So with the cap debacle, and Stan possibly having to clean house, does that open up a spot for Kevin Hayes?

yes i was aware of the discussion but on pure value to the team 4 mil for a big lazy winger that has all the tools to be a 30 goal, 200 hit player but doesnt want to compete for a full season...yes he is very valuable in the playoffs but i was referring to overall value by taking into account both seasons....both of them are very frustrating
- EnzoD

I just find it funny how Bickell gets cut little to no slack for the fact that he was coming off the shortest off-season ever, with multiple, verifiable injuries...and yet lots of people are just dying to throw the injury excuse out there for Sharp when there is not even one shred of evidence to suggest that he was in fact hurt.

They have to trade Versteeg right?

Dont matter now does it?
- BlazinMike

Only to the people that keep saying "one bounce away"

They have to trade Versteeg right?
- rollpards19

You'll be sorry. Don't say you weren't warned.

They have to trade Versteeg right?
- rollpards19

No doubt. Morin is ready.

I'm sure Stan is relieved. With this cap number he can say he was unable to do anything. He can. Sharp is a very tradable commodity that could open space to obtain C help. The previous post was dead on. The core will be ridden till it dies. Sharp will have to go this year or next Stan.

I might do it, but I doubt Tallon takes that deal (or hasn't been offered more) or that Bowman would offer TT since he's so high on him.

Personally, I do think TT has the ability to make the big show this year (after some time in the Rock) and would do well to be between Sharp and Hossa. I'm in the minority on that though, I know.
- L_B_R

What? Sharp + Leddy + the 27th pick + TT + 3rd pick for 1st pick overall this year? Waaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

And I've spewed a lot of it.

I don't care about losing Kessler; I was hoping they could do something somewhere - but with the league screwing up the cap situation, that's going to be difficult.

I'm so angry with the league over the cap situation - with all due respect to Paul if this happened in a normal business - where an error caused multiple parts of the business to have to scramble in days just to stay ahead of their budget - heads would roll - at high levels.

But - I'm going to stop posting about it, and look forward - hopefully, progress can still be made this summer.
- StLBravesFan

I hope none of us stop talking about this. The move was total bush league, and Bettman needs to have his a$$ put to the fire as to why the league is run the way it is. God forbid if I ever meet the man I don't know what I would do.....

I just find it funny how Bickell gets cut little to no slack for the fact that he was coming off the shortest off-season ever, with multiple, verifiable injuries...and yet lots of people are just dying to throw the injury excuse out there for Sharp when there is not even one shred of evidence to suggest that he was in fact hurt.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ditto!

Bickell actually started to turn it on at the end of the season and at least pulled his weight in the playoffs.

They have to trade Versteeg right?
- rollpards19

I feel like a defenceman goes first.

Only to the people that keep saying "one bounce away"
- InvisibleOrange

Whether they were one bounce away or exited in the first round, it does NOT matter how close the Hawks came to acquiring Kesler...they didnt, gotta move on.

I just find it funny how Bickell gets cut little to no slack for the fact that he was coming off the shortest off-season ever, with multiple, verifiable injuries...and yet lots of people are just dying to throw the injury excuse out there for Sharp when there is not even one shred of evidence to suggest that he was in fact hurt.
- Ogilthorpe2

if you honestly think that Bickell's lack of production was due to his knee sprain and not his lack of effort and compete level then i guess lets just agree to disagree there. a sprained knee is no excuse for a 15 point 4 million dollar man that was given ample opportunity in the top six....and i am not one of those who wants to give Sharp a free pass...he stopped competing once he made team canada and he moped around the rest of the season/playoffs bc he was in a "slump"

I hope none of us stop talking about this. The move was total bush league, and Bettman needs to have his a$$ put to the fire as to why the league is run the way it is. God forbid if I ever meet the man I don't know what I would do.....
- powerenforcer

I hope you're joking.

You do realize Bettman doesn't arbitrarily set the cap, that the cap is set by thirty NHL owners of which few, if any, want the cap to increase.

Whether they were one bounce away or exited in the first round, it does NOT matter how close the Hawks came to acquiring Kesler...they didnt, gotta move on.
- BlazinMike

Agreed. Not going to the cup doesn't come with consolation prizes because of how the series ended. Almost acquiring a player still means the same thing: someone else acquired him.

Kesler: "Anaheim and Chicago were my two teams. To be honest, I was only asked to waive my no-trade to Anaheim."

Whether they were one bounce away or exited in the first round, it does NOT matter how close the Hawks came to acquiring Kesler...they didnt, gotta move on.
- BlazinMike

Think how screwed they'd be cap-wise if they had gotten Kesler for Leddy, TT, and a pick.

So ANA got Kesler, the Blues might get Stastny or Spezza, COL is stacked at center with or without Stastny, MIN has a solid group of centers, and now Dallas is supposedly looking into trading for Jumbo Joe.

I'm not saying i want jumbo joe to come to the Hawks, i just hope Stan and co can find a way to clear cap space and get some center depth. Even its one or two 3rd or 4th line guys. Just natural centers who can win faceoffs and skate.

I'm sure Stan is relieved. With this cap number he can say he was unable to do anything. He can. Sharp is a very tradable commodity that could open space to obtain C help. The previous post was dead on. The core will be ridden till it dies. Sharp will have to go this year or next Stan.
- z1990z

He could've made the Cap number work...

I'll be interested to see what his final offer for Kesler was.

I hope you're joking.

You do realize Bettman doesn't arbitrarily set the cap, that the cap is set by thirty NHL owners of which few, if any, want the cap to increase.
- paulr

The NHLPA plays a part too.

So lets be real here....

You aren't getting much IF anything back for Versteeg.

So that leaves:

Oduya
Sharp
Leddy
Bickell
Rozsival

As probably the main trade chips. So before we continue the Spezza, or Stasny, or Nielsen love...do the math on cap geek and know right now the Hawk are NOT compliant with the cap.

And also know the return wont' be as high for any trade as it would IF the cap came in at, at least 70 million.

What an absolute kick in the nuts.
- SteveRain

You get his cap hit off the books. That is the value in moving him. He isn't the same player he was.

If it works put that way, then have to lose more of the core (Keith? Seabrook?), consider the next three or four years to be transitional waiting for the cap to go up and hope a Rockford develops replacements.

Which means maybe (MAYBE) it's best to do nothing (except get under the cap) this summer, hope Shaw/TT/a cheap retread can handle the two open center slots, hope Morin and Versteeg come around, and see what develops.
- StLBravesFan

yep...you need all your home grown talent to grow up, be contributors and improve every year...cuz if you dont...you end up like the Nucks with old players with big money contracts

I hope you're joking.

You do realize Bettman doesn't arbitrarily set the cap, that the cap is set by thirty NHL owners of which few, if any, want the cap to increase.
- paulr

You must be related the the count. Stop making excuses for the dope. If they don't want the cap to increase, why do they continue hand out pay increases like there is no tomorrow. And Bettman is the commissioner, so as a fan I see him as ultimately responsible for the league.

You get his cap hit off the books. That is the value in moving him. He isn't the same player he was.
- Elbows15

Exactly. Morin is more than capable of taking his spot & is under half the $$.

Think how screwed they'd be cap-wise if they had gotten Kesler for Leddy, TT, and a pick.
- Ogilthorpe2

Not to mention next year, when Toews' and Kane's new deals kick in and they have to re-up Kruger and Saad.