Just a thought but I think if the Hawks were going to trade Sharp, it would have already been done. I don't think they got the offers they were looking for at the draft and are ok keeping him for now.

I could see him going at the trade deadline if another team needs a guy who score but again, the offer is going to have to make sense. I believe a team who is the cusp of getting into the playoffs would be willing to make a more fair deal.

I really believe that the Hawks are going 'all in' for the next cup and will need Sharp. I think the move that gets the team under the cap will come from moving a D man.
- Lido_Shuffle

Moving any D-man with a significant enough hit to get the Hawks below the cap will hurt their chances next year more than losing Sharp.

He is the most expendable large contract on the team. He just is.

Sharp and a 3rd for a Zach Smith/Matt Martin type, plus a first.
- Ogilthorpe2

Pick one. The lesser evil of Sharp giving the OK to go to OTT or NYI.

Moving any D-man with a significant enough hit to get the Hawks below the cap will hurt their chances next year more than losing Sharp.

He is the most expendable large contract on the team. He just is.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed. As far as current candidates to fill the criteria of

1) Clearing salary to get under cap and allow space for later needed moves.

2) Give receiving team a very strong player/leader that can help push a team into a strong contender.

3) Value gives the hawks a fair return for talent lost.

Sharp checks all of those boxes. Just need a team that is willing to give up a future piece to win now.

Agreed. As far as current candidates to fill the criteria of

1) Clearing salary to get under cap and allow space for later needed moves.

2) Give receiving team a very strong player/leader that can help push a team into a strong contender.

3) Value gives the hawks a fair return for talent lost.

Sharp checks all of those boxes. Just need a team that is willing to give up a future piece to win now.
- PhilMeister89

..or lose in the Cup Finals anyway

Sharp and a 3rd for a Zach Smith/Matt Martin type, plus a first.
- Ogilthorpe2

That would be a good gamble. But with the hype of this draft I don't see either team dealing their 1st. It would be nice, though. I wouldn't mind a good prospect with them. I think a guy like anders lee on the isle would be nice. He is very big with good hands around the net. Will probably be in the league this year. Too bad Lazar won't go but Ottawa has other good kids

JJ - I enjoy the work and all of the comments out here in AZ. A die hard Chicago sports fan.

Coyote (coy-yote) noun

1 : a buff-gray to reddish-gray North American canid (Canis latrans) closely related to but smaller than the wolf
2 : one who smuggles immigrants into the United States

Other forms: plural coyotes or coyote

Origin: Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyōtl.


Hmmm. Coincidence?
- Ogilthorpe2

Being a STH for this horrible run team in the desert, Glendale is too cheap to pay for housing. Got to help the local club so I can see the Hawks at least once a year.

As for Sharp and Leddy trade them while the value is high, even if it's a above average 3rd line center and a couple of prospects or draft picks coming back.

Yeah that's the main question. I also question his hockey sense. I think it depends on his trade value. I think a team would take a chance on him improving in that area and hopefully give us something decent
- tomcat24

Exactly. His rushes more often than not end up in quick turnovers, not sustain pressure or shots.

It feels like whenever he seems to be on the cusp of turning into a Campbell, he plays like more of a Campoli.

Some team out there will be more than willing to take on the risk that while hes played over 250 NHL games, hes only 23 and d men develop slower and he'll reach the Campbell upside.

Moving any D-man with a significant enough hit to get the Hawks below the cap will hurt their chances next year more than losing Sharp.

He is the most expendable large contract on the team. He just is.
- Ogilthorpe2

More expendable than Bickell??

More expendable than Bickell??
- ozzzie19

I'm with you - if Bickell is slated for 3rd line duty, at 4Mil that is too high. I'm sure Stan can find a cheaper 3rd line option....

Exactly. His rushes more often than not end up in quick turnovers, not sustain pressure or shots.

It feels like whenever he seems to be on the cusp of turning into a Campbell, he plays like more of a Campoli.

Some team out there will be more than willing to take on the risk that while hes played over 250 NHL games, hes only 23 and d men develop slower and he'll reach the Campbell upside.
- ozzzie19

I just don't know with him. He has so much natural talent and like you said he has so much NHL experience for only 23. Plus a Cup. He could turn out great. Or might never get past the hockey sense thing. I still choose him to trade. A better return than oduya, too

..or lose in the Cup Finals anyway
- Ogilthorpe2

Ha true, but we can allow them to have the hope of winning only to have the door of greatness slammed shut in their face (looking at you NYR).

