Season starts Tuesday? Oh where did the summer go?
- TTtime

Interested teams in Hawk players will start looking at other players to sign or other trade possibilities rather than waiting on Stan Bowman

Wouldn't "transplants" still be loyal to the team they grew up supporting, or supported all their lives?

If that's the case, then as a "transplant" they are not invested in the local team. And if the local team is a consistent loser, why spend the dollars to go see them?
- EKolb13

Eli, no question just how correct your statement is

Garth has probably offered Frans and a prospect he drafted in the 7th round of 2010 that had his hand cut off for shop lifting in Kazakstan.... but the deal is off the table as of noon today because Garth loves his prospects.

Over on the Isles thread they think the one handed prospect has real potential. He can really pass for a one hander. Way too much to pay for a decrepit 70 point scorer who has been a leader on 3 Cup winners. Who needs him when all these kids are on the verge of being all stars?
- tredbrta

I thought Jason Pierre Paul only plays football

LOL.

Plus way too much salary coming back.
- MartiniMan

I know, just throwing Grabs into it, could see Frans as part of it, who knows...??

IF it does end up being Florida, what kind of pieces would be realistic to expect in a package back for Sharp?

I'm doubting the Hawks get a 1st round pick back and looking at their cap situation (assuming the Hawks don't want any cap back if possible), we're looking at some combination of the following I think (as much as I'd love Huberdeau or Gudbranson, even if the Hawks had to add, they don't have the cap space):

Michael Matheson
Vincent Trocheck
Alex Petrovic
2nd Round Pick

Obviously I'm not saying all of them for Sharp, but it wouldn't surprise me if these are the names being considered from the Florida side of any potential deal.
- Hawksfan37

I'd take Matheson, goalie prospect Sam Brittain, and their 2016 2nd. Honestly, I'd take just Matheson and call it a day. No way do they move Trocheck.

So is Sharp requesting that the Panthers move to Thunder Bay Ontario for him to accept a trade?

Lots of development all over that area, the problem is that is mostly developments limited to 55 and older so that doesn't bring the young people in. Weston is a different story as that area is similar to the North shore of Chicago
- Maggie

In responce to paulr I touched on one of the issues. Transportation. I have a place in Port Charlotte so Tampa is an easy ride. For the people in Naples one would think there could be a better option than alligator alley. Same goes with South Miami, you are looking at a couple hours in traffic.

Wow. Beezer could have been in trouble there. I didn't know he was notorious for not signing autographs...You just killed the 10 year-old me. Haha. Just joking. But what was it like growing up as a hockey fan in a non-traditional market, as well as, being older now and still a fan? I bet it's sweet. Tickets are probably great prices and it's still a niche thing down there, I would imagine.
- Hank3Henshaw

Definitely interesting. I was 5 years old when I went to my first game in 1993- against the Flyers. The atmosphere was electric when we were playing in Miami. We definitely suffer from poor arena location.

Simple answer to that. Look at the Hawks, bad owner and bad team empty stadium. Good owners now and great team, full stadium. Same will happen to the Panthers
- Maggie

Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers even the Dolphins - support in the seats in general is not comparable to pro sports in Chicago and other big cities in North America.

Hey JJ... just wanna clear up one thing. Our financial situation isn't an issue anymore. All of the teams debt has been paid in full (please don't believe Ken Campbell; he's a hack and a tool). In fact, the congresswoman who was calling for the county to end the lease with the team pulled her support of the bill. So, really, things here are financially as good as they've ever been. Well, maybe not EVER but it isn't horrible anymore now that we have owners who actually have money. Certainly the draft showed that the hockey spirit down here is alive and well.

What kind of condition could he have made if coming to Florida? That's odd. One thing you are right about, though, is if he isn't 100% committed to being here and playing/winning here, Doug Cifu and Mr. Viner won't let Dale pull the trigger. If Sharp doesn't want to come to Florida without a velvet rope around the deal then I say thanks but no thanks.
- Panthers88

JJ said geography. He probably asked them to move the team to Quebec City. lol

U don't get it, do u??? All of us want Sharp but it depends on the price bc the kids are more important than Sharp. There seems to be a disconnect of you understanding what or how the isle fans perceive Sharp.
Nelson is the only priority right now. Nobody is denying what Sharp is or what he can bring, but the isles are built with youth and wont destroy it for a 34yr player who's slowly declining (whether u admit it or not).........
- Ur Not Me

its not necessarily that the kids are "more important"; its more that the bhawks have their backs up against the wall and "need" to trade sharp...if the market dictates that its a buyers market, you shouldnt really be anticipating getting back equal value in return, especially if there are only a handful of teams that are financially able to take on his cap hit...

this shouldnt be hard to understand regardless of the team that someone roots for.

I'd take Matheson, goalie prospect Sam Brittain, and their 2016 2nd. Honestly, I'd take just Matheson and call it a day. No way do they move Trocheck.
- BreakoutHockey

For who? Kane? Not a chance Matheson gets dealt. He's our future #2 next to Ekblad; Campbell's heir apparent. Trocheck could DEFINITELY be dealt.

the isles are built with youth and wont destroy it for a 34yr player who's slowly declining (whether u admit it or not).........
- Ur Not Me

Trading a good prospect to get Patrick Sharp isn't going to "destroy" anything. Melodrama much?

