For whatever reason the FO thought no....They are careful with promoting the wrong guys, or promoting because of their draft order and not on merit. That stuff destroys moral in Rockford.
- Al

He was in line to be called up a couple years back (based on merit), but he injured his knee and was not able to be called up. From what I have seen of him, he has enough ability to be useful/successful in the NHL, but he needs to bring Shaw-like intensity/ consistency and thus far hasn't shown that in the AHL.

Not surprised. A top 6 LW at $4.25 million for only 2 more seasons would be somebody any contending team would want. Top 15 pick seems a bit high though.
- DarthKane

Top 15 and prospects? He's a good player, but I want to try what they are smoking.

For those hoping for JVR to team up with his brother in return for CC:

Michael Grosso ‏@RumorBreak 5m5 minutes ago
#BREAKING - Multiple teams have contacted the Leafs in regards to JVR. Price is VERY steep. Want a top-15 pick in return + prospects. ANA/NJD/COL have inquired.
- pdx2ord

He's just not that good. Rubbish.

That sounds a lot but that pick or prospect might never be as good as JVR is. Picks and prospects are often a bit overvalued.

There should be some kind of cap consideration for players that you draft and bring up through your own system. The teams should be rewarded for drafting and recruiting well. The point would be to get these guys paid as they should be. Not to cheat the cap.

GO HOCKS

There's a risk but it isn't like some on here who wanted Saad to sign a two year $6mill deal and risk a $30 million contract.

Shaw may take $2.8 mill instead of $3.5 and wait and sign the term and deal he wants later this season. He's either going to make around $3 mill if he doesn't get an offer sheet. So it's as much a question of term with him as he isn't arbitration eligible and is only 25.

I have heard and also suspect Shaw has some kind of back issue....But the Hawks would know best and Shaw has missed very few games. Back issues can only be masked so much and for so long. Shaw doesn't miss practices nor does he miss road trips with longer flights. Until that starts happening the talk of a back issue may be overblown.
- Al

That makes it clearer for me. The difference between Shaw and Saad money is big, Shaw would get the 7-800k missed on this one year deal back in his next deal spread out over the length of it, 3-4-5 years....... Makes sense.

I'm all for finding a way to make a Shaw deal work just wondering how?

Happy Fathers Day fellas. Cheers

I've been saying it forever the Parody hard cap and the current product are killing this league. People want to watch great players play with other great players. Everybody is pining for teams like the avs det Phil and other great teams of the 90s and the 80s with the Oilers dynasty now they break teams up every year. How fun would it have been to watch the hawks from the first cup play together for a couple more years how dominate would they have been and what other great team would a rivaled them. With an adjustable cap like the NBA where you can keep home grown talent and pay them more than other teams can you can build good teams that last. I hate pro basketball but I'll be watching the finals tonight. I'm a diehard hockey fan and this was the worst year of hockey I've ever seen. No rivalries limited hitting clean hits getting 5 min majors no fighting and when there was they usually sucked because the guys that could fight weren't there and the linesman always entered in to early. The 1st rd of the playoffs had a couple decent series but after that the rest of the playoffs were awful. Lots of diving just seeing players skate back and fourth not hitting low scoring chances isn't enjoyable for anyone especially new comers. The only people who watched were the diehard fans of the team it's why the ratings sucked.
How to fix the league
1. Adjustable cap
2. Bring enforcers back to police the game eliminate the instigator and entertainment value for us physical play fans and newcomers [no coincidence ufc is popular in the states] call the game so you need tough guys don't let the officials or your pp be your enforcer. Scoring and fighting will go up which will bring the sport to a broader audience.
3. Better officiating l. Just being consistent would be nice worst refs in sports.
4. Add a team in Seattle or Kansas City move the hurricanes or another team that doesn't draw crab to Quebec.
5.Make bettman resign

For Panarin? I'd guess around $5.5 per year.
- Dabearshawks

Get R Done Stan

Happy Fathers Day fellas. Cheers
- mrpaulish

Indeed, enjoy and be thankful.

Could Laine be a better NHLer than Matthews? http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...thews-three-scouts-weigh/

So - regular season schedule comes out tomorrow. Board of Governors meet on Wednesday - which should mean that the final cap number will be released then. So does that mean we have 3.5 days of churn with no real news? If so, ARGH!!!

