Shaw is a center and has played center pretty much his whole time with hawks.

And the rest? Shaw plays way bigger than Eller.
- Elbows15

Third line with Eller (C) + Shaw (W) >>> than third line with Shaw (C) + just about anyone the Hawks have/could afford to get (W)

Yes Shaw has played some center but he is perfectly suited to be a 3rd line wing and his numbers show it...when he has the added responsibility of center duties, his overall production goes down. And please don't point to the LA series when he centered Kane & Saad...they caught lightening in a bottle and it was awesome but Saad would not be playing with anyone remotely close to Kane's talent on any 3rd line. He can't play his style of game and be a top 6 guy, he just uses too much energy, which is a good thing.....as a 3rd line wing.

Nice read Ty...good article. I still don't know if they'll move Sharpie I think he's here for one more Cup run. Some really interesting scenarios there.

I don't think Versteeg will have any takers. I'm hopeful that he's going to be better this season with the knee injury a full year behind him and a summer in the gym.

Bickell underperformed in this year's playoffs, but again if you move him who takes that spot. And its a cap friendly deal he could have taken more money elsewhere after the 2013 run.

So down to defensemen or a package...of course if Stan didn't hand out NMCs to almost every player one would think he'd have an easier time making moves.
- DK002

If they can get to a place where they keep Sharp for another year, then it'll be a combo of Versteeg, Rozy, Oduya and/or Leddy that have to go. Could be tricky to move more players vs. one larger salary after looking at everyone's cap situation.

Like you said, Versteeg will be tough to move and I'm not an advocate of that because I do think he'll be better and can play up and down the lineup.

It will take some careful maneuvering by Stan - that's for sure.

Bickell also came into last season injured and not in good shape - like Versteeg, let's see what he can do (presumably) healthy and after a (hopefully) productive summer.
- StLBravesFan

You and I see the equation with Bickel part of it. Let him swimm or sink this season. He is in a unique position since there is no one ready this season in the organization whom could replace the combination of things he brings.

Fans can gripe all they want about him. Fans can suggest Seabrook goes eventually as well. But make either available, and the phone will not cease ringing.

So yeah, I side with you St Louis Braves Fan.

Chicago needs Bickel against some Western Conference teams whom have been designed to be stronger and bigger next season. I do not know if anyone can say whether Bickel will be more motivated in the regular season, but with everyone realizing one more skate for the Cup with this group largely intact....Bickel has to be part of the group. Even if he does his best contribution only in the playoffs.

Bickel and Leddy will be candidates to be moved. Possibly Leddy summer time or at a trade deadline. But Bicks is here I would hope for the entire season. These two players have issues but management and fans are just going to have to see how it goes.

Bring up Bickel for salary purge next post season and maybe this board will feel
differently. That is then this is now....hopefully most agree St. Louis Braves Fan.

For sure. It's going to take a willing and capable partner for Stan. Should be an interesting rest of the summer.
- TyCamScore

Did you notice where Bob Murray is bent on collecting a lot of power forwards with draft choices? This and past drafts. I read that somewhere. Looking past drafts, at the scouting reports you see it is true. Maybe Murray likes to become the reincarnation of The Broad Street Bullies. He needs an agitator like Kenny "the Rat" Linseman and maybe more meanness on his back end to earn the comparison to those teams.

Late edit: this would be good quiz for Wiz, tomcat and others who like the Entry Draft: name the five teenagers who signed all in I think 1979 to play as teenagers in the WHA. They were not all on the same team btw.

If your shoulder is intact enough to play playoff hockey, you can casually swing a bat with no issue. When I had a separated shoulder, I could still hit, generally without pain. Throwing was damn near impossible. But hitting uses almost no aggressive shoulder movement at all, it's mostly hips and legs and lower back, and that's only if you're trying to crush the ball.
- Sandus

He probably had a bad shoulder when he was scratched and benched at the Olympics too...

If your shoulder is intact enough to play playoff hockey, you can casually swing a bat with no issue. When I had a separated shoulder, I could still hit, generally without pain. Throwing was damn near impossible. But hitting uses almost no aggressive shoulder movement at all, it's mostly hips and legs and lower back, and that's only if you're trying to crush the ball.
- Sandus

That is a sound explanation. It rings true for me personally too.

A little arthritis and sore muscles in the neck and upper back or shoulder, it is very difficult to throw a ball. I used to still throw fast pitch a couple times each summer with the old rubber ball against the brick walls, but now I had to retire from it after moving into my fifties. I was the only one among friends who could still throw, albeit not too hard as I got older. But I can still swing a bat hard from either side and I don't have the arthritis and sore muscles from neck, shoulder areas bother me too much.

It seems several on this board play hockey. Kind of surprised it took this long before any of us came up with the understanding of the Sharp situation. Unless of course someone nailed it on some pages I missed on one of the blogs.

