I agree with what you are saying. From a personal stand point if I were in Stan's position I'm listening to any offer that comes my way for Kane. If I get a deal like what happened to Saad where the offer was to good to pass up.



- gifman

If you are Stan you listen to any offer for anyone on the roster and that includes Kane. If someone wants to offer you an unbelievable package of players, picks and prospects then of course you listen and consider it. At this point in time however, as long as Kane remains "clean", then any trade you make for him has to be one in which you "win" the trade, BY A LOT. That means at the very least you are getting a top 4 defender and a top 6 forward, plus high picks or prospects. If that is the case, you ask yourself, which other team could even offer that and why that team would want to do that deal.

At this point I believe that there is really only one true un-touchable on the roster and that is Toews. There are others like Keith and Hjalmarsson who are pretty close to being untouchable based on not just their play but their extremely friendly cap hits. The only thing that takes Kane out of the untouchable discussion is the specter of "whats next".

Trade Kane and this is a lottery team. Nobody is giving the Hawks anything close to his full value. He is a threat on every shift and a dynamic, game breaker on offense. THE MVP OF THE LEAGUE! Nobody is going to create 3 roster holes to add Kane. He's going nowhere anytime soon, IMO.
- EnzoD

It's highly, highly doubtful we would be a lottery team. Besides and I go by this moto everywhere, 1 person does not make a team, and if your team depends solely on 1 person to carry you, then your doing it wrong.

I can see Buffalo trading us Reinhart, Ristolainen, Ennis (salary coming back) and their 1st this year?. Would you poop on this deal? With this kind of trade we can lock up Panarin long term, have an extremely talented Defense, and fill out some holes on the forward side.

Bigger question, do you risk a 4th strike for Kane? If another incident happens you would be lucky to get 1 decent player back for him. I would love to hear what competing GM's were offering Stan last season when the Kane incident happened. I'm sure they were trying to fleece us, as you or I would if we were in their shoes.

Remember this is a business, I hate saying that. However, the issue is not the business portion but the adolescent behavior of a star player. Kane appears to have bad associations outside of hockey, and like other star athletes, those associations are going to destroy his career. If he were to really want to change and stay with the organization, he would flat out tell his "associates" to puck off, and make it publicly known.

Would I do it, yes I would if I were in his shoes. Besides if they were my friends, wouldn't you expect them to protect my interests instead of bring me down to their level?

This morning's Hockey Central reporting Ladd is looking for "Kesler money".

He's not coming back.

Well there's no banner for that. Who's the big loser? Hocks or blues? blues. blues lose. I'd much rather go out in the first round if you don't win it all. How is it that the blues didn't even show up?

GO SHORKSSSHHKKS
- hocktock

So the Blues were doing it right the past several years then?

It's highly, highly doubtful we would be a lottery team. Besides and I go by this moto everywhere, 1 person does not make a team, and if your team depends solely on 1 person to carry you, then your doing it wrong.

I can see Buffalo trading us Reinhart, Ristolainen, Ennis (salary coming back) and their 1st this year?. Would you poop on this deal? With this kind of trade we can lock up Panarin long term, have an extremely talented Defense, and fill out some holes on the forward side.

Bigger question, do you risk a 4th strike for Kane? If another incident happens you would be lucky to get 1 decent player back for him. I would love to hear what competing GM's were offering Stan last season when the Kane incident happened. I'm sure they were trying to fleece us, as you or I would if we were in their shoes.

Remember this is a business, I hate saying that. However, the issue is not the business portion but the adolescent behavior of a star player. Kane appears to have bad associations outside of hockey, and like other star athletes, those associations are going to destroy his career. If he were to really want to change and stay with the organization, he would flat out tell his "associates" to puck off, and make it publicly known.

Would I do it, yes I would if I were in his shoes. Besides if they were my friends, wouldn't you expect them to protect my interests instead of bring me down to their level?




