>JJ, I'm with with 100% on Big Buff
>He is also what I call a "complete" goal scorer: can score taking the puck end-to-end, from a blast from the point, can shoot the one-timer, can bury shots in high-traffic dirty areas
>On the current Hawks roster the only Hawks forwards that can do that are Hossa and Sharp (Toews can't shoot the one-timer consistently or score from the point, haven't seen Kane score from the point)
>On D, Leddy has the tools to be a "complete goal scorer" -- though we don't see him very often in dirty areas (which is fine)
- SnapitUpstairs

Stan Bowman would go up about two notches as a GM for me if he had the creativity and stones to go out and get him.

And say you had to give up Leddy and a pick and a prospect. You could pretty much pencil the Hawks in for the Cup.

I would be seriously peeved is Stan dealt him. Shaw provides a lot of what this team lacks and we need more Shaws, not less. Bollig, Mayers and Hayes can all go as far as I'm concerned. Yes they are good guys and contribute in their own way. But if they help bring back a better player than it's all good.
- DarthKane

mayers is on an ice float at this point.

you have a better chance of getting three singles for a $3 bill than getting anything for mayers

I would be seriously peeved is Stan dealt him. Shaw provides a lot of what this team lacks and we need more Shaws, not less. Bollig, Mayers and Hayes can all go as far as I'm concerned. Yes they are good guys and contribute in their own way. But if they help bring back a better player than it's all good.
- DarthKane

No one's giving you crap for Mayers. I am little surprised (but not completely) that they have gotten feelers about Bollig. Hayes could get dealt. I am 99% certain they put him in some offer packages a year ago.

And to Stanley's credit, I hear he is a big Bollig fan.

Stan Bowman would go up about two notches as a GM for me if he had the creativity and stones to go out and get him.

And say you had to give up Leddy and a pick and a prospect. You could pretty much pencil the Hawks in for the Cup.
- John Jaeckel

Would Buff play defense or forward?

Would Buff play defense or forward?
- hpk90

Wherever they told him to. He'd want to have his name on the hardware.

Stan Bowman would go up about two notches as a GM for me if he had the creativity and stones to go out and get him.

And say you had to give up Leddy and a pick and a prospect. You could pretty much pencil the Hawks in for the Cup.
- John Jaeckel

I doubt many contenders but especially the Canucks and Luongo would share your enthusiasm.

I'm not sure if it's been discussed (and I apologize if it has) but the more Sheldon Brookbank gets rotated in, the more I like his addition to the team. I think he had his breakout game against the Oilers. Even though the Hawks lost, he was everywhere; making good, defensive plays, nice passes and getting involved in the play. I also like that he sticks up for his teammates and is not afraid to get in anyones face who is clowing on the ice.
I think the Hawks should keep him in (even when Rozsival comes back) so he can get into a groove. Maybe pair him and Rozsival up, although they might be a bit slow of a pairing. He'll be a nice piece to have for the playoffs, especially if he can fill the role of what a Sopel did, which is be a good grinder and eat up minutes to keep fresh legs for the quicker/more skilled D.
As far as Jimmy Hayes, I think he'll be fine once he can get some more shifts and ultimatley a game or two more under his belt. He had a couple opportunites yesterday. I know some people refrenced him having some blowouts, but there were a number of guys falling all over the place last night. I think it was just a matter of his brain thinking too fast for his legs to catch up--that's all nerves for getting the call up to the big show.

Would Buff play defense or forward?
- hpk90

Left wing with Hossa and Toews.

Left wing with Hossa and Toews.
- paulr

Maybe move Hossa left, but yeah. In words of the immortal Dikka: "you better duck."

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Leafs have traded Steckel.

come on stannnnnnn

I'm not sure if it's been discussed (and I apologize if it has) but the more Sheldon Brookbank gets rotated in, the more I like his addition to the team. I think he had his breakout game against the Oilers. Even though the Hawks lost, he was everywhere; making good, defensive plays, nice passes and getting involved in the play. I also like that he sticks up for his teammates and is not afraid to get in anyones face who is clowing on the ice.
I think the Hawks should keep him in (even when Rozsival comes back) so he can get into a groove. Maybe pair him and Rozsival up, although they might be a bit slow of a pairing. He'll be a nice piece to have for the playoffs, especially if he can fill the role of what a Sopel did, which is be a good grinder and eat up minutes to keep fresh legs for the quicker/more skilled D.
As far as Jimmy Hayes, I think he'll be fine once he can get some more shifts and ultimatley a game or two more under his belt. He had a couple opportunites yesterday. I know some people refrenced him having some blowouts, but there were a number of guys falling all over the place last night. I think it was just a matter of his brain thinking too fast for his legs to catch up--that's all nerves for getting the call up to the big show.
- Hank3Henshaw

That's probably part of it. But he really can't skate either. And he is weak on his skates along the boards. Always has been.

REPEAT:

Put him on a legit Cup Contender and he is worth $10 million a year. In the playoffs alone. Seriously.

Size, talent and in the big games, he rises up like no one else.
- John Jaeckel

This is just ridiculous.

Dustin Brown, Kovalchuk... injured no less, Giroux (midget) kind of good even with broken wrists, Eric Staal when his team actually makes the playoffs is force to be reckoned with.