He probably had a bad shoulder when he was scratched and benched at the Olympics too...
- Bhawks76

...and finished the tournament with the same number of goals as Sidney Crosby.

...and finished the tournament with the same number of goals as Sidney Crosby.
- Sandus

What's your point he was benched and scratched by 3 top coaches in the game

Did you notice where Bob Murray is bent on collecting a lot of power forwards with draft choices? This and past drafts. I read that somewhere. Looking past drafts, at the scouting reports you see it is true. Maybe Murray likes to become the reincarnation of The Broad Street Bullies. He needs an agitator like Kenny "the Rat" Linseman and maybe more meanness on his back end to earn the comparison to those teams.

Late edit: this would be good quiz for Wiz, tomcat and others who like the Entry Draft: name the five teenagers who signed all in I think 1979 to play as teenagers in the WHA. They were not all on the same team btw.
- jhawk59

Sorry but that's above my pay grade. I have only been really following the draft closely for maybe about 10 years and it mostly through hockey news and hockeysfuture.

What's your point he was benched and scratched by 3 top coaches in the game
- Bhawks76

On an Olympic team! Come on, really? Are you trying to say he's not one of the best 12 Canadian forwards in the world? He got scratched for one game, then went out and scored in the next one, and played in the gold medal game too. My point is that your implication that Sharp played poorly in the Olympics is unfair.



P.S. - If Lindy Ruff is on your list for top coaches in the game, that list could use some work.

Shush...only going to whisper this because most are sick hearing about this traitor....but just saw a report that NYR are "hoping to poach" that Blackhawk prospect with actually less than one month shelf life before he can sign elsewhere.

You know who I mean. Sush...quiet. Not trying to make a lot of noise. Oh so NYR and not just Calgary interested. Sather sat on his hands after he dumped Richards, so now he likes you know the Blackhawk guy. Whatever.

So that is news to you as the dog days of summer are near. What, no rain? No hockey after this prospect camp, that is all the hockey happening now.

Add: so Pirri and Olsen signed on again in Florida. Let's see, they have Barkov returning, Bgugstad is a horse and he will score some, then Huberdeau moved to wing. Campbell still down there. Jovanowski let go but they took the Ekblad for the defense. Yep Bolland joins the good ship Tallon. Sounds like ex Blackhawks might be depth players in Florida as well. Is Kulikov ever going to break out? Gudbrudson is of course ahead of Olsen.

My gosh how I would hate hearing about the Heat so much down there and hockey is, well if Tallon did build a winner then they come out. Bolland will be injured and Pirri plays. Yes Marge, they do play hockey down there where they have alligators.

Bickell also came into last season injured and not in good shape - like Versteeg, let's see what he can do (presumably) healthy and after a (hopefully) productive summer.
- StLBravesFan

Good point St. Lou sorry I forgot to mention it...hopefully Bicks gets back to form this season - they'll definitely need him again in the playoffs.

If they can get to a place where they keep Sharp for another year, then it'll be a combo of Versteeg, Rozy, Oduya and/or Leddy that have to go. Could be tricky to move more players vs. one larger salary after looking at everyone's cap situation.

Like you said, Versteeg will be tough to move and I'm not an advocate of that because I do think he'll be better and can play up and down the lineup.

It will take some careful maneuvering by Stan - that's for sure.
- TyCamScore

My guess is still Oduya and Versteeg are moved. The Hawks will receive a 2nd rd pick when Hayes signs elsewhere next month so they can probably add a 2nd rd pick with Versteeg to sweeten the pot. Some team will jump on it.

I would gauge what Oduya wants on his next contract

If he likes being here and gives us a deal, I deal leddy welllll before oduya

Oduya provides so much more than Leddy does and while he isnt a spring chicken, 32 isnt exactly old for a dman

Oduya will still be good for the next 3 years, the prime of our cup window

Im less concerned about what Leddy "could" be 6 years down the line

Just to be sure, we're talking about Ryan Smyth, the ex Oiler who is really old right? Or am i thinking of the wrong guy?
- BlazinMike

Id rather get Ryan Jones...

I would gauge what Oduya wants on his next contract

If he likes being here and gives us a deal, I deal leddy welllll before oduya

Oduya provides so much more than Leddy does and while he isnt a spring chicken, 32 isnt exactly old for a dman

Oduya will still be good for the next 3 years, the prime of our cup window

Im less concerned about what Leddy "could" be 6 years down the line
- FourFeathers773

Three years, Six years...not really worried. Right now next year is the focus. And 27 should remain here, because NO ONE can convince me that ANY of the players who would be projected to play Top 4 minutes (Leddy, Johns, Dahlbeck, Runblad, etc) can handle the job.

That's an awful big risk to take. Nick Leddy is NOT Top 4 material, he's a bottom pairing guy who can run some PowerPlay for you, but manning up against Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar and the other big bruisers in the West is asking for trouble. Hell, bottom six guys over-run this player in his own zone...Leddy v Getzlaf is leading lambs to the slaughter.

