Those demands are GREEDY...he'd be making a full million more than Tazer and that is a NON-STARTER for me. Love Doan, but he's pretty phucking full of himself by the look of it. He can afford to be though. He's a HIGH CHARACTER, GRITTY, STILL PRODUCTIVE leader...but $7.5 per for 4.....he's DREAMING.
- philco28

I'll bet there is a great chance that if he does not stay in PHO he will get it from the NYR.

You get Doan, does that mean Sharp could be expendable? I like Sharp for Stastny kind of deal.

Those demands are GREEDY...he'd be making a full million more than Tazer and that is a NON-STARTER for me. Love Doan, but he's pretty phucking full of himself by the look of it. He can afford to be though. He's a HIGH CHARACTER, GRITTY, STILL PRODUCTIVE leader...but $7.5 per for 4.....he's DREAMING.
- philco28

Hi Philco!

That's just what's rumored. I guess we'll see just how greedy he is when it's all said and done.

I personally have no problem paying him $7.5 million on a two year deal. I'm okay with 3 years at that price, if the deal is front loaded.

As for a four year deal at that price, that's one year too many for me.

Those demands are GREEDY...he'd be making a full million more than Tazer and that is a NON-STARTER for me. Love Doan, but he's pretty phucking full of himself by the look of it. He can afford to be though. He's a HIGH CHARACTER, GRITTY, STILL PRODUCTIVE leader...but $7.5 per for 4.....he's DREAMING.
- philco28

I think he could get that....but it may not be all about $$$$...

You get Doan, does that mean Sharp could be expendable? I like Sharp for Stastny kind of deal.
- DDM-Coga

Sharp's NTC kicked in on the first, so I doubt he's moving.

Perhaps a Bolland/Hjalmarsson package for Statsny?

I dont want to be the one giving up on this season, but if we do sign Doan (assuming its going to be around 6M/year) how does that affect us being players for next years crop of free agents? And who is up for free agency that may interest us?
- DirtySauce14

I hear what you're saying but I'd rather the Hawks take the win now approach instead of worrying about whats going to happen in 2014-2015. If they are in rebuilding mode it's a different story. I think the core was locked up with the idea of winning now.

Yep.

Esplen's proposed trade is...


- EKolb13

Aren't those commentors trade proposals, not his, right?

You get Doan, does that mean Sharp could be expendable? I like Sharp for Stastny kind of deal.
- DDM-Coga

I think sharps NTC NMC is now in effect....sorry that would be a good deal

I think he could get that....but it may not be all about $$$$...
- southernhawk

That's a possibility. I'd think the high dollar mark might be up-charge if he decides to go play out east. If he wanted to play in Vancouver, he'd have to take a discount. There's not much cap room there.

I hear what you're saying but I'd rather the Hawks take the win now approach instead of worrying about whats going to happen in 2014-2015. If they are in rebuilding mode it's a different story. I think the core was locked up with the idea of winning now.
- jhawk159

+1
time to go for it is now

I hear what you're saying but
- jhawk159

I'd rather the Hawks take the win now approach instead of worrying about whats going to happen in 2014-2015

. If they are in rebuilding mode it's a different story. I think the core was locked up with the idea of winning now.

Amen to that.

Aren't those commentors trade proposals, not his, right?
- howiehandles

Usually they are, but I think in his "blog" today, those are Esplen's own proposals.

I'll bet there is a great chance that if he does not stay in PHO he will get it from the NYR.
- Return of the Roar

Let the Wranglers spend themselves into oblivion and lose year after year

Hi Philco!

That's just what's rumored. I guess we'll see just how greedy he is when it's all said and done.

I personally have no problem paying him $7.5 million on a two year deal. I'm okay with 3 years at that price, if the deal is front loaded.

As for a four year deal at that price, that's one year too many for me.
- EKolb13

Hey EK...you make some good points...i'd be ok with 11-12 $ mil for 2-3 years.

Let the Wranglers spend themselves into oblivion and lose year after year
- philco28

Lose Dubinsky, pick up Nash and Doan - rest of the team essentially the same as last year. Looks like a contender to me.

You get Doan, does that mean Sharp could be expendable? I like Sharp for Stastny kind of deal.
- DDM-Coga

I wanted to move Sharp for Statsny when they were talking about him being "available" last year.

