Beach is gone. No way the Hawks are tendering him a contract.
- QStache

I think they should keep him. If they didn't want him they should have dealt him when he still had some value. Sometimes PF's take more time to develop, they kept him this long, might as well see if he's a late bloomer. Nothing to lose.

Beach is gone. No way the Hawks are tendering him a contract.
- QStache

More than likely. Unless the Hawks have an extra contract they can use to keep him.

Florida interested in Frolik? Weird, pretty sure they had given up on that guy when they shipped him to us for Skille. Turns out that was an excellent deal for Chicago. Everyone else you mentioned should be shopped, but keep Fro
- Ballam

Fro no go!

I think they should keep him. If they didn't want him they should have dealt him when he still had some value. Sometimes PF's take more time to develop, they kept him this long, might as well see if he's a late bloomer. Nothing to lose.
- Ogilthorpe2

If there is room to keep him. There are a max of 50 contracts the Hawks can carry. Depending on who is re-upped and who needs to be signed before they lose a prospects rights, there may or may not be room to keep Beach.

Plus, D-men drafted that high seem to have a higher potential to be total busts. I have no numbers to back that up, but it sure seems that way.
- Ogilthorpe2

I do recall that way back in 2002 the Hawks selected D-man Anton Babchuk in the first round, and took a guy named Duncan Keith in the 2nd. I think everyone knows how that worked out... At the time, I had no idea who either of those guys were, and don't pretend to have a clue about the draft now.

I'll just be watching the games when the 2013-14 Hawks take the ice.

Thought about the TT to FLA for Jones thing a bit after a talk with Wiz a few weeks back. IF this has a chance of happening, it has to be a bigger package. TT is still too young and raw to be NHL ready any time soon. Jones is arguably ready to play now.

Uncle Dale will want NHL ready talent in exchange. TT panning out is still likely an open question. To deal a #1 NHL ready blueliner for a roll of the dice on a raw unready prospect is not in my opinion enough.

I would offer up Leddy to make that deal happen though in a heartbeat IF the guy in question were Jones.

Would also consider a deal involving Leddy to try and snatch Clutterbuck.

If anything Hossa would tell the Hawks he doesn't want to play anymore and they would say fine we will buy you out so we don't get killed with the cap hit rules.
- RickJ

Yes...when I said Hossa to 'retire'...I meant they would work some deal out such as buying out, but how did that impact the Hawks cap situation now. A buy still means some money remains on the Cap books?

That said, I believe in order to repeat as cup champions retaining Hossa is a large part of that puzzle. As JJ said, he's not replaceable.

How weird is it that Chicago just won the cup and we are all here debating potential deals to have Chicago move up in the draft? Are we spoiled? YES! Starting to feel entitled? MAYBE

With that said, regardless of what does or does not happen with the draft, Chicago looks to be a contender for years to come !

And that makes me an extremely happy fan ! We are lucky guys

There is a big difference between paper profit and real cash flow profit. Since Hawks are privately held, we have no access and have no right to know what the Wirtz family has under the Hawks umbrella. It is fun to just guess and assume, but safe to say that in the conglomerate of a wealthy family, there is a broader tax strategy. Based upon ownership interest within the family.

Way too complicated and a 100 times harder to model than guessing lines for a team.

In the real world I am an accountant and deal with this stuff regularly.
- TrueGrit

Yes - and where you hide the salami.

Between the UC (half owned by the family, I think), CSN (partially owned by the family) and any other sports-related enterprises they've managed to set up for tax reasons, I do find it hard to believe that hockey and hockey-relateds are losing money, either profit or cash flow (before repaying loans from other related entites from the bad-old-days).

I'm very wary of Seth Jones. I would be hesitant to ship significant assets to get him.
- Ogilthorpe2

Rather have a good young forward at this point...we're solid defensively with current guys and guys in the system.

Supposedly it's the reason Colorado is likely passing on him.
- Ogilthorpe2

Patrick Roy watched Nathan McKinnon many times in the QMHL while he was coaching the Quebec Ramparts. He knows the kid is a game breaker and so does Joe Sakic. Matter of preference is all.

You nailed it with that Hunter S. Thompson line....Wiz is the Hunter S. Thompson of the NHL...seriously, I can't get enough of the guys posts in this thread...And when he mentioned his goal light in his house that shoots out across the street...GOLD!!!comedy at its best!!!
- captainserious

Patrick Roy watched Nathan McKinnon many times in the QMHL while he was coaching the Quebec Ramparts. He knows the kid is a game breaker and so does Joe Sakic. Matter of preference is all.
- RickJ

THIS

Potential game breaking forward/generational type player will get drafted over an 18 year old blue liner. The Hawks - on the other hand - have the players to trade to move up to get someone like Jones. Should be interesting.

