On a board of endless opinions from non-professionals… yes. None of us are pros. We all watch the team religiously. You don’t need to have a paycheck from an NHL team to have a different opinion. I guess we should reserve all judgement of management and players until the arbiter of truth Mohel gives us the OK.
- ObeseOprah

I don't think he's much, either. I'm willing to concede, however, that the pros know more than us; and that perhaps there's a solid reason Murph's still a Hawk. So, my opinion on a player is far from the arbiter of truth; but odds are good the KD's opinion has a much higher likelihood of being right than yours.

On a board of endless opinions from non-professionals… yes. None of us are pros. We all watch the team religiously. You don’t need to have a paycheck from an NHL team to have a different opinion. I guess we should reserve all judgement of management and players until the arbiter of truth Mohel gives us the OK.
- ObeseOprah

As bad as he is, I'm willing to admit he's looked better in LR system. I think they don't want to have 4 or 5 rookies playing the blue line. I'm guessing for every rookie they want a veteran playing along side them.

As bad as he is, I'm willing to admit he's looked better in LR system. I think they don't want to have 4 or 5 rookies playing the blue line. I'm guessing for every rookie they want a veteran playing along side them.
- BetweenTheDots

The great Yzerman just signed Justin Holl to a 3 x $3.4m with a no movement, no trade clause, and he makes Murphy look like an all-star.

That's cause Hagel is a better all around player
- vabeachbear

Nah, he isn't.

The great Yzerman just signed Justin Holl to a 3 x $3.4m with a no movement, no trade clause, and he makes Murphy look like an all-star.
- LAHawk

So far KD has been able to move out any quality assets to get the team to the bottom of the standings. He built up his draft picks and had two drafts to stockpile lots of potential prospects. He lucked out to get the number one, Bedard, and Moore inexplicably fell into his lap. So far KD really hasn’t been under pressure and as a result hasn’t made any real mistakes. Well the pressure is going to start to mount and that’s when many GMs make dumb moves. Hopefully he can stay away from Holl like mistakes that seemingly every GM falls into.

I don't think he's much, either. I'm willing to concede, however, that the pros know more than us; and that perhaps there's a solid reason Murph's still a Hawk. So, my opinion on a player is far from the arbiter of truth; but odds are good the KD's opinion has a much higher likelihood of being right than yours.
- mohel

How do we even know what management actually thinks of Murphy? The previous regime thought enough to pay him $4.5 mill per year for an extended period. If they want to deal him, what's the market?

If he's as bad as the consensus on the board here suggests, they can't move this contract. What's a good GM to do here? The buyout cost has a weird schedule. Savings when we don't need it, and pay up when we become less able to do so.

In the meantime, a GM can't talk badly of any assets. Anything they say about an asset has to be taken with a grain of salt. So while this contract continues, the spin would flow forth from the front office. Great with the younger players. Talk in glowing about what he might do okay enough on the ice.

Also, what if he's too injured to be traded, but not injured enough to be scratched? How would we know that part? He has dealt with back problems ever since he got here. This contract was inherited from the Bowman regime, not that any of us want to be reminded.

Not to mention, this is not the main reason for why the team finished in the bottom three. All we can hope for is being able to deal his contract on favorable terms when the time comes.

How do we even know what management actually thinks of Murphy? The previous regime thought enough to pay him $4.5 mill per year for an extended period. If they want to deal him, what's the market?

If he's as bad as the consensus on the board here suggests, they can't move this contract. What's a good GM to do here? The buyout cost has a weird schedule. Savings when we don't need it, and pay up when we become less able to do so.

In the meantime, a GM can't talk badly of any assets. Anything they say about an asset has to be taken with a grain of salt. So while this contract continues, the spin would flow forth from the front office. Great with the younger players. Talk in glowing about what he might do okay enough on the ice.

Also, what if he's too injured to be traded, but not injured enough to be scratched? How would we know that part? He has dealt with back problems ever since he got here. This contract was inherited from the Bowman regime, not that any of us want to be reminded.

Not to mention, this is not the main reason for why the team finished in the bottom three. All we can hope for is being able to deal his contract on favorable terms when the time comes.
- 333inthe3rd

I’m not sure there’s any hurry to move Murphy unless there’s a deal too good to say no to. His contract expires when Bedard’s ELC is up and when the push to build the team is expedited. So not knowing Management’s thoughts on Murphy’s importance I think they can probably live with him and his contract.

I’m not sure there’s any hurry to move Murphy unless there’s a deal too good to say no to. His contract expires when Bedard’s ELC is up and when the push to build the team is expedited. So not knowing Management’s thoughts on Murphy’s importance I think they can probably live with him and his contract.
- paulr

This team is awfully thin at RD with Jones and Zaitsev the only others and Z gone next year if not sooner. No RD prospect available in the near term. So Murphy is likely to stay. Depending on where the Hawks stand in a couple of years and who else is playing at RD, maybe he is flipped as a rental at that TDL.

Zadina signs with Sharks at $1.1 mil for 1 year. After that he will still be an RFA (according to Capfriendly). His career stats are nearly identical to Kurashev. I would expect the same type of contract. Although because of the lack of NHL ready forward depth in the system the Hawks may give Kurashev two years. Hopefully not much more money or much more term.

