Start tweeting this to him in bits and pieces....

@KevinPHayes12
- wiz1901

If Hayes signs with his buddy Kreider in NY he may want to ask him how many times he was sent down last year by AV.... and Kreider is 10 times the player Hayes is. I would kill to have him on the Hawks. They should offer Sharp straight up for him now even if they had to take other salary back.

If Hayes signs with his buddy Kreider in NY he may want to ask him how many times he was sent down last year by AV.... and Kreider is 10 times the player Hayes is. I would kill to have him on the Hawks. They should offer Sharp straight up for him now even if they had to take other salary back.
- tredbrta

This would be a "sharp" tweet well received by Hayes but not liked one bit by most Blackhawk fans. I get it if you were being sarcastic. Not a "sharp" move to favor Hayes,a somewhat suspect prospect! Instead of good old #10. Sharp could help lead toward a Cup while Hayes stews after a minor league demotion.

No Wiz, not me. No comments on TT from me. Feel free to look back. I'm just commenting on your approach to everyone else here.

I get it. You know what you're talking about. You let people know that you feel like you know a lot about what you're talking about. Nobody disagrees with that. But you unload on the board in general to prove a point or just try and bring people down a peg, and I'm tired of hearing it. Not like it's just today.

It's the snark and "told you so" mentality that I'm tired of hearing. Every goddamn time. There are better ways to go about it, and I think you could step off the soapbox a heckuva lot more than you're willing to.

Just my $0.02 and again, thanks for considering.
- stp1978

I understand where you are coming from but, if you were not one of those people, why take offense? I honestly believe the comment was more general than you think - not at the board but at radio and general press and fan base.

A few months ago, some posters here would spend days or weeks revisiting one post. I remember the garbage about Wiz discussing Mashinter being called up against the Blues in round 1 (which was tongue in cheek IMO) being brought up continuously. It was simply cheap shotting, childish garbage. It is good to see that cleaned up somewhat.

Just sayin'...

Everyone here looks at the Kevin Hayes situation from a Hawks fan perspective...because we're all die hard hawks fans. But for a minute, let's take off the rose colored hawks goggles and look at Kevin Hayes situation from the perspective of Kevin Hayes, or Kevin Hayes' dad and mom. Simply looking out for the best career potential for Kevin Hayes.

Certainly, there are a lot of good points to joining the hawks organization. Winning club, storied tradition, strong player development history for a bunch of guys.

But there is also growing evidence of a log jam to get to the nhl team, and proof that players who can't get an NHL job on the hawks can get one on another team. Stanton, Olson, Pirri, etc.

Maybe you look for a team building for the future, willing to have their youngsters learn on the job on an nhl roster. Sort of like the Hawks did several years ago w Toews and Kane (not comparing KHayes to Toews and kane). Right now, the hawks are playing for Cups, and their coach is NOT interested in on-the-job training.

If Kevin Hayes were your son, you'd tell him about the positives of the Hawks organization. But you'd also recommend he take this "free agent" opportunity to look around at other teams to see if there is a better fit for his skill set, a more immediate need. You'd look for a team that might provide the best opportunity for him to build a successful NHL career. And in today's situation, for Kevin Hayes, that team might not be the Chicago Blackhawks.

To call him an immature baby for thinking that way, for doing his due diligence, is a result of wearing Blackhawks goggles to analyze the situation.
- Cmonalready

Maybe this is about Ted Dent? Could brother Jimmy have shared some bad experiences he had in Rockford with Kevin? Probably.

Dent should have been canned immediately after not making the playoffs and telling the press his team of 18-22 year olds "gave up on him".

I don't blame Kevin for wanting to control his fate. I just think he and his agent are handling it too publicly.

Maybe this is about Ted Dent? Could brother Jimmy have shared some bad experiences he had in Rockford with Kevin? Probably.

Dent should have been canned immediately after not making the playoffs and telling the press his team of 18-22 year olds "gave up on him".