Rather have a good young forward at this point...we're solid defensively with current guys and guys in the system.
- philco28

Ryan Stanton is the most NHL ready D man in the system, and he is at best a #6 guy. This is why getting Jones would be huge. And he starts with an entry level contract to boot.

JJ or anyone from the gallery, correct me if I am wrong, but the Hawks can not simply make a qualifying offer for Leddy and then trade him later right? I mean if they qualify him and he gets an offer sheet, you are left to either match or let him go?

Hence why you have to trade him on the front end to assure you get something back?
- TrueGrit

Depends on if he has arbitration rights. If Leddy does not, I would think they could still trade him.

If he does have arbitration rights, I think it has to go through arbitration if the Hawks do give him a qualifying offer. If the Hawks don't like the number they get from arbitration, the Hawks could walk away from it. However, If I'm not mistaken, the new CBA has some provision about walking away from an arbitration ruling. I'm not sure exactly what it is.

Possible attitude issues came up with some scouts when he refused to scrimmage at the combine - said he had played enough or something. He was also seriously outplayed in the playoffs. Saw it at the Fourth Period - no link to a legit source only rumor. Other real observations that he has gained fat not muscle quickly since the season ended. Looked overweight in those HNC interviews. If your not working out now and trying to grab that 1 spot will you ever be serious enough?
- tredbrta

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 ?

Any idea what the return from either a Bolland or Leddy trade will be? Stan just looking for picks in this strong draft?

Think they'll find someone to trade a pick for Stalbergs negotiating rights?

Reading Wiz's comments all the time, sounds like we should be acquiring picks in this draft for the guys that have to move. Love the stockpiling young talent for future trades of stud players.
- vabeachbear

Really ??? We haven't traded our boatload of young talent for a "stud" player yet have we ? In hindsight......... StanBo probably should have packaged Ladd, Buff and Versteeg to get a "stud" young player 3 years ago. It will be interesting to see what they come up with this offseason. Quarterback for the PP, 2nd line center, another big physical winger, etc ?? I'm all for trading some of this core and our young talent for hunger, size, speed and youth that is all over the NHL.

How weird is it that Chicago just won the cup and we are all here debating potential deals to have Chicago move up in the draft? Are we spoiled? YES! Starting to feel entitled? MAYBE

With that said, regardless of what does or does not happen with the draft, Chicago looks to be a contender for years to come !

And that makes me an extremely happy fan ! We are lucky guys
- Ballam

I know right.

Can't believe it.

The rich getting richer is applied to my favorite team.


We kinda deserve it though.. All those years of being only 4 fans in our section after all the dedication in the 80s.....

Phucking Blackhawks.

2010 was so awesommeeee

2013 was wayyyyyyyyy better than 2010.

When Bickell scored we went crazy. We're still going crazy for the Bickell goal when Bolland scored then dropped all his shhiitttttttttty like it was an OT winner !!!!!!! So phucking awesome. Used that adrenaline to party until 5 am. Madness.

Ryan Stanton is the most NHL ready D man in the system, and he is at best a #6 guy. This is why getting Jones would be huge. And he starts with an entry level contract to boot.
- Return of the Roar

Is Seth Jones NHL ready ? To me, that is a legit question. Clendening would seem further along for sure.

Off the trade/draft topic but one positive is that the core of the Hawks now realize what a cup hangover do and may realize how to avoid another one going forward.

How weird is it that Chicago just won the cup and we are all here debating potential deals to have Chicago move up in the draft? Are we spoiled? YES! Starting to feel entitled? MAYBE

With that said, regardless of what does or does not happen with the draft, Chicago looks to be a contender for years to come !

And that makes me an extremely happy fan ! We are lucky guys
- Ballam

There's a new standard of excellence for this club, mediocrity will not be accepted.

Aside from that, there's less time between the end of the season, the draft and free agency this year. No time to rest!

Would something like Bolland the hawks first rounder and Pirri be enough to get Tallon to fork over FLA's first rounder?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rnrGOYlGTIc


Darnell Nurse clip

Is Seth Jones NHL ready ? To me, that is a legit question. Clendening would seem further along for sure.
- philco28

Eli would know best, being a Rockford guy. I am betting he would agree Clendening is still not ready.

Patrick Roy watched Nathan McKinnon many times in the QMHL while he was coaching the Quebec Ramparts. He knows the kid is a game breaker and so does Joe Sakic. Matter of preference is all.
- RickJ

That's possible too. I'm just going by the rumblings I've been hearing on NHL Network Radio. Lots of different sources saying there is increasing concern about Jones' work ethic. Maybe it's being blown out of proportion, but it's interesting.