I will waste about as many keystrokes comparing a young player who hasn't played in the NHL so far to Leddy....As I will comparing Leddy to Oduya which some seem intent on doing.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL
- Al

No intention to compare, Al. Just saying that the defensive own end of the rink is too important to ever see both Leddy and Clendenning on same blueline. Unless Leddy improves, that scenario doesn't happen. It is preposterous to even consider Clendenning, who needs to advance in his development before he would even get a look....I would really hope that Dahlbeck could step in and be a steady third pair. Clendenning may ultimately never play in Chg, anyway, as long as Leddy is present.

I won't put the cart in front of the horse as far as Clendenning goes. He has been sort of a disappointment, but I await to see how he does one last season no matter his contract. He has to show enough improvement to warrant an extended stay in the system beyond next season.

I can live with Leddy as he is on the third pair. I believe we all would prefer an experienced, regular partner whom is better than Brookbank and the slowing down version Rosy now gives us. Leddy has to be given minutes and time to grow. Will he bloom? To what extent is the proverbial $64,000 question.

Clendenning is behind Runblad, Dahlbeck and Johns in my analysis. Dahlbeck is the best bet to receive a third pair or seventh dman role since he might just be the best defensively.

I do not expect Kesler here and I am guessing Leddy stays. Perhaps by the trade deadline or after next season some decisions will have been made regarding all these dmen. None of these dmen at Rockford nor Runblad could replace Leddy if he were dealt, so how Leddy is moved is beyond my comprehension.

Dahlbeck replacing Leddy just so we could get Kesler? I would rather hold onto the defense with Leddy as a third pair. At least for one more season. Oduya will fit into the salary structure one way or another. I could not begin to guess how those Rockford dmen might fit into an equation until they complete next season.

I thought I saw Versteeg on the ice in pregame warmups and there wasn't any chatter about him being sick..

That's not to say Versteeg couldn't have warmed up and felt he couldn't go.

Flu going around....Hawks don't need that now.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

No intention to compare, Al. Just saying that the defensive own end of the rink is too important to ever see both Leddy and Clendenning on same blueline. Unless Leddy improves, that scenario doesn't happen. It is preposterous to even consider Clendenning, who needs to advance in his development before he would even get a look....I would really hope that Dahlbeck could step in and be a steady third pair. Clendenning may ultimately never play in Chg, anyway, as long as Leddy is present.

I won't put the cart in front of the horse as far as Clendenning goes. He has been sort of a disappointment, but I await to see how he does one last season no matter his contract. He has to show enough improvement to warrant an extended stay in the system beyond next season.

I can live with Leddy as he is on the third pair. I believe we all would prefer an experienced, regular partner whom is better than Brookbank and the slowing down version Rosy now gives us. Leddy has to be given minutes and time to grow. Will he bloom? To what extent is the proverbial $64,000 question.

Clendenning is behind Runblad, Dahlbeck and Johns in my analysis. Dahlbeck is the best bet to receive a third pair or seventh dman role since he might just be the best defensively.

I do not expect Kesler here and I am guessing Leddy stays. Perhaps by the trade deadline or after next season some decisions will have been made regarding all these dmen. None of these dmen at Rockford nor Runblad could replace Leddy if he were dealt, so how Leddy is moved is beyond my comprehension.

Dahlbeck replacing Leddy just so we could get Kesler? I would rather hold onto the defense with Leddy as a third pair. At least for one more season. Oduya will fit into the salary structure one way or another. I could not begin to guess how those Rockford dmen might fit into an equation until they complete next season.
- jhawk59

Don't disagree and I try to never sell short young players although I expect a lot less from them than many and I always factor in their age.

Problem with a big name player coming here is the numbers don't work...Leddy can't go one for one for a $5 mil player.

Hawks go to Conf. Final or beyond I doubt there will be any big moves.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

Wow. Talking about salary cap and the makeup of team for next year. But...

Time for Leddy to step up and join the top 4. He's gotten meaningful experience for 3+ years! If he's still 3rd pairing and needs a solid veteran to protect him, he's stunting the group. Only solution is for him to move to top 4, and have a Rozy, Oduya or Brookbank pair w a Johns or Runblad or Dalback as the 3rd pair.

Same thing for forward. We need to get a new rookie (more than Tevo) into the lineup next year to see what we have.

Once we resign Toews and Kaner in '15/16, the roster will need $1 m slots or less for #6 and #7 D, and some forward slots. Better get a couple of those guys into the lineup next year to see what we've got.

Here's to longer than that
- prd797

Why? Because (frank) Doug Wilson. That's why.

No intention to compare, Al. Just saying that the defensive own end of the rink is too important to ever see both Leddy and Clendenning on same blueline. Unless Leddy improves, that scenario doesn't happen. It is preposterous to even consider Clendenning, who needs to advance in his development before he would even get a look....I would really hope that Dahlbeck could step in and be a steady third pair. Clendenning may ultimately never play in Chg, anyway, as long as Leddy is present.

I won't put the cart in front of the horse as far as Clendenning goes. He has been sort of a disappointment, but I await to see how he does one last season no matter his contract. He has to show enough improvement to warrant an extended stay in the system beyond next season.

I can live with Leddy as he is on the third pair. I believe we all would prefer an experienced, regular partner whom is better than Brookbank and the slowing down version Rosy now gives us. Leddy has to be given minutes and time to grow. Will he bloom? To what extent is the proverbial $64,000 question.

Clendenning is behind Runblad, Dahlbeck and Johns in my analysis. Dahlbeck is the best bet to receive a third pair or seventh dman role since he might just be the best defensively.

