All the video I've seen of Barkov make him look huge. And his skating seems good too. With the Finnish hockey smarts to go with it? He'd be a great pick after the big 3 names..
- pri$ey

Yeah and we will see him a lot this year playing Nashville. They will have some good young players in barkov and forsberg

What are the chances of Stan and company making a big move like moving into the top 5 in the draft? I say not likely. Leddy is an ok player but why would the canes want him over say a young guy like Nurse? Its fun to talk about but it just is not realistic. If this front office had proven anything over the last 3 or 4 years its that they can't or won't make big moves. Expect something much smaller or nothing at all
- NedsHead_88

Good post. If the past has taught us anything with the StanBowPopsMcD regime they play a conservative game on draft day. But you just never know...

This 2nd cup has brought me to the point where I have to trust management.

The dysfunction of the front office was a big topic over the summer, but it somehow worked itself out. The whole marketing department v the hockey side stuff seemingly worked itself out.

The change in assistant coaches, worked itself out.

Q's handling of the lines, worked itself out.

The cap problems and purge of 2011, worked itself out.

Many had problems with some or all of these issues, but they all worked themselves out. Some may say the Hawks won a 2nd cup in spite of all or parts of the above, but the fact remains the right buttons were pushed and moves were made and in many cases not made.

So for this fan I'm forced to defer, and simply watch whatever happens on draft day to simply play itself out.

What are the chances of Stan and company making a big move like moving into the top 5 in the draft? I say not likely. Leddy is an ok player but why would the canes want him over say a young guy like Nurse? Its fun to talk about but it just is not realistic. If this front office had proven anything over the last 3 or 4 years its that they can't or won't make big moves. Expect something much smaller or nothing at all
- NedsHead_88

Nurse, even if highly touted, is still a prospect where Leedy is established NHLer. How many high prospect have never made a difference in NHL (dare I say Skille, #7)? It also come down to urgency of Carolina having Leddy type defencemen this year. I see Leddy+ going Carolina way, by + meaning a pick, maybe 3rd of next year.

But there are teams with cap room and stupid GMs more than willing to use it .... like Calgary, Edmonton, Florida, Nashville .....
- paulr

Agree... But, as JJ says, Hawks will use endorsement deals that do not count against cap to bring the money closer. If Hawks get Bicks a half mil endorsement deal than the difference is not as high, and he gets to play for a contender.

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...
- wiz1901

Personally i see Hammer as the most likely target.Chicago is probably going to do a little rejig of their older more expensive support players ,Leddy and whatever a guy like hammer brings back for them,will be the next line of great support players that will help them challenge for the cup

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

You can rip on McDonough all you want for being allegedly involved in on-ice hockey deals. Your note about anyone with a marketing degree could do this is hilariously wrong.

He's taken two moribund franchises and turned them around from a marketing perspective into highly desired destinations. There's a reason why he's widely regarded as a marketing genius.

Personally i see Hammer as the most likely target.Chicago is probably going to do a little rejig of their older more expensive support players ,Leddy and whatever a guy like hammer brings back for them,will be the next line of great support players that will help them challenge for the cup

- top shelf 15

Hammer isn't going anywhwere,especially at his deal...Leddy is the more probable to go...But Hammer is 26 and has another year at 3.5...If anything the Hawks extend him as soon as they have an idea as to what the cap is going to look like after next year

Personally i see Hammer as the most likely target.Chicago is probably going to do a little rejig of their older more expensive support players ,Leddy and whatever a guy like hammer brings back for them,will be the next line of great support players that will help them challenge for the cup

- top shelf 15

What cup team trades its second best d-man?

What are the chances of Stan and company making a big move like moving into the top 5 in the draft? I say not likely. Leddy is an ok player but why would the canes want him over say a young guy like Nurse? Its fun to talk about but it just is not realistic. If this front office had proven anything over the last 3 or 4 years its that they can't or won't make big moves. Expect something much smaller or nothing at all
- NedsHead_88

Defensemen take time, and there are very few exceptions (Doughty, Brodin). It's been fairly well documented that Carolina (and Edmonton) are looking for Top-4 defensemen. In Carolina's case, they have the Staal brothers, Semin, Ward, and some other decent pieces. I don't think they want to wait 3 or 4 years to find out if a guy like Nurse develops.

