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
- rollpards19

Fair enough,but would you go as far as to say, he is one of the keep at all costs parts of Chicago,s vaunted core.

Or is he a piece that will be sacrificed,to bring in the next round of great support players Chicago always seems to find

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

There's no reason to trade Shaw, but I can see why teams would ask for him. He's plays with one of the biggest hearts on the team, his contract is just above the leave minimum and his next contract will likely be reasonable as well. Stan will not let this kid go.

Fair enough,but would you go as far as to say, he is one of the keep at all costs parts of Chicago,s vaunted core.

Or is he a piece that will be sacrificed,to bring in the next round of great support players Chicago always seems to find

- top shelf 15

Hammer stays. Next.

We are NOT breaking up this team. It's foolish to think otherwise. Sure, overpriced players (Bickell) or fourth liners may be on the move, but the Hawks will do very little.

Hell, Bowman said 'we like our team' before we won the Cup. I imagine he likes it better now.

Sure, a move or two is coming...Bolland, maybe even Frolik or fringe player (Carcillo), but these names of Shaw or Hammer being bounced around is a joke.

Leddy is the wildcard. I have no idea what the Hawks really think about him.

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.
- DarthKane

I would guess its Leddy.

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

Once again...I'm loving Keith's contract right now!

There's no reason to trade Shaw, but I can see why teams would ask for him. He's plays with one of the biggest hearts on the team, his contract is just above the leave minimum and his next contract will likely be reasonable as well. Stan will not let this kid go.
- DarthKane

Agree. I don't even like teams asking about that guy.

Except NOBODY did prior to John McDonough.
- philco28

Phil buddy simple reason for that Wiliam 'Dollar Bill' Wirtz was still alive...

Hammer stays. Next.

We are NOT breaking up this team. It's foolish to think otherwise. Sure, overpriced players (Bickell) or fourth liners may be on the move, but the Hawks will do very little.

Hell, Bowman said 'we like our team' before we won the Cup. I imagine he likes it better now.

Sure, a move or two is coming...Bolland, maybe even Frolik or fringe player (Carcillo), but these names of Shaw or Hammer being bounced around is a joke.

Leddy is the wildcard. I have no idea what the Hawks really think about him.
- kwolf68

Which one will offer Chicago the most flexabity cap wise moving forward??Also whom has better trade value now ,these are just logical questions iam sure your managemnt team has asked themselves.While you are probably right about them not wanting to move Hammer ,but iam sure that question still remains

Hammer stays. Next.

We are NOT breaking up this team. It's foolish to think otherwise. Sure, overpriced players (Bickell) or fourth liners may be on the move, but the Hawks will do very little.

Hell, Bowman said 'we like our team' before we won the Cup. I imagine he likes it better now.

Sure, a move or two is coming...Bolland, maybe even Frolik or fringe player (Carcillo), but these names of Shaw or Hammer being bounced around is a joke.

Leddy is the wildcard. I have no idea what the Hawks really think about him.
- kwolf68

What he said.

In light of Letang's signing I am glad to see with the Salary cap going down GMs are being more prudent and players are being more conservative in their demands.

Bickell will sign elsewhere for 4.5 million over 3 years or some ridiculous thing like that.

The best predictor of the future is the past.

Which one will offer Chicago the most flexabity cap wise moving forward??Also whom has better trade value now ,these are just logical questions iam sure your managemnt team has asked themselves.While you are probably right about them not wanting to move Hammer ,but iam sure that question still remains

- top shelf 15

Wouldn't Karlsson have the best trade value and the least flexible cap hit? Should the Sens trade him? Hammer is too valuable too trade because any player worth him in a trade isn't on the block

Trading Leddy for a draft pick beyond the first 3 doesn't make any sense unless Bickell is resigned and everyone else except maybe Frolik stays.

Clendening at only 20 isn't Leddy's repalcement to start next season.

Hammer can't be replaced for his current cap hit....and would be wanted by many teams. He is pretty much an untouchable.

If Bickell goes to test the market Bowman will probably consider him gone, if so the question is will he look for a top line left wing to replace him?

Or wait and see what happens to begin the season and promote Smith and another Ice Hog and put Saad back on the top line??

If Bickell is gone and Bolland is dealt the Hawks will have cap space breathing room for Leddy and Roszy.

Frolik is a sell high candidate....

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Which one will offer Chicago the most flexabity cap wise moving forward??Also whom has better trade value now ,these are just logical questions iam sure your managemnt team has asked themselves.While you are probably right about them not wanting to move Hammer ,but iam sure that question still remains

- top shelf 15

The salary cap is NOT the only thing we have to consider. We have to consider how good our team is going to be. I know the Hawks with a young core in their prime would love to repeat.

