This isn't a difficult concept people...

#salarydump
- fattybeef

Apparently it is. Have said for a while if the Hawks trade Sharp, it's not like they are going to take salary back.

It's why the Kesler thing to me never made a lot of sense. Yes he would've filled the void at #2 Center this year. The Hawks would have needed to unload (likely) Sharp's $$$ in that deal or another to make room for Kesler and then the Hawks would have to turn around and likely dump him this coming up season.

If I answered that honestly I would get banned.
- Ogilthorpe2

Please reconsider

You do realize that the Hawks play in a much tougher conference, and especially division...right?
- Ogilthorpe2

That's an arbitrary statement. The margin of error and difference between teams 1-10 is pretty negligible, in either conference. In the last few years, with the exception of the Hawks, Kings and Detroit and Pitt and probably Boston, it is a wash across the rest of the board.

Teams that were clear cut "favorites" have either aged or been plagued by injuries: San Jose, LA, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit.

Vancouver and Calgary and Winnipeg are in the playoffs right now with Nashville of all teams in first... Without a lot of "star power." How strong can the west possibly be? Really?

At least the teams in the east that shouldnt be in the playoffs arent in the playoffs right now...

For all the hate Bowman receives on this board for his inaction, there is not much he can realistically do. BTW many posters supported these pay raises that are now restricting him when they happened. Bowman wasn't the only GM caught up in creating these cap messes. GM's refusing to spend were criticized -now they are looking like the smart ones.
We no longer have to fear the Pittsburghs, and Bostons but the teams which are playing well and are in the position to make Gabourik-type deals

A bit like the blues but with better goaltending. I think the Hawks may not be the best in every single category but overall they are the team to beat.
- paulr

How is a team third in its own division the "team to beat"? Is it just because you believe it so? If you are going by pedigree, the Kings will be the team to beat as they've now rolled off 5 in a row and are on the cusp of moving into the playoff picture. And if you go by current performance, it sure as hell isn't Chicago over Nashville or St. Louis (I am completely not sold on Anaheim).

Hell, the only team NOT in the Central that really worries me is the Kings...the Central is amazing...Blows and Preds and right behind the Hawks are Winnipeg and Minnesota, either could easily make a run.

I think you meant "exceeded" expectations.....
- dahawks8819

Yes....A long day...

How is a team third in its own division the "team to beat"? Is it just because you believe it so? If you are going by pedigree, the Kings will be the team to beat as they've now rolled off 5 in a row and are on the cusp of moving into the playoff picture. And if you go by current performance, it sure as hell isn't Chicago over Nashville or St. Louis.
- kwolf68

Conversely, how are they not? Just because you aren't impressed by the current sample size or would like a little more sandpaper in the lineup?

I love how the Kings are so revered here and seem to be the only team capable of "flipping the switch" come playoff time. The Kings would be a wild card so by your own logic with three teams ahead of them why would they be the team to beat?

How is a team third in its own division the "team to beat"? Is it just because you believe it so? If you are going by pedigree, the Kings will be the team to beat as they've now rolled off 5 in a row and are on the cusp of moving into the playoff picture. And if you go by current performance, it sure as hell isn't Chicago over Nashville or St. Louis (I am completely not sold on Anaheim).

Hell, the only team NOT in the Central that really worries me is the Kings...the Central is amazing...Blows and Preds and right behind the Hawks are Winnipeg and Minnesota, either could easily make a run.
- kwolf68

Yeah I did qualify my post with "I think". Up until Christmas the Hawks were hands down the best team in the league. Suddenly the wheels fell off and the team looks like a shell of themselves. I believe they will dig deep and regain that game that they lost.

How is a team third in its own division the "team to beat"? Is it just because you believe it so? If you are going by pedigree, the Kings will be the team to beat as they've now rolled off 5 in a row and are on the cusp of moving into the playoff picture. And if you go by current performance, it sure as hell isn't Chicago over Nashville or St. Louis (I am completely not sold on Anaheim).

Hell, the only team NOT in the Central that really worries me is the Kings...the Central is amazing...Blows and Preds and right behind the Hawks are Winnipeg and Minnesota, either could easily make a run.
- kwolf68

According to TSN and many other hockey people, yes they are the team to beat.

According to TSN and many other hockey people, yes they are the team to beat.
- biegs

So you believe TSN's hockey analysts and not a hockey board poster???

But you knew this didn't you? If you didn't I can only ask if you have been hiding under a rock. 29 GMs bully Bowman because they are all friends with Tallon and are more interested in "sticking it" to Bowman rather than ensuring they make the best deal for their own team. What is more interesting is while they do this Hawk ownewrship sits back and allows this to happen because they relish seeing their GM fail.
- paulr

Of course Paul! They are all arrogant and buy into the hype! Maybe we should start looking for a new GM on Internet boards like hockey buzz? The people here are all knowing and exactly what this team needs!

So you believe TSN's hockey analysts and not a hockey board poster???
- paulr

I'll see myself out.

Of course Paul! They are all arrogant and buy into the hype! Maybe we should start looking for a new GM on Internet boards like hockey buzz? The people here are all knowing and exactly what this team needs!
- biegs

I know your post is meant to be red fonted Biegs, but for anyone offended or put off by the Hawks FO, broadcasters and supposed omnipresent media HYPE about TT and other RFD players, listen to the DET broadcast from time to time and you'll know what real HYPE is.

How is a team third in its own division the "team to beat"? Is it just because you believe it so? If you are going by pedigree, the Kings will be the team to beat as they've now rolled off 5 in a row and are on the cusp of moving into the playoff picture. And if you go by current performance, it sure as hell isn't Chicago over Nashville or St. Louis (I am completely not sold on Anaheim).