- gifman

isnt that wideman in the video? Wait, no, thats not a ref

[quote=gifman]It's highly, highly doubtful we would be a lottery team. Besides and I go by this moto everywhere, 1 person does not make a team, and if your team depends solely on 1 person to carry you, then your doing it wrong.

I can see Buffalo trading us Reinhart, Ristolainen, Ennis (salary coming back) and their 1st this year?. Would you poop on this deal? With this kind of trade we can lock up Panarin long term, have an extremely talented Defense, and fill out some holes on the forward side.

Bigger question, do you risk a 4th strike for Kane? If another incident happens you would be lucky to get 1 decent player back for him. I would love to hear what competing GM's were offering Stan last season when the Kane incident happened. I'm sure they were trying to fleece us, as you or I would if we were in their shoes.

Remember this is a business, I hate saying that. However, the issue is not the business portion but the adolescent behavior of a star player. Kane appears to have bad associations outside of hockey, and like other star athletes, those associations are going to destroy his career. If he were to really want to change and stay with the organization, he would flat out tell his "associates" to puck off, and make it publicly known.

Would I do it, yes I would if I were in his shoes. Besides if they were my friends, wouldn't you expect them to protect my interests instead of bring me down to their lev

I think it is more family that cause his problems (cab incident ) ,like they say you can pick your friends not your family . And yes I would poop on that deal .

The Hawks won't trade Kane/Toews anytime soon. It is a business and those are the guys that people want to see. They put butts in seats and sell merchandise and get the media attention.

Winning the cup is the goal and that is great, but the real goal is the Hawks are a business. These two are the faces of the franchise and keeping them is probably worth more than adding 1 or 2 more cups in the next few years.

If you think that "pokes a hole" in the theory/whispers that Crawford might be dealt for cap reasons, that's incorrect. Those rumors have been out there from valid sources for over a year. The cap issues are what they are. The Panarin deal is a major concern for the team.
- John Jaeckel

Forgive me if this is a completely irrelevant or water under the bridge, but is anyone else upset that everyone finds re-signing Panarin imperative?

I am adamant that the Hawks would have been significantly more dangerous(er!) in 2015/16 with Saad on the roster, less one of Shaw/Crawford/other as a cap casaualty, than the club was with Anisimov.

I think Stan/FO was penny-wise, pound foolish not finding $2M extra AAV for Saad last summer. Sure, Kane had a great year with AA/72 on his line. But 72 was already signed before the trade. While I doubt Kane would have won the scoring title without Anismov, I also doubt a line with 72/88/pick a center (Kruger, Danault, Rass, etc.) would have been as incredibly anemic as 81/19 were without Saad.

My point is that people are speculating Panarin pulls down $5M a year and the Hawks must accomodate him or team play will suffer incredibly. My frustration is that for $1M -$2M more a year, the Hawks could have made it work to keep Saad. I think the value of that extra $1M got you a great forward for PP/PK/physicallity with maybe less direct goal production, but certainly more effectiveness from 81/19.

The Hawks won't trade Kane/Toews anytime soon. It is a business and those are the guys that people want to see. They put butts in seats and sell merchandise and get the media attention.

Winning the cup is the goal and that is great, but the real goal is the Hawks are a business. These two are the faces of the franchise and keeping them is probably worth more than adding 1 or 2 more cups in the next few years.
- breadbag

Of course they won't trade Toews. He "appears" to be a clean cut guy. However, there was that accident with his Mercedes... Unless of course you saw that he put his mansion up for sale recently as being a sign of something coming.

The only people who should be traded this season:
- Crawford
- (To Calgary for Hamilton)
- Shaw
- (To Eastern Team for Picks)
- TT
- (Is that Drouin trade still on the table?)
- Mashinter
- (to the women's hockey league in Siberia)

- Kane (but this one is just me, apparently)
- (To Buffalo for Reinhart, Ristolainen, Ennis, and their 1st this year)

Of course they won't trade Toews. He "appears" to be a clean cut guy. However, there was that accident with his Mercedes... Unless of course you saw that he put his mansion up for sale recently as being a sign of something coming.

