So in your opinion hossa is elite?? Bcz in everybody else's world he does not crack top 20 fowards in the league.
- joshs

I would put him among the top 20 defensive forwards without blinking. He may not have his game night in and night out, but he's still capable of producing at an elite rate. And he doesn't need to be a top 20 player anymore (note the use of "anymore"), he only needs to justify his cap hit, which he more than does.

Considering how well managed the team is. Yes I do. Not really sure how you argue with success.
- glove_was_stuck

I agree with this. I mean, it is definitely a lot to be paying two guys, but in the end, who has been better managed than the Hawks lately? (not many teams is what I'm saying here) So it's kind of hard to second-guess them right now.

- YzermanIsTheMan

It's amazing how fans and media lose their mind over contracts like this. Like it's some big win when the Bruins get 2nd or 3rd teir talent on a "great deal". (frank) that. I want the guys who can win. I want cups. I don't care if some bumhole billionaire saved money while raising ticket prices.

I agree with this. I mean, it is definitely a lot to be paying two guys, but in the end, who has been better managed than the Hawks lately? (not many teams is what I'm saying here) So it's kind of hard to second-guess them right now.
- SolidGoldBricks

They were an absolute wagon in 2010, won the cup and then had to let a ton of guys go. Three years later, they win another cup and then go into game 7 of the west final last season. They acquire the right guys and draft really well. IMO best team in the league by a mile.

They were an absolute wagon in 2010, won the cup and then had to let a ton of guys go. Three years later, they win another cup and then go into game 7 of the west final last season. They acquire the right guys and draft really well. IMO best team in the league by a mile.
- glove_was_stuck

hawks are a mile better than the team that knocked them out, and has won the cup twice in the last 3 years? not likely, plus they are in cap hell, especially next year (71 million with 15 players signed) Kings are the best team in the league without a doubt

It's amazing how fans and media lose their mind over contracts like this. Like it's some big win when the Bruins get 2nd or 3rd teir talent on a "great deal". (frank) that. I want the guys who can win. I want cups. I don't care if some bumhole billionaire saved money while raising ticket prices.
- glove_was_stuck

Chicago beat writers are already saying that there will be a fire sale next year.
I guess it will be interesting to see how they manage to even ice the decent team
after next year to stay in the contenders territory.

So in your opinion hossa is elite?? Bcz in everybody else's world he does not crack top 20 fowards in the league.
- joshs

You really shouldn't talk for anybody else but yourself
Hossa was elite now a very good hockey player that most teams would love to have

You really shouldn't talk for anybody else but yourself
Hossa was elite now a very good hockey player that most teams would love to have
- Daddichronic

Eli Manning is ELIte

I think it's more the echo chamber of the media in and around Toronto that keeps harping on a Phaneuf trade!!

Man, some real bumholes come out of the woodwork on this site just to bag on the Leafs but I guess that's to be expected when Eklund puts out a POS blog like this.

It's amazing how fans and media lose their mind over contracts like this. Like it's some big win when the Bruins get 2nd or 3rd teir talent on a "great deal". (frank) that. I want the guys who can win. I want cups. I don't care if some bumhole billionaire saved money while raising ticket prices.
- glove_was_stuck

This.
Kane and Toews came up for new contracts at the best possible time for them. If Crosby, Ovi, Malkin, etc., were due this year their contracts would be similar or exceed what Chicago paid out. Does it put a strain on the team financially? Of course it does. But when you have two franchise cornerstones that have won two cups, one conn smythe each, and individual awards, what as a team are you supposed to do? Let them walk? They were also in cap hell after 2010, but recovered quite nicely I would say. It's a matter of re-tooling around the core, of which they now have locked up long term.

For those saying their greedy for taking this much, don't forget they also have a responsibility to the players association to take as much as they can and set market value. Do you think Stamkos would be happy if they accepted $8 million like some are suggesting? Please.

Man, some real bumholes come out of the woodwork on this site just to bag on the Leafs but I guess that's to be expected when Eklund puts out a POS blog like this.
- Conquest

Translation: It's bad if other people bash things but it's OK for me to do it

I think we should give Dion one more chance. Yes he's been bad. Yes he's a terrible captain. But that could all change just be simply taking the C of his chest and giving him a better defensive partner than what he's been paired with. Dion used to be a two-way defensive player but he's been forced to play the stay-at-home game due to the lack of skill in his partners. Maybe a partnership with a stay-at-home guy is just what Dion needs.

This way we get to burn at least one year off of Dion's contract before we get to hear more trade offers at the deadline. If he's really that bad again next year there is always the buy-out option though I would prefer Phaneuf to get shipped out to a team who will give us a full return and take his full salary (like that's gonna happen).

One more year for Dion with a new partner and let's see if it's him or the people he's playing with.

hawks are a mile better than the team that knocked them out, and has won the cup twice in the last 3 years? not likely, plus they are in cap hell, especially next year (71 million with 15 players signed) Kings are the best team in the league without a doubt
- GardinerExpress

Yes that's what I said. They won in 2010 and though I wish they didn't, they won in 2013. That actually happened in real life. How do you question that? Also, they took LA to game 7 in the west final.

You're forgetting that they draft well too which eases "cap hell" I would take Chicago's core and front office over L.A.'s or any other team every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Name one person who wouldn't take keith/seabrook and towes/kane as their teams cornerstone

If the Leafs were to trade Dion wouldn't they have traded him BEFORE July 1st when his NTC kicked in?

Name one person who wouldn't take keith/seabrook and towes/kane as their teams cornerstone
- Flyfreaky

This.
Kane and Toews came up for new contracts at the best possible time for them. If Crosby, Ovi, Malkin, etc., were due this year their contracts would be similar or exceed what Chicago paid out. Does it put a strain on the team financially? Of course it does. But when you have two franchise cornerstones that have won two cups, one conn smythe each, and individual awards, what as a team are you supposed to do? Let them walk? They were also in cap hell after 2010, but recovered quite nicely I would say. It's a matter of re-tooling around the core, of which they now have locked up long term.

For those saying their greedy for taking this much, don't forget they also have a responsibility to the players association to take as much as they can and set market value. Do you think Stamkos would be happy if they accepted $8 million like some are suggesting? Please.
- darkman

Why should they have to just accept 8 million? They're the 2 of best players in the league and in their prime. 2 Cups and was one game away from playing for a 3rd.

- eichiefs9

Translation: It's bad if other people bash things but it's OK for me to do it
- eichiefs9

I've bashed things? Where?! No but seriously, criticism is fine. I just love when most of the jackals on here get all "phaneuf plays for the leafs, obviously he sucks hahaha"

I've bashed things? Where?! No but seriously, criticism is fine. I just love when most of the jackals on here get all "phaneuf plays for the leafs, obviously he sucks hahaha"
- Conquest

but I guess that's to be expected when Eklund puts out a POS blog like this.
- Conquest

I've bashed things? Where?! No but seriously, criticism is fine. I just love when most of the jackals on here get all "phaneuf plays for the leafs, obviously he sucks hahaha"
- Conquest

So which part is incorrect?

- eichiefs9

I said a person, not an as*hole

I said a person, not an as*hole
- Flyfreaky

He is subhuman as far as I'm concerned.

He is subhuman as far as I'm concerned.
- eichiefs9

I really want him to just knock Roenick the (frank) out though.