i just think it's better to wait until the offseason to take a contract on like bickell's (unless sending something similar back), once the cap is set.
- Tumbleweed

Toronto took Horton back when they knew all it was was a cost. They are one of the few teams like the Hawks who can afford to bury contracts. If the incentive was strong - a prospect/s that Hunter wants and/or picks - it could happen. Considering Bickell's term it is doubtful the Hawks would pay that though. Better chance would be an exchange of waiver bait like Gagner from the Flyers. Add a pick or prospect with Bickell to get Hextall to take the extra year. Even then, probably unlikely.

AA is an almost perfect compliment for PK and AP. Defensively responsible and battles for the puck along the boards. Net front presence and a big body to help pick players off the other 2 in the cycle. Once again, Stan really knew what he was doing getting him and locking him up immediately. The quick contract confused some (myself included) but it looks great right now. Stan was just decisive.
- tredbrta

That's what you want in a GM, don't you? Wanted AA, got AA, signed AA. Pieces from Sharp trade don't fit, trade them. Decisive.

They know theyre not good and need to restock and they have made mention of it indirectly to the media.

They are trying to stay competitive for the Sedins but they certainly arent adding to improve. They will try to get by with what they have but they stink

The fact that they play 3 on 3 overtime like a penalty kill because they suck so bad and would rather roll the dice in the shootout just shows they dont have any horses. Its basically the Sedins and thats it at this point
- hawkeytalkman

i get the feeling they have a meddling owner who's more interested in this year's playoff revenue than anything else.

i am interested to actually see what they do.

Toronto took Horton back when they knew all it was was a cost. They are one of the few teams like the Hawks who can afford to bury contracts. If the incentive was strong - a prospect/s that Hunter wants and/or picks - it could happen. Considering Bickell's term it is doubtful the Hawks would pay that though. Better chance would be an exchange of waiver bait like Gagner from the Flyers. Add a pick or prospect with Bickell to get Hextall to take the extra year. Even then, probably unlikely.
- tredbrta

different scenario - we sent clarkson the other way with equal term and caphit.

that trade involved perceived benefits from both teams in moving those two contracts.

edit: and i also agree that it doesn't make sense from the hawks side to pay the premium

That's what you want in a GM, don't you? Wanted AA, got AA, signed AA. Pieces from Sharp trade don't fit, trade them. Decisive.
- CanOCorn

It was a compliment. Decisive is definitely what you want. What you don't want is decisive becoming impulsive (see Rutherford /Pens). Little chance of that with Stan IMO. The man clearly has a process. Before last year's TDL deals I thought he may have been too indecisive. Proved wrong again.

I like this idea, but I think that if the hawks make some type of deal to get rid of Bicks, they will try and get something to sure up their 3rd pairing, especially if they can get 1LW, that will move Shaw down, their won't even have room for Rasmussman and Sakac...so just think another bottom 6 is the thing they need. Unless someone else gets traded.

However, anything to get rid of Bicks salary would be worth it.
- spudrock512

Yea I dont think you should expect anything in return for bickell other than another teams trash.

All I will say about the ongoing Saad/Anisimov discussion is Stan hit it out of the park given the gun that was to his head at the time. Anisimov is nearly everything you could want in a #2 center. Remember when Handzus was centering Kane? Remember how awesome everyone thought that was?

I will take a center over a winger 100 times out of 100, especially in a top 6 role. Not diminishing at all the kind of player Saad is and how disappointed I was he had to go.

Yea I dont think you should expect anything in return for bickell other than another teams trash.
- hawkeytalkman

You know one team's trash is another team's treasure?

See: Panik, Richard.

Or: Morin, Jeremy. Oops, (frank)ed that one up.

You know one team's trash is another team's treasure?

See: Panik, Richard.

Or: Morin, Jeremy. Oops, (frank)ed that one up.

- savvyone-1

is he doing well for you guys?

