Stan Bowman.

That said, I think there was, and maybe more than one, for Sharp. I don't think there was for Bickell.
- John Jaeckel

This saga has the added baggage of Sharp being a good soldier for a long time and having to okay his destination....
Bickell can give 8 teams and then they have to get his okay on others...

But Sharp has been here for a long time so my guess is they will send him to a place he wants to go without much, if any arm twisting.

No
- Al

Was he waiver exempt though?

No
- Al

My guess is that Raanta has been a good trooper playing in Rockford, He belongs in the NHL but Hawks had no spot for him since Darling has impressed them. So they moved him somewhere he'd be in the NHL and they'd get something back they could play in Rockford next year with potential to move up if he does well.

Not sure what Stanley is up to here.

Maybe he knows something that we don't?

Maybe Hossa is done? Goes to LTIR ala Pronger?

Very interesting.
- Bjm84

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say: Stanley knows a lot more than you and I do - combined x 100. Just a hunch.

If his contract is activated - shouldn't he be losing his position with Player Safety?
- StLBravesFan

It won't be activated. His eye injury is pretty serious. Last I heard he has no peripheral vision.

The waiting game... from both sides.

LeBrun's latest:

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...e-to-drop-on-top-forwards

Sharp would look awfully good on Crosby's line!

Good news for hopes of a landing spot for Bickell?
@DarrenDreger: Important to note Ariz only adds $500,000 to its hockey budget with Pronger contract. Plan is to still be active in the free agent market.

The waiting game... from both sides.

LeBrun's latest:

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...e-to-drop-on-top-forwards

Sharp would look awfully good on Crosby's line!
- TyCamScore

Rumor was the Pens had a solid W prospect coming back..

This...^^^^^^

Stan needs to move salary and it seems he had a golden opportunity this week to at least get Sharp off the books. But it also looks as though he overplayed his hand a bit. As Al mentions as we move further into the summer other teams will resolve their needs elsewhere...This isn't the first time this has happened.

Again I don't know enough about the targeting rules, but JJ I believe you mentioned something about at least moving Sharp's money before they could sign Saad to a new deal...

We'll see what happens when free agency starts next week.
- DK002

I thought it was necessary to have tagging room before you can sign a guy to a new deal. Someone who knows more about the cap . . .?

I thought it was necessary to have tagging room before you can sign a guy to a new deal. Someone who knows more about the cap . . .?
- John Jaeckel

I think (think - but I've mentionned it here a couple of times and no one has contradicted me) they can be 10% over the cap, maybe starting 7/1, until openning puck drop.

That would give them about $12MM (if I'm calculating from Hockeyscap correctly) to sign the 2 RFAs - and any other FAs they come across.

I still don't understand how the $3.2MM in bonuses the Hockeyscap shows figure into this.

>Is it true that only 1 (Chevy) or 2 GMs (and Tallon) congratulated the Hawks on winning the Cup yesterday?
>If so, then Stan should see reality a little clearer today: most of his peers have not won a single Cup -- let alone 3 -- and nobody is going to help Stan in any way
>If a team can meet their needs without dealing with the Blackhawks -- they will -- it's called "buying around the Blackhawks"
>And if they really like what Stan has, they will trade with him -- on their terms
>Stan is dealing from a major position of weakness -- and when the music stops -- he might not have a chair

The waiting game... from both sides.

LeBrun's latest:

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...e-to-drop-on-top-forwards

Sharp would look awfully good on Crosby's line!
- TyCamScore

Good thinking by Rutherford, Prices will go down till a couple deals get done then creep back up a bit , but likely still lower than what is being asked for now. As long as he is not desparate for a particular player , might as well wait a bit or pick up the second wave of teams moving somebody, to fit one of those available now on their roster.

The waiting game... from both sides.

LeBrun's latest:

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...e-to-drop-on-top-forwards

Sharp would look awfully good on Crosby's line!
- TyCamScore

I think this piece very accurately sets forth what's going on. Kessel, Sharp, Williams, Skinner. It's a buyer's market.

