Have not heard anything beyond when they dealt for him, a quiet note that there was some talk about a possible extension.

Obviously, the Hawks would need to get some other business done first. But a physical LW they can play in the top 9 is #2 on the wish list after a 4-5 defense upgrade.
- John Jaeckel

Hey JJ,
I'm hoping that we can find some way to keep Ladd, I know it's going to be a stretch but I've been pining to have him back since 10'...and one can always hope right? In his exit interview he basically said, "yeah I'm pretty rich, I like Chicago, and don't really require the big payday anymore." In your opinion how truthful do you think he was being and what would it take to re-sign him?

I agree with you, but this is the cost of doing business. Trades need to happen and tweaks need to be made when money is an issue.
- Hank3Henshaw

By "when," I hope you mean at the draft, and not weeks or months afterwards.

You're probably right. At the same time, it is something to (briefly) think about.

Now that I have that out of my system...
- EKB13

Suckers.... I tried to take him off your hands before the mega contract...

By "when," I hope you mean at the draft, and not weeks or months afterwards.
- EKB13

Haha. Yes, I do

This draft is not deep enough to move a talent like Kane unless you are sending the message that you are not going to be competitive for a few years. Matthews, while a very solid prospect is not considered a "generational talent" like McDavid and even Eichel were last year, and I'm not sure there are many NHL ready talents behind him this year.
- TheTrob

Almost why I wouldn't mind the Flyers using their first and targeting someone like Trouba. Get a young RFA that can probably have quicker impact. ALso has a little more of a track record. He had a down year but has shown skills to be top pairing guy

This draft is not deep enough to move a talent like Kane unless you are sending the message that you are not going to be competitive for a few years. Matthews, while a very solid prospect is not considered a "generational talent" like McDavid and even Eichel were last year, and I'm not sure there are many NHL ready talents behind him this year.
- TheTrob

I heard he is a generational talent and perhaps on par or even better than Eichel

I heard he is a generational talent and perhaps on par or even better than Eichel
- DeflatedPucks

Heard the same thing. JR talked about how instead of doing junior or college, he moved away and played in Europe at a young age and learned that style of play and sort of grew up in the highest-level Euro leagues.

Isn't a 8-10 teams I"d accept a trade to clause essentially a NTC unless I give you my permission.

Basically he can just pick the 8-10 teams that would never trade for him. NYC, Pitt, Kings, Tampa, Nashville, Capitals, etc.

Just saw this Rain Man and almost coughed up my coffee on the screen.
Most excellent!
I suspect we'll be seeing/reading a lot of Shaw posts from you in the very near future.
- savvyone-1

And people thought my Bolland bashing was bad....just wait.....the Hawks are BETTER with Shaw+Rasmussen then Kruger and whoever. I'm still waiting for somebody to justify this Kruger deal. The guy has gone something like 48 or 49 games without a goal. That's John Scott like.....in today's NHL...and the scary part is you rarely notice Kruger having real life scoring chances....not some whacked out sabremetrics that at one time was heralding Rundblad as some viable asset.

I'll get lit up and left for dead after this but I truly feel this Kruger deal is WORSE then what they paid Bickell. At least 29 produced and was seen, wrongly, as a power forward. I don't know what the hell they seen in Kruger.....at that price.

Unless Motte makes a leap this summer development-wise, I believe it's safe to say that he'll be learning to ply his trade in Rockford - to start the season.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to like about Motte and what he could bring. He just needs time to transition his game and smooth out the rough edges at the pro level.
- EKB13

That might be true. I´ve seen two games from him now with team Usa and liked the way he playes. I think he has been better than Hino there. Looks like Motte has a good work ethic, doesn´t take a shift off and keeps his feet moving all the time. Can play well both sides of the puck. He could turn out to be really nice bottom 6 player for Hawks.

***

Stan and front office have another tough summer ahead of them. It´s not easy when you should be able to make your team better and get some cap relief at the same time. Easier to said than done.

Wouldnt mind picking up Polak for #5/6 defender. Out of those teams, I could see Crawford going to Winnipeg or Ottawa.

Made up scenario: Trade CC, Shaw, TT, for Hoffman, Anderson and a high pick.

Wouldnt mind picking up Polak for #5/6 defender. Out of those teams, I could see Crawford going to Winnipeg or Ottawa.

Made up scenario: Trade CC, Shaw, TT, for Hoffman, Anderson and a high pick.
- 93Joe

Melnyks tight wallet declines a $6 mil goalie, a raise for Shaw, and TT who will need a raise soon too

Agreed, and that's one of the reasons why I think Crawford won't be dealt. Toronto could be interesting destination as well.
- DarthKane

Crawford in Toronto post game could be bad.

Isn't a 8-10 teams I"d accept a trade to clause essentially a NTC unless I give you my permission.

