I still have nightmares of Poulin getting stoned by Felix Potvin.
- DarthKane

I had high hopes for Poulin. Chad Kilger, too I wasn't always the great judge of talent I am now

Better than Chelly? That's a bold statement.

Edit: Lyle Odelein was the best Blackhawk to wear #7.
- DarthKane

Hard to believe Odelein was on that great Canada team at the World Champions in 96 when all the great stars of canada-USA went at it. That was a great series. USA winning the 3-game series. Amonte with the huge goal from Hatcher

Greek and Italian mostly.
- Elbows15

Plus some of the tribe of Judah, like me

I had high hopes for Poulin. Chad Kilger, too I wasn't always the great judge of talent I am now
- tomcat24

Man...Kilger was a disappointment for sure.

Plus some of the tribe of Judah, like me
- tomcat24

Yes. That too.

Man...Kilger was a disappointment for sure.
- DarthKane

I can't remember how we got him? But that huge trade with edmonton turned out to be a huge nothing. Mironov sucked. Also had high hopes for Laflamme and ethan Moureau and of course Cleary

I can't remember how we got him? But that huge trade with edmonton turned out to be a huge nothing. Mironov sucked. Also had high hopes for Laflamme and ethan Moureau and of course Cleary
- tomcat24

We for him from Phoenix (with Jayson More) for Keith Carney and Jim (the human punching bag) Cummins.

We all know that sacrifices will have to be made because of the salary cap. While I am a Sharp fan I think dealing him makes the most sense. We shed the 3rd biggest cap hit on the team and we have plenty of wingers in the system that can help replenish the ranks. Plus, I think Sharp would bring the biggest return. I'm not saying I want Sharp to go or that he should be the only one to go but it makes sense.

Who knows what Krugs will want in his next deal, but $2 - $2.5 million would be fair. Afterall, he did have more points than Dustin Brown last season.
- DarthKane

Ok....rethink this. Sharp gets u that big return and giant cap relief next summer too. It DOESN'T make sense to move him NOW. How is he more replaceable than Leddy or Rozsival in terms of a 1 year push for a Cup?(keeping in mind that mostly all these names under trade speculation will be gone next summer anyways). Its almost crazy to think Sharp is more replaceable right now than a bottom pairing Dman. Seriously, for one more year, who would u rather have? An Olympian for team Canada who just put up a career high 78 pts playing on our top line, or a bottom pairing Dman?

EDIT: Read it again and i believe you were referring to next summer....i think. My bad.

Ok....rethink this. Sharp gets u that big return and giant cap relief next summer too. It DOESN'T make sense to move him NOW. How is he more replaceable than Leddy or Rozsival in terms of a 1 year push for a Cup?(keeping in mind that mostly all these names under trade speculation will be gone next summer anyways). Its almost crazy to think Sharp is more replaceable right now than a bottom pairing Dman. Seriously, for one more year, who would u rather have? An Olympian for team Canada who just put up a career high 78 pts playing on our top line, or a bottom pairing Dman?

EDIT: Read it again and i believe you were referring to next summer....i think. My bad.
- SimpleJack

I was referring to next season. For now all that's needed is a minor move, for example trade Rozsival, recall a defenseman from Rockfors making less than $870,000 and roll with 22 players. Stan won't have any cap flexibility but it can be done.

However, for the 15/16 season we have 15 players locked up for about $65.8 million. Assuming the cap goes up $5 million to $74 million we have $8.2 million to sign 7-8 players. There's no way around it, big contracts will need to go. Amongst the notable RFAs are Saad, Kruger, Leddy and Rundblad while Oduya and Richards are UFAs. Saad will probably make at least $3.5 million and Kruger $2 million. Rundblad (if he stays) would likely sign for around $700.000. That leaves $2 million for 4-5 players. I fully expect to see Sharp go and I wouldn't be surprised if Bickell went too. But then again I'm having a major bout of insomnia and can't stop rambling.

I can easily see him getting $3.5M AAV on the open market. Plus I refuse to hope for a home town discount. 'Hawks lucked out big time with Hammer, we should all be happy for that. It shouldn't be expected.

I consider anything South of $3M AAV for Kruger in the 3 year range a bargain.
- blackhawk24

That's a lot of money for a fourth line center.

Doesn't matter if it's considered a bargain - affordable is the better attribute to use.

If you're saying $3 or $3.5 for Kruger - what are you going to give Saad?
- StLBravesFan

At his rate of improvement - and of course some of this is based on my personal speculation on how he's going to thrive with a real 2C - I'd say North of $4M.

The (frank) were you thinking?

EDIT: Seabrook is the best player to wear 7 on the Hawks. Burn that one.
- Elbows15

Even better than Robert Marvin Hull?

That's a lot of money for a fourth line center.
- hawks2010

3C optimally, plus his overall defencive game, good on draws and great on the PK, yes $3M+ ...

