For those who always bring up that any player can be traded because Gretzky got traded-Gretzky was traded becasue he wanted to be traded.
- Al

Correct Janet Jones wanted to be in the states, and Peter Pockington needed cash.

Correct Janet Jones wanted to be in the states, and Peter Pockington needed cash.
- SteveRain

....and the NHL looked away because Gretzky was the messiah for US Hockey.

....and the NHL looked away because Gretzky was the messiah for US Hockey.
- Al

yep and grew the game out west......Anaheim Sj would never be here if not for Gretzky with the Kings.

I dont' always agree with powerenforcer but some of the stuff makes sense. Saw a lot of PP chances for the Pens last night.

I don't think any D.A. in this country would have felt comfortable wasting a judge and convened Grand Jury's time with what they found out.



The discussion could stop there...If they don't send it to a Grand Jury especially in high a profile case then there isn't any evidence to support the allegations-Period

It's not only her and the friends willingness but once the case is opened they explored every opportunity in every direction to move forward with the Grand Jury...
There was not any DNA evidence to support claims and as far as I know you don't give permission to be brought in front of a Grand Jury you are compelled to go-That's why people invoke the 5th.

I'm not discrediting what you heard but there was a lot of stuff publicized that was simply untrue from her own attorney on down. From the beginning it was reported she went immediately from Kane's house to the hospital...Only later it came out that she went home changed her top and went to the hospital about 5 hours later.

So from where I sit it's tough for me to conclude a rape was committed, unless as I said earlier the entire process can be proven to be wrong....And I don't think that is true in this case. There was too much at stake for the DA and no need for him to take such a committed stand that the allegations were not worthy of a Grand Jury investigation.
- Al

It wasn't the allegations that he took issue with, it was the accuser's behavior and her friends reluctance to back her story that made him believe this case became a waste of time.

For a woman to flat out claim she was raped, to go through with the testing at the hospital, to give elaborate details the first night, then as time went on, she could not remember specific details, and became reluctant to speak with anyone involved in the case - these were all red flags to the D.A. that this case would go anywhere if he continued to pursue it.

And I was also told there was almost no resistance from the accuser or her family when he told them there was no basis to continue. That solidified in his mind he did the right thing by ending it.

To start Fleury will likely be in the pool of available high priced goalies...
- Al

Fleury, Howard, maybe even Bishop depending on if Yzerman starts talks with Hedman, Johnson et. al.

I like when Backes said he wasn't feeling well and Ott came to him and "Gave him something" to make him feel better. Anyone wanna guess what that was? What did Ott give Backes to make him feel better? Anyone??? I think I know what he gave him...
- Ballam

It was steak and rh day I believe

To start Fleury will likely be in the pool of available high priced goalies...
- Al

That is true but we all know that Crawford would be the best of all the High priced goaltenders.

That leaves even less to sign Shaw with this year. You're taking back 8.4 mil and sending them 7.6 mil ishh. I don't see Toronto doing that deal unless you throw them picks or other high-end prospects which the Hawks don't have. In theory it looks decent but doubt it would ever work.
- bhawks2241

So we take the $800,000 hit for one year. The cap will go up and we can sign Shaw to a 1yr deal ala Kruger.

That is true but we all know that Crawford would be the best of all the High priced goaltenders.
- Sn1362

I was just going to post the same thing.

Next year we would have around 4 million in goaltending with Bickel and Bernier contracts expiring 8 million off the books! That is 4 million to help us out.

Next year we would have around 4 million in goaltending with Bickel and Bernier contracts expiring 8 million off the books! That is 4 million to help us out.
- Sn1362

Call Stanley... get that ball rollin!

Here is the deal Stan should try to pursue. Crawford, TT, and any of Gus, Svede, or Pollka to Toronto for JVR and Bernier. Number 1 LW for the next 2 years and a backup goalie with One year left on his deal. You will be able to sign Darling for around 3mil a year or If he plays bad this year get him cheaper. You also have an experience back up in Bernier. Leaves plenty of cap space for signing the Breadman and Shaw.
- Sn1362

I like the trade proposal, but will Crawford waive for Toronto? Also, do the Hawks buyout B-29? Media there (Toronto) seems a bit over the top. Aside from that, the Leafs still needs a few years.

JVR-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-AA-Kane

....that's a good start.

Just saw Team Sweden.. Jeez look at that defensive lineup. Solid both ways.

yep and grew the game out west......Anaheim Sj would never be here if not for Gretzky with the Kings.

I dont' always agree with powerenforcer but some of the stuff makes sense. Saw a lot of PP chances for the Pens last night.
- SteveRain

They deserved to win and it's hard to not take penalties when you are chasing the puck for almost the entire game. But I did see a few missed slashes from Letang.

It wasn't the allegations that he took issue with, it was the accuser's behavior and her friends reluctance to back her story that made him believe this case became a waste of time.

