im with you, which is why i was amazed so many people harped at me the other day when i suggested the hawks start dangling guys now while their stock is high and they can get pieces they truly need now.

look, the red wings won their championships the past few decades by staying ahead of the curve, which is what the hawks should be doing. the red wings had guys like yzerman, lidstrom, hasek, draper, etc, but when they needed to, as an already champion team, kept going out and getting the pieces via trade or FA they needed to stay at the top. they scouted the hell out of sweden for years before most teams did, they drafted and developed for talent years down the line to eventually replace the current hall of famers they had. hell, even PIT this year went and got Vokoun as insurance in case fleury struggled. if this was stan he would say "we have complete confidence in flower, he is a stanley cup winning goalie which not many people have" and sat complacent. PIT is hedging bets and trying to take the house.

great teams stay ahead of the curve, all bowman has really done since taking the helm is waited for the learning curve to hit
- FourFeathers773

And what is amazing is that you don't see how far ahead of the curve they are. This is a different era and different game.

Will it be the Yotes or the Jackets? That is the question.


- Beaver-Warrior

I tweeted the other night...Don't know if you saw.
11,000 in Columbus the other night to watch the Cup Champs...

The sea of red ink keeps flowing there.

on Twitter@AlCimaglia

We all have our guys that we like/dislike for hatever reasons, and admittedly my criticisms of Sharp are exaggerated most of the time, but this year he as looked every bit as bad as I usually (half joking) say he is.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogi, i want to be around you the day Stan trades Sharp and LaLonde for anybody. I'm sure you will be buying the bar rounds that day.

The Gretzky situation was a different beast altogether because of the financial problems the Oilers owner had going on. Part of the package the Kings gave the Oilers was $15 million in cash. Pocklington, the O's owner, eventually was threatened with prison time for bankruptcy fraud, if I recall correctly, and was alleged to have sold the same 1 of 1 Stanley Cup rings multiple times.
- Hemingways

.....And Gretzky wanted to go as he was married to a LA girl.

I tweeted the other night...Don't know if you saw.
11,000 in Columbus the other night to watch the Cup Champs...

The sea of red ink keeps flowing there.

on Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I saw your tweet and received your answer. Thanks!

@DirtyHippyChimp

And what is amazing is that you don't see how far ahead of the curve they are. This is a different era and different game.
- TrueGrit

that is very premature to say

Wants 5 million per. Does not deserve it and Hawks cannot / will not pay it.
- fattybeef

He will be signed first in Colorado before anything happens.
Still say the player they would rather deal if they have to trim payroll would be Stastny.

you can never forsee injuries, but he is right about this part. in this condensed schedule, there will be WAYYYY more buyers than normal due to so many teams thinking they are still within reach of playoff spots. it will just get into a nasty bidding war. unless you are content with your roster as is now (10 games into the season) to make a cup run, you either better try to make a move now or be prepared to pay a kings ransom at the deadline
- FourFeathers773

Not you, but the biggest idiot on the board here can say for the same amount of certainty as Hawk brass what their most important need will be later. That is a fact. You do not know who will be hurt or struggling etc. How you can go out and assume what you will need later is dumb. The fact you can believe it is dumb. CC and Ray might get hurt, they might not. Kane and Toews may be out...maybe not.

Most people here need to go get a fantasy hockey team and trade players all week.

I saw your tweet and received your answer. Thanks!

@DirtyHippyChimp
- Beaver-Warrior

Ahh...Didn't associate...I see Chimp.

that is very premature to say
- FourFeathers773

Whatever weaknesses they have they are a lot smaller than 28 other teams. So from a relative standpoint, I like where we are.

Ahh...Didn't associate...I see Chimp.
- Al

Would you believe somebody already had BW when I signed up to follow JJ and you? Felt like I was a victim of Identity theft.

.....And Gretzky wanted to go as he was married to a LA girl.
- Al

The interesting thing is that the Oilers were shopping him before he got married (July of '88). He was traded in August '88, but he was told he was being shopped to Detroit, Vancouver, and L.A. in late May of '88 hours after they won the Cup (by his father, who had known for a few months that the Oilers were interested in trading him). Gretzky called the Kings owner and basically worked out the framework of the trade himself.

Would you believe somebody already had BW when I signed up to follow JJ and you? Felt like I was a victim of Identity theft.
- Beaver-Warrior

Hard to believe...