>Is it true that only 1 (Chevy) or 2 GMs (and Tallon) congratulated the Hawks on winning the Cup yesterday?
>If so, then Stan should see reality a little clearer today: most of his peers have not won a single Cup -- let alone 3 -- and nobody is going to help Stan in any way
>If a team can meet their needs without dealing with the Blackhawks -- they will -- it's called "buying around the Blackhawks"
>And if they really like what Stan has, they will trade with him -- on their terms
>Stan is dealing from a major position of weakness -- and when the music stops -- he might not have a chair
- SnapitUpstairs

No one is going out of their way to help the Hawks. I agree, time is not on his side.

The evidence is becoming overwhelming that SB just ain't that good. Can we trade him?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say: Stanley knows a lot more than you and I do - combined x 100. Just a hunch.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I have zero doubt of his acumen, and that of his advisers, including his father.

I do think though there is enough evidence to suggest that the Hawks don't let the GM be a gunslinger. McD fired Tallon for that. It's a corporate decision-making process, and the Tallon experience probably tells every Hawk executive they're being watched closely. Perception is King at 1901 W. Madison St.

And that kind of decision-making process can be slow (at best). When time is not on your side to begin with, that's not a good thing.

No one is going out of their way to help the Hawks. I agree, time is not on his side.
- John Jaeckel

>JJ, I think some fans forget the "human" side of all this
>NHL organizations and the executives in them are all highly competitive and am sure quite "tired" of the Blackhawks
>With 3 Cups, Stan has all the leeway he will ever need with the Hawks fanbase
>To me, pre-draft or at the draft was the perfect time to dump both Sharp and Bickell for next to nothing -- since Cap Space -- means a whole lotta something for the Hawks

>Is it true that only 1 (Chevy) or 2 GMs (and Tallon) congratulated the Hawks on winning the Cup yesterday?
>If so, then Stan should see reality a little clearer today: most of his peers have not won a single Cup -- let alone 3 -- and nobody is going to help Stan in any way
>If a team can meet their needs without dealing with the Blackhawks -- they will -- it's called "buying around the Blackhawks"
>And if they really like what Stan has, they will trade with him -- on their terms
>Stan is dealing from a major position of weakness -- and when the music stops -- he might not have a chair
- SnapitUpstairs

lol-firstly every gm is looking to be on the winning side of a trade. And if any GM from the east is worried about making a trade with the Hawks, they should not be a gm. Because it will only really matter in the Stanley cup finals, and we all know then, anything can happen.

>Is it true that only 1 (Chevy) or 2 GMs (and Tallon) congratulated the Hawks on winning the Cup yesterday?
>If so, then Stan should see reality a little clearer today: most of his peers have not won a single Cup -- let alone 3 -- and nobody is going to help Stan in any way
>If a team can meet their needs without dealing with the Blackhawks -- they will -- it's called "buying around the Blackhawks"
>And if they really like what Stan has, they will trade with him -- on their terms
>Stan is dealing from a major position of weakness -- and when the music stops -- he might not have a chair
- SnapitUpstairs

Snapper, any GM who eliminates what the Hawks are trying to sell because they've won 3 Cups should be fired - as should any GM who turns down a good deal for his team because he doesn't want to trade within his division.

You(should) worry about your team first, no matter how much it helps some othe team.

What will determine how much Stan gets back for Sharp is how many teams out there want him. If he gets nothing back, it's because only one team wants his merchandise - if he waits too long, potential suitors will drop out because they're filling their needs elsewhere or their rosters become set.

But not because they want to (frank) the Hawks - that's would be just (frank)ing themselves. For the same reason, no one will go out of their way to help the Hawks - or any other competing team in the league.

I think this piece very accurately sets forth what's going on. Kessel, Sharp, Williams, Skinner. It's a buyer's market.
- John Jaeckel

The main thing the Hawks have on their side when trading Sharp is that there is only about $12M owing on his deal. Nash and Skinner both have about $24M owing on their contracts; Kessel about $55M and Williams can go wherever he wants assuming teams still think he might be a game changer for them.

