>Maybe Iggy would pull a Hossa -- 3rd different team (Hawks) brings him a Cup
>While Iggy isn't the fleet foot big body, he has the slot toughness the Hawks so badly need -- and wins his share of board battles
>Whatever SBow's final player mix is, it surely can't be the same
- SnapitUpstairs

The brass will (or should) have taken notes - to get out of the Western Conference requires going thru any of 3 big body teams like Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, SJ, Anaheim and LA. The team was ground down pretty good by Game 7, they need to add some size for next season, both up front and at least one on the back end.

There will be some interesting names available in about 10 days, some from teams you wouldn't expect. Times are a changin.

Why target old guys? Its not like this team is on its last leg. They should target players 27 or younger.

Hell no to Iggy. The guy is a nomad these days. Its embarrassing.
- Elbows15

There are plenty of decent 2C options if Stan decides to be active: Nielsen, Eller, Kesler and Backlund just to name a few. Or Stan Mayb just choose to being Zeus back.

And if this team plans on moving Leddy into the top 4, none of these moves matter. You won't win anything with Leddy in that role.
- Elbows15

Depends who the bottom pairing is, but you're likely right.

There are plenty of decent 2C options if Stan decides to be active: Nielsen, Eller, Kesler and Backlund just to name a few.
- DarthKaneOr Stan Mayb just choose to being Zeus back.

Fixed.

Depends who the bottom pairing is, but you're likely right.
- Ogilthorpe2

Would you want Leddy facing the QoC Qduya faced? He was 7th in the league last season. The 3rd pairing wouldn't be the 3rd pairing in this case. Or is the 3rd pairing Pronger and Niedemayer?

There are plenty of decent 2C options if Stan decides to be active: Nielsen, Eller, Kesler and Backlund just to name a few. Or Stan Mayb just choose to being Zeus back.
- DarthKane

Considering the Hawks have shown they can win without a "2C", money may be better spent on better depth down the middle. Let's be honest. Stoll and Lewis don't exactly scare the pants off of me. Stoll is very good at the dot. Other than that, meh. And after the switch to Saad, Kane and Shaw, Carter was pretty ineffective.

Or even Richards. He sucks ass too.

The brass will (or should) have taken notes - to get out of the Western Conference requires going thru any of 3 big body teams like Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, SJ, Anaheim and LA. The team was ground down pretty good by Game 7, they need to add some size for next season, both up front and at least one on the back end.

There will be some interesting names available in about 10 days, some from teams you wouldn't expect. Times are a changin.
- RickJ

>A good point you made the other day was when you wondered if the beat-up Hawks could have gotten by the Rangers -- ordinarily, yes -- but very questionable this year -- especially if both Hammer and Oduya would not have played (speculation, of course)
>The ideal situation is for the Hawks to be bigger, tougher in the trenches -- but still play a high-speed, puck possession game

Kesler for TT straight up ?

Kesler for TT straight up ?
- mrpaulish

Doesn't solve the cap issues, Matty. And as much as I dislike Kesler, Van would be able to get more for him.

Kesler for TT straight up ?
- mrpaulish

Only if Stan can free up some cap space elsewhere.

There are plenty of decent 2C options if Stan decides to be active: Nielsen, Eller, Kesler and Backlund just to name a few. Or Stan Mayb just choose to being Zeus back.
- DarthKane

Id get rid of Handzus, as well as Versteeg and Regin. Maybe Rozsival also, and clear up as much room as possible to add a nice(yet fairly cheap) 3C caliber player. No need to make a major move, no need to go after a 2C and trade Sharp. No reason Saad-Shaw-Kane cant be our 2nd line when it matters most next season.

Considering the Hawks have shown they can win without a "2C", money may be better spent on better depth down the middle. Let's be honest. Stoll and Lewis don't exactly scare the pants off of me. Stoll is very good at the dot. Other than that, meh. And after the switch to Saad, Kane and Shaw, Carter was pretty ineffective.

Or even Richards. He sucks ass too.
- Elbows15

Don't know why we keep saying that, as in the 2013 tournament, Handzus played a very acceptable 2C - good enough so that they had the four centers required to roll four lines.

Now they only have two. Don't know what you mean by "better depth down the middle" - to me it means two more centers than they have now.

Doesn't need to be a Kesler: I think someone like Nielson - two more years of reasonable cap hit (important in 2015-16, if not now), good defensive center, young enough to keep up with Kane and Saad - (I'm assuming the two 2Ws) and, if TT comes thru in 2015-16, can slot down to 3C.