There should be some kind of cap consideration for players that you draft and bring up through your own system. The teams should be rewarded for drafting and recruiting well. The point would be to get these guys paid as they should be. Not to cheat the cap.

GO HOCKS
- hocktock

I'm for a cap, IMO it helps from having a Stienbrenner buy championships. But as the thing is constructed now it's more harmful than helpful.......Simply said if you kill the big markets you kill the sport.

I'm not so much looking for workarounds or loopholes but rules in place where you get rewarded (breaks) for scouting, drafting and developing your own players. At the very minimum that's where reworking the cap should start.

If it takes a stoppage so be it. Support your local USHL, NCAA, Midget, minor pro hockey until they get it fixed and figure out a way to divvy up a couple billion.

Get R Done Stan
- vabeachbear

The core changes from what we know it to have been? Sign the Cossack and move which of the core?

Do the Hawks pull a Pittsburgh and split Toews, Kane and Panarin up, spread em over 3 lines?

He was in line to be called up a couple years back (based on merit), but he injured his knee and was not able to be called up. From what I have seen of him, he has enough ability to be useful/successful in the NHL, but he needs to bring Shaw-like intensity/ consistency and thus far hasn't shown that in the AHL.
- Chunk

The thing that bothers me about McNeill is he deserves a 5-6-10 game look based on his body of work. 4 full years of Major Junior and 3 in the AHL. That deserves a look as a 1st rounder.

Then add that it's accepted that it is easier for some at the NHL level than the AHL in that positionally it's far better in the NHL. In other words guys are where they are supposed to be more often than not in the NHL which makes it easier for the players.

Is McNeill one of those guys? Not a possible chance of knowing with ONE NHL game under his belt to date.

The core changes from what we know it to have been? Sign the Cossack and move which of the core?

Do the Hawks pull a Pittsburgh and split Toews, Kane and Panarin up, spread em over 3 lines?
- Mr Ricochet

Well I have been on record as saying if one of the core has to go, it would be between AA and CC for me.

I would probably pick CC only because I watched them try and get a 2C for years, and think its harder to replace the 2C then G.

If you knew that Schmaltz could play 2c next year or the year after, then I might consider moving AA.

Also not sure you get back as much for AA as CC so that would be part of it as well.

I would keep Panarin over both of them. In my mind, he is the 6th guy of the core behind 19, 88, 2, 7, 4

I would have kept Saad over CC as well.

I wouldn't spilt them up, think it makes each of them worse with roster as currently constructed.

The thing that bothers me about McNeill is he deserves a 5-6-10 game look based on his body of work. 4 full years of Major Junior and 3 in the AHL. That deserves a look as a 1st rounder.

Then add that it's accepted that it is easier for some at the NHL level than the AHL in that positionally it's far better in the NHL. In other words guys are where they are supposed to be more often than not in the NHL which makes it easier for the players.

Is McNeill one of those guys? Not a possible chance of knowing with ONE NHL game under his belt to date.
- Mr Ricochet[/quote]

Another one of the just bizarre things of the Q era.

I'm for a cap, IMO it helps from having a Stienbrenner buy championships. But as the thing is constructed now it's more harmful than helpful.......Simply said if you kill the big markets you kill the sport.

I'm not so much looking for workarounds or loopholes but rules in place where you get rewarded (breaks) for scouting, drafting and developing your own players. At the very minimum that's where reworking the cap should start.

If it takes a stoppage so be it. Support your local USHL, NCAA, Midget, minor pro hockey until they get it fixed and figure out a way to divvy up a couple billion.
- Mr Ricochet

Well said Mr. R...take a look at the ratings from this Finals Gary...as far as Bettman I doubt he's going anywhere. He's done what the owners want. He's their mouthpiece.

But with hockey being the 4th sport I think the casual fan would identify easier in the spring with a powerhouse type of team or a couple...Lakers Celtics comes to mind for the NBA. There certainly should be some type of luxury tax instituted.
Why should other teams benefit from players you drafted and developed. Saad leaps to mind here. Larry Bird exemption? Who knows.

Happy Fathers Day fellas...

