This appears to be what might happen
- John Jaeckel

JJ might have some inside information about Hossa's plans for 2014 and beyond....

From a Florida perspective...actually from sunshiny central Florida, I think Dale Tallon realizes that the idea of loading prospects and playing for a future is not the best formula. Look at Edmonton. The only way DT trades his pick is if he gets some experience that can come in now and make his team better. To augment the young guys he currently has playing on his roster. That is how you get better. Adding one more potential high end guy, and not add some leadership or veterans to your team is not the forumula for growth.

That is why the trade partner may very well be Edmonton. No doubt Bolland fits a huge need for them. He can be a leader there and give teh team some poise.

In the end, my gut still thinks Leddy stays in Chicago. He will be willing to give it 2 years. Not sure if he can become a free agent after that, or will have to play one more contract. 2 years would be great around 2.5 and would allow time for cap to go up.

I have no doubt that the team will find someone to center second line this upcoming year. Does Kruger get a shot at it?

I agree, unless we get Matthias in a trade from Florida.
- DarthKane

I hope you're wrong about that one. I don't want to see either player as the Hawks defacto #2 pivot next season.

Jovanovski
E.Johnson
B.Berard
Hamrlik

#1 overall dmen that didnt ever come close to that hype
- FourFeathers773

If Hossa's blade never clips his eye, this guy was probably a Hall of Famer. Unreal talent.

Ummmm . . . hmmmm . . . . meh . . . . dunno
- John Jaeckel

Your boy Stanton maybe...plus i haven't given up on Olsen yet...Clendening, Johns, Fournier....i'm just saying if Jones has issues...maybe snaring a forward would be more prudent. Plus, I hear Brookbank might learn how to skate this summer

If someone offer sheets Nick Leddy for 3.5-4 million he is history.

While Leddy has improved from last year, it's still very clear he struggles when he is forced to turn and head toward the d-zone boards. Moving the puck with his head up, he's good, but is he a one-trick pony incapable of handling the hard defensive zone rigors of the NHL?

I'd love to keep him, his offensive potential is very enticing, but it's also hard to justify the gamble on him at huge dollars given the other concerns/questions surrounding the salary cap.

This is such a fantastic year....just because cup win, and now we move into the frenzy that starts tonight at 10 pm CST.

Fact is.....you are going to have to absorb 2 combined cap hits totaling 5 million next summer when the resign Kane and Toews for 8 yr deals. You have Hammer...who is going to be worth around 4.5-5 million per year. Seabrook, sharp....so at some point you have to balance out the core's increases with cheaper 2nd and 3rd tier players....

They don't have in house replacement for Bickell. If they can carry Dave Bolland's 3.335 salary for the past 5 years and have him play 3rd/4th line minutes.....can they afford Bickell? Yes.....they took a LARGE gamble on Bolland after the 2009 playoff run, so why not bickell? Large, power forwards are hard to come by, and Bickell has had the light go on each year in regards to improvement.

Hossa is the wild card. Does he retire? If not, Hawks HAVE to keep a CBO handy for next summer. I love Hossa, but that cap hit of 5.275 until 2021 is very hard to justify and they can't be on the hook for that. He hits 35 in January, and even if you trade him you still will be on the hook for some $. The difference in money assumed by Wirtz by CBO Hossa this year (21.13) vs next year (15.87) is a little easier to swallow. Assuming he's ready early enough when the season starts.

How much is Kruger worth? Can't see them trading Frolik only because of his value being such a huge variable in being able to play the PK, a checking role, and enough skill to fill in top line minutes.

Lastly, Nick Leddy....last time the Hawks had a young promising D man, Bowman got blind sided by an offer sheet. I gotta assume if Leddy is asking for LARGE money you have to entertain trading him or taking the picks. At 3.5-4 million is he worth it? Considering the $$ they have tied up in D men already?

Only Stan knows....but these next 10-14 days will really show the moxy of our GM and our ability to reshape our team, without taking multiple steps back. Excited to see how it plays out.
- SteveRain

I think Leddy's upside is big. But... when you look at our team as a whole and the salary structure.... we can't afford alot of 3.5-4.5 guys. Bickell is more important to this team than Leddy. And as you state... then you have Hammer and K/T raises. If the right deal is out there for a Leddy package, sell high. The only other way this works is if we move Oduya.

As you state... When you have all of these 6,7,8 million dollar guys-- they key is filling in the rest with some promising prospects and a few free agents. Some of these guys are graduating from these levels. And you can't keep them all assuming you are keeping the core guys here which they should.

Yep...he's long gone....

