People need to take a step back and realize how deep the Blackhawks are as a whole.

The fact that he is in the bottom 4 forwards on the depth chart is a tribute to the quality of a team that lost 7 regulation games all season and won a dominant conference, not a critique of his skills.

He very well may be a player that needs more than 10 minutes of ice time to be effective. He is more than a finesse player and that fact that he scored 20 goals last year and 10 in half a year this year shows is talented.

When looking at teams unlikely to re-sign good UFA's due to cap space,etc Bickell and Stahlberg are the 2 I thought the most highly of.

Bickell has played his way into what will likely be an oversized contract. Don't get me wrong, I love his game and the Preds need his size/toughness, but he will be overpaid.

Stahlberg, on the other hand, hasn't made money in the playoffs. He seems responsible enough to fit well w/ Trotz, won't be too expensive and has speed to burn. Also something we need.

He would fit well in SK74's spot because hopefully we can dump him at the draft.

I would still like to go after MacArthur if the price is right. I think he'd be a more natural fit in the top 6. That said, I don't mind Stalberg one bit and would bring some much needed speed to the team. He put up a .5 points per game clip while only playing 14 minutes a night. I assume he'd get more playing time in NJ.

What about Pascal LeClair to replace Marty??

Be realistic, this isnt NHL13. Lou never does anything during free agency. I expect the Carter-Gionta-Bernier line to be our 3rd line this year. Having bums like Barch and Janssen on the 4th line with some random AHLers.
- Twist

Realistic? I don't have NHL13. And if anyone thinks that Lou is gonna sign Horton or Ryder, Macarthur, Ribeiro or any other old guys to long contracts worth 4-5 million a year are not realistic, even though I would like them. Like you said Lou never does anything during free agency, but he has to fill the holes that we have now and once Clarkson leaves. Heatley gives a first line guy that can play with Kovy. Briere gives us a guy to fill the top 6 on the right wing, instead of putting Stalberg on the second line. Plus, I wouldn't mind it if we got Richards and Bryz. The Rangers always sign the biggest free agent and it never works out, look at the past 6-7 years of them doing it. And Bryz would give us an option of not worrying if Marty is going to retire and overpaying for Backstrom or Miller next year. I would give the forwards 1-3 year deals and Bryz 2-3 years. And since they're being bought-out they could be effective and not cost 7 mil per player. And if they suck. it's not like they are getting 6 or 7 million anyway. Low cost, high reward.

Take Stalberg,,,,,,all yours
- PuckkmeNOpuckU

Exactly what I thought when I read this.

In a year when the cap is going to drop, signing Stalberg to anywhere close to 3mil is a joke. Sure he's fast and can score, but watch archived games and you'll see the same move a hundred times. He streaks down the ice and if he can't burn the defensemen he'll attempt a cross ice pass which almost always ends up on the stick of the opponent.

Stalberg will get your hopes up as he rushes down the ice...but then he shoots the puck into the goalies crest. If you played Columbus more I would say to sign him immediately.
- waitforawhistle

I think Columbus is moving to our division.

I wouldn't mind Stalberg. I don't envision him in a top 6 role if he were to sign thats for sure and if thats what we expect well were setting him up for failure. I see him as the perfect 3rd liner who can maybe become a 2nd liner but thats not where i want him or expect him to play.

Realistic? I don't have NHL13. And if anyone thinks that Lou is gonna sign Horton or Ryder, Macarthur, Ribeiro or any other old guys to long contracts worth 4-5 million a year are not realistic, even though I would like them. Like you said Lou never does anything during free agency, but he has to fill the holes that we have now and once Clarkson leaves. Heatley gives a first line guy that can play with Kovy. Briere gives us a guy to fill the top 6 on the right wing, instead of putting Stalberg on the second line. Plus, I wouldn't mind it if we got Richards and Bryz. The Rangers always sign the biggest free agent and it never works out, look at the past 6-7 years of them doing it. And Bryz would give us an option of not worrying if Marty is going to retire and overpaying for Backstrom or Miller next year. I would give the forwards 1-3 year deals and Bryz 2-3 years. And since they're being bought-out they could be effective and not cost 7 mil per player. And if they suck. it's not like they are getting 6 or 7 million anyway. Low cost, high reward.
- Devils9503

Brian Rolston
Dainius Zubrus
Anton Volchenkov

Lou makes moves when he sees fit. We don't have a 1st and missed the playoffs this past season. I don't think its at all guaranteed that we don't make a move.

