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
- jb3333

As much as we would like all these players to be automatons, always playing to their optimum and fans expectations, the reality is that there ARE off ice issues that will effect their mental state and thus their play on the ice.

Whatever Keith was dealing with, whether it be a messy divorce, visitation rights to his kid, locker room differences with teammates, etc., you can be assured that it will effect his on ice play. Much as we would all like to see players just brush aside personal issues and play their best, many if not most times that is impossible.

These guys are human, personal issues will eventually effect their play. Hopefully whatever Keiths issues were, they are now behind him and he can get back to being the player we have seen him be in the past.

As much as we would like all these players to be automatons, always playing to their optimum and fans expectations, the reality is that there ARE off ice issues that will effect their mental state and thus their play on the ice.

Whatever Keith was dealing with, whether it be a messy divorce, visitation rights to his kid, locker room differences with teammates, etc., you can be assured that it will effect his on ice play. Much as we would all like to see players just brush aside personal issues and play their best, many if not most times that is impossible.

These guys are human, personal issues will eventually effect their play. Hopefully whatever Keiths issues were, they are now behind him and he can get back to being the player we have seen him be in the past.
- TheTrob

I completely agree with your point--

I'm sure the Hawks employ a 'mental skills' person to assist with the various issues-- or at least they should-- maybe its called something else-- like therapists-- but just as important as the strength and conditioning IMO

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

Did rumors include a breakdown in the relationship between Reiff and the players prior to his passing? Or were players implicated in helping to sow marital discord with Reiff and his wife?

I completely agree with your point--

I'm sure the Hawks employ a 'mental skills' person to assist with the various issues-- or at least they should-- maybe its called something else-- like therapists-- but just as important as the strength and conditioning IMO
- jb3333

I'm 90% sure they already have one on the payroll.

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

It's too bad but true. Maybe they are banking on Schmaltz and Motte coming up early and actually contributing. That or scrap heap vets for less than an ELC.

Panik - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Desjardins - Kruger - Shaw
ELC - Rasmussen - ELC
ELC

Keith - Seabrook
Kempny - Hammer
Gus/Sveddy - TVR
Sveddy/Gus

Crawford
Darling

If Shaw signs at $2.5M for one year and you include Panarin's bonus overages, the roster above gets you to $72.5M in total. The NHLPA sure as hell better approve the escalator!

As much as we would like all these players to be automatons, always playing to their optimum and fans expectations, the reality is that there ARE off ice issues that will effect their mental state and thus their play on the ice.

Whatever Keith was dealing with, whether it be a messy divorce, visitation rights to his kid, locker room differences with teammates, etc., you can be assured that it will effect his on ice play. Much as we would all like to see players just brush aside personal issues and play their best, many if not most times that is impossible.

These guys are human, personal issues will eventually effect their play. Hopefully whatever Keiths issues were, they are now behind him and he can get back to being the player we have seen him be in the past.
- TheTrob

Agreed. I think for a lot of these guys the last 12-18 months have been hell and the long break will at least let them come back refreshed mentally.

Does anyone know if TT is here in Chicago, working out under supervision, or is he still in Finland?

I'm 90% sure they already have one on the payroll.
- SteveRain

And I'm sure that hat person has been very busy!

Wonder if they offer therapy to the front office as well! With all of the implied dysfunction between Stan and Q

It's too bad but true. Maybe they are banking on Schmaltz and Motte coming up early and actually contributing. That or scrap heap vets for less than an ELC.

Panik - Toews - Hossa
Panarin - Anisimov - Kane
Desjardins - Kruger - Shaw
ELC - Rasmussen - ELC
ELC

Keith - Seabrook
Kempny - Hammer
Gus/Sveddy - TVR
Sveddy/Gus

Crawford
Darling

If Shaw signs at $2.5M for one year and you include Panarin's bonus overages, the roster above gets you to $72.5M in total. The NHLPA sure as hell better approve the escalator!
- DMChi2010

On Hockey Central today Elliot Friedman mentioned that the NHLPA met last week in Chicago to discuss the cap issues and escalator clause-- he thinks that there will be a negotiation between NHLPA / NHL as it does not have be at the full 5%-- but he also mentioned if it is not at the full 5% that could create some discussion amongst the free agent class this summer i.e. Stamkos-- as they would likely suffer in their negotiations as a result of cap reduction / escalator issues--

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

I would not be in favor of signing 37 year old Brian Campbell, unless it was for a VERY cap-favorable, short-term deal.

JJ, there was some discussion earlier on this board that Scotty B. doesn't like Soupy's game -- are you aware how the organization views him?

I would not be in favor of signing 37 year old Brian Campbell, unless it was for a VERY cap-favorable, short-term deal.