2c could very well come down to Piri vs Leblanc. Unless they find an outside replacement. See smith sliding into stalberg's role on the wing, and hayes maybe Morin on the other side of Shaw. Bickell becomes the Brouwer with kane and Toews....
- SteveRain

Hope all our young guys are inspired to dig deeper and become more NHL ready than they've ever been.

From a Florida perspective...actually from sunshiny central Florida, I think Dale Tallon realizes that the idea of loading prospects and playing for a future is not the best formula. Look at Edmonton. The only way DT trades his pick is if he gets some experience that can come in now and make his team better. To augment the young guys he currently has playing on his roster. That is how you get better. Adding one more potential high end guy, and not add some leadership or veterans to your team is not the forumula for growth.

That is why the trade partner may very well be Edmonton. No doubt Bolland fits a huge need for them. He can be a leader there and give teh team some poise.

In the end, my gut still thinks Leddy stays in Chicago. He will be willing to give it 2 years. Not sure if he can become a free agent after that, or will have to play one more contract. 2 years would be great around 2.5 and would allow time for cap to go up.

I have no doubt that the team will find someone to center second line this upcoming year. Does Kruger get a shot at it?
- TrueGrit

Dale Tallon has this issue:

He has been in FL for 3-4 years, no playoff appearances. ANYONE he drafts this year is probably 2 years minimum away from the NHL and another year or two from being a legitimate difference maker. If he could obtain a (healthy) Dave Bolland, Nick Leddy and a prospect for that pick, and he feels those guys can plus his present roster—there is both a hockey and political/career argument for it.

If someone offer sheets Nick Leddy for 3.5-4 million he is history.

While Leddy has improved from last year, it's still very clear he struggles when he is forced to turn and head toward the d-zone boards. Moving the puck with his head up, he's good, but is he a one-trick pony incapable of handling the hard defensive zone rigors of the NHL?

I'd love to keep him, his offensive potential is very enticing, but it's also hard to justify the gamble on him at huge dollars given the other concerns/questions surrounding the salary cap.
- kwolf68

What's the compensation for a 3.5 offer sheet ?

This appears to be what might happen
- John Jaeckel

That clock is ticking.....and fast.

Lets not also forget with this shortened season, the recovery time for these guys will be short. Olympic camps in August for some guys.....then you have preseason and camp in September.

Can Hossa be ready by camp? I dont' see how....I think IF he's back he's out until November, much like 2009-10. Fact his foot was numb, tells me that';s a mid-major back injury.

Hawks have to keep a CBO....Hossa can't be on this team July 5th, 2014. he is, and they will be in deep $hit cap wise for years to come due to his age, and them being on the hook if he retires regardless of trade.

If you see it from his side...Hossa....he's got 2 cup rings, he doen't need the 500 to get into HOF, and can walk away on top and go back to Slovakia.

I hope he stays a year, but if he's back next year, AND the Hawks use both CBOs this summer.....Bowman royally f'd himself.

This appears to be what might happen
- John Jaeckel

That clock is ticking.....and fast.

Lets not also forget with this shortened season, the recovery time for these guys will be short. Olympic camps in August for some guys.....then you have preseason and camp in September.

Can Hossa be ready by camp? I dont' see how....I think IF he's back he's out until November, much like 2009-10. Fact his foot was numb, tells me that';s a mid-major back injury.

Hawks have to keep a CBO....Hossa can't be on this team July 5th, 2014. he is, and they will be in deep $hit cap wise for years to come due to his age, and them being on the hook if he retires regardless of trade.

If you see it from his side...Hossa....he's got 2 cup rings, he doen't need the 500 to get into HOF, and can walk away on top and go back to Slovakia.

I hope he stays a year, but if he's back next year, AND the Hawks use both CBOs this summer.....Bowman royally f'd himself.

Anyone have a link to the Bowman interview?

Maybe, but Colorado's pretty stacked with high end, young forwards...not so much on D. For them to pass on a supposed game breaking/generational type D-man when that's their greatest positional need, might be telling.

But what do I know, I would have traded Sharp last off season.
- Ogilthorpe2

There is talk Colorado would take one of the forwards and trade for a defenseman. I could see Leddy for O'Reilly if that was the case.

Yep...he's long gone....

2c could very well come down to Piri vs Leblanc. Unless they find an outside replacement. See smith sliding into stalberg's role on the wing, and hayes maybe Morin on the other side of Shaw. Bickell becomes the Brouwer with kane and Toews....
- SteveRain

On a defending Stanley Cup Champion? Wow.

I know LeBlanc has all those sexy "youtubes" and "mad skills" McDonough and MacIsaac like to watch while sharing pizza, but man, I think the Hawks are going to have to come up with something better.