NMC makes that a problem and this organization does not like to part with its chosen ones.

If they are also sold as Kane at 2C and billing that as their genius idea that could prove a potential problem for acquiring one or at least a reason in their minds as they are so much smarter than everyone else.

Those demands are GREEDY...he'd be making a full million more than Tazer and that is a NON-STARTER for me. Love Doan, but he's pretty phucking full of himself by the look of it. He can afford to be though. He's a HIGH CHARACTER, GRITTY, STILL PRODUCTIVE leader...but $7.5 per for 4.....he's DREAMING.
- philco28

Again, Philco..its just an agent doing his job. If Parise and Suter get 7.9 for 13 years (or whatever it is) than Doan can get 7.5 for 4. It may not seem right. But some GMs said to their owners "Parise can help us to the top of the standings over the next 4-10 years and it costs us $100 mil." If they convince their owners to spend $100 mil on Parise, it's possible that (after missing out on parise) those GMs can convince their owners that Doan is an acceptable plan b at $30-35 mil.

A top fwd now costs 6-7 mil. Throw in Doan's intangibles and the fact that at his age he DOESNT need a 10 year contract and the price goes up.

I think he could get that....but it may not be all about $$$$...
- southernhawk

Hey SoHawk...he obviously wants to WIN as his active playing window is winding down. I bet if we'd have landed Brodeur....Doan would have already had his Chicago presser.

Sharp's NTC kicked in on the first, so I doubt he's moving.

Perhaps a Bolland/Hjalmarsson package for Statsny?
- EKolb13

Rats, I think he would of looked good playing with Duchene, I think they played together at a world championship one year if I am not mistaken. We have like 8 dman already, Stastny for a top 6 is the only way it makes sense for the Avs.

Would you guys take a run at Morrow, rumorus are he is available

Q-and-A: Olczyk on the Hawks, the Hall


By Jesse Rogers | Jul 26, 2012 9:39 PM



Chicago Blackhawks

Eddie Olcyk, pictured on the right next to broadcast partner Pat Foley, will join the US Hockey Hall of Fame in the coming months.
Recently, it was announced that Eddie Olczyk, a former first-round pick of the Blackhawks and current television analyst for the team, will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Olczyk scored 342 goals and produced 794 points in a 16-year career and was just one of seven players in a five year span (’87-’92) to score 30 or more goals in each season. At the recent Blackhawks fan convention-- at which he was master of ceremonies -- Olczyk sat down for a question and answer session about all things hockey including the team he played and now broadcasts for.

Jesse Rogers: Do you think your inclusion into the US Hockey Hall of Fame is purely due to your playing days or a culmination of all the things you’ve done in your career on and off the ice including promoting U.S. Hockey.

Eddie Olczyk: I’d like to think my numbers speak for themselves but I think the nine different times I represented our country as a player and then once as a coach, and the speaking engagements on behalf of US hockey, it’s probably everything under the umbrella. I’ve been involved with hockey in the U.S. since I was 17 … I’d like to think a lot of is player wise, but Ill certainly take the other aspects with it.

Did the last Olympics finally show the world USA Hockey has reached a more than respectable level?

EO: I think everybody before that knew how far we’ve come and how good of a country we are as far as playing the game. I think our top 50 players can compete on that world stage, but when you start talking top 100 or 200 players and you talk about our greatest rival its Canada. I still believe Canada’s greatest rival is the Russians. I believe that. As an alum that still bothers me but maybe it’s changing.

Let’s pivot right to Patrick Kane on this subject. While the World Championships were going on in early May a great player like him was kind of in the spotlight for other reasons. Would you have liked to seen him play in the championships?

EO: Oh, absolutely. I said it then and I’ll say it now: I was disappointed that he didn’t go. Now, I don’t know why. Health and personal reasons come into it but I think that’s where we, as USA hockey, we need all of our players to stop what they’re doing when that phone rings and no hesitation, you go. That’s the difference between Canada and the US, guys are stopping whatever they’re doing and going. And it’s been like this for a long time, we don’t have full cooperation from our players. Now I’m talking at levels below the Olympics. I was disappointed that he didn’t go and it obviously culminated with what happened on that May weekend. We need players like Kaner to go when they get called.

Let’s stay on the Hawks. And I preface this by saying I’m not asking you to make an assessment on Joel Quenneville but in general, can a good or even great coach have a bad year?