JJ, there was some discussion earlier on this board that Scotty B. doesn't like Soupy's game -- are you aware how the organization views him?
- Hank_Greenberg

Actually, I am not. But the question they would ask, and I would ask, is: at what price?

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.
- John Jaeckel

Fleury seems to have been passed up in Carolina. Maybe they get him

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

I wouldn't, that price is way to high. Especially after we likely lose another forward in the expansion draft next year.

I'm disappointed, I thought he would be back for sure.

@ep_transfers

Rumour: Dennis Rasmussen (F) | Chicago Blackhawks -> Luleå HF | eliteprospects.com/t.php?id=274202 #SHL

I'm disappointed, I thought he would be back for sure.

@ep_transfers

Rumour: Dennis Rasmussen (F) | Chicago Blackhawks -> Luleå HF | eliteprospects.com/t.php?id=274202 #SHL
- DarthKane

Too bad. He got the no confidence vote from his coach(es). Not surprised that he is choosing to go somewhere he can actually play.

Too bad. He got the no confidence vote from his coach(es). Not surprised that he is choosing to go somewhere he can actually play.
- pdx2ord

Another bottom 6 center gone. First Danault with the trade and now Moose.

Another bottom 6 center gone. First Danault with the trade and now Moose.
- Dannyboy

Moose wasn't bad, but not really any kind of a difference maker. Really just a 4th liner, maybe 3rd in a pinch. Hawks have enough other options with Motte, Schmaltz, Kero, McNeil, etc. who they need to give a shot. Moose a big body who didn't necessarily play big, nor light the world on fire. Neither one of them lent much in the way of offense to the equation, 10 points in 45-50 games.

With 3rd and 4th liners on a cost controlled team you are looking for someone to step in and show something. Some kind of flash. Shaw did it when he first came up, kids like Sheary and Rust are doing it for the Pens. At some point, especially in the playoffs, you need those 3rd and 4th liners to do a little more than just play responsibly in the defensive end.

Too bad. He got the no confidence vote from his coach(es). Not surprised that he is choosing to go somewhere he can actually play.
- pdx2ord

Up until the trade deadline he was playing decent 4th line minutes. But there was no room once Ladd, Weise, and Flash were acquired. Rasmussen was lost in the numbers game, it wasn't because of Q.

Depends who his line mates are.
- John Jaeckel

Depends who is linemates are as to whether Kruger skates 3 or 4C?

Up until the trade deadline he was playing decent 4th line minutes. But there was no room once Ladd, Weise, and Flash were acquired. Rasmussen was lost in the numbers game, it wasn't because of Q.
- DarthKane

The only question is why Mashinter would ever dress over him.

The only question is why Mashinter would ever dress over him.
- TheTrob

That doesn't just apply to Rasumssen, that applies to everyone who sat for Mashinter.

I would think Rasmussen would have a really good shot to stick on the 4th line this season. Maybe he just wanted to go back to Sweden?

I also read that this news is just a rumor at this point, lets hope it's not true.

I'm disappointed, I thought he would be back for sure.

@ep_transfers

Rumour: Dennis Rasmussen (F) | Chicago Blackhawks -> Luleå HF | eliteprospects.com/t.php?id=274202 #SHL
- DarthKane

I was hoping he'd be signed to a deal for around $650k AAV. He had 9 points and was a +9 with a CF of 49.1% in 44 games. He's a 25-year-old RFA so was never gonna get a ton of money.

Danault had 10 points (between CHI and MTL), a -5 and a CF of 50.4% in 51 games total. He's an RFA.

Desjardins had 13 points, -8, and a CF of 49.7% in 77 games. His salary is $800k.

I guess they are all 4th-liners, but perhaps the Hawks would rather pay about the same to another ELC who will be getting his first shot.

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.
- SteveRain

With respect to Bickell, were there signs that the quality of his play would fall-off so dramatically? Did his extension look bad at the time, or it looks bad only in retrospect?

Does anyone know if TT is here in Chicago, working out under supervision, or is he still in Finland?
- StLBravesFan

Back home in Finland. Here's a piece on him from Powers...

https://theathletic.com/2...avainen-helsinki-finland/

I was hoping he'd be signed to a deal for around $650k AAV. He had 9 points and was a +9 with a CF of 49.1% in 44 games. He's a 25-year-old RFA so was never gonna get a ton of money.

Danault had 10 points (between CHI and MTL), a -5 and a CF of 50.4% in 51 games total. He's an RFA.

Desjardins had 13 points, -8, and a CF of 49.7% in 77 games. His salary is $800k.

I guess they are all 4th-liners, but perhaps the Hawks would rather pay about the same to another ELC who will be getting his first shot.
- DMChi2010

Don't forget, the Hawks just signed Lundberg. I believe they are the same age. And also a 4th liner. So, it's a swap. Maybe they didn't like Ras' game or he wanted more money?