One trade i would love to see Stan pull off is Zack Smith from Ottawa, would really fill out our bottom 6 nicley.

Who Bickell? Crawford?

I could see Bickell being moved to open up cap space for Saad.

I'd be surprised if Sharp, Bickell, or Leddy were here in two years. Oduya probably moved as well, but he should not move this year, defensive depth is questionable.
- kwolf68

Bickell.

The Smith and Raanta signings are 100% brilliant .



Great start to the day .
- mrpaulish

Careful, you'll be accused of drinking the kool-aid...

Who Bickell? Crawford?

I could see Bickell being moved to open up cap space for Saad.

I'd be surprised if Sharp, Bickell, or Leddy were here in two years. Oduya probably moved as well, but he should not move this year, defensive depth is questionable.
- kwolf68

I'm guessing Oduya is an ex-Hawk in the next 48 hours.

The Smith and Raanta signings are 100% brilliant .



Great start to the day .
- mrpaulish

How can something so obviously necessary be "100% brilliant"?

It had to get done - it was going to get done - it got done - probably without much effort by Stan.

Careful, you'll be accused of drinking the kool-aid...
- Tanuki

Not me.



Just wait until the Hawks dont aquire a top 6 center this weekend.....The Kool Aide will be spilled.....

How can something so obviously necessary be "100% brilliant"?

It had to get done - it was going to get done - it got done - probably without much effort by Stan.
- StLBravesFan

THE COST is what is Brilliant .

Sharp is 32, has to play with however Q gives him and still has a team leading best year at 78 points and a career consistent positive +/-. And a two time, key contributing SC winner, with a $5.9m cap hit
Kesler will be 30 in 60 days, had 43 points this year, 11, last, and 41 the previous. His +/- has been negative two years running. No SC wins, and a likely $5m+ cap hit.

Sharp is nearly as much a grinder as Kesler, isn't afraid of the corners or hits, and can play center (2010 SCC).

Player for player anyone would prefer Sharp. To give up him for Kesler it's a net loss. To add Kesler with him is the only play.
Period.
- fvineze

Not bad but I'd rather have the Hawks address 2C.

Nothing against Sharp other than he doesn't play center. IMO you can't have 4 (maybe 5 now with Saad) fwds identified as Core guys and only one is a center.

Kesler definitely had a some injury issues and his production slipped but last year he was more the guy he was in 2011; 25 G last year on a bad Nuck team. That's only 7 less than Sharp.

We need centers and he would look great with Kane and Saad while adding a little size to the lineup. I think his 43 pts would improve skating with 88 and 20.

If they do get him I don't se how you fit 10's salary in and I like TC's idea of flipping him for potentially lost your in the Kesler trade.

We'll see I guess.

Careful, you'll be accused of drinking the kool-aid...
- Tanuki

I don't think anyone will think you're drinking the kool-aid thinking Ben Smith is a great deal. Raanta hasn't proven himself 100%, but that deal he signed is cheap as hell.

I don't think anyone will think you're drinking the kool-aid thinking Ben Smith is a great deal. Raanta hasn't proven himself 100%, but that deal he signed is cheap as hell.
- JRoenick97

Sorry, I was just being sarcastic.

I'm guessing Oduya is an ex-Hawk in the next 48 hours.
- dan9189

Could be. Although I still would trade leddy before him

Does Bickell get you a Zach Smith???

seems like a fair deal for both clubs

Sorry, I was just being sarcastic.
- Tanuki

Hah, no worries. I need a sarcastic font or punctuation I think.

Hah, no worries. I need a sarcastic font or punctuation I think.
- JRoenick97

I forgot the red font - my bad.

Does Bickell get you a Zach Smith???

seems like a fair deal for both clubs
- ChicagoDave

i would make that trade, Zack is signed for 3 more years at 1.8. cap relief and a very good 3rd line centre

I forgot the red font - my bad.
- Tanuki

bumhole

Could be. Although I still would trade leddy before him
- tomcat24

I would too but this reminds me of last year when everyone knew Bolland would be traded at the draft even though there weren't really any strong rumors of it. Oduya is in his early 30's, has 1 year left on deal which is over $3mil, Hawks need cap space, etc. It all adds up to him being dealt.

Could be. Although I still would trade leddy before him
- tomcat24

I would too but this reminds me of last year when everyone knew Bolland would be traded at the draft even though there weren't really any strong rumors of it. Oduya is in his early 30's, has 1 year left on deal which is over $3mil, Hawks need cap space, etc. It all adds up to him being dealt.

Not bad but I'd rather have the Hawks address 2C.

Nothing against Sharp other than he doesn't play center. IMO you can't have 4 (maybe 5 now with Saad) fwds identified as Core guys and only one is a center.

Kesler definitely had a some injury issues and his production slipped but last year he was more the guy he was in 2011; 25 G last year on a bad Nuck team. That's only 7 less than Sharp.

We need centers and he would look great with Kane and Saad while adding a little size to the lineup. I think his 43 pts would improve skating with 88 and 20.

If they do get him I don't se how you fit 10's salary in and I like TC's idea of flipping him for potentially lost your in the Kesler trade.

We'll see I guess.
- HawkintheD

we both had that idea. Less than 8 hours to go until we get our answer

THE COST is what is Brilliant .
- mrpaulish

Smith was a strict 4th liner - averaged about 12 1/2 TOI - made $575,000 last year - no one would give him more than $1.5MM, especially since he was only RFA.

Raanta was terrible after Crawford came back - was lucky he made an NHL salary for almost all of last year - now he has a one-way at above minimum wage.

Don't get me wrong - the signings are good - glad both are back - but I'm not giving Stan any credit for getting a "steal" here.

One trade i would love to see Stan pull off is Zack Smith from Ottawa, would really fill out our bottom 6 nicley.
- SaskHawkFan

THIS!!!

Then Stan would just need to find one more Smith for a Smith-Smith-Smith 4th line.

I totally can see that .


Sharp by himself may propel FLA into the playoffs . The East is bruutallll.


If Florida doesnt make the playoffs this season Dale could be fired .
- mrpaulish

Mr P you hit this right on. Dales future depends on what happens today

Smith was a strict 4th liner - averaged about 12 1/2 TOI - made $575,000 last year - no one would give him more than $1.5MM, especially since he was only RFA.

Raanta was terrible after Crawford came back - was lucky he made an NHL salary for almost all of last year - now he has a one-way at above minimum wage.

Don't get me wrong - the signings are good - glad both are back - but I'm not giving Stan any credit for getting a "steal" here.
- StLBravesFan

Smith was pretty much chained to the 4th line all season.

Wasnt until the end of the season and playoffs where they started using smith in all situations, including 2nd line, 3rd line, and pk

and i think thats what they were paying him based on

we both had that idea. Less than 8 hours to go until we get our answer
- tomcat24

Hope it's more like XMAS as a kid with toys under the tree vs as an adult...socks and underwear.

I would too but this reminds me of last year when everyone knew Bolland would be traded at the draft even though there weren't really any strong rumors of it. Oduya is in his early 30's, has 1 year left on deal which is over $3mil, Hawks need cap space, etc. It all adds up to him being dealt.
- dan9189

That makes sense. I just wonder what kind of return he brings? Hope it would be used in a bigger trade and not just for a 2nd and a 3rd