@reporterchris

BREAKING: Victor Hedman signs eight-year extension with #TBLightning. S7.875M AAV.

Funniest thing I read today.
- wiz1901

Ok.....I forgot......

the core with young guys around them......

2010-11....squeeked in and was bounced in round 1.
2011-12.....lost to Phoenix in round 1.
2013....new guys matured, filled roles like 2010
2014...nice add of Richards.
2015...cap still hasn't caught them
2016...cap caught them.....lost in round 1

What am I missing here? Did you wager on them in 2010-11 and refer to them as a contender? I bet you didnt'.

Top 5 is a given.
Who's your 1 LW? Panik? HA
Whos your 3rd line? Same guy who is a defensive specialist and hasn't scored since May of 2015? Who else?
Who is your 4th line?

Right...the sharks, and penguins proved that depth scoring doesn't matter......that's why Piittsburgh with 3 strong lines, wonder where they got that from, won a cup.

What is funny is you thinking they are a contender. Gods speed.....let me know when you place that bet on 2015-16 hawks for the cup run.......

See what Stan does, but as of now....this team is NOT contender. Massive amount of holes up front and guys slotted way higher then they should be out of necessity.
- SteveRain

Brian Campbell disagrees.

@reporterchris

BREAKING: Victor Hedman signs eight-year extension with #TBLightning. S7.875M AAV.
- DarthKane

Good deal. Hedman is one of the 5 best overall D-men in the game. I think he's absolutely terrific.

Again sorry for the dumb question but if Vessey is tied up contractually until mid August, how can the Hawks be a contender for services? Wasnt he just traded to another team who hopes to sign him? Has Vessey come out and said I want to play for the Hawks?
- z1990z

Perhaps Bowman is working to trade for his rights, and Vessey has expressed interest in joining the Hawks?

Brian Campbell disagrees.
- RedFeather

Or was it he lives here and his wife is from here?

Andrew Ladd agreed as well................

Perhaps Bowman is working to trade for his rights, and Vessey has expressed interest in joining the Hawks?
- EKB13

I'll eat my hat if Bowman pulls this off. NO, I don't think Bowman has any capability to do it, but will happily eat my words (and hat).

The problem is the bottom 6 isn't as good, and the 2nd line had a career year. You can't count on them following that up. The Hawks need MORE from somewhere else.

That said, adding a DSP and/or Hudler with a collection of players competing for other roles (Motte, Hartman, McNeill, Schmaltz, Kero, Hino, Louis, etc, etc, etc) there could be some potential at the forward line...

right now the team doesn't look that good overall at forward, because so many questions. But they could and should be answered at some point.
- kwolf68

The biggest loss in bottom 6 is Tuevo. We were rolling baun and Bickell at the beginning of last year. Garbutt also. It's not that much worse with how the D has improved, plus we need to sign a couple more FAs.

@reporterchris

BREAKING: Victor Hedman signs eight-year extension with #TBLightning. S7.875M AAV.
- DarthKane

he figured to get that much...

NOW Tampa has their Kane and Toews signed long term, and eventually DROUIN AND HIS TEAMMATES WILL WANT A PIECE OF THE PIE TOO.

...now do the rest of the bolts wait or start "bolting?"

@reporterchris

BREAKING: Victor Hedman signs eight-year extension with #TBLightning. S7.875M AAV.
- DarthKane

WHOA

Ok.....I forgot......

the core with young guys around them......

2010-11....squeeked in and was bounced in round 1.
2011-12.....lost to Phoenix in round 1.
2013....new guys matured, filled roles like 2010
2014...nice add of Richards.
2015...cap still hasn't caught them
2016...cap caught them.....lost in round 1

What am I missing here? Did you wager on them in 2010-11 and refer to them as a contender? I bet you didnt'.

Top 5 is a given.
Who's your 1 LW? Panik? HA
Whos your 3rd line? Same guy who is a defensive specialist and hasn't scored since May of 2015? Who else?
Who is your 4th line?

Right...the sharks, and penguins proved that depth scoring doesn't matter......that's why Piittsburgh with 3 strong lines, wonder where they got that from, won a cup.

What is funny is you thinking they are a contender. Gods speed.....let me know when you place that bet on 2015-16 hawks for the cup run.......
- SteveRain

Our 1LW last season was Shaw, Tuevo, Dano, Panik, Fleischmann... etc.

The biggest loss in bottom 6 is Tuevo. We were rolling baun and Bickell at the beginning of last year. Garbutt also. It's not that much worse with how the D has improved, plus we need to sign a couple more FAs.
- JRoenick97

Tuevo is a loss, but Andrew Shaw is the biggest loss, IMO. He was the 1LW for the Hawks best stretch of play all season. Hartman looks to be a 4th line grinder, not Andrew Shaw as far as finishing ability. Eli or another Ice Hog's observer may be able to comment further on Hartman's offensive ability. But, Andrew Shaw, he is not....

The biggest loss in bottom 6 is Tuevo. We were rolling baun and Bickell at the beginning of last year. Garbutt also. It's not that much worse with how the D has improved, plus we need to sign a couple more FAs.
- JRoenick97

Losing Shaw is also huge. And I'm sorry until otherwise proven, Hartman is not his replacement. Again, a question. And just because they are "as good" as last year, last year was an aberration...Crow on his head most games, Kane going crazy, lots of 3 v 3 wins, collecting points in the circus portion of the hockey game. We need to be BETTER than last year in those bottom two lines.

