Here is another wacky one:

Keith & Crawford to Edmonton -- Hawks get Draisaitle, Nurse, Hall + picks
- jb3333

DREAMING !!! Edmonton would be crazy to do that !

I imagine once the cap number gets released, we will see what Stan has planned. I dont think they can wait on this stuff. Have to get out in front before other teams start making trades.

The guy is a proven winner with 2 Cups under his belt. To a team looking to make a big turn around (Toronto) there is a market for him. And he is still at the top of his game. If they try to move him, I dont think it will be hard.
- z1990z

First mountain to climb is who will he waive his no trade to go to? Crow is due 6 mil per for 4 more years. Freddy Andersden is coming of a 1.5 mil deal and is an RFA. Bishop is at 6 mil but a UFA after next year with Vasilevsky pushing. Fleury is at 5.7 through 2019 with Murray pushing. Nill has 2 vets that can be moved. Howard at 5.2 through 2019 with Mzrak taking the #1. Pavelic at 3.9 through 2017 with Hellybuk pushing. Cam Ward is a UFA.

Who's in the market for a #1? CAL, DAL, CAR, TOR or are they? Who is in the market to get to the cap floor? Who thinks they are a #1 away from making the SCF? Who wants to move one of their goalies so as not to lose one for nothing to expansion in two years? There are plenty of goalies available to meet most any need and Crow carries the biggest hit and term of the possibilities.

Said it awhile back IMO the very best fit to move Crow, if you must move him, is Ottawa (with a nutbag owner) and Philly with either Anderson or Mason coming back.

I imagine once the cap number gets released, we will see what Stan has planned. I dont think they can wait on this stuff. Have to get out in front before other teams start making trades.
- z1990z

I have no doubt that Stan has at least 4-5 different plans and he'll act quickly was the 16/17 cap numbers come out.

I'm not entirely sure why but your posts are making me think they're shipping off Panarin, which I hope isn't true
- maria_wyeth

NO to any trade involving Panarin. He just might have been the best player on the team this past year. He's young and fast, which we desperately need more of.
I'd rather lose one of the BIG core than him. And any trade involving one of the BIG core MUST include Bickell..... with youth in return or NO DEAL !! Seabrook and Bick, Keith and Bick, Cro and Bick etc. That additional 4M from BB is gold that we need for Panarin and Shaw.

Eyebrow raising is ok, maybe, but the things you cannot say... do you think it would be good for the team and keeps the hawk in contention? thanks,
- RedFeather

It's hard to say.

I thought the additions of Ladd and Wiese made the team better last year - only to see a first round exit.

There is so much that goes into the "chemistry" of a team that we don't see. Not everyone gets along - there are always personality clashes when it comes to professional athletes - it seem this Hawk management has been very sensitive to bringing in players they knew would not upset this.

The Sharp/Keith became a problem - more so than the players were letting on - and management dealt with it - so I don't count that against them.

It's hard to say.

I thought the additions of Ladd and Wiese made the team better last year - only to see a first round exit.

There is so much that goes into the "chemistry" of a team that we don't see. Not everyone gets along - there are always personality clashes when it comes to professional athletes - it seem this Hawk management has been very sensitive to bringing in players they knew would not upset this.

Sharp/Keith beThe came a problem - more so than the players were letting on - and management dealt with it - so I don't count that against them.
- dahawks8819

That have anything to do with Keith's recent divorce? I hope not..

Hypothetical (reasonable) trade bait: http://www.tsn.ca/buckle-...f-trade-activity-1.500124

IF Crawford is a target to be moved now is the very worst time for that to happen as far as value is concerned.
- Mr Ricochet

If you mean "value" as to what you value, you have a point.

But the people responsible for shaping this roster and dealing with a tight cap have a slightly different definition of "value".

If trading a core player - or a few of them - gives them cap relief and adds back role players they need - then the front office would see that more as value than you might.

That have anything to do with Keith's recent divorce? I hope not..
- z1990z

Yes. And it was a more toxic situation in that locker room than anyone was willing to let on.

Yes. And it was a more toxic situation in that locker room than anyone was willing to let on.
- dahawks8819

Nothing ruins the party like coming home and finding your wife entertaining.


Someone else...

