Bickell needs ti understand that 3m per with the Hawks playing with Toews and Kane is a lot more valuable than 4 m anywhere else sans Kane and Toews.
- mrpaulish

Agreed hometown discount includes that plus a shot at the Cup probably every year for the next five or more years assuming Kane and Toews are re-signed.

The Hawks lost Ladd, Buff, Versteeg, Kopecky, Campbell and Neimi three years ago and won the cup this year. Losing Bolland and Bickell won't hurt the Hawks nearly as much. The circus in Vancouver with the nut bar GM, the crazy coach, the goaltending mess and the refusal for anyone associated with the team to believe the window of opportunity has closed two years ago, would be more of a 'heaven blow' I'd say.
- paulr

This is essentially what I said. Your core is fantastic and role players can be replaced. There is no doubt the hawks are a very well run franchise.

If Frolik goes I want Clutterbuck to replace him
- ikeane

Me too but that's impossible.

If Bickell walks id love Nathan Horton.

Can't wait to see if the Hawks move up today.

Well those are some interesting scenarios. Bolland to Edmonton is interesting as they have prospects up the ying yang. Wonder if there's a deal with Bolland + going and Pajaarvi coming the other way. He'd look great replacing Stalberg on the third line. Just wonder how much + would be...

Carolina rumor is big, but I've yet to see Stan do big. So I guess I'll believe it when I see it. Would like to see the Hawks move up. Especially in this draft.

Once Bickell sees what he can get I doubt He'll be willing to give the Hawks THAT much of a discount. But hey, happy for him, he's earned it.

Should be a fun day.
- yahoodi

I hardly see how a crappy-mediocre career followed up by ONE great playoff season EARNS him $4M+.

And if they trade Frolik, they should be put in front of a firing squad.

I hardly see how a crappy-mediocre career followed up by ONE great playoff season EARNS him $4M+.

And if they trade Frolik, they should be put in front of a firing squad.
- Q...argh

Some idiot gm will.


Lets say Gillis buys out Luand thinks Bickell with the twins =4m per.....

Bickell needs ti understand that 3m per with the Hawks playing with Toews and Kane is a lot more valuable than 4 m anywhere else sans Kane and Toews.
- mrpaulish

Bickell has to think of Bickell first and if he can get 33% more from another team he'd be foolish not to take it. It can be argued that he may not be the same player with another team or that he won't win the cup with another team, but at the end of the day he has to go where he gets the best compensation. Most of us would do no different.

Bickell has to think of Bickell first and if he can get 33% more from another team he'd be foolish not to take it. It can be argued that he may not be the same player with another team or that he won't win the cup with another team, but at the end of the day he has to go where he gets the best compensation. Most of us would do no different.
- paulr

I ageee but damn... one good playoff run Bickell will return to normal and 4m is a lot for unengagedBickell

I hardly see how a crappy-mediocre career followed up by ONE great playoff season EARNS him $4M+.

And if they trade Frolik, they should be put in front of a firing squad.
- Q...argh

You may be right and that is why so many teams get into financial trouble. Bickell in many ways reminds me of Dustin Penner who is overpaid based on one decent cup run with Anaheim.

Bickell has to think of Bickell first and if he can get 33% more from another team he'd be foolish not to take it. It can be argued that he may not be the same player with another team or that he won't win the cup with another team, but at the end of the day he has to go where he gets the best compensation. Most of us would do no different.
- paulr

EXACTLY!

I think Bickell and his agent will see that there's some real coin out there and that will be that...are you going to move both Bolland and Oduya to sign him...personally I'd rather move the pizzaman.

Anti Niem...I mean Nick Leddy isn't going anywhere...where have we heard this before...

As far as Leddy - I'm thinkin' McCub wants the kid gone after the stuff with Sheehy and Suter last summer. Anyone catch the wet kisses being thrown by Telander in the SunTimes this morning? Basically if it wasn't for McCub none of this would have happened. Sorry Rick but anyone with a marketing degree could have done what McCub did. Heck anyone without a marketing degree for that matter. The Hawks were bad for years and that allowed them to draft high and put the team together...it wasn't because of the one goal crap.

I really enjoyed Corey's coming out party on Friday because I'm sure it made McD squirm...

You could easily see the Hawks making several moves today to once again make a huge splash like McD wants.

I ageee but damn... one good playoff run Bickell will return to normal and 4m is a lot for unengagedBickell
- mrpaulish

Solong as the Hawks aren't paying it. Also he worries me that if he does re-sign with the Hawks he becomes complacent.

Bickell needs ti understand that 3m per with the Hawks playing with Toews and Kane is a lot more valuable than 4 m anywhere else sans Kane and Toews.
- mrpaulish

A consideration probably if he were coming off of a big contract.

Any one of those two defenders,would be a nice add to our team.I can see something happening here it just makes sense

I think Bickell and his agent will see that there's some real coin out there and that will be that...are you going to move both Bolland and Oduya to sign him...personally I'd rather move the pizzaman.

Anti Niem...I mean Nick Leddy isn't going anywhere...where have we heard this before...

As far as Leddy - I'm thinkin' McCub wants the kid gone after the stuff with Sheehy and Suter last summer. Anyone catch the wet kisses being thrown by Telander in the SunTimes this morning? Basically if it wasn't for McCub none of this would have happened. Sorry Rick but anyone with a marketing degree could have done what McCub did. Heck anyone without a marketing degree for that matter. The Hawks were bad for years and that allowed them to draft high and put the team together...it wasn't because of the one goal crap.

I really enjoyed Corey's coming out party on Friday because I'm sure it made McD squirm...

You could easily see the Hawks making several moves today to once again make a huge splash like McD wants.
- DK002

I could see a couple of cap related trades today but as far as big splashes go I think they made the biggest splash they could make Monday night.

