According to Ek, he could be on his way to Montreal.

"Leafs haven't been asked by Habs to speak to Rick Dudley. But, expect Dudley and Marty Lapointe to be among Bergevin's early hires."
- Ogilthorpe2

Actually, Darren Dreger broke that one...just sayin.

I agree, there wasn't much in the way of goalies available to the Hawks in the draft.

I think I can agree that Bolland will fetch a bigger return. However, Bowman could have held onto Brouwer and traded Bolland for possibly more than what they got out out of Brouwer. I guess the question I would ask is what would you get for Bolland straight up? Would Bolland get a quality goltending prospect in a trade?

For what it's worth, I'm happy with Danault. I just also wish that Bowman had never dealt Brouwer, and Q wouldn't have jerked around Brouwer the way he did.
- EKolb13

It's not that I don't like Brouwer, it's that I don't believe he's the difference maker some others believe. But That is subjective of course.

How much is left in the tank.. after what looks like lengthy playoffs.. I love the idea, just don't want to pick up another Bruno if you know what I'm saying..
- victorymc98

That's about my only concern. I don't see him turning into what Brunette became this season. At least I would think the odds of that happening are lower than Brunette's. I'd almost liken him to Selanne. Even if he is a step slower, he's still able to put up good numbers.

That's about my only concern. I don't see him turning into what Brunette became this season. At least I would think the odds of that happening are lower than Brunette's. I'd almost liken him to Selanne. Even if he is a step slower, he's still cable to put up good numbers.
- EKolb13

Agreed, and vaild point.

It's not that I don't like Brouwer, it's that I don't believe he's the difference maker some others believe. But That is subjective of course.
- andru2797

His physical pressance was sure missed.

Isn't he part of the Hawks organization also?
- EKolb13

I don't know. He isn't listed as front office personnel on the team site, but neither is Bergevin...any more.

Actually, Darren Dreger broke that one...just sayin.
- andru2797

Yeah, I should have been more clear. Ek quoted this Dreger tweet in his article On Bergevin going to Montreal.

I don't know. He isn't listed as front office personnel on the team site, but neither is Bergevin...any more.
- Ogilthorpe2

I could have sworn that he was, at least at one point in time. Perhaps he was and is going to Montreal?

It's not that I don't like Brouwer, it's that I don't believe he's the difference maker some others believe. But That is subjective of course.
- andru2797

Unless you think Bruno is better than Brouwer, Then short term that move was a bad one. Long term, time will tell. But like I said before, if Danault's ceiling projects (maybe) as Bolland's replacement, I'd rather have kept Brouwer and Bolland, and used other assets to address the team's needs.

According to Ek, he could be on his way to Montreal.

"Leafs haven't been asked by Habs to speak to Rick Dudley. But, expect Dudley and Marty Lapointe to be among Bergevin's early hires."
- Ogilthorpe2

Will be interesting. Lapointe quit to spend more time with his family...

To make it more realistic for others to deal with, at the time of Buff's trade on 6/23, he was at $3.0M with another year at that money, Hammer was at $845k and an RFA.
- blackhawk24

I'm sure others won't be believe me and that's ok but .....

I doubt Hammer was going to get much more than $1.5 mill per on his new contract if he doesn't receive the offer sheet.

Once he stopped drinking.
- StLBravesFan

Yep and once he stopped being at the Wrigley Field Country Club.

Dude there's so much Kruger Koolaid here its absurd. The kid has done absolutely nothing on this side of the ocean to hail him as the next Peter Forsberg so lets give this elite play maker nonsense a break. Sounds like the presser Stan gave when he shipped him over here last spring...

Good, reliable, useful, absolutely. Z or Forsberg level? Absolutely not. Bottom 6 player with ability to fill in the top if injury problems arise.
- fattybeef

Yeah, although he made progress as the season wore on I'm not convinced he's ever going to be a difference maker. Somebody's going to say he already is one. But when people talk about somebodies tremendous upside what I hear is that there's a lot of room for said someone to get better with no guarantee he ever will.

Better idea, Sharp for Staal straight up.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogie, you and I are going to continue to but heads on this issue


The thing that I don't like about this idea is that it still leaves the top six with a big hole to fill.

And I don't see Sharp as good of a fit for the Pens now that he's re-upped for $6M across the next five seasons, while the Pens have to figure out a way to re-up Crosby and Malkin in the next two years, AND have already found their sniping winger in Neal who's six years younger than Sharp and signed through 2017-18.

I think the ship has sailed on the school of thought that Sharp-for-Staal is mutually beneficial. Bolland, on the other hand, has some value in that he's more a true 3rd-liner, and has multiple years left on a deal that's somewhat reasonably priced (overpaid a bit, but Staal's at $4M and likely looking for more). Something tells me that Bolland and local product Saad might be enough to shake Staal loose from the Pens. But then again, if the cap raises enough, they could possibly afford Malkin, Crosby, and Staal for another go-round, so who knows...

