Does anyone know why Nick Leddy isn't at the convention?
- wiz1901

Gonna be traded.

This is sarcasm, right?
- L_B_R

They don't need him, but if it works out cap-wise, I would love to have him back. Perfect veteran 7th D.

Does anyone know why Nick Leddy isn't at the convention?
- wiz1901

He hasn't been let out of Q's doghouse yet.

Working on GED?
- Elbows15

Relentless. Like a pit bull with his teeth sunk into the mail mans leg. Hope you don't think I suck someday.

Relentless. Like a pit bull with his teeth sunk into the mail mans leg. Hope you don't think I suck someday.
- 6628

I prefer consistent.

They don't need him, but if it works out cap-wise, I would love to have him back. Perfect veteran 7th D.
- Ogilthorpe2

Oh, I totally wouldn't mind him, he's a very serviceable 7D.

I was scoffing at the idea that the Hawks need someone to "battle the bruisers with no Bollig." First, Bollig didn't actually fight that much this past season. Second, he was never really a deterrent because smaller players like Kruger got run regularly with him on the ice. Kruger just took the hit to make a play, Bollig went about playing actual hockey, and it was a good decision all around. The team even said, after the Orpik hit on Toews, that they prefer retaliating by playing better hockey/hurting their opponent on the scoreboard.

Don't get me wrong, I do like when players stick up for each other, I just think that a specific "enforcer" isn't exactly necessary in a skill system like the Hawks. Brookbank is a valuable asset not because he will fight (and lbr he's not very good at it), but because he's a solid if not spectacular bottom pairing defensemen.

Oh, I totally wouldn't mind him, he's a very serviceable 7D.

I was scoffing at the idea that the Hawks need someone to "battle the bruisers with no Bollig." First, Bollig didn't actually fight that much this past season. Second, he was never really a deterrent because smaller players like Kruger got run regularly with him on the ice. Kruger just took the hit to make a play, Bollig went about playing actual hockey, and it was a good decision all around. The team even said, after the Orpik hit on Toews, that they prefer retaliating by playing better hockey/hurting them on the scoreboard.

Don't get me wrong, I do like when players stick up for each other, I just think that a specific "enforcer" is exactly necessary in a skill system like the Hawks. Brookbank is a valuable asset not because he will fight (and lbr he's not very good at it), but because he's a solid if not spectacular bottom pairing defensemen.
- L_B_R

Gonna be traded.
- Ogilthorpe2

You know, it is not uncommon for teams to tell players when they are going to be looking to move them.

So IF you were Leddy, and had that conversation, would you stay home or show up?

I prefer consistent.
- Elbows15

There's that too. More like automatic.

You know, it is not uncommon for teams to tell players when they are going to be looking to move them.

So IF you were Leddy, and had that conversation, would you stay home or show up?
- wiz1901

I'd be looking for a house on Long Island

There's that too. More like automatic.
- 6628

Sorry Mr. Leddy. Its not personal. your kid just isn't very good at this hockey thing. On the brightside though, he is better than Greg (frank)ing Fox.

I'd be looking for a house on Long Island
- Ogilthorpe2

You would be playing with LEGOS.

You would be playing with LEGOS.
- Elbows15

Is this supposed to be some sort of an Eller reference or what?

Is this supposed to be some sort of an Eller reference or what?
- Ogilthorpe2

yes

Is this supposed to be some sort of an Eller reference or what?
- Ogilthorpe2

no

You know, it is not uncommon for teams to tell players when they are going to be looking to move them.

So IF you were Leddy, and had that conversation, would you stay home or show up?
- wiz1901

I've suggested for weeks to pay attention to who is absent from the convention. The guys who live overseas in the postseason don't count, but Leddy???...that's a 7 hour drive from Eden Prairie to Chicago. So if Leddy is indeed a no-show...

...very interesting.

edit: ...and it appears that Versteeg is also a no-show.