I don't blame Kevin for wanting to control his fate. I just think he and his agent are handling it too publicly.
- tredbrta

I've been criticizing Ted Dent for a few years now. He doesnt run a disciplined system in Rockford and I dont trust his prospect develoment one bit. The guys that made it out of rockford thus far were supremely talented or hard working individuals in their own right

This would be a "sharp" tweet well received by Hayes but not liked one bit by most Blackhawk fans. I get it if you were being sarcastic. Not a "sharp" move to favor Hayes,a somewhat suspect prospect! Instead of good old #10. Sharp could help lead toward a Cup while Hayes stews after a minor league demotion.
- jhawk59

It was Sharp for Kreider.... Sather would never do it of course.

Kreider's speed would be incredible for our top 6. Wouldn't miss a beat with Sharp gone at all if that was the exchange. IMO we would probably be better.

If he somehow falls back into AV's doghouse the Hawks should try to nab him. I really doubt he will though.

I've been criticizing Ted Dent for a few years now. He doesnt run a disciplined system in Rockford and I dont trust his prospect develoment one bit. The guys that made it out of rockford thus far were supremely talented or hard working individuals in their own right
- FourFeathers773

Agreed. I can't understand why an organization emphasizing player development, spending money on college free agents etc... settles for someone who apparently isn't coaching their style effectively. I thought maybe hiring Yanic Perault might be setting him up as the next Rockford coach but they seem to be really loyal to Dent - even though he seems ready to leave as an assistant in the NHL if he gets the chance.

Throwing his players under the bus with the media should have been the last straw.

I've been criticizing Ted Dent for a few years now. He doesnt run a disciplined system in Rockford and I dont trust his prospect develoment one bit. The guys that made it out of rockford thus far were supremely talented or hard working individuals in their own right
- FourFeathers773

Is it possible that a big reason that Hayes doesn't want to sign is because of Dent? Just a thought, but if I'm coming up, I want to be with a club that has really good coaching and a development system.

Just my opinion, but based on some evidence:

US college hockey has improved as it seems more junior eligible players are going that route, as has the USHL as an option for younger players (17-18 year sold).

But . . . BIG difference, CHL is marginally more physical (no full cages). Former Hawk Jim Cummins said it best when talking about the jump from NCAA to pro. In the NCAA "guys run around like they're ten feet tall because they wear full cages."

Also IMO, CHL is reffed more loosely as far as the rough stuff.

I have also heard from guys who've played (and made it or not made it) the difference form CHL/NCAA to pro is speed AND physicality.

So, IMO, I think CHL prepares guys a bit better for the jump to pro (AHL or NHL) because it is more physical.
- John Jaeckel

Also probably something to be said for the amount of games in the CHL as compared to the NCAA.

Good post, John. The Hawks don't NEED Kevin Hayes. I'm sure there are some fans out there pining for him to sign, similar to the people who complain the Hawks get outhit when they read the box score.

I don't care if Hayes signs or not. Would like it if he doesn't sign, to see if he knows something the Bowman's don't. I want to see what this kid is really made of, from a talent perspective. August 15th is going to be my new birthday, so we can all stop talking about this situation...that'll be the best present EVER!!!

I would say that sending him tweets on being a punk/prima donna just makes the fan base look bad, so I would suggest we don't stoop to that level.
- eburgio

Agreed.

Meh. Prefer Once Upon A Time in the West. Charles Bronson at his finest.
- faustus1500

Not only the best western ever, but possibly best movie ever, top 10 for sure.

More Wiz snark:

......Think long on this one, why would they not succumb to this one yr then UFA deal with Sobotka and have him for THIS playoff run.

All they had to do was
not sign OTT at 2.6 mil or Jori Lehtera at 2.75.

I realize they still have RFA Jaden Schwartz to sign, but they thought their bottom end was better served bt adding Euro vet Joakin Lindstrom at 700,000 and could easily launch the young Karl Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi whose making 1.2 million and others...

Sure overpay Paul Statsny 7 mil, I have no problem with that, but why let your best guy in the dot and your most instense competitor after Backes just leave????

