As far as potential trades go, what about Tyler Bozak in Toronto? He's 6'1" and 195lbs, can chip in on offense (47 points last year on their top line, but could improve), plays with a bit of an edge (117 hits), and is pretty good at the dot (>50% in his career). I bet the Leafs could use a guy like Hammer after Luke Schenn's departure this past summer. Also from what I've heard, they want to try out James VanRiemsdyk at center. Considering they also have Mikhail Grabovski in the fold, it looks like Bozak could be an odd-man-out. I think he could be a good fit for a 2C.
- CrisCrossCrease

Not a bad guy to have....we could certainly do worse .

To be fair, they 'ate' the Olesz contract in return for divesting themselves of Campbell's much larger contract.

Otherwise, the Hawks have been very willing to spend on players - some of it wisely and some not so much. But that goes with the territory with a big market team - if Rocky wants 22,000 in the seats every night, he can't operate as if they are the New York Islanders.
- RickJ

Yes - they seem to be more worried about cap issues than cash issues - the need to learn to be more creative in dealing with the cap.

Well at the risk of grtting smacked around by many of the Fehr demonizers on this board......

It was clear from the beginning under Fehr, the players were not going to cave. Whatever you think of him; he is master poker player. Almost all the movement over the last two months came from the Bettman/owner side.

The 5 year contract was the hill they would die on said Daly. Well they ran for another hill and died on 7 years.

Conventional wisdom said the owners could outlast the players fiancially...probably true. But other negative factors were in play with respect to the owners: competing interest and the unknown fall out financially and PR wise from a lost season.

Yes the players lost what they had...but compared to what the league wanted to shove down there throats they came out pretty well. I think Fehr deserves alot of credit for keeping the troops in line and getting more than was thought possible a month ago. This was the deadline all along by the owners...a mid January start and Fehr pushed them to that limit and got concessions.
- bogiedoc

Most - or at least much - of what the players "won" after the 50/50 and the "make whole" we're settled (like back to early December) don't really seem to matter much.

Only contract length/35% variance has any real meaning - and how many players will that affect? Not many.

The rest - amnesty, higher cap next year - all come out of the players' share (50%) of HRR - so all players (not the owners as a whole) will share in paying for some money that goes to individual players.

Schedules oit yet ?

Eli... With the Hogs set to lose 2-3 forwards and a defenseman what do you think they'll do to compensate?

They'll lose Shaw, Kruger, and Bollig up front and that's got to hurt. They may get Olesz back but there's still a huge void to fill.
- DarthKane

It sounds like Olesz is hurt, so I doubt he'll be in Rockford.

The 'Hogs are carrying 8 Defenseman as of now, and have been all season. That should open up some more playing time for the rest once Leddy leaves. I think they will feel the real loss up front, but there are guys stashed away in Toledo and one in Bloomington. I'm sure a couple of those guys will get re-called to Rockford.

He was miscast as a top 4 guy last year. No question. His ceiling is definitely 2-3. Personally, he's my #5 guy this year with lots of PP time.

There's going to be a lot of debate here (and elsewhere) obviously about Bowman as a GM. Thus far, I think it's fair to say he 's done a good job of managing the cap (ie, shedding salaried players), but not so good in terms of improving the team. And I think some of the issue there is forcing his "prize" acquisitions into roles they aren't ready for— as if trying to also force his reputation as a talent evaluator—namely Nick Leddy.

I like what I've seen of Leddy at Rockford this year. He looks bigger and stronger, more decisive with the puck at both ends of the ice (but he still has room to grow there) and less inclined to take crap off anyone.
- John Jaeckel

With the exception of Stalberg, Leddy is probably the best skater on the team.

Those brief instances where he rushed up the ice and carried the puck around the net (but didn't quite seem to know what to do) is very Campbellesque.

And I think that is the type of player he can be. Maybe not the best in his own zone and I don't think he will light anyone up like Soup would on occasion but in terms of a PP specialist and rushing defensemen... The kid is pretty gifted. Tied for 22nd in scoring last year looking out of his element half the time is impressive.