If a team in the Metro Div. bites on one of these guys to improve their team, one of the others will jump in too. Its a tough division to make the playoffs in and some teams are desperate to do it.

Snapper, any GM who eliminates what the Hawks are trying to SEL because they've won 3 Cups should be fired - as should any GM who turns down a good deal for his team because he doesn't want to trade within his division.

You(should) worry about your team first, no matter how much it helps some othe team.

What will determine how much Stan gets back for Sharp is how many teams out there want him. If he gets nothing back, it's because only one team wants his merchandise - if he waits too long, potential suitors will drop out because they're filling their needs elsewhere or their rosters become set.

But not because they want to (frank) the Hawks - that's would be just (frank)ing themselves. For the same reason, no one will go out of their way to help the Hawks - or any other competing team in the league.
- StLBravesFan

>Sage, I did not say that every GM is going to eliminate dealing with the Hawks
>I said, IF they can meet their needs by dealing elsewhere -- without helping Stan -- they will
>And if they want what Stan has -- KNOWING -- he has to get UNDER the cap -- they will have the upper hand in negotiations
>Getting UNDER the cap is not an option for Stan, it's a must do

The main thing the Hawks have on their side when trading Sharp is that there is only about $12M owing on his deal. Nash and Skinner both have about $24M owing on their contracts; Kessel about $55M and Williams can go wherever he wants assuming teams still think he might be a game changer for them.

If a team in the Metro Div. bites on one of these guys to improve their team, one of the others will jump in too. Its a tough division to make the playoffs in and some teams are desperate to do it.
- RickJ

or do the other GMs look at Sharp and ask themselves, he is worth 6 mil a year for two more years.. hhhhhmmmmmm

>Sage, I did not say that every GM is going to eliminate dealing with the Hawks
>I said, IF they can meet their needs by dealing elsewhere -- without helping Stan -- they will
>And if they want what Stan has -- KNOWING -- he has to get UNDER the cap -- they will have the upper hand in negotiations
>Getting UNDER the cap is not an option for Stan, it's a must do
- SnapitUpstairs

I don't buy this completely. Most GM's in the league would probably prefer to screw Glen Sather and the Rangers at the drop of a hat but almost all deal with him when he is buying or selling which he does frequently.

But you are right about the cap, no getting around that.

>Sage, I did not say that every GM is going to eliminate dealing with the Hawks
>I said, IF they can meet their needs by dealing elsewhere -- without helping Stan -- they will
>And if they want what Stan has -- KNOWING -- he has to get UNDER the cap -- they will have the upper hand in negotiations
>Getting UNDER the cap is not an option for Stan, it's a must do
- SnapitUpstairs

Never thought I'd say this, but I have more faith in the market mechanism - but less faith in Stan's ability to "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" - and how to go toe-to-toe with other GMs.

Three Cups - I'll give him high marks for that (however much credit he deserves for the first) - but I don't think trading is a strong point.

I have zero doubt of his acumen, and that of his advisers, including his father.

I do think though there is enough evidence to suggest that the Hawks don't let the GM be a gunslinger. McD fired Tallon for that. It's a corporate decision-making process, and the Tallon experience probably tells every Hawk executive they're being watched closely. Perception is King at 1901 W. Madison St.

And that kind of decision-making process can be slow (at best). When time is not on your side to begin with, that's not a good thing.
- John Jaeckel

From Stan's viewpoint, if he can't get what he thinks is fair value, he can always dump later for sub-value. The difference in sub-value later is likely to be very marginal.

And, I might add, in the big game of poker that is being played, Stan has far more chips (Three Cups) than the other GMs. Stan if under NO pressure to win big this year. That cannot be said for many other GMs. So who's really under the most pressure?

If Stan has to dump later, he is likely to accommodate a buddy; and then GMs under the gun will have to answer.

If you can't take a top-tier to the prom, does it really that much difference in choosing between 2's, 3, or 4s at the last minute?