Hopefully the Hawks get to use the 3rd from trading Gus before that happens.
- Elbows15

This last year we got two choices from campus security in case of a shooter--shelter in place or run like hell.
- Googlyeyes

Serpentine!

But seriously, I can’t imagine going off to school (or sending my kids to school) every day with the thought in the back of my mind of, “Is today the day someone decides to shoot up the school?’

Its my standard comment to any long term contract. Trout's WAR is top 5 in the history of baseball.
- Elbows15

Typically my comment, too. I think this guy's worth it.

Starting with the premise the primary objective for this season is to make improvements to be better next season eventually getting back to Cup contending status - then playing Sikura on the top line makes sense because it gives Stan an opportunity to determine whether or not Sikura is good enough to play a role on the team when the team is good enough to contend for the Cup in a couple years. It's better he determines that now before he decides what to do this summer. If Stan determines that he can pencil Sikura into the lineup moving forward - that's one less hole he needs to fill in the lineup and that will help determine the course of action Stan takes this summer.

How is it structured? Like Hossa’s, front loaded so he just walks away after 6?

No cap - no recapture....
- StLBravesFan

no details....he will be able to buy the sorry state of california, enter the HOF and never sniff a championship with that team and the $$ committed to him.

Serpentine!

But seriously, I can’t imagine going off to school (or sending my kids to school) every day with the thought in the back of my mind of, “Is today the day someone decides to shoot up the school?’


- pdx2ord

noice. an in-law reference.

Would it be your goal to try to make another run before Toews and Kane decline? If so, how do you get closer to that if you get rid of the guy who is still the best defenseman on the team? If not, why stop at Keith? Gut the joint. Which is your choice?
- mohel

IMO....if they want to attempt another run while Kane and Toews are top producers, they're going to have to find a trade partner and put together an over-pay package to get a top YOUNG defenseman.

I don't know what team or which dman would be the target but maybe a Darnell Nurse type ? Like for a Saad and Murphy. The Oilers need some vets and I guess Saad might qualify for that. They're going nowhere...
There's 10 mil in cap savings there on Saad and Murphy, then Nurse at 3.5 for one more year before he'll want big money.
With the savings you have to sign FA forwards to replace Saad. We all know who's out there.

This is Stan Bowman's dilemma that he has created so it's his baby to fix. Unfortunately, this will be much more difficult to accomplish....but next year's defensemen and/or philosophy has to be upgraded.

IMO....if they want to attempt another run while Kane and Toews are top producers, they're going to have to find a trade partner and put together an over-pay package to get a top YOUNG defenseman.

I don't know what team or which dman would be the target but maybe a Darnell Nurse type ? Like for a Saad and Murphy. The Oilers need some vets and I guess Saad might qualify for that. They're going nowhere...
There's 10 mil in cap savings there on Saad and Murphy, then Nurse at 3.5 for one more year before he'll want big money.
With the savings you have to sign FA forwards to replace Saad. We all know who's out there.

This is Stan Bowman's dilemma that he has created so it's his baby to fix. Unfortunately, this will be much more difficult to accomplish....but next year's defensemen and/or philosophy has to be upgraded.
- Hawkytalk

Nurse isn’t good enough to send Saad and Murphy IMO

Nurse isn’t good enough to send Saad and Murphy IMO
- EnzoD

Well he's 24 years old, 6'4 220 lb left handed dman and his potential if far greater than both Saad and Murphy IMO. If we could get him in the summer for that slight over payment, I'd love to see it. It's similar to the trade to get Strome.....getting an under achiever thus far that might blossom into a top stud dman.
You gotta give to get buddy.

The air raid siren would go off and we'd have the kneel under our desks.

Like the flimsy little grammar school disk would protect us from a nuclear blast or radiation fallout. Good thing them nasty rooskies never pushed the button.
- EbonyRaptor

HERE HERE !! Totally in agreement with you SR. I've been on this for years. He's had unbelievable greatness and Norris trophies one year, followed by not even being mentioned in the top 10 the following year, with injuries not being a factor. It's been mind boggling. We all love his phenomenal contributions to 3 Cups and he'll be a Hall of Fame defenseman, but it's time to move him if there's any possibility at all this summer before his value is gone, like 7's.

Stan has created this defensive situation and now it's up to him to fix it. He's on the clock even more now in my book since his nice offensive acquisitions this year. Can he fix the D this summer ? I guess we'll all have to wait and see.
- Hawkytalk

There is two sides to the trade Keith imbroglio. The final decision may hurt us whether he is here or not. Kind of an ironic twist

Everything in the post from Rain and you is not really debatable. Keith isn't a steady rock but he never was always in his career. Keith could be elite at times. He played a lot and all the ducks on the pond lined up nicely around him.

