I couldn't resist.

There are "bro crushes" and then there is stupidity and that over there exceeds them both........
- SteveRain

Currently cracking up at work watching their Twitter page. It's like TT was the second-coming or something.

Chris Hine ‏@ChristopherHine 3m3 minutes ago
Bickell's agent Todd Diamond (1 of a few): "Bryan is very happy and excited for the new opportunity."
1 retweet 2 likes



LOL ,

All Bickell will ever do for the Canes is what he is doing now , getting the Canes to the cap floor . Agent is a funny guy
- mrpaulish

It doesn't matter what Bickell does for Carolina, the last year and a half he must have been miserable in Chicago. He is happy to move on. Why does it need to be criticized?

Any real info on how much cap space is available now with how many spots to fill ?
- mrpaulish

At some point in next two weeks the official salary cap number will be announced...and that will help determine with where we stand with signings and any other deals that might be made.

It doesn't matter what Bickell does for Carolina, the last year and a half he must have been miserable in Chicago. He is happy to move on. Why does it need to be criticized?
- Hawks_49

Bickell handled this situation with as much class and professionalism that you could expect from a person who was clearly frustrated. I personally hope he's given a chance to show he can still play

Bickell handled this situation with as much class and professionalism that you could expect from a person who was clearly frustrated. I personally hope he's given a chance to show he can still play
- dstainer

Completely agree-- and I will never forget his biggest goal-- and one of the most important in Hawks history-- Game 6 in Boston game tying goal--

Best of luck to Bickell

Frankly I like this move. You lose all of Bickells cap hit and you get a 2nd and 3rd for TT. Fail to see how this hurts long term. I think you can replace TTs skill set fairly easily. TT is limited defensively and offensively. Anything down low or along the boards on either side of the ice is a big time weak area for TT. Lots of guys his size succeed. Garret Ross, aside from his character, is 6ft 180 maybe Shaw is about the same size too. They play with heart and grit. TT isn't much smaller and it looks like he plays with none. I don't ever see him being a center. We have two smallish play making wings who are light years better. This trade is a net win for the Hawks short term roster. Shaw likely stays and you have room to sign another player for 2-3 mil. I'll eat my words is TT becomes a 60 plus point player and puts on 15-20 pounds

Completely agree-- and I will never forget his biggest goal-- and one of the most important in Hawks history-- Game 6 in Boston game tying goal--

Best of luck to Bickell
- jb3333

A lot of nice places to bass fish in the Carolinas. Think he'll be ok.

Yep....best of luck to Bickell. Plenty of class and would never have won Cup #2 without him. Arguably the best forward through those playoffs, even though some say at 4mil he was "overpaid for past performance" while that's all what anyone ever gets paid on.

He gave everything he had while in a Hawks uniform, especially physically.

Currently cracking up at work watching their Twitter page. It's like TT was the second-coming or something.
- Rupe89

I was earlier. It was just getting warm.........

While I hate to see TT go, I really think the Hawks have players in the Rock that can duplicate what he did. Hinostroza plays a similar game in that he can kill penalties and is defensively responsible, and can put a few points on the board - the big difference is Stroza isn't scared to go to the boards and win a battle.

TT has all the talent in the world, but if the desire isn't there, someone with less talent will pass him by..a perfect example of this is someone like Andrew Shaw. Most people with Shaw's "Talent" never make it to the league, but he willing to pay the price to win hockey games, most of the things that get you sore and injured. he will pay the price to be in the league, a lot are not. This is where I see TT, I don't see him willing to put in the hard work to be great.

Maybe the light will turn on in Carolina, but if you can't learn what it takes from Toews, Hammer, Shaw, Hossa, etc - I don't see it happening.
- spudrock512

What makes you believe he doesn´t have the desire? We don´t know how much that shoulder injury affected his play. And when he was playing with Sharp and Vermette he was really good in 2015 SCF´s. Let see what he can do with different coach and maybe more permanent role next year.

My fear is that Stan will now give Shaw a contract that we will learn to hate in coming years. Don´t get me wrong.. I love what he brings and his heart but you shouldn´t fell love with your depth players. Least not overpay them..

Yep....best of luck to Bickell. Plenty of class and would never have won Cup #2 without him. Arguably the best forward through those playoffs, even though some say at 4mil he was "overpaid for past performance" while that's all what anyone ever gets paid on.

He gave everything he had while in a Hawks uniform, especially physically.
- PatShart

People forget, Horton and Clarkson both signed in that summer for 5mil+ How'd that work out for CBJ and TOR?

Yep....best of luck to Bickell. Plenty of class and would never have won Cup #2 without him. Arguably the best forward through those playoffs, even though some say at 4mil he was "overpaid for past performance" while that's all what anyone ever gets paid on.

He gave everything he had while in a Hawks uniform, especially physically.
- PatShart

Agreed. Wish him and his family the best.

Yep....best of luck to Bickell. Plenty of class and would never have won Cup #2 without him. Arguably the best forward through those playoffs, even though some say at 4mil he was "overpaid for past performance" while that's all what anyone ever gets paid on.