The only people who should be traded this season:
- Crawford
- (To Calgary for Hamilton)
- Shaw
- (To Eastern Team for Picks)
- TT
- (Is that Drouin trade still on the table?)
- Mashinter
- (to the women's hockey league in Siberia)

- Kane (but this one is just me, apparently)
- (To Buffalo for Reinhart, Ristolainen, Ennis, and their 1st this year)


- gifman

Trading Kane to Buffalo seems to only make sense in that they have a number of young cost controlled players and picks to offer in return and it is his hometown, but don't you think that they realize that him spending regular time in Buffalo, with his cousins, friends and other hangers-on would only lead to disaster. Kane to Buffalo helps them sell tickets, but swapping 3-4 pieces for him puts them further away from competing.

Trading Kane to Buffalo seems to only make sense in that they have a number of young cost controlled players and picks to offer in return and it is his hometown, but don't you think that they realize that him spending regular time in Buffalo, with his cousins, friends and other hangers-on would only lead to disaster. Kane to Buffalo helps them sell tickets, but swapping 3-4 pieces for him puts them further away from competing.
- TheTrob

Do you really believe that? How come Edm has not won anything with all that talent they have there?

Forgive me if this is a completely irrelevant or water under the bridge, but is anyone else upset that everyone finds re-signing Panarin imperative?

I am adamant that the Hawks would have been significantly more dangerous(er!) in 2015/16 with Saad on the roster, less one of Shaw/Crawford/other as a cap casaualty, than the club was with Anisimov.

I think Stan/FO was penny-wise, pound foolish not finding $2M extra AAV for Saad last summer. Sure, Kane had a great year with AA/72 on his line. But 72 was already signed before the trade. While I doubt Kane would have won the scoring title without Anismov, I also doubt a line with 72/88/pick a center (Kruger, Danault, Rass, etc.) would have been as incredibly anemic as 81/19 were without Saad.

My point is that people are speculating Panarin pulls down $5M a year and the Hawks must accomodate him or team play will suffer incredibly. My frustration is that for $1M -$2M more a year, the Hawks could have made it work to keep Saad. I think the value of that extra $1M got you a great forward for PP/PK/physicallity with maybe less direct goal production, but certainly more effectiveness from 81/19.
- phantasmo

Agree with you. Signing Saad+Richards with a little hometown discount and clear some salary to make it happen would continue with 2 first formidable lines.
To the argument that Panarin is a better shooter/sniper - Saad was 2 way player. His PK abilities and short handed goals deflated Ducks in crucial moments of last year playoffs. I do not see how he does not deserve 6 mln, and his developmental ceiling probably is higher so this contractmay look like a steal in a couple of years to CBJ.
Stan should have negotiated 5 or 5.5 mln if penny pinched. As it is, his actions make Blackhawks roster worse year after year as the club will have to part with more core players, key players age, and nobody in pipeline or young age.

Do you really believe that? How come Edm has not won anything with all that talent they have there?
- powerenforcer

Edmonton had issues from the FO down, but believe me, they are heading in the right direction since they changed GM/Coach. In recent years they drafted alright with the obvious high picks, but after that not so well in later rounds. Plus they pretty much handed spots to young players without enough vets to support them. They are a team that just needs to get a more stable D core and allow their talented forwards a chance to play more in the ozone.

Agree with you. Signing Saad+Richards with a little hometown discount and clear some salary to make it happen would continue with 2 first formidable lines.
To the argument that Panarin is a better shooter/sniper - Saad was 2 way player. His PK abilities and short handed goals deflated Ducks in crucial moments of last year playoffs. I do not see how he does not deserve 6 mln, and his developmental ceiling probably is higher so this contractmay look like a steal in a couple of years to CBJ.
Stan should have negotiated 5 or 5.5 mln if penny pinched. As it is, his actions make Blackhawks roster worse year after year as the club will have to part with more core players, key players age, and nobody in pipeline or young age.
- vshun

Saad was not going to sign for that amount. PERIOD!
Drop it. Saad will enjoy his money over his long summers. I hope his father doesn't waste it on women!