This last sentence is really what it is all about. Because usually he carries the load still in TOI. As imperfect as that may be

I like what poster Rick said not long ago about the retaining him vs or not. Not - how quick the opponent lines up and starts scoring.You know the good hands people allstate commercial? Leaving the defense in the hands of others could get really ugly.

at least one positive about the wild/aves: not a 3 pt game

aves win 3-1 and this weekend BTB vs them looms very large; hawks after two days rest to play well and get a win vs the flyers

Nurse isn’t good enough to send Saad and Murphy IMO
- EnzoD

OMG...NO...you can't give up those two guys for Nurse...

OMG...NO...you can't give up those two guys for Nurse...
- bogiedoc

What about Murph and AA for Nurse? Just wondering if that would be a good trade this off-season.

OMG...NO...you can't give up those two guys for Nurse...
- bogiedoc

I like Nurse, but he’s pretty much a meaner version of Murphy. Would adding Nurse be great? Yes. I watch the oil fairly often as the late games out here in the West, he’s error prone and just not much better than Murphy. not Saad better.

What about Murph and AA for Nurse? Just wondering if that would be a good trade this off-season.
- powerenforcer

Murphy + AA + Saad for Draisaitl

noice. an in-law reference.
- Elbows15

What about Murph and AA for Nurse? Just wondering if that would be a good trade this off-season.
- powerenforcer

The Hawks need to add defense without subtracting Murphy.

AA is trade bait in the summer for sure, and Edmonton will need to move a d-man to improve their forward depth. But AA won't get the Hawks Nurse, Klefbom or Larsson now that Chiarelli is gone.

Maybe Anisomov for Russell is what we could expect.

Note: I am not advocating an Anisimov for Russell trade, I'm just saying that's the type of return to expect.

stars and aves win in regulation..

so with the stars at 82 pts they are looking very good as WC team unless they crap the ice the last 9 games...

hawks now 2 behind the aves: win over flyers and the aves losing in starville on thursday and they are tied with 76 going into their BTB...

they gotta win 3 of the next 4 to have a chance...that is going to be tough

ought to be fun...by this time next week the hawks could be done or still in the hunt

Talk of trading Anisimov rarely includes talk of how to replace him in the lineup. The Hawks don't have a middle-6 center waiting in the wings to take over that role. It isn't Kampf or anyone in Rockford. Maybe Kahun because he's played center before but he's kind of slight physically to be put up against the centers he would face.

Murphy + AA + Saad for Draisaitl
- EnzoD

Murphy, AA & Caggiula for Nugent-Hopkins

I don't have the stats to corroborate, but my memory tells me the Hawks have had a tough time beating the Flyers the last several years. They lost 0-4 to them earlier this season (Nov. 10) which was the 7th loss in the first 8 game losing streak. The Hawks lineup that night had Fortin, Hayden, Johnson, Martinsen, Rutta and Manning - the only one still with the team is Hayden and he sits more than he plays. So, the lineup is improved but I still am nervous about this game based on recent history.

I don't have the stats to corroborate, but my memory tells me the Hawks have had a tough time beating the Flyers the last several years. They lost 0-4 to them earlier this season (Nov. 10) which was the 7th loss in the first 8 game losing streak. The Hawks lineup that night had Fortin, Hayden, Johnson, Martinsen, Rutta and Manning - the only one still with the team is Hayden and he sits more than he plays. So, the lineup is improved but I still am nervous about this game based on recent history.
- EbonyRaptor

My memory is that you are correct. Philly just out competes us - pardon improper grammar but that really is a good description.

They have been going often with a rookie in net. Simmonds is gone. They have a nice set of forwards. Check this out: youth on defense. Any especially good dmen: no. Provorov is touted. Gotshuberre (sic) gets blame since he is comparable to Gus. A healthy JVR up to 25 goals under 60 gp.

My memory is that you are correct. Philly just out competes us - pardon improper grammar but that really is a good description.

They have been going often with a rookie in net. Simmonds is gone. They have a nice set of forwards. Check this out: youth on defense. Any especially good dmen: no. Provorov is touted. Gotshuberre (sic) gets blame since he is comparable to Gus. A healthy JVR up to 25 goals under 60 gp.
- jhawk59

they have split the previous two season: each team winning at home; lets hope that trend continues...

hawks have not beaten the flyers in phl during the regular season since 1998; they can barely score there over the last 5 years...shut out 3x..

stars and aves win in regulation..

so with the stars at 82 pts they are looking very good as WC team unless they crap the ice the last 9 games...

hawks now 2 behind the aves: win over flyers and the aves losing in starville on thursday and they are tied with 76 going into their BTB...

they gotta win 3 of the next 4 to have a chance...that is going to be tough

ought to be fun...by this time next week the hawks could be done or still in the hunt
- bogiedoc

When the going get tough the tough get going . Was it over when the Germans bomb Pearl Harbor ,
Really hope they come out with more jump then the last game .