Sharp will look much more attractive come July 1 when less talented UFAs start signing deals that will make his 5.9 per for 2 years seem cheap in comparison. For a guy with 3 Stanley Cups. And an Olympic gold medal. And leadership qualities. And at least a couple of years of productivity remaining.

When I heard he was eating a bag of potato chips at the draft table that was the last straw for me. He has to go.
- RickJ

I thought the same till I heard he was eating Miss Vickie's sea salt and vinegar then I knew he was competent.

Why, Maybe Who knows. What do you think will happen? They are not going to forfeit the season. They will field a club and Im sure they will be an upper echelon team again.
- mvp0207

You sure about that? Reading some folks around these parts they'd be lucky to be a wildcard this next season.

Rick: How dare he hasn't made a move yet. Just a complete dropping of the ball, and par for the course with this scalawag Bowman. Unacceptable! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!
- CaptainBlackhawk

I put it all down to the fact that he gave Sharp and Bickell modified no trade clauses that included only one team. And Florida doesn't want either one of them.

Sharp will look much more attractive come July 1 when less talented UFAs start signing deals that will make his 5.9 per for 2 years seem cheap in comparison. For a guy with 3 Stanley Cups. And an Olympic gold medal. And leadership qualities. And at least a couple of years of productivity remaining.
- scottak

I thought the same till I heard he was eating Miss Vickie's sea salt and vinegar then I knew he was competent.
- paulr

Love Salt and Vinegar chip. Will have to try Miss Vicky's.

Love Salt and Vinegar chip. Will have to try Miss Vicky's.
- RickJ

Joking aside they are pretty good.

If he is then he should use the red font because I couldn't tell.
- paulr

Alas, I have no clue how to red font. Or is that sarcasm also...I can't tell!

Look at the Pens with players like Sid, Malkin, Fleury, Letang, James Neal at one time, the year they lost to detroit (Hossa) Whoops in letting him go, Chris Kunitz, Brooks Orpric, Sergei Gonchar, missing on drafting Toews and drafting jordan stall instead.. Could you imagine Sid, Toews, Malkin, Hossa and Neal as a core of forwards. What did they get back for losing some of those players...Mostly Squat. with all those names coming through their franchise 1 cup 7 years ago. It says something to the fact that this core is STILL together after 3
- mvp0207

Yes, great point. But also Crosby and Malkin were in top echelon of players in salary. Which limits your role players and supporting cast. We were lucky and had kane and toews getting paid 1mil or so in 2010 and 6 mil for the next two. Now it gets interesting. That is interesting part with long term contracts, the first few years it might be difficult, but down the road - you reap the benefits. We will see how the Hossa and Keith contracts playout. So far, it has been incredibly awesome.

yes and kudos for SB, for realizing the core and not messing up a good thing. Still wish he had been better on a few of those contracts and deadline acquistions, but no one is perfect. Just no room for mistakes when you cannot afford it.

Alas, I have no clue how to red font. Or is that sarcasm also...I can't tell!
- biegs

Then how am I supposed to tell?

Everyone is open to criticism, the big difference is you can see Keith or Seabrook blew coverage, you can see Oduya serve up a pizza and CC let in a softie, or Q not having his team ready in a game. Aside from a bad trade for KT or giving a bad contract to Bickell most of the criticism levelled at Bowman is speculation at best.
- paulr

lol, there are many SB whiffs as well as many SB excellent moves. I can't believe we have runblad for 1.2 mil this year. or is that incorrect?

lol, there are many SB whiffs as well as many SB excellent moves. I can't believe we have runblad for 1.2 mil this year. or is that incorrect?
- Topshelf2010

You missed the point completely! As I said, there are things that can obviously be criticized, yes like Rundblad, but many of the criticisms being levelled at Bowman are speculatory in nature .... like if he could have received a better return for Leddy.

If we can criticize Keith or Seabrook for blowing a coverage or two, and Hossa for not burying a shot in the slot, and Oduya for serving up the occasional pizza, and CRAWFORD for letting in a soft goal - while recognize the overall excellence of their play - we can certainly do the same for/with/to Stan Bowman.
- StLBravesFan

Great, GREAT post.

Stan has been dealt a great hand. Hard to fault him for being conservative. Improved it more than he has hurt it so far IMO. That said, we have every right to scrutinize his moves. It is what fans do.

Look at what Sweeney just did to the Bruins. Stan deserves some credit for some of his non moves. Even this draft, add Panarin, Baun, Kero, Gustafson and retaining Paliotta and how does it look in comparison to others?

