Not easy, but doable. You won't have to eat salary for a player with only 2 years left on his deal. Bickell is a different animal, because he most often sucks at hockey.
- kwolf68

You underestimate how many teams can absorb a $6 million cap hit witout sending salary back....

They can wiggle around....But difficult.
- Al

No argument it will be hard Al, but this isn't something Stan just woke up to today. The contingencies should be in place. Now it's just a matter of ironing it out.

I am amazed NO ONE was moved over the last few days. It tells me Stan is holding to too high a hand or he's juts getting bullpoop offers. We'll never really know I guess.

Graham Knott

(RED LINE: 5 million dollar skills/ 10 cent head-=Gets to where he is going really fast, just doesn’t have clue why he is going there.) Honest payer who shows up in every facet. Opens the ice for teammates when he draws coverage. Goes into the corners when out-manned, and comes out with the puck. Understands the defensive side really well and is big enough to control space. Effective as big body in the front of the net. Outstanding straight line speed, and a good skater for a big man, but does have some balance issues. Handles the puck well and creates. quality chances when it looks s if there are none there. Lacks hockey sense and at this juncture has poor vision. Doesn’t use his wingers well. Has tools but must learn to anticipate and produce.

Future Considerations:
Knott can be an absolute monster using his size and shot to make an impact, or he can be totally invisible, depending on the contest. Knott doesn’t play a flashy game but is effective in his role on the PP, PK and even strength. He is a good skater for his size, but could add another gear to both his top speed and acceleration. He is very solid on his skates, using his body to protect the puck. He doesn’t have the flashy hands that allow him to deke out defensemen often. Instead he gains the zone, then slows down to try to set up a play or use his reach to try to get around the defenseman with strong puck protection. His passes are generally on tape, from short- to long-range passes. He initiates and dominates cycles and the boards. He possess a good shot but could work on its release. He can go to the net for deflection or rebounds. He is not the most physical, but he will finish his checks; he prefers to angle opponents off more often. He has very good hockey sense. He’s really good at stretching the ice and uses open spaces to make space for teammates or himself. He has a very good vision to find teammates on the rush. He supports teammates very well, especially on the cycle and picking up for them defensively. He gets into shooting lanes to block shots, he also uses his stick to cut passing lanes.
- wiz1901

Contradictions like this from different reports lead me to believe that half these sites have never seen some of these guys play.

The above is true, but my point on this issue, is do you know that there was a deal earlier that he turned down?

Also, think we need to define earlier, at the draft, before than at trade deadline, before then at the beginning of the previous season?

I can't make a decision if he waits too long to pull the trigger unless there was something to turn down.
- vabeachbear

No need to justify my point really common sense tells you don't get same value days before the opener for anyone, unless someone goes on LTIR.

So it defies logic to think the pool of buyers wasn't larger....Polka may turn out to be a Norris winner but he wasn't a top tier talent as rated by the Islanders....and that is for sure.

You underestimate how many teams can absorb a $6 million cap hit witout sending salary back....
- Al

That's the snag, but in the short term even a team like Pitt could take it on. Then they'd have to move some things around after. Not that they'd want that problem, but Patrick Sharp on that team would be a huge get for them. They need better leadership. I've never seen a team get so befuddled when another team plays them physical. SHarp has been dealing with that crap his entire career in Chicago...what he and his team usually have done is gone out and scored and win.

Sharp is the perfect fit in Pittsburgh to calm that team down when things get tough.

Contradictions like this from different reports lead me to believe that half these sites have never seen some of these guys play.
- Sandus

Or scouted them at different times...

Sorry about the double quotation folks, dropped my glasses one too many times this morning...

If I look at the situation with some perspective...and without red and black glasses on..
Sharp is a huge cap hit and is coming off a bad season plus he is 33.
Bickell is coming off a poor season, injury concerns and is well overpaid for his production.

To trade both without having to eat money is a real challenge plus both have somewhat of a say as to where they land...especially Sharp....Not easy.

@AlCimaglia
- Al

With all those factors that you listed above Al... maybe Stan should have been more realistic on what he could get.

At the end of the day and a couple draft picks + prospect for Sharp and a late round pick for Bickell, all without taking much salary back - that would have been a win IMO.

Easier said than done maybe, but sounds like Stan's asking price was steep out of the gates.

It's about to get even harder to find a home for a top 6 like #10 if rumours of Oshie, Nash and Kessel are true.

Stan can't feel "amazing" about his weekend so far... still time for a couple wins.

It's about to get even harder to find a home for a top 6 like #10 if rumours of Oshie, Nash and Kessel are true.

- TyCamScore

I don't think Sharp is in the same contract issue status with Nash and Kessel. IOW, I see NO CHANCE Pitt goes for Kessell or Nash...BUT I could see them in on Sharp and Oshie. Oshie is the wildcard. Pitt may go for him which would remove one potential dance partner.

I was very critical of Leddy deal as there had to be more buyers at the draft....This time Bowman's job is more difficult.
- Al

Agree 100% on Leddy but not on Sharp. The cap hit is large but teams know his value - even if he is declining some. There are other teams that need to add talent to stay competitive. The Pens certainly do not look improved and Rutherford is betting on Plotnikov like some of their fans are. Caps need help. Isles? Great draft moves but what gets them to the next level - particularly if they move KO.

Contradictions like this from different reports lead me to believe that half these sites have never seen some of these guys play.
- Sandus

And then there's this - from the Hawks scouting dept
@ESPNChiPowers: Mark Kelley said they were "very, very high" on Graham Knott and targeted him coming into the draft.