More expendable than Bickell??
- ozzzie19

I'd say yes in theory at least. Bickell won't fetch as much of a return as Sharp. But Bickell still has great value for us when the playoffs roll around.

Bickell is younger and gritty though and teams do like that.

Sharp clears cap, and potentially has a good to great return.

Bickell clears cap but what does a slightly overpaid (regular season not playoffs) forward return?

More expendable than Bickell??
- ozzzie19

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.

I'm with you - if Bickell is slated for 3rd line duty, at 4Mil that is too high. I'm sure Stan can find a cheaper 3rd line option....
- powerenforcer

When last we saw him, Sharp was on the 3rd line, he makes more than $4.

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.
- Ogilthorpe2

This X's 2

Until we see otherwise

When last we saw him, Sharp was on the 3rd line, he makes more than $4.
- Ogilthorpe2

It costs you NOTHING to put Sharp on the 3rd line - or Bickell (from the message you quoted) - you're already paying them - now play them at the position that gets the most out of them.

You wouldn't go out and get a 3rd liner - or re-sign one - for those amounts - but if you already have them on your roster, you play them there if that's best for the team.

I just don't know with him. He has so much natural talent and like you said he has so much NHL experience for only 23. Plus a Cup. He could turn out great. Or might never get past the hockey sense thing. I still choose him to trade. A better return than oduya, too
- tomcat24

In the abstract, I like him as a player. Within the context of the Hawks, unless he takes a big step forward he doesn't have a place in the top 4 and after this season he'll start making too much money to squeeze him in to the cap with the top heavy deals on the books. He's great on one of the young teams who aren't dry humping the cap like the Oilers, Panthers, or Islanders.

It costs you NOTHING to put Sharp on the 3rd line - or Bickell (from the message you quoted) - you're already paying them - now play them at the position that gets the most out of them.

You wouldn't go out and get a 3rd liner - or re-sign one - for those amounts - but if you already have them on your roster, you play them there if that's best for the team.
- StLBravesFan

But again...somebody has to go. No way around it. With the possible exception of Rozy, I would be very leery of trading a D-man.

Moving any D-man with a significant enough hit to get the Hawks below the cap will hurt their chances next year more than losing Sharp.

He is the most expendable large contract on the team. He just is.
- Ogilthorpe2

Probably – maybe – most likely –but:

Sharp is a legitimate 30-35 goal scorer.

A forward grouping of:
Sharp – Toews – Hossa
Saad – Richards – Kane
Bickell – Kruger – Shaw
Smith – Regin (?) – Morin / Versteeg
Doesn’t look too bad.

On the other hand: moving Oduya probably means Leddy moves up with Hjalmarsson – ready or not.

I don’t know….

But again...somebody has to go. No way around it. With the possible exception of Rozy, I would be very leery of trading a D-man.
- Ogilthorpe2

Wasn't questioning that: just that you don't NOT put someone on a lower line because he's making too much money - if you already have him (this is the accountant in me).

FWIW I think Oduya and Versteeg are traded before the start of the year. Oduya should be easy to trade since he's been quite good for the Hawks, has a reasonable cap hit and only 1 year left. Versteeg can be dealt and I don't think he's as untradeable as people think. Guys that are much worse have been traded in recent years. Bowman may have to throw in a pick but it can be done. Worst case just put him on waivers, someone will claim him.
- dan9189

Versteeg: he has to show he is healthy then could try to trade him. Maybe when some team has an injury. Timing can mean a lot insofar as fine is traded.

FWIW I think Oduya and Versteeg are traded before the start of the year. Oduya should be easy to trade since he's been quite good for the Hawks, has a reasonable cap hit and only 1 year left. Versteeg can be dealt and I don't think he's as untradeable as people think. Guys that are much worse have been traded in recent years. Bowman may have to throw in a pick but it can be done. Worst case just put him on waivers, someone will claim him.
- dan9189

Versteeg: he has to show he is healthy then could try to trade him. Maybe when some team has an injury. Timing can mean a lot insofar as trading goes.

Versteeg: he has to show he is healthy then could try to trade him. Maybe when some team has an injury. Timing can mean a lot insofar as trading goes.
- jhawk59

But if he's healthy - maybe he stays here - at a reasonable cap hit for a veteran forward.

But if he's healthy - maybe he stays here - at a reasonable cap hit for a veteran forward.
- StLBravesFan

Same issue with Roszival too. If he's got any game left, his cap hit is reasonable, and moving him creates minimal cap space and opens up a hole.

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.
- Ogilthorpe2

The problem with Bickell is we may have to shed him by next year anyway in order to make cap room for Toews, Kane and Saad.