Three years, Six years...not really worried. Right now next year is the focus. And 27 should remain here, because NO ONE can convince me that ANY of the players who would be projected to play Top 4 minutes (Leddy, Johns, Dahlbeck, Runblad, etc) can handle the job.

That's an awful big risk to take. Nick Leddy is NOT Top 4 material, he's a bottom pairing guy who can run some PowerPlay for you, but manning up against Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar and the other big bruisers in the West is asking for trouble. Hell, bottom six guys over-run this player in his own zone...Leddy v Getzlaf is leading lambs to the slaughter.
- kwolf68

Was basically my thought. Moving leddy is fine, because they have a number of guys that could step into that third pairing role and not be too much of a loss, if at all

Moving oduya and putting leddy or someone else would be a BIG step back in that top 4 spot

"I like our top 4 defense-men" -Stan Bowman

Sometimes us fans forget that our Blackhawks are people. Q in an interesting interview talked about how he felt after the game 7 OT loss. The Hawks in the recent past don't lose that big game and when they did it hit them hard. They KNEW a win that day meant a cup. All respect to NYR but they were not on the same level as the Hawks/Kings. Sure you have to play the games and win them, like LA did. Well, now two months later it still stings. They lost the cup that night when to a man they expected a victory. The Hawks are going to be a deadly team on a mission folks. 2014-15 is going to be a helluva year. If I find the interview I'll post it.

Sometimes us fans forget that our Blackhawks are people. Q in an interesting interview talked about how he felt after the game 7 OT loss. The Hawks in the recent past don't lose that big game and when they did it hit them hard. They KNEW a win that day meant a cup. All respect to NYR but they were not on the same level as the Hawks/Kings. Sure you have to play the games and win them, like LA did. Well, now two months later it still stings. They lost the cup that night when to a man they expected a victory. The Hawks are going to be a deadly team on a mission folks. 2014-15 is going to be a helluva year. If I find the interview I'll post it.
- Cup-Bearer

The Hawks will be a very good team, for sure. However there are several other teams in this division that improved their on-ice product. deadly or not, this season won't be any easier than the one that just concluded. All things being equal, and everyone staying healthy, that is.

Versteeg for a 2015 2nd, Rozi for a 2016 4th. As it is (my friend pointed out to me) versteeg and leddy aren't even in the player list for the convention. They're probably gone then.

Rozi for a 4th means we free up cap, and the other team gets a vet Dman for almost nothing. We seem to only be able to draft well in rounds 3-5 anyway. Leddy spends his life playing with different D pairings anyway. just rotate rundblad and dahlbeck. maybe brookbank.

Versteeg for a 2nd, just get a late rd second, and let someone else "fill the spot" with steeger. Who cares if he's going to be better? Morin+defensive coaching > Versteeg anyway.

As it is (my friend pointed out to me) versteeg and leddy aren't even in the player list for the convention.
- ZenlarTheRed

Interesting.

Sometimes us fans forget that our Blackhawks are people. Q in an interesting interview talked about how he felt after the game 7 OT loss. The Hawks in the recent past don't lose that big game and when they did it hit them hard. They KNEW a win that day meant a cup. All respect to NYR but they were not on the same level as the Hawks/Kings. Sure you have to play the games and win them, like LA did. Well, now two months later it still stings. They lost the cup that night when to a man they expected a victory. The Hawks are going to be a deadly team on a mission folks. 2014-15 is going to be a helluva year. If I find the interview I'll post it.
- Cup-Bearer

They lost that series because (among issues with centers and rolling only 2 1/2 lines) they kept giving up large leads: 2-goal leads in four of the games (IIRC), including 3 losses, INCLUDING game 7, and a one-goal lead in two others.

Poor defense? Sure. Because of fatigue (playing top forwards and defensemen to many minutes)? Sure.

But they were not able to protect early leads, they were not able to build on them, they were not able to put the Kings away, even in the wins.

THAT'S what they should feel bad about, not the deflected goal of a red shirt in OT of game 7.

Versteeg for a 2015 2nd, Rozi for a 2016 4th. As it is (my friend pointed out to me) versteeg and leddy aren't even in the player list for the convention. They're probably gone then.

Rozi for a 4th means we free up cap, and the other team gets a vet Dman for almost nothing. We seem to only be able to draft well in rounds 3-5 anyway. Leddy spends his life playing with different D pairings anyway. just rotate rundblad and dahlbeck. maybe brookbank.

Versteeg for a 2nd, just get a late rd second, and let someone else "fill the spot" with steeger. Who cares if he's going to be better? Morin+defensive coaching > Versteeg anyway.
- ZenlarTheRed

Versteeg is getting married, I think.

Interesting.
- EKolb13

Neither is Duncan Keith.