I agree but to play devils advocate ...

The offer would have to be TT , this years 1st round pick and a conditional #1 in 2014 if the Hawks make the WCF .

Im ok with that even though I love TT so far , but O'Reilly is 21 years old and the Hawks would have a super powerful top 6. I think the deal I suggested TT , a #1 and a conditional #1 would be the best offer the Avs would get .
- mrpaulish

Start with Bolland and add some prospects.

I havent read all the responses; but how about Bolland and Frolik/D prospect for Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little...

Wheeler's big frame may take care of some of the net front presence and Little can fill the #2 center position (or at least try)... Both players are RFA's at the end of the season. I know Wheeler is a defensive liability; but what he could add could trump that...

Just throwing stuff against the wall here...

I'm pretty sure any AAV above $900k in the minors counts against the cap. I.e. Olesz has a $3.125 AAV. If he is stashed in the minors only $2.225 of the $3.125 counts towards the cap.

As for LTIR the most common thing people forget is that a team can only use that LTIR cap space DURING the season. What does this mean? Monty's $2.75 cap hit WILL count in the off-season if they can not buy him out. So if the League Cap is $64.3 million next season then the hawks have $61.55 million to work with until the 1st game of the 2013-14 season, when then can put Monty on LTIR again. Make sense?
- moylander

Yes, thanks. The rules aren't as clear cut as the used to be, but hopefully it puts an end to burying NHL players in the minors just because the GM handed out a bad contract.

What about Eller for Stalberg?

Or Eller, Diaz and a 2nd for Sharp?
- soad_live

BICKELL! take em right now!

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
NYR trade Mike Rupp to MIN for Nick Palmieri

Mr. P beat me to it
- philco28

PHIL, and WE couldn't have used MIKE RUPP? ( fricken bowman!)for as many goals as a stiff like bickell has scored, i'd rather see rupp & bollig on that 4th line against teams like SJ, with carcillo playing up a notch. hell rupp wouldn't hurt ya playin 3rd line minutes either. i hope this clarckson talk isn't just a bunch of shart . hope it has some merit.

PHIL, and WE couldn't have used MIKE RUPP? ( fricken bowman!)for as many goals as a stiff like bickell has scored, i'd rather see rupp & bollig on that 4th line against teams like SJ, with carcillo playing up a notch. hell rupp wouldn't hurt ya playin 3rd line minutes either. i hope this clarckson talk isn't just a bunch of shart . hope it has some merit.
- wonthecup10

Come on man !! you know it is ! Bowman is the Lovie Smith of GMs !

Put Sharp on the trading block and see what somebody offers .... hes the guy thats expendable ... His play doesnt excite me much

Not worth no 6 mil IMO

Call the Avs and get either O'Reilly or Stastny.

Brouwer is not coming back as long as Q is around but Joel Ward is an interesting guy if he can find his scoring touch again. He was always a pain in the arse to play when he was on Nashville. Kopy's contract is just too long and bad to take on, I think you can probably find guys that are cheaper and have less yrs on their deal that can help you just as much as him.

That being said I'm on board this year with loading up for the playoffs even if it costs some talent/prospects. If Crawford/Emery continue to play well, Hawks have a real good chance to take the West and play for the Cup again.

Unless Bickell can play special teams, Frolik is more useful...But can't deny he is overpaid.
- Al

That is all I am saying.

Replacement value VS salary is kind of important with non core pieces

Voters and (d-u-m) fans will always lean toward the marquee names and high point totals as far as the Hart. You would not believe the stupid arguments I got last fall ('11) when I suggested a big year from Hossa could be Hart-worthy. Always about "points."

If Hoss is getting a point or so per game and playing his game all over the ice—few players in the NHL are more valuable. He has to stay healthy all 48 games pretty much. He was in the conversation last year til the ASG when he tweaked his groin and got slowed down the rest of the season. At his age, it's all about health.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah. He really ran out of steam towards the end of the year. I think some of that falls on the coaching staff for not managing time better. At a certain point you need to know you have a guy with serious mileage on his legs and rest appropriately.

The 5 on 3 alone should be part of the conversation.

Him and Kane are pretty much carrying the team (aside from the 6 defenders). Toews is winning face offs but with out those two asserting their will the way they are this team is in huge trouble.

I find Brouwer hard to judge.

He got a very legitimate, lengthy chance to be the guy (the skilled size guy in the top 6) here in Chicago and he just never took the next step to cement himself here. He was given every chance, and in the end, he was deemed expendable.

His hit total is impressive and by all accounts he's a great guy. But a $3.6 mil cap hit for a guy that consistently struggles to crack 20g 20a around strong talent... I'm not so sure about that.

I think I'd rather give Stalberg a new deal and see if he really earn a permanent top 6 spot. He won't give you the hits Brouwer does, but you're getting speed and still keeping the size.

Yeah. He really ran out of steam towards the end of the year. I think some of that falls on the coaching staff for not managing time better. At a certain point you need to know you have a guy with serious mileage on his legs and rest appropriately.

The 5 on 3 alone should be part of the conversation.

Him and Kane are pretty much carrying the team (aside from the 6 defenders). Toews is winning face offs but with out those two asserting their will the way they are this team is in huge trouble.
- fattybeef

Issue here and at some point it will take its toll....The best players are also on the PK. Imagine if Frolik and Kruger were not useful, but as it is the mins add up for Hossa/Toews/Sharp.

I find Brouwer hard to judge.

