Well if there's one test for a guy to be a real 2C, it'll show with Kane getting a TON of space to maneuver and plenty of passes.

We

Shall

See

29+ hours 'til puck drop.
- blackhawk24

I'm all ready to go. Went grocery shopping two days ago to stock up before hockey season begins.

Savvy

Your effortless speed mention reminded me of something I saw at a fantasy camp a number of years ago. Dallas Drake was participating in the fantasy camp in one of his last years as a Blue. He was in his defensive zone when his team got control of the puck. One of the best non-pro players in that game took off with Drake for a two on one. This guy was pumping his legs, busting his arse as much as he could on this 2 on 1 with Drake. Drake took two full strides and a partial stride the entire length of the ice and easily kept up with the guy. It was unreal.

Here was a guy who was slow by NHL standard and only had to take 2.5 strides and to keep up with one of the best non-nhl guys on the ice through most of the duration of the rink. It tells you how much power and efficiency some have in their skating. I'll never forget how humbling that was.
- stljam

stljam:
Great comment! And how true. Not many realize how good even the "slowest" NHL (or ex-NHL) guys are!

Yeah I agree, with Kane's off ice issues, I'm not sure many teams would give full value for kane. Maybe if you take advantage of a team that needs him for hockey market purposes? (Phoenix, Florida)
- Danformo

0.0000000000% he waives he full NMC/NTC to go to either place

Kid grew up in a big time US hockey market (buffalo) and has played his entire career for an O-6 franchise and won 3 cups

he isnt going to some third rate hockey market of bettmans

Savvy

Your effortless speed mention reminded me of something I saw at a fantasy camp a number of years ago. Dallas Drake was participating in the fantasy camp in one of his last years as a Blue. He was in his defensive zone when his team got control of the puck. One of the best non-pro players in that game took off with Drake for a two on one. This guy was pumping his legs, busting his arse as much as he could on this 2 on 1 with Drake. Drake took two full strides and a partial stride the entire length of the ice and easily kept up with the guy. It was unreal.

Here was a guy who was slow by NHL standard and only had to take 2.5 strides and to keep up with one of the best non-nhl guys on the ice through most of the duration of the rink. It tells you how much power and efficiency some have in their skating. I'll never forget how humbling that was.
- stljam

Wait until you see Connor McDavid - suggest you go watch him live.

Sharp. Also had some kind of no-movement clause I believe.

Actually happens quite often. And if a team wants to make it happen, they usually do. In Kane's case, just my opinion, they absolutely could force it, FWIW.
- John Jaeckel

Sharp had a modified NTC and the return was below fair value in most people's opinions. What recent star player has waived their NMC against their will?http://www.generalfanager.com/players/530

Pulling this one right from my back side, but what about:

Kane + D prospect to LA for Doughty

LA is a front runner town (I've been a lifelong Raiders and Lakers fans so I've seen the LA mentality). There will be a new NFL team there within the next 2 years and the Kings will be fighting the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, and an NFL team or two (hopefully not my Raiders) for entertainment dollars. They are going to lose Kopitar because he and the team are miles apart on a new contract. If Kane has any doubts about living in LA, his agent, who BTW reps Kopitar, lives in Beverley Hills. The Kings would have an offensive superstar to market around and I'm sure Pat Brisson can help alleviate any questions they have with Kane's past behavior.

Imagine a defense of Keith - Doughty, Seabrook - Daley, Hammer - TVR.

Agreed, i never said it proved the girl is lying, so not sure what you are trying to say.... My "B" was that her Lawyer quit her case because her family(mom) lied and presented fake false evidence. Makes the claim of rape by Kane almost impossible to move forward with to a GJ now(if the DNA evidence didnt do that already). I suspect the rest of the story when it comes out will result in some quiet resolution behind closed doors if anything. I also find it interesting that there seems to be some sort of reluctance or refusal by the girls friend(her main witness) to cooperate. As i understand if she were to cooperate and agree to testify then Kane could and would have been charged with the crime instantly, or the following day after they got the statements from the witness. Not 100% sure on that, but it makes sense. That just further raises my doubt about the initial claim is all i am saying.
- SimpleJack

I still contend it was something in the grey area. The accuser feels strongly enough to go get a rape kit, go to police, and still not back down. Now regarding her mother she claims she didn't know....until it's proven she did, you have to dismiss that. How a lawyer in that area doesn't know what the official rape kit box/bag looks like is also something to question. proves that guy is also a clown.

