Handzus makes up for a lack of speed with very high level awareness, experience and defensive commitment.

Funny int he summer of 2011, I felt the4 Hawks might have an interest in him and should go after him (before San Jose eventually signed him), and another blogger (who will remain nameless) went apoplectic on Twitter how Handzus was "done," etc.

Oh well . . .
- John Jaeckel

I'm glad Stan re-signed Handzus. I think he should be more of a depth forward but it's nice to know that we have his experience for the playoffs and he can move up and down the lineup as needed.

We could use this playoff mullet too....it would be nice to see him grow it back:

sorry zhamnov came around at the worst possible time for hawk fans. you might have been right on in your timing to sell. but alex zhamnov was a top nhl player his whole career. defensively and offensively.
- jsabey

You must of been watching a different player than me. All he ever did was disappear for stretches at a time. His agent called him a magician at the time of the
trade but the only magic trick he ever did was disappear.

Bogosian signs with the Jets, 7 years $36 million (about $5.143 million per). Keith's deal is looking better and better yet again.

Bogosian signs with the Jets, 7 years $36 million (about $5.143 million per). Keith's deal is looking better and better yet again.
- DarthKane

Forget Keith. What does it say for a Hjarlmarsson deal at a reasonable price.

Forget Keith. What does it say for a Hjarlmarsson deal at a reasonable price.
- TheTrob

I always figured it would take $4.5 - $5 million to re-sign Hjalmarsson. It will likely take around the same to keep Leddy after his current deal is up.

Forget Keith. What does it say for a Hjarlmarsson deal at a reasonable price.
- TheTrob

Probably nothing. Hjalmarsson will have much more leverage, having won two cups, probably played first line d in the Olympics for Sweden, and will have teams lining up to sign him UFA and RFA are two totally different beasts. If they could sign Hammer for 5.1 a season I would be elated but I'm willing to bet there's an owner out there, probably named Snider, who's willing to throw more at #4.....

But that's not to be answered for another year.

I always figured it would take $4.5 - $5 million to re-sign Hjalmarsson. It will likely take around the same to keep Leddy after his current deal is up.
- DarthKane

I hope it will only take $4.5-5 mil to re-sign him, but it really depends on how much someone else wants to throw at him. He is a top pairing D-men on a lot of teams in this league.

You hope maybe the Hawks can extend him before he gets to free agency, and use this and other similar deals to get him in the same ballpark.

Probably nothing. Hjalmarsson will have much more leverage, having won two cups, probably played first line d in the Olympics for Sweden, and will have teams lining up to sign him UFA and RFA are two totally different beasts. If they could sign Hammer for 5.1 a season I would be elated but I'm willing to bet there's an owner out there, probably named Snider, who's willing to throw more at #4.....

But that's not to be answered for another year.
- yahoodi

Not necessarily, Hjalmarsson could be re-upped prior to becoming a UFA. If Hammer reaches free agency then it's fair to say he's gone. I don't know if there will be enough cap space to keep both Leddy and Hjalmarsson for the long term. The question then becomes who can be replaced easier through the prospect pool.

Probably nothing. Hjalmarsson will have much more leverage, having won two cups, probably played first line d in the Olympics for Sweden, and will have teams lining up to sign him UFA and RFA are two totally different beasts. If they could sign Hammer for 5.1 a season I would be elated but I'm willing to bet there's an owner out there, probably named Snider, who's willing to throw more at #4.....

But that's not to be answered for another year.
- yahoodi

And one named Doug too....

Rocky with the boys and the cup.

Probably nothing. Hjalmarsson will have much more leverage, having won two cups, probably played first line d in the Olympics for Sweden, and will have teams lining up to sign him UFA and RFA are two totally different beasts. If they could sign Hammer for 5.1 a season I would be elated but I'm willing to bet there's an owner out there, probably named Snider, who's willing to throw more at #4.....

But that's not to be answered for another year.
- yahoodi

He could sign an extension this year....anyone here anything about the Hawks and Hammer discussing one?

Ok....I'm really bored and just thinking about all the players we've lost over the past few years because of the salary cap. We could ice a pretty good team with all the guys we let go. I had to stretch it with some of the guys, and ignore the fact that some of them were actually traded for each other.


Versteeg – Bolland - Ladd
Brouwer – Kopecky – Stalberg
Fraser – Madden - Frolik
Carcillo – Fraser – Burish
Eager, Olesz

Campbell – Byfuglien
Sopel – Montador
Boyton – Hendry
Barker

Niemi
Emery
Huet

Just out of curiosity, and not that it really matters...do the Hawks still own his NHL rights since the made him a Qualifying Offer?
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes. The QA means they have his rights for another year. I think they can keep doing this every year until he turns 27.

Yes. The QA means they have his rights for another year. I think they can keep doing this every year until he turns 27.
- Tanuki

This means we can all get ready to enjoy at least another whole year of "and the rights to Lalonde" in all of Ogi's trade proposals.

I've seen Bull Durham a few times guess I never picked up on that term, I must have been woolly every time I watched it.
- paulr

God, I hate people who get the words wrong!

Probably nothing. Hjalmarsson will have much more leverage, having won two cups, probably played first line d in the Olympics for Sweden, and will have teams lining up to sign him UFA and RFA are two totally different beasts. If they could sign Hammer for 5.1 a season I would be elated but I'm willing to bet there's an owner out there, probably named Snider, who's willing to throw more at #4.....

But that's not to be answered for another year.
- yahoodi

You will find no bigger or more longstanding fan of Niklas Hjalmarsson than I am. However . . . while I agree with you that the market is typically set by the stupidity of an owner or two, there are a few factors that point toward Hjalmarsson staying in Chicago.

