Hawks wind up facing Dallas in the playoffs, and in game 7 OT Daley rushes the puck through the neutral zone only to bump into Garbutt as they both fall down, causing a loose puck that gets picked up by Oduya who then sends Sharp in on a breakaway for the GWG.
- SimpleJack

You were ok up until that last piece of fiction writing.

Hawks appear to have quieted down for now, or its snack time. Really thought once JO left, Stan would sign a dman like Erhroff. However if they need a #5/6, it is still early so maybe bicks/steeger get move for a dman. I know i mentioned i wonder if the habs trade one bad contract for another and take bicks for gilbert
- ikeane

Erhoff for 1-2mil on a 1 year deal to win a Cup would be amazing.....but that means moving Versteeg(for a late round pick) and Bickell(taking back some salary and throwing in a very good prospect like Hartman/Danault/Pokka) for literally anything, or nothing at all even. Thinking Erhoff would want closer to 2-2.5 though. So its a tight squeeze. Might have to settle for TVR, a cheap vet(Rozsival?) and Rundblad as our 5th, 6th, and 7th D. Not all that bad if TVR develops as rapidly as he did last year in his first 20 NHL games.

Sad...as confirmed both late yesterday and today, BUF offered significantly MORE MONEY and YEARS for Oduya than DAL, he went to DAL for obvious reasons and "took a discount" to do so. The agreed upon, unsigned deals between the Hawks and Oduya were 3 years @ $3.5 million per and 5 years at $3 million per. This is a major reason WHY Oduya showed such incredible loyalty and patience to the Hawks! BUF offered $5 and were prepared to go as high as $5.5 million per. But just ignore that little nugget because it doesn't fit your pre-conceived hypothesis. It's the Warren Commission Pt. 2000. Again, supposed Hawk fans arguing, doubting and attacking instead of just being friendly, which is why we are all supposed to be here in the first place.
- MexicoHawk

Warren Commission Pt 2000? Care to elaborate?

Hawks appear to have quieted down for now, or its snack time. Really thought once JO left, Stan would sign a dman like Erhroff. However if they need a #5/6, it is still early so maybe bicks/steeger get move for a dman. I know i mentioned i wonder if the habs trade one bad contract for another and take bicks for gilbert
- ikeane

It's nap time.

You were ok up until that last piece of fiction writing.
- HawkintheD

Yeah, Sharp finishing on a breakaway....what was i thinking....

It's nap time.


- DarthKane

He actually is...this is in light of the unnerving info that came out about the situation with Sharp (DAL and FLA) and then Oduya and Kruger having unsigned, agreed upon deals with Bowman. These are things that they were sure wouldn't get out...they suspect an avenue, but they don't know for certain.

Now, on a nameless, faceless internet blog site, where fans come together to just "gab" with one another, why would they go to this length? Do you remember the frenzy that occurred when the Sharp deal with FLA (and the subsequent hangup with Sharp's request for a contract "out") was announced here? It went viral and national...first it was confirmed, then it was denied, then it was attacked. If it wasn't true WHY would both teams and their media lackeys go to such public lengths to deny when THEY NORMALLY DON'T CARE or address what any fan has to say? That entire situation with Sharp and FLA occurred HERE first and nowhere else! The same goes for the DAL offer BEFORE the draft for Sharp. Again, if it wasn't true, no one would have given it any legs by bringing attention to it! Why would anyone believe "insider" comments made on a "fan site" where it seems that most everything of value is ridiculed?

As I promised all of you before, anything that I share with you about the Hawks is truth as understood by people who are in a position to know! And the purpose? Just to enjoy the game with friends who should be here for the same purpose.

As for Bowman, he's doing a great job under the circumstances, and we can all trust that come opening day, the Hawks will be in a position to repeat once again. Right now the key is moving Bickell for a price that doesn't hurt the Hawks. Losing Andrew Shaw hurts the Hawks. Losing players like Stephen Johns and Phillip Danault MIGHT hurt the Hawks, we just don't know. This team is in a position to win a Cup every year and its Bowman's responsibility to give the team the best possible chance to achieve it! So for those fretting about the DAL deal, remember, declining or not, Sharp simply could no longer be afforded, he had to go. Oduya completed his contract and couldn't be resigned here. How are these things Bowman's fault. In Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt Bowman got the Hawks two players who are perfectly designed to succeed in Coach Q's system and they are both cost controlled. End of story!

