- Because the Hawks didn't win the Cup, some people want to make major changes. Really?
- Hawks came one lucky bounce from returning to the SCF where they likely would have won their second straight Cup. This is hardly a failure of a season.
- While the Kings deserved to advance, I do NOT think they were the better team. The better team doesn't need a lucky bounce in OT of Game 7 to prove it. At least they could have won Game 7 decisively.
- By the same token, Hawks were NOT a lucky bounce away from getting beat by the Blues or Wild. They won both series in six games and were clearly the better team.
- The fact the Hawks gave up a 2-goal lead is painful, but it doesn't diminish how really close they were. Kings nearly blew a 3-games-to-1 lead.

Therefore I can't understand anyone saying the team needs major changes. I even further can't understand anyone saying they need depth. I mean, they do, but show me a NHL team that doesn't need depth.

I would:

- NOT break up the Keith-Seabrook-Hjalmarsson trio. To me, this trio is what separates the Hawks from all other teams. Nobody can touch this.
- NOT overpay for Kesler. Kane will get over it.
- Trade Sharp but only if it makes the team better.
- Trade Bickell if it makes the team better -- yeah he's big and can skate but he's a role player. You can find guys like that.
- Trade TT if it brings someone who can help the team win now. Some think TT will be a superstar. Others say he will be a bust. That's the thing with prospects, either one could be true. We just don't know.
- RomanF

Add/create a productive 4th line. See ya Vsteeg, thanks for the effort Zeus, Sorry to see you go Leddy. Hello Rockford graduating class, new vet center and acquired draft picks for Led

My turn at armchair GM.

What is the cap for next year?

How much do 19 and 88 want?

Answer those and then I can make some decisions.

New (and big) blog coming around 4 Central: Hawk centers, Kesler, Sharp, Hawk front office civil war brewing.
- John Jaeckel

FO Civil War?

My guess is that it's between those that want to trade TT and those that don't.

My turn at armchair GM.

What is the cap for next year?

How much do 19 and 88 want?

Answer those and then I can make some decisions.
- Return of the Roar

Last reported a few days ago, the cap for next year is going to be 70.6.

I think 19 and 88 are going to get a least 9.0 a piece. Could be a little more, could be a little less but that's a tough one to pin down.

FO Civil War?

My guess is that it's between those that want to trade TT and those that don't.
- Hawks82

I'm gonna say, Kesler or no Kesler (should we trade Sharp)

New (and big) blog coming around 4 Central: Hawk centers, Kesler, Sharp, Hawk front office civil war brewing.
- John Jaeckel

Oh great , In fighting .

Oh great , In fighting .
- mrpaulish

Exactly. Haven't we heard enough of this?

Last reported a few days ago, the cap for next year is going to be 70.6.

I think 19 and 88 are going to get a least 9.0 a piece. Could be a little more, could be a little less but that's a tough one to pin down.
- Lido_Shuffle

Hmmm...$500,000 less than original estimate. Maybe $75MM for 15-16.... A raise to 9.0 for each of 19 and 88 will be more than the cap space gained for 15-16.

That leaves Stan with about $4MM for next year assuming Handzus, Roszival, Regin, Brookbank, Morin, Smith and Raanta don't come back. And oh yeah, the Selke thing.

Hell begins two seasons from now when Saad, Kruger, and the bottom three D all need to be re-upped.

This would be when I ask myself if I made enough to retire on as GM yet.

My turn at armchair GM.

What is the cap for next year?

How much do 19 and 88 want?

Answer those and then I can make some decisions.
- Return of the Roar

Whatever 19 and 88 want/get, the extensions wont kick in until the 15-16 season.

The point is not how close they came.....the point is what is needed and how to achieve the end goal which is to win stanley cups....2 of which have been won in 4 years.....

Adding a 2C doesn't guarantee rolling 4 lines......yes the came close, but evidence suggest the need for a 2C is overrated.
- UnnamedSource

agreed, a #2C should not be on top of the list. But if it gets kane signed for less, that helps. Which would help in freeing up some cash for line 3 and 4.

Any deal, Versteeg has to be included.
Part 2, the Hawks need a plan to develop or acquire their 3rd and 4th lines and where some assets fit with the Hawks in 3 to4 years. Where does TT fit? Where does Rasmussen fit? Where does Hayes fit (if we sign him?), where does Raanta fit?

FO Civil War?

My guess is that it's between those that want to trade TT and those that don't.
- Hawks82

I'll take a stab -

SB - Listen, we need to make Kane happy. Let's move sharp to get 2nd line center, or else move Kane to make a killing.

JM - Move Sharp? Are you nuts. I've got 2 years of PR events lined up. Nobody goes.