And you pretty much just listed all the overaged, over the hill players that might be available. No to all of them.

1) It's the SCF and Bollig took his spot
2) Not a finisher regardless of what stats say, he will drive you nuts. He reminds me of a bigger version of Sergei Krivokrasov...skate really fast on the perimeter a few times and lose the puck
3) Went to coaching staff and complained about ice time in the playoffs - not what a team player does.
4) If anyone pays this guy $3M /yr with the cap going down it better not be for more than 1 yr or they will regret it.
5) Plays really well against Columbus. Nuff said

Brian Rolston
Dainius Zubrus
Anton Volchenkov

Lou makes moves when he sees fit. We don't have a 1st and missed the playoffs this past season. I don't think its at all guaranteed that we don't make a move.

And you pretty much just listed all the overaged, over the hill players that might be available. No to all of them.
- rmdevil313

I was so pumped when we signed Volchenkov. Half of the reason was that we wouldn't have to play against him. .. sometimes I feel like he's still on the other team .. making cross ice passes to their forwards..

Realistic? I don't have NHL13. And if anyone thinks that Lou is gonna sign Horton or Ryder, Macarthur, Ribeiro or any other old guys to long contracts worth 4-5 million a year are not realistic, even though I would like them. Like you said Lou never does anything during free agency, but he has to fill the holes that we have now and once Clarkson leaves. Heatley gives a first line guy that can play with Kovy. Briere gives us a guy to fill the top 6 on the right wing, instead of putting Stalberg on the second line. Plus, I wouldn't mind it if we got Richards and Bryz. The Rangers always sign the biggest free agent and it never works out, look at the past 6-7 years of them doing it. And Bryz would give us an option of not worrying if Marty is going to retire and overpaying for Backstrom or Miller next year. I would give the forwards 1-3 year deals and Bryz 2-3 years. And since they're being bought-out they could be effective and not cost 7 mil per player. And if they suck. it's not like they are getting 6 or 7 million anyway. Low cost, high reward.
- Devils9503

wow

I was so pumped when we signed Volchenkov. Half of the reason was that we wouldn't have to play against him. .. sometimes I feel like he's still on the other team .. making cross ice passes to their forwards..
- MartysBetter88

I remember that series against the Sens when they made the run to the cup. It felt like we were playing against two goalies.

I remember that series against the Sens when they made the run to the cup. It felt like we were playing against two goalies.
- rmdevil313

yea i remember thooe

I was so pumped when we signed Volchenkov. Half of the reason was that we wouldn't have to play against him. .. sometimes I feel like he's still on the other team .. making cross ice passes to their forwards..
- MartysBetter88

I was so happy we got him that day, because of that damn senators series. Seems like awesome defensemen from Ottawa become busts. Ex: Volch and Redden.

Brian Rolston
Dainius Zubrus
Anton Volchenkov

- rmdevil313

Krys Barch
Eric Boulton
Henrik Tallinder
Rob Niedermayer
Yann Danis
Dean McAmmond
Jason Arnott
Bobby Holik
Aaron Asham
Vitaly Vishnevski
Ilkka Pikkarainen

Grade A pickups over the last few free agency years. Cant wait for July 5th

Realistic? I don't have NHL13. And if anyone thinks that Lou is gonna sign Horton or Ryder, Macarthur, Ribeiro or any other old guys to long contracts worth 4-5 million a year are not realistic, even though I would like them. Like you said Lou never does anything during free agency, but he has to fill the holes that we have now and once Clarkson leaves. Heatley gives a first line guy that can play with Kovy. Briere gives us a guy to fill the top 6 on the right wing, instead of putting Stalberg on the second line. Plus, I wouldn't mind it if we got Richards and Bryz. The Rangers always sign the biggest free agent and it never works out, look at the past 6-7 years of them doing it. And Bryz would give us an option of not worrying if Marty is going to retire and overpaying for Backstrom or Miller next year. I would give the forwards 1-3 year deals and Bryz 2-3 years. And since they're being bought-out they could be effective and not cost 7 mil per player. And if they suck. it's not like they are getting 6 or 7 million anyway. Low cost, high reward.
- Devils9503

I was so happy we got him that day, because of that damn senators series. Seems like awesome defensemen from Ottawa become busts. Ex: Volch and Redden.