Absolutely, but you can't assume that because Hossa airmailed that shot or Crawford lost his crease and flopped on a softy that they will do so again in a similar future opportunity. Nor is it fair to assume that every situation will have exactly the same circumstances.

When Stamkos comes barreling down the ice unobstructed for 80 feet and comes up to Crawford, you don't cite all the breakaway or shootout goals he's allowed for evidence of your concern and you don't think about what the overall conditions on the ice are. You simply say "you gotta make this save" and cross your fingers and see what happens. After the fact you can say what did or didn't happen according to plan, but in the moment, why can't we just let things happen and trust in a guy who has proven his value?

This constant "Stan is dropping the ball" argument just gets tiring when nobody really knows what's going or or what's going to happen.
- Sandus

I guess I was wrong: we can't criticize Stan - we must trust without questioning, because - well - we don't know.

Lots of people saying so.

I'll have to remember that.

If he is then he should use the red font because I couldn't tell.
- paulr

I read somewhere that your keyboard should only be enabled to type red font.

I guess I was wrong: we can't criticize Stan - we must trust without questioning, because - well - we don't know.

Lots of people saying so.

I'll have to remember that.
- StLBravesFan

Go ahead and criticize him. The point is a lot of us just aren't sure, exactly, what people are criticizing him about.

I read somewhere that your keyboard should only be enabled to type red font.
- HawkintheD

That's just plain silly, when have I once been sarcastic?

You missed the point completely! As I said, there are things that can obviously be criticized, yes like Rundblad, but many of the criticisms being levelled at Bowman are speculatory in nature .... like if he could have received a better return for Leddy.
- paulr

ok, got your point. Just like the 2010 purge. I could not believe we could have gotten better. But who knows. That is always the case. Just like JT and Kane were going to get 12mil and Bickel was getting 4 to 5mil offers from other teams.

To tell you the truth, who knows what SB's plans are. From what i see: Keep the core together, fill in some vets on the cheap, have a few cheap young players who perform above the pay rate, get a decent goalie, maybe get lucky on a few college FA, as well as lucky on some veteran trade deadline pickups. If you skimp, skimp on the defense #6 and #7 dman and 1 winger on either the 3 or 4th line, and one can say #2 center

When I heard he was eating a bag of potato chips at the draft table that was the last straw for me. He has to go.
- RickJ

How dare he!!! The nerve of that guy taking a minute or two to enjoy a salty snack...WTF Stan!?!?!?

That's just plain silly, when have I once been sarcastic?
- paulr

You are right now...and it's way more than once!

Love Salt and Vinegar chip. Will have to try Miss Vicky's.
- RickJ

Jimmy John's Salt & Vinegar Chips nom nom nom!

You missed the point completely! As I said, there are things that can obviously be criticized, yes like Rundblad, but many of the criticisms being levelled at Bowman are speculatory in nature .... like if he could have received a better return for Leddy.
- paulr

If you want to challenge the speculation that is fine but there is nothing wrong with having an opinion (just don't state it as fact). On Leddy, it is a fairly safe assumption to speculate trading Leddy 1 day before a penalty would be incurred caused the return to be less. No, we don't know this for a fact but it has been reported that Stan wanted a higher rated prospect from the Isles and settled on Pokka.

Jury is out on these cap sheds - wherever they come from - until we see the result. Maybe there is a deal in place waiting for a balloon payment like rumored on Kessel and Phaneuf? Maybe Stan was too passive? I'll wait for a result but there is nothing wrong with speculating on Hockey BUZZ in the meantime.

Jimmy John's Salt & Vinegar Chips nom nom nom!
- Assman22

But they hurt your tounge if you eat too many

But they hurt your tounge if you eat too many
- ehawk

Lots of things hurt your tongue if you eat too much or too many ....

If you want to challenge the speculation that is fine but there is nothing wrong with having an opinion (just don't state it as fact). On Leddy, it is a fairly safe assumption to speculate trading Leddy 1 day before a penalty would be incurred caused the return to be less. No, we don't know this for a fact but it has been reported that Stan wanted a higher rated prospect from the Isles and settled on Pokka.

Jury is out on these cap sheds - wherever they come from - until we see the result. Maybe there is a deal in place waiting for a balloon payment like rumored on Kessel and Phaneuf? Maybe Stan was too passive? I'll wait for a result but there is nothing wrong with speculating on Hockey BUZZ in the meantime.
- tredbrta

I knew you'd see it my way.