EO: Well first of all I think Joel is a great coach, and I wish I could have played for him but to answer your question, yes, great coaches can have off years. Great coaches can miss pushing the right buttons. Great players can have average years. I don’t think coaches are immune to slumps or poor decision making. All coaches at all levels, and Joel knows this, don’t always push the right buttons all the time but even when they do push the right buttons the players have to react. I played on the power play, I coached it, I have a good feel, the scheme is 50 percent. The other 50 percent is the player’s ability to ad-lib, take what is given and execute. I’m not on the side of the fence that power play is coaching. To me, it’s more the decision making by the players. And I lived it as a power play guy.

Let me segue then. What’s the normal course of action in the off-season when both special teams units had such down years? They already fired a coach. What else goes on?

EO: Let me emphasize I can only speak from my experience as a player and a coach, you start looking at ‘what is our philosophy?” Does the philosophy we use go hand-in-hand with the personnel? At the end of the day is the personnel the right people doing it? At the end of the day I would start with my philosophy then to the people doing it and break it down that way. Obviously, there was a disconnect somewhere. Most teams kill the same way. Not all but most teams have the same philosophy of being aggressive and pressuring.

Back to Joel. Do you get the sense, because he has more than intimated it, we are going to see a more stern coach this year?

EO: I would say that’s fair because of what’s happened the last couple of years. I don’t think there is a doubt, knowing the leadership and expectations of Rocky (Wirtz) and John (McDonough), unacceptable. Everybody reassesses who and what they are and finding a way. No excuses, just finding a way. I don’t think there is any doubt there needs to be more from some players. And I speak from experience, you can berate a player, you can call a player out in the media, the thing that really strikes a player is ice time. It hurts most when they’re not out there. So the philosophy of this organization as on outsider, to a certain extent, is what has transpired here the last couple of years is not acceptable. And their expectations are much higher.

Fill in the blank here. The core group needs to ….

EO: The core group needs to be more consistent. I would say the core group needs to take their game back to a level of more consistency. You need health, you need some depth, but at the end of the day these are the guys that are the engine.

Lose Dubinsky, pick up Nash and Doan - rest of the team essentially the same as last year. Looks like a contender to me.
- Return of the Roar

Not saying they're not loaded, but Pitt, Boston, Philly....tough road to hoe to rep the East in the SCF.

Rats, I think he would of looked good playing with Duchene, I think they played together at a world championship one year if I am not mistaken. We have like 8 dman already, Stastny for a top 6 is the only way it makes sense for the Avs.

Would you guys take a run at Morrow, rumorus are he is available
- DDM-Coga

It seems our GM doesn't have the balls to pull off a trade.

Myself, I'd have some interest in Morrow at the trade deadline, if he is injury free.

Again, Philco..its just an agent doing his job. If Parise and Suter get 7.9 for 13 years (or whatever it is) than Doan can get 7.5 for 4. It may not seem right. But some GMs said to their owners "Parise can help us to the top of the standings over the next 4-10 years and it costs us $100 mil." If they convince their owners to spend $100 mil on Parise, it's possible that (after missing out on parise) those GMs can convince their owners that Doan is an acceptable plan b at $30-35 mil.

A top fwd now costs 6-7 mil. Throw in Doan's intangibles and the fact that at his age he DOESNT need a 10 year contract and the price goes up.
- miked23

Good reasoning Mike....fact is Doan can leverage the market and get all he wants because of his talent and character.....4 years at near $30 m....is too rich for me.

Lose Dubinsky, pick up Nash and Doan - rest of the team essentially the same as last year. Looks like a contender to me.
- Return of the Roar

They're counting on some young centers to get the puck to whichever wingers dont play with richards. if their pp doesnt produce..they'll have the same problems as last year too. whether they add doan or not.

Hi Philco!

That's just what's rumored. I guess we'll see just how greedy he is when it's all said and done.

I personally have no problem paying him $7.5 million on a two year deal. I'm okay with 3 years at that price, if the deal is front loaded.

As for a four year deal at that price, that's one year too many for me.
- EKolb13

If he's looking for $15M for the next two years, give him 4 years at $2M each with an $11M signing bonus or something like that. That would drop the cap hit down under $5M. It depends upon how long he really plans to play.