Are there questions about all the new Hawk players? You bet, but don't you think that the same or even greater questions exist about the Hawk players that were traded? Saad hasn't put up big numbers and is leaving playing alongside players like Toews, Hossa and Kane (3 of the best players in the world) and CLB just paid him like he's their franchise player! Sharp and Oduya are in their mid 30's and both have suffered multiple significant injuries over the last 3 seasons. Before Oduya was injured and was given time off later in the season, he was STRUGGLING for the Hawks and had been demoted to the 3rd pairing. The mythical magic wand that so many here like to talk about works both ways...the fact is, right now, the Hawks are even on paper as to last year's team going into October. If Bowman can move Bickell and use that cap space to officially announce the re-signing of Marcus Kruger and then add a veteran DMan like Erhoff, then we are ACTUALLY AHEAD of last year's team. So, try to relax and enjoy the summer and know the Hawks are favoured to repeat this coming season for a GOOD REASON!
- MexicoHawk

Thanks Mex. I've purposely refrained from posting lately due to all the "sky is falling" and "Stan doesn't know what he's doing" angst that seems to be filling the boards. But you and the handful of other competent contributors to Jon's blog can assess and see that the big picture is trending in a positive direction - albeit with some trade-offs based upon the constraints of the salary cap.

3 Cups in 6 years IS a dynasty in the salary cap era - and this team is capable of more.

LOOK- I don't disagree at all with that assessment.
All through college he wanted to the net.
He actually had a bridle put on him and he controlled his sprints to the front, and slowed his jumps in as very many times, he led the rush to the front carrying the puck.

Since the USA developmental teams he has always been a physical edgy player.
So it's not like I haven't had multiple viewings and of course after the selected him took more interested in seeing what was what.

I am gonna tell outright, i have seen him turned inside out many an occasion.
I have seen him have to use his feet after taking a feint from a forward, biting and then double timing to try and angle the player off.

When this seasoned ended, I was pretty much convinced they were gonna for better or worse let him get a real long shot at winning the 6th spot job.
I was excited, but I already was hesitant that this might be a strain in his own end, and feared that it might send him backsliding.

Going back there were all these hype remarks about him being the Seabrook heir apparent, but Seabrook was a controlled world class skater before he ever hit the ice in prospects camp, and played tons of junior games in defensive roles.

Whether we talk about Jared Cowen, Karl Alzner, Michael Del Zotto, or Matt Dumba ----this should be the canvass you look upon before you predict someone is a TOP defender prospect.
They all can skate,give you some push back, carry the puck, but it takes plenty of experience and huge JUMP even after arriiving in the big leagues before they show prowess defensively.
If you can't play at a high level in your own end, your team will not have you out there in situations that might give you offensive chances.

So you think Johns was a top prospect and Stan Bowman threw a top prospect Dallas' way. To get RID of a contract.
Or was it to secure a signed NHL defender with a light contract?
You really don't think Dallas could have been offered Sharp for 4th round pick and they would say NO?
They had the money / Cap space, right? they signed Oduya to replace Daley...

So Stan could have taken a fourth Dallas would still have Sharp and Daley and Garbutt, with no need for Oduya...

Stan would have signed Oduya but didn't have a physical winger another area of need and where we all assume there will be room if Bickell is dispersed...and had Johns who was gonna be SO good waiting in the wings...

I just think you need to see the picture different.

I personally hope Johns eventually hope he fares better as an NHLer than Olson, Stanton, Clendening, and Dahlbeck, but so far it looks to me like Stan kinda knows who to discard...
- wiz1901

Well done
Lets give Stan and our coaching and scouting staff some credit for knowing how to evaluate a player

Thanks Mex. I've purposely refrained from posting lately due to all the "sky is falling" and "Stan doesn't know what he's doing" angst that seems to be filling the boards. But you and the handful of other competent contributors to Jon's blog can assess and see that the big picture is trending in a positive direction - albeit with some trade-offs based upon the constraints of the salary cap.

3 Cups in 6 years IS a dynasty in the salary cap era - and this team is capable of more.
- Chief4Feathers

I think a lot of fans see sexy names like "Saad" or "Sharp", and ask themselves "why are we getting lesser players in return?" well, what they dont realize is we've gotten FOUR NHL ready players in return for TWO. Not draft picks that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. Not highly touted prospects that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. But NHL ready players to retool for next season and make another push for the Cup. IMO Panarin replaces Sharp, Dano replaces Saad, Anisimov replaces Richards, Garbutt is another nice addition(might have to replace Shaw/Versteeg). And Daley will replace Oduya. Now by "replace" im not saying they will be just as good, but im saying that we aren't counting on scrubs or 3rd/4th liner rookies.