I'll take a stab -

SB - Listen, we need to make Kane happy. Let's move sharp to get 2nd line center, or else move Kane to make a killing.

JM - Move Sharp? Are you nuts. I've got 2 years of PR events lined up. Nobody goes.
- powerenforcer

Or,

SB - Listen, we have no cap space. Time to trade roster guys for more prospects and bring up the kids. Then Dad and I find the next team to work for.

JQ - I quit

JM - Hmm.... "These kids can play?"

I know Q isnt technically FO but maybe theyre pressuring him to can one of his assistants...

Or,

SB - Listen, we have no cap space. Time to trade roster guys for more prospects and bring up the kids. Then Dad and I find the next team to work for.

JQ - I quit

JM - Hmm.... "These kids can play?"
- Return of the Roar

Wasn't that the White Sox slogan a few years ago?

Wasn't that the White Sox slogan a few years ago?
- powerenforcer

Yep. Worked well didn't it?

Great - now I'll get NOTHING done at work for the next 2 1/2 hours in anticipation....
- StLBravesFan

You guys work????

You guys work????
- carcus

He said "at work". Could mean that.....

I know Q isnt technically FO but maybe theyre pressuring him to can one of his assistants...
- Glenman12

Hmmmm. PP coach?

Hmmmm. PP coach?
- 6628

How could that even be a point of contention anymore? Even Q must agree.

Hmmm...$500,000 less than original estimate. Maybe $75MM for 15-16.... A raise to 9.0 for each of 19 and 88 will be more than the cap space gained for 15-16.

That leaves Stan with about $4MM for next year assuming Handzus, Roszival, Regin, Brookbank, Morin, Smith and Raanta don't come back. And oh yeah, the Selke thing.

Hell begins two seasons from now when Saad, Kruger, and the bottom three D all need to be re-upped.

This would be when I ask myself if I made enough to retire on as GM yet.


- Return of the Roar

So we get to see if SB has had the right scouts in place to make the right draft choices. The only way the Hawks fulfil Rocky and Mc D's promise is to continue build/develop players from within. The more they have to buy the more they overspend, the closer they begin to look like Pitt. Good news every team is up against it and the Hawks at this time have a helluva core

The point is not how close they came.....the point is what is needed and how to achieve the end goal which is to win stanley cups....2 of which have been won in 4 years.....

Adding a 2C doesn't guarantee rolling 4 lines......yes the came close, but evidence suggest the need for a 2C is overrated.
- UnnamedSource

Hawks are the only team post lockout to not win with out a 1C-2C punch. And I would argue the first one, with Sharp at 2C, they were 4 deep down the middle (Toews, Sharp, Bolland, Madden) in addition to having one of the most talented teams assembled in the cap era.

Carolina had Staal and Brind'Amour
Ducks had Getzlaf and Niedermayer and Pahnsson and McDonald
Detroit had Datsyuk and Zberg and Franzen and Filluppa and Draper
Pitt had Crosby, Malkin and Staal
Baaastin had Krejci, Bergeron, Marchand, Horton
LA had Kopitar, Richards, Carter, Stoll (and still has them)
Chicago somehow won with Toews, Zeus, Shaw and Bolland

The Hawks have had a lot of turn over between the last two Cups, especially down the middle. Ummmm I feel like that is the surest way to win and the most demonstrated way. Clearly it can be done otherwise but in my opinion last year was more an outlier.

New (and big) blog coming around 4 Central: Hawk centers, Kesler, Sharp, Hawk front office civil war brewing.
- John Jaeckel

#excitingoffseason

Hawks are the only team post lockout to not win with out a 1C-2C punch. And I would argue the first one, with Sharp at 2C, they were 4 deep down the middle in addition to having one of the most talented teams assembled in the cap era.

Carolina had Staal and Brind'Amour
Ducks had Getzlaf and Niedermayer and Pahnsson and McDonald
Detroit had Datsyuk and Zberg and Franzen and Filluppa and Draper
Pitt had Crosby, Malkin and Staal
Baaastin had Krejci, Bergeron, Marchand, Horton
LA had Kopitar, Richards, Carter, Stoll (and still has them)
Chicago somehow won with Toews, Zeus, Shaw and Bolland

The Hawks have had a lot of turn over between the last two Cups, especially down the middle. Ummmm I feel like that is the surest way to win and the most demonstrated way. Clearly it can be done otherwise but you know I feel like last year was more an outlier.
- fattybeef

Fantastic post

For Nester:

"7"

An Original Haiku by Ogi

Quiet Leadership
A Thundering Warrior
Defensive Anchor

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.
- SteveRain

That's 5 check marks XXXXX....Covered it like a blanket.

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