Edmonton to me makes less sense. Their young forwards aren't physical enough, and if I were them I'd want a tough, physical young D instead of Leddy.

What cup team trades its second best d-man?
- rollpards19

Second best Dman ??thought that would be Seabrook

Teams interested in Shaw and Hammer? Get away

Bickell gonna test the free agent waters? I TOLD ya

Leddy in a deal for 5 overall? Gotta thing about this one.

I love lots of deals, but some of the name being mention make me squirm. No need to move Hammer and others.

If ANYONE wants Hammer it should be a king's ransom.

Teams interested in Shaw and Hammer? Get away

Bickell gonna test the free agent waters? I TOLD ya

Leddy in a deal for 5 overall? Lets do it

For once it appears teams are CALLING US...
- kwolf68

Well, the vultures were circling overhead in June, 2010 also.

Teams interested in Shaw and Hammer? Get away

Bickell gonna test the free agent waters? I TOLD ya

Leddy in a deal for 5 overall? Lets do it

For once it appears teams are CALLING US...
- kwolf68

LeBrun just said Canes want top 4 D man for 5th pick....

Second best Dman ??thought that would be Seabrook
- top shelf 15

Not this season, maybe in the future, but my money's on Hammer. I don't think anyone on this board would say that Hammer wasn't our second best defenseman this year. The game he played with Keith out vs. LA was IMO the best game any Hawk played all year

Well, the vultures were circling overhead in June, 2010 also.
- MartiniMan

That's true, but this is different. We don't need to move these guys.

Shaw? Why on earth would we trade him or even want to?

@Buccigross: RDS reporting Kris Letang resigns with Penguins. 8 for 58.

Well, the vultures were circling overhead in June, 2010 also.
- MartiniMan

Teams know that Chicago will be looking to shed some salary ,and retool around the core .

LeBrun just said Canes want top 4 D man for 5th pick....
- mrpaulish

Johnny Oduya played Top 4 in the playoffs and was excellent. Let's offer him.

That's true, but this is different. We don't need to move these guys.

Shaw? Why on earth would we trade him or even want to?
- kwolf68

In all likelihood, we won't, but that won't stop teams from asking.

LeBrun just said Canes want top 4 D man for 5th pick....
- mrpaulish

Do THEY consider Leddy top 4?

We'be be idiots to trade Hammer for the 5th pick. That's what rebuilding teams do. Screw the Cup...LETS REBUILD.

@Buccigross: RDS reporting Kris Letang resigns with Penguins. 8 for 58.
- captainserious

This may be a sign and trade. Some people seem to think GMs like that 8th year.

Teams know that Chicago will be looking to shed some salary ,and retool around the core .
- top shelf 15

Don't spend all your money, Ancient Alfie needs $6M to come back and lead you guys to greatness.

In all likelihood, we won't, but that won't stop teams from asking.
- MartiniMan

That's true. So that offer of a 3rd round pick for Jonathan Toews shouldn't have me worried either.

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Deal is still not officially signed on Letang. Agent and Pens GM still have to meet at the draft to iron out the last few wrinkles.(con'td)

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: However, if both sides can complete it, it will indeed by eight years and $58 M ($7.25 M). But again, the deal is not quite done yet

LeBrun just said Canes want top 4 D man for 5th pick....
- mrpaulish

Leddy?

Whatever happens with the Bickell, Bolland and Leddy situations I feel good about the team. Players will come and go but we still have a group of guys that have what it takes to win.

If Bickell wants to test the free agent market then so be it, he's earned that right. Sure, Stan could have locked him up earlier for (likely) less but we won another Cup so we can't judge too much.