Nah, he isn't.
- Elbows15

I don't know, offensively very similar, plus Hagel playing against top opponent line, 1st team PK, relentless forechecker.

EDIT Add: Hagel +23 Dcat -31

We'll agree to disagree.

I wouldn't pay dinky 8 mil a year. But that's me.

Nah, he isn't.
- Elbows15

The next time Hagel makes close to $8M will be never.

I don't know, offensively very similar, plus Hagel playing against top opponent line, 1st team PK, relentless forechecker.

EDIT Add: Hagel +23 Dcat -31

We'll agree to disagree.

I wouldn't pay dinky 8 mil a year. But that's me.
- vabeachbear

team stat. and offensively? Come on, bear. Offensively is it isn't close. Hagel will need to put up more than 60 points again for me to be consider them close. Not sure about in Ott but Dinky also played on the PK in Chicago.

The next time Hagel makes close to $8M will be never.
- Angotti

Nothing against Hagel at all but he is going to need to put together multiple seasons of more than 60 points for it to be close offensively for me.

That said. I think Hagel is a terrific player and I hope he does put up those kind of numbers to make bank on his next contract.

Nothing against Hagel at all but he is going to need to put together multiple seasons of more than 60 points for it to be close offensively for me.

That said. I think Hagel is a terrific player and I hope he does put up those kind of numbers to make bank on his next contract.
- Elbows15

No doubt Hagel playing with better players. He scored fairly well last season with Hawks.

I remember a lot of talk about how he was having a magic year with the Hawks and he couldn't keep that shooting % at that level.

I believe he has through a season and 1/3 with Tampa.

Don't dislike Dcat at all, and was on the fence about trading him.

I will throw the same kind of thing back, I'd like to see Dcat do it a year or two without Kane.

For me, to justify 8 mil, you have to be able to create and produce on your own.

No doubt Hagel playing with better players. He scored fairly well last season with Hawks.

I remember a lot of talk about how he was having a magic year with the Hawks and he couldn't keep that shooting % at that level.

I believe he has through a season and 1/3 with Tampa.

Don't dislike Dcat at all, and was on the fence about trading him.

I will throw the same kind of thing back, I'd like to see Dcat do it a year or two without Kane.

For me, to justify 8 mil, you have to be able to create and produce on your own.
- vabeachbear

This.

Is he a 40+ goal scorer with Kane? Yes.

Is he anything more than a 25-30 goal scorer without Kane? Not yet.

Fitzgerald has been fired by Northwestern.
It was bound to happen.

Fitzgerald has been fired by Northwestern.
It was bound to happen.
- BGKarras

When you go 3-9 and then 1-11 over the past two seasons - your program better not have ANY controversy… or else you’re getting the axe.

On a board of endless opinions from non-professionals… yes. None of us are pros. We all watch the team religiously. You don’t need to have a paycheck from an NHL team to have a different opinion. I guess we should reserve all judgement of management and players until the arbiter of truth Mohel gives us the OK.
- ObeseOprah

Keep posting Orca, I find your posts helpful.

When you go 3-9 and then 1-11 over the past two seasons - your program better not have ANY controversy… or else you’re getting the axe.
- Chief4Feathers

I wonder what happens if they were 10-2?

The great Yzerman just signed Justin Holl to a 3 x $3.4m with a no movement, no trade clause, and he makes Murphy look like an all-star.
- LAHawk

I said awhile back that Stevie is acting like a GM who suddenly got the "this rebuild isn't taking seven years" talk. This is another move in that direction, imo.

One of the things i appreciate in the video is KD not giving in to Yzermans demands for more than the 19th and the 44th pick to move up to 17.

One of the things i appreciate in the video is KD not giving in to Yzermans demands for more than the 19th and the 44th pick to move up to 17.
- BetweenTheDots

This is what I referenced before. Right now there’s not allot of pressure on KD so he’s making smart, methodical moves. When the pressure from ownership, the media and the fans starts to ramp up does he stay as cool or does he start to make panic moves like overpaying and over terming a very average defender like Justin Holl then add on no movement clauses?

I’m not sure there’s any hurry to move Murphy unless there’s a deal too good to say no to. His contract expires when Bedard’s ELC is up and when the push to build the team is expedited. So not knowing Management’s thoughts on Murphy’s importance I think they can probably live with him and his contract.
- paulr

This is also in response to 333 and Boiler...

Somebody has to play the tough minutes while these new kids get the feet wet, eh? And some of the signings lately make Murph's contract fine.

Also, seems like a couple regimes think he's a character guy who they want to keep around.

Question for the class....would Stevie Y rather have Murph @ $4.4 or Holl for $3.4 (each for three years)?

This is what I referenced before. Right now there’s not allot of pressure on KD so he’s making smart, methodical moves. When the pressure from ownership, the media and the fans starts to ramp up does he stay as cool or does he start to make panic moves like overpaying and over terming a very average defender like Justin Holl then add on no movement clauses?
- paulr

I see right through this "protect Stan at all costs" malarkey....

I see right through this "protect Stan at all costs" malarkey....
- mohel

I can’t get anything past you.

BTW malarkey is a great word.