Kruger named to Sweden's World Cup team today.

Guess they think he's not a bad player to in the top 13 forwards in his country.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-world-cup-hockey-roster/
- TyCamScore

An more importantly, one that said yes.
"...he's not a bad player .."
Ain't that the truth....try and convince the minions here!

Kruger named to Sweden's World Cup team today.

Guess they think he's not a bad player to in the top 13 forwards in his country.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-world-cup-hockey-roster/
- TyCamScore

What's more impressive is that Pokka is one of Finland's top 7 defenseman. This kid might have a shot of sticking on the roster next season.

By the way, everybody understands that "World Cup" is a nice way of saying money generating, NHLPA partnered, publicity hype where every team encourages anybody in there organization to go and "contribute."
I am pretty sure each NHL team asks it's true stars how interested they are, and if they aren't they see how they can help fill those imaginary "country" teams with depth players in their organizations.
If anyone here thinks that...if defenseman Michal Kempny or Ville Pokka were currently playing in Europe (whether it was in their home country or not,) the "Cup Selection Committee" going to seek them out via their Czech Republic and Finland teams to play, well, you're missing what this "tournament is all about."
PR
NHLPA $
TV $
NHL league building
grab

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

Holy conspiracies!

I thought you died, old man Wirtz

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.
- bhawks2241

The key to that type of trade is finding a partner with enough cap space so a large amount of money doesn't have to come back. They don't happen often and now it is even more difficult to move a big contract because so many teams are stuck.

Holy conspiracies!

I thought you died, old man Wirtz
- wiz1901

All we need is a Lysiak or Pronger reference for a "powerenforcer hat trick!"

By the way, everybody understands that "World Cup" is a nice way of saying money generating, NHLPA partnered, publicity hype where every team encourages anybody in there organization to go and "contribute."
I am pretty sure each NHL team asks it's true stars how interested they are, and if they aren't they see how they can help fill those imaginary "country" teams with depth players in their organizations.
If anyone here thinks that...if defenseman Michal Kempny or Ville Pokka were currently playing in Europe (whether it was in their home country or not,) the "Cup Selection Committee" going to seek them out via their Czech Republic and Finland teams to play, well, you're missing what this "tournament is all about."
PR
NHLPA $
TV $
NHL league building
grab
- wiz1901

An more importantly, one that said yes.
"...he's not a bad player .."
Ain't that the truth....try and convince the minions here!
- wiz1901

idk who you're calling a minion, but your condescension isn't appreciated by anyone. When Shaw and/or Panarin are unable to be re-signed for Sweden's 4C and his 10 points a year (and poor advanced stats), I guess you'll have all the answers.

bolts get to a G7 (11-6) with a thin blue line, big $$$ Stamkos and big $$$ bishop out...

also consider the the big $$$ goalies not out of the 1st round: craw, lundquist, quick, luongo and the young "cheap" goalies who really played well: murray, vasilesky, jones, with 2 of those in the finals...and then you have a "cheap" vet like elliot playing very well and throw in the 10 million $$$ goalie disaster in dallas

you have to wonder how steve y and other gms will interpret this...

i would strongly consider letting stamkos go to babcock for 10 mil...bolts have a great young team with out him and why put yourself in cap hell with stamkos for the 4-5 years...

I suspect a few high priced goalies for sale this off season and the i think the hawks have listen to offers for CC
- bogiedoc

Fun watching this goalie thing play out, but IMO bad if you want to move a top 10 expensive goalie. I think Bishop, Fluery, Crow, Howard could hit the market. Also Niemi/Lethomen, Ward is a UFA, Fred Andersen is an RFA as part of the 1A-1B in ANA, I bet Bob is available in Columbus with Korpisalo out playing him a mile last year on an ELC through 2017/18, rookies Hellybuk (WPG) and Murray (PITT) outplaying the starters and IMO the only team looking to add a goalie for sure is CAL and maybe TOR and DAL.

A tangled mess and if you're looking for a goalie this is a helluva year to be doing so.