He gave everything he had while in a Hawks uniform, especially physically.
- PatShart

Now I wasnt in the room during the big buff negotiations, but what hurt most about the Bickell signing was that they signed him for the same reason they wouldnt sign Buff. Buff wasnt going to get 4 mil a year to show up for 15-20 reg season games and be an animal in the playoffs. Yet, they did that w/ Bicks. I will never forget Bicks hit on Siedenburg in Game 1 of the finals that led to the Shaw goal.

Now I wasnt in the room during the big buff negotiations, but what hurt most about the Bickell signing was that they signed him for the same reason they wouldnt sign Buff. Buff wasnt going to get 4 mil a year to show up for 15-20 reg season games and be an animal in the playoffs. Yet, they did that w/ Bicks. I will never forget Bicks hit on Siedenburg in Game 1 of the finals that led to the Shaw goal.
- nickmo2699

Actually, Buff was already at 3+mil and was part of the purge when they we millions over the cap.

Bickell came in and was making @600k (which he signed as a huge bargain for the Hawks). But that gets forgotten. His 4mil he signed was his 3rd contract as a Hawk when he was a UFA. Buff went from 600k to 3+mil as an RFA with CHI - never really gave them the team friendly bridge deal Bickell did at that time.

What I especially like about this deal is that they just got AHEAD of the situation. They got nothing for Leddy because they were boxed into a corner. They got hosed on Sharp because Stan completely boxed himself into a corner. In this case, they avoided getting boxed in and now have some room to maneuver. If they move another big salary, it will be from a position of strength, not weakness.

I would´ve liked to see #86 in Hawks jersey. Many assumes that he can´t develop anymore but I´m afraid he will prove them wrong.
- MjulQvist

He probably will - and probably will be a very nice player when he "mature" at 23/24 - three years out.

Hawks have to be in "win-now" mode - and they seem to have decided that TT wouldn't improve enough by next year to be as productive as needed, wherever he wound up on the ice. And - he's still in his homeland, 7+ weeks after the season end - why isn't he here working out or recovering from injury?

TT for (probably) Shaw and some cap space - maybe it doesn't look too good in 3 years, but I'm ok with it for now.

Actually, Buff was already at 3+mil and was part of the purge when they we millions over the cap.

Bickell came in and was making @600k (which he signed as a huge bargain for the Hawks). But that gets forgotten. His 4mil he signed was his 3rd contract as a Hawk when he was a UFA. Buff went from 600k to 3+mil as an RFA with CHI - never really gave them the team friendly bridge deal Bickell did at that time.
- PatShart

Thanks for clearing that up Pat. I never fully understood it, but I was unsure on the figures as far as where Buff was at the end of 2010.

Any predictions on the big contract or contracts moved?

Yet TT is several years younger and has been more productive in his brief NHL career than the anointed one, Panik
- PatShart

I didn't say he's a better player than TT. I stated that he filled that role better than him.

No one is anointing Richard Panik....my gosh the TT love fest will never end

Any predictions on the big contract or contracts moved?
- nickmo2699

I'll probably get some heat for saying this, but:

Hopefully Kruger. Terrible contract.

I'll probably get some heat for saying this, but:

Hopefully Kruger. Terrible contract.
- CBHawks88

With Danault gone and the PK going to crap without him find this highly unlikely

I didn't say he's a better player than TT. I stated that he filled that role better than him.

No one is anointing Richard Panik....my gosh the TT love fest will never end
- hawks1921

No lovefest for TT

He's a young player that people set high expectations of what he should be when he just has played @100gms in the league. And since he didn't meet certain peoples expectation of what they thought he should be at this point - instead of letting him develop, he's labeled as a bust

No problem with the move at all, they freed up 5mil in cap space (as well as the money freed up by moving Daley and Garbutt - which would be massive anchors if still here). Hopefully this will be able to extend Shaw, get some D help. Unfortunately they couldn't get CAR to take Gustafson as well

For those quoting GeneralFanager's projection that the Hawks are at $60.9m commitments...they are missing the carry-over of Panarin's bonuses. About $2m. So $62.9.

What makes you believe he doesn´t have the desire? We don´t know how much that shoulder injury affected his play. And when he was playing with Sharp and Vermette he was really good in 2015 SCF´s. Let see what he can do with different coach and maybe more permanent role next year.

My fear is that Stan will now give Shaw a contract that we will learn to hate in coming years. Don´t get me wrong.. I love what he brings and his heart but you shouldn´t fell love with your depth players. Least not overpay them..
- MjulQvist

From what was reported is that he prefers to golf instead of putting in the hard work in the offseason is an indication, please even when he was healthy, he never liked going into the boards or the tough areas of the ice. I do wish him the best and hope that he will turn into the player we all hoped he would become.

I also worry about Shaw's next contract, he is the type of grinder every team needs, but I worry about how much punishment his body can take. I would like to see him signed for a two year contract, and just extend him every two years. I doubt his agent would let him do that though. I worry that he will get a 5 year deal and his body will be shot only a couple years into the contract - kind of like Bickell's.

With Danault gone and the PK going to crap without him find this highly unlikely
- dstainer

Bum wrist. Faceoffs back under 50% last season. Minimal scoring.

I'd rather spend $3M the next 3 years elsewhere, personally.