I've suggested for weeks to pay attention to who is absent from the convention. The guys who live overseas in the postseason don't count, but Leddy???...that's a 7 hour drive from Eden Prairie to Chicago. So if Leddy is indeed a no-show...

...very interesting.

edit: ...and it appears that Versteeg is also a no-show.
- ArlingtonRob

Versteeg is getting married. That was posted yesterday. But I don't think he's marrying Leddy.

Versteeg is getting married. That was posted yesterday. But I don't think he's marrying Leddy.
- bwarner929

Does anyone know why Nick Leddy isn't at the convention?
- wiz1901

Someone tried to give him a ticket and it deflected off him and into a sewer?

Strange that the two hottest players on the Hawks going into the playoffs were Sharp and Hossa. Guess who was their center.

And Eller isn't that good. He is woefully inconsistent. And Shaw put up 25% more points than Eller did.
- Elbows15

Michal Handzus.

and i'm not arguing that Eller is the best center, i'm more arguing that Shaw is better on the wing on the 3rd line. His game is too high energy to play effectively with 2nd line minutes!

The case against Johnny Oduya.

Honestly, I think Oduya will be dealt. Unless Q gets his way, I think it's Oduya. Why? 1. Leddy is RFA controlled. 2. Leddy is younger. 3. Hawks may think, right or wrong, that just like Oduya before coming here, they can get Leddy's game up to a level he can play with Hammer.

Remember before Oduya was a Hawk he was jettisoned from the Devils, a DEFENSIVE minded team, and then sent packing from Winnipeg. This guy had warts, had them exposed against Phoenix, and then took a HUGE step last year. Who's to say Leddy couldn't do the same? yes, Leddy has some MAJOR flaws. No question....but to assume Leddy can't do the same thing Oduya did and ramp up his game, is naïve. The only way Oduya stays OVER Leddy if Oduya is willing to take the SAME exact money or less then Leddy...which Bowman should have/probably has already explored with boy guys.

Trading Oduya makes sense. So does Sharp, but at this point, you dont' have enough offensive options to replace Sharp's numbers.

Oduya goes....they bring back Brookbank. If Leddy BOMBS Q still has a veteran option in Brookbank to play with Hammer come playoff time. Dont' laugh. Brookbank was SOLID with Keith in Seabrook's absence and then again against Minnesota. He can man that role.

What is unknown is the love for Rundblad Why is this guy here? He's blocking an ample spot for a Johns OR Dahlback to learn on the job. The sooner these next crop of D men get NHL experience the better. I don't Rundblad being in the long term plans of this team. You rarely hear about him. Where as Dahlback, Cleddening, and Johns are all getting hype.

Again...still waiting to see what way Bowman goes...

Michal Handzus.

and i'm not arguing that Eller is the best center, i'm more arguing that Shaw is better on the wing on the 3rd line. His game is too high energy to play effectively with 2nd line minutes!
- dsav123

Shaw was centering Sharp and Hossa leading into the playoffs.

Oduya goes....they bring back Brookbank. If Leddy BOMBS Q still has a veteran option in Brookbank to play with Hammer come playoff time. Dont' laugh. Brookbank was SOLID with Keith in Seabrook's absence and then again against Minnesota. He can man that role.


- SteveRain

I like Sheldon, but I don't want Brookbank on the 2nd pairing. The thing missed here is the obvious chemistry between Hammer and Oduya. That does not mean the same chemistry would exist with Brookbank or Leddy. Too much of a risk. It could work out, but it's not definite, like our confidence in a 2/7 and 27/4 top 4. You monkey with your top 4 you're asking for trouble.

Nick Leddy is a terrible defensive d-man. He is constantly overrun in his own zone, often by bottom line players. It's not just his decision making that is very suspect, but his overall willingness/ability to fight for pucks on the boards too often ends up as a shot on our own goal. Elevating him to a Top 4 role when he has just not shown the ability to play even capable defense in his own zone is a recipe for disaster.