Ogie, you and I are going to continue to but heads on this issue


The thing that I don't like about this idea is that it still leaves the top six with a big hole to fill.

And I don't see Sharp as good of a fit for the Pens now that he's re-upped for $6M across the next five seasons, while the Pens have to figure out a way to re-up Crosby and Malkin in the next two years, AND have already found their sniping winger in Neal who's six years younger than Sharp and signed through 2017-18.

I think the ship has sailed on the school of thought that Sharp-for-Staal is mutually beneficial. Bolland, on the other hand, has some value in that he's more a true 3rd-liner, and has multiple years left on a deal that's somewhat reasonably priced (overpaid a bit, but Staal's at $4M and likely looking for more). Something tells me that Bolland and local product Saad might be enough to shake Staal loose from the Pens. But then again, if the cap raises enough, they could possibly afford Malkin, Crosby, and Staal for another go-round, so who knows...
- FredoXV

I think your logic is pretty much spot on, especially from the Pens perspective. I just hate, hate, hate the extension Stan signed Sharp to, and would do just about anything to get rid of it. Huge overpayment. Huge. The very reason the Pens (and others) wouldn't want that contract is the same reason it should never have been tendered. Too much $, too many years. I know some (maybe you included) have argued that he's being paid in part based on past contributions. That may work in a cap free world, but with the cap firmly in place, it's a bad way to run a team.

I think your logic is pretty much spot on, especially from the Pens perspective. I just hate, hate, hate the extension Stan signed Sharp to, and would do just about anything to get rid of it. Huge overpayment. Huge. The very reason the Pens (and others) wouldn't want that contract is the same reason it should never have been tendered. Too much $, too many years. I know some (maybe you included) have argued that he's being paid in part based on past contributions. That may work in a cap free world, but with the cap firmly in place, it's a bad way to run a team.
- Ogilthorpe2

Bingo!

Eklund has his story that Gomez will be bought out. If so, do the Hawks buy in for a one year deal and park him between Stalberg and Hossa on the 2nd line?

Eklund has his story that Gomez will be bought out. If so, do the Hawks buy in for a one year deal and park him between Stalberg and Hossa on the 2nd line?
- ikeane

Good lord I hope not!

So how many Canadiens are we going to be trading for this off season?

Eklund has his story that Gomez will be bought out. If so, do the Hawks buy in for a one year deal and park him between Stalberg and Hossa on the 2nd line?
- ikeane

Absolutely not.

Eklund has his story that Gomez will be bought out. If so, do the Hawks buy in for a one year deal and park him between Stalberg and Hossa on the 2nd line?
- ikeane

Great idea...the smallest smurf in the NHL coming to a team with too many smurfs already!

I think your logic is pretty much spot on, especially from the Pens perspective. I just hate, hate, hate the extension Stan signed Sharp to, and would do just about anything to get rid of it. Huge overpayment. Huge. The very reason the Pens (and others) wouldn't want that contract is the same reason it should never have been tendered. Too much $, too many years. I know some (maybe you included) have argued that he's being paid in part based on past contributions. That may work in a cap free world, but with the cap firmly in place, it's a bad way to run a team.
- Ogilthorpe2

As you well know, I'm in the camp of the Sharp supporters.


However, I did not fully agree with the terms of the extension. I was thinking either the $5.5-6M or so for 2-3 years, or maybe around $5M for 4-5 years. I really thought that Sharp would take a discount if it meant retiring in Chicago. The results, were, he got premium coin to retire in Chicago.

I think there was a degree of "do the right thing by Sharp" from the front office in this deal, and I don't have a huge problem with it, namely because I think he's capable of producing at his current level for at least 3-4 more years, barring major injury, and likely capable of being a very respectable NHL forward into that fifth year. Just a gut hunch, but I get the gripe about the money.

Ultimately, if the Staal/Bolland thing can be worked out, I really, REALLY like the prospect of the following top six:

25-19-88
10-11-81

Ideally, yes, I'd like to have Staal and Bolland, but in my heart of hearts, I really think that a third line center is easier to find than a second line center. I wish that Q would give Bolland a chance to have an extended time in the top-six, because I think he has the offensive abilities, but I suppose time will tell.

And, let's not forget that the third line doesn't always have to be tasked with shutting down the opponents top line (somehow we've all been force-fed that logic for the past couple years) The Kesler line in Vancouver is a prime example of this. I'd have no problem with that above Staal line playing against the opponent's top scorers.

I'll take your word for it. I'm too lazy to open another search window to look it up.
- EKolb13

Trust me - I'm a fount of useless information.

And baseball-reference is only a few clicks away on the iPad.

Yes though perhaps not large, but it means something. I frequently see Ryan with various family at a favorite spot in Franklin.
- HockeyHop

HIS family?

Yep and once he stopped being at the Wrigley Field Country Club.
- Al

He was terrific with Oakland - 5 years WHIP below 1.000, 2 years WHIP at about 0.6000.