finally been exposed without a 2C".....I wonder if they've been watching the same team I have for the past 6 years....the same team who's won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 4 WCF's......and if had quality depth this past year they are in the Stanley Cup.....in fact the WCF's doesn't go 7 games......

Kane will sign with the Hawks....there. is. no. doubt. .......and I will buy 4 Duluth Trading Co. shirts if he doesn't.....
- UnnamedSource

Thank you for saying that.

Irregardless....I agree it is the best move for the team....dollar wise, transaction wise. However, this could be the year it finally happens
- UnnamedSource

Irregardless of your irregardlessness I have given up hope of Sharp moving to 2C long ago. But I agree that if it happens it would happen this season. Even if Sharp moves to 2C I would still like to see Stan acquire another centre, specifically for the 4th line.

When you see post after post of people saying "we need a 2C"....."we've finally been exposed without a 2C".....I wonder if they've been watching the same team I have for the past 6 years....the same team who's won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 4 WCF's......and if had quality depth this past year they are in the Stanley Cup.....in fact the WCF's doesn't go 7 games......

Kane will sign with the Hawks....there. is. no. doubt. .......and I will buy 4 Duluth Trading Co. shirts if he doesn't.....
- UnnamedSource

You're going to have a closet full of those things one of these days...

Irregardless of your irregardlessness I have given up hope of Sharp moving to 2C long ago. But I agree that if it happens it would happen this season. Even if Sharp moves to 2C I would still like to see Stan acquire another centre, specifically for the 4th line.
- DarthKane

Irregardless he literally is the best option this season

Rasmussen's contract is on capgeek.com, this cap hit is $792,500. It's a two way deal and he makes $70,000 in the AHL.

http://www.capgeek.com/player/3449

Ok, it is getting weird in here with irregardless getting thrown around in every post.

Rasmussen's contract is on capgeek.com, this cap hit is $792,500. It's a two way deal and he makes $70,000 in the AHL.

http://www.capgeek.com/player/3449
- DarthKane

That figures. It's another Mathias Olimb situation all over again.

That figures. It's another Mathias Olimb situation all over again.
- EKolb13

I'm not holding out any hope that he makes the team, it's a low-risk low-reward scenario.

When you see post after post of people saying "we need a 2C"....."we've finally been exposed without a 2C".....I wonder if they've been watching the same team I have for the past 6 years....the same team who's won 2 Stanley Cups and played in 4 WCF's......and if had quality depth this past year they are in the Stanley Cup.....in fact the WCF's doesn't go 7 games......

Kane will sign with the Hawks....there. is. no. doubt. .......and I will buy 4 Duluth Trading Co. shirts if he doesn't.....
- UnnamedSource

I don't they not the issue is if he signs or not. He may be more cap friendly if a real top 6 center is acquired.

We'll see.