Also many question "well if we got rid of Sharp why didn't we keep Saad?" or "why didn't we move Bickell and Versteeg earlier and keep Oduya?"....and they all seem to have answers, or better ideas that they somehow knew existed and SB messed up by passing on them. Its just silly. Nonsense. Its not NEARLY as simple as some make it sound. SB overpaid Bickell by a tad, and shouldn't have acquired Timonen. Other than that i think he's been OUTSTANDING, including what he's done so far this offseason.

can anyone provide info on erik gustafsson? i see stan signed him in spring. oilers didn't want him? put up a good season in sel.

stan must really like him if he bounced paliotta and johns.
- Vanhawk

Gustafsson has been having putting together a solid prospect camp so far.

But what also needs to be said is that Shaw has the "Holmstrom knack" better than anyone else on the team. That thing that Thomas Holmstrom turned into an art form where he could move with the puck to always be blocking the goalies vision. .
- EbonyRaptor

Agree with your post, Raptor. But what I'd add and haven't read during the thousands of pages during "rumor" season is Shaw improved dramatically last year in tips and redirects.

This kid is really dangerous in front of the net getting tips/redirects on goal that would have been a foot wide.

Another area of improvement is his ability to spin off checks/crosschecks/hooks in front of the net and get a stick on a rebound. .....He really is getting into the Holmstom realm in front of the net in a lot of different ways.

Wow I know Im late to the game but I'd thought JO would get a bit more and if not why not stay. Oh Well We shall see what next season brings.

There's really only one thing that I think Stan could/should be "blamed for" and even that has an element of hindsight which somewhat exonerates him and that is not buying out Bickell before the buyout window slammed shut. It's probably not something that should be done lightly and avoided if possible because it affect the cap for longer then the remaining years on the contract, albeit at a reduced cost. If he knew then what he knows now - that he would not be able to trade Bickell without either including a sweetener or take salary back - I wonder if he wouldn't do it differently and buy him out. As I understand the buyout, it would cost $1.5M over the next several years which would be a $2.5M cap savings. That $2.5M may be all he ends up with anyway if he has to take salary back.

Some would say not trading Sharp at or before the draft is another wrong decision, but that one turned out OK so I don't consider that a wrong decision.

We'll see how things end up and then we'll be in a better position to assess the whole body or work.

Wow I know Im late to the game but I'd thought JO would get a bit more and if not why not stay. Oh Well We shall see what next season brings.
- mvp0207

I think the writing was on the wall when Daley was acquired(SB most likely knew he was essentially Oduyas replacement). No way this team could afford a 3rd pairing Dman making 3.3mil if they wanted to keep Oduya....unless they would have traded Crawford....but lets not rehash that any further.

With JO now in Dallas I think it takes some pressure off of Stan. It would have made things worse had he made a bad trade trying to move 29 in order to re-sign JO. Now he can take a little more time to move 29 and not throw 16/65 or Danault into the deal. Or so I hope..

Sad...as confirmed both late yesterday and today, BUF offered significantly MORE MONEY and YEARS for Oduya than DAL, he went to DAL for obvious reasons and "took a discount" to do so. The agreed upon, unsigned deals between the Hawks and Oduya were 3 years @ $3.5 million per and 5 years at $3 million per. This is a major reason WHY Oduya showed such incredible loyalty and patience to the Hawks! BUF offered $5 and were prepared to go as high as $5.5 million per. But just ignore that little nugget because it doesn't fit your pre-conceived hypothesis. It's the Warren Commission Pt. 2000. Again, supposed Hawk fans arguing, doubting and attacking instead of just being friendly, which is why we are all supposed to be here in the first place.
- MexicoHawk

But this was last night:

I'm not sure you are/were Al, but if you are insinuating that I told anyone that Sharp could be had for a 1st and a blue chip prospect, then you are dead wrong. That is what Bowman "opened the bidding with", NO ONE ever offered anything close to this. I have shared with this board the DAL offer before the draft on Sharp (a take it or leave it deal), and the "almost" deal to FLA. Both have been substantiated. As for Oduya, he stuck around without taking $15-20 million guaranteed for almost a month to try and stay with the Hawks. The Chicago deal that he had agreed to with Bowman, but did not sign until the Cap space could be created, was for 3 years at $3.75 million per...very much a "hometown" discount.

Again, I have chosen to participate on this site because of JJ's outstanding blogs. If I can help with the little information I have access to or through my commentary as a former NHL player, then I am glad to. What I will not tolerate is someone who attempts to put words into my mouth or calls me a liar. So again, if those comments were directed at me, they had better cease!

Brad
- MexicoHawk

So what happened? He suddenly decided to take one less year and go to Dallas? The Hawks lowered their offer after he announced he would sign elsewhere? Dallas gets the hometown discount too?