Kesler for TT straight up ?
- mrpaulish

I think it would be fair, but there'd have to be someone else going with TT to offset Kesler's cap hit.

Id get rid of Handzus, as well as Versteeg and Regin. Maybe Rozsival also, and clear up as much room as possible to add a nice(yet fairly cheap) 3C caliber player. No need to make a major move, no need to go after a 2C and trade Sharp. No reason Saad-Shaw-Kane cant be our 2nd line when it matters most next season.
- SimpleJack

But no real reason to think they can - a couple a good games together at the end of the play-offs - why go into a season AGAIN (remember the Pirri hype and the Handzus hope) HOPING you've solved your problem instead of actually getting someone whose history suggests you HAVE solved the problem?

This is a team built to win now: why go into the season without a proven second line?

Not to mention wanting to get Kane signed this summer.

I think it would be fair, but there'd have to be someone else going with TT to offset Kesler's cap hit.
- Hawks82

Which brings us back to the point of, "then is it even worth it?". IMO, no. Get rid of Leddy or Oduya in order to make it happen and i think it might hurt our D too much, especially considering Rozsival might not be back and if he is back who knows if he'll even be effective at all. Get rid of Shaw and we're not improving the depth at the position whatsoever. Get rid or Sharp? Do we really need a 2C that badly, badly enough to lose our leading scorer from the previous season? I dont think so. Id love to add Kesler if it meant improving our team for certain, but i dont see any way to make it happen where it doesn't hurt our team and essentially cancel out the improvement at 2C.

>A good point you made the other day was when you wondered if the beat-up Hawks could have gotten by the Rangers -- ordinarily, yes -- but very questionable this year -- especially if both Hammer and Oduya would not have played (speculation, of course)
>The ideal situation is for the Hawks to be bigger, tougher in the trenches -- but still play a high-speed, puck possession game
- SnapitUpstairs

First thing I said to my wife at the game after the Kings scored was that I hoped LA wins the Cup because they beat a helluva team of warriors in the Hawks and it took absolutely everything they had to do it.

But had Chicago won, I really don't believe there was much left and with Oduya out it would have forced Brookbank into the linep and Leddy into JO's role playing beside a clearly not 100% Hammer. And although nothing has been said, I doubt Seabrook was totally fit either. And who knows what the doctors and trainers did to get Shaw into the lineup.

First 2 games of the final, LA has played one really good period, has never had a lead and are up 2 games. The roll they are on is incredible but they haven't been the better team vs NYR. From what I've seen, the Rangers would have been real tough for the Hawks and I didn't want them to lose to an Eastern Conference team.

One Dman I would love to see the Hawks acquire is Mark Giordano. I'd be willing to move Oduya and Leddy to get him.

Don't know why we keep saying that, as in the 2013 tournament, Handzus played a very acceptable 2C - good enough so that they had the four centers required to roll four lines.

Now they only have two. Don't know what you mean by "better depth down the middle" - to me it means two more centers than they have now.

Doesn't need to be a Kesler: I think someone like Nielson - two more years of reasonable cap hit (important in 2015-16, if not now), good defensive center, young enough to keep up with Kane and Saad - (I'm assuming the two 2Ws) and, if TT comes thru in 2015-16, can slot down to 3C.
- StLBravesFan

Unlike you, I think Shaw can handle the 2C spot effectively. His style of game suits Kane to a T. Neilsen is another smallish center who plays small. If Kruger is still on this team, size is what I would look for. Vermette is the better target.

For all the blowing of the Kings, they were on the verge of elimination in every series. So yeah, they're good. The difference isn't as large as people seem to think. And every bounce is going their way.

And I don't discount Handzus being gone as a huge improvement. The guy murdered every line he played on.

But no real reason to think they can - a couple a good games together at the end of the play-offs - why go into a season AGAIN (remember the Pirri hype and the Handzus hope) HOPING you've solved your problem instead of actually getting someone whose history suggests you HAVE solved the problem?

This is a team built to win now: why go into the season without a proven second line?

Not to mention wanting to get Kane signed this summer.
- StLBravesFan

When did Pirri or Handzus ever look the way Shaw looked on that 2nd line against LA? What more does a 2nd line have to do to prove itself? Nearly willed our team to a come from behind win against the best team in the NHL all by itself. What was it like 17 pts in 3 games or something for the 3 of em'? Against LAs 2nd line which had been dominant? Shaw is young and improving, Saad is young and improving. Kane still relatively young. If they're healthy, and they did it against these Kings on such an important stage, why cant they do it again next year?

