If Pitt made that offer, Benning would be packing Kesler's ba and pushing him into the car. Darren Pang is an idiot. gs
- Elbows15

i agree thats a terrible package, kesler isn't worth that. maybe neal and a 1st. and why does pittsburg need another centre? hasn't there problem always been finding wingers to play with crosby, so you trade neal? no sense at all panger

IMO the Hawks will not be dealing with Leddy on a new contract - someone else will. The others - yes!
- bwarner929

If not Leddy, then Oduya.

Can't blow off both.

Why would the Canadiens trade Lars Eller?
- Hawks82

Agreed.

Why would the Canadiens trade Lars Eller?
- Hawks82

They need a spot for Galchenyuk at C. And a scoring winger. Why would the Hawks want Plekanec? He plays small. His offensive game is meh. He is a very good shutdown center and FO guy.

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.
- Murph76

Got it - enough said.

'

THey also had Vanek, Mark Streit, etc.......
- UnnamedSource

They most certainly did not have Vanek.

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.
- bwarner929

110% agree on everything above

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

Nielsen and 5th overall for Seabrook

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

Ugh greed

The 5th or deal centered around Strome

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.
- StLBravesFan

There's been times when Stan hasn't used cap space and he got heat for that, too (not saying from you). He knows about what the Boys new deal is, and he has a much clearer picture on the 15/16 cap number than do we. One thing Stan really seems to do is plan, too much according to some (again, not you).

They need a spot for Galchenyuk at C. And a scoring winger. Why would the Hawks want Plekanec? He plays small. His offensive game is meh. He is a very good shutdown center and FO guy.
- Elbows15

They will trade Plek way before Eller in order to open a spot for Galchenyuk at his natural position. Eller showed this PO that he is the 3rd line physical center that this team need and that he can also be efficient in a shutdown role.

Plekanec is a versatile player with a 50 pts production but time has come for Galchenyuk to play center. What's the asking price for Sharp?

With no 3rd or 4th line. Let us know how that turns out.
- Tanuki

Kesler beau bennet dupis

They need a spot for Galchenyuk at C. And a scoring winger. Why would the Hawks want Plekanec? He plays small. His offensive game is meh. He is a very good shutdown center and FO guy.
- Elbows15

He has been a 50 pts player with meh wingers while being a shutdown guy. He would be a ridiculous upgrade on Handzus...Give him some big wingers and his size won't be much of a concern especially on a team like the Hawks considering their system.

Brasil just tied it up...

Brasil just tied it up...
- EKolb13

Like with the Kings, just a matter of time....

Like with the Kings, just a matter of time....
- mohel

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.
- EKolb13

YES, thank you

Guys who are pugilists to start out with CAN learn to be more well rounded players, look at Dave Manson. His first season he had 146 penalty minutes, 1 goal, and 8 assists. By his 3rd season out he had 18 goals and 36 assists. Not saying that Bollig is another Manson, just saying it is possible for players to improve.

- EKolb13

Saw that Brasil hasn't lost a non-friendly (meaning a non-exhibition, to the non-soccer types) international match in Brasil since the 1970's. That is strong....

YES, thank you

Guys who are pugilists to start out with CAN learn to be more well rounded players, look at Dave Manson. His first season he had 146 penalty minutes, 1 goal, and 8 assists. By his 3rd season out he had 18 goals and 36 assists. Not saying that Bollig is another Manson, just saying it is possible for players to improve.
- Murph76

And to my eye, he did improve over last year. He seems to be a guy who works at his game like a professional. If that continues, there's a role on the team for him, imo.

Saw that Brasil hasn't lost a non-friendly (meaning a non-exhibition, to the non-soccer types) international match in Brasil since the 1970's. That is strong....
- mohel

That is something.

Honestly, I've never really given soccer a chance. I figure now is the time to give it a try.

There's been times when Stan hasn't used cap space and he got heat for that, too (not saying from you). He knows about what the Boys new deal is, and he has a much clearer picture on the 15/16 cap number than do we. One thing Stan really seems to do is plan, too much according to some (again, not you).
- mohel

Stan's in a tough position: assuming (ASSUMING) for the moment that they are up against the cap - he has very little that is tradeable (for practical purposes) that provides major relief - of the core, only Sharp has a replacement (presumably) ready (Saad) - can't do Keith or Seabrook (no replacement), can't do Hjalmarsson (no replacement and a terrific contract), can't do Hossa (contract issues), can't do Crawford (no replacement), certainly won't do the twins.

Don't receive much relief if you got rid of Saad / Shaw / Kruger (not that you'd particularly want to) or any other forward.

Leaving only Oduya ($3.375) or Leddy ($2.7) or both ($6MM) - but of course, you'd have to replace them with something - and, hopefully in the case of Oduya, somebody who could be a second pair defenseman.

And it's been this way for Stan since the Stalinist purge trials of the summer of 2010 - and will probably continue.

Brasil just tied it up...
- EKolb13

Who are they playing?

Saw that Brasil hasn't lost a non-friendly (meaning a non-exhibition, to the non-soccer types) international match in Brasil since the 1970's. That is strong....
- mohel

When did Brasil lose its "z"?

Who are they playing?
- StLBravesFan

Croatia.

That is something.

Honestly, I've never really given soccer a chance. I figure now is the time to give it a try.
- EKolb13

Many principles of the game are similar to hockey, just at glacial speed....