What I found interesting, is Kane is dating a woman YET nobody, not 1 Chicago media member has reached out to this person to get her take of her boyfriend involved in this. Granted it's probably a no comment, but I continue to be shocked at the lack of balls 97% of the media in this town have. Truly amazing.

yeah, I don't want to go there again......

The media has it in for Patrick kane and is hell bent on ruining him because...........

We can all speculate but nobody knows for sure what happened. My guess is something in a grey area, and to be fair........the only thing the Hawks will know is what Kane tells them or what their people can dig up, and I'm not sure a Hawk PI can out maneuver one of these large media ones, with local tie ins.

I don't have to like as a person, to admire him as a hockey player. Some of kane backers, per se, who have been lighting up twitter or radio shows good for their loyalty, but yikes......setting back education and man decades.

For the last time, if it's found that this woman was a sociopath and made this whole thing to grab cash, I will gladly eat crow. However, if this is settled out of court, or Kane is convicted, then I hope those who are hell bent on the innocent until proven guilty train come forward as well.

No matter what, an out of court settlement in something like this reveals that at some point Kane did something that wasn't acceptable or right to this woman and wouldn't win in a court room. That's why people settle......because a star athlete with a brand and HUGE money at stake can't take that loss in a court room.
- SteveRain

It is possible he didn't lay a finger on her but she is holding him at least partially responsible for something that did happen to her. His home. He was there. Many ways to connect those dots too. Including the DNA evidence. But also points more to an out of court settlement.

I'm sure you'd take a 10 mil cap hit to get Seguin back.....unless you enjoy missing the playoffs and being irrelevant in the league
- PatShart

why are you so defensive? mine was a pretty measured post and yours is just petty and deflective.

Sharp had a modified NTC and the return was below fair value in most people's opinions. What recent star player has waived their NMC against their will?http://www.generalfanager.com/players/530
- jfkst1

Almost not provable.

Wait until you see Connor McDavid - suggest you go watch him live.
- RickJ

I'll be there Thursday.

In other news:

@TramyersCSN: NHL rosters must be finalized by 4 p.m. CT today. #Blackhawks

@BrianHedger: Q: "We've got to make a decision or two here with our lineup, going into tomorrow for cap purposes and reasons. We'll see on (Svedberg)."

@BrianHedger: Stay tuned today for #Blackhawks roster moves. Things might be about to get a little weird. We'll see.

@MarkLazerus: There are definitely some moves coming. Maybe a few. Should be interesting. #Blackhawks

@ChristopherHine: Quenneville after saying nice things about Bickell the last few days, had some ominous quotes today. Will get those in a few.
- Marlowe

Out of all of those, Tracey Myers had the only informative news. The others seem like attempts to get people speculating and for social media hits, "shares" and "likes."

Pulling this one right from my back side, but what about:

Kane + D prospect to LA for Doughty

LA is a front runner town (I've been a lifelong Raiders and Lakers fans so I've seen the LA mentality). There will be a new NFL team there within the next 2 years and the Kings will be fighting the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, and an NFL team or two (hopefully not my Raiders) for entertainment dollars. They are going to lose Kopitar because he and the team are miles apart on a new contract. If Kane has any doubts about living in LA, his agent, who BTW reps Kopitar, lives in Beverley Hills. The Kings would have an offensive superstar to market around and I'm sure Pat Brisson can help alleviate any questions they have with Kane's past behavior.

Imagine a defense of Keith - Doughty, Seabrook - Daley, Hammer - TVR.
- DMCsPulledHammy

No way LAK does it.

#1 dmen far more valuable that top line wingers. Doughty arguably best all around dman in NHL. Kane not quite there in the conversation for forwards or wingers

not to mention LAK have cap troubles of their own and LAK is adding $3.5 mil to their cap with that trade

thats an easy pass for LAK.

Also, their blue line goes from mediocre to dumpster fire if they lose Doughty

Sharp had a modified NTC and the return was below fair value in most people's opinions. What recent star player has waived their NMC against their will?http://www.generalfanager.com/players/530
- jfkst1

And some will tell you the return looks pretty good right now for Chicago. Just saying. Also not provable right now.

"Stupidest thing the world" to trade him—regardless of return?

What if he got suspended two years from now—or another extended period where nobody knows what the hell is happening while the DA investigates? It's not like it's never happened before, right? You guys keep ignoring this.
- John Jaeckel

at the risk of being accosted because the Bruins traded Seguin and the Hawks have won more Cups than "us", EXACTLY!!!

