Does any team in the league think Oduya should be higher than a 4D?

I would guess that they all see he's not a top-pairing skater, and that he plays best with a solid defenseman next to him.

If he's looking for $4-$5MM, he's looking for a team to play him on the top pair - probably not going to happen, not at 33 years old.

I think he's going to be at $3.5MM in his new deal.
- StLBravesFan

Mmmm probably not. Then again, depends on the system the team plays and what they want their d-men to do. The trend in the league is now toward what the Hawks have been doing the last five years. Mobile d-men, positionally sound, shot blockers who can make the stretch pass. That said, for the right team, Oduya could be a decent #2 with a great partner.

My .02 on Eklund's Mike Richards rumor.

I have not spoken with my sources about it. I will, unless they bring it up first. But . . . it wouldn't surprise me at all.

I do know of two centers the Hawks have inquired on so far this summer (Kesler being one) and they all fall into the same sort of category. Guys who can potentially play 2nd line, two-way players. So he fits a pattern as far as what they're looking for.

As for Richards now being "4th line" in LA. I guess, yeah the same ways Kruger is 4th line in Chicago. Everyone knows he's better than a 4th line player, and centering a "4th" line it gives the coaches a lot more line-making/matchup flexibility.

Assuming Richards is reasonably healthy with no debilitating issues, I would have ZERO problem with having him on the Hawks.
- John Jaeckel

It is not a guarantee that Richards is being bought out unless you are referring to Brad Richards

My .02 on Eklund's Mike Richards rumor.

I have not spoken with my sources about it. I will, unless they bring it up first. But . . . it wouldn't surprise me at all.

I do know of two centers the Hawks have inquired on so far this summer (Kesler being one) and they all fall into the same sort of category. Guys who can potentially play 2nd line, two-way players. So he fits a pattern as far as what they're looking for.

As for Richards now being "4th line" in LA. I guess, yeah the same ways Kruger is 4th line in Chicago. Everyone knows he's better than a 4th line player, and centering a "4th" line it gives the coaches a lot more line-making/matchup flexibility.

Assuming Richards is reasonably healthy with no debilitating issues, I would have ZERO problem with having him on the Hawks.
- John Jaeckel

Would love to see Mike Richards on the Hawks, especially if Versteeg is moved, Roszival is moved, and his 5.7 mil cap hit is not fully added to Chicago. Just the type of player the Hawks need as a #2C. Other players I would like to see as the #2C include B. Schenn or Ryan O'Reilly (again if the Hawks can clear cap room to minimize the impact of RoR's new contract. I have always thought of RoR as a mini-Toews. Not as good but defensively responsible with offensive talent.

I respect the Hawks huge ,by looking at Zsmith you can see he is a very good 4th line center .Your pro scouts are doing their jobs for sure.Sadly for the hawks however he wont be traded .

Saad def deserves to be off the table. Esp if its a demand for Kesler. The Nucks are going to get hosed in a Kesler deal. Esp with him wanting out and then theyre high demands. That price is going to go down. As a Kings fan. I pray that neither Anaheim or Chicago land Kesler.
- poisondhearts37

wait....are you saying they are not gonna get Ryan Johansen+ ?

Would love to see Mike Richards on the Hawks, especially if Versteeg is moved, Roszival is moved, and his 5.7 mil cap hit is not fully added to Chicago. Just the type of player the Hawks need as a #2C. Other players I would like to see as the #2C include B. Schenn or Ryan O'Reilly (again if the Hawks can clear cap room to minimize the impact of RoR's new contract. I have always thought of RoR as a mini-Toews. Not as good but defensively responsible with offensive talent.
- ikeane

Schenn wouuld be great. O'Reilly is my favorite non-Hawk. But I don't see colorado Ever dealing him here. I'm curious about the avs. If they do trade him he will fetch a Great return. One that could really address their needs. Are they a flash in the pan, though? Everything went right for them last year. I can't see the wife-beater duplicating his season in goal

Schenn wouuld be great. O'Reilly is my favorite non-Hawk. But I don't see colorado Ever dealing him here. I'm curious about the avs. If they do trade him he will fetch a Great return. One that could really address their needs. Are they a flash in the pan, though? Everything went right for them last year. I can't see the wife-beater duplicating his season in goal
- tomcat24

If RoR proves to be problematic in signing for a second straight year, perhaps Colorado trades him. I wonder if CGY offer sheets him again.

