The only available winger who could possibly sub in for Kane's presence is Jagr. Give him something to play for and he'll find another gear, help you win the cup, and then die.
- Dirty_Irbe_Pads

I feel like.if Jagr gets moved Uncle Lou throws him a bone and he goes to Pittsburgh to play his final games.

By no means was that what I was implying. But more that he got himself into this mess and knowing those contracts were coming due he didn't do himself any favors.

Now it wasn't all on Bowman due to the lack of cap increase but he is supposedly the master. Seems he was less than stellar in this department.
- Vark37

How is he less than stellar? Do you know the "wonder twins" would have signed for less?

This was a homerun blog JJ.

The crux of the write-up can be boiled down to me with

-Either Stan needs to get bold and go make a couple major additions or back off and focus on futures. And to tell you what I am TOTALLY fine with either scenario

As long as Stan does it, explains his plan and it make sense.

If he goes out and acquires Shane O'Brien and that's his MOVE then he's a joke

Great article JJ, one of your best ever


- FourFeathers773

Came to say this....

If Bickell is luggage why woukd anyone else want him?

I thought the room friction smoke was around Crawford?

If Stan makes that many deals do you think they can get the cohesion as a group to do well these playoffs? If they don't do well these playoffs with that roster then it was a collosal waste of time because too many players are rentals.
- paulr

True and agree. However, it does create a lot of space for the offseason free agent market.

If Bickell is luggage why woukd anyone else want him?

I thought the room friction smoke was around Crawford?

If Stan makes that many deals do you think they can get the cohesion as a group to do well these playoffs? If they don't do well these playoffs with that roster then it was a collosal waste of time because too many players are rentals.
- paulr

Im sure.someone else thinks they can fix him by making him a top 6 staple .

Matt Spiegel @MattSpiegel670

Hawks source: Stan Bowman is aggressively seeking both a D man & a forward. & a $$ player to deal with 2015 Cap (Bickell?) may be included.

This was a homerun blog JJ.

The crux of the write-up can be boiled down to me with

-Either Stan needs to get bold and go make a couple major additions or back off and focus on futures. And to tell you what I am TOTALLY fine with either scenario

As long as Stan does it, explains his plan and it make sense.

If he goes out and acquires Shane O'Brien and that's his MOVE then he's a joke
- kwolf68

Yup. All I care about is that whatever he does he goes all in, goes bold. No halvsies.

Matt Spiegel @MattSpiegel670

Hawks source: Stan Bowman is aggressively seeking both a D man & a forward. & a $$ player to deal with 2015 Cap (Bickell?) may be included.
- JRoenick97

Spiegel is an idiot.

Does AZ really want the guy who cheapshotted their goalie in the playoffs a few years ago? Why would they give up a good center for a bad one? Just to get younger? As a throw in?
- DMCsPulledHammy

Mike Smith is a known actor. His sell on that Shaw incident (and many others) is ridiculous. Have you ever seen him hack guys in front of his net? He's worse than Billy Smith. He dishes out as much as he acts.

Also, in pro sports, guys hate each other but they get traded to the same team all the time and it works out. Hawks team/fans hated Probert when he was on the Wings, but loved him in the Indian Head. I doubt there would be any bad blood if Shaw went to AZ.

Spiegel is an idiot.
- BlazinMike

670 is only popular because am 1000 is (frank)ing awful.

Matt Spiegel @MattSpiegel670

Hawks source: Stan Bowman is aggressively seeking both a D man & a forward. & a $$ player to deal with 2015 Cap (Bickell?) may be included.
- JRoenick97

Meh, send Sharp and Bicks out of town. Not enough bang for their collective buck in Chicago

Spiegel is an idiot.
- BlazinMike

I know literally nothing about him.

Matt Spiegel @MattSpiegel670

Hawks source: Stan Bowman is aggressively seeking both a D man & a forward. & a $$ player to deal with 2015 Cap (Bickell?) may be included.
- JRoenick97

If MATT SPEIGEL says it.. it must be true!

