IMO with the passing of Snyder Hextall doesn't have the intense pressure to win a cup every year. I think he can let Mason play out the year and leave as a UFA and go with Neuvirth while waiting on Stolarz or the Swede to be the goalie of their future.

Agreed today the Philly D is suspect but in 3 years it will be a strength.
- Mr Ricochet

disagree. hextall has had it easy so far. snyder was buying in and wasnt any pressure. hextall has been there a few years now and needs to start showing results. whoever is in real charge may want to win now.

hextall really hasn't had to do much; yet

JJ is absolutely on fire this week! Thanks for the frequent rumor updates and new blogs on a almost daily basis! Still, you would think that nothing major happens trade wise until the final Cap number is released next week, right? Will be tough to see 50+65 go but it's just a hunch that both played their last game with the Hawks on that fateful double-post and out Game 7 in STL a few months ago.... that frown will be turned upside down if Stan can add a Top 6 LW and/or a Top 4 D with the trade/new cap space. Happy Sunny Saturday Hawks fans!
- EnzoD

Yo Zo, I know you wanna see a top 4 Dman but I think you're getting what you see. Kempny-TVR will be your #4, the loser #5 with a more seasoned Gus-Sved or Pokka, Forsling or a training cap surprise rounding out at #6.

Who said anywhere the Hawks would not include another asset in a Crawford deal?

Oh, and, The Great Robin Lehner couldn't beat out Craig Anderson.

Crawford>>Lehner, too.

Good God.
- John Jaeckel

Methinks other teams fans have the same issue of overvalueing their in house assests!

See, its just not us

Here's what I fear we may be lamenting for the rest of the summer ... that Stan is offered a good deal for CC but he holds out for a better deal which never comes and by the time he ends up doing something all the luxury ships have sailed and Stan ends up with a leaky junk. The timing of the deal is almost as important as the specifics of the deal and if there has been a lesson that should have been learned by now it's that waiting too long results in not getting the best deal that could have been made. The objective is not to win every trade - it's to win the Stanley Cup. Get it done Stan.

Yo Zo, I know you wanna see a top 4 Dman but I think you're getting what you see. Kempny-TVR will be your #4, the loser #5 with a more seasoned Gus-Sved or Pokka, Forsling or a training cap surprise rounding out at #6.
- Mr Ricochet

You are probably correct as I don't see enough cap space to address both needs (2LW+4D). I was impressed by Kempny and Motte at the World's, but we all know the NHL is another level of speed and a smaller rink. I'm willing to bet Motte makes the team out of camp!

Here's what I fear we may be lamenting for the rest of the summer ... that Stan is offered a good deal for CC but he holds out for a better deal which never comes and by the time he ends up doing something all the luxury ships have sailed and Stan ends up with a leaky junk. The timing of the deal is almost as important as the specifics of the deal and if there has been a lesson that should have been learned by now it's that waiting too long results in not getting the best deal that could have been made. The objective is not to win every trade - it's to win the Stanley Cup. Get it done Stan.
- EbonyRaptor

At the latest, something will go down at the draft IMO. Maybe during or after the first week of July.

Baun Hartman Forsling Pokka .I know don't sound good ,but who had heard of those Kids Pitt used this year . Just interesting to here a old dog like Rutherford say he learned something new this year ,It is very difficult to teach us old dogs new tricks as they say
- oldduffman

MOTTE......... Don't forget what cranky ones will call the flavor of the month.............. With this cap fiasco and the Hawks devoid of forwards after Shaw is sacrificed at the alter of parity I can see Motte getting a loooong look.

Right, sorry, Carolina state of mind.

Jim Rutherford had better kids. Period.

You want to pin your season's hopes on Baun and Forsling? Not saying Forsling doesn't have a chance of being a nice player some day, but the hawks' system is basically picked clean of NHL ready prospects.