It is so funny here on a Chicago site there are so many whinning that Bickell was never worth an in house reward for serving the organization, and the Blues whine about 3 mil for THIS specific player?

It seems like this even if the player wins his arbitration (that helps him LATER when he returns from Russia), why would NOT play based on what he has shown performance -wise?
Even if the player didn't two years at 3 millioj (because he is sure he can do better) why not make sure he's there next year in the first post Statsny era playoff run?
- wiz1901

Wiz,

This was definitely a frustrating and head scratching turn of events for the fans here. If Ott had signed for 1mm, it would at least make a bit more sense. Sobotka is significantly more valuable than +$400k compared to Ott.

In discussing it with some hockey friends, we wonder about a cumulative injury factor and whether or not there was some negotiation dynamic surrounding the injuries or maybe medical examinations/treatment. This is pure speculation, wildly, as we have not seen any of this reported but Sobotka did have a very rough injury year and his small build doesn't help these sorts of things.

His prior year -
Neck injury in September
Upper body injury in December that was believed to be a significant head injury
Knee injury in February
Another lower body injury in April
Another head shot in May at the World Championships that knocked him out of the game

Whatever the reasoning, a $300k difference sure seems to narrow for how things ended up.

Keep the "snark" coming Wiz!

Totally agree - really stupid move on Armstrong's part. They sign Stastny and look like a cap spender and then immediately revert back to "budget" mode with Sobotka and Schwarz.

They could have easily rewarded Sobotka with the one year deal for his heart - let him go UFA in a year. This would have been similar to the Hawks taking less to send Bolland where he wanted to go.

Bad player relations move for the Blows.
- tredbrta

Schwartz will be signed, even that means moving Berglund. Sobotka would be overpaid at $3mm but less overpaid than Ott at $2.6mm lol.

Schwartz will be signed, even that means moving Berglund. Sobotka would be overpaid at $3mm but less overpaid than Ott at $2.6mm lol.
- stljam

I know Schwartz will be signed. No need for the hardball though after proclaiming they are now "cap spenders" and throwing $7m at Stastny.

The Sobotka mess just makes them look cheap and disloyal. If they were concerned about his build and injury history then give him the one year deal he wanted. The guy was a warrior.

Of course, Hitch ended up with his allotment of cheap goons by keeping Ott so he must be happy. Considering the current makeup of the Hawks roster I am sure the Blues will gladly be running anyone and everyone with an Indianhead - likely without a response.... unless they bring up Mashintor or Bass.

I know Schwartz will be signed. No need for the hardball though after proclaiming they are now "cap spenders" and throwing $7m at Stastny.

The Sobotka mess just makes them look cheap and disloyal. If they were concerned about his build and injury history then give him the one year deal he wanted. The guy was a warrior.

Of course, Hitch ended up with his allotment of cheap goons by keeping Ott so he must be happy. Considering the current makeup of the Hawks roster I am sure the Blues will gladly be running anyone and everyone with an Indianhead - likely without a response.... unless they bring up Mashintor or Bass.
- tredbrta

I, for one, hope they get away from the running around. Don't turn down a hit but don't take yourself out of position just to make one. Good solid hits on an aggressive, pressure forecheck are great but running around just to hit guys leads to goals in your own net.

As for Sobi, we were wondering more if it got to be a principle, bad blood type thing. Blues want him to submit to a physical before signing a deal. He refuses because he feels like there should be goodwill and history. They wonder if he is hiding something more serious from the World Championship hit that came after they would have medical exposure to him and insist more. He gets more resentful and it all spirals to a point where it isn't really about the money. Again, all wild speculation but you could see how it could happen though it was so odd that they had Ott signed up almost immediately.

I can't get too worked up about it as our issues in playoff success generally haven't surrounded our 4th line types, which is what Sobotka really is. He is a 3rd/4th line guy. No way he cracks - Backes, Steen, Tank, Schwartz, Stastny, Oshie, and is likely behind Berglund, Lehtera and maybe even Jaskin.

Just who is this Krugman?
- jhawk59

It's a nickname some here have for Marcus Kruger.

