Zawaski on the score right now...

possible TT with Bickell in a deal to get Bickell out of town. Allows them to hang onto Shaw and possibly sign Soupy back.
- DK002

Jesus, that's kind of a steep price to get rid of dead weight and create cap space.

Jesus, that's kind of a steep price to get rid of dead weight and create cap space.
- EKB13

Still think they'll buy him out, unless they are really down to every single dollar counts and to ensure they don't take back $$ they throw TT in there.

That clears almost 5 million in cap room.

Can someone help a brother out, here? What happened in summer of 2014?

I was thinking about the Clint Reif thing the other day, too. They had his family out on the ice when they won in 2015, and they wore CR stickers, but I feel like I never heard anything else about it. No dedications at the parade by any of the speakers that I remember.

Of course, I'm a Chicagoan living in NYC, so I don't follow everything and see everything on CSN Chicago, either.
- DMChi2010

The rumors started swirling about Sharp and TSN insiders start tweeting how Sharp was getting shopped. Got so bad Sharp's agent had to come out and state publicly that Bowman assured him Sharp wasn't getting moved that summer.....

Zawaski on the score right now...

possible TT with Bickell in a deal to get Bickell out of town. Allows them to hang onto Shaw and possibly sign Soupy back.
- DK002

Would be interesting, and part of me wonders if Toronto would be a possible destination? They have a few too many young defenseman right now and likely need to deal one or two or risk losing on waivers eventually... Probably not ideal value but if we could add another cost-controlled young defenseman (or forward) I would not be opposed to dealing TT + Bickell. The next few weeks leading up to the draft could be very interesting...

Steve--- regarding the smoke around this team-- Reif suicide etc-- I don't really follow the gossip or personal antics of the players off ice-- and don't really care much about it-- but that incident with Reif was the most upsetting IMO--

Generally if it impacts the team performance ON ICE then it is of interest to me-- and the Reif incident seemed to rally the boys to the Cup that year--

I dont recall a Seabrook presser about Sharp?

Are you suggesting a disconnect with Seabrook and Keith? BTW I agree with you if not for Seabrook-- Keith is not likely a Norris winner

For the most part 2, 7, 10, grew up together as Hawks transitioning from single life to married and then with children-- while 19 - 88 are still single-- they must have been influenced by the 3 'veteran' hawks-- and 19 seems to be the polar opposite of 88 publicly--

So wonder who the first will be to write the Hawks insider book-- Vertseeg?
- jb3333

I have 2nd hand knowledge that there is a LOT more to the Reiff suicide then what was released or what has been released. In respect to him and his family I won't elaborate but I will bet it comes to light soon enough. And you are right, it was beyond sad and had a major impact on this team. No question. Feel awful for those kids.

Seabrook came out after the Sharp-Keith rumors really ramped up. I want to say it was in the early spring. He basically just made a statement about it and then Sharp alluded to possibly filing legal charges against the reports and that never happened, or never was made aware publicly.

I don't have first hand knowledge of the relationship between 2/7, but like some others here I did notice a lack of 2 around the beat guys, etc. I also noticed a monster drop off in his game, a supposed injury he failed to address in the offseason and somehow made it through his physical training camp with but then has to be shut down to get the scope?

Just a lot of odd things circling this team.....

Jesus, that's kind of a steep price to get rid of dead weight and create cap space.
- EKB13

yep...one helluva of a sweetner to dump 1 years worth of 4 mildo salary...thats how bad it is for the hawks this summer...

couldn't give the guy away 2x via waivers (basically he is done anyway)...which only means you have to pay up to move him...and whoever gets him probably burrys him too

Zawaski on the score right now...

possible TT with Bickell in a deal to get Bickell out of town. Allows them to hang onto Shaw and possibly sign Soupy back.
- DK002

Echoing what I posted above from Custance and what he's hearing at the combine.

What I noticed for the first time this year was the relative lack of Keith presence in the locker room with the reporters before and after the games. You would think last year's Conn Smythe winner would be front and center, as he was in their marketing materials, but he was rarely a part of it. Whether because he is not a "great quote" or PR is afraid he'll not spout the approved platitudes, etc., who knows? My eyebrows went up when he flat out refused to talk to the reporters at least once after a loss. Not really what you need from your "A."
- pdx2ord

I heard back in 2007-08 he was a jag from a player no longer on this team. I heard he also liked to bully Buff at times, who comes from a tough upbringing. he's a great player, but off the ice.......

And you're right....he was MIA a lot this year, something a veteran leader on this team shouldn't be doing......

Doubt he gets moved, but nothing at this point would surprise me with this team. Just too many high priced guys, with a slow moving cap, and a "what have you done for me lately" president pushing non stop. Tough environment for all involved.

yep...one helluva of a sweetner to dump 1 years worth of 4 mildo salary...thats how bad it is for the hawks this summer...

couldn't give the guy away 2x via waivers (basically he is done anyway)...which only means you have to pay up to move him...and whoever gets him probably burrys him too
- bogiedoc

It's by far Bowman's biggest blunder. No question.

And it'll take a sweetner to get him moved without retaining salary OR taking salary back which is imperative to the Hawks given their cap situation.

And as many of us have questioned about TT, in exactly what IS he and how does HE fit on this team long term, have to wonder if the management is also asking the same question. His value as a trade chip may never be higher.

