Hi JJ and again thanks for all you do. But I do not think TT was a surprise as I said last during the trade deadline I had no problem with TT going for whoever. The hawks will not regret letting him go Shaw maybe. I would try CC, Shaws rights and any of the hawks young d core for Bernier, JVR and their 2017 number 1 draft pick. money is about even this year and you loose Bernier hit next. You also might catch lighting in a bottle with him. Thanks again.
- Sn1362

Maybe not a surprise for fans the follow the team as closely as folks on this board do but to the average fan, the assumption was that TT was a future building block.

How likely is an offer sheet for that for Shaw? It would take over $3.755 to get that 1st and 3rd.

A utility player who can temporarily spark in a top-6 stint or a short term at center, otherwise a very good bottom-6 wing who provides net presence on the PP.

Not sure he solves enough problems for a potential contending team to warrant a cap hit approaching $4MM in a stagnant cap period.

Problem is - a $3MM offer - which I don't see how the Hawks could match without another move - gets back only a 2nd, and is more likely.

Only MHO, of course.
- StLBravesFan

I don't think all that likely but if so....So long and take the picks.
If not...To the point I have made a few times... the Hawks are in control of Shaw's
next deal. If they want to trade him I think better off to sign and trade as far as the value they will get otherwise the backstop is a high offer sheet and the picks.

I do disagree with the utility player label....He can play on any line and gives the same effort shift after shift. Actually I think he could play 2nd line center if left there
long enough to develop some chemistry. Issue with Shaw at center is then he can't be as effective on the forecheck.

There very well could be a team or more that thinks of Shaw as Marchand lite and his cap hit is $4.5 mill. I'm almost certain Shaw's agent has said the same as they look for Krueger like money....

Agree 100% Al, but how would they know if a sheet will be written. They're as rare as TT winning a puck battle in the corner.

You wait and see if one is written and if not move him then as other teams have been filling needs for a month?

What is the timeline, deadline, for an offer sheet?
- Mr Ricochet

They know a sheet is coming because before July 1 they can take calls from other clubs...It's an accepted practice and the agent can tell Bowman what's up...Actually a GM will almost always try to trade for the RFA before writing a sheet that's another reason why they seldom happen.

I don't think all that likely but if so....So long and take the picks.
If not...To the point I have made a few times... the Hawks are in control of Shaw's
next deal. If they want to trade him I think better off to sign and trade as far as the value they will get otherwise the backstop is a high offer sheet and the picks.

I do disagree with the utility player label....He can play on any line and gives the same effort shift after shift. Actually I think he could play 2nd line center if left there
long enough to develop some chemistry. Issue with Shaw at center is then he can't be as effective on the forecheck.

There very well could be a team or more that thinks of Shaw as Marchand lite and his cap hit is $4.5 mill. I'm almost certain Shaw's agent has said the same as they look for Krueger like money....
- Al

2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs he anchored the Blackhawks' best line of Saad-Shaw-Kane

Baun, likely CAREER high end is as a 13th forward
Hartman, maybe could help on the 4th line this year
Forsling, 170 pounds, zero NA experience, NOT happening this year
Pokka, maybe as a 6-7 guy with lots of press box time

So, let's start to get real
- John Jaeckel

If I had exact details on how expansion is going to work I would share but not sure anyone knows yet...But to your point...

Hartman wasn't played as much down the stretch in certain situations because he is a loose cannon...Goes out of his way to take stupid penalties at the worst time.

From what I hear Baun isn't much.

Now if what I'm hearing is correct and I think it is-The reason Baun for example got a 1 way deal is more about the upcoming expansion draft than being highly valued.

Even without Bickell the Hawks will have an expensive AHL roster-Rocky is evidently
good with it. They look at it as a cost to do business and I agree with your upside projections being about right where things are at now with the young guys u mentioned.

The only use the Blackhawks could have for Stuart Percy is if they played him in 63 pro games and used him as Las Vegas expansion fodder.

If he was ready to play, he would have played.

The only use the Blackhawks could have for Stuart Percy is if they played him in 63 pro games and used him as Las Vegas expansion fodder.

If he was ready to play, he would have played.
- wiz1901

I tend to agree with your and TTtimes' logic that if he couldnt crack the top 6D for the worst team in hockey, how could he help the Hawks? Though, Richard Panik could not either, and he was an effective Top 12 forward for the Hawks....

