No.

I have to be honest with you, if I had to bet, Stalberg will be in another sweater before the draft. Not certain of it by any means. Just a strong feeling.

I will blog on this and some other stuff I'm hearing maybe tomorrow.
- John Jaeckel

Thanks.. and don't have to worry.. I never think you are lying to us!

Hi JJ! Just wanted to know what is your prediction for the offseason,what will or who will be the first big dominoe to fall?Lidstrom?Suter?Semin?Parise?Lu?Lindback?someone else?
- captainserious

I think the week before the draft is going to be busy and interesting. I am becoming more and more of the belief that the new CBA will not stop teams from making moves, especially before the draft, but also not on 7/1 either. You can't lose a season competitively (or maybe more) because of the new CBA. Further, ALL team will be affected by it., Will ALL teams hold back or basically do business as usual on 7/1?

I also think Vancouver is really screwed on Lu/Schneider.

Totally agree! Adding players that complement 19, 88, 10 and 81 should be the goal especially in a salary cap era where you can't just try to buy championships (i.e. NY Yankees). If you can add a decent winger and 2C with some size that should be the ticket to complete our top 2 lines. Other than Doan, Jones and Stoll the UFA list doesn't have a lot to choose from to fill these roles so the trade route may be more likely.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/tea...08&hubname=nhl-blackhawks

Does Cullen really think OD has one more year left in the tank?
- HawkintheD

After looking over that list of free agent checking centers, I would definitely look into trading Bolland for a cheaper option. If they can't find a trade partner for a 2C, I MIGHT take a flier on Olli Jokinen, if he would take a little less than the $3M he made last year. 61 points is still pretty good though.

I think the week before the draft is going to be busy and interesting. I am becoming more and more of the belief that the new CBA will not stop teams from making moves, especially before the draft, but also not on 7/1 either. You can't lose a season competitively (or maybe more) because of the new CBA. Further, ALL team will be affected by it., Will ALL teams hold back or basically do business as usual on 7/1?

I also think Vancouver is really screwed on Lu/Schneider.
- John Jaeckel

Wow!Didn't think Van would be screwed,but I'l take your word for it...looking forward to your next blog,it's great hearing your whispers

After looking over that list of free agent checking centers, I would definitely look into trading Bolland for a cheaper option. If they can't find a trade partner for a 2C, I MIGHT take a flier on Olli Jokinen, if he would take a little less than the $3M he made last year. 61 points is still pretty good though.
- hawks2010

I don't think money will be the issue for the Hawks next year where $500K here and there will make much of a difference.

Daymond Langkow might not look bad in the Indianhead. But he's FA at $4MM now.

I'm telling you - there are guys out there. If Stan has any stones he can make a deal or two without gutting the calf.

I see Ms. Chiriqui is back - a good move.
- StLBravesFan

She got married this past weekend or the previous one....

I think the week before the draft is going to be busy and interesting. I am becoming more and more of the belief that the new CBA will not stop teams from making moves, especially before the draft, but also not on 7/1 either. You can't lose a season competitively (or maybe more) because of the new CBA. Further, ALL team will be affected by it., Will ALL teams hold back or basically do business as usual on 7/1?

I also think Vancouver is really screwed on Lu/Schneider.
- John Jaeckel

I've been saying this since their season ended. A majority of fans have posted saying that there will be teams interested in Lu.. ummm.. where? Most important.. his contract/years left.

There WILL be teams willing to offer Schneider a nice RFA contract, however. And VAN cannot sign him and keep Lu. Couple that with the CBA uncertainty and .. well.. they are screwed.

I've been saying this since their season ended. A majority of fans have posted saying that there will be teams interested in Lu.. ummm.. where? Most important.. his contract/years left.

There WILL be teams willing to offer Schneider a nice RFA contract, however. And VAN cannot sign him and keep Lu. Couple that with the CBA uncertainty and .. well.. they are screwed.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I think we have a bag of pucks we could offer for Kesler to help their cap woes.

But if you put his name on the list of third line two way centers he is near the top...The Staal family understands the game totally and they also understand not to think too much of yourself. He has been injury prone and doesn't have the numbers to support Brad Richard's salary.

Pitt will pay Staal well and most likely extend him before he reaches July 1 2013....
- Al

Now you are talking a completely different comparison. He probably is the best 2 way/all round center in the NHL right now. A lot like the kind of game Mike Richards can give a team. Unfortunately he is stuck behind Malkin and Crosby and he is never going to be better than them. The Pens will pay him very well because he is valuable to them, but they can't let his salary screw up their cap structure.