Those 82 games matter contrary to popular belief and players who waft through them or show up out of shape consistently end up being a poison sooner or later - usually when the team starts to lose.

Talk about folk hero worship. One great playoff performance, that numerous other players on that team had (Bolland, Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabs, Hammer, Campbell, Neimi in the Sharks series). That is like lusting to have Uncle Marty back after he steamrolled through the playoffs in 08-09 until getting concussed.

Nevermind

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris
David Steckel has been traded to the #NHLDucks. Roster spot opened for Lupul.

I doubt many contenders but especially the Canucks and Luongo would share your enthusiasm.
- paulr

Not sure I follow . . . ?

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Leafs have traded Steckel.

come on stannnnnnn
- FourFeathers773

Per TSN's Jonas Siegel, the Leafs have traded center David Steckel to the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan Lasch and Anaheim’s seventh-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.


Beat me to it. That was one guy that could have helped. I'm on board with Adam Hall too though if he sneaks down the waiver wire.

No one's giving you crap for Mayers. I am little surprised (but not completely) that they have gotten feelers about Bollig. Hayes could get dealt. I am 99% certain they put him in some offer packages a year ago.

And to Stanley's credit, I hear he is a big Bollig fan.
- John Jaeckel

I wasn't trying to suggest we'd get anything for Mayers, just that he may be thrown in a deal for a roster spot on another team (at most). I know it's unlikely he'll be dealt, I'm just saying I won't lose any sleep if he goes (one way or another).

Nevermind

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris
David Steckel has been traded to the #NHLDucks. Roster spot opened for Lupul.
- FourFeathers773

So wait... the Ducks just got bigger and better on the draw?

Hmmmm... that bodes well for the Hawks.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Leafs have traded Steckel.

come on stannnnnnn
- FourFeathers773

Ducks

Yahoo Sports NHL ‏@YahooSportsNHL
Leafs have traded Dave Steckel to Anaheim for prospect Ryan Lasch and a 7th round draft pick in 2014.

i hope this was more a case of stan not interested instead of not wanting pony anything over

Just heard:

Teams asking about Shaw and . . . Bollig. Seems some GMs place a value on a physical guy who can play (a little). Especially as the second season draws near.

Hawks have no interest in dealing Shaw.

Hawks would deal Hayes. He is, in fact, being showcased. And I do know his name has come up in a lot of trade discussions over the last year or so.

Hawks are in on Iginla, but LA might be in the lead.
- John Jaeckel

Just curious why that might be. I figured Iginla get's pried away for a 1st-rounder (which the Kings don't have for this upcoming draft) a blue-chip prospect or roster players. Kings have some young talent, sure, but nothing on their farm screamed "elite" to me.

Just curious what kind of advantage they have over a team like the Bruins or Pens or the Hawks?

This is just ridiculous.

Dustin Brown, Kovalchuk... injured no less, Giroux (midget) kind of good even with broken wrists, Eric Staal when his team actually makes the playoffs is force to be reckoned with.

Those 82 games matter contrary to popular belief and players who waft through them or show up out of shape consistently end up being a poison sooner or later - usually when the team starts to lose.

Talk about folk hero worship. Two great playoff performances, that numerous other players on that team had (Bolland, Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabs, Hammer, Campbell, Neimi in the Sharks series). That is like lusting to have Uncle Marty back after he steamrolled through the playoffs in 08-09 until getting concussed.
- fattybeef

Fixed. You're entitled to your opinion.

He should have won the Smythe in 2010, too. And that's because no one, except maybe Toews, had an equal performance to him. Sorry, man.

I don't disagree about the losing/out of shape/poison inference. Was definitely true of #88 in 2010-11. Did you throw him under the bus? Actually, I did a little and he has turned it around. Apparently.

And Dustin didn't show up out of shape every year either.

Yahoo Sports NHL ‏@YahooSportsNHL
Leafs have traded Dave Steckel to Anaheim for prospect Ryan Lasch and a 7th round draft pick in 2014.

i hope this was more a case of stan not interested instead of not wanting pony anything over
- FourFeathers773

There are a lot of options out there for the 4C role, Hall could do just as well as Steckel. I'm sure Stan will part with a pick and low level prospect for a 4th line centre. If not we're in serious trouble.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Leafs have traded Steckel.

come on stannnnnnn
- FourFeathers773

The Ducks just got a whole lot slower

There are a lot of options out there for the 4C role, Hall could do just as well as Steckel. I'm sure Stan will part with a pick and low level prospect for a 4th line centre. If not we're in serious trouble.
- DarthKane

There are better guys.

Stan Bowman would go up about two notches as a GM for me if he had the creativity and stones to go out and get him.

And say you had to give up Leddy and a pick and a prospect. You could pretty much pencil the Hawks in for the Cup.
- John Jaeckel

JJ

We are on the same wavelength. Over the summer I proposed a Leddy, Stalberg and McNeil trade for Byfuglien. He answers a lot of what ails the Hawks. A big shot from the point, big hits and a net presence in the playoffs. If they can make this deal, I would be ecstatic. On this team a trade off of Leddy for Byfuglien is a big win for the Hawks' playoff cup winning chances