I can't see the Hawks pulling off any major trades this off season. I think their only chance for a better run this year will be some solid rest from the core and get lucky with a couple cheap n I mean cheap FAs . Does anyone have any opinions on FAs or RFAs that most likely wont be resigned by their teams that you think the Hawks could/should take a chance on? Of coarse would have to be players they could get cheap n short term
- HamiltonHawk

Who knows? Maybe they sign Shaw on the cheap and go for one last kick of the can while Hossa is still earning $4M in actual salary. Of course, when Panarin's and Shaw's raises come due at the end of 2016-17, then they blow up the team.

Kruger or AA could get lifted in the Expansion Draft. And I'm still curious as to what will happen with Hossa. Is next year his last? And can they lose his cap hit?

I was warned not to share what is being discussed.

What I can say is that it was eyebrow raising (insert favorite gif here) - both in what would be leaving and what would come back in return.
- dahawks8819

Does it make the Hawks better? Does it extend the window for several more years?

Isn't Matthews only like 18 years old? Dunno if I'd trade a sure thing like Panarin for an 18 year old "maybe".
- tompo1015

Don't worry the Leafs are not going to trade the first pick

DREAMING !!! Edmonton would be crazy to do that !
- Hawkytalk

Exactly no chance

Yes. And it was a more toxic situation in that locker room than anyone was willing to let on.
- dahawks8819

The thing that confused me most about those rumors (and I think specifically when reports surfaced that there had been a locker room fist fight over all of it) was the report that Toews and Seabrook had taken Sharp's side, which seemed quite odd considering that the rumor was Sharp had slept with Keith's wife (not to mention how close Seabrook and Keith are). I guess unless they wanted Keith to go on record and deny the rumors to stop the media scrutiny and his refusal to do so led to the fight.

At the time, I kind of just assumed that Keith was cheating on his wife with his now-girlfriend, Sharp was cheating on his wife with Cheryl Scott+, and the rumors combined them into one story, but Keith discussing his divorce once Sharp was traded made me wonder how much fire there really had been to all the smoke

Yes. And it was a more toxic situation in that locker room than anyone was willing to let on.
- dahawks8819

What exactly happened according to your source?

And yet they came together and won a Cup? Because Keith was playing out of his mind since he was pissed off? But somehow going through an expensive divorce this year didn't get him pissed off enough to play well?

I have no doubt that Stan has at least 4-5 different plans and he'll act quickly was the 16/17 cap numbers come out.
- DarthKane

here's hoping we see more of the Stan that pulled off the Saad trade under the gun (yes, we miss Saad a poop ton but I still think Stan "won" that trade, not in the sense of AA > Saad, but in that he appears to have scrambled and pulled off a decent return at the last minute) and not the Nill-fleeced Stan who didn't see the Oduya-shaped writing on the wall with the Dallas demand for Daley going out and Johns going in

here's hoping we see more of the Stan that pulled off the Saad trade under the gun (yes, we miss Saad a poop ton but I still think Stan "won" that trade, not in the sense of AA > Saad, but in that he appears to have scrambled and pulled off a decent return at the last minute) and not the Nill-fleeced Stan who didn't see the Oduya-shaped writing on the wall with the Dallas demand for Daley going out and Johns going in
- maria_wyeth

This x1000!

What exactly happened according to your source?

And yet they came together and won a Cup? Because Keith was playing out of his mind since he was pissed off? But somehow going through an expensive divorce this year didn't get him pissed off enough to play well?
- DMChi2010

I thought about this earlier in the year, and when JJ and a few others (maybe DBH, I can't remember) mentioned Keith having some personal issues this year. I wondered if perhaps it wasn't that he was playing great because he was pissed off but rather that he was totally dialed in last year as a way of blocking out and avoiding his personal drama (kind of like Kane this season), but once the actual divorce proceedings started he couldn't do that anymore and it was really wearing on him

The thing that confused me most about those rumors (and I think specifically when reports surfaced that there had been a locker room fist fight over all of it) was the report that Toews and Seabrook had taken Sharp's side, which seemed quite odd considering that the rumor was Sharp had slept with Keith's wife (not to mention how close Seabrook and Keith are). I guess unless they wanted Keith to go on record and deny the rumors to stop the media scrutiny and his refusal to do so led to the fight.

