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
- DDM-Coga

Yep agreed ,him at 6.5 is still better than trying to replace him at 5.5 mil

man, are we wheelin & dealin like crazy.......... I know I was 1 for wanting every big salaried badass on this team but realistically, if we have to give up a plum (not Saad ever), I want 1 young 1 in return, if Sharp & with in reason isn't enough to get a Guy Like Braydon Schenn or JVR (don't know if those guys are even in play), sit tight ,wait for TT . could be McNeill can make it out of camp , TT by dec., morin get a more regular role out of camp. maybe Danault at some point next year.
No to guys that have bagage & Benning wants to rape us even though on ice he could be a difference make & Kanes errand boy. same with some guy no one has heard of from NYI, unless it is Tavares, I want NO ONE from Snow's braintrust.
Regarding Bollig & his million dollar salary, can Mcneill potentially come up & do the so called intangables at a better rate than Bollig? & if they need Bollig for THAT part of the game, don't they pay Brandon Maschintor 500K to do THAT when needed. when it comes to THAT, Bollig gets his ass whipped almost every time, McNeill probably will be a better all around player than him & you got a guy that is major tough when you need it for 500 K that prbably won't hurt you down the road?
I think SB will upgrade the center position but I hope Daddy is telling him, Don't empty the cabinet for a 30 + yearold, if you do, make sure it is a youngin coming back with equal value to be more of a "hockey trade", not a salary dump. I could be wrong about all this , JMO, that is all boys, have a good day.

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.
- paulr

The have started to lock up their guys. Varly, Duchene, and Landy are all signed long term. EJ still has a lot of term and good value on his contract. MacKinnon still on ELC so thats not a concern yet. If they can lock up ROR and Barrie at good deals, they have their core set for 5-6 years. Thats what I am hoping for thsi offseason

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.
- DMChi2010

And let's say they sign max 8 yr extensions this summer - they'd be eligible for new deals when they're 34 and 33. Organizations, teams and players will be very different by then so no sense even thinking out that far. Too many variables.

AGREE - Gotta do it now while this core is still in its collective prime!

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
- DDM-Coga

Yeah you guys are too good to be a flash in the pan. I still see a dogfight again for the central. I do not think Varly will have that good of a year. But he is still a great goalie. If you do get a decent d-man you will be dangerous

The have started to lock up their guys. Varly, Duchene, and Landy are all signed long term. EJ still has a lot of term and good value on his contract. MacKinnon still on ELC so thats not a concern yet. If they can lock up ROR and Barrie at good deals, they have their core set for 5-6 years. Thats what I am hoping for thsi offseason
- DDM-Coga

It's a shame they will lose Statsny with nothing to show for it.

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.


- DMChi2010

I think two things were in play. Brookbank gets caught of out of position on defense at least 1-2 times per game being too aggressive. A couple of times it directly led to goals, which puts him in Q's doghouse. Rozy, on the other hand, is a once very good d--man who gets the benefit of doubt from Q. By the end of the playoffs I would say Brookbank was the better player with Rozy looking very slow and also frequently not able to keep his position. All that said, Brookbank is a decent 7th dman. But on a team with realistic shot at winning the Cup you would like more consistency.

I would love see Zack Smith from Ottawa in Hawks jersey. Perfect 3rd line center IMO. Don´t know what he would cost or is he even in play? But what about Leddy+LeBlanc for Smith and Ottawa´s 3rd round pick this year (70th overall)?
- MjulQvist

Ottawa is going to lose their entire 2nd line in Spezza trade and their two ufa's. I think a trade of Sharp and Oduya (to play with Karlsson) is a possibility. Just don't know what the return would be for both. I do think we could get Zack Smith and Greening for J.O. and a lower level prospect or maybe Zack Smith and Chris Phillips for J.O. and pick/prospect. I don't see a deal with Sharp and Oduya to Ottawa that works out well for Hawks. Thoughts?

The have started to lock up their guys. Varly, Duchene, and Landy are all signed long term. EJ still has a lot of term and good value on his contract. MacKinnon still on ELC so thats not a concern yet. If they can lock up ROR and Barrie at good deals, they have their core set for 5-6 years. Thats what I am hoping for thsi offseason
- DDM-Coga

We would do a Leddy for Barrie deal so you don't have to worry about that

It's a shame they will lose Statsny with nothing to show for it.
- paulr

Still trying to get him signed, have to wait till the 20th for talks to start up again, hopefully there is enough cash to move around. News came out that Avs are shopping PAP so thats 4m to reassign to Stastny. I give it 50/50 he reups

We would do a Leddy for Barrie deal so you don't have to worry about that
- Sundevil

We would do a Leddy for Barrie deal so you don't have to worry about that
- Sundevil

At least we wouldn't have to play against Barrie any more...that kid kills us.

@mckeenshockey: 2) Marian Hossa took 40.3% of CHI's shots when he was on the ice as per @ExtraSkater . A great sign for his production, even at 35 yrs old.

Ottawa is going to lose their entire 2nd line in Spezza trade and their two ufa's. I think a trade of Sharp and Oduya (to play with Karlsson) is a possibility. Just don't know what the return would be for both. I do think we could get Zack Smith and Greening for J.O. and a lower level prospect or maybe Zack Smith and Chris Phillips for J.O. and pick/prospect. I don't see a deal with Sharp and Oduya to Ottawa that works out well for Hawks. Thoughts?
- FourOrr

You guys have to look at our team ,Zsmith is going to be our forth line center,we really dont have a need for Oduya.The forwards look to be as follows


Macarther/Turris /Stone

Fa/trade/ michalek/Zibby/Ryan

Fa /trade/Fa/trade/Lazar

Greening /Smith/Condra


We are breaking in at least one rookie on each of the first three lines ,we are also losing our first line center .Were just not able to give up Smith right now ,We just dont have the experience

If the Kesler buzz is legit, I think any thoughts of a solid 2C coming to Chicago just disappeared. All of the other 2C options are just not cap realistic without creating another gaping hole somewhere else in the lineup.