More Wiz snark:

STLTODAY.COM: Jeremy Rutherford believes Sobotka’s hearing today could determine if he ever wears a Blues uniform again, as he could decide not to return to the NHL unless the Blues trade him. Sobotka’s agent claims his client recently asked to be traded when an agreement couldn’t be reached on a new contract before he signed with the KHL. In a recent interview with a Czech sports website, Sobotka said his plan is to play a season in the KHL and return to the NHL with a different team. He claimed he had no choice but to sign with Avangard Omsk because the Blues refused to trade him. The Blues best offer was a one-year, $2.7 million contract. Sobotka sought a one-year deal worth $3 million, after which he’d become an unrestricted free agent. The club also made a two-year, $6 million offer but it wasn’t accepted. Sobotka’s three-year KHL contract pays him slightly more than $4 million per season, and continues an “out clause” at the end of each season.

Think long on this one, why would they not succumb to this one yr then UFA deal with Sobotka and have him for THIS playoff run.

All they had to do was
not sign OTT at 2.6 mil or Jori Lehtera at 2.75.

I realize they still have RFA Jaden Schwartz to sign, but they thought their bottom end was better served bt adding Euro vet Joakin Lindstrom at 700,000 and could easily launch the young Karl Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi whose making 1.2 million and others...

Sure overpay Paul Statsny 7 mil, I have no problem with that, but why let your best guy in the dot and your most instense competitor after Backes just leave????

It is so funny here on a Chicago site there are so many whinning that Bickell was never worth an in house reward for serving the organization, and the Blues whine about 3 mil for THIS specific player?

It seems like this even if the player wins his arbitration (that helps him LATER when he returns from Russia), why would NOT play based on what he has shown performance -wise?
Even if the player didn't two years at 3 millioj (because he is sure he can do better) why not make sure he's there next year in the first post Statsny era playoff run?
- wiz1901

Sobotka is not worth $3M. He doesn't provide enough offense to be worth that, and he won't be playing in an offensive role going forward with our additions at forward.

I really liked Sobotka, but I don't get what he was doing here. The Blues didn't want to go up to $3M on a one year deal. He only wanted a one year deal and then leave after that in UFA. He can enjoy Russia, we have others who will fill in and the Blues will not miss a beat without him.

Arbitrator awarded a 1 year deal, $2.7 Million. Just what Armstrong offered. So in the end, he will either stay over in Russia or come back sometime and play for the contract that Armstrong was offering and he refused. People say that Armstrong could have budged and just paid him the additional $300k, but the same could be said about Sobotka. If he really wanted to become an UFA, he could have just played here for one more year at $300k less than what he wanted and then bolted. He now has to come back for that amount if he ever wants to play again in the NHL.

It's a nickname some here have for Marcus Kruger.
- EKolb13

Keep the "snark" coming Wiz!

Totally agree - really stupid move on Armstrong's part. They sign Stastny and look like a cap spender and then immediately revert back to "budget" mode with Sobotka and Schwarz.

They could have easily rewarded Sobotka with the one year deal for his heart - let him go UFA in a year. This would have been similar to the Hawks taking less to send Bolland where he wanted to go.

Bad player relations move for the Blows.
- tredbrta

Not really. Why would they want to give Sobotka everything he wants? (a 1 yr deal to get to UFA and the money he wants in the 1 yr deal) The Blues were willing to pay him more if he would stay. He didn't want it. The Blues didn't want to give him a 1 year deal, so they offered less.

In the end, paying $3M for a 3rd or 4th line center that doesn't produce much offensively is a bad idea, so this was the right move for the Blues IMO.

Not really. Why would they want to give Sobotka everything he wants? (a 1 yr deal to get to UFA and the money he wants in the 1 yr deal) The Blues were willing to pay him more if he would stay. He didn't want it. The Blues didn't want to give him a 1 year deal, so they offered less.

In the end, paying $3M for a 3rd or 4th line center that doesn't produce much offensively is a bad idea, so this was the right move for the Blues IMO.
- carcus

How much did they sign Ott for?