I know literally nothing about him.
- JRoenick97

This is Matt Spiegel

Yup. All I care about is that whatever he does he goes all in, goes bold. No halvsies.
- Bjm84

Yep. Me too. And I would NOT beat him up for going young, going for the future. We would still have Toews, Hossa, Saad, Keith, Hammer, and Seabs...we'd still have a good team, but if GM came out and said the Kane injury makes it difficult to throw all in now in the rugged Western conference and he wants to reorganize the team to compete for the next five years (instead of just this one), then go for it.

My "go for the future" dream scenario is to find a way to get the #1 pick and pickup Conner M. I would even move Saad in a deal to get that guy. The next legit superstar.

Im sure.someone else thinks they can fix him by making him a top 6 staple .
- mrpaulish

So you can see he's nothing but luggage but maybe a GM in the NHL can't?

This is Matt Spiegel


- CaptainBlackhawk

Well, that doesn't seem like a reliable source.

670 is only popular because am 1000 is (frank)ing awful.
- mrpaulish

Meh, overall 670 is entertaining to me. It just gets ridiculous sometimes. I really don't like Spiegel though, he annoys the crap outta me.

I know literally nothing about him.
- JRoenick97

He's the midday sports talk radio show host on 670 the score in Chicago. He's a douche bag

So you can see he's nothing but luggage but maybe a GM in the NHL can't?
- paulr

if Bickell would of hit the open market he wpuld have gotteN Clarkson $. He can shoot , he had HUGE playoff succuess in a contract year . I think he is luggae because he pisses me off more than any other Hawk . Im.sure some GM thinks they xan get more out of him.

Spiegel is an idiot.
- BlazinMike

I don't mind Spiegel, but I also don't consider his sources any different than mine, and mine are the same as everyone else's source.

Yep. Me too. And I would NOT beat him up for going young, going for the future. We would still have Toews, Hossa, Saad, Keith, Hammer, and Seabs...we'd still have a good team, but if GM came out and said the Kane injury makes it difficult to throw all in now in the rugged Western conference and he wants to reorganize the team to compete for the next five years (instead of just this one), then go for it.

My "go for the future" dream scenario is to find a way to get the #1 pick and pickup Conner M. I would even move Saad in a deal to get that guy. The next legit superstar.
- kwolf68

Agreed on all accounts.

Meh, overall 670 is entertaining to me. It just gets ridiculous sometimes. I really don't like Spiegel though, he annoys the crap outta me.
- BlazinMike

Their mid-day show blows. Never cared for Mac, with his fishing tales, and other bs. So glad he didn't come back. Not a fan of Kap either. Was hoping Rosner was hired for mids. B&B, I used to like, but now it's all about them telling their callers that they're idiots, and how smart they are.

Yep. Me too. And I would NOT beat him up for going young, going for the future. We would still have Toews, Hossa, Saad, Keith, Hammer, and Seabs...we'd still have a good team, but if GM came out and said the Kane injury makes it difficult to throw all in now in the rugged Western conference and he wants to reorganize the team to compete for the next five years (instead of just this one), then go for it.

My "go for the future" dream scenario is to find a way to get the #1 pick and pickup Conner M. I would even move Saad in a deal to get that guy. The next legit superstar.
- kwolf68

Connor McDavid is projected as a generational talent ala Crosby. It's gonna take a lot more than Saad to get this years #1 (or #2 pick of Eichel) away from whomever winds up with it.

This years #1 pick will take a superstar along the likes of a Kane, Ovechkin, Malkin, etc. to get. Why would Buffalo, Edmonton or whomever winds up with him do that? A trade for a current superstar means you are trying to win NOW, which isn't happening for a few years on any of those teams. The draft McDavid and let the team develop around him as he matures into a superstar (hopefully).