IF the Hawks really want to move Crow my guess is PHI is the best fit as they are close to being a real player in the East and would swap Mason (4.1 mil through 2016/17) and feel they are set in goal.

Red herring John. Any contract above $5MM on the Hawks right now can meet the standard of making the financial argument to lose, provided the return does not offer a net negative in outcomes.

There are a lot of "cheap" goalies, but precious few are of Murray or Vasilevskiy's caliber. Even fewer of them carry that performance level past their initial flashes on the scene. Fewer still will be let go by their current teams before their pay day comes.

If there is a team/GM who sees something special in Crawford, it is the team he is with now. I think that is why he was given the contract he was - he is seen as a critical part of the team's future.
- Return of the Roar

Well said. Remember the Hamburglar in Ottawa in 2014/15? A run no other rookie ever had and couldn't beat out Anderson for the #1 this year.. I absolutely love Murray, a Holtby clone to my eye, but he has 13 regular season games and the playoffs. The league doesn't even have a book on him so he's no can't miss guy. I do believe Vaslilevsky is though and he ain't goin anywhere with the 7 footer a UFA after 2016/17.

No doubt IMO if a GM thinks he's an elite goalie away from the cup Crow is the best available, assuming he is. If Dallas was in the East I think Crow would be a Star next year.

Fun watching this goalie thing play out, but IMO bad if you want to move a top 10 expensive goalie. I think Bishop, Fluery, Crow, Howard could hit the market. Also Niemi/Lethomen, Ward is a UFA, Fred Andersen is an RFA as part of the 1A-1B in ANA, I bet Bob is available in Columbus with Korpisalo out playing him a mile last year on an ELC through 2017/18, rookies Hellybuk (WPG) and Murray (PITT) outplaying the starters and IMO the only team looking to add a goalie for sure is CAL and maybe TOR and DAL.

A tangled mess and if you're looking for a goalie this is a helluva year to be doing so.

IF the Hawks really want to move Crow my guess is PHI is the best fit as they are close to being a real player in the East and would swap Mason (4.1 mil through 2016/17) and feel they are set in goal.
- Mr Ricochet

But then that means WE have Mason... I hope that $1.9MM in cap for one year buys you a lot of rink upgrade to compensate for losing Crawford.

CC would never waive to go there.

i would like Gudas or Jordan for the third pairing. Pass on the rest including Rozy
- ikeane

I'm a Gudas guy. Tough as nails as we all know but IMO more skilled than most realize. He ain't a Q kinda guy though.......An RFA by the way. They are so loaded with young premier Dmen, Ghost, Provorov and Sanheim another 1st rounder highly thought of who knows what they do with Gudas.

Have to admit after watching PITT in these playoffs I am really rethinking how I see Dmen. I mean that group is so leaky defensively but are mobile and play the new best kind of defense, playing in the other guy's zone.

I'm becoming a big believer in those fancy stats over the eye test when it comes to Dmen.

But then that means WE have Mason... I hope that $1.9MM in cap for one year buys you a lot of rink upgrade to compensate for losing Crawford.

CC would never waive to go there.
- Return of the Roar

This is only if the Hawks feel Darling can be a cup winner or they are that high on Johansson's upside. ......Cap hell, who knows what may happen and where the priorities are for the Hawks?

idk who you're calling a minion, but your condescension isn't appreciated by anyone. When Shaw and/or Panarin are unable to be re-signed for Sweden's 4C and his 10 points a year (and poor advanced stats), I guess you'll have all the answers.
- EnzoD

Enzo I doubt Wiz meant it to anyone personally.
But you have to understand it's a holiday a weekend and the Manhattan's at his place are the 5 five finger variety on special occasions.

Im with you.....obviously he hates Kane and his agenda is to deal him because I'm sure Bernstein has warped his mind.

the Hawks didn't win the Saad trade. Aminsinov is a nice piece but Saad is a player that is only getting better and was destined to be Toews 1LW for a decade, but he wanted money and I can't blame him for that.

Just like if Panarin wants money and Bowman can't fit it in the budget.

