I'd love to see Rick Nash with the Hawks, that being said, why would you trade the only player that can put the puck on a string to him constantly. I say put all the eggs in the basket for Suter. Move Sharp and Bolland to Pittsburgh for Jordan Stall and Ben Lovejoy. Trade Hammer and get Malone and Thompson.
- nickmo2699

Why does Pitt want Sharp?

Depends. If they play a more slogging it out style like St Louis or New Jersey or LA or to a certain extent Nashville then Nash > Kane

If they continue to mold themselves after Detroit then they should keep Kane as he fits the mold for that style better.
- fattybeef

That's a correct conclusion.

What your realisitc view of where Stalberg can play now.. and where he would top out at.. are the two the same?
- victorymc98

On another team. It's sell high time for him. The Hawks need size and hitting on the top six. That is not Stalberg.

Why? Wirtz is already paying him and he's not counted against the cap - leave him be in Rockford.

Other issues with the amnesty: the NBA's amnesty is only for players who were on the rosters when the CBA was signed (last December) - Boozer could be amnestied, someone signed this summer couldn't be.

And - only one amnesty for the life of the CBA.

Need to be careful how you use it.
- StLBravesFan

If the case turns out to be only 1 amnesty per CBA it won't be used on Olesz.

On another team. It's sell high time for him. The Hawks need size and hitting on the top six. That is not Stalberg.
- Return of the Roar

I agree with you on this..

Why does Pitt want Sharp?
- victorymc98

Solid finisher to play alongside Sid. So your big four are paired off. Malkin and Neal which was Dynamite all year and Crosby and Sharp. Then you have Bolland for your third line.

If the case turns out to be only 1 amnesty per CBA it won't be used on Olesz.
- Al

How amnesty might most affect the Hawks is the pool of potentially available players from other teams who amnesty players they have.

Some of these players are good players with really stupid contracts that prevent their current teams from retooling. If not for the contracts some would be useful at the right price somewhere else.

If the case turns out to be only 1 amnesty per CBA it won't be used on Olesz.
- Al

Forgot that Olesz contract is already buried.

On another team. It's sell high time for him. The Hawks need size and hitting on the top six. That is not Stalberg.
- Return of the Roar

Sometimes... I don't even need to post-- lol

Why do I feel Bowman doesn't see this? I am ok keeping Stalberg if we moved Sharp. Other than that... time to go.

How amnesty might most affect the Hawks is the pool of potentially available players from other teams who amnesty players they have.

Some of these players are good players with really stupid contracts that prevent their current teams from retooling. If not for the contracts some would be useful at the right price somewhere else.
- Return of the Roar

My thinking has been if some money can be absorbed from selling teams that would be better than a one time amnesty.

Similar to baseball...

Guys,

One should never say never but...

Why would Pitt want to deal Staal?...I can't find one.

Word going around is they will try to extend both Crosby and Staal sooner than later.

Guys,

One should never say never but...

Why would Pitt want to deal Staal?...I can't find one.

Word going around is they will try to extend both Crosby and Staal sooner than later.
- Al

>This is the time of year that injury-proneness of players tends to get ignored
>Staal gets injured a lot and only has had over 50 pts once in his career (I think)
>David Moss, rumored to be being looked at by the Hawks, has missed 92 games over the last three years
>Hossa is not a lock yet for returning, Kane sure hasn't scored many goals, Sharp, as a finisher is needed -- at least for now
>Agree that Staal would look good on the Hawks, but as Al pointed out -- when the Hawks "went defense-first" in their team play, they averaged 2 goals a game -- the rest of the Hawks roster hasn't proven that they can "score by committee" like a team like the Blues
>Guys who can finish are not valued on this board, but they sure are in GM offices, because there are few players in the NHL that can

I see this as a really good (and possible to make happen) roster that leaves room for changes

Toews/Downie/Kane
Ott/Sharp/Hossa
Bolland/Frolik/Bickell
Kruger/Shaw/Carcillo

Keith/Seabrook
Suter/Hammer
Leddy/Monty

Crawford/Emery

Still would have like $3.5-4MM on the table assuming cap of $69MM, Suter gets $6-6.5 and Ott/Downie can be had for under $5MM together.

You have plenty of skill talent/prospects to trade with to get the two forwards without having to deplete the core players at all. No way Colorado asks for core talent for an RFA making less than $2MM, and no way Dallas would not listen to a package of good prospects for Ott. I think you go for broke prospect trade wise getting that big 2C. And all three new guys can play on the PP/PK.

Guys,

One should never say never but...

Why would Pitt want to deal Staal?...I can't find one.

Word going around is they will try to extend both Crosby and Staal sooner than later.
- Al

Thanks AL, that was my next question... I don't see how or why the pens want to make a deal like that, for a 30 year old winger..

Guys,

One should never say never but...

Why would Pitt want to deal Staal?...I can't find one.

Word going around is they will try to extend both Crosby and Staal sooner than later.
- Al

errr, to the contrary, Pittsburgh WANTS to to extend him sooner rather than later...doesn't mean he signs. I have a buddy in Pittsburgh keeping me aprised of this and he says that the momentum is building for a Staal exit, but he thinks that the Pens hold on to him beyond the draft because that would be a bad PR move (since they host the draft).

errr, to the contrary, Pittsburgh WANTS to to extend him sooner rather than later...doesn't mean he signs. I have a buddy in Pittsburgh keeping me aprised of this and he says that the momentum is building for a Staal exit, but he thinks that the Pens hold on to him beyond the draft because that would be a bad PR move (since they host the draft).
- eburgio

The problem for the Pens with Staal is that he wants to play 2C and not 3C. He is the Pens' 2C insurance policy right now. Too valuable a player for them to trade I think, unless they get an overpay in return.

The problem for the Pens with Staal is that he wants to play 2C and not 3C. He is the Pens' 2C insurance policy right now. Too valuable a player for them to trade I think, unless they get an overpay in return.
- Return of the Roar

he WANTS to be a #1 center. he thinks he can be on most teams (see: Edmonton), but that would require him going to some place that's garbage (see: Edmonton).

Even if the Pens appease him and move him to #2C and bump Malkin to Wing, that still doesn't change the fact that when he re-ups, he'll have a deal worth approx $6M/yr. That's like Nashville typing up 3 players at $7M apiece. For a franchise that has been on the brink of extinction a couple times, I'm not sure Pittsburgh wants to go there and lock up 3 players and chew up that much cap space

he WANTS to be a #1 center. he thinks he can be on most teams (see: Edmonton), but that would require him going to some place that's garbage (see: Edmonton).

Even if the Pens appease him and move him to #2C and bump Malkin to Wing, that still doesn't change the fact that when he re-ups, he'll have a deal worth approx $6M/yr. That's like Nashville typing up 3 players at $7M apiece. For a franchise that has been on the brink of extinction a couple times, I'm not sure Pittsburgh wants to go there and lock up 3 players and chew up that much cap space
- eburgio

And that is why I think the Pens hold on to Staal for his final year at $4MM.