My neighbor told me some writer over on Committed Indian site suggests Brian Boyle from NYR. I see where Stralman could be on the outs too. Uncertain how NYR financial picture looks after a Richards compliance buyout. But I would guess that it would be difficult to fit in Stralman or Boyle for NYR or Chg without moving significant salary. Does Chg even have interest in Boyle or Stralman?
- jhawk59

I'd love to see them take a run at Stralman. Some really nice hip checks against the Kings in the Finals. Also 27 and a Swede. Checks some of the Bowman boxes. Him with Hammer on the 2nd pairing if they moved Oduya. But he's probably going to command more money than the Hawks want to pay. His cap hit this year was 1.8mil. Thoughts?

Schenn wouuld be great. O'Reilly is my favorite non-Hawk. But I don't see colorado Ever dealing him here. I'm curious about the avs. If they do trade him he will fetch a Great return. One that could really address their needs. Are they a flash in the pan, though? Everything went right for them last year. I can't see the wife-beater duplicating his season in goal
- tomcat24

Chances are no, Varly does not repeat that year, his numbers will go down, hopefully the Avs shore up the D by bringing in 2 proven NHLers to weather the storm (Niskanen being target 1). Moving PAP for a D is also a real possaibility depending on how the ROR and Stastny contracts go.

Flash in the pan, probably not, top 5 record in the league...unless MacKinnon and Duchene become Jagr and Mario over night, I cant see it happening. Avs will be competitive next season as well,Ill put them as a Wild Card team. ROR wont be moved, unless he is asking 7m or something crazy like that. The team filing for arbitration is a safety net and takes leverage away from him in contract talks. 1 it limits the window that he can sign any offersheet, and stops him from holding out all summer since there is an arbitration date. Unless he wants to take the risk of going to arbitration and rolling back 15% salary to 5.4m (so hard done by)..I think a long term contract is hammered out after the Avs try and resign Stastny bw the June 20th and July 5th

My thought on how to get RoR in Chicago, an early morning rant from Florida:

3way deal.

Hawks get Z. Smith, Greening, RoR

Ottawa gets Sharp

Colorado gets: Leddy, TT, Ottawa's 2nd if RoR doesny re-sign/CHI 1st rd pick if RoR does sign

If RoR proves to be problematic in signing for a second straight year, perhaps Colorado trades him. I wonder if CGY offer sheets him again.
- ikeane

To qualify him it costs 6.5 mil. Is he worth it?

To qualify him it costs 6.5 mil. Is he worth it?
- VANTEL

Yes

Schenn wouuld be great. O'Reilly is my favorite non-Hawk. But I don't see colorado Ever dealing him here. I'm curious about the avs. If they do trade him he will fetch a Great return. One that could really address their needs. Are they a flash in the pan, though? Everything went right for them last year. I can't see the wife-beater duplicating his season in goal
- tomcat24

I think you're right - Avs won't do anything to help Hawks, and I still think they hope to keep O'Reilly. At least they should!

Yes
- DDM-Coga

He would be Hawks highest paid forward.

I have no idea what Leddy's value would be. Some think he is the next great thing. I am not one of them. All I know is if the Hawks want to be serious contenders next year, Leddy can not be in the top 4.
- Elbows15

THIS!!! Is any GM interested in Leddy? What team needs a puck-moving defenseman to play the point on the 2nd PP unit?

Also, someone answer my question below. I did not get to see as many regular season games as I wanted and thus missed out on seeing Brookbank when he was rotated into the lineup. Was he worse than Roszival in the regular season? He had three good games when Seabrook was suspended in the Blues series.

Roszival won't be re-signed after next year, and Versteeg won't be re-signed after two years. Is it possible to put them both on waivers? Am I correct that both (with ~$2.2m cap hit) would then only cost $.985m each if waived?

He would be Hawks highest paid forward.
- VANTEL

Salary wise no he wouldnt, Hossa makes 7.9m salary, and Sharp, Toews, and Kane all make 6.5m in Salary next season too.

If you can get him signed to a long term extention who cares what you are paying him next year money wise, his cap hit if its slightly below 6 would be a steal

My thought on how to get RoR in Chicago, an early morning rant from Florida:

3way deal.