Moving Hammer is a serious blow to that.

We do NOT HAVE to move Hammer. We already have Bolland on the move who is gaining interest and Bickell may not even return. We could also find a way to shed Brookbank, who is only 1.3 less than Hammer.

Hammer is an absolute bargain right now.

Yes, I know you'd love to pair him with Erik Karlsson and go for the gold, but not happening.

JJ,
is there much Wings/Hawks rumors now that they will moving to the East (Wings I mean of course)?
- BooBoo997

Nothing except the Wings will go hard after Stalberg in UFA

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

Again, I'll ask;

Do the Pens get to use a different salary cap structure than the rest of the league?

Crosby, Malkin, Letang and MAF make like half of the cap

Nothing except the Wings will go hard after Stalberg in UFA
- John Jaeckel

I thought Detroit liked smart players who gave their all?

Nothing except the Wings will go hard after Stalberg in UFA
- John Jaeckel

He fits there and a couple of other places in the East as well.

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.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Dude have to disagree...

Put the home games on tv 40 years after every other team already has.
Bring back pat foley.
Market the crap out of the team.
Bring in a bunch of young guns and ramp up the Hawks website.
Tell the players they have to do all kind of signings and guest appearances get them involved like heck in the community.
Go to the old guard and ask them to come back now that Wirtz had finally passed.

The team was already ready to win - McD had nothing to do with it. I give you the Cubs Convention and the Hawks convention no question a masterstroke by McD.

...by the way what have the Cubs won? Nada.

I thought Detroit liked smart players who gave their all?
- kwolf68

He exhibits the effort albeit not the correct effort on many occasions.

...by the way what have the Cubs won? Nada.
- DK002

The Cubs sell lots of tickets even if they suck.

That is the business model ANY owner of a sports franchise would love. Won't fly in most places though.

He exhibits the effort albeit not the correct effort on many occasions.
- Al

Mr. FlyBy has amazing wheels no question, but for such a brilliant skater he's such a non-factor most of the times.

Good luck to him in Detroit if that's where he goes.

That and the fact that our Conn Smythe winner magically morphed into a member of the same unicorn species during the post win pub crawls



- philco28

"The King of the North!"

He exhibits the effort albeit not the correct effort on many occasions.
- Al

If #25 didn't like the treatment he got from Coach Q, he will be mortified by the way Babcock deals with him when he starts turning the puck over in the D zone.

Dude have to disagree...

Put the home games on tv 40 years after every other team already has.
Bring back pat foley.
Market the crap out of the team.
Bring in a bunch of young guns and ramp up the Hawks website.
Tell the players they have to do all kind of signings and guest appearances get them involved like heck in the community.
Go to the old guard and ask them to come back now that Wirtz had finally passed.

The team was already ready to win - McD had nothing to do with it. I give you the Cubs Convention and the Hawks convention no question a masterstroke by McD.

...by the way what have the Cubs won? Nada.
- DK002

- Blackhawks Convention (note: Something he started with the Cubs and was the very FIRST marketing executive ever to hold a fan convention). That's more than a master stroke, it's marketing genius.

- Bringing hockey back to the youth of Chicago holding camps all throughout the city. This is major important as the youth are what is going to really drive the rebirth of hockey.

- Setting standards that everyone in the organization has to ahere to. Something this organization was seriously lacking.

- Heritage Nights, home TV, Pat Foley etc everything you listed - He still did those things! Mock it all you wish.. he still did it.

- Making this the model organization in the NHL where players want to play here.

The team, on ice, had components to win. The popularity of the product never happens without having someone that knows how to market the team - that just didn't happen overnight because of the players on ice.

The Cubs haven't won anything not because of how the team is marketed but more so because they have gotten the wrong players. And you know that.

Mr. FlyBy has amazing wheels no question, but for such a brilliant skater he's such a non-factor most of the times.

Good luck to him in Detroit if that's where he goes.
- kwolf68

Lots of talk about Leddy not be a smart player...I don't see much of that, especially considering he is 22.

Stalberg on the otherhand tries but reapeatedly makes the same mistakes...

Doesn't get into the correct position, takes the wrong angle when he breaks toward the net, plays with his head down, turnovers at the blueline etc.

Stalberg is someone who needs to be quicker above the shoulders and at his age that might not happen.

But if he goes to a team that will give him enough ice time and rope he could score some goals....and also give a few up as well.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia