JJ - Leddy candidate 1A to be traded, or Barker candidate 1A to make the team?
- powerenforcer

Leddy to be dealt

I know absolutely nothing about his demons or issues and I doubt very much if anybody on here does either.

The team brass and many of the players know him. They probably don't see any harm in it. He's a huge longshot to play in the NHL again but probably wants to stay in the game somehow.
- RickJ

Rick, do you remember a kid from Winnipeg who played in the AHL a few years ago named Geoff Waugh?

Rick, do you remember a kid from Winnipeg who played in the AHL a few years ago named Geoff Waugh?
- John Jaeckel

Very vaguely, wasn't he a tough guy who kicked around the AHL for awhile?

That may be what Bowman is thinking but I'd be surprised.

Moving Leddy now with the idea of picking up a significant defensive replacement at the deadline assumes somebody good is available and at what cost? The past trade deadlines indicate it costs #1 picks at least and you wind up with an overpriced player or a guy on an expiring contract. Loathe to do that.

I think Leddy's future contract demands are the biggest concern to them and they are looking hard to see if there is a long term in house replacement for him at a much more reasonable cost for a couple years.

All that BS aside, I still can't see awarding roster spots to the likes of Versteeg, Rozsival, Regin etc and dumping Leddy ffor cap reasons. They want something good back in return. There are teams out there that have crap on their blueline, Leddy would be a significant upgrade for them. What are they willing to give back?
- RickJ

Who knows? I guess we'll get an answer with whoever is traded.

This, I think, is the kind of thing I think Stanley is waiting for:

The Flyers opened training camp Friday morning to the roar of a jam-packed Skate Zone and pretty quickly natural center/turned left wing Brayden Schenn, the obvious choice, was out there doing line rushes with center Claude Giroux and right wing Jakub Voracek.

And then 15 minutes in, Berube noticed Giroux skate to the Flyers bench, then walk around the rink and into the dressing room.

Bathroom break?

Equipment issue?

No and no.

Giroux exited with an undisclosed "lower body" injury that could be a hip or groin issue, then headed to a medical clinic or hospital for an MRI that produced results that led the Flyers into announcing their captain will miss “approximately two weeks.”

Maybe Sharp goes back to Philly, Schenn moves to center and #10 plays the left side he is loathe to leave.

This, I think, is the kind of thing I think Stanley is waiting for:

The Flyers opened training camp Friday morning to the roar of a jam-packed Skate Zone and pretty quickly natural center/turned left wing Brayden Schenn, the obvious choice, was out there doing line rushes with center Claude Giroux and right wing Jakub Voracek.

And then 15 minutes in, Berube noticed Giroux skate to the Flyers bench, then walk around the rink and into the dressing room.

Bathroom break?

Equipment issue?

No and no.

Giroux exited with an undisclosed "lower body" injury that could be a hip or groin issue, then headed to a medical clinic or hospital for an MRI that produced results that led the Flyers into announcing their captain will miss “approximately two weeks.”

Maybe Sharp goes back to Philly, Schenn moves to center and #10 plays the left side he is loathe to leave.
- savvyone-1

Hextall said Giroux will be out 2 weeks. I don't think that's going to necessitate Hextal to make a move.

However, Bowman might be waiting for a team to have a need somewhere in the line up due to a player being gone for a long stretch of time.

Hextall said Giroux will be out 2 weeks. I don't think that's going to necessitate Hextal to make a move.

However, Bowman might be waiting for a team to have a need somewhere in the line up due to a player being gone for a long stretch of time.
- EKolb13

Death, taxes and injuries. All assured. Every year teams will be up against the cap and almost all somehow get under. You guys are right SB will make a decision based on what it brings back. If Rosy and Steeg get to waivers, there was no interest or only bone pickers

I will never forget the deer in headlights look Barker would make when the Hawks coughed it in transition and he had to decide what to do/ where to position himself and try and play NHL defense...
- wiz1901

Cam Barker was 23 when the Hawks traded him. A lot of 23 year old defensemen on offensive minded teams have that look on their face, plus a lot of Hawks d-men since at times.

