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.
- mohel

You are correct but it's also not as black and white as some may think. Most of the time a player has no control over the process. Once an offer sheet is made, the player is pressured by the players union to accept and sign the offer sheet. It helps increase the market value for other similar type players who are either RFA's or FA's. It is one of the biggest reasons why teams do not like to make offers on other teams RFA's and it's why, amongst other reasons it rarely happens.

I am late to this discussion, so this comment is no longer current to what's being discussed, but I have to say it anyway.

I deserve to be the 3rd line center for the all 90s team. Sorry. I know I'm not the first line center, and I think Savard should be the second line center, but for crying out loud was there ever a better candidate for 3rd line center for the Hawks, ever, than me? Watch me roll up my cuffs before taking a go at Konstantinov below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWiRen3VTc

I am late to this discussion, so this comment is no longer current to what's being discussed, but I have to say it anyway.

I deserve to be the 3rd line center for the all 90s team. Sorry. I know I'm not the first line center, and I think Savard should be the second line center, but for crying out loud was there ever a better candidate for 3rd line center for the Hawks, ever, than me? Watch me roll up my cuffs before taking a go at Konstantinov below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWiRen3VTc
- DirkGraham

Duke, you were the best, baby

JJ, where does Brad Winchester shake out in all of this. I don't believe that his agent would place him with a team that the best they could offer is the AHL. gotta believe once camp breaks he's 1 of the bottom 6. how's he on face offs? we know what his other attributes are already. & if Q is only gonna carry 1 of his kind, I gotta believe he offers more than Brandon Bollig at this time. I personally, against certain teams would like to see both of those guys dressed. but when it comes to the coach , he's got plenty up his sleeve! can't doubt him with 2 cups in 4 years! the only tiny question we have for him is his choice of ?????????????? .............................. Jamie Kompon!!???????????
ps. did anybody dare ask that question over the weekend & did Kompon get taken to task or hear a smattering of boo"s?

Thank you JJ. I was definitely the best at being third.

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 have no doubt that Hjalmarsson is high on the priority list. But extending him without knowing the exact number of next year's cap is way too shooting from the hip for one Stan Bowman. Once he gets a whisper of what it is....sure. But until then. Forget about it. I'm not worried. They'll sign him. But he's not going to sign for something as low as 4.5. He has no reason too. Hell the Brooklyn Islanders ail have plenty of money and offer his hipster Hairstylist girlfriend the lifestyle of her dreams.

And if they are working on extending Hjalmarsson early, then they should have/should still sell high on Oduya. His value will never be higher.

JJ, where does Brad Winchester shake out in all of this. I don't believe that his agent would place him with a team that the best they could offer is the AHL. gotta believe once camp breaks he's 1 of the bottom 6. how's he on face offs? we know what his other attributes are already. & if Q is only gonna carry 1 of his kind, I gotta believe he offers more than Brandon Bollig at this time. I personally, against certain teams would like to see both of those guys dressed. but when it comes to the coach , he's got plenty up his sleeve! can't doubt him with 2 cups in 4 years! the only tiny question we have for him is his choice of ?????????????? .............................. Jamie Kompon!!???????????
ps. did anybody dare ask that question over the weekend & did Kompon get taken to task or hear a smattering of boo"s?
- wonthecup10

It's getting late in Winchester's career for him to win a Cup somewhere - what better place for his agent to place him than with the Hawks, especially in a year when some guys around the league won't have contracts when September rolls around? He will get some playing time and be part of about 30 guys who dress throughout the season. (And hopefully pound a few guys like Raffi Torres and Ryan Reaves out when they get out of line).

And for Q, Winchester is just another arrow Stanbow gave him that he can use against selected teams.

JJ
Why Joe Murphy over Steve Thomas? I would have thought you would pick Thomas ahead of Murphy if you factor in the playoffs. Just curious....

Those who never got a chance to see him play live can't appreciate how smooth this guy was. Take him out of the clutch-and-grab era and put him into today's game and he would be a pretty decent #1C.
- 67hawks

exactly

No.
- Ogilthorpe2

no offense, but what is your criteria for a great player to watch? you are missing the whole boat dude.

Guy had amazing hands and was a good two-way player. Really miscast as a #1 center but a very good #2 center.
- John Jaeckel

he wasnt miscast when he was leading the league in points with selanne as his winger.