ONLY 21. Even if he remains average to -average in his own end I think he is still an extremely useful player especially since the Hawks will probably need to score +3 goals / game again to win.


Ughgreed with Bowman. I think some interesting stuff could happen with rent-a-players this year. Maybe going all in for Iginla (mmmm Toews, Iggy and Sharp on the same line) would not be a bad idea to try and take advantage of the cap situation the Hawks are currently in. Could Hammer + Shaw + any prospect they want for Iginla and a 2nd and conditional work?

Then you have Kane, Hossa, Stalberg/Bolling/Carcillo/Kruger/Doesn't matter. Hopefully a Bolland with his head out of his ass and a 4th line of guys who kill for fun.

Win Cup, buy everyone another 2 years and hope beyond hopes that 2 or 3 of those draft picks develop into something usable.

Wayyyyy longer than I had planned on posting. Anyone hearing any rumblings on discounted or free center ice?

Glad to be back in here with ya......what's the chance we buy out Monty. And get a #2C
- southernhawk

You do know that Stan is still GM right?

Then you have Kane, Hossa, Stalberg/Bolling/Carcillo/Kruger/Doesn't matter. Hopefully a Bolland with his head out of his ass and a 4th line of guys who kill for fun.

- fattybeef

Just curious....when was it that you think Bolland had his head in his ass? I know he's not always been healthy, but I don't recall anything he's ever done to justify that statement.

If there's anyone we need to worry about being able to keep their head out of their rectum it's Q.

Thoughts on Jason Arnott on a 1-year deal to add some C depth (NHL-ready C depth) to an organization sorely lacking it?

Here is my take on player movement -

The guy with the contract that will hurt the team the longest is Duncan Keith. I like his game, but what you have to look at is Leddy will be able to provide offensively what Dunc provides. With the cash Dunc has tied up, you can get a center and defensive defensaman (2 positions that this team needs) and you will not miss him too bad.
Sometimes, you need to trade value to get value.

Here is my take on player movement -

The guy with the contract that will hurt the team the longest is Duncan Keith. I like his game, but what you have to look at is Leddy will be able to provide offensively what Dunc provides. With the cash Dunc has tied up, you can get a center and defensive defensaman (2 positions that this team needs) and you will not miss him too bad.
Sometimes, you need to trade value to get value.
- powerenforcer

I'm not neccessarily opposed if the return is right, but I can't see it happening.

Just curious....when was it that you think Bolland had his head in his ass? I know he's not always been healthy, but I don't recall anything he's ever done to justify that statement.

If there's anyone we need to worry about being able to keep their head out of their rectum it's Q.
- Ogilthorpe2

When he does interviews... And I am a huge Bolland fan but lets be honest, the guy does disappear for stretches and seems to elevate his game only against better competition. Hasn't made much of an improvement at the dot. Kind of at the point in his career where he needs to be more consistent IMO. Especially with the shortened season.

Here is my take on player movement -

The guy with the contract that will hurt the team the longest is Duncan Keith. I like his game, but what you have to look at is Leddy will be able to provide offensively what Dunc provides. With the cash Dunc has tied up, you can get a center and defensive defensaman (2 positions that this team needs) and you will not miss him too bad.
Sometimes, you need to trade value to get value.
- powerenforcer

Top 5 defender in the league even with all the issues he had last year. Maybe top 10 if you want to be super picky and look at the rest of the league with sunshine glasses on... Cap hit of 5.5/year through his prime is an absolute steal...

Leddy cannot do what Keith does defensively... Maybe in 5 years... Nor can many defenders in the league eat the minutes he does and still maintain some level of production...

Thoughts on Jason Arnott on a 1-year deal to add some C depth (NHL-ready C depth) to an organization sorely lacking it?
- Hawksfan37

We may need a 2nd line centre but I don't see Arnott as the answer. Even if Bolland were moved to the 2C role I think Kruger would fill the 3C role.

If Stan is looking to acquire a legitimate 2nd line centre I think he should go the trade route. But we'll likely start the season with Kane centering the 2nd line with Hossa and Carcillo.