First, the Hawks are likely working hard to get him re-signed before he goes to UFA. Will that stop him? Not necessarily.

The other issue is he is pretty much a stay at home guy to this point in his career although there is some evidence there is some untapped offensive upside. And there is some belief out there (right or wrong) that he is helped by matchups, playing essentially "behind" Keith and Seabrook.

I have also heard his bride is a city girl who wants to live in a major metro area—like NYC, Chicago, Toronto or LA— and that reduces the market.

This means we can all get ready to enjoy at least another whole year of "and the rights to Lalonde" in all of Ogi's trade proposals.
- MartiniMan

Yes!

This means we can all get ready to enjoy at least another whole year of "and the rights to Lalonde" in all of Ogi's trade proposals.
- MartiniMan

I beat you to the punch, about a page ago.

You will find no bigger or more longstanding fan of Niklas Hjalmarsson than I am. However . . . while I agree with you that the market is typically set by the stupidity of an owner or two, there are a few factors that point toward Hjalmarsson staying in Chicago.

First, the Hawks are likely working hard to get him re-signed before he goes to UFA. Will that stop him? Not necessarily.

The other issue is he is pretty much a stay at home guy to this point in his career although there is some evidence there is some untapped offensive upside. And there is some belief out there (right or wrong) that he is helped by matchups, playing essentially "behind" Keith and Seabrook.

I have also heard his bride is a city girl who wants to live in a major metro area—like NYC, Chicago, Toronto or LA— and that reduces the market.
- John Jaeckel

I know that each guy will want to maximize his earnings of the course of his career. That's completely fine because most of their careers end while they're still young. But there had to be a point where some of the guys realize that in addition to money they want to play for a winner. I'm not suggesting Hjalmarsson should stay for $4 million when he could get $5 million on the open market. But there can be a balance between getting paid and staying part of this excellent team. To some degree I think Bickell did that. I'm sure he could have got more that $4 million and more than 4 years elsewhere.

I haven't been to a game in years, do they still play Whiskey in the jar: metallica's version and ecstasy by Rusted Root during warm-ups? What kind of music do they play now with all the tweens going? Justin bieber?

You will find no bigger or more longstanding fan of Niklas Hjalmarsson than I am. However . . . while I agree with you that the market is typically set by the stupidity of an owner or two, there are a few factors that point toward Hjalmarsson staying in Chicago.

First, the Hawks are likely working hard to get him re-signed before he goes to UFA. Will that stop him? Not necessarily.

The other issue is he is pretty much a stay at home guy to this point in his career although there is some evidence there is some untapped offensive upside. And there is some belief out there (right or wrong) that he is helped by matchups, playing essentially "behind" Keith and Seabrook.

I have also heard his bride is a city girl who wants to live in a major metro area—like NYC, Chicago, Toronto or LA— and that reduces the market.
- John Jaeckel

I was thinking that the Hawks would really try to have this contract done for the Convention; so I've become slightly less optimistic about getting it done prior to the season. I think it becomes less likely once the season begins. He also was willing to leave the Hawks for SJ after 2010 (by signing that offer sheet); so his own history suggests he will leave if the money difference is big.

On the other hand, maybe his experiences with the Hawks have given him more incentive to stay a Hawk. And the wife thing can be a big factor, too. I'd really like to see him stay; he, like our buddy Krugman, is a quietly efficient, highly intelligent hockey player.

I was thinking that the Hawks would really try to have this contract done for the Convention; so I've become slightly less optimistic about getting it done prior to the season. I think it becomes less likely once the season begins. He also was willing to leave the Hawks for SJ after 2010 (by signing that offer sheet); so his own history suggests he will leave if the money difference is big.

On the other hand, maybe his experiences with the Hawks have given him more incentive to stay a Hawk. And the wife thing can be a big factor, too. I'd really like to see him stay; he, like our buddy Krugman, is a quietly efficient, highly intelligent hockey player.
- mohel

Signing an offer sheet is no indication he is willing to leave. There is a lot of other things involved such as pressure from the players union etc. You also have to remember the season ended five weeks ago and he just got married over the weekend and sometimes a player will request negotiations be put on hold until after a life event such as a wedding. Remember, Sharp, Kane, Toews, & Keith's extension all came during or right before the season started......I could be wrong on that though.

Signing an offer sheet is no indication he is willing to leave. There is a lot of other things involved such as pressure from the players union etc. You also have to remember the season ended five weeks ago and he just got married over the weekend and sometimes a player will request negotiations be put on hold until after a life event such as a wedding. Remember, Sharp, Kane, Toews, & Keith's extension all came during or right before the season started......I could be wrong on that though.
- UnnamedSource

Signing the sheet is an affirmative act. Once signed the player will play for the new team unless the current team matches. So why would a player sign an offer sheet if he wasn't willing to play for the new team? Maybe I misunderstood, but signing an offer sheet gives every indication that the player is willing to leave because doing so ends his control of the process, as I understand it.

Signing an offer sheet is no indication he is willing to leave. There is a lot of other things involved such as pressure from the players union etc. You also have to remember the season ended five weeks ago and he just got married over the weekend and sometimes a player will request negotiations be put on hold until after a life event such as a wedding. Remember, Sharp, Kane, Toews, & Keith's extension all came during or right before the season started......I could be wrong on that though.
- UnnamedSource

I think that Toews, Kane and Keith were all extended mid season.

I think that Toews, Kane and Keith were all extended mid season.
- Tanuki

December for all three.