The interesting thing is that the Oilers were shopping him before he got married (July of '88). He was traded in August '88, but he was told he was being shopped to Detroit, Vancouver, and L.A. in late May of '88 hours after they won the Cup (by his father, who had known for a few months that the Oilers were interested in trading him). Gretzky called the Kings owner and basically worked out the framework of the trade himself.
- Hemingways

I guess the main point is Gretzky was ready to go and the deal benefited his lifestlye, both owners and above all the NHL.

I tweeted the other night...Don't know if you saw.
11,000 in Columbus the other night to watch the Cup Champs...

The sea of red ink keeps flowing there.

on Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Assuming both Phoenix and Columbus relocate in the next few years, what is the other likely city that lands one of them? Quebec most surely gets one. Is Hamilton still on the NHL's list, or Seattle, or Portland?

I can't imagine Toronto and Buffalo would be very happy with Hamilton being considered and would put pressure to stop that.

Not you, but the biggest idiot on the board here can say for the same amount of certainty as Hawk brass what their most important need will be later. That is a fact. You do not know who will be hurt or struggling etc. How you can go out and assume what you will need later is dumb. The fact you can believe it is dumb. CC and Ray might get hurt, they might not. Kane and Toews may be out...maybe not.

Most people here need to go get a fantasy hockey team and trade players all week.
- TrueGrit

To your point, and others, you can't accurately predict the future. You can only react to what's being offered. I get what you're saying. Let's not be silly because they are 8-0-2 and not 9-0-1. I get ya.

Just throwing stuff out...if Hawk brass felt G'tending was an issue, then traded for Kiprusoff and he gets hurt in March with a pulled groin, does that mean the trade in the first place was a bad move?

ADD: Nobody is suggesting it would only take Beach to get Getzlaf. That's silly. You're the one putting those words into people's mouths. I think the questions are...what would the Hawks need to give up to get a #2C? If Getzlaf were made available, would the Hawks be willing to pay? No...ok, then who is next that fills a void?

I guess the main point is Gretzky was ready to go and the deal benefited his lifestlye, both owners and above all the NHL.
- Al

Ahh but the image of Gretzky in a Canucks jersey would have been fascinating. I believe they still wore those awful brown and yellow/orange jerseys then. They looked like a UPS truck ran over Charlie Brown.

A big guy who can skate, bang and win draws would be nice and I have reason to believe the Hawks want that.
- John Jaeckel

Any thoughts on who might be available for that role?

I saw your tweet and received your answer. Thanks!

@DirtyHippyChimp
- Beaver-Warrior

I'm following you now - follower #3!

Ok, here we go again with the pry O'reilly away from avs BS. Let me ask everyone a question. Lets say you are responsible for the personnel of this team.

While it appears most of you are sitting there with your wallets on fire, and can't wait to spend or deal, answer me this.

What injuries and needs will you have April 1? Are you willing to blow your nut right now on some idea that a team clicking and rolling right now, that you mess with that based upon some ideal vision you have of what your team needs to be....with the cost potentially that you will not have any ammo in April, when you actually man need it?

Tell me what your crystal ball says? Help me out. Lets go all in on our first night in vegas. Great idea....
- TrueGrit

JJ and others have been bashing Stan Bowman for a couple years now for leaving some room beneath the salary cap. Never understood it. Especially when we've all seen what fiscal irresponsibility has done to this team after the cup year, and also knowing the cap is going down to 64 million or whatever next year. Nice to see some other rational thinkers on this blog. They've been few and far between of late.

I'm following you now - follower #3!
- DarthKane

Oh my gosh!

Assuming both Phoenix and Columbus relocate in the next few years, what is the other likely city that lands one of them? Quebec most surely gets one. Is Hamilton still on the NHL's list, or Seattle, or Portland?

I can't imagine Toronto and Buffalo would be very happy with Hamilton being considered and would put pressure to stop that.
- Hemingways

They've never been happy and have protected their fiefdom vigorously against any attempt by Hamilton to mount a winning bid.

The time has passed for Hammertown unfortunately. The building is outdated and would need serious reno to put executive suites in. Plus, being a native of said city, i can confidently assert it's a small town sh*thole....but i'll always be PROUD to be from there.

I'm following you now - follower #3!
- DarthKane

Following you too Beav...@philcoforde

They've never been happy and have protected their fiefdom vigorously against any attempt by Hamilton to mount a winning bid.

The time has passed for Hammertown unfortunately. The building is outdated and would need serious reno to put executive suites in. Plus, being a native of said city, i can confidently assert it's a small town sh*thole....but i'll always be PROUD to be from there.
- philco28

I feel the same about dear old Thornton IL.

Following you too Beav...@philcoforde
- philco28

Right on. Confused by this "following" thing. If you're following me and I'm following you then does that mean no one is leading or we're both leading?