I'm all ready to go. Went grocery shopping two days ago to stock up before hockey season begins.
- MNHawk

So . . . don't keep us all in suspense . . . what's on the list???

MNHawk, totally agree on the Hossa backchecking -- just about any and every player can learn the right way to play from #81. Marian just seems to be a great leader and one of the best examples of how to conduct yourself on-ice (and off). How you can be on the same bench with the guy and NOT want to put forth the same effort?

I know it's off the blog topic, and I know most are (understandably) excited about the new talent, but I wonder how long it will take for it all to mesh. I think last year's most amazing stat was that the Hawks did not lose a single game when they led going into the third. To keep that kind of killer instinct and finishing kick over the course of a season is unreal -- even with the core returning essentially intact, it may take the new guys some time to understand what is necessary to maintain that level of consistent effort.

Holy poop...hockey finally starts tomorrow!!

I'm all ready to go. Went grocery shopping two days ago to stock up before hockey season begins.
- MNHawk

If we weren't flooded in so many places, I'd have hit up the stores too. I'll have to wait til tomorrow evening.

stljam:
Great comment! And how true. Not many realize how good even the "slowest" NHL (or ex-NHL) guys are!
- savvyone-1

here are two more good ones.....

A co-worker of mine in the late 90s early 2000s played morning hockey with a bunch of ex-college players and Blues alumni. He played D2 college hockey all four years and was a pretty good player. Kelly Chase was a regular at those skates and would usually put up 6 goals per skate.

A friend of mine got to practice with a current blues player as a relative of his won a charity auction. At the end of the practice, the current player, my friend and enforcer DJ King played a game of post DJ King won the game and put 20 in a row off the post.

Two guys with "hands of stone" likely have better hands than every player most of us have played with or against.

It is possible he didn't lay a finger on her but she is holding him at least partially responsible for something that did happen to her. His home. He was there. Many ways to connect those dots too. Including the DNA evidence. But also points more to an out of court settlement.
- John Jaeckel

So she or someone from her camp has released a statement that has updated and changed their initial claim? It is no longer just rape and now that Kane was just partially responsible for "something"? Or are you just making this up?

Because until i see a new statement released, preferably from the DA, then this is still a rape claim against Kane and not something else. If it were something else, truly something else, then why did she start it off by saying Kane raped her? Why was Kane labeled the accused from the start? "followed her into a room, overpowered her, and raped her"...?....if he was actually part of something else? Sounds like a load of BS. She should have went with the truth from the start if the truth is something else.

It is possible he didn't lay a finger on her but she is holding him at least partially responsible for something that did happen to her. His home. He was there. Many ways to connect those dots too. Including the DNA evidence. But also points more to an out of court settlement.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed and all this guy has proven to do off the ice in his career is put himself in stupid spots more time then not.

My personal favorite was him over sleeping because he was "tired" for the all star game in Carolina and Toews alluding to a reason why he overslept meeting with media.

Then those who doubt that, go back and watch that draft, believe it was the 1st time it was fantasy style and watch Kane make picks.........believe it was him and Datysuk. Staal was the other captain..........

Jj ET all. I have a waiver question for you guys, might be a dumb one. Not sure. I know the leafs took Corrado off VANs hands. (Wish we could have! He's looked great and it would have been sweet to get them back for Stanton.) Anyway, my questions are as follows. I know (for a fact) a few teams put claims in for Corrado, TOR finished worse in league standings last year than the other teams so they got him first. Does TOR now move to the back of the list of teams with waiver claims? Or does the order stay the same? Secondly, if the Hawks were to have put in a claim for tokarski (wish they had) or Corrado, they have to keep them in the NHL, correct? You can not claim a player and then send them down to minors without again putting them on waivers, correct? As in TOR has to keep Corrado In the NHL this season.

here are two more good ones.....

A co-worker of mine in the late 90s early 2000s played morning hockey with a bunch of ex-college players and Blues alumni. He played D2 college hockey all four years and was a pretty good player. Kelly Chase was a regular at those skates and would usually put up 6 goals per skate.

A friend of mine got to practice with a current blues player as a relative of his won a charity auction. At the end of the practice, the current player, my friend and enforcer DJ King played a game of post DJ King won the game and put 20 in a row off the post.

Two guys with "hands of stone" likely have better hands than every player most of us have played with or against.
- stljam

not being a Richard but there is only division I and division III

Almost not provable.
- John Jaeckel

OK, what players have waived their full NMCs at all? Only instances I can think of are players on rebuilding teams. Which I suppose could be the case in two years, but seems unlikely.