UPDATE


Watch Edmonton and the Hawks, especially if nothing gets done with AZ.

Dont even put that into the atmosphere. The Hawks have to do something.

Just standing still would be like sellig because of the loss of Kane.


I can not believe the Hawks are going to waste a good Hossa year . Hossa might not have many left.
- mrpaulish

.... or waste a year of Toews
.....or Seabrook
....or Keith
.....or Hammer

... well you get the picture.

I hope you're right. My preference is more than a rental, if we can rid ourselves of money this year, although that would have to be a unique deal, with our giving up more in now production, for cap savings and hopefully future production.
- howiehandles

You bet. This may be the one time I would be in favor of McD poking the bear on making player moves. Not specific moves, but making moves which make sense (expiring contracts) in helping this team win at least a couple rounds.

if they did get JVR it would be like Thorton and Marleau. 1st and 2nd pick together.

Great blog post.

I think we know what Stan's plan is and has always been:

1. Keep #19, #88, #2, #81, and probably #7 at all costs.
2. Fill in pieces best you can while staying under the salary cap.
3. Don't trade draft picks and live for now because of point 1. You will need cheap labor because #1 will be cap intensive.
4. Get younger and develop the guys in the minors because of, yes, #1.

I don't necessarily like with this but what has he shown us?

The problem is if you draft like garbage or can't develop your draft picks, you are mediocre for ever and hoping you catch fire in the playoffs.

If history is a guide, he won't pull the trigger on a legit 2C and get someone that won't cost a boatload of picks.
- DMCsPulledHammy

You forgot #4. He is arguably as important as any of the other players you listed.

UPDATE


Watch Edmonton and the Hawks, especially if nothing gets done with AZ.
- John Jaeckel

Petry.

UPDATE


Watch Edmonton and the Hawks, especially if nothing gets done with AZ.
- John Jaeckel

Hmmmmm......Petry?

It would be in the Hawks best interest not to partake in such an activity. It was an innocent hit that was just bad luck.
- BravePackCats27

Agreed. IMO, no message to be sent. If anything, just win the freaking game. That's the only way you send a message IMO.

Florida brought the body to the Hawks, like everyone else does, but I didn't see that as dirty at all. Just a bad fall as they caught skates. The push wasn't much.

Petry.
- SUDA88

Check post directly below yours LOL

.... or waste a year of Toews
.....or Seabrook
....or Keith
.....or Hammer

... well you get the picture.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Agrrrreeeeeddddddd 100000% .


DO NOT WASTE THIS SEASON. SANS KANE THE HAWKS ARE STILL LOADED AND ARE NOW GIFTED 5M IN CAP SPACE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

Hmmmmm......Petry?
- CaptainBlackhawk

Hendricks, Purcell, Petry

Dont even put that into the atmosphere. The Hawks have to do something.

Just standing still would be like sellig because of the loss of Kane.


I can not believe the Hawks are going to waste a good Hossa year . Hossa might not have many left.
- mrpaulish

Truth. I think maybe what JJ is getting at is that whatever Stan does he needs to either go big and all in now, trading picks and prospects for the things this team needs OR you go big now and trade the Sharps, Bickells, etc. for controllable high upside cost effective options.

Either way, Stan needs to go big. Just doing a little bit here or a little bit there, in either way, is not a good strategy.

It would be in the Hawks best interest not to partake in such an activity. It was an innocent hit that was just bad luck.
- BravePackCats27

Agrees. Any payback I think was done last game. Maybe the typical fight at the beginning of the game jsut becuase you are talking about Kaner. But I don't see any ill intent on that hit. Dangerous spot to hit someone sure but 9 times out of 10 Kane doesn't lose his footing and there is no injury.

Hmmmmm......Petry?
- CaptainBlackhawk

I feel like if we strike out with AZ then Petry wouldnt be it from Edmonton, maybe a forward.

If you're not going to be buyers because prices are too high, and you have to lose salary in the offseason, then now is time to be sellers.

If they do nothing?
- John Jaeckel

I completely agree. If you think you can't win without #88, SELL, SELL, SELL. The fans will lose their minds, but getting experience for guys you think will help you win in the next few years is invaluable.

Sometimes I think StanBo is like a drug dealer and we are his customers. Gives us just enough to keep us coming back ("we like our team" and filling in around the edges) but not too much to drive us over the cliff (sellers now).

Hmmmmm......Petry?
- CaptainBlackhawk

we have been floating this around for a couple days now....

Raanta and a 4th for Petry?

the problem seems to be twofold:

1. Toews/Kane contracts into the future doesn't allow for bad or evenly questionably bad contracts like Bickell, Crawford, or Sharp. Bickell has a bad contract. They can't afford to pay Sharp almost 6 and not get serious production or flat out study play like Hossa. Crawford could get the same amount from another team, but to get 6 on the Hawks' books, he needs to be a game changer. Having roughly 20 million tied up in your top two forwards doesn't allow for any overpayments or underproduction on the rest of the team.
2. Nobody from farm is really stepping up. Could be from lack of high picks due to always being good. Could be from subpar drafting.

I don't think there's an easy or short term fix, but getting those three bad contracts off the books is a start.
- Vegas Trotzkies

A lot of what you said here makes sense but i have to take exception with the sharp contract being bad...he has scored 20 or more goals 7 times, including 30 or more 4 times, for this organization and was a legit Conn Smythe contender in 2010.

Bickells, bad
Crawfords, meh...market driven. look around at top goalies...in a year or 2 it will look very good.
Sharps, very good.

Great write up

Solid points on both possibilities-

Hossa's age has to be considered in all this I would think

You forgot #4. He is arguably as important as any of the other players you listed.
- Bjm84

True. My bad.

Hendricks, Purcell, Petry
- John Jaeckel

Bickell, Roszival, and a 7th round pick!!!

Hendricks, Purcell, Petry
- John Jaeckel

I like Hendricks A lot.


Still think the target MuST be Vermette .

If the Hawks made it past the first round, and got Kane back...and make a move for a bottom pairing D... they are just as much of a favorite as any other team in the NHL to win the Cup.

Being on the road and playing 4 games away from the UC really shouldn't be an issue for this team.

I'm interested to see how they bounce back.
- CaptainBlackhawk

1. You're assuming Kane makes it back in top shape with a perfect recovery
2. Bottom pairing D won't be the impact you need in the playoffs, and why give something up for it?

Bickell, Roszival, and a 7th round pick!!!
- CaptainBlackhawk

Probably would have to be Raanta

Great write up

Solid points on both possibilities-

Hossa's age has to be considered in all this I would think
- Elliots07

Great point that hasnt really been brought up in this time of turmoil.

Agrrrreeeeeddddddd 100000% .


DO NOT WASTE THIS SEASON. SANS KANE THE HAWKS ARE STILL LOADED AND ARE NOW GIFTED 5M IN CAP SPACE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
- mrpaulish

True but StanBo won't give away draft picks or younger players anyone wants. You can have as much cap space as you want but if you aren't willing to do a deal at your partners price, what good is it?