This is why you won't win a Stanley Cup. This mentality.

The Hawks traded a 1 and a good prospect for a rental player. I guess the Hawks did destroy something, everyone else's chances to win a Cup.

If you want to win the Cup, these are the things the Bruins, Kings and Blackhawks have taught us:

-You must be bold. Go for the big fish if you can
-You must spend money for great players. It's no coincidence the Kings, Hawks and Bs are all the ones most often living in Cap hell...nice tradeoff to win the Cup
-You must be willing to part with ballyhooed/unproven prospects to give immediate improvement to team's chances. NO ONE here is complaining about losing Klas Dahlbech or a first round pick....would we love them back? You damn right, but we'll take the results anyway.

Why are you being insulting?

You think Stan would take Grabner and Nielsen for $150k in cap savings?

I thought you considered the Leddy trade a solid deal. Are you saying Garth screwed the Stanley Cup Champions and will do it again?


- tredbrta

I'm not being insulting at all, was joking with the Grabner part. I know u need salary relief, that's why I could see something about Frans (maybe).....

Snow played the Leddy trade real well, but you did land an islander top prospect in Pokka and do believe he will be very good. At age 17, Pokka played with men in the Finnish league.... Give the kid time, he'll be paired w/Hammer for u guys

Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers even the Dolphins - support in the seats in general is not comparable to pro sports in Chicago and other big cities in North America.
- RickJ

The Marlins are run by a crook. The Panthers suffer from a few things; poor arena location being one of them. But the new owner means business. Dolphins have the richest owner in the league. But we've had a stupid GM up until now.

Wouldn't "transplants" still be loyal to the team they grew up supporting, or supported all their lives?

If that's the case, then as a "transplant" they are not invested in the local team. And if the local team is a consistent loser, why spend the dollars to go see them?
- EKolb13

This is the problem that Dale needs to fix.

Guys definitely won't be getting Gudbranson or Huberdeau back for Sharp.

U don't get it, do u??? All of us want Sharp but it depends on the price bc the kids are more important than Sharp. There seems to be a disconnect of you understanding what or how the isle fans perceive Sharp.
Nelson is the only priority right now. Nobody is denying what Sharp is or what he can bring, but the isles are built with youth and wont destroy it for a 34yr player who's slowly declining (whether u admit it or not).........
- Ur Not Me

Stop adding years to Sharp's age (33). You know I'm an Isles fan. He makes your team better. Probably would have led you past the caps. He could fetch a pick at this point from FL and it would be fine. Essentially, Sharp goes for a pick, Oduya and Krueger. The Hawks are contending again and the Isles... have a lot of prospects.

There that, if Sharp is looked to market the team, JJ's comments earlier make complete sense. How do you draw Miami fans? The East coast beach towns and even Naples? Strange location needs better transportatiion options. Rail?
- Cup-Bearer

MLB expanded to Tampa after Jerry threatened to move the Sox their back in the early 90s to leverage that dump he calls US Cellular out of the state.

With that being said, the reason they looked at Tampa was all the east coast snow birds and retirees who they thought they could get. instead, those same fans remained loyal to the NYY and Boston Red Sox. All you have to do is look at Tampa's and Miami's attendance in baseball and it's pretty clear.

If I'm a professional athlete I would NEVER want to go to Florida to play. To live? Sure....tax breaks. To play? Nope....unless you are a Miami Dolphin.

Guys definitely won't be getting Gudbranson or Huberdeau back for Sharp.
- Panthers88

I agree. No chance either come this way.

This is the problem that Dale needs to fix.
- Cup-Bearer

The biggest problem is when we were in Miami, that arena was always full. It was moved 60 miles out West; much harder for people to get to especially on a week night when they work. It definitely doesn't help that our last two ownership groups, prior to the current regime, have been complete dunces.

Good signing. Cap hit of $925K last season and next season and then it goes down to $825K for 2016/17 and 2017/18.

TvR showed he can be a reliable 5/6 and play either side. If he can stay healthy he will be a good player for the Hawks.
- EbonyRaptor

Glad they got him signed I hope the two injuries were both freak accidents instead of a sign of what's to come, going to keep my fingers crossed.

I know, just throwing Grabs into it, could see Frans as part of it, who knows...??
- Ur Not Me

Who knows what Garth can sucker Stan into?

Trading a good prospect to get Patrick Sharp isn't going to "destroy" anything. Melodrama much?

This is why you won't win a Stanley Cup. This mentality.

The Hawks traded a 1 and a good prospect for a rental player. I guess the Hawks did destroy something, everyone else's chances to win a Cup.

If you want to win the Cup, these are the things the Bruins, Kings and Blackhawks have taught us:

-You must be bold. Go for the big fish if you can
-You must spend money for great players. It's no coincidence the Kings, Hawks and Bs are all the ones most often living in Cap hell...nice tradeoff to win the Cup
-You must be willing to part with ballyhooed/unproven prospects to give immediate improvement to team's chances. NO ONE here is complaining about losing Klas Dahlbech or a first round pick....would we love them back? You damn right, but we'll take the results anyway.
- kwolf68

What prospect u think the isles would trade?
- keep in mind CHI needs cap space
- Sharp is 34yrs old
- isles are NOT 1 player away from cup

Its not making a bold move, its not making a mistake.....

Sharp + McNeil for Grimaldi, Petrovic and a 2nd