I, for one, hope they get away from the running around. Don't turn down a hit but don't take yourself out of position just to make one. Good solid hits on an aggressive, pressure forecheck are great but running around just to hit guys leads to goals in your own net.

As for Sobi, we were wondering more if it got to be a principle, bad blood type thing. Blues want him to submit to a physical before signing a deal. He refuses because he feels like there should be goodwill and history. They wonder if he is hiding something more serious from the World Championship hit that came after they would have medical exposure to him and insist more. He gets more resentful and it all spirals to a point where it isn't really about the money. Again, all wild speculation but you could see how it could happen though it was so odd that they had Ott signed up almost immediately.

I can't get too worked up about it as our issues in playoff success generally haven't surrounded our 4th line types, which is what Sobotka really is. He is a 3rd/4th line guy. No way he cracks - Backes, Steen, Tank, Schwartz, Stastny, Oshie, and is likely behind Berglund, Lehtera and maybe even Jaskin.
- stljam

The Ott signing is what is confusing. If Sobotka didn't fit then ask him where he would like to go and move him. If $300k was what this was over than avoid the bad PR. Really not that big of a deal. They may easily overcome the issue with some other positive moves but it just looks petty and it is definitely a bad player relations move.

How much did they sign Ott for?
- tredbrta

$2.6 per for 2 years.

He was signed when Sobotka made it clear he wasn't staying here and going to Russia. Wouldn't have been signed if Sobotka was staying.

$2.6 per for 2 years.

He was signed when Sobotka made it clear he wasn't staying here and going to Russia. Wouldn't have been signed if Sobotka was staying.
- carcus

I would have rather had Sobotka for one season at $3 million rather than Ott at two years for $400,000 less per season.

Sobotka is not worth $3M. He doesn't provide enough offense to be worth that, and he won't be playing in an offensive role going forward with our additions at forward.

I really liked Sobotka, but I don't get what he was doing here. The Blues didn't want to go up to $3M on a one year deal. He only wanted a one year deal and then leave after that in UFA. He can enjoy Russia, we have others who will fill in and the Blues will not miss a beat without him.

Arbitrator awarded a 1 year deal, $2.7 Million. Just what Armstrong offered. So in the end, he will either stay over in Russia or come back sometime and play for the contract that Armstrong was offering and he refused. People say that Armstrong could have budged and just paid him the additional $300k, but the same could be said about Sobotka. If he really wanted to become an UFA, he could have just played here for one more year at $300k less than what he wanted and then bolted. He now has to come back for that amount if he ever wants to play again in the NHL.
- carcus

He is playing for at least a year tax free in Russia. Not the worst situation. I really doubt he comes back and is faced with a play for the Blues at $2.7m or else. They will work out a trade of his rights and he will negotiate another deal elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if it comes up less than $2.7m if he stays in the KHL a year or more. He will be older and playing lesser competition.

I wasn't indicating either side was acting intelligently. If it is about financial security Sobotka would stay in the K for the 3 years with his taxes and living expenses paid. Not a bad nest egg left over.

The Ott signing is what is confusing. If Sobotka didn't fit then ask him where he would like to go and move him. If $300k was what this was over than avoid the bad PR. Really not that big of a deal. They may easily overcome the issue with some other positive moves but it just looks petty and it is definitely a bad player relations move.
- tredbrta

Not when they already had gone up to their max on what they wanted to pay him for a 1 year deal.

There have been a lot of details that have come out about the whole situation. They offered him multi year deals with an AAV at or over $3M depending on the term. He wanted a 1 year deal.

They offered him $2.4 at first if he wanted a 1 year deal and leave in UFA. He said he wanted $3M.

They offered him $2.7, he said no. $3M 1 year deal or trade him. Blues didn't budge anymore, and he signed in Russia.

Sobotka wasn't really negotiating. He wanted out, he got out when the Blues didn't give him exactly what he wanted. There is more to the situation than just a $300k difference.

The last thing a team needs to do is completely cave and give a player everything he wants. The Blues can't afford to just give players everything and anything that they want, especially when they want to leave as soon as possible.