And Marko Dano still hasn't proven himself to be anything but a marginal NHL player......

And every time I see Drouin pop goals like last night and step in the playoffs, my head explodes reading posts here in February about how TT was better. My god. What world do these people live in?
- SteveRain

Not just his points and skill but watching him closely the kid is bursting with IQ . Stevie Y wasn't going to get taken and IMO no person who earns a check from an NHL team would have thought an even up TT for Drouin was a good trade for TB and if so he should be relieved of his services.

Well said. Remember the Hamburglar in Ottawa in 2014/15? A run no other rookie ever had and couldn't beat out Anderson for the #1 this year.. I absolutely love Murray, a Holtby clone to my eye, but he has 13 regular season games and the playoffs. The league doesn't even have a book on him so he's no can't miss guy. I do believe Vaslilevsky is though and he ain't goin anywhere with the 7 footer a UFA after 2016/17.

No doubt IMO if a GM thinks he's an elite goalie away from the cup Crow is the best available, assuming he is. If Dallas was in the East I think Crow would be a Star next year.
- Mr Ricochet

...or Pascal LeClaire and Steve Mason. Goalies can go from red hot to subpar quickly.

Amazing how people forget how dirty Keith and Shaw can be......but since they are wearing red it's all good.

I love Shaw, but understand he's a guy who goes over the edge a lot.
- SteveRain

Agree with Keith especially but neither are in BackAss' league when it comes to scumbaggery or having no respect for a guy's career or trying to earn for his family.

If he were a Hawk he'd be a great add but doesn't change the fact he's downright filthy.

i would like Gudas or Jordan for the third pairing. Pass on the rest including Rozy
- ikeane

Maybe the #23 Jordan but not the #45 version

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.
- bhawks2241

Yes, the question really is will Bowman be willing to act first (or maybe second) when it comes to trading high priced goalies or will he flinch and watch the market pass him by?

Fun watching this goalie thing play out, but IMO bad if you want to move a top 10 expensive goalie. I think Bishop, Fluery, Crow, Howard could hit the market. Also Niemi/Lethomen, Ward is a UFA, Fred Andersen is an RFA as part of the 1A-1B in ANA, I bet Bob is available in Columbus with Korpisalo out playing him a mile last year on an ELC through 2017/18, rookies Hellybuk (WPG) and Murray (PITT) outplaying the starters and IMO the only team looking to add a goalie for sure is CAL and maybe TOR and DAL.

A tangled mess and if you're looking for a goalie this is a helluva year to be doing so.

IF the Hawks really want to move Crow my guess is PHI is the best fit as they are close to being a real player in the East and would swap Mason (4.1 mil through 2016/17) and feel they are set in goal.
- Mr Ricochet

I don't think that's enough cap savings for it to make sense for the Blackhawks to make the deal. They need to take back a goalie under $2m per or no goalie at all!

Can never have enough D-men so we'll see if he can be a factor as part of the second pairing. Is Ville Pokka part of the near future with Hawks defense? Good luck to the Sharks, thought of them like the Hawks younger brother, and with all the ties between the 2 clubs it is nice to see. They beat the blue's so already a plus.

Can never have enough D-men so we'll see if he can be a factor as part of the second pairing. Is Ville Pokka part of the near future with Hawks defense? Good luck to the Sharks, thought of them like the Hawks younger brother, and with all the ties between the 2 clubs it is nice to see. They beat the blue's so already a plus.
- jvanda

I wouldn't pencil Pokka into the lineup just yet, but I think he'll get a real long look in training camp. The competition isn't that fierce, Pokka could easily beat out Gustafsson and Svedberg. If Pokka doesn't start the season in Chicago I'd bet he'll be the first defenseman recalled.

signs a low cost 1 year deal with Hawks to play along side the Captain to get a cup before he signs next year with the Leafs and never sees the playoffs again
- vabeachbear

Fixed it for you.

What's even less impressive is that Sami Lepisto is also one of Finland's top 7 defenseman.
- DarthKane

Fixed.