And I wonder if the Pens ever regretted drafting him ahead of Toews and Backstrom. Probably not, even though he is 3rd best on that list.

I've been saying this since their season ended. A majority of fans have posted saying that there will be teams interested in Lu.. ummm.. where? Most important.. his contract/years left.

There WILL be teams willing to offer Schneider a nice RFA contract, however. And VAN cannot sign him and keep Lu. Couple that with the CBA uncertainty and .. well.. they are screwed.
- CaptainBlackhawk

If im Stan I throw a couple prospects out there for Lu. The Canucks want Schnieder going forward. Throw Salak and Pirri and see if the fish bites. Best case we get a legitimate goaltender. Worst case they reject the deal. Lu is a good goaltender and I think he would be the move Stan makes a name with.

If im Stan I throw a couple prospects out there for Lu. The Canucks want Schnieder going forward. Throw Salak and Pirri and see if the fish bites. Best case we get a legitimate goaltender. Worst case they reject the deal. Lu is a good goaltender and I think he would be the move Stan makes a name with.
- nickmo2699

If you make that move you are committing yourself to Luongo for a LONG time. Salak and Pirri wouldn't remotely get that deal done. Salak's name was sullied with what happened this year.

After looking over that list of free agent checking centers, I would definitely look into trading Bolland for a cheaper option. If they can't find a trade partner for a 2C, I MIGHT take a flier on Olli Jokinen, if he would take a little less than the $3M he made last year. 61 points is still pretty good though.
- hawks2010

I think that one might fall in the "never" category...

Now you are talking a completely different comparison. He probably is the best 2 way/all round center in the NHL right now. A lot like the kind of game Mike Richards can give a team. Unfortunately he is stuck behind Malkin and Crosby and he is never going to be better than them. The Pens will pay him very well because he is valuable to them, but they can't let his salary screw up their cap structure.

And I wonder if the Pens ever regretted drafting him ahead of Toews and Backstrom. Probably not, even though he is 3rd best on that list.
- RickJ

Probably Kessel was too low and Backstrom....But Kessel wasn't a good interview and had some baggage.

I could argue now the top pick was wrong...but that's in hindsight.

Backstrom should have been higher and Kessel...

If Suter signs with the Hawks who moves to the 2nd pairing? Ryan will want the same or more money than Keith and the top pairings. I don't think that will sit well with Duncan & Brent. If this is the case, Ryan is better off staying in Nashville. I think Detroit is out of the mix after the wings looked very old & slow in the playoffs. Free agency can change things but Detroit has little depth.
- slash&smash

Campbell made more money than both of them - I highly salary envy factors in at all. If it does, shame on the front office.

Probably Kessel was too low and Backstrom....But Kessel wasn't a good interview and had some baggage.

I could argue now the top pick was wrong...but that's in hindsight.

Backstrom should have been higher and Kessel...
- Al

I would have to look it up but I think the draft order went Eric Johnson, Staal, Toews, Backstrom, Kessel, Brassard, Okposo. Seems to me Frolik was in that draft too at around #9 or 10.

I would have to look it up but I think the draft order went Eric Johnson, Staal, Toews, Backstrom, Kessel, Brassard, Okposo. Seems to me Frolik was in that draft too at around #9 or 10.
- RickJ

1. St. Louis Erik Johnson, D
2. Pittsburgh Jordan Staal, C
3. Chicago Jonathan Toews, C/W
4. Washington Nicklas Backstrom, C
5. Boston Phil Kessel, C
6. Columbus Derick Brassard, C
7. N.Y. Islanders Kyle Okposo, RW
8. Phoenix Peter Mueller, C
9. Minnesota James Sheppard, C
10. Florida Michael Frolik, C/W

I would have to look it up but I think the draft order went Eric Johnson, Staal, Toews, Backstrom, Kessel, Brassard, Okposo. Seems to me Frolik was in that draft too at around #9 or 10.
- RickJ

I think so...and you could say now Johnson should have been lower and Kessel and Backtrom higher but Staal was still a top five pick.

1. St. Louis Erik Johnson, D
2. Pittsburgh Jordan Staal, C
3. Chicago Jonathan Toews, C/W
4. Washington Nicklas Backstrom, C
5. Boston Phil Kessel, C
6. Columbus Derick Brassard, C
7. N.Y. Islanders Kyle Okposo, RW
8. Phoenix Peter Mueller, C
9. Minnesota James Sheppard, C
10. Florida Michael Frolik, C/W
- Assman22

Thanks, Wonder whatever became of James Sheppard?