For a woman to flat out claim she was raped, to go through with the testing at the hospital, to give elaborate details the first night, then as time went on, she could not remember specific details, and became reluctant to speak with anyone involved in the case - these were all red flags to the D.A. that this case would go anywhere if he continued to pursue it.

And I was also told there was almost no resistance from the accuser or her family when he told them there was no basis to continue. That solidified in his mind he did the right thing by ending it.
- dahawks8819

....And without any testimony from anyone that led to anything nor the fact there was no DNA found made it what it was....

Allegations can be made by anyone at anytime and if there was anything there the DA would have been brain dead to not shove it off to a Grand Jury.

To be honest the language the DA used when he stopped the investigation was shocking to me....Very pointed toward there not being a reason to believe a civil case would end up differently.

They deserved to win and it's hard to not take penalties when you are chasing the puck for almost the entire game. But I did see a few missed slashes from Letang.
- Al

The Penguins don't deserve anything! Fans should never forget the "fixed" draft lottery. Hell, if Bettman didn't do that maybe the Arizona franchise could have had success.

Just saw Team Sweden.. Jeez look at that defensive lineup. Solid both ways.
- 93Joe

No Oduya

No Oduya
- vabeachbear

No surprise. The guys named to the team are all ahead of Oduya at one end of the ice or the other or both.

The Penguins don't deserve anything! Fans should never forget the "fixed" draft lottery. Hell, if Bettman didn't do that maybe the Arizona franchise could have had success.
- powerenforcer

Thanks for reminding me....

Just wondering....Was it fixed when the Hawks were able to pick first with like a 2% chance?

Or...Was the Draft fixed when Edmonton repeatedly got the #1 pick?

Let me know when you have time....That way I will never comment positively about either of those franchises.

No Oduya
- vabeachbear

If the Russians had that defense the tourney could be theirs.

The Penguins don't deserve anything! Fans should never forget the "fixed" draft lottery. Hell, if Bettman didn't do that maybe the Arizona franchise could have had success.
- powerenforcer

They outshot the Lightning by like 80 shots or something ridiculous in that series. Im sure it was 'fixed' skates on the TB players to make them not skate as well.

Do you EVER give this tin toil hat stuff a rest?

What #1s will be available that are actually better than Crawford though? I haven't really been following what goalies are on the market. My inclination is that Crawford is probably head and shoulders above all of them. Certainly he would have the best resume.
- bhawks2241

Yes....But teams don't normally acquire high priced goalies....Dale Tallon aside.

That's the overriding issue.

Yes....But teams don't normally acquire high priced goalies....Dale Tallon aside.

That's the overriding issue.
- Al

Agreed but then does a "flooded" market really matter? If Crawford is the best available and all the goalies are around the same cap hit... I don't think a flooded market of lesser goalies is going to drive down the return Crawford could get the Hawks.

I think a key is will Bowman's asking price be reasonable. Seems, based on rumors from this board, that has been a big problem in the past.

....And without any testimony from anyone that led to anything nor the fact there was no DNA found made it what it was....

Allegations can be made by anyone at anytime and if there was anything there the DA would have been brain dead to not shove it off to a Grand Jury.

To be honest the language the DA used when he stopped the investigation was shocking to me....Very pointed toward there not being a reason to believe a civil case would end up differently.
- Al

Mea culpa - too much wine with dinner the other night and I inadvertently kicked open this hornet's nest responding to gifman (pun intended about why I didn't think we would or should trade Kane based on what he MIGHT do in the future. Broke my #1 rule of interacting on the Internet by weighing in on a lightning rod topic.

Think we can see that DH8819 has an insider source, and what that person has told him has informed his opinion, while I (and I think, Al) are relying primarily on what the DA said in writing and in several interviews explaining in detail the reasoning behind his decision not to proceed. Don't think either camp will ever convince the other, nor will any of us know EXACTLY what happened that night (like JJ always says).

Though I find these arguments fun in my personal life, I'll pledge to start following my rule again and stick to hockey on here.

Go StanBo and get the Hawks some good talent while not losing too much of our existing talent!

Name one goalie equal to or better than Crawford that is available for enough cap space to make a meaningful difference in the quality of the rest of the team in front of the crease.

Pavelec, Anderson, Andersen, Ward..... Sorry. All are downgrades, making the goaltending net worse.

Im sorry, but an extra $2MM in cap isnt going to land us Alex Killorn or Victor Hedman type players.

If you go for a guy on a deal that expires after next season, know the other teams in the league will be protecting their best goalie in prep for the expansion draft, leaving only the dregs, and the crop of vets well past their prime as the pool of available players.

The least damage is done to the whole by finding a way to fill the final four forward spots with the roughly $6MM in cap that will be left after they buyout Bickell. You will get Panik and someone else for under $1MM, so figure to fill the last two with $4MM.

Panarin gets resigned with the cap bump for expansion year.