It was a compliment. Decisive is definitely what you want. What you don't want is decisive becoming impulsive (see Rutherford /Pens). Little chance of that with Stan IMO. The man clearly has a process. Before last year's TDL deals I thought he may have been too indecisive. Proved wrong again.
- tredbrta

Oh I know, I wasn't calling you out. I was agreeing. This year, Stan seems to be truly confident. The Sharp thing seemed a little hesitant, but hey, can't fault a guy. He got who he wanted, they didn't fit, he moved on and did pretty well, if you ask me.

For a team that was up to the cap at the beginning of the season, to have roughly $3.5 mil available at the TDL is pretty impressive, especially since there has been little drop off in play for the year.

is he doing well for you guys?
- Tumbleweed

3 Goals and 1 Assist in 9 games, and playing a responsible in his own end. So far, so good.

3 Goals and 1 Assist and playing a responsible in his own end. So far, so good.
- spudrock512

just never seemed to be consistent for us.

talented player. one of these trades where i hope the trade works out well for both of us.

different scenario - we sent clarkson the other way with equal term and caphit.

that trade involved perceived benefits from both teams in moving those two contracts.
- Tumbleweed

Horton's deal was not insured. Clarkson could play. The benefit to CBJ was they weren't able top afford paying someone that much not to play. What was the benefit to the Leafs financially? The benefit was they were able to LTIR Horton and they have the financial ability to eat the actual loss for the cap benefit. Similar rational for taking a contract to potentially bury - even with only $950k cap benefit - in order to receive an asset/s to rebuild with. The Leafs are one of the teams who can afford to pay actual cash (indirectly) for that kind of asset.

Again, I doubt Bickell happens but the Leafs can't be eliminated as a possibility. Is a late 1st round pick or Hawk prospect worth $3m in cap hit? I doubt it. My point was the cash cost isn't an issue for Toronto.

just never seemed to be consistent for us.

talented player. one of these trades where i hope the trade works out well for both of us.
- Tumbleweed

Sorry to say, don't expect much from Morin.
He's one of those guys that has a great shot and was vg at the lower levels (except with the IceHogs since it was pretty clear he felt he was f'd over by Q).

Guy skates with his head down and as a result, would get blown up fairly often.
Also, IMO he is a MINUS skater. Not fast at all and not very mobile. In contrast, Panik seems to be a PLUS skater with good hockey sense.

I think without a doubt AA brings more value to the team than Saad. First of all, he's only 2 goals shy of Saad's total (19-17) halfway through the season, and the fact that he's a scoring threat in his own right surely impacts on how teams defense Panarin and Kane, who, btw, are the filthiest players on the team.

Not understanding the hype for either Boedker or Drouin. Would either of these two be DECISIVE acquisitions? IMO impact players are just that, the rest of the league is "ok" in Q speak. If Hoss were scoring as a top liner RW, would we even be having this discussion? Assuming who you slot into the 1LW is not an out and out liability, Toews and Hossa should be supplying enough by themselves to make that line work. Would either Boedker or Drouin on that line make it happen? Not at all sure.
- Kewl1

Boedker is similar to Saad. He isn't as strong but he is faster. Having him fly down the ice with or without the puck would open up lanes for Toews and Hossa.

You know one team's trash is another team's treasure?

See: Panik, Richard.

Or: Morin, Jeremy. Oops, (frank)ed that one up.

- savvyone-1

Another reason I might try Gagner for Bickell plus if I were Stan. Gagner doesn't fit in Philly but is a good friend of Kane's. Based on the Timmonen deal though - Hextall would probably ask for the moon to carry that extra year Bickell has....

2 2nds for KT still makes me sick but at least there is a Cup to puke into (figuratively).

Oh I know, I wasn't calling you out. I was agreeing. This year, Stan seems to be truly confident. The Sharp thing seemed a little hesitant, but hey, can't fault a guy. He got who he wanted, they didn't fit, he moved on and did pretty well, if you ask me.