I would say prepare for only the addition of a new 4C and some deck shuffling to try and make solid third and fourth lines out of Rockford folk + recent deals + existing roster.

Only way I think there is any deviation from these plans is if 88 is linking renewal to playing alongside a real 2C.

I also think anything over $8MM x 8 years for 19 and 88 pretty much dooms improving this roster going forward absent unforeseen talent stepping way up - like Rasmussen, TT, or any of the other Rockford players.

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

Yeah, pretty much everyone knows this

If the Kesler buzz is legit, I think any thoughts of a solid 2C coming to Chicago just disappeared. All of the other 2C options are just not cap realistic without creating another gaping hole somewhere else in the lineup.

I would say prepare for only the addition of a new 4C and some deck shuffling to try and make solid third and fourth lines out of Rockford folk + recent deals + existing roster.

Only way I think there is any deviation from these plans is if 88 is linking renewal to playing alongside a real 2C.

I also think anything over $8MM x 8 years for 19 and 88 pretty much dooms improving this roster going forward absent unforeseen talent stepping way up - like Rasmussen, TT, or any of the other Rockford players.
- Return of the Roar

Probably right. But I guessed 9.0 x 8 for Thing 1 and Thing 2

If the Kesler buzz is legit, I think any thoughts of a solid 2C coming to Chicago just disappeared. All of the other 2C options are just not cap realistic without creating another gaping hole somewhere else in the lineup.

I would say prepare for only the addition of a new 4C and some deck shuffling to try and make solid third and fourth lines out of Rockford folk + recent deals + existing roster.

Only way I think there is any deviation from these plans is if 88 is linking renewal to playing alongside a real 2C.

I also think anything over $8MM x 8 years for 19 and 88 pretty much dooms improving this roster going forward absent unforeseen talent stepping way up - like Rasmussen, TT, or any of the other Rockford players.
- Return of the Roar

They will:

- Get a 3rd/4th line center
- Trade Oduya or Leddy
- Find a depth forward
- Sign Kane/Toews to long-term contracts

That is going to be their moves this offseason. A team who came within one lucky bounce of winning a Stanley Cup should not be overhauling their roster.

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

Only way he comes to Chi is if he's bought out, therefore, he's a FA and would sign for whatever he and the team work out. Hawks would not sign him at $5.7 million per.

There is some valid scuttlebutt that certain FA's would come to Chicago for a lesser amount because of location, the chance to win a Cup.

They will:

- Get a 3rd/4th line center
- Trade Oduya or Leddy
- Find a depth forward
- Sign Kane/Toews to long-term contracts

That is going to be their moves this offseason.
- CaptainBlackhawk

What are they going to get for Oduya or Leddy in your estimation ?

You guys have to look at our team ,Zsmith is going to be our forth line center,we really dont have a need for Oduya.The forwards look to be as follows


Macarther/Turris /Stone

Fa/trade/ michalek/Zibby/Ryan

Fa /trade/Fa/trade/Lazar

Greening /Smith/Condra


We are breaking in at least one rookie on each of the first three lines ,we are also losing our first line center .Were just not able to give up Smith right now ,We just dont have the experience
- top shelf 15

I have read somewhere that a solid left hand defensive partner that can work with Karlsson would be on Ottawa's wish list. Oduya could be a fellow Swede that would look really good along side Karlsson - no?

@mckeenshockey: 2) Marian Hossa took 40.3% of CHI's shots when he was on the ice as per @ExtraSkater . A great sign for his production, even at 35 yrs old.
- DarthKane

Still, at 90% of what he once was, but smarter with experience, a great two-way player. The back issue now the last two postseasons is something to watch. Those don't get better with age.

What are they going to get for Oduya or Leddy in your estimation ?
- mrpaulish

That's a good question. I could see Stan getting pick (s) back in return, and clearing the cap space. It could very well be a forward plus pick (s). Moving either or also allows you to bring up one of your blue liners this team DOES have depth with in their system (at a cheaper cost).

With this core, Stan simply has never made a huge move. And, frankly, I'm not sure a huge move is needed this offseason.

I truly believe the Hawks had interest in Keslah - when they found out that it would cost them Saad plus, they realized the Canucks were batshiate crazy and moved along. Couple that with how effective the Shaw/Kane/Saad line looked, not sure Stan is in the same emergency mode that most fans are about a 2C.

Still, at 90% of what he once was, but smarter with experience, a great two-way player. The back issue now the last two postseasons is something to watch. Those don't get better with age.
- John Jaeckel

Which is why I think he needs to be given "games off" during the year to make sure he's as close to 100% for when the playoffs start.

I dont' necessarily believe it's worth taxing all your top guys during the regular season. The Kings proved this year....again....that if you can get hot and settle on a potential line up the last 20 games or so and get that rolling....good things happen.

They will:

- Get a 3rd/4th line center
- Trade Oduya or Leddy
- Find a depth forward
- Sign Kane/Toews to long-term contracts

That is going to be their moves this offseason. A team who came within one lucky bounce of winning a Stanley Cup should not be overhauling their roster.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Meanwhile, the others in the West have cap room and desire to get better. This is the real issue to me. Will the status quo be enough to keep ahead of the competition?