Agree 100% on Leddy but not on Sharp. The cap hit is large but teams know his value - even if he is declining some. There are other teams that need to add talent to stay competitive. The Pens certainly do not look improved and Rutherford is betting on Plotnikov like some of their fans are. Caps need help. Isles? Great draft moves but what gets them to the next level - particularly if they move KO.
- tredbrta

Rutherford flat out said they were in the market for a top 6 winger. And I must admit he looked frustrated about it. So he is serious.

I don't think Sharp is in the same contract issue status with Nash and Kessel. IOW, I see NO CHANCE Pitt goes for Kessell or Nash...BUT I could see them in on Sharp and Oshie. Oshie is the wildcard. Pitt may go for him which would remove one potential dance partner.
- kwolf68

Just saying if Nash or Kessel go to... let's say FLA, NYI, WASH or ARI well that'll take away 2 destinations that Stan talk to.

No need to justify my point really common sense tells you don't get same value days before the opener for anyone, unless someone goes on LTIR.

So it defies logic to think the pool of buyers wasn't larger....Polka may turn out to be a Norris winner but he wasn't a top tier talent as rated by the Islanders....and that is for sure.
- Al

Not really asking for a justification, more if there was any info that he had better deals he could have made earlier, and he turned them down.

Agree that it would make sense that he could have had a better offer for Leddy at the draft last year, I just was curious if there was anything anyone knew of.

Just like the last two days, I don't know if he turned down a decent offer for Sharp, Bickell, Versteeg, Crawford or the rights to Kruger and Shaw, but I'm going to assume that he didn't have decent offers or he would have made the trade.

If no other GMs offer anything legitimate, not sure exactly what he is supposed to do.

I'm actually a bit worried that this summer's dealings will go right to beginning of the season again.

Just not sure I can blame the hawks from office for it.

Agree 100% on Leddy but not on Sharp. The cap hit is large but teams know his value - even if he is declining some. There are other teams that need to add talent to stay competitive. The Pens certainly do not look improved and Rutherford is betting on Plotnikov like some of their fans are. Caps need help. Isles? Great draft moves but what gets them to the next level - particularly if they move KO.
- tredbrta

Still got Nielsen and a 3rd next year for Sharp?? Snow said the other day KO isn't going anywhere but you never know

Just saying if Nash or Kessel go to... let's say FLA, NYI, WASH or ARI well that'll take away 2 destinations that Stan talk to.
- TyCamScore

True True, but I think maybe the destinations will be different. I can't see Sharp in Arizona or even Florida. And I can't see Nash in Wash or Pittsburgh. I think the market for Sharp is a bit different than for these guys with longer term and bigger dollars.

Oshie? He's cheaper than Sharp, younger, maybe more upside now. But he certainly doesn't bring the leadership and the culture of winning ethic Sharp would bring.

With all those factors that you listed above Al... maybe Stan should have been more realistic on what he could get.

At the end of the day and a couple draft picks + prospect for Sharp and a late round pick for Bickell, all without taking much salary back - that would have been a win IMO.

Easier said than done maybe, but sounds like Stan's asking price was steep out of the gates.

It's about to get even harder to find a home for a top 6 like #10 if rumours of Oshie, Nash and Kessel are true.

Stan can't feel "amazing" about his weekend so far... still time for a couple wins.
- TyCamScore

Sharps ROI (goals + intangibles like 2 way play and play off experience v salary and term) might actually look pretty good in comparison to some of these. Depending on whether others keep $$ or take back bad contracts of course.

Patience is a virtue but in this case it means less return as the small pool of buyers shrinks....Leddy was dumped right before puck drop of the opener and it wouldn't be a surprise if moving Sharp-Bickell takes that long.
- Al

Problem is - not only will the return be less because the market has dried up - even worse - they may have to take back cap hit of some kind so that the freed up cap space might not be enough - and additional players may have to be moved out.

I think you find 2 dance partners for Sharp and Bickel that are prepared to pay them........period
Hawks need them off the books and they are both past their
Best before date

The farm is well stocked so move them cheap and address signing Saad and Kruger

More important to see the Çap hits disappear than it is to hold out for a return

I think you find 2 dance partners for Sharp and Bickel that are prepared to pay them........period
Hawks need them off the books and they are both past their
Best before date

The farm is well stocked so move them cheap and address signing Saad and Kruger

More important to see the Çap hits disappear than it is to hold out for a return
- Colbyboy

Agree, which is why I think eventually Sharp will move for a D spec and a #2 in next year's draft, not a 1. Versteeg will move for a pick (if we decide to move him). Bickell will be traded for used zamboni oil and coach's white board.

I think you find 2 dance partners for Sharp and Bickel that are prepared to pay them........period
Hawks need them off the books and they are both past their
Best before date

The farm is well stocked so move them cheap and address signing Saad and Kruger

More important to see the Çap hits disappear than it is to hold out for a return
- Colbyboy

I think getting rid of salary ideally should come before signing the RFAs -- better negotiating position on both sets of contracts if you can do it in that order. May not, however, be an option.

Still got Nielsen and a 3rd next year for Sharp?? Snow said the other day KO isn't going anywhere but you never know
- Vukota

Can you bump it to a 2nd or keep half his cap hit?

Can you bump it to a 2nd or keep half his cap hit?
- Sandus

His cap hit isn't that bad, but yea...moving Sharp and taking on salary would be an issue. Afterall, the only reason to move Sharp is because of the cap.

Raanta to NYR for Haggerty.

Can you bump it to a 2nd or keep half his cap hit?
- Sandus

Don't have a 2nd that went to Boston in the Boychuk trade.