The core changes from what we know it to have been? Sign the Cossack and move which of the core?

Does Q pull a Pittsburgh and split Toews, Kane and Panarin up, spread em over 3 lines?
- Mr Ricochet

Fixed.

So the debate rages on...as JJ mentioned yesterday I believe if they are indeed trying to hang onto Ladd and Shaw CC is definitely gone.

Al I believe mentioned maybe they try to hang onto CC and move Anisimov. Wonder who would fill that role then? Richards back on a one year cheap deal. Does he have anything left in the tank?

They still need another defenseman - the problem that killed them this spring. Yes the Kempny kid is a nice add...but you need another vet back there...Campbell, Schlemko? Others?

Should be a real interesting couple of weeks coming up here.

Happy Fathers Day, Dads!

Honestly, if StanBo and Co. might possibly move Shaw and CC to free up to sign Ladd, I dont think id be too much of a fan of this.

If the Hawks go all in on acquiring a top 6 LW/F, I am not sure if breaking the bank on Ladd is the best of choices. I dont think Ladd is worth more than what he earned (correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it was 4.5?) last season. I would rather them try to work with Toronto on acquiring JVR if thats the case. He is more of the player type that I think would work with Toews and Co. I think that we may have been a little excited with Ladd because lets face it, the Hawks didnt have a LW to play with Tazer and Hoss all season.

So the debate rages on...as JJ mentioned yesterday I believe if they are indeed trying to hang onto Ladd and Shaw CC is definitely gone.

Al I believe mentioned maybe they try to hang onto CC and move Anisimov. Wonder who would fill that role then? Richards back on a one year cheap deal. Does he have anything left in the tank?

They still need another defenseman - the problem that killed them this spring. Yes the Kempny kid is a nice add...but you need another vet back there...Campbell, Schlemko? Others?

Should be a real interesting couple of weeks coming up here.
- DK002

Pretty sure AA has a NTC. Plus after signing him to that deal now youre going to try to move it? Eh, wouldnt that create a bad vibe in Chicago/not a good look?

[quote=Mr Ricochet]The thing that bothers me about McNeill is he deserves a 5-6-10 game look based on his body of work. 4 full years of Major Junior and 3 in the AHL. That deserves a look as a 1st rounder.

Then add that it's accepted that it is easier for some at the NHL level than the AHL in that positionally it's far better in the NHL. In other words guys are where they are supposed to be more often than not in the NHL which makes it easier for the players.

Is McNeill one of those guys? Not a possible chance of knowing with ONE NHL game under his belt to date.
- vabeachbear[/quote]

Another one of the just bizarre things of the Q era.

I'm pretty sure that JJ had a blog about McNeill in the past year that hit it pretty square on the head. McNeill got passed by a couple guys (TT, Saad, Shaw) and kind of caught in the wash. The implication that was made (forgive me JJ if I took your implication wrong), was that he was good at a lot of things but not great at any. Seeing him in person a number of times, I disagree with that. I think he actually has above average offensive skills, has shown willingness to go to the net , and has some grind to his game. I think he does suffer from consistency issues at times, but I'm actually pretty positive on his chances with the club this year.

Well I have been on record as saying if one of the core has to go, it would be between AA and CC for me.

I would probably pick CC only because I watched them try and get a 2C for years, and think its harder to replace the 2C then G.

If you knew that Schmaltz could play 2c next year or the year after, then I might consider moving AA.

Also not sure you get back as much for AA as CC so that would be part of it as well.

I would keep Panarin over both of them. In my mind, he is the 6th guy of the core behind 19, 88, 2, 7, 4

I would have kept Saad over CC as well.

I wouldn't spilt them up, think it makes each of them worse with roster as currently constructed.
- vabeachbear

I agree with you on this, only because there is such a dearth of talent in the top 9. At least as of today.

Pretty sure AA has a NTC. Plus after signing him to that deal now youre going to try to move it? Eh, wouldnt that create a bad vibe in Chicago/not a good look?
- purepone

I don't think he does.

Bowman can't worry about what people think, if moving a guy-any guy-is what he needs to do to correct this mess then by all means. Not saying THIS is the way to go, but if may be an option that has to be explored.