He is like a child playing nhl 14 for sure
- todd1a

Didn't Stevie Y do the same thing last year?

Didn't Stevie Y do the same thing last year?

- StargateSG1

did Yzerman give Vinny that contract?

Way better?? Since 2008/09 Sharp has 348pts, Spezza has 367pts. Sharp scored 158goals over that time, Spezza scored 135goals.

Sharp is 2years younger. Better defensively, and is under contract for a few more years...

So yes, trade would definitely be Spezza+ for Sharp.
- BoBBeR56

so Toews and Kane or whoever are the same as Michalek and ALfie/Turris?

Spezza is one dimensional player. He is old and could put up solid points as second line center but for the price and expiring contract you a better to go after either statsny or O'reliy because they cant keep both.

Col. needs defense bad. I think they a leaning towards keeping statsny

So col. gets Dion Phaneuf

Tor. get O'Reily.

Works out for both teams and Toronto gets top line center for years to come.
- hanleyaj

Doesnt work out at all....

did Yzerman give Vinny that contract?
- EnzoD

You got me there, I guess.

There are only a few teams that have both compliance buyouts left
unused. Most teams have a bad contract or 2.
4 of the teams used up both of theirs last summer.
Hawks are one of them, BTW.

done. and nobody thinks kesler is worth more than that except the canuckleheads front office and their fans
- EnzoD

seriously? the canadian media (tsn, sportsnet, etc) talk about kesler like he's the 2nd coming of gretzky........i almost think, the way they talk, that they feel like it pitt traded him straight up for malkin, the pens would win the deal.

seriously? the canadian media (tsn, sportsnet, etc) talk about kesler like he's the 2nd coming of gretzky........i almost think, the way they talk, that they feel like it pitt traded him straight up for malkin, the pens would win the deal.
- sensarmy_11

well i dont get much canadian media in chicagoland but based on his unimpressive Olympics next to Kane I dont see the Hawks overpaying for him.

well i dont get much canadian media in chicagoland but based on his unimpressive Olympics next to Kane I dont see the Hawks overpaying for him.
- EnzoD

no offense, but i kind of hope you guys do overpay for him (and acquire him before spezza is traded) cuz it just makes spezza worth that much more.

no offense, but i kind of hope you guys do overpay for him (and acquire him before spezza is traded) cuz it just makes spezza worth that much more.
- sensarmy_11

well as JJ brought up in an earlier comment, I could definitely see this sudden rumor of Spezza to the Hawks as a ploy by the Hawks front office to lower Vancouver's asking price...hopefully the Hawks get one of them bc it would be a massive upgrade over Shaw/Kruger/TT/ depth UFA center...and without overpaying, bc Stan Bowman is as frugal as they get

no offense, but i kind of hope you guys do overpay for him (and acquire him before spezza is traded) cuz it just makes spezza worth that much more.
- sensarmy_11

Josh Bailey and the rights to Rick DiPietro for Spezza

well as JJ brought up in an earlier comment, I could definitely see this sudden rumor of Spezza to the Hawks as a ploy by the Hawks front office to lower Vancouver's asking price...hopefully the Hawks get one of them bc it would be a massive upgrade over Shaw/Kruger/TT/ depth UFA center...and without overpaying, bc Stan Bowman is as frugal as they get
- EnzoD

the spezza rumour has to either be a ploy, or BS from eklund, or else the return is completely different. i put the chance of the sens wanting sharp somewhere between "no" and "hell no".....and like i said, not cuz he isn't a good player, but his age and price are exactly the opposite of what murray has repeatedly said he wants.

if kesler falls through, would you do teuvo and a 1st for spezza? maybe throw in versteeg or something to offset the salary a bit

Josh Bailey and the rights to Rick DiPietro for Spezza
- eichiefs9

not enough....now if you still had the yashin buyout to include, then we could talk

Just my spidey sense, which has been wrong before, but the tea leaves are telling me watch Vancouver and Kesler to Chicago. For some reason, great source told me a few hours ago VAN for some reason came back to the table today after the Hawks shut it down for them demanding Saad. So maybe Teravainen gets it done and Kesler has Chicago on his list. Dunno. For some reason, though, I agree, I'm not as confident in the Spezza rumor. And THAT could be what brought Benning back. Personally, i think Bowman is willing to put some pretty nice chips down: Teravainen, Leddy, maybe Sharp. Though not Saad.
- John Jaeckel

Kesler fits a couple of key boxes. Offensive 2 way center, appeases Kane (hopefully lowering how much Kane signs for).