I'll eat my hat if Bowman pulls this off. NO, I don't think Bowman has any capability to do it, but will happily eat my words (and hat).
- kwolf68

I'm right there with you. If it comes to it, I'll eat my hat too.

Ok.....I forgot......

the core with young guys around them......

2010-11....squeeked in and was bounced in round 1.
2011-12.....lost to Phoenix in round 1.
2013....new guys matured, filled roles like 2010
2014...nice add of Richards.
2015...cap still hasn't caught them
2016...cap caught them.....lost in round 1

What am I missing here? Did you wager on them in 2010-11 and refer to them as a contender? I bet you didnt'.

Top 5 is a given.
Who's your 1 LW? Panik? HA
Whos your 3rd line? Same guy who is a defensive specialist and hasn't scored since May of 2015? Who else?
Who is your 4th line?

Right...the sharks, and penguins proved that depth scoring doesn't matter......that's why Piittsburgh with 3 strong lines, wonder where they got that from, won a cup.

What is funny is you thinking they are a contender. Gods speed.....let me know when you place that bet on 2015-16 hawks for the cup run.......
- SteveRain

Spot on. Oh and Saad Sharp and Oduya are gone from '15 and Laad n Shaw from last years first round exit. We added Soupy. This team is not a serious contender as is. Its forwards could not score 5 on 5 last year, outside of one line, you just lost two 20g guys. And.....Nashville just might have become the best team in the division.

he figured to get that much...

NOW Tampa has their Kane and Toews signed long term, and eventually DROUIN AND HIS TEAMMATES WILL WANT A PIECE OF THE PIE TOO.

...now do the rest of the bolts wait or start "bolting?"
- wiz1901

Signed for $5mil less....that $5mil will allow them to keep almost all of their complementary "Core" members....

I'm right there with you. If it comes to it, I'll eat my hat too.
- EKB13

It would be brilliant if he can do it. I am so sour on Bowman, but a shrewd move would really make me feel better about him.

Tuevo is a loss, but Andrew Shaw is the biggest loss, IMO. He was the 1LW for the Hawks best stretch of play all season. Hartman looks to be a 4th line grinder, not Andrew Shaw as far as finishing ability. Eli or another Ice Hog's observer may be able to comment further on Hartman's offensive ability. But, Andrew Shaw, he is not....
- EnzoD

I was counting Shaw in the top 6. He is a big hole to replace, but when it comes down to it, it was ~30 points from him. I'm hopeful for a good FA signing to make that up.

Tuevo is a loss, but Andrew Shaw is the biggest loss, IMO. He was the 1LW for the Hawks best stretch of play all season. Hartman looks to be a 4th line grinder, not Andrew Shaw as far as finishing ability. Eli or another Ice Hog's observer may be able to comment further on Hartman's offensive ability. But, Andrew Shaw, he is not....
- EnzoD

Hartman would be the closest thing to Shaw that might be ready in the minors. However, if Hartman doesn't reign in some of his on-ice antics, he looks more like Carcillo then he does Shaw. Additionally, Hartman hasn't been the type to camp out in front of the net in Rockford. That doesn't mean that he can't or won't do that, but he hasn't been employed in that role down in Rockford.

670 The Score
@670TheScore
Stan Bowman: "I don't expect us to sign a player of significance beyond today. ... I like our team right now."

There's that line. And Q won't like the team now. Here's hoping a few bargains pop up.

It would be brilliant if he can do it. I am so sour on Bowman, but a shrewd move would really make me feel better about him.
- kwolf68

Landing Vesey would be awesome. Still think he ends up with BOS or TOR.

670 The Score
@670TheScore
Stan Bowman: "I don't expect us to sign a player of significance beyond today. ... I like our team right now."

There's that line. And Q won't like the team now. Here's hoping a few bargains pop up.
- golfbard

He said they would look at role guys, just not big name FA guys.

Perhaps Bowman is working to trade for his rights, and Vessey has expressed interest in joining the Hawks?
- EKB13

Let's just do a CC for Lehner and Vesey's rights and then sign Vesey now and take away the uncertainty. Then trade TvR to EDM for Yakapov and the expiring contracts of Lehner and Yakapov will open up plenty of cap space to re-sign Panarin.

Vesey-Toews-Kane
Panarin-AA-Yakapov
Panik-Kruger-Hossa
Desjardins-Rasmussen-McNeill/Hartman

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 37s37 seconds ago
NASH signs D Matt Irwin. Two-year deal with a guarantee.

The biggest loss in bottom 6 is Tuevo. We were rolling baun and Bickell at the beginning of last year. Garbutt also. It's not that much worse with how the D has improved, plus we need to sign a couple more FAs.
- JRoenick97

Agreed. Bottom six only got better after we got Ladd and moved Shaw down...and we added Weise and Fleishmann. So we have added Campbell and Kempny and our defense has got much better. The bottom six will start off this year about the same as last year...maybe just a bit younger. The long offseason helps too. Finally...we have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Panarin and AA on our top two lines...that is three future HOF'ers and a fourth possible if Panarin keeps playing like his rookie year. I will take that to start the season. Bowman can always deal at the deadline.