He got a very legitimate, lengthy chance to be the guy (the skilled size guy in the top 6) here in Chicago and he just never took the next step to cement himself here. He was given every chance, and in the end, he was deemed expendable.

His hit total is impressive and by all accounts he's a great guy. But a $3.6 mil cap hit for a guy that consistently struggles to crack 20g 20a around strong talent... I'm not so sure about that.

I think I'd rather give Stalberg a new deal and see if he really earn a permanent top 6 spot. He won't give you the hits Brouwer does, but you're getting speed and still keeping the size.
- AceRatbang

Brouwer had the hands but t took him awhile to play to his size...Stalberg has been forced into being moe physical as well but hasn't shown the scoring touch.

Unless Stalberg can cement a top six job here he will be gone just like Brouwer. There will be teams that will pay Stalberg and give him a chance as top six forward.

I find Brouwer hard to judge.

He got a very legitimate, lengthy chance to be the guy (the skilled size guy in the top 6) here in Chicago and he just never took the next step to cement himself here. He was given every chance, and in the end, he was deemed expendable.

His hit total is impressive and by all accounts he's a great guy. But a $3.6 mil cap hit for a guy that consistently struggles to crack 20g 20a around strong talent... I'm not so sure about that.

I think I'd rather give Stalberg a new deal and see if he really earn a permanent top 6 spot. He won't give you the hits Brouwer does, but you're getting speed and still keeping the size.
- AceRatbang

You can't tease out the hits from the goals. Guys who can score 20 AND give you 200 hits are rare.

You can't tease out the hits from the goals. Guys who can score 20 AND give you 200 hits are rare.
- John Jaeckel

Not only that, but he'll give you 200 hits and a reasonable/smart PIM total to go along with it.

And hey, his last year in Chicago was the post-cup campaign which we can all agree wasn't a great year to give a final judgment of a player. That team had issues.

Brouwer does make sense. It would have to be a smart deal though... I'd be more comfortable going all in to snag a center than a good stout winger who isn't a total game changer.

You can't tease out the hits from the goals. Guys who can score 20 AND give you 200 hits are rare.
- John Jaeckel

I agree, and when those guys are UFA's they get $3-4-5 mil per, so his salary isn't out of line.

Not only that, but he'll give you 200 hits and a reasonable/smart PIM total to go along with it.

And hey, his last year in Chicago was the post-cup campaign which we can all agree wasn't a great year to give a final judgment of a player. That team had issues.

Brouwer does make sense. It would have to be a smart deal though... I'd be more comfortable going all in to snag a center than a good stout winger who isn't a total game changer.
- AceRatbang

Is Stan capable of going "all in" on anything? I doubt it. Also, a hitter like Brouwer may not be a game changer, but over seven games he can be a series changer with the cumulative effect of the hits.

Got the Duck/Shark game on, pulling for the SO.

Issue here and at some point it will take its toll....The best players are also on the PK. Imagine if Frolik and Kruger were not useful, but as it is the mins add up for Hossa/Toews/Sharp.
- Al

And the crazy part in that statement is that Kane is just behind Toews in terms of ice time and he doesn't kill penalties. In terms of even strength TOI he is 1:10 a head of Toews.

You would think Shaw, Bickell and Mayers could chew up some more of those minutes. Especially Shaw and or Bickell in terms of the PK

Is Stan capable of going "all in" on anything? I doubt it. Also, a hitter like Brouwer may not be a game changer, but over seven games he can be a series changer with the cumulative effect of the hits.
- NewToHockey

I don't know about Stan. His short history has shown him to be overly cautious though.

And yeah, big bodies that can play are certainly a plus in the post season.

One thing though- are we forgetting about Carcillo? I know he's hurt now and I'm not as high on his game as a lot of people, but Carcillo for $850k or Brouwer for $3.6mil... I'm fine with Carcillo in that case. More of a risk(in more ways than one), but a very cheap risk and he's a bit tougher.

Not only that, but he'll give you 200 hits and a reasonable/smart PIM total to go along with it.

And hey, his last year in Chicago was the post-cup campaign which we can all agree wasn't a great year to give a final judgment of a player. That team had issues.

Brouwer does make sense. It would have to be a smart deal though... I'd be more comfortable going all in to snag a center than a good stout winger who isn't a total game changer.
- AceRatbang

Brouwer had a real disappointing year in 2011 with the Hawks and it may have cost him his job here. To be fair, Q never seemed to be a fan of his even when he had a breakout year in 2010. He didn't think he got a fair shot here and he made that clear when he left (per Kane). I wouldn't mind the Hawks reacquiring him at all, I think he'd be a great fit on the 3rd line. Where I differ with people on Brouwer is that he'll give you some nice numbers but he's not in the class of a guy like Dustin Brown or Hartnell. Like I said I think he'd be great on the 3rd line and on the PP but I don't think he's a top 6 guy and I'm not sure he ever will be.

However it's hard to see a trade happening unless Washington really decides to blow it up. They just signed him to an extension before the season.

That's an interesting stat considering they have been outplayed 5 on 5 in the last couple of games.
- Al

From NHL.com this AM

Before anyone complains about Bowman letting Rupp go to MIN, check out Jan Levine's NYR blog. Says Rupp is a major disappointment who no longer had any value in NY.

Before anyone complains about Bowman letting Rupp go to MIN, check out Jan Levine's NYR blog. Says Rupp is a major disappointment who no longer had any value in NY.
- scottak

Nowhere near his 180+ hits the last 2 years with the Pens.