Hossa

H-O-S-S-A Hossa

Ho-ho-ho-ho-Hossa.

#88 would only have Kane on the back. E. Kane would have # ??.
- powerenforcer

I'd like to see him wear #91. I've always liked that number.

Or if Sharp was to leave, he could wear #10.

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

The conventional thought on here seems to be that Sharp is the cost of landing a new center. In the same breath, most are talking that it's all about clearing his cap hit, rather than being part of a package that directly brings back said center.

I fully understand the philosophy about cutting bait with aging players when their value is peak, or at least very high. This brings in a better return. But let's be clear - Sharp is 32, and coming off of his highest point output in his career. He's not 37, or even 35, showing signs of slowing down. Most nights (regular season), he was one of the best 'Hawks on the ice. And we still don't know what exactly was wrong with him in the playoffs - although I'd hedge my bets on some sort of injury, because anyone who watched the whole season could clearly identify that he wasn't the same player, and the discrepancy was far more than a mental funk.

And this talk of him suddenly being a locker room cancer is quite contrary to everything we've ever heard about the guy for years and years. Makes me wonder if this talk came from the same credible sources that created the Slenderman.

Let's also be clear that the "trade core to keep the future alive" is a tremendously overstated philosophy. It's a strategy that can be effective - but it's not a trump-card tactic. It seems to be a predominant meme among our little community here, namely because it solves one, possibly two perceived problems. Not trying to pick a fight, rather stating an observation.

The elephant in the room is the Kane/Toews contracts. This whole Sharp-for-Kesler swap (within multiple trades) does not solve that problem. If freeing cap space is the issue, there's plenty of other dead weight that can be shipped out (see Versteeg, Roszival, and even Oduya, although I don't consider him dead weight) rather than the team’s leading scorer and perennial 30 goal threat who can play in all situations. It’s also foolish to think that a guy like that can be easily replaced.

The only real unknown item here is Kane's influence by dangling the risk of departure. Again, all assumption based on his comments that seemed a little uncertain - which is what any smart player should do. Leverage sweetens the pot, one way or another, and whispers about comments he's made to the FO - and we have no idea to what extent these were -are somehow the cornerstone of this case.

The other issue is a center for Kane. But to play devil's advocate, if he needs a center to maximize his output, why is he not playing with Toews? And why has this structure all but disappeared from everyone's mindset? They only won two cups with the two playing on the same line. Is a 30-year-old Kesler that much better a playmaker than 19 that Kane suddenly becomes a perennial 100 point guy? Especially given that it's now widely accepted (which doesn't mean much, mind you) that Toews is one of the best players in the league.

The argument for depth comes along, and having two + elite scoring threats, but there's enough active depth and potential depth on this roster to have that. Hossa is still top-tier, and guys like Saad are coming into their own. Sharp just led the team in scoring.

I agree that I'd like this team to have a more legit and regular second line center. But we've also seen two banners raised to the UC rafters without one, and were one bad bounce away from a third.

And somehow we've all decided that our system has no candidates, because we haven't seen them yet. Guys like Danault, McNeill, and Teravainen are still in the system. Shaw looked fine there against the best team in the league, and Kruger continues to improve every season.

And concerning Teravainen, we've all assumed he's better suited for RW in the NHL. Why? Because he appears to be a similar player to Kane? I'd venture that we haven't seen enough to make that determination. Because Q played him there? He’s a teenager who’s never played in the league to date – not likely that the coaching staff would heap responsibility onto him at htat point. Because he's small? He's nearly identical in stature to Claude Giroux, and six years younger (i.e.. he will likely fill out a bit).) Look it up.

My large point is this - we all seem to be operating under some fairly flimsy blanket assumptions, assumptions that lead us to a pigeon-holed conclusion about what this team needs to do. And, in another two months when they likely do none of the things we're discussing, we call for the head of Bowman while prophesizing the demise of the franchise while the team enters another season as a Stanley Cup favorite.

I'm not championing the status quo, and I'm not eliminating myself from those who would want to see changes made. I'm simply advocating a little breadth of perspective here, and a debunking of the assumptions that have magically evolved into facts over the past week or so.

I take it you don't think it's a North South thing?
- Canardhawk

Cubs/Sox?

Almost 1200 comments on "yet another" Kesler blog. Let me see if I understand the plan. Trick Kane into taking less money by making him think he'll have his buddy Kesler as his Tonto. But once Kane is safely signed long term, you let Kesler walk rather than pay a well-deserved increase in UFA? Then to...Kruger for 2C? No Shaw, no TT...traded for Kesler? No Sharp...run out of town on false Twitters he slugged Kane, to clear cap-space for RK. Maybe you can work a Versteeg-style return once the Nucks find out 2vo cant do a pull up either, and Shaw cant win a face off. A tangled web, cold-blooded as a Game of Thrones back-stab. main problem - Kesler doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who puts up with being used.

Aren't you just a ray of Sunshine today.
- DarthKane

Honoring Nester's request.

Honoring Nester's request.
- Ogilthorpe2

I prefer the grumpy Ogi.

Almost 1200 comments on "yet another" Kesler blog. Let me see if I understand the plan. Trick Kane into taking less money by making him think he'll have his buddy Kesler as his Tonto. But once Kane is safely signed long term, you let Kesler walk rather than pay a well-deserved increase in UFA? Then to...Kruger for 2C? No Shaw, no TT...traded for Kesler? No Sharp...run out of town on false Twitters he slugged Kane, to clear cap-space for RK. Maybe you can work a Versteeg-style return once the Nucks find out 2vo cant do a pull up either, and Shaw cant win a face off. A tangled web, cold-blooded as a Game of Thrones back-stab. main problem - Kesler doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who puts up with being used.
- meta_puck_luck

You forgot the part where Vancouver retains half of Kessler 's salary. Other than that you pretty much nailed it.