First thing I said to my wife at the game after the Kings scored was that I hoped LA wins the Cup because they beat a helluva team of warriors in the Hawks and it took absolutely everything they had to do it.

But had Chicago won, I really don't believe there was much left and with Oduya out it would have forced Brookbank into the linep and Leddy into JO's role playing beside a clearly not 100% Hammer. And although nothing has been said, I doubt Seabrook was totally fit either. And who knows what the doctors and trainers did to get Shaw into the lineup.

First 2 games of the final, LA has played one really good period, has never had a lead and are up 2 games. The roll they are on is incredible but they haven't been the better team vs NYR. From what I've seen, the Rangers would have been real tough for the Hawks and I didn't want them to lose to an Eastern Conference team.

One Dman I would love to see the Hawks acquire is Mark Giordano. I'd be willing to move Oduya and Leddy to get him.
- RickJ

I love Gio. And to me, he is the perfect veteran to have around on a team trying to rebuild. I can't see the Flames moving him unless it was a deal that blew them away. And for a team like the Hawks, it would take too many assets, IMO.

Unlike you, I think Shaw can handle the 2C spot effectively. His style of game suits Kane to a T. Neilsen is another smallish center who plays small. If Kruger is still on this team, size is what I would look for. Vermette is the better target.

For all the blowing of the Kings, they were on the verge of elimination in every series. So yeah, they're good. The difference isn't as large as people seem to think. And every bounce is going their way.

And I don't discount Handzus being gone as a huge improvement. The guy murdered every line he played on.
- Elbows15

I just don't think Shaw has proved it yet - and don't want to start the season with a Pirri-type "hope" again.

I agree with the rest of your post - you know players much better than I do - just don't think an expensive (and somewhat controversial) skater like Kesler is necessarily the answer.

When did Pirri or Handzus ever look the way Shaw looked on that 2nd line against LA? What more does a 2nd line have to do to prove itself? Nearly willed our team to a come from behind win against the best team in the NHL all by itself. What was it like 17 pts in 3 games or something for the 3 of em'? Against LAs 2nd line which had been dominant? Shaw is young and improving, Saad is young and improving. Kane still relatively young. If they're healthy, and they did it against these Kings on such an important stage, why cant they do it again next year?
- SimpleJack

To convince me, they have to do it for more than three games.

Shaw had other opportunities to take over at 2C: he didn't succeed.

Don't want to see this team - in win-now mode - starting another season with another "maybe" in the top six.

JJ, is Sharp on the trade block for the purpose of clearing cap space? Or is Sharp on the trade block to make room for Kesler? If Kesler doesn't come, would you be surprised to still see Sharp go?

I just don't think Shaw has proved it yet - and don't want to start the season with a Pirri-type "hope" again.

I agree with the rest of your post - you know players much better than I do - just don't think an expensive (and somewhat controversial) skater like Kesler is necessarily the answer.
- StLBravesFan

"Pirri type hope"??? Pirri was coming off a great season....in the AHL! No evidence of what he might bring us in the NHL, much less against the league's elite competition in a WCF. U really think what Shaw showed in those 3 games was a fluke? Just a coincidence? I understand that Saad and Kane played out of their minds but it had a lot to do with Shaw being able to keep up and provide net front presence. He's the ideal fit to play with those 2 IMO, and its not because of blind faith as if he's some unproven prospect with no games under his belt....

I just don't think Shaw has proved it yet - and don't want to start the season with a Pirri-type "hope" again.

I agree with the rest of your post - you know players much better than I do - just don't think an expensive (and somewhat controversial) skater like Kesler is necessarily the answer.
- StLBravesFan

Shaw has proven to be a valuable part to a Cup winning team. When given the chance, he HAS shown he can handle it. His play on the first line when Toews was injured was eye-opening to me. That stretch was his best hockey as a Hawk. He was defensively responsible.

He needs to work his ass to improve his FO. He has the hand eye coordination to better than he is.

To convince me, they have to do it for more than three games.

Shaw had other opportunities to take over at 2C: he didn't succeed.

Don't want to see this team - in win-now mode - starting another season with another "maybe" in the top six.
- StLBravesFan

Kesler would be just as much of a hope as Shaw is at this point.

EDIT: and what exactly did Kesler and Kane produce together in Sochi? Less than Kane and Shaw produced together. That's for sure.