You do realize that laying hard hits on another teams forwards slows them down during the game, right?
- Murph76

Agreed, to a certain extent.

Bollig fits on this team - he's a pugilist that can actually play. He's also a good team/locker room guy.

With Bowman signing Bollig to a contract extension means he's not going anywhere any time soon.

My point is..they were a much better team two years ago when Nielsen was 28.....last year even if Tavares and Vanek they were not going to make the play offs.....move him now.

You have 20+ goal scorer with an easy cap hit.....that is huge value considering everything on the FA or trade market is 5 million and above....trade him now...get pieces for the future which will make your team stronger in the long run.

With the Hawks you have a top 5 system in terms of prospects......it's a win/win on both sides.
- UnnamedSource

They weren't going to make the playoffs if they had Bobby Orr because Bobby Orr can't play goalie. They fixed the goalie problem now. Garth Snow went out and got the negotiating rights to Halak, then signed him. Got the negotiating rights to Dan Boyle, and is currently trying to overpay him to get him to stay. He's also made it very clear the 5th pick is being shopped. He wants to win now. Why trade a guy like Neilsen if you don't need to. I think the Hawks bite on a deal for Sharp to the Islanders even if Neilsen isn't involved.

The fourth line of Smith-Kruger-Bollig was consistent for most of the year.
- UnnamedSource

Agreed.

Dont even talk like that .



Imagining that would bring instant tears .
- mrpaulish

me to, somedays its nice to dream though.

Thank God I don't have to bare witness to Kesler in a Hawks jersey.
- Nucker101

You're not alone.

Tavares.
- mohel

I'd trade Sharp for Okposo...

They weren't going to make the playoffs if they had Bobby Orr because Bobby Orr can't play goalie. They fixed the goalie problem now. Garth Snow went out and got the negotiating rights to Halak, then signed him. Got the negotiating rights to Dan Boyle, and is currently trying to overpay him to get him to stay. He's also made it very clear the 5th pick is being shopped. He wants to win now. Why trade a guy like Neilsen if you don't need to. I think the Hawks bite on a deal for Sharp to the Islanders even if Neilsen isn't involved.
- bjpgallagher

This summer, I think Sharp only gets traded for a guy who can play 2C. Neilsen's that guy on the Isle, and they'll go elsewhere for the deal if the Isle aren't interested. What's the big deal?

Oduya, Morin, and either a 3rd or Alex Broadhurst for Nielsen?
- EKolb13

Who do you plan on taking Oduya's spot? Leddy? good lord.

Was it really that hard to grasp that was a joke?

Edit - A response to our friend from the Island...

All this fighting and hitting....you do realize the Hawks are a puck possession team so if they are outhitting their opponents it means they don't have the puck...
- UnnamedSource

......except there may be times when Blackhawk skill players need protection. Without any physical presence (do Seabrook, Bickell and Shaw count?), they run the risk of those players being roughed up more than otherwise.

But that all changes in the playoffs - no more "protection" required, but the physical play does get ratcheted up. Tough call to decide how many roster spots should be devoted to "big and physical" on a puck possession team, especially if they can't skate.

They weren't going to make the playoffs if they had Bobby Orr because Bobby Orr can't play goalie. They fixed the goalie problem now. Garth Snow went out and got the negotiating rights to Halak, then signed him. Got the negotiating rights to Dan Boyle, and is currently trying to overpay him to get him to stay. He's also made it very clear the 5th pick is being shopped. He wants to win now. Why trade a guy like Neilsen if you don't need to. I think the Hawks bite on a deal for Sharp to the Islanders even if Neilsen isn't involved.
- bjpgallagher

I'd like to know if even one player in the NHL with partial NTC or NMC clauses have the Islanders on their list of places they would go.

Sharp might waive but not to NYI.

They weren't going to make the playoffs if they had Bobby Orr because Bobby Orr can't play goalie. They fixed the goalie problem now. Garth Snow went out and got the negotiating rights to Halak, then signed him. Got the negotiating rights to Dan Boyle, and is currently trying to overpay him to get him to stay. He's also made it very clear the 5th pick is being shopped. He wants to win now. Why trade a guy like Neilsen if you don't need to. I think the Hawks bite on a deal for Sharp to the Islanders even if Neilsen isn't involved.
- bjpgallagher

Have you looked at your blue line lately?? Danny Boyle is not going to solve that.....even with Halak and Bobby Orr the Isle do not make the playoffs this year.....

