VERY UNFAIR: we have no information on which to judge the seriousness of someone else's injuries, we have no way of knowing what the doctors on the sidelines felt about whether or not he could further injure himself, we have no way of comparing his injuries to RG3's injury.

We can't sit in the comfort of our homes (or stands at the games) and jump on people for not willing to risk further injury by playing. If you say Bickell or Hossa or Toews or Bergeron played knowing they could risk major further injury by playing, I would say that is their decision, but I'm not going to say someone else should do the same.

These are not gladiators in the old Roman Forum - these are athletes who entertain us - we should not be judging their ability to withstand pain and further injury.
- StLBravesFan

It's not about judging and risking further injury. It's about asking yourself what would you do to be called a champion and bring a championship to your organization and the city. These guys did that, Bickell, Hoss, Tazer, they ARE warrioirs and they pushed pain aside to once again call themselves Champs. That's my gripe and comparison w Cutler. You can have your thats not fair opinion, but were not talking about the regular season. We are talking about being one half away from going to the Super Bowl.

That's ok. He looks like a nasty MFer.

The Hawks need to shed a lil salary right ? Hawks are beefing with Leddys agent right ? The Hawksbarely used Leddy right ? That #7 pick looks delicous and Edmonton needs ready D help right now.
- mrpaulish

Like someone said, Carolina needs help on D too. #5 is better than #7 and gets him out of the conference.

If Leddy prices himself out of Chicago, would think #5 guantees our 6'5" guy is available, #7, maybe not so much

If tallon already turned down the three calagry picks and vanek for the pick I am sure the Hawk package is more enticing????

The top four teams are not trading out....if you want to start at a Carolina rumor START there...they have no use for a centre like the two that may be there or the defenders so it they are not completely in love with importing Valery Nichushkin, then they may be moving out.
- wiz1901

I have to laugh. This sounds like I'm just making these things up to "start" a rumor. Not how it works. If I did, they would be a lot more creative.

Any team holding a top 4 selection not at least listening to offers has a GM not doing their job. Will they trade? Maybe not. Probably not.

But do conversations happen and are they now? Yes. Even if you want to say they categorically don't.

Thanks to you and Ogi for this...


I'm definitely interested in Beaver-Warrior's view on all of this since he's a Winterhawk savant. What u say Seth Jones Beav ?
- philco28

This is the first of I've heard of talk of bad attitude, work ethic, etc. Perhaps he might not be "Canadian humble"?

My take on the Colorado situation is that it's being driven by the new HC who is fresh out of QMJHL same as MacKinnon. Makes sense to me that the Av's goes with a player that HC knows first hand about. Also I think MacKinnon is closer to being NHL ready then Jones. Remember folks Jones has only played one year of Jr's.

I'm of the mind if the Hawks do get the chance, pick Jones and let him develop his game with another year with the Winterhawks and then moving him up.

omigosh not only am I being followed on Twitter, people know how nuts I am in term sof passionate draft "know-it-all-ness?"

I think the Hawks get a good prospect at 120 ...the three guys i have them considering are on the website...

The fifth round will be all about teams starting to get their hidden favorites, and long term guys, and the maybe the sixth has the Euros aand developing giants.
- wiz1901

Is it me,or are your Hawks draft picks all with a bit of meat on them except the 6th round pick you have them taking? Do you think the Hawks will be targeting bigger players that are quick? Or are the majority of kids in this years draft just beefy?

Some thoughts.....


Kruger will be the 2C before Pirri or Leblanc get their shot. Leblanc needs to get used to the speed of the game over a full season and Pirri is an offensive minded center. Doesn't work with Sharp/Kane on the wing.

Stephen Johns....based on his twitter feed when he said "last day at ND, crazy" at the beginning of June is expected to play in RFD next year however I would think he is two years away from being up with the Hawks.

Truth is we don't know who will be the 2C next year until buyouts happen and free agency starts. The Hawks have depth at center in the system but no one may be ready for another year or two. So expect a band aid or bridge guy to be signed....Brierre or even Brad Richards depending.

With this years draft I expect Bowman to make a move that replenishes the picks he has lost over the past few years. Also, don't rule out Carolina to be in play for Leddy. They need help defensively. Over the next few days leading up to the draft the market for Leddy is going to skyrocket....you watch. When it is all said and done a draft pick might not be enough.
- UnnamedSource

And what comes back to the Hawks? Carolina's pick or player on their current roster?

6'5", 192? Skinny now, but would probably fill out in a few years. Looks solid, can find the net from the point, seemingly afraid of nothing. I'd take him, but it might be a season or two before he can run with the grown men.
- Lash8

Who knows if he'll ever develop into an NHL caliber D, let alone a top 4? I wouldn't trade Leddy -- let alone more -- for a gamble that MIGHT pay off on several years.