Death, taxes and injuries. All assured. Every year teams will be up against the cap and almost all somehow get under. You guys are right SB will make a decision based on what it brings back. If Rosy and Steeg get to waivers, there was no interest or only bone pickers
- Cup-Bearer

I've always thought that Rozy to waivers would be the fall back position.Versteeg is someone I don't see going to waivers as he should rebound this year.I just doubt Stan gets boxed into a corner and is forced to get a zero return.

I am not among the naysayers with this Barker move. His career went straight downhill after he left here -how can a player become that bad so quickly? I think that coming back to where he had some success may resurrect his confidence and his career. He is still young enough to make that happen.
And I don't look at this as pushing out a prospect -this will make prospects work harder for spots and this is good for the organization.
- 67hawks

I agree. Playing for Minnesota, Edmonton and Vancouver since leaving the Hawks is a good way to explain at least part of his downward career trajectory. Not exactly teams or systems that put d-men in a good light. A lot of defensemen have fallen off the face of the earth from those teams over the same period of time.

RE: BARKER

Might be just hoping for lightning in a bottle. Might be that coupled with the possibility Leddy will be dealt.

My understanding is Barker has battled personal issues but he is basically a good kid. One thing that I have heard from two players is he has a great, great point shot and he can run a power play. Speed and footwork have been his issue. Can play tough and physical. Not a bad 6-7 option if he is healthy and has his demons under control. Probably a longshot though or he goes to Rockford.
- John Jaeckel

I think he had the best point shot for a Hawks d-man in recent years, though that's not saying a lot. 40 points in 68 games as a 22 year old with 5 pp goals can't be overlooked though. Worth a chance. Was a good hitter too, and fought once in a while. He'll come cheap if he ever makes the team.

I've always thought that Rozy to waivers would be the fall back position.Versteeg is someone I don't see going to waivers as he should rebound this year.I just doubt Stan gets boxed into a corner and is forced to get a zero return.
- eagle50

The problem with this idea is some team has to claim Rozsival. It would make no sense to send him to Rockford. His "buried" cap hit in Rockford would still keep the Hawks over the cap ceiling. If no team claims Rozsival, the Hawks are still on the hook for his cap hit anyways.

If Roszival goes to waivers, pray God someone claims him.

Very vaguely, wasn't he a tough guy who kicked around the AHL for awhile?
- RickJ

Big kid, defenseman, never really saw him play, sat and talked to him at breakfast one morning in Portland back in 2009. He told me he was from Winnipeg and had played with JT and Barker. Was a big believer in both players but that may have had as much to do with them being hometown guys.

You can't be serious. Barker was a bust on the scale of Kyle Beach. Both had tons of hype. Both were horsebleep from the go. Both had all kind of issues. And if those two fought for an hour nobody would win. At least that's what I saw. And I never saw the booming point shot either. Brookbank like? Barker punches like a girl. Now maybe he's more mature and realizes what he pissed away. At least his head would be out of his ass. But I'm closer to 70 than 50 and I could skate rings around him today. He is easily the biggest dissapointment I've seen after hearing the hype.
- 6628

I'm as far from a Barker fan as you will ever see, but Barker was nowhere near the level of bust that Beach was. It's not even close.

Barker had one productive NHL season. 2008-09. 40 points (6 goals, 34 assists) as a young defenseman in the toughest league in the world. His play fell off a cliff after that, but that season still occurred and should be credited to him in such a comparison.

Kyle Beach? ZERO NHL GAMES PLAYED. 4 years in Rockford and his highest point total was 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists). So Beach, a 1st round draft pick touted for his power forward abililities, never scored more in an AHL season than Cam Barker, a 1st round draft pick defenseman, did in his best NHL season.

Clearly, they are both busts - however, even the most cursory qualititative analysis shows a chasm between them in terms of performance.

