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I have heard nothing in the last 48 hours on the Hawks' pursuit of Ryan Kesler, or the rumored pursuit of Jason Spezza.

As is so often the case in these types of situations, no news is usually not good news.

In the meantime, it was “leaked” today that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s agent is asking for contracts for both players with an average annual value of $12 million. Each.

Could this throw a monkey wrench in the Hawks’ summer plans? Sure. But let’s be clear. It’s situations like these where it is very reasonable to expect the Hawk front office to be creative—as in thinking and doing outside the box.

If not, and there’s merely a salary dump (Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya) for more picks and prospects that turn into Jeff Taffe, Ludvig Rensfeldt, Jimmy Hayes and Kent Simpson (remember them?), you can expect—sheerly by simple math—that the Hawks will be a worse team next season than the one that got to a whiff of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014, largely through the will of its best players.

The fact remains—cue the broken record—the Hawks had a hole at center last year, and that hole has gotten bigger with the departure of Michal Handzus (whether you loved him or hated him).

If you want to get better now, you almost have to trade for a player—and lose some salary in that deal or another deal, in order to get the piece(s) you need and still free up money for Kane and Toews. And that trade could mean giving up one of your prize prospects. Because adding through free agency is now almost impossible, and extremely high risk.

That’s how it goes.

What follows are the second tier of potential "bargain" free agency or trade options if the Hawks fail to secure Kesler or Spezza. There’s some interesting but flawed merchandise in this bin. Or in one case, Paul Stastny, an asset that might simply be off the table now for Chicago.



Vincent Lecavalier
Age 34 (under contract through 2018)
2013-14 Philadelphia
69GP 20/17 -16

He’s not what he once was, but Vinny brings size and experience and he can still skate. You have to also wonder how he’s play with Kane and Saad on his wings.


Brad Richards
Age 34 (UFA)
2013-14 NY Rangers
82GP 20/31 -8

Richards’ fall-off was noticeable during an extended playoff run with the Rangers—which would have to be a warning flag for a team like the Hawks, acquiring him ostensibly for a long playoff run


Mike Richards
Age 29 (possible buyout/UFA)
2013-14 LA Kings
82 GP 11/30 -6

Jonathan Toews Lite, or even Ryan Kesler Lite, the question with Richards is “how Lite?” There is a perception that his game has fallen off, some feel “proven” by “demotion” to LA’s “fourth” line. Richards is younger than LeCavalier or Brad Richards, but also comes with some some health warnings: a concussion history that has to be a concern with his style of play.


Paul Stastny
Age 28 (UFA)
2013-14 Colorado Avalanche
71GP 25/35 +9

The cream of this crop, the son of Slovak hockey legend Peter Stastny has family ties to Hawk forward Marian Hossa, and fits the Hawks’ style of play like a glove. The problem for the Hawks, who will be facing a cap crunch with Toews and Kane’s rumored salary demands, would be outbidding other clubs, including the Blues, who are rumored to be hot for Stastny.


Joe Thornton
Age 34 (under contract through 2017)
2013-14 San Jose Sharks
82 GP 11/65 +20

The sleeper of this lot, Jumbo still has a lot of tread on the tire. And despite knocks on his playoff results, he is the premier playmaking center available this summer. Period. The problem for the Hawks is getting conference rival San Jose to deal him to them, and fitting his $7 million cap hit in.


All for now,



JJ

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