At the time, I kind of just assumed that Keith was cheating on his wife with his now-girlfriend, Sharp was cheating on his wife with Cheryl Scott+, and the rumors combined them into one story, but Keith discussing his divorce once Sharp was traded made me wonder how much fire there really had been to all the smoke
- maria_wyeth

And I heard it was Crawford/Sharp who came to blows. Over what? Who knows? But, it was ostensibly when all this was happening. B/c of this I laughed a bit when Sharp celebrated a bit more exuberantly than usual after scoring on CC earlier this year.

DH8819's comments do make you wonder how much behind-the-scenes stuff is being factored into the changes v. the on-ice performance. The former can be more detrimental in the long run than the latter, I'd think.

I thought about this earlier in the year, and when JJ and a few others (maybe DBH, I can't remember) mentioned Keith having some personal issues this year. I wondered if perhaps it wasn't that he was playing great because he was pissed off but rather that he was totally dialed in last year as a way of blocking out and avoiding his personal drama (kind of like Kane this season), but once the actual divorce proceedings started he couldn't do that anymore and it was really wearing on him
- maria_wyeth

Definitely possible with Keith. And did you notice what happened with Kane toward the end of the season? The day Bill Daly announced that Kane was no longer under investigation by the NHL, Kane promptly went on a 3-game point drought. Of course, as Panarin noted when earning his bonuses, Kane eventually "woke up" again.

And I heard it was Crawford/Sharp who came to blows. Over what? Who knows? But, it was ostensibly when all this was happening. B/c of this I laughed a bit when Sharp celebrated a bit more exuberantly than usual after scoring on CC earlier this year.
- pdx2ord

Oh that's interesting, I don't recall if I ever heard who the other player fighting in that scenario was but if I had to pick a player most likely to get into a fist fight my money would be on Seabrook, in a team leader/locker room enforcer capacity

The thing that confused me most about those rumors (and I think specifically when reports surfaced that there had been a locker room fist fight over all of it) was the report that Toews and Seabrook had taken Sharp's side, which seemed quite odd considering that the rumor was Sharp had slept with Keith's wife (not to mention how close Seabrook and Keith are). I guess unless they wanted Keith to go on record and deny the rumors to stop the media scrutiny and his refusal to do so led to the fight.

At the time, I kind of just assumed that Keith was cheating on his wife with his now-girlfriend, Sharp was cheating on his wife with Cheryl Scott+, and the rumors combined them into one story, but Keith discussing his divorce once Sharp was traded made me wonder how much fire there really had been to all the smoke
- maria_wyeth

Keith also made some comment at some point during the summer about being really close to Johnny Oduya, as in, best-friend close, sitting together on every flight, etc. Seemed a little weird given the Seabs-Keith relationship. Maybe they are no longer closer and refuse to play on the same line together. Hence the 2-4, 57-7 poopty pairings this year. Or maybe we're all reading too much into this.

The thing that confused me most about those rumors (and I think specifically when reports surfaced that there had been a locker room fist fight over all of it) was the report that Toews and Seabrook had taken Sharp's side, which seemed quite odd considering that the rumor was Sharp had slept with Keith's wife (not to mention how close Seabrook and Keith are). I guess unless they wanted Keith to go on record and deny the rumors to stop the media scrutiny and his refusal to do so led to the fight.

At the time, I kind of just assumed that Keith was cheating on his wife with his now-girlfriend, Sharp was cheating on his wife with Cheryl Scott+, and the rumors combined them into one story, but Keith discussing his divorce once Sharp was traded made me wonder how much fire there really had been to all the smoke
- maria_wyeth

And this type of scenario is exactly why the great coach Viktor Tikhonov kept his Russian National Team locked up 50 weeks a year somewhere to concentrate on hockey, 24/7.

He wasn't going to allow exposure to women wreck his team. Q has been very lax in this area.

And this type of scenario is exactly why the great coach Viktor Tikhonov kept his Russian National Team locked up 50 weeks a year somewhere to concentrate on hockey, 24/7.

He wasn't going to allow exposure to women wreck his team. Q has been very lax in this area.

- RickJ

Per my "sources" (female friends who party with the players, do those count? ) not only has Q been lax in this area but some of the players helped facilitate their teammates' infidelities