Hell, the only team NOT in the Central that really worries me is the Kings...the Central is amazing...Blows and Preds and right behind the Hawks are Winnipeg and Minnesota, either could easily make a run.
- kwolf68

There's too much emphasis put on the regular season, come playoff time the road to the Cup in the West goes through Chicago and LA. Regular season success means zilch. I was at the Hawks final regular season game in 2010 when they lost to Detroit and lost the top seed in the conference by 1 pt to the Sharks and there were some who basically thought the Hawks postseason hopes were lost that day. How did that work out for everyone?

I know your post is meant to be red fonted Biegs, but for anyone offended or put off by the Hawks FO, broadcasters and supposed omnipresent media HYPE about TT and other RFD players, listen to the DET broadcast from time to time and you'll know what real HYPE is.
- HawkintheD

Those guys are insufferable. Their fans are just as bad. Get them going about hockey and you'll get a diatribe about how awesome their farm system is and how they're going to just plug players in after their veterans retire. It is really something special.

Those guys are insufferable. Their fans are just as bad. Get them going about hockey and you'll get a diatribe about how awesome their farm system is and how they're going to just plug players in after their veterans retire. It is really something special.
- fattybeef

LOL! No doubt. I am so sick of hearing about "the Kids". Granted, Tatar and Nyquist have become better players than I would have thought after seeing them in smaller stints a few years ago, but I still don't think either one of those guys holds a candle to Datsyuk or Zetterberg.

Of course Paul! They are all arrogant and buy into the hype! Maybe we should start looking for a new GM on Internet boards like hockey buzz? The people here are all knowing and exactly what this team needs!
- biegs

There are plenty of great candidates at HB. Think of how much fun it would be, we'd have a trade every day and blockbusters on a weekly basis. The star players would all have great contracts with great term and when Toews or Kane go three games with only 2 points they could be traded. Of course the team the Hawks trade with would retain salary in every deal and would send back triple the value of the player they received. The Hawks would have 4 first lines, 3 sets of first pairing defense, 2 number one goalies. And best of all the team would have cap space!!! The New GM could fire Q, hire Babcock and then when Babcock does something not liked by the HB Board he could be fired and Q rehired. I figure this could be done all season. When it comes to the draft I figure with all the deals the Hawks would win the draft lottery against themselves as they would have 27 of 30 picks including the first 15. Why are the Hawks messing around with the hired help when the HB community could run the Hawks like clockwork?

LOL! No doubt. I am so sick of hearing about "the Kids". Granted, Tatar and Nyquist have become better players than I would have thought after seeing them in smaller stints a few years ago, but I still don't think either one of those guys holds a candle to Datsyuk or Zetterberg.
- HawkintheD

Tatar is soft as Charmin

I'll see myself out.
- biegs

Don't let the door hit ya!

There are plenty of great candidates at HB. Think of how much fun it would be, we'd have a trade every day and blockbusters on a weekly basis. The star players would all have great contracts with great term and when Toews or Kane go three games with only 2 points they could be traded. Of course the team the Hawks trade with would retain salary in every deal and would send back triple the value of the player they received. The Hawks would have 4 first lines, 3 sets of first pairing defense, 2 number one goalies. And best of all the team would have cap space!!! The New GM could fire Q, hire Babcock and then when Babcock does something not liked by the HB Board he could be fired and Q rehired. I figure this could be done all season. When it comes to the draft I figure with all the deals the Hawks would win the draft lottery against themselves as they would have 27 of 30 picks including the first 15. Why are the Hawks messing around with the hired help when the HB community could run the Hawks like clockwork?
- paulr

It could happen!

Bowman is having problems with trade partners because he is an arrogant jerk. Not many GMs in the league want to deal with him.

- dahawks8819

Could it be..that you read this from some message board and took it as a fact? And Tallon is still so pissed about it that he clearly ain´t gonna make trades with Hawks..wait..no?

I do not know much myself either but I have hard time to believe that good and professional Gm´s have time or will to not have interest trade player when they have chance to make their team better. You really think that they go like: "Patrick Sharp will make our offense better and we need that but I´m not gonna make trade with Stan Bowman cause I don´t like him"... And it goes another way around too; why would Bowman make trade if he believes it doesn´t make sense to Hawks? Does that make him arrogant?

Don't kknow if this has been discussed but Elliot Friedman is reporting that a lot of GM's think Bowman is going to take a run at Andrej Sekera.

Any idea what Chicago would be willing to give up?

Could it be..that you read this from some message board and took it as a fact? And Tallon is still so pissed about it that he clearly ain´t gonna make trades with Hawks..wait..no?

I do not know much myself either but I have hard time to believe that good and professional Gm´s have time or will to not have interest trade player when they have chance to make their team better. You really think that they go like: "Patrick Sharp will make our offense better and we need that but I´m not gonna make trade with Stan Bowman cause I don´t like him"... And it goes another way around too; why would Bowman make trade if he believes it doesn´t make sense to Hawks? Does that make him arrogant?
- MjulQvist

Well said. Always wondered, if Stan was at fault and part of orchestrating Dale's exit, WHY do they deal so much with each other?

Some GMs may not like each other but any GM wanting to make their team better would call their most hated enemy to do so and, if they wouldn't, shouldn't be a GM.

Don't kknow if this has been discussed but Elliot Friedman is reporting that a lot of GM's think Bowman is going to take a run at Andrej Sekera.

Any idea what Chicago would be willing to give up?
- BINGO!

If that's what he plans to do I hope he and Q enrol him in an intensive course on how to play defence in his own zone.

If that's what he plans to do I hope he and Q enrol him in an intensive course on how to play defence in his own zone.
- RickJ

He's fine in his own end. Not exceptional, but not terrible. He's 4th in the league for takeaways among defensemen.