The Isles have leverage with Nielsen.....

30 years old
20+ goal scorer
Low cap hit
Two years left...

Any forward thinking GM realizes he has a piece of gold and will get a nice return.

How do you know that? There are two major facts unknown (and many minor ones, too). You don't know the cap hit of the Twins, and you don't know what the cap will be. Tough to be so certain without that info.
- mohel

You're right, Mo - I'm making assumptions conservatively - another $7MM for the twins, another $3MM for the other RFAs (Saad, Kruger, etc.) - cap goes up only $6MM - need to come off about $4MM.

Maybe the twins sign for less - maybe the cap goes up $7MM - maybe it all works out.

I am certain that being continually up against the cap provides no flexibility for Stan to make moves in case of injury (which they haven't really had yet) or skaters not playing up to expectations.

This summer, I think Sharp only gets traded for a guy who can play 2C. Neilsen's that guy on the Isle, and they'll go elsewhere for the deal if the Isle aren't interested. What's the big deal?
- mohel

My point being, if Sharp was traded for the 5th overall and a prospect, the Hawks could sign a 2C. Plus have Reinhart who can be your 2C within 2 years, along with a dman who is nearly NHL ready

......except there may be times when Blackhawk skill players need protection. Without any physical presence (do Seabrook, Bickell and Shaw count?), they run the risk of those players being roughed up more than otherwise.

But that all changes in the playoffs - no more "protection" required, but the physical play does get ratcheted up. Tough call to decide how many roster spots should be devoted to "big and physical" on a puck possession team, especially if they can't skate.
- bwarner929

Not the Hawks style...

Brooks Orpik...Johnny Toews.....

You do realize teams that try to hit a constant moving target wears them out in a 7 game series.....like St Louis.
- UnnamedSource

You're right, they should be allowed to skate into our zone and pass/take shots on net at will without being touched.

Have you looked at your blue line lately?? Danny Boyle is not going to solve that.....even with Halak and Bobby Orr the Isle do not make the playoffs this year.....

The Isles have leverage with Nielsen.....

30 years old
20+ goal scorer
Low cap hit
Two years left...

Any forward thinking GM realizes he has a piece of gold and will get a nice return.
- UnnamedSource

Trading for Sharp doesn't mean the Islanders would be done. Whether Boyle signs or not, the Islanders will go out and Get another dman

Plekanec
- Frank0721

Eller. No thanks to Pleks.

......except there may be times when Blackhawk skill players need protection. Without any physical presence (do Seabrook, Bickell and Shaw count?), they run the risk of those players being roughed up more than otherwise.

But that all changes in the playoffs - no more "protection" required, but the physical play does get ratcheted up. Tough call to decide how many roster spots should be devoted to "big and physical" on a puck possession team, especially if they can't skate.
- bwarner929

I don't want to start an arguement about fighting or a "physical" presence on this board, everyone has their own oppions on that topic...including me. But to answer your question "do Seabrook, Bickell and Shaw count?" No, they don't.

You're right, they should be allowed to skate into our zone and pass/take shots on net at will without being touched.
- Murph76

Eller. No thanks to Pleks.
- Elbows15

Why would the Canadiens trade Lars Eller?

Sutter Neal letang and 22nd first pick for Kesler Darren pang said
- Palmer117

If Pitt made that offer, Benning would be packing Kesler's ba and pushing him into the car. Darren Pang is an idiot. gs

Trading for Sharp doesn't mean the Islanders would be done. Whether Boyle signs or not, the Islanders will go out and Get another dman
- bjpgallagher

I'm not talking about Sharp....


I'm referring to Leddy or Oduya as the main piece for Nielsen.

My point being, if Sharp was traded for the 5th overall and a prospect, the Hawks could sign a 2C. Plus have Reinhart who can be your 2C within 2 years, along with a dman who is nearly NHL ready
- bjpgallagher

Reinhart will NOT be available at #5

Not the Hawks style...

Brooks Orpik...Johnny Toews.....
- UnnamedSource

Don't disagree about style but I think Orpik on Toews was an isolated example in a unique game situation. I just mean that it's risky not to have any physical presence on the team - so maybe Bollig can serve that purpose as he continues to improve. He's here for a while so I guess it's a moot point.