Thoughts on Jason Arnott on a 1-year deal to add some C depth (NHL-ready C depth) to an organization sorely lacking it?
- Hawksfan37

There was a rumor this summer they were looking at him

Most - or at least much - of what the players "won" after the 50/50 and the "make whole" we're settled (like back to early December) don't really seem to matter much.

Only contract length/35% variance has any real meaning - and how many players will that affect? Not many.

The rest - amnesty, higher cap next year - all come out of the players' share (50%) of HRR - so all players (not the owners as a whole) will share in paying for some money that goes to individual players.
- StLBravesFan

I am not saying there were many reason to miss another 6 weeks of the season...IMO none of it shoud have been cancelled.

But variance is a huge issue as well as term....The difference between 5% and 35% is great.

The effect of a being to write the larger mega deals helps inflate all contracts to some degree.

The big issue going forward is where the cap is headed because the owners have got it back to where it was to begin last season and that was only after a strong stand from the players.

So hockey logic tells me $64.3 mill to begin 13-14 is probably $8-$10 mill lower than it would have been.

Once again, imo this process dragged out way too long and everyone was to blame.

Here is my take on player movement -

The guy with the contract that will hurt the team the longest is Duncan Keith. I like his game, but what you have to look at is Leddy will be able to provide offensively what Dunc provides. With the cash Dunc has tied up, you can get a center and defensive defensaman (2 positions that this team needs) and you will not miss him too bad.
Sometimes, you need to trade value to get value.
- powerenforcer

At 29, which is still considered just starting prime for many dmen Keith is not a bad value as far as cap hits go.

He plays almost 1/2 of every game...Tough to replace for less.

James Mirtle from the Globe & Mail tweeted the following, but I'm not sure what it exactly means (hopefully somebody can shed some light on it).

"Can 100% confirm the new CBA will include the cap benefit recapture formula. It will apply to existing deals in excess of six years"

Thoughts on Jason Arnott on a 1-year deal to add some C depth (NHL-ready C depth) to an organization sorely lacking it?
- Hawksfan37

Would love to see that --if only to add some size & snarl up front.

James Mirtle from the Globe & Mail tweeted the following, but I'm not sure what it exactly means (hopefully somebody can shed some light on it).

"Can 100% confirm the new CBA will include the cap benefit recapture formula. It will apply to existing deals in excess of six years"
- DarthKane

Cap benefit recapture formula?

Never heard of it.

Would love to see that --if only to add some size & snarl up front.
- 67hawks

4 months ago, I would have been opposed to signing Arnot, but now, I think he could be a really nice add. The shortened season could really benefit guys like him in a big way.

Cap benefit recapture formula?
- Ogilthorpe2

Exactly my thoughts.

I brought this up on Twitter and was told it basically it means that if a player retires early there would be a cap penalty of some kind.

I guess the new CBA will bring a bunch of new terms and conditions we'll all have to learn.

"In response to the league’s call for such an alteration, the NHLPA devised something called a “cap benefit recapture formula,” which would punish teams with players who retired early on long-term deals by putting the money they saved over the term of the deal on their cap after they’ve retired.

This notion has been around for a while, but the change that came last week was that the PA offered to apply this formula to any new contracts that are seven years or longer OR existing deals with seven years or more remaining.

Another change to the PA’s previous proposal is that instead of allowing the post-retirement cap penalty to be spread over twice the length remaining on the deal it can only be spread over the number of years that the player didn’t play."

Exactly my thoughts.

I brought this up on Twitter and was told it basically it means that if a player retires early there would be a cap penalty of some kind.

I guess the new CBA will bring a bunch of new terms and conditions we'll all have to learn.
- DarthKane

Interesting. This has to hurt Luongo's trade value.

There was a rumor this summer they were looking at him
- John Jaeckel

Exactly the kind of deal a bean counter by trade makes, and have made - over the hill, comes cheap for the name he brings, ends up old, slow, and injured and does nothing.

BTW John great job on all the prospect scouting reports you've posted here in december - it was my only hockey fix. That plus the surprise of seeing the WJC on NHL Network on dish 885. Didn;t know I had that channel in Chicago.