Basically he can just pick the 8-10 teams that would never trade for him. NYC, Pitt, Kings, Tampa, Nashville, Capitals, etc.
- sditulli

Full NMC. He can block anything and everything if he wanted.

I heard he is a generational talent and perhaps on par or even better than Eichel
- DeflatedPucks

There are some who think he might not even go first - that the Fin Laine will wind up in Toronto.

Just saw this Rain Man and almost coughed up my coffee on the screen.
Most excellent!
I suspect we'll be seeing/reading a lot of Shaw posts from you in the very near future.
- savvyone-1

You know and the other thing about Kruger is here is a guy that broke and possibly dislocated his wrist so badly he needed surgery. Probably had some sort of ligament issue as well. Takes him forever, and rightfully so, to get back, and admits post blues series he isn't sure he'll ever be right again. So that's a pretty significant hand injury....and yet, lets extend him in a very modest cap year, to a deal that probably made every GM in the NHL drop multiple F bombs when it came across....why because a deal like that raises the comparables for depth players who are BETTER.

3 people won in the Kruger deal....kruger, his agent, and Donald Fehr.

There are some who think he might not even go first - that the Fin Laine will wind up in Toronto.
- StLBravesFan

No chance.

He's consensus #1

Wouldnt mind picking up Polak for #5/6 defender. Out of those teams, I could see Crawford going to Winnipeg or Ottawa.

Made up scenario: Trade CC, Shaw, TT, for Hoffman, Anderson and a high pick.
- 93Joe

Doesn't Winnipeg have a young goalie - Helleybeuck (sp?) - that they're high on?

There are some who think he might not even go first - that the Fin Laine will wind up in Toronto.
- StLBravesFan

And that is nothing against Matthews. Laine is just so good and he might turn out to be best player from this years draft. I still believe that Toronto will take Matthews because he is a center though.

I heard he is a generational talent and perhaps on par or even better than Eichel
- DeflatedPucks

OK, so what makes you think that TOR would give up him PLUS other pieces to grab Kane? And with no other talent close to him, why would the Hawks trade out to move up in this draft?

I'm all for speculation, but there needs to be some basis in the reality of it all.

Sounds like if Bolland medically clears that Florida will buy him out.

Trade Kruger, sign Bolland back cheap

Welcome to cap space

You know and the other thing about Kruger is here is a guy that broke and possibly dislocated his wrist so badly he needed surgery. Probably had some sort of ligament issue as well. Takes him forever, and rightfully so, to get back, and admits post blues series he isn't sure he'll ever be right again. So that's a pretty significant hand injury....and yet, lets extend him in a very modest cap year, to a deal that probably made every GM in the NHL drop multiple F bombs when it came across....why because a deal like that raises the comparables for depth players who are BETTER.

3 people won in the Kruger deal....kruger, his agent, and Donald Fehr.
- SteveRain

0G 4A -5 in 41 GP....

And people thought my Bolland bashing was bad....just wait.....the Hawks are BETTER with Shaw+Rasmussen then Kruger and whoever. I'm still waiting for somebody to justify this Kruger deal. The guy has gone something like 48 or 49 games without a goal. That's John Scott like.....in today's NHL...and the scary part is you rarely notice Kruger having real life scoring chances....not some whacked out sabremetrics that at one time was heralding Rundblad as some viable asset.

I'll get lit up and left for dead after this but I truly feel this Kruger deal is WORSE then what they paid Bickell. At least 29 produced and was seen, wrongly, as a power forward. I don't know what the hell they seen in Kruger.....at that price.
- SteveRain

It may prove to be bad, but I dont think it is Worse. Kruger probably .5-1mil overpaid. Bickell was 1.5-2mil overpaid AND couldn't stay healthy thru enough of the contract to possibly play up to the contract level. Kruger at least still has a chance to play to his contract $.

No one is saying it is just that.

A) Very few teams need a starting goalie.
B) Teams cant afford to take a 6MM cap hit without sending anything back to Chicago
C) Crawford can block any trade. Do you think he waives to go to bottom feeders?
D) Goalie pad size is shrinking next year, no person knows how that will effect the goalies going into next year.
- ImThatGuy

A) A lot of teams could use an upgrade in net. Crawford is an upgrade over a lot of starting goalies in the NHL.
B) Who says Chicago wouldn't be taking back anything? There would be players coming back for sure and the salary along with them
C) I believe Crawford has a Modified NTC, so likely he can't completely block being traded.
D) That doesn't really impact his trade value one bit.

So Carolina trades a younger goalie, who they just signed to an extension, for an older goalie with a much higher cap hit.

What else moves in that trade?

Doesnt seem to make sense for a budget team like Carolina.
- ImThatGuy

Lack would be the back-up. He's cheap.

And the budget is the Salary Cap. Francis has said he has free reign to spend whatever he needs to improve the team.