Which is?
- EKolb13

Big Guy,
great leader
protects his teammates
Mobile and will drop gloves once he plays pro

What's the dirt on Jones ?
- philco28

No dirt.

But he is a giant fluid scorer stickhandler with some edge, but like most young defenders that are destined to be drafted early (Hedman, Erik Johnson, Bogosian, Myers to name a few) playing defense in the NHL is no easy transition.

and the kid was getting turned out and around my MacKinnon and Droiun in the Memorial Cup....so he doesn't get sent down (BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SELL the pick and the PLAYER to seel tickest when you draft that early as hope) but he can't be counted upon to play solid and be a difference maker right away where the forwards can walk in and be rookies, but teh scoreboard and their rushes up ice are more tangible to the fan base.

Last night I watched the DVR of Craig Button's thought and he actually reiterated my though documents much earlier in that article I wrote saying Roy would NOT let Colorado pick Jones over the Q forwards...

I often wondered about the alleged rumor of Dale's interest in Teuvo...and considering TT was taken just a few picks ahead of Florida last year was this a player Dale wanted all along?

Good answer, Beav.
- EKolb13

Thanks Bro!

Some thoughts.....


Kruger will be the 2C before Pirri or Leblanc get their shot. Leblanc needs to get used to the speed of the game over a full season and Pirri is an offensive minded center. Doesn't work with Sharp/Kane on the wing.

Stephen Johns....based on his twitter feed when he said "last day at ND, crazy" at the beginning of June is expected to play in RFD next year however I would think he is two years away from being up with the Hawks.

Truth is we don't know who will be the 2C next year until buyouts happen and free agency starts. The Hawks have depth at center in the system but no one may be ready for another year or two. So expect a band aid or bridge guy to be signed....Brierre or even Brad Richards depending.

With this years draft I expect Bowman to make a move that replenishes the picks he has lost over the past few years. Also, don't rule out Carolina to be in play for Leddy. They need help defensively. Over the next few days leading up to the draft the market for Leddy is going to skyrocket....you watch. When it is all said and done a draft pick might not be enough.
- UnnamedSource

I've thought about this when I heard the buy-out was happening. If he could be had on the cheap, I actually wouldn't mind him as a Hawk. He's another "smurf," but plays with an awful lot of heart and I think he's still got some mileage left.

One interesting thing about the compliance buyouts that I heard yesterday is that they aren't necessarily lump sum, i.e. the team can stretch them out over a number of years - I think I read that Bryz's buyout is going to be like $1.6M over the next 14 years or so. Not too shabby, but I think this will impact the amount of money some of these buy-out victims are willing to settle for on a new contract. Not sure there'll be many guys itching to sign $1.5M deals if they're only seeing a minimal paycheck from their buyout....

Still the market might dictate that they have to, so time will tell.

I hope you are not disappointed so far... i still am rechecking my 2103 draft class profiles..not the guys you all see in spots 1-211 or in the undrated section of ten dee, ten rw, ten Lw, and ten C, the gusy I YOU ALL don't SEE...there are so many guys that could get picked even if I don't have them ranked.

Frankly I am Euro top heavy, so there are many North Americans I have in surplus and I am making sure I have words next to their name if they get selected over my favorites
- wiz1901

Wiz...your draft stuff is GREAT...keep that coming. What i was talking about about were your game night tales of running into famous figures at the ole Stadium and UC, while trying to carry as many large draughts as you could back to your seat.

It's not about judging and risking further injury. It's about asking yourself what would you do to be called a champion and bring a championship to your organization and the city. These guys did that, Bickell, Hoss, Tazer, they ARE warrioirs and they pushed pain aside to once again call themselves Champs. That's my gripe and comparison w Cutler. You can have your thats not fair opinion, but were not talking about the regular season. We are talking about being one half away from going to the Super Bowl.
- nickmo2699

Different uses of the knee if football and hockey. Cutler may have completely blew out his knee if he played. ACL MCL cartilage and all.

No dirt.

But he is a giant fluid scorer stickhandler with some edge, but like most young defenders that are destined to be drafted early (Hedman, Erik Johnson, Bogosian, Myers to name a few) playing defense in the NHL is no easy transition.

and the kid was getting turned out and around my MacKinnon and Droiun in the Memorial Cup....so he doesn't get sent down (BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SELL the pick and the PLAYER to seel tickest when you draft that early as hope) but he can't be counted upon to play solid and be a difference maker right away where the forwards can walk in and be rookies, but teh scoreboard and their rushes up ice are more tangible to the fan base.

