I think there is about 8-900K open....not a lot but enough to get a 6/7 dman.
- Al

Even with Hartman and Cumiskey up? We have one more player on our roster than what we have had before. Plus, we have 9 defensemen in the big club (when TVR comes back) and tvr is the only one that wouldn't have to go through waivers. No way does bowman put Erixon or Rundblad on waivers (since he recently traded for them)

Considering Stan is our GM:
The trade i see hapening is Rundblad, Erixon, or Roszival getting traded, b4 TVR comes back up, for either a vet d-man, if we can get it (which I doubt) so probably for a pick. If we get a vet d-man two of those guys will be traded rather than being sent to waivers.

I think he is having problems with trade partners because there is not much interest for those players especially for what we need.

Even with Hartman and Cumiskey up? We have one more player on our roster than what we have had before. Plus, we have 9 defensemen in the big club (when TVR comes back) and tvr is the only one that wouldn't have to go through waivers. No way does bowman put Erixon or Rundblad on waivers (since he recently traded for them)

Considering Stan is our GM:
The trade i see hapening is Rundblad, Erixon, or Roszival getting traded, b4 TVR comes back up, for either a vet d-man, if we can get it (which I doubt) so probably for a pick. If we get a vet d-man two of those guys will be traded rather than being sent to waivers.

I think he is having problems with trade partners because there is not much interest for those players especially for what we need.
- BearsnHawks

Hartman and Cumiskey can go down and after the trade deadline the rosters can expand.

If the cap constraints are as bad as some think the last player SB will want to lose is the #1 goal tender. Raanta might be good some day same with Darling but Bowman can't afford to go into next season with a lesser roster and a "maybe" at the most important position.

....And Sharp is the wrong side of 30, has been often hurt and scores almost all of his goals on the power play....By himself he won't fetch an elite prospect.
- Al

He had over 30 goals last season has played in 74+ games 4 of the last 5 years (only season he didn't was the lockout year) and has a couple years left on his contract after this year (for a lower cost than his cap hit). Still think he can get a good return, especially after what I am hearing the price is for some of these trade targets at the deadline.

Hartman and Cumiskey can go down and after the trade deadline the rosters can expand.
- Al

Cumiskey would hit waivers and I think he is our 5th best d-man right now. Until TVR comes back

Good points but u forgot the biggest reason....A $5.9 million cap hit through 2016-17.
- Al

Yea, that was kind of what the last two points were about

Needing cap space to absorb sharps hit
In a win now window in the next two years (remaining duration of sharps contract)

He had over 30 goals last season has played in 74+ games 4 of the last 5 years (only season he didn't was the lockout year) and has a couple years left on his contract after this year (for a lower cost than his cap hit). Still think he can get a good return, especially after what I am hearing the price is for some of these trade targets at the deadline.
- BearsnHawks

Sharp has had significant injuries in 2 of last 3 years plus over 30 and a big cap hit...And there is now way he goes before March 2nd deadline.

Yea, that was kind of what the last two points were about

Needing cap space to absorb sharps hit
In a win now window in the next two years (remaining duration of sharps contract)
- FourFeathers773

Yep....If he goes Bowman will take what he can and look to not absorb any of Sharp's salary to make the deal work.

Yep....If he goes Bowman will take what he can and look to not absorb any of Sharp's salary to make the deal work.
- Al

sharp should get more than jagr and Iginla got. they were older and rentals

Jeff Carter.

Get it done, Stan.
- CBHawks88

Phuck it im with him..JEFF CARTER OR BUST

Even with Hartman and Cumiskey up? We have one more player on our roster than what we have had before. Plus, we have 9 defensemen in the big club (when TVR comes back) and tvr is the only one that wouldn't have to go through waivers. No way does bowman put Erixon or Rundblad on waivers (since he recently traded for them)

Considering Stan is our GM:
The trade i see hapening is Rundblad, Erixon, or Roszival getting traded, b4 TVR comes back up, for either a vet d-man, if we can get it (which I doubt) so probably for a pick. If we get a vet d-man two of those guys will be traded rather than being sent to waivers.

I think he is having problems with trade partners because there is not much interest for those players especially for what we need.
- BearsnHawks

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

And there is still animosity from how the Hawks front office pushed Dale Tallon out the door. Doug Wilson for one was pissed about how it was handled - and he has a lot of friends in the league.

Just watch how other teams in the NHL have no problems moving players - even helping teams out with horrible trades - the Hawks are never involved - and for good reason.

Sharp has had significant injuries in 2 of last 3 years plus over 30 and a big cap hit...And there is now way he goes before March 2nd deadline.
- Al

He needs to go - there isn't any position for him. The top six are already in place - and Sharp is NOT a bottom six forward. The team chemistry has been off ever since he came back from injury. I thought they were playing him to show the league he was ok so they could trade him - but I suspect Bowman - being the arrogant jerk he is - is probably asking for too much back. The other GMs know this team is against the cap - and are in no hurry to help Stan out.

I know, it's just a hindsight 20/20 rant

We always complain about size and you look at the Kings who built their team and held on to guys who are big and can skate with some skill. Of all of our top forward prospects now, who is the biggest? McNeil at 6'1 200lb? I don't think anyone would disagree that before we dealt him, Hayes' skating significantly improved and shortly there after a brief fourth line audition stint, he gets traded. Yet carcillo who is smaller, skates on par, scores less, and takes dumber penalties more often, is on his second trip in the Blackhawk uniform

I get letting the pirris and Olsen's of the world go. Its also more just worrying being saddled by bickells contract because if he doesn't show up again this post season, not only are we not going far, but his contract will become an anchor. The size + skill factor is obviously rare in the NHL, I just think we gave up on him really quickly when he was just showing to make good strides
- FourFeathers773

McNeill is 6'2 - 220 pounds. Stephen Johns is 6'3 - 230 pounds. And in the wings are John Hayden at 6'3 220 and Michael Paliotta at 6'3 210. Bigger and better are coming in the next couple of years.