Zawaski on the score right now...

possible TT with Bickell in a deal to get Bickell out of town. Allows them to hang onto Shaw and possibly sign Soupy back.
- DK002

First reported where? LOL, maybe I should be called Rodney.

Jesus, that's kind of a steep price to get rid of dead weight and create cap space.
- EKB13

I would think that they would get something reasonable back in a TT/Bickell package. I STRONGLY doubt they would dump TT for a 3rd round pick just to lose the last year of Bickell's deal.

Have to accept old man Bowman and the Wings' scouting grades for obvious reasons. That said if a gun was held to your head, and the roster is near what it is today, does Kruger start as the 3C this year and get more offensive zone starts than the 30% he usually gets?
- Mr Ricochet

Depends who his line mates are.

Jay Zawaski, who has had the last few scoops from the FO, reporting today that trading AA may be the solution to the cap issue for this year to make room for Shaw.

Don't know how much weight to give this, but Hawk "reporters" usually aren't in the business of speculating, and often are the messengers of FO intentions.
- Return of the Roar

Jay had a nice one last year with Saad, for sure. What are the last few that he's had that no one else had? Curious.

Jesus, that's kind of a steep price to get rid of dead weight and create cap space.
- EKB13

You have to assume that eventually, they make a trade where they get something back

I'll put it less eloquently. If Wertz isn't making money on the Hawks the NHL is beyond franked. There is a reason Hawks stores have popped up on Michigan Ave and in the burbs. The green is rolling in. They just divert some to pay very smart accountants.
- bhawks2241

Yeah the accounting has always been questionable, different revenues into different "buckets" can always make it look one way when in truth it is something completely different.

Don't read too much into the Michigan Avenue store. It's in a Wirtz owned property and frequented by a whole lot of out-of-towners. They have done a great job of selling merchandise to just about everyone however. I ride the green line into the city each day, and I see a whole lot of Blackhawk merchandise being worn by a whole bunch of people who I can almost guarantee you have never seen a Hawks game.

Isn't Rubstov still eligible for the NHL Draft due to his age?
- EKB13

Yes. Some mock drafts have him in the first round at #22 picked by Winnipeg.

Id much rather trade TT to shed Bickell than lose AA in a trade for cap space.

Id much rather trade TT to shed Bickell than lose AA in a trade for cap space.
- mrpaulish

I'm with you and their rush to extend him after acquiring him last summer doesn't seem to indicate they didn't see him as a LT player. Plus, he had a very good season playing with 88/72 and seems to have stabilized the 2c spot for now.

@ep_transfers

Confirmed: Jiri Sekac (F) | Arizona Coyotes -> Ak Bars Kazan | eliteprospects.com/t.php?id=274181 #KHL

TT + Bickell even for only the cap space is a deal I would make yesterday.

I'm just not seeing TT as long term value in Chicago. His stock has gone down from a season ago, and if he rebounds, he will want a pay day that he won't be worth.

And for all the Sekac love around here, and how Q did him wrong.....he just signed in the KHL.

I have 2nd hand knowledge that there is a LOT more to the Reiff suicide then what was released or what has been released. In respect to him and his family I won't elaborate but I will bet it comes to light soon enough. And you are right, it was beyond sad and had a major impact on this team. No question. Feel awful for those kids.

Seabrook came out after the Sharp-Keith rumors really ramped up. I want to say it was in the early spring. He basically just made a statement about it and then Sharp alluded to possibly filing legal charges against the reports and that never happened, or never was made aware publicly.

I don't have first hand knowledge of the relationship between 2/7, but like some others here I did notice a lack of 2 around the beat guys, etc. I also noticed a monster drop off in his game, a supposed injury he failed to address in the offseason and somehow made it through his physical training camp with but then has to be shut down to get the scope?

Just a lot of odd things circling this team.....
- SteveRain

I recall that Sharp threatened legal action regarding the rumors-- and it struck me as unusual that he would actually say that on the record-- my read was that the media somehow struck a chord on something that must have had some legs-- otherwise why even acknowledge it or give it any energy-- especially in a high profile situation-- and eventually Sharp was the first of the core to go-- so I personally assumed he was the one crossing boundaries -- but it takes at least two to tango--

It seems to me if there was a comparison to be made between the guys -- maybe 7 & 19 are more similar being seemingly even keeled and quiet-- and 2 & 88 kind of wild cards off the ice-- less likable?

The training / injury thing is the big red flag for me-- If 2 did slip on his commitment to optimal health, training and performance-- then I would be very concerned moving forward with him-- because his game is dependent on his quickness

TT + Bickell even for only the cap space is a deal I would make yesterday.

I'm just not seeing TT as long term value in Chicago. His stock has gone down from a season ago, and if he rebounds, he will want a pay day that he won't be worth.
- Return of the Roar

100% agreed.

Jay had a nice one last year with Saad, for sure. What are the last few that he's had that no one else had? Curious.
- John Jaeckel

I thought the first rumblings on Ladd were sent his way.

First reported where? LOL, maybe I should be called Rodney.
- John Jaeckel

We already have a Rodney around here JJ! I was aggregating - JJ + Custance + Zawaski = a whole lotta smoke IMO.