What? Too far-fetched?

I prefer the grumpy Ogi.
- DarthKane

(frank) you, OK?

(frank) you, OK?
- Ogilthorpe2

Thank you...much better.

Wonder if Kane pushing the Kesler issue is causing problems up front? Kane needs to be re-signed, but if he is using the Kesler issue as tool with this contract, that will no doubt PO the men upstairs. Might also PO Q if this Kesler issue is forcing a trade of a core player to placate Kane. I understand Kane wants a legit C to play with, but I hope he is doing this the right way.

Thank you...much better.
- DarthKane

Did you like my Haiku?

If you don't think he's all OVER Bowman to get 19/88 done so they can have a presser on 7/1 announcing their futures....think twice.

They need that done ASAP.

I haven't heard one post mortem radio or tv showing talking about how great the season ended. People realize this team should have accomplished more.
- SteveRain

Yes. I'm sure McDonough is all over Bowman to get Toews/Kane locked up by 7/1 (or, more likely, by 7.18 for an announcement at the Convention). I'm also sure that he would have been "all over" Bowman just as much to do exactly the same if the Hawks had won game 7 and gone on to win the Cup.

Nice straw-man on your second point, by the way. I (or anyone else, for that matter) didn't say the season "ended great." Of course no one would say that. They lost. But it's pretty fair to say that, in totality, going to OT in Game 7 of the Conference Final the year after winning the Cup is not abject "failure." I'm pretty sure the post-mortems by the Dan Bernstein's and Steve Rosenbloom's of the world aren't exactly deterring people from renewing their tickets.

Wonder if Kane pushing the Kesler issue is causing problems up front? Kane needs to be re-signed, but if he is using the Kesler issue as tool with this contract, that will no doubt PO the men upstairs. Might also PO Q if this Kesler issue is forcing a trade of a core player to placate Kane. I understand Kane wants a legit C to play with, but I hope he is doing this the right way.
- z1990z

Is Toews not a legit center to play with? Why has this option been forgotten? Has the whole world gone insane?

Wonder if Kane pushing the Kesler issue is causing problems up front? Kane needs to be re-signed, but if he is using the Kesler issue as tool with this contract, that will no doubt PO the men upstairs. Might also PO Q if this Kesler issue is forcing a trade of a core player to placate Kane. I understand Kane wants a legit C to play with, but I hope he is doing this the right way.
- z1990z

I hope he's going about it in the right way too...if he is in fact still going about it at all. Who knows how much of what we hear is accurate to begin with.

I phone...apparently I type "beers" a lot.....

be careful. A hungry black BEAR is nothing to write off. Especially if you have a cat or dog.
- SteveRain

or Referee's

Al, you would trade Sharp, TT, and Leddy for Evander Kane? Have you lost your mind?

Almost 1200 comments on "yet another" Kesler blog. Let me see if I understand the plan. Trick Kane into taking less money by making him think he'll have his buddy Kesler as his Tonto. But once Kane is safely signed long term, you let Kesler walk rather than pay a well-deserved increase in UFA? Then to...Kruger for 2C? No Shaw, no TT...traded for Kesler? No Sharp...run out of town on false Twitters he slugged Kane, to clear cap-space for RK. Maybe you can work a Versteeg-style return once the Nucks find out 2vo cant do a pull up either, and Shaw cant win a face off. A tangled web, cold-blooded as a Game of Thrones back-stab. main problem - Kesler doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who puts up with being used.
- meta_puck_luck

Are you implying that we don't know what we're talking about?

I hope he's going about it in the right way too...if he is in fact still going about it at all. Who knows how much of what we hear is accurate to begin with.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ding Ding Ding.


How much of what we've ever heard about inner politics is legit -and not thrice misconstrued nonsense?

Who knows how much of what we hear is accurate to begin with.
- Ogilthorpe2

This!

Is Toews not a legit center to play with? Why has this option been forgotten? Has the whole world gone insane?
- FredoXV

It's not forgotten, it's just not ideal. Q seems to prefer spread the Toews/Kane wealth around. Ideally this creates matchup problems for the opposition, but it only works if you have legit complimentary pieces for each to skate with. Hossa works on Toews' wing, but so far nobody is picking up the slack for Kane. Toews and Kane are great together, but the team benefits from them being apart and still being able to dominate.

They don't need a star 2C, they just need a legit pro, preferably with some size, who can keep up with Kane and Saad, win an occasional faceoff, and be defensively responsible.

Is Toews not a legit center to play with? Why has this option been forgotten? Has the whole world gone insane?
- FredoXV

Of course he is, but Q seems to have split 19/88 up. Toews play well with Hoss and Bickell/Sharp. Dunno, but 88 seems to really want another C to play with besides 19.

Of course he is, but Q seems to have split 19/88 up. Toews play well with Hoss and Bickell/Sharp. Dunno, but 88 seems to really want another C to play with besides 19.
- z1990z

So - if you move Kane up to play with Toews and Bickell - who is between Sharp/Saad and Hossa on the second line?

Haven't solved a problem.

Are you implying that we don't know what we're talking about?
- StLBravesFan

If that's what you infer, then that's prolly what he's implying.

So - if you move Kane up to play with Toews and Bickell - who is between Sharp/Saad and Hossa on the second line?

Haven't solved a problem.
- StLBravesFan

I agree another C is needed. Just a solid C who can skate fills the bill. Shaw may the answer, but they still C help.