Dale Tallon has this issue:

He has been in FL for 3-4 years, no playoff appearances. ANYONE he drafts this year is probably 2 years minimum away from the NHL and another year or two from being a legitimate difference maker. If he could obtain a (healthy) Dave Bolland, Nick Leddy and a prospect for that pick, and he feels those guys can plus his present roster—there is both a hockey and political/career argument for it.
- John Jaeckel

Didn't Florida go to a game 7 in round 1 last year?

Yep...he's long gone....

2c could very well come down to Piri vs Leblanc. Unless they find an outside replacement. See smith sliding into stalberg's role on the wing, and hayes maybe Morin on the other side of Shaw. Bickell becomes the Brouwer with kane and Toews....
- SteveRain

If this is the case, which I would be shocked considering neither has any substantial NHL time nor seems to be in good favor with Q, then consider each a band-aid until guys like DeNault or McNeil are ready.

Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp- Pirri/Leblanc-Hossa
Saad-Shaw- Smith
Bollig-Kruger-Frolik

What's the compensation for a 3.5 offer sheet ?
- mrpaulish

MONSTEROUS...a first, 2nd and third round pick.

Basically NO ONE is gonna offer that.

Even an offer sheet between 2 and 3 million nets a 1st and 3rd...depending on the team and where the pick potentially could be the Hawks could let Leddy walk for that.

I think Leddy's upside is big. But... when you look at our team as a whole and the salary structure.... we can't afford alot of 3.5-4.5 guys. Bickell is more important to this team than Leddy. And as you state... then you have Hammer and K/T raises. If the right deal is out there for a Leddy package, sell high. The only other way this works is if we move Oduya.

As you state... When you have all of these 6,7,8 million dollar guys-- they key is filling in the rest with some promising prospects and a few free agents. Some of these guys are graduating from these levels. And you can't keep them all assuming you are keeping the core guys here which they should.
- ilinkhawk

Correct, and I think Bowman has to be salivating at what the market would be for Leddy....You can groom a guy like Cleddening to take over for Oduya and pair him up with a veteran.

Sell high...something this team didn't do a very good job after 2010 win.

Your boy Stanton maybe...plus i haven't given up on Olsen yet...Clendening, Johns, Fournier....i'm just saying if Jones has issues...maybe snaring a forward would be more prudent. Plus, I hear Brookbank might learn how to skate this summer

- philco28

At this point, Stanton isn't any better than a 6-7 defenseman. Probably the same for Olsen. I still think Clendening is a year away, if the idea is not to rush him. As for Johns, I don't know. I think it's safe to say Fournier is a topic of discussion for two to three seasons from now.

Another kid down in Rockford I like is Dahlbeck. That kid loves to block shots, and seems to be pretty steady in his own end, and can bring some physical play to the table. I don't think he'll do anything offensively, but he could be someone that could be in the mix on the blueline corps in the near future.

On a defending Stanley Cup Champion? Wow.

I know LeBlanc has all those sexy "youtubes" and "mad skills" McDonough and MacIsaac like to watch while sharing pizza, but man, I think the Hawks are going to have to come up with something better.
- John Jaeckel

Completely agree.

What's the compensation for a 3.5 offer sheet ?
- mrpaulish

Compensation is tied to the qualifying offer the incumbent team makes, which is in turn limited by available cap room they have the following year. Someone correct me if this has changed with the new CBA.

If not, the Hawks are in a position where they may have to make trades fast.

At this point, Stanton isn't any better than a 6-7 defenseman. Probably the same for Olsen. I still think Clendening is a year away, if the idea is not to rush him. As for Johns, I don't know. I think it's safe to say Fournier is a topic of discussion for two to three seasons from now.

Another kid down in Rockford I like is Dahlbeck. That kid loves to block shots, and seems to be pretty steady in his own end, and can bring some physical play to the table. I don't think he'll do anything offensively, but he could be someone that could be in the mix on the blueline corps in the near future.
- EKolb13

Me too

On a defending Stanley Cup Champion? Wow.

I know LeBlanc has all those sexy "youtubes" and "mad skills" McDonough and MacIsaac like to watch while sharing pizza, but man, I think the Hawks are going to have to come up with something better.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed.

I've seen enough of Pirri to tell me he isn't a fit here. What I little saw of LeBlanc in Chicago tells me he needs to start in Rockford next season, and probably spend the majority of the season there.

MONSTEROUS...a first, 2nd and third round pick.

Basically NO ONE is gonna offer that.

Even an offer sheet between 2 and 3 million nets a 1st and 3rd...depending on the team and where the pick potentially could be the Hawks could let Leddy walk for that.
- kwolf68

Doug Wilsin might !