Last night I watched the DVR of Craig Button's thought and he actually reiterated my though documents much earlier in that article I wrote saying Roy would NOT let Colorado pick Jones over the Q forwards...
- wiz1901

Holy molly! We almost said exactly the same things about Jones.

I disagree.

Danault is probably good enough defensively to slot there. McNeill could probably slot there as well.

As to one of them being ready to slot there at the start of next season, maybe Danault has some sort of shot to end up there. It's probably unlikely at this point.
- EKolb13

I don't think Danault and McNeill are penciled in for the start of next year...the older Icehogs will be here first.
Eventually mcneill is your Bickell top 2 line crease anchor and danault slides up and the down the entire lineup as a wing who can take face-offs.
They will not make the parent club next fall
Not the way they do things....

Both wil be bought out. Montador def CBO
- John Jaeckel

Interesting and absolutely the right move. No need to waste a CBO on Ollie when he is a one year hit spread over two years and particularly when it is expected the salary cap will go back up in 2014-15.

That would be a very smart FO move IMO.

And what comes back to the Hawks? Carolina's pick or player on their current roster?
- Bjm84

Who knows at this point but, as more and more teams hear Leddy is on the market (which is probably already known) teams will line up and the one who is willing to overpay will get him. Could happen Saturday night on the eve of the draft or right before it on Sunday.

BINGO.

It's all about spinning it to the media to offset the fact that they are constantly raising ticket prices....I have no issue with it. Wirtz can run HIS team how he wants, but as you stated, sketchy accounting can paint a completely different picture....Forbes, by the way, had them at 10-20 million in the BLACK last fall. That report comes out every fall. With the playoff revenue, etc....they'll be above it.
- SteveRain

Forbes is usually pretty good at analyzing actual profit/loss flow rather than paper profit/loss flow. They look at the big picture instead of the individual business.

Wiz...your draft stuff is GREAT...keep that coming. What i was talking about about were your game night tales of running into famous figures at the ole Stadium and UC, while trying to carry as many large draughts as you could back to your seat.



- philco28

After the draft, I will tell you my John Candy and Kurt Russell stories or how i drove gretsky teddy green and esa tikanen and Kevin Lowe to the marriott downtown.

Shoot I should even be on here now...I've got about 8 more hours of draft work ahead of me...

I often wondered about the alleged rumor of Dale's interest in Teuvo...and considering TT was taken just a few picks ahead of Florida last year was this a player Dale wanted all along?
- kwolf68

Could be possible,i think Tallon just like everyone else thought Terravainen was goin to be a top 5 pick,or top 10, can't remember exactly where he was projected,but he fell,not sure why, i bet Wiz might have some insight as to why Terravainen fell so much in the draft

This is the first of I've heard of talk of bad attitude, work ethic, etc. Perhaps he might not be "Canadian humble"?

My take on the Colorado situation is that it's being driven by the new HC who is fresh out of QMJHL same as MacKinnon. Makes sense to me that the Av's goes with a player that HC knows first hand about. Also I think MacKinnon is closer to being NHL ready then Jones. Remember folks Jones has only played one year of Jr's.

I'm of the mind if the Hawks do get the chance, pick Jones and let him develop his game with another year with the Winterhawks and then moving him up.
- Beaver-Warrior

Wasn't aware of that


If we ever landed Jones...he should be given plenty o' time. Dougie Hamilton looks like a similar player and after making an initial splash, seemed to get pushed into the press box as the season wore on.

I don't think Danault and McNeill are penciled in for the start of next year...the older Icehogs will be here first.
Eventually mcneill is your Bickell top 2 line crease anchor and danault slides up and the down the entire lineup as a wing who can take face-offs.
They will not make the parent club next fall
Not the way they do things....
- wiz1901

Wiz love your stuff but how can you say that when both Leddy and Saad were rushed.

Could be possible,i think Tallon just like everyone else thought Terravainen was goin to be a top 5 pick,or top 10, can't remember exactly where he was projected,but he fell,not sure why, i bet Wiz might have some insight as to why Terravainen fell so much in the draft
- captainserious

Yea I heard TT was a Top 10 type talent. I typically like my prospects and it appears the Hawks got a high upside guy with him, but if moving him can bolster the roster in certain areas allowing a legitimate push to repeat as Cup champions I say you gotta do it.

After the draft, I will tell you my John Candy and Kurt Russell stories or how i drove gretsky teddy green and esa tikanen and Kevin Lowe to the marriott downtown.

Shoot I should even be on here now...I've got about 8 more hours of draft work ahead of me...
- wiz1901

Can't WAIT