Krys Barch
Eric Boulton
Henrik Tallinder
Rob Niedermayer
Yann Danis
Dean McAmmond
Jason Arnott
Bobby Holik
Aaron Asham
Vitaly Vishnevski
Ilkka Pikkarainen

Grade A pickups over the last few free agency years. Cant wait for July 5th
- Twist

So you are happy with status quo?


I am not supporting Lou's past FA moves, but he has spent money. Wouldn't be surprised if he did this year too, but let's hope it turns out a little better.

Krys Barch
Eric Boulton
Henrik Tallinder
Rob Niedermayer
Yann Danis
Dean McAmmond
Jason Arnott
Bobby Holik
Aaron Asham
Vitaly Vishnevski
Ilkka Pikkarainen
- Twist

And what do all these players have in common? They were all cheap and filled a hole at that time, besides maybe Arnott, but we got him through a trade not free agency than traded him to the Caps at the deadline.

So you are happy with status quo?


I am not supporting Lou's past FA moves, but he has spent money. Wouldn't be surprised if he did this year too, but let's hope it turns out a little better.
- rmdevil313

I think he has to spend money and bring some new guys in because even if we bring back Elias, Zubrus, and Clarkson we would still have some holes. Most importantly someone on the top line. That's why I named the guys that will probably be bought-out. Heatley, Briere fill out the top six and put Zubrus on the left on the third line. And I said Richards and Bryz because I think Bryz at least still has the ability to be a starting goalie. And I'm not so sure in Moose anymore because of the terrible run he had when he had the chance for 13 games.

Vacant - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit - Kovy

Elias/Vacant - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit- Vacant/Zubrus

Vacant/Teddy - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit - Vacant/Clarkson

That's about five holes, if we lose all three. Teddy probably won't play so that's empty.

These are the free agents that are on wing that could fit or are appealing, with last year salaries.

Left Wing:
Heatley - 7.5
Morrow - 4.1
Clowe - 3.6
Gagne - 3.5
MacArthur - 3.2
Penner - 3.2
Filppula - 3
Mason Raymond - 2.2
Latendresse - 2
Torres - 1.7
Stalberg - 875,000
Bickell - 542,667

Right Wing:
Briere - 6.5
Iginla - 7
Alfredsson - 4.8
Jagr - 4.5
Selanne - 4.5
Bouchard - 4
Horton - 4
Ryder - 3.5
Hejduk - 2
Brunner - 1.3

If your looking for youth, Macarthur, Horton, Brunner, Latendresse, Bouchard Filppula, Raymond, Bickell, and Stalberg are all under 30, Filppula and Bouchard are 29.

If we were to just bring back Elias, we would have four holes and I would go after Macarthur, Horton, Filppula, and Raymond. Latendresse as a 13th forward and maybe Penner because of his size, but the other four would be more appealing to me

I think he has to spend money and bring some new guys in because even if we bring back Elias, Zubrus, and Clarkson we would still have some holes. Most importantly someone on the top line. That's why I named the guys that will probably be bought-out. Heatley, Briere fill out the top six and put Zubrus on the left on the third line. And I said Richards and Bryz because I think Bryz at least still has the ability to be a starting goalie. And I'm not so sure in Moose anymore because of the terrible run he had when he had the chance for 13 games.

Vacant - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit - Kovy

Elias/Vacant - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit- Vacant/Zubrus

Vacant/Teddy - Zajac/Henrique/Lokit - Vacant/Clarkson

That's about five holes, if we lose all three. Teddy probably won't play so that's empty.
- Devils9503

Briere is not a winger and never will be. His game does not adapt well. He would also be a terrible fit because he's afraid of the defensive zone and tries to leave the zone early. His positioning is terrible.

Moose is our backup. Yeah he faltered when given the starting role, but he was playing more frequently than he had ever in his career. Many posters have said this before, DeBoer needed to give him a rest and play kinkaid for a game. Marty wasn't playing back to backs so I don't see why Moose should have either. On top of that Bryz is wildly inconsistent, is a headcase, and draws negative attention to himself. I would never want him in the Devils lockerroom either (look at philly, some grumblings when he left Phoenix that he wasn't the best teammate).

Heatley wouldn't be the worst, but we better not give up anything important to get him. He's a 50 point winger at best that's slow and making 7.5 million.

Richards is another center. We already have too many.

I like MacArthur and Ryder. MacArthur is a character player that would add the "I want to win" element to the line-up... I'm sure Lou would love him. Ryder is a good two way player that still puts points up, one of the most complete players (though non aggressive) in the game today.