I think Bickell and his agent will see that there's some real coin out there and that will be that...are you going to move both Bolland and Oduya to sign him...personally I'd rather move the pizzaman.

Anti Niem...I mean Nick Leddy isn't going anywhere...where have we heard this before...

As far as Leddy - I'm thinkin' McCub wants the kid gone after the stuff with Sheehy and Suter last summer. Anyone catch the wet kisses being thrown by Telander in the SunTimes this morning? Basically if it wasn't for McCub none of this would have happened. Sorry Rick but anyone with a marketing degree could have done what McCub did. Heck anyone without a marketing degree for that matter. The Hawks were bad for years and that allowed them to draft high and put the team together...it wasn't because of the one goal crap.

I really enjoyed Corey's coming out party on Friday because I'm sure it made McD squirm...

You could easily see the Hawks making several moves today to once again make a huge splash like McD wants.
- DK002

McD saw the two million fans - all young, all cheering Crawford's comments - and didn't give Corey's indiscretion another thought.

I ageee but damn... one good playoff run Bickell will return to normal and 4m is a lot for unengagedBickell
- mrpaulish

Exactly Mr. P - 4m no way...go get Clutterbuck...I know the kid said he'd take a hometown discount but c'mon...the offers are going to be there. And like you said he's had one good playoff run.

I wouldn't give up a proven guy like Bolland - a guy who shows up in the playoffs every year to overpay for this kid.

Bickell needs ti understand that 3m per with the Hawks playing with Toews and Kane is a lot more valuable than 4 m anywhere else sans Kane and Toews.
- mrpaulish

THIS

If they can't resign Leddy for reasonable money, they should be very aggressively pushing a package of his rights and Bolland to move up to a top 10 spot. And yes, I would gladly move Oduya in order to keep Leddy; Oduya has peaked, will never equal his play from last year, and even that wasn't so great, considering his meekness and turnovers. Leddy should mature into a player much better than Oduya. In that case, push Oduya's & Bolland's contracts off onto someone else for a good pick.

This would free up money to sign a 2C. Bickell is as good as gone, so picking up a 2C with size and grit seems to make the most sense (at least to me).

IMO Kruger and Frolik should be considered "core." They're not going to magically get a powerplay next year, especially when they've just lost the only big body to park in front of the net. That PK saved their buns from the lack of a powerplay, and they desperately need that again next year to compete.

Lastly, any talk of moving Hammer is lunacy.

What kind of D is Leddy? Is he a potential top pairing guy?
- riceroni

He hasn't cracked the top two pairings here.

Top pair in Ottawa?
I don't know if you could play Karlsson and another offensive together....it might be nice going up-ice but you need more than speed to defend...

Bickell has to think of Bickell first and if he can get 33% more from another team he'd be foolish not to take it. It can be argued that he may not be the same player with another team or that he won't win the cup with another team, but at the end of the day he has to go where he gets the best compensation. Most of us would do no different.
- paulr

Agreed...but he's been surviving just fine on what's been making and if he gets

$2.5 to $3 mil season...i'm sure he'd feel like Bill Gates and still be with the team that raised him and where he's happy.

MONEY AIN'T EVERYTHING.

I think Bickell and his agent will see that there's some real coin out there and that will be that...are you going to move both Bolland and Oduya to sign him...personally I'd rather move the pizzaman.

Anti Niem...I mean Nick Leddy isn't going anywhere...where have we heard this before...

As far as Leddy - I'm thinkin' McCub wants the kid gone after the stuff with Sheehy and Suter last summer. Anyone catch the wet kisses being thrown by Telander in the SunTimes this morning? Basically if it wasn't for McCub none of this would have happened. Sorry Rick but anyone with a marketing degree could have done what McCub did. Heck anyone without a marketing degree for that matter. The Hawks were bad for years and that allowed them to draft high and put the team together...it wasn't because of the one goal crap.

I really enjoyed Corey's coming out party on Friday because I'm sure it made McD squirm...

You could easily see the Hawks making several moves today to once again make a huge splash like McD wants.
- DK002

Except NOBODY did prior to John McDonough.

Agreed...but he's been surviving just fine on what's been making and if he gets

$2.5 to $3 mil season...i'm sure he'd feel like Bill Gates and still be with the team that raised him and where he's happy.

MONEY AIN'T EVERYTHING.
- philco28

It may not be, but if I had the choice of making $3M vs $4M, I know which I'd choose!

I think Bickell knows he is a "product of his enviroment" and will be stupidity generous in his discount.

Here it is my biggest day, and I manage to get ticked off when I hear another "expert" Corey Prohman (who by the way IF I ever sound like him, and give the impression I have never dated and all I do is spend even waking minute making judgemenst on 17 year olds, I will pay for you all to hire the outfit guy to end me!)

Anyway, his highness says the Finnish kid, Sasha Barkov, is a "tier" (geez use my idea, will ya? and wrongly i maight add) below the top three.

Nothing could be further form the truth.
Just because he doesn't see the "flash" he isn't possible as good? How about he has the "power?"
He may go before four.

My thoughts, as opposed to his, were verified when I heard Dale Tallon say, he is willing to try and move up, or even move down to FOUR....

Think on that if there where a tru top tier of three, why would you jumo out?

Ok, I am ready.

I think Edmonton is going to make the first acquistion, and I betcha they get Coburn and overpay... Philly over pay? Novel

It may not be, but if I had the choice of making $3M vs $4M, I know which I'd choose!
- paulr

Yes indeed...but if Bicks has been getting by on $541 k...i'm sure $3 mil/yr and a spot on the champs should tide him over nicely.

I can see Bickell landing back with the hawks. But I don't blame him for testing free agency. He had one hell of a playoff run.

What's the right choice? Stay with the Hawks.