Fun watching that jagoff snivel!!
- rnewman291

Knock Backus all you want, me, I'd love to see him on the Hawks

Trading Kane to Buffalo seems to only make sense in that they have a number of young cost controlled players and picks to offer in return and it is his hometown, but don't you think that they realize that him spending regular time in Buffalo, with his cousins, friends and other hangers-on would only lead to disaster. Kane to Buffalo helps them sell tickets, but swapping 3-4 pieces for him puts them further away from competing.
- TheTrob

They can see it that way but more likely the owners and fans will see it as the final piece they need. The same as some see him here as the "only player who can deliver" for us in the big games. Kane is that piece that Buffalo can see themselves getting to the Cup. He is the MVP they need and that will cost them a few of the pieces they have but they have plenty to trade because they have been bottom dwelling for so long.

Knock Backus all you want, me, I'd love to see him on the Hawks
- Maggie

That makes 2of us Maggie, and something tells me Bob Murray is waiting to see what happens with Hitch before he commits to a coach.

They can see it that way but more likely the owners and fans will see it as the final piece they need. The same as some see him here as the "only player who can deliver" for us in the big games. Kane is that piece that Buffalo can see themselves getting to the Cup. He is the MVP they need and that will cost them a few of the pieces they have but they have plenty to trade because they have been bottom dwelling for so long.


- gifman

Eichel coming back or the phone is hung up. Sam Reinhart has bricks in his skates and he's only 21...he will get slower. Ristolainen+Eichel+ McCabe or it's a bad trade for the Hawks. Ennis is the as big as an average sized 7th grader. Hard pass on your proposed trade.

This morning's Hockey Central reporting Ladd is looking for "Kesler money".

He's not coming back.
- Return of the Roar

No surprise here.

No surprise here.
- MjulQvist

Yeah, some other team can go ahead and make that signing mistake.

So the Blues were doing it right the past several years then?


- carcus

Yup, cause they ain't got killer instinct.

This morning's Hockey Central reporting Ladd is looking for "Kesler money".

He's not coming back.
- Return of the Roar

I thought he said something to the effect as "it's not about the money, I'm at a point where to play is more important than the money".
Sure doesn't sound like that now.

Yup, cause they ain't got killer instinct.
- hocktock

The Blues issues stem from their leadership not from their talent.

Hitch sent the wrong message by changing the goalies, Elliot was never the problem. On top of that Backes has never been the leader they need him to be when the "going gets tough". I only saw a couple of Blues consistently compete in that series. Brouwer or Pietrangelo should have been the player with the C on their jersey.

If you think SJ making the change from Thornton to Pavelski as Captain wasn't one of the reasons their history of choking changed you are fooling yourself.

http://www.csnphilly.com/...it-stevens-16-years-later

I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember two things as it happened
1) you got knocked the **** out!
2) completely clean hit, all on Lindros

Funny how that hit (and it was clean at the time) would get Stevens a lengthy suspension now.

I am a little bored a work today so I started thinking about the expansion and if the teams are Las Vegas and Quebec (from what is sounds like it will be) how do those two teams effect the divisions. Right now the east has 16 teams and the west has 14. Obviously Quebec will not play in the West so another team will have to come over - my choice is Detroit.

So here is what I am thinking would make good divisions (names would be different but I put them down as just their location)

East
North: Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec
East: Philadelphia, Boston, Columbus, Pittsburgh
Northeast: Buffalo, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey
South: Washington, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida

West
Central: Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis
South: Dallas, Nashville, Colorado, Las Vegas
West: Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Arizona
North: Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton

Division winners automatically in the playoffs, remaining 4 spots per division by points; playoff seeding by total points.

Thoughts???