There are plenty of good puck moving d-men who suck eggs in their own zone. That is the book on Clendening, that's even the book on Runblad...both those guys have ELITE puck moving skills, but struggle going back.

The case against Johnny Oduya.

Honestly, I think Oduya will be dealt. Unless Q gets his way, I think it's Oduya. Why? 1. Leddy is RFA controlled. 2. Leddy is younger. 3. Hawks may think, right or wrong, that just like Oduya before coming here, they can get Leddy's game up to a level he can play with Hammer.

Remember before Oduya was a Hawk he was jettisoned from the Devils, a DEFENSIVE minded team, and then sent packing from Winnipeg. This guy had warts, had them exposed against Phoenix, and then took a HUGE step last year. Who's to say Leddy couldn't do the same? yes, Leddy has some MAJOR flaws. No question....but to assume Leddy can't do the same thing Oduya did and ramp up his game, is naïve. The only way Oduya stays OVER Leddy if Oduya is willing to take the SAME exact money or less then Leddy...which Bowman should have/probably has already explored with boy guys.

Trading Oduya makes sense. So does Sharp, but at this point, you dont' have enough offensive options to replace Sharp's numbers.

Oduya goes....they bring back Brookbank. If Leddy BOMBS Q still has a veteran option in Brookbank to play with Hammer come playoff time. Dont' laugh. Brookbank was SOLID with Keith in Seabrook's absence and then again against Minnesota. He can man that role.

What is unknown is the love for Rundblad Why is this guy here? He's blocking an ample spot for a Johns OR Dahlback to learn on the job. The sooner these next crop of D men get NHL experience the better. I don't Rundblad being in the long term plans of this team. You rarely hear about him. Where as Dahlback, Cleddening, and Johns are all getting hype.

Again...still waiting to see what way Bowman goes...
- SteveRain

I think we are all waiting for that...

I don't know if Oduya is the guy who goes, but I would believe it is going to come down to him or Leddy. One of those two have to go. If Bowman can flip one of them without taking any salary back, the loss of that cap hit allows the team to operate with 22 or 23 on the roster with a little cap room to recall a player from Rockford when needed.

With Oduya & Leddy, I think it's going to come down too who is either willing to re-up for a reasonable term, or who either brings back the best return in a trade.

If Brookbank is brought back (which I would like to see him brought back), it is going to take more than moving one of Oduya or Leddy to do it. Bowman is going to have to move Rozsival as well to get it done without taking any salary back to move Rozsival.

I agree with you on Rundblad. Whether that move was to bring him in as another piece for a trade, or another puck moving D-man to replace someone like Leddy (just like they brought in Cumiskey this summer), or a panic move after losing Kostka on waivers this spring, the move for Rundblad does not make a whole lot of sense to me either. The other D-man that came in that trade, Brisebois, is about next to worthless. Perhaps Rundblad is the next Sami Lepistö?

I think we are all waiting for that...

I don't know if Oduya is the guy who goes, but I would believe it is going to come down to him or Leddy. One of those two have to go. If Bowman can flip one of them without taking any salary back, the loss of that cap hit allows the team to operate with 22 or 23 on the roster with a little cap room to recall a player from Rockford when needed.

With Oduya & Leddy, I think it's going to come down too who is either willing to re-up for a reasonable term, or who either brings back the best return in a trade.

If Brookbank is brought back (which I would like to see him brought back), it is going to take more than moving one of Oduya or Leddy to do it. Bowman is going to have to move Rozsival as well to get it done without taking any salary back to move Rozsival.

I agree with you on Rundblad. Whether that move was to bring him in as another piece for a trade, or another puck moving D-man to replace someone like Leddy (just like they brought in Cumiskey this summer), or a panic move after losing Kostka on waivers this spring, the move for Rundblad does not make a whole lot of sense to me either. The other D-man that came in that trade, Brisebois, is about next to worthless. Perhaps Rundblad is the next Sami Lepistö?
- EKolb13

Hope not