Hawks get Z. Smith, Greening, RoR

Ottawa gets Sharp

Colorado gets: Leddy, TT, Ottawa's 2nd if RoR doesny re-sign/CHI 1st rd pick if RoR does sign
- ikeane

Yeah no way ,this deal happens.Two reasons, first that is a very big overpayment for our guys.Second no way Sharp waives his nmc to come here

My thought on how to get RoR in Chicago, an early morning rant from Florida:

3way deal.

Hawks get Z. Smith, Greening, RoR

Ottawa gets Sharp

Colorado gets: Leddy, TT, Ottawa's 2nd if RoR doesny re-sign/CHI 1st rd pick if RoR does sign
- ikeane

Intra division teams will not deal .

Salary wise no he wouldnt, Hossa makes 7.9m salary, and Sharp, Toews, and Kane all make 6.5m in Salary next season too.

If you can get him signed to a long term extention who cares what you are paying him next year money wise, his cap hit if its slightly below 6 would be a steal
- DDM-Coga

ROR is good but he isn't in that class yet. If he keeps pricing himself so high he'll wind up in some hockey purgatory like Florida where they have cap space.

I think you're right - Avs won't do anything to help Hawks, and I still think they hope to keep O'Reilly. At least they should!
- bwarner929

cant see him going anywhere, it would have been silly to think contract talks with him and his camp would go smoothly. Not that its off the rails or anything, they havent even started, but Roy Sakic seem like they are going to be prepared for any scenerio for how to deal with this.

I couldnt find anything to confirm this, but I think its highly rare that a team trades a player once they file for arbitration, I think the arbitration hearing is firm and would still happen if he went to a new team. Not sure exactly what happens if a 1-2 year contract is award, I believe 1 he is an RFA still and have to go through this all again, 2 year, he would be a UFA. Thats a big risk for a team to trade for

ROR is good but he isn't in that class yet. If he keeps pricing himself so high he'll wind up in some hockey purgatory like Florida where they have cap space.
- paulr

No hes not that class yet, but if he makes 6.5m next season in salary and the team moves money around on a 6-8 year deal to get his cap hit around the 6m mark, I dont have an issue with that. Thats a fair contract for a LW/C who can put up bw 25-30 goals 55-60 points but lead or be near the top in the league in takeaways. Ill take that

No hes not that class yet, but thats why if he makes 6.5m next season in salary and the team moves money around on a 6-8 year deal to get his cap hit around the 6m mark. Thats a fair contract for a LW/C who can put up bw 25-30 goals 55-60 points but lead or be near the top in the league in takeaways. Ill take that
- DDM-Coga

Tbh at 6.5 he is overpaid by a million now ,not that big a deal .He is still young and could grow closer to his dollar figure imho

Then the Hawks won't get Kesler. Why do Hawks need to win in next 2-3 years? Our bext players are 26 and 26. Top defensemen are in their 20's (besides Keith who is 30). The Hawks are built to win now and for the next 5-10 years. Our players to replace Sharp and Hossa are TT and Saad. That is why you are not getting them.
- BearsnHawks

Hossa -- he's 35 and still a beast. Hopefully he continues at that level for another 2-3 years. Losing his 2-way game will be rough after those 2-3 years.

Here's the thing -- compare the Hawks to the mid-90's Detroit team, who, in '95-'98, lost the Cup Final, lost in the WC Final, and then won 2 Cups. Then they had a few off years (1st- or 2nd-round exits) until they won again in 2002. Guess who was a young player complementing an aging Steve Yzerman in 2002 -- yep: Pavel Datsyuk.

When I make that comparison, I see the Hawks needing to win now, or then they rebuild the depth over the next few years and win another Cup when Toews and Kane are in their early 30's.

Tbh at 6.5 he is overpaid by a million now ,not that big a deal .He is still young and could grow closer to his dollar figure imho

- top shelf 15

Ill take that million over paid..try and trade for a guy at 23 around his skill level, you would have to pay a premium. Better to just pay him instead of tryign to obtain another guy like him

No hes not that class yet, but if he makes 6.5m next season in salary and the team moves money around on a 6-8 year deal to get his cap hit around the 6m mark, I dont have an issue with that. Thats a fair contract for a LW/C who can put up bw 25-30 goals 55-60 points but lead or be near the top in the league in takeaways. Ill take that
- DDM-Coga

There is allot of talent on the Avs team who will all be demanding big contracts. Like Chicago they will have to start purging the lineup to ensure they have depth and defense to go along with what very well may be the best group of young forwards in the NHL. Nice problem to have but a nightmare at the same time.