Leddy to be dealt
- John Jaeckel

If you have to pick two cities he goes to which ones you picking ?

Montreal , NYI for me ....

The problem with this idea is some team has to claim Rozsival. It would make no sense to send him to Rockford. His "buried" cap hit in Rockford would still keep the Hawks over the cap ceiling. If no team claims Rozsival, the Hawks are still on the hook for his cap hit anyways.
- EKolb13

Can you not call a guy back up if no claim or is it as simple as there are no waivers before the season starts,thus as you say no option.If you are willing to waive a player you will be willing to take a 7th round "conditional" pick.

The problem with this idea is some team has to claim Rozsival. It would make no sense to send him to Rockford. His "buried" cap hit in Rockford would still keep the Hawks over the cap ceiling. If no team claims Rozsival, the Hawks are still on the hook for his cap hit anyways.

If Roszival goes to waivers, pray God someone claims him.
- EKolb13

How much do the Hawks retain capwise? Is it a % deal?

I said it immediately after Montador got the contract - worst signing Bowman has ever or will ever make.

Compared to that one, giving Runblad, Barker or my grandmother a chance is no issue at all.
- RickJ

Yeah, I didn't understand that deal either. I like pretty much every thing else he's done, even the Brunette's and Pisani's at the time, though they didn't pan out. Montador was pretty highly touted though at the time and it was injuries that really did him in, but I never understood the salary.

How much do the Hawks retain capwise? Is it a % deal?
- Cup-Bearer

If you bury him you can save about 1 mil.No help!

I'm as far from a Barker fan as you will ever see, but Barker was nowhere near the level of bust that Beach was. It's not even close.

Barker had one productive NHL season. 2008-09. 40 points (6 goals, 34 assists) as a young defenseman in the toughest league in the world. His play fell off a cliff after that, but that season still occurred and should be credited to him in such a comparison.

Kyle Beach? ZERO NHL GAMES PLAYED. 4 years in Rockford and his highest point total was 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists). So Beach, a 1st round draft pick touted for his power forward abililities, never scored more in an AHL season than Cam Barker, a 1st round draft pick defenseman, did in his best NHL season.

Clearly, they are both busts - however, even the most cursory qualititative analysis shows a chasm between them in terms of performance.
- BreakoutHockey

Assuming you are on the plus side of 25. I think back to the days spent just getting legal drinking age, OH BOY! He fell off but had "issues". I could see that happening. At that age it is easy to get off track, lots of distractions and dark roads. Now closer to 30 he may have his stuff together, he was not the most graceful d-man but who knows. He passed physicals so he obviously has put in the effort. Point being its probably unfair to label him as complete bust...until after the cuts come.

If you bury him you can save about 1 mil.No help!
- eagle50

So its a combo w Steeg worse case

How much do the Hawks retain capwise? Is it a % deal?
- Cup-Bearer

I thought i remember its something like $925,000 of the cap hit gets buried in the AHL, the rest stays on the NHL books.

I could be wrong on the numbers but i think its something along those lines.

I thought i remember its something like $925,000 of the cap hit gets buried in the AHL, the rest stays on the NHL books.

I could be wrong on the numbers but i think its something along those lines.
- BlazinMike

You're correct.

It's the NHL minimum salary + $375,000.

So its a combo w Steeg worse case
- Cup-Bearer

And then the money for that still doesn't put you under.Add in TT and you are but stuck with a 20 player roster and close to a minimum contract type add and probably not enough for that.

Assuming you are on the plus side of 25. I think back to the days spent just getting legal drinking age, OH BOY! He fell off but had "issues". I could see that happening. At that age it is easy to get off track, lots of distractions and dark roads. Now closer to 30 he may have his stuff together, he was not the most graceful d-man but who knows. He passed physicals so he obviously has put in the effort. Point being its probably unfair to label him as complete bust...until after the cuts come.
- Cup-Bearer

3rd OVERALL draft pick who had ONE respectable season, absolutely fair to label him a bust.