And that is/was my point.
- John Jaeckel

Okay. I had not really heard of those kids in Pitt , but I am not up on other teams prospects . Or ours really .Thanks for the updates JJ they are great

And I bet he would grudgingly agree they were/are better prospects than what the Hawks have right now—as far as NHL-ready talent.
- John Jaeckel

There's no doubt about that. My biggest issue with Stan is not the bad trades he was forced into every summer, it was that this past year, he almost completely depleted the system.

You are probably correct as I don't see enough cap space to address both needs (2LW+4D). I was impressed by Kempny and Motte at the World's, but we all know the NHL is another level of speed and a smaller rink. I'm willing to bet Motte makes the team out of camp!
- EnzoD

He does seem to be a Q kind of youngster doesn't he.

MOTTE......... Don't forget what cranky ones will call the flavor of the month.............. With this cap fiasco and the Hawks devoid of forwards after Shaw is sacrificed at the alter of parity I can see Motte getting a loooong look.
- Mr Ricochet

Not disagreeing Mr. R, but what about Hartman and McNeill? Do those guys deserve a long look? Not taking anything away from Motte, but he never played in the AHL at all. TVR did some time in the A before making it to the big guys if I'm not mistaken.

Wow If what you say is true then I am super glad Lou got Schneider instead !
- blizzzard

Guy starts like 70 games a year!! I only hope NJ doesn't stink for the whole of his prime. Very, very good goalie who deserves a real shot at some hardware.

Not disagreeing Mr. R, but what about Hartman and McNeill? Do those guys deserve a long look? Not taking anything away from Motte, but he never played in the AHL at all. TVR did some time in the A before making it to the big guys if I'm not mistaken.
- 93Joe

Motte played a bit at the end of the AHL season and the playoffs and it looked too easy for him. Look at the small numbers he posted and watch him wreck the minors

MOTTE......... Don't forget what cranky ones will call the flavor of the month.............. With this cap fiasco and the Hawks devoid of forwards after Shaw is sacrificed at the alter of parity I can see Motte getting a loooong look.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes for sure and Kemper would be another ,I threw out some names out off the top of my head .Like Rutherford said bringing them up together worked out great on and even more so off the ice ..

I have heard Toronto is interested in Crawford and in Ryan Hartman. Doesn't mean that rules anyone else out.

The "emerging" market I heard 48 hours ago for Crawford might be a mid first round pick (but that is likely negotiable based on what teams actually can offer).
- John Jaeckel

Responding to this yesterday I posted for the first time ever you'd have to trade Crow. Today will be the 2nd time ever. In this cap world if a mid round 1st is offered and no salary retained you just have to make that move.

#1 Nicolas Deslauriers...is a 4th line energy checker...he's not esp great defensively and I have no idea what you are talking about with this supposed cannon of a shot. ??? His primary importance for the Sabres is he's a well liked teammate and decent pugilist who comes relatively cheap.

#2 Robin Lehner...is GM Tim Murray's goalie...atleast for this coming season. He didn't trade a #1 draft pick for him last year to turn around and trade him a year later.

#3 The Sabres management have learned (via Ryan Miller) that you don't need a big contract goalie to compete for a playoff spot. They need better defense and wingers to round out the rebuild.

Conclusion: Don't expect salary cap help coming in the form of a trade with the Sabres for Crawford.

John thanks as always for keeping us in the loop of what's really going on with the team. Really sad to think that Craw will be the next ticketed out of town. But we knew it was coming especially with overages from last season. IF you can somehow hang onto Ladd and Shaw maybe that makes that palatable.

Again there's one person who we can all thank for this and its Dollar Bill Wirtz and his salary cap. Nothing like killing this team from the great beyond. Rocky has done everything he can to make this team the best and first class. In a non cap era you'd be looking at a Habs/Oilers/Isles type of dynasty.

Meanwhile Bettman and his cronies ought to do something to push the cap up a few mil. Take a look at your ratings for the Finals Gary. Anytime they want to make McD the commish by all means do.