For a team that was up to the cap at the beginning of the season, to have roughly $3.5 mil available at the TDL is pretty impressive, especially since there has been little drop off in play for the year.
- CanOCorn

Horton's deal was not insured. Clarkson could play. The benefit to CBJ was they weren't able top afford paying someone that much not to play. What was the benefit to the Leafs financially? The benefit was they were able to LTIR Horton and they have the financial ability to eat the actual loss for the cap benefit. Similar rational for taking a contract to potentially bury - even with only $950k cap benefit - in order to receive an asset/s to rebuild with. The Leafs are one of the teams who can afford to pay actual cash (indirectly) for that kind of asset.

Again, I doubt Bickell happens but the Leafs can't be eliminated as a possibility. Is a late 1st round pick or Hawk prospect worth $3m in cap hit? I doubt it. My point was the cash cost isn't an issue for Toronto.
- tredbrta

i don't disagree with what you're saying, except....

...for me, if it was reasonable to expect the salary cap to go up next year, than i would be open to it.

i don't think it is reasonable to expect that. It could go up/down/stay the same with the canadian dollar the way it is. so i'm completely against the idea of taking on any bad contracts with term.

i think the leafs should wait to see what next year's cap is actually going to be before making a move like that.

So just to recap, the Matt Ellison trade that kicked everything off.

Matt Ellison
3rd rounder
Stephan Johns

for

Vaclav Pletka (played in Europe)
Rob Scuderi
Jiri Sekac
+ 10 years of Patrick Sharp.

So just to recap, the Matt Ellison trade that kicked everything off.

Matt Ellison
3rd rounder
Stephan Johns

for

Vaclav Pletka (played in Europe)
Rob Scuderi
Jiri Sekac
+ 10 years of Patrick Sharp.
- breadbag

Is Stephen Johns getting any time with the Stars big club?

i don't disagree with what you're saying, except....

...for me, if it was reasonable to expect the salary cap to go up next year, than i would be open to it.

i don't think it is reasonable to expect that. It could go up/down/stay the same with the canadian dollar the way it is. so i'm completely against the idea of taking on any bad contracts with term.

i think the leafs should wait to see what next year's cap is actually going to be before making a move like that.
- Tumbleweed

Agreed.... and John's blog said

two independent sources that the talks did involve Bryan Bickell at one point. However, I was told this morning that “went nowhere.

Is Stephen Johns getting any time with the Stars big club?
- Hank3Henshaw

None. They have Oleksiak, Honka, Nemeth and Lindell ahead of him. I think at least 2 of those aren't waiver protected so they have no choice. They just called up Lindell ahead of Johns though and Lindell was the better player in the AHL according to reports. Nill hoarding all of those d prospects has probably hurt a few of their careers.

Also, (frank) Nill.

None. They have Oleksiak, Honka, Nemeth and Lindell ahead of him. I think at least 2 of those aren't waiver protected so they have no choice. They just called up Lindell ahead of Johns though and Lindell was the better player in the AHL according to reports. Nill hoarding all of those d prospects has probably hurt a few of their careers.
- tredbrta

A serious log jam for them. Sounds kind of like Rockford for Forwards. Would hate to be there if I was a young guy. Seems like you could get buried away in obscurity. I think that's why guys like Morin, Hayes bros, Pirri, etc. voiced their way out.

Sounds like a similar situation in Dallas but on the blueline.

A serious log jam for them. Sounds kind of like Rockford for Forwards. Would hate to be there if I was a young guy. Seems like you could get buried away in obscurity. I think that's why guys like Morin, Hayes bros, Pirri, etc. voiced their way out.

Sounds like a similar situation in Dallas but on the blueline.
- Hank3Henshaw

I think it's a different situation now versus the Hayes/Pirri/Morin period. A number of the guys down there got long looks. They know what it takes. A number of others got short looks like Hinostroza. They see Rassmussen getting time now after paying his dues.

In Dallas, you probably have players who believe they deserve a spot over someone like Oleksiak - who is press boxed because he may be lost if waived.

Agreed.... and John's blog said
- tredbrta

so, if you guys need some junk to fill in the bottom of your roster, let us know.

we have plenty to go around.