I do not expect Kesler here and I am guessing Leddy stays. Perhaps by the trade deadline or after next season some decisions will have been made regarding all these dmen. None of these dmen at Rockford nor Runblad could replace Leddy if he were dealt, so how Leddy is moved is beyond my comprehension.

Dahlbeck replacing Leddy just so we could get Kesler? I would rather hold onto the defense with Leddy as a third pair. At least for one more season. Oduya will fit into the salary structure one way or another. I could not begin to guess how those Rockford dmen might fit into an equation until they complete next season.
- jhawk59

I agree. Clendening will probably never play in Chicago as long as Leddy is here. There's no need for two offensive minded/weak in their own end defenseman on this team.

But I'm going to diverge from there...

Given the talk about the cap ceiling going down to $69-70 million next season, that doesn't leave enough room to re-sign the players that will probably be kept to fill out the roster, let alone try to address the #2C spot or other things this team might need, like a quality back-up behind Crawford. Unless you're comfortable with Teuvo and Raanta being on the team opening night next season?

Someone has got to go, and that could be Leddy. And that wouldn't be for Kesler. That's just too create cap space. You can lump Oduya and Roszival into that category too. One of those three has to go. There isn't much other way around it. Beyond that, depending on what Bowman wants to do, maybe some one else on the Hawks goes too?

As for Clendening and Dahlbeck, I believe Dahlbeck has enough of his game together to be in Chicago now. In fact, I've been saying that for most of the season. If Oduya or Roszival are traded at the draft, I'd look to Dahlbeck to be the pony to bet on making the club next season. However, if it's Leddy who is the one moved, it's possible that Clendening could become part of the conversation again along with Dahlbeck for a job next season. You can make an argument for Johns, but I think in the end he's best served with more playing time in Rockford.

Once we resign Toews and Kaner in '15/16, the roster will need $1 m slots or less for #6 and #7 D, and some forward slots. Better get a couple of those guys into the lineup next year to see what we've got.
- Cmonalready

I'll agree with the highlighted. However, I'd only advocate for one. Rundblad is the other, and I hope Bowman moves him at the draft.

Beyond that, no one knows how the cap is going to shake out until Toews and Kane get their extensions.

Here's to another 3 years of the Sharks choking!
- EKolb13

SJ is irrelevant, I'm more interested in the choking potential of the Blues.

SJ is irrelevant, I'm more interested in the choking potential of the Blues.
- ArlingtonRob

Let's see how that shakes out after the first week of July. I've got a feeling their goaltending is going to be a big question mark going into next season.

If Smitty does get offer-sheeted (which I doubt), I'd be really surprised if that number crept over the million dollar mark, which the Hawks would probably match.

Anyways, a team offer sheeting another team's player is a rare occurrence.
- EKolb13

Niemi.

Niemi.
- Q...argh

Hjalmarsson - Niemi didn't get one, I don't think - Niemi went thru arbitration.

That was definitely more of a doink than a ping.

Hjalmarsson - Niemi didn't get one, I don't think - Niemi went thru arbitration.
- StLBravesFan

you are correct.


Edit. Shea Weber and Tomas Vanek also. That I recall.

Hjalmarsson - Niemi didn't get one, I don't think - Niemi went thru arbitration.
- StLBravesFan

Ah. You are correct.

you are correct.


Edit. Shea Weber and Tomas Vanek also. That I recall.
- Elbows15

9 offer sheets total in the last 15 years. It's a rare occurrence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._have_signed_offer_sheets

Let's see how that shakes out after the first week of July. I've got a feeling their goaltending is going to be a big question mark going into next season.
- EKolb13

Jake Allen will get the keys to the Vista Cruiser...Blues need to save a nickle or two.

Jake Allen will get the keys to the Vista Cruiser...Blues need to save a nickle or two.
- ArlingtonRob

There's no guarantee that Allen can lead that team to the promised land, let alone the playoffs. There's going to need someone who can take starts or share that role with Allen at the very least, and Elliot doesn't seem like the guy who can do it.

9 offer sheets total in the last 15 years. It's a rare occurrence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._have_signed_offer_sheets
- EKolb13

It is. And Ben Smith getting one is as likely as me spending time with Tappen.

9 offer sheets total in the last 15 years. It's a rare occurrence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._have_signed_offer_sheets
- EKolb13

....And probably close to half were done with the main purpose of causing cap pain to the other team....Wilson knew the Hawks would match.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

Interesting list. What morons gave an offer sheet to Ron Tugnutt or Stu (frank)ing grissom?

There's no guarantee that Allen can lead that team to the promised land, let alone the playoffs. There's going to need someone who can take starts or share that role with Allen at the very least, and Elliot doesn't seem like the guy who can do it.
- EKolb13

Allen shouldn't be rushed but I think they will be able to find a good vet this summer....and save the dollars for other needs.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL

....And probably close to half were done with the main purpose of causing cap pain to the other team....Wilson knew the Hawks would match.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL
- Al

Offer sheet to Hjalmarsson presumably cost them Niemi.

But - a good trade: Hjalmarsson and Crawford for Niemi.

Allen shouldn't be rushed but I think they will be able to find a good vet this summer....and save the dollars for other needs.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL
- Al

You know who would be perfect for the Blues? Craig Anderson. He's got a year left on his deal with a cap hit less than $3.2 million. I've read in places that Ottawa is leaning towards starting Lerner next season and Anderson might be on the block.

....And probably close to half were done with the main purpose of causing cap pain to the other team....Wilson knew the Hawks would match.

Hawks beat the Wild 5-2 despite sloppy effort. Kane leads the charge: On The Blackhawks :Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1q0FnTL
- Al

Agreed.

Offer sheet to Hjalmarsson presumably cost them Niemi.

But - a good trade: Hjalmarsson and Crawford for Niemi.
- StLBravesFan

Probably cost them Ladd, too.