You can throw sideways barbs at me all day, but it doesn't bother me. In fact, I love the ad hominem shots because it shows that you really don't want to back up the things you're saying are facts. I have always been forthright and respectful (as you have too), but I have always attempted to back up my arguments with facts, or else I will outright call them speculation or personal wishful thinking.

And I have no idea what the Warren Commission has to do with anything, other than JFK was shot in Dallas.

With JO now in Dallas I think it takes some pressure off of Stan. It would have made things worse had he made a bad trade trying to move 29 in order to re-sign JO. Now he can take a little more time to move 29 and not throw 16/65 or Danault into the deal. Or so I hope..
- z1990z

At this point for me its do whatever it takes to resign Kruger and add a legit, cheap depth defenseman. If that means moving Versteeg and Bickell(retaining 1/2 his salary and including one of our better prospects) then im all for it.

Agree with your post, Raptor. But what I'd add and haven't read during the thousands of pages during "rumor" season is Shaw improved dramatically last year in tips and redirects.

This kid is really dangerous in front of the net getting tips/redirects on goal that would have been a foot wide.

Another area of improvement is his ability to spin off checks/crosschecks/hooks in front of the net and get a stick on a rebound. .....He really is getting into the Holmstom realm in front of the net in a lot of different ways.
- Mr Ricochet

As long as we're singing the praises of Shaw - let us not forget the improvement he made on faceoffs. He was a tic over 50% for the yesr and that's after only 43% in 2013/14. He works on his game and made himself a better all around player in several areas. This is the type of player you want on your team.

Agree for the most part, although the lynch pin was the Sharp trade from the standpoint of the result being only about 1.7 mill in cap space created.

As far as Dallas....I had heard as did others Buffalo really wanted him but Dallas is a better team. I think Oduya could have made more in Buffalo but he probably was backstopped in a couple of places.
- Al

Al, I think Oduya would have fit nicely in the East with Columbus. That team was on the come last year before the injuries decimated them. IMO the Jackets are a better team than Dallas even after adding Sharp.

Lot more depth and much better goaltending in a weaker conference.

Great work on the radio, Al. A pros pro talking hockey as an adult with adults... http://www.tsn.ca/radio/w...go-were-numbered-1.331516

But this was last night:

So what happened? He suddenly decided to take one less year and go to Dallas? The Hawks lowered their offer after he announced he would sign elsewhere? Dallas gets the hometown discount too?

You can throw sideways barbs at me all day, but it doesn't bother me. In fact, I love the ad hominem shots because it shows that you really don't want to back up the things you're saying are facts. I have always been forthright and respectful (as you have too), but I have always attempted to back up my arguments with facts, or else I will outright call them speculation or personal wishful thinking.

And I have no idea what the Warren Commission has to do with anything, other than JFK was shot in Dallas.
- Sandus

It was a Coup d'état

You were ok up until that last piece of fiction writing.
- HawkintheD

The least exciting play in hockey is a Patrick Sharp breakaway: "Look! A breakaway! Oh ... it's Sharp ... "

As long as we're singing the praises of Shaw - let us not forget the improvement he made on faceoffs. He was a tic over 50% for the yesr and that's after only 43% in 2013/14. He works on his game and made himself a better all around player in several areas. This is the type of player you want on your team.
- EbonyRaptor

Agreed. I don't care what the level when I see a guy/kid improve his game it tells me he's coachable and will work. The two most important ingredients for success in anything.

A roster full of these types will give more talented rosters a run for their money every time.

At this point for me its do whatever it takes to resign Kruger and add a legit, cheap depth defenseman. If that means moving Versteeg and Bickell(retaining 1/2 his salary and including one of our better prospects) then im all for it.
- SimpleJack

Stan never had the $3.5M to re-sign Oduya. If Dallas wasn't going to eat all of Sharp's $5.9M, then Stan couldn't have traded Sharp and gotten his hands on the $3.5M to re-sign Oduya. The timing didn't work for that to happen. Before the Sharp trade he didn't have Cap space to re-sign Oduya and after the Sharp trade he didn't have the $3.5M to re-sign Oduya. Now, if you know for sure that Dallas would have acquired Sharp and not included $3M in salary coming back to the Hawks - than fine, Stan can be held to account. But I don't know that was the case and I'm not going to assume it was.

Gustafsson has been having putting together a solid prospect camp so far.
- Dabearshawks

Signs point to that guy getting a lonnnnngggg look at camp when the whole team is together.

Jim Nill says Benn and Seguin can be the next Toews and Kane. #MvsW
- southernhawk

Only if they change their numbers to 19 and 88. Oh, and win 3 cups.