Because the same could be said for last season as the West dominated the East, actually I think that's been the case for the past two seasons.

I only can judge a team on what they have done as everyone has to deal with a similar schedule in that Conference. It really doesn't matter if there are 15 teams better than the Isles in the West as that is a subjective opinion. Right now they are the 2nd best team in East.

If you think they would be last in the Central that's your opinion and it could be so.
But it doesn't take away from the fact they are in 2nd place in the East and have more points than the Hawks.

The Isles have far succeeded expectations...
- Al

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

I think there is about 8-900K open....not a lot but enough to get a 6/7 dman.
- Al

On nhlnumbers we have 1.250m and hockeybuzz has us at .400m, which one is right. Does anyone know how much we really have.

nhlnumbers (calculates 186 days/prorated) Using the 1.250 that site says we have in cap space. Waive/trade erixon have 1.850m to add a Dman.

Add a FW, waive Hartman to Rockford and have that .894 plus whatever is left of that 1.850 for a FW.

Really would like to know which site is right. Hockeybuzz still has Rasmoose on 23man. So I am leaning towards nhlnumbers.

One more time....
If Sharp is traded it won't be for an as valuable roster player because the salary can't be absorbed.

Even if Sharp wins the Conn Smythe....It's a math problem and Bowman won't deal a $5 mill salary and take back close to as much.
- Al

I agree with this but not the comparison to the Campbell salary dump. The Campbell one is different because the contract was an albatross for term and $$$$ and the Hawks were forced to take back Olesz which was a also a bad contract though shorter term and less money.

Rousell and jackass went at it....I hate jackman....
- southernhawk

1 and 1a in the bag-of-d!cks contest.

Just for the sake of conversatipn because Mr. Bowman thought it was an over pay as well.... but ...


Kesler would be as good or even better at the PK than Kruger , much better at the dot and an additional PP player . But the grit that the Hawks lack now would be fulfilled by Kesler .

McNeil and TT MAY BE NOTHING .

But we'll see.
- mrpaulish

You would have needed to move someone else off the roster, so I'm assuming at a minimum you would also have had to move Sharp for picks or minor leaguers.

My fear too, moving Seabs. But with Keith signed long-term, I don't think both will be around after next season.
- powerenforcer

As sure as the sun is going to come up this morning (and it has)................

SEABROOK IS GOING NOOOOOOOOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which is why it makes no sense to trade him until the summer, if at all.
- Ogilthorpe2

Careful, we'll have none of that logic thing going on here

Again....They couldn't take on a salary and when was the last time you heard a significant trade happening 5 days before the regular season began??

There was basically only one team that had cap space to take on a $3.5 player....Garth Snow had the space and that's why he was able to get Leddy and Boychuck for a song.

My point was and still is Leddy was dumped for cap relief, no different than Campbell. When that happens especially at such a late date you get what you can.
- Al

Pokka >>>> Rusty

Even with Hartman and Cumiskey up? We have one more player on our roster than what we have had before. Plus, we have 9 defensemen in the big club (when TVR comes back) and tvr is the only one that wouldn't have to go through waivers. No way does bowman put Erixon or Rundblad on waivers (since he recently traded for them)

Considering Stan is our GM:
The trade i see hapening is Rundblad, Erixon, or Roszival getting traded, b4 TVR comes back up, for either a vet d-man, if we can get it (which I doubt) so probably for a pick. If we get a vet d-man two of those guys will be traded rather than being sent to waivers.

I think he is having problems with trade partners because there is not much interest for those players especially for what we need.
- BearsnHawks

I have a hard time believing anyone would trade for one of those 3. You would have to include an actual player that's decent to try to move any of them. Erixon is hurt. Rosy is old and at the end and Runblad is just plain brutal.

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

And there is still animosity from how the Hawks front office pushed Dale Tallon out the door. Doug Wilson for one was pissed about how it was handled - and he has a lot of friends in the league.

Just watch how other teams in the NHL have no problems moving players - even helping teams out with horrible trades - the Hawks are never involved - and for good reason.
- dahawks8819

Everyone listen to this guy he obviously knows what he is talking about...

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

And there is still animosity from how the Hawks front office pushed Dale Tallon out the door. Doug Wilson for one was pissed about how it was handled - and he has a lot of friends in the league.

Just watch how other teams in the NHL have no problems moving players - even helping teams out with horrible trades - the Hawks are never involved - and for good reason.
- dahawks8819

No question the GM fraternity was irked when McD's boy was put in place after the qualifier debacle which was his doing. The other thing we here is how Bowman tries to win every trade. Dale was more about fair value in a deal. The other concern has to be that Stan is always waiting waiting waiting and filling in instead of making progressive moves to help his club.

And while that's helped in some cases it's clear that the time to move Sharp was last offseason and retool the defense, but Stan kept everyone together. The only move being the Leddy salary dump for Richards. While Richards has certainly done a better job helping Kane score, the defense has to be a concern here going down the stretch.

Everyone listen to this guy he obviously knows what he is talking about...
- biegs

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.

March 3rd ! Praying for March 3rd !


It was pretty apparent via twitter that the Blackhawks had scouts all over the place last night . Even if its not much Im pretty sure Bowman is trying to upgrade the defense somehow.

Well see