I'm betting Dollar Bill may have had a say i that as well. Every guy from that early 90s era who earned his raise got shown the door when it was time to collect.
- Return of the Roar

The story I heard from a vg good source was ...

Amonte wanted $6 mill per....Wirtz immediately told Mike Smith to trade him.

I can't disagree with Wirtz on that one.

I understand but...those typy players aren't cheap and we have a genius for a GM...so with that said I lack faith in him to fix it Vic and bick may be 2 good options
- southernhawk

I share your fear. I predict that somehow the Hawks will sign Suter. That will satisfy the marketing genius by making the big splash signing, and help out the D corps. But they will do one or more of the following as well:

1. Overpay for Suter, making the other holes unfillable via salary
2. Won't overpay for Suter but make bad choices on the rest of the supporting cast
3. Don't overpay for Suter, and make no choices/deals for anyone else new, instead opting for young smurfy square pegs to fit into the other round roster holes.
4. Build a system not sustainable by the roster.
5. Or maybe they will get it right.

Or he will over pay or give up to much for to little and create other problems

I agree 100%. Plus if they sign him to an extension, he could have better value for a rebuilding team at the TDL. That's why I really think he will start the year as a Hawk in all likelihood. I think if he gets dealt, it is via midseason trade to a rebuilding team, for a solid veteran presence. Otherwise, I think Line 1 or 2 LW is his spot to lose.But who can ever tell when it comes to trades? No one knows anything until it happens.
- anawrocki

If that's the case.. the Hawks did nothing in the offseason to get better... and they have allot of issues going into the season.

While I like everything about what Suter does as a player, does it not seem redundant from a defensive perspective? Keith, Leddy and Suter, albeit all offer different aspects, are not overly physical good puck movers. Oduya could be said he does the same.

While Suter may be a great attractive player, I think it would make someone expendable, like Leddy or possibly Keith. Personally, I have never heard it, but would much rather have Shea Weber for what he brings to the table as well as what the Hawks need. I know he's an RFA, but Keith and him on the top pair, with Seabrook holding down the second with Leddy puts him in a more likely spot to succeed and does for the defense what Jeff Carter has done for the LA offense. Everything slots in nicely.

Kind of reminds me of the Niedermayer vs. Pronger argument when they were on the Ducks. If I had to choose on need, I would love to see them offer sheet a guy like Weber, because no way they'll be able to settle on an inner division trade.

Fatty,

I kind of agree. I think Keith has shown he's sort of like a Porsche, kicka$$ when he's fully in tune, not so great if not maintained. I don't have a huge problem with him getting time on the point on the PP. He passes the puck very well and he knows how and when to pinch as well as anyone. Yeah, the shot accuracy is a huge problem. but like I say, i don't see him as a huge problem logging minutes there.

To your point, if the point play is such a problem, was Campbell, who was almost always second unit, THAT critical?

Seems to me you have 5 guys you can roll out there on the point, Hossa or Sharp, and Keith, Seabrook or Leddy. Problem is, none are IDEAL power play QBs. But I think you can cobble together pairs there that could be at least reasonably effective.

Because to me, the larger problem all year was a LACK OF CONTINUITY. They kept trying everything and everybody. There is a lot to be said for picking your ten best guys in two units, assign them roles, and work on BOTH scheme and repetition.
- John Jaeckel

Agree 100%, and that's the gist of it. Even in 2011, Kane, Sharp and Toews drove the power play.

This year Kane didn't want to shoot, Toews was injured, Bolland who showed some positives by scoring there played irregularly and every defender fired into the other teams forwards shin pads...

Probably not politically correct anymore but "Chinese fire-drill" is what this year looked like.

>http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...atus=&viewName=goals&pg=1
>30 players scored 30 or more goals -- 12 of them scored between 30-32 goals -- meaning only 18 players had 33 plus goals -- only 4 players had 40 or more goals
>http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...s=A&viewName=assists&pg=1
>Only 2 players had over 60 assists -- think the metrics you've chosen skews things the way you prefer it -- 37 players had 40 assists or more -- think 40 assists is better metric -- 60 assists = 40 or 50+ goals to me
>I'll take a finisher over a disher every time, you can have the disher
- SnapitUpstairs

Pretty interesting...did you notice that out of the Top 30 goal scorers in the league, Patrick Sharp had the best +/- ?!

While I like everything about what Suter does as a player, does it not seem redundant from a defensive perspective? Keith, Leddy and Suter, albeit all offer different aspects, are not overly physical good puck movers. Oduya could be said he does the same.

While Suter may be a great attractive player, I think it would make someone expendable, like Leddy or possibly Keith. Personally, I have never heard it, but would much rather have Shea Weber for what he brings to the table as well as what the Hawks need. I know he's an RFA, but Keith and him on the top pair, with Seabrook holding down the second with Leddy puts him in a more likely spot to succeed and does for the defense what Jeff Carter has done for the LA offense. Everything slots in nicely.

Kind of reminds me of the Niedermayer vs. Pronger argument when they were on the Ducks. If I had to choose on need, I would love to see them offer sheet a guy like Weber, because no way they'll be able to settle on an inner division trade.
- GuyForget

The Hawks can't give any player an offersheet this offseason. They don't have all of their first three original picks for the 2013 draft. Not unless the Hawks are willing to work out a deal to re-acquire the 2nd & 3rd round picks they sent to Winnipeg in the Oduya deal.

I doubt any team is going to extend an offersheet to Weber. Weber made $7.5 million this past season, and I'm sure he'll still get something like that in a contract. If Weber gets an offer sheet for $6.2 million to $7.8 million, and Nashville decides not to match it, the team offering that will have to cough up two 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick and a 3rd round pick. Anything above $7.8 million will cost a team four 1st round picks.

That's a lot of possible future talent to give up, even for a player like Weber.

The story I heard from a vg good source was ...

Amonte wanted $6 mill per....Wirtz immediately told Mike Smith to trade him.

I can't disagree with Wirtz on that one.
- Al

I met Amonte in Columbus when that big blow-up happened, close to Thanksgiving, and he was as pissed off as any person Ive ever encountered at the team. Nice guy, gracious, signed a jersey and took some photos, but I was afraid then that was the end of him as a Hawk...

Ok, so you don't particularly like the player... that's fine... objectively:

Strengths:
-Best skater in the NHL or way the heck up there
-6'3 210 kind of a big deal with the size
-good wrist shot, not great but good
-good stick handling ability, again not great but good
-production increased every year in the league
-decent strength on the puck, showed flashes of Hossaesque holding off players

Weakness:
-defensive zone lapses, showed improvement though so its a build
-sometimes loses control skating and gets to close to the net killing his angle
-makes bad decisions at blue line on occasion

If you are a GM and think you have a "good" coaching staff that can build on those assets for 875,000... It's a pretty easy sell. Especially for a team looking for speed and a mostly polished NHL product.
- fattybeef

agree
why trade a guy we have and then try to find a player with similar attributes
for example trading brouwer