Salary cap is garbage, this really stinks, I don't know what Bowman is going to be able to do it seems every year his hands are tied.

Bye bye Shaw, bye bye Crawford and with the new goalie regulations this could become a really bad thing

Wonder twin contracts might end up being the beginning of the end of their own reign as champions

RUMORS:

.

IF I WERE SHAW, HIS FAMILY, HIS AGENT, I would not do it.

With his injury history and style of play, it's a huge risk. Further, I would love to see how Stanley is going to get the $ to reward Shaw next summer, unless they can clear $ through expansion.

- John Jaeckel

Yep. Kid deserves to be paid and might only have one chance to do so. But he seems like the kind who is dumb/naive (loyal) enough to take a 1 yr bridge.

Take your money Shaw wherever that may be.

Awe Man!

If only Toews and Kane weren't so Greeeeedy...., The Hawks would be able to keep their team together

Not much Leadership there....

I have heard Toronto is interested in Crawford and in Ryan Hartman. Doesn't mean that rules anyone else out.

The "emerging" market I heard 48 hours ago for Crawford might be a mid first round pick (but that is likely negotiable based on what teams actually can offer).
- John Jaeckel

We went back and forth yesterday and I agreed Toronto most likely makes the most sense for a few reasons for Crawford-I have no clue if he would want to okay that deal. But of the very few places who could actually foot the $6 mill salary for Crawford, to me Toronto is the most attractive. But I still don't think a mid or bottom 1st round pick would be enough.

I also still think the math works best and the return is greater if Shaw is signed and traded or if a team writes a sheet for over $3.6 mill and the Hawks didn't match...But rather simply took the picks (1st-3rd) and allocated whatever cap space they wanted to Shaw's replacement.

I hear the same story that I heard when I mentioned Dano could be dealt on Hartman and McNeill. If you think Shaw can be undisciplined...If Hartman replaces him I would suggest watching with one eye closed. I don't think Bowman would have much trouble parting with McNeill and Hartman...Certainly much easier for him to lose those two than Shaw.

You are probably correct as I don't see enough cap space to address both needs (2LW+4D). I was impressed by Kempny and Motte at the World's, but we all know the NHL is another level of speed and a smaller rink. I'm willing to bet Motte makes the team out of camp!
- EnzoD

Yo Zo, minus moving Crow or Shaw there isn't enough cap space to make a phone call let alone fill a need. ..... Panik-Motte-camp surprise top 6??? Q's pharmacist is gonna get rich this year.

Not disagreeing Mr. R, but what about Hartman and McNeill? Do those guys deserve a long look? Not taking anything away from Motte, but he never played in the AHL at all. TVR did some time in the A before making it to the big guys if I'm not mistaken.
- 93Joe

I'll agree with what Eli said. If McNeill is still wait the organization he will get a real shot at sticking with the club because he'll need to pass through waivers to go back to Rockford. If somebody else steps up in a big way that could change things, if not then McNeill had a bit of an advantage.

Awe Man!

If only Toews and Kane weren't so Greeeeedy...., The Hawks would be able to keep their team together

Not much Leadership there....
- TheGame316

Even though you are a trolling Canuck fan, the greed of 19/88/7 is killing the Hawks right now.

Here's what I fear we may be lamenting for the rest of the summer ... that Stan is offered a good deal for CC but he holds out for a better deal which never comes and by the time he ends up doing something all the luxury ships have sailed and Stan ends up with a leaky junk. The timing of the deal is almost as important as the specifics of the deal and if there has been a lesson that should have been learned by now it's that waiting too long results in not getting the best deal that could have been made. The objective is not to win every trade - it's to win the Stanley Cup. Get it done Stan.
- EbonyRaptor

A concern but my hope is he's learned his lesson with Sharp. That's how I see the TT deal, that he has learned. The timing showed he moved on a deal instead of waiting, the deal itself showed he's not trying to rip the other guys eyes out and he "settled" for a "reasonable" exchange.