JJ- do you think the Hawks make a deal ASAP if they can or make it during the draft?

Sharp straight up for Spezza makes sense since center ice is more of a coveted position.

the spezza rumour has to either be a ploy, or BS from eklund, or else the return is completely different. i put the chance of the sens wanting sharp somewhere between "no" and "hell no".....and like i said, not cuz he isn't a good player, but his age and price are exactly the opposite of what murray has repeatedly said he wants.

if kesler falls through, would you do teuvo and a 1st for spezza? maybe throw in versteeg or something to offset the salary a bit
- sensarmy_11

Need to throw in more salary if Sharp isnt going back to Ottawa bc of the Hawks cap situation

I do not see Bryan Murray making that deal. He said he wants a younger player. Maybe Sharp for Kesler, but I doubt Spezza for Sharp will happen.

So the Rags will pay Richards $14MM spread over the next 12 years.

Guaranteed contracts need to go.
- ImThatGuy

If you take away the guaranteed contracts you will end up with NFL contracts with huge signing bonuses and other roster bonuses etc. but contract terms not amounting to the paper they are printed on. Also holdouts will become more of a norm. I'm not saying I like the guaranteed contracts, but the other end of the spectrum isn't peaches and cream either

That would take at least another lockout.
- StargateSG1

And this would happen also

Nope. Guaranteed contracts are the only thing that is going to keep owners honest.
- MnGump

Agreed

I actually like that deal.

spezza's value diminishes bc he is a UFA after next year....sharp is signed for 3 more years at under 6 mil for a 1st LW....that is why this trade is fair bc the Hawks assume risk by trading for a soon to be UFA
- EnzoD

Agreed. The fact teams can't talk to Spezza before any trade diminishes his value which seems to be lost on alot of people. He has one year remaining which for any team that acquires him will be taking a risk that Spezza will want to re-sign AND they can come to terms on an extension. Otherwise the acquiring team is getting nothing more than a 1 year rental

How does it not work out. You are an idiot.
- hanleyaj

Go back to junior high....


I'm sure Colorado is itching to have Dion at 7x7 when the whole issue with ROR is they want him to fit the structure of the rest of the group coming in around 6 mill.....

Willie Desjardins choosing to coach the Canucks over the Penguins is stunning. Maybe Sidney Crosby can be their player-coach next year.

— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) June 20, 2014

If you take away the guaranteed contracts you will end up with NFL contracts with huge signing bonuses and other roster bonuses etc. but contract terms not amounting to the paper they are printed on. Also holdouts will become more of a norm. I'm not saying I like the guaranteed contracts, but the other end of the spectrum isn't peaches and cream either
- uf1910

Yep, that was pretty much my argument as well, just not qquite as clear as yours!

If people want to side with ownership on this, then don't sign these guys for such long exorbitant terms as well as let them have NMC's and what not on top of it. The owners are the ones willing to handcuff themselves to these dumb deals, they should be stuck paying them til the end and stuck with the cap hit as well til the end.

Bye Bye Brad. Call Bettman for an apology since he and his boys changed the rules. You will undoubtedly give some other team a huge bang for their bucks. Good luck to you.
- TJ

You hit it on the nose here. He may have stayed if the old CBA was intact AND if Sather was able to deal Nash. Unfortunately, Rangers need Richard's cap $$$ to resign some very key players like Zucc, Brass, and Krieder.