Sharp may have to go because of the dollars, but (Ogi's view aside) to think that a legitimate experienced top-6 forward is more easily replaced than any bottom-6 forward in the system is absurd.

Who are these "plenty of wingers" that take his place? Seems to me that Rockford is well-stocked with bottom sixers maybe (MAYBE) ready for the show - but no one is saying there's any top sixers down there (TT possibly excepted).

Sharp goes - Bickell on top line or Shaw. Maybe that works out - no guarantees.

Sharp may have to go, but he won't be that easily replaced.
- StLBravesFan

To me, by next year, one of Sharp or Bickell has to go. Can't afford a 3LW at $5.9m or $4m per year.

JJ, do you see TT more as a RW or a LW should he not work out at center?

3C optimally, plus his overall defencive game, good on draws and great on the PK, yes $3M+ ...
- blackhawk24

Agree. I guess it will depend on what he seeks in a new deal. How much more will Shaw get in his next deal after the bridge deal? If he continues where he's at now, I think Brad Marchand money ($4.5M per) is not out of the question. Leddy is another one. I think he will get a deal at or north of Hammer's new deal. Not saying I don't like these players, just that tough decisions will have to be made with some fan favorites in the next year or two.

At his rate of improvement - and of course some of this is based on my personal speculation on how he's going to thrive with a real 2C - I'd say North of $4M.
- blackhawk24

That may be a little high. I think the two year bridge at 3.25-3.5 is more realistic IMO.

At his rate of improvement - and of course some of this is based on my personal speculation on how he's going to thrive with a real 2C - I'd say North of $4M.
- blackhawk24

He's RFA, so that will help (absent an absurd offer sheet), and hopefully he (and Kruger) get resigned before next summer (unlike the Bickell fiasco) to hold down the two hits.

But from a cap standpoint, I don't see how Kruger can get any more the $2.5, or Saad more than $3.0.

Naw, he was my favorite long before that, but that was quite possibly the most satisfying moment of the season.
- Ogilthorpe2

Your most satisfying moment of last season was someone taking a cheap shot?

Weird...

Mapricity petition to make the Ice Girls wear jackets and pants and stop the high heels and "stripper music" during the shoot the puck competition...

http://mapricity.tumblr.c...ime-for-a-hockey-petition



One day, political correctness may have the ice girls in shihab....

Your most satisfying moment of last season was someone taking a cheap shot?




- carcus

oh come on, unclench! Admit it, if Backes does that same thing to Seabrook you are very, very satisfied...oh wait, Backes does that a lot.

Um...what? Name another fourth line player under the age of 25 with a silver medal.

Kruger doesn't play on the fourth line because he's not good enough to play elsewhere, he plays on the fourth line because he makes the players on that line better. Using him as a fourth line center is a luxury, not a necessity. Kruger isn't a "typical fourth line player" any more than Andrew Ladd was a typical third line player in 2008-2010.
- Sandus

Oh! Silver Medals mean something? Maybe they should have handed out Silver Medals to Ray Bourque when he lost in Cup final after Cup final in a journey that way more difficult than the olympics. I didnt say he sucks, but he was manhandled, yes, manhandeled in the LA series. Shaw is a better option at 3c if you think Kruger should be there. Third line center is a role for a player who plays on the edge, not a cream puff swede. Kruger is a fourth line player with the Hawks and nothing more. He may win board battles and kill big penalties but your wrong if you think he is capable of anything more. I dont want to hear he is a good skilled guy, because if you look around the NHL they are all talented. Thats why they are playing at this level.

Your most satisfying moment of last season was someone taking a cheap shot?




- carcus

It was a difficult year.

Your most satisfying moment of last season was someone taking a cheap shot?




- carcus

Yawn. Do we need to revisit this?

Let it lie. It was a good hit badly timed IMO. On a player/team who deserved it 10 times over.

What scares me next year is who on the Hawks counters Hitch's goon squad during the regular season. Does Q call up Bass and Mashinter? Will that even help?

Yawn. Do we need to revisit this?

Let it lie. It was a good hit badly timed IMO. On a player/team who deserved it 10 times over.

What scares me next year is who on the Hawks counters Hitch's goon squad during the regular season. Does Q call up Bass and Mashinter? Will that even help?
- tredbrta

If Seabrook's hit was "a good hit badly timed", then no one "countered" Hitch's goon squad THIS year - and the Hawks won four straight and the series.

Yawn. Do we need to revisit this?

Let it lie. It was a good hit badly timed IMO. On a player/team who deserved it 10 times over.

What scares me next year is who on the Hawks counters Hitch's goon squad during the regular season. Does Q call up Bass and Mashinter? Will that even help?
- tredbrta

How is Backes any different than him? Goon squad. That is funny.

He deserved it.

You realize you are have a huge double standard, right? Tell me when Backes has knocked someone out on a bad hit, then taunted him as he is getting up? Who is the goon?

Let me answer that for you, neither.