And here we were thinking that Hawks' fans overvalue prospects/players. Mason + Neuvirth > Crawford???? That has got to be the most asinine thing I have read on this blog in quite some time. Steve Mason has not been a consistently good goalie since his rookie year in CBJ and that was like 2009. The guy can get hot but when he is off, he is arguably one of the worst goalies in the NHL. I strongly believe Mason cost Philly that series. They outplayed Washington for long stretches and were right there in Game 6 before yet another soft goal from basically the top of the circle and boards on a wrist shot from Backstrom that made it a 2 goal game in the 3rd period...the dagger. Good luck with Nuevirth+Mason and that d-core behind "The Ghost" Philly fans.
- EnzoD

I suggest you look at masons stats since he came to Philly then get back to me. He has been very consistent and I am not even a mason fan

But, they could finally end their goaltender issues they have had the past 25 years or so.
- HawkfaninBC

False narrative

RUMORS:

Finally caught up on comments, two notes from a source this AM:

Hawks hoping to get Shaw to do a Kruger-esque 1-year bridge deal. 'help us now, we'll reward you later.'

Crawford has NOT been asked for a list of teams.

Hawks are actually trying to extend Ladd, but if they can't get to a place where it looks like a deal can eventually be reached, they may trade his pre-UFA rights (look for a 7th round pick or something).

OPINION:

On Shaw, good news is, his agent is the same guy the Hawks made a lot richer with the Kane and Toews deals; he may be just the guy you want representing Shaw in this, assuming Shaw really wants to be in Chicago.

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.

On Crawford, I shared word for word what I heard but to me, knowing the source and what they've told me in the past, it felt like the word "yet" was implied.

If they are really trying to sign Ladd and somehow keep Shaw, then pretty much for sure, Crawford is a goner.
- John Jaeckel

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


Normally I would agree fully but this isn't a Saad like bridge loan situation...He can insure himself to offset against loss. Hawks keep their promises as they still reupped Krueger and he could be considered damaged goods. Shaw doesn't make huge money marketing himself but he makes more than most players, that helps offset things a bit too.

I remember that draft day and how the analysts were claiming McNeill to have an NHL frame already and could make the jump to pros. That commentary was pretty superficial when you compare McNeill to a guy like Gaudreau who is tiny by NHL standards yet has lit up the league in his first two seasons. Gaudreau's BC teammates Hayes and Arnold are both bigger than him but Hayes had a sophomore slump (and is rumored to be expendable) while Arnold has yet to crack the Flames lineup.

With that said, though, from what others have shared before about McNeill is that one reason why he hasn't cracked the Hawks roster is because there hasn't been any spots for him. Plausible reason, but then again, current and former Icehogs like Baun, Carey, Hartman, Leblanc, etc. have had longer stints in comparison.

For 2016-17, McNeill has a shot at one of the bottom-6 spots as do Baun, Hartman, Motte, and Kero. Putting aside how the off season plays out in terms of new players coming in, I would think that of those 5 Icehog forwards, at least 2 of them will make the roster as the 12th and 13th forwards. Motte is the only one I would consider as having potential to play top-6 or bottom-6 whereas everyone else is bottom-6.
- AEL_Fox

When the club that drafts a prospects and tries him for an extended time at 2 different positions as is the case with McNeill....If you are watching closely lights should flash. McNeill hasn't set the world on fire at wing or center.

I do believe that Crawford is a level above Mason.

In Mase's defense, he was absolutely playing through a nasty, lingering groin issue.

Would love to have Crawford but it doesn't really make sense at the moment with the position the Flyers are in, the influx of goalie prospects recently, and the current state of our defense (obviously) many of us were expecting to be a bottom 10 team this year and many of us dont expect a serious, perennial, cup contending team for another 2 years or so.

Crawford to Calgary for Frolik and their 2016 2nd.
- DarthKane

Per JJ's blog comment, I do understand Q's aversion to "learners", but would we call Fleischman, Ladd, Erhoff, Daley, Garbutt, and Weiss learners? Maybe the core is getting a little tired of seeing decent players shooed...

Someone earlier in the thread said "what an asinine way to run a business" because these are strictly money trades and non-hockey talent impact. Unfortunately, because of that, 30% or more of the "game" is in the front offices and not on the ice. Sad.

I suggest you look at masons stats since he came to Philly then get back to me. He has been very consistent and I am not even a mason fan
- rinaldo

His RS stats in Philly are better than his poor stats in CBJ (with his rookie year as an outlier). That being said, he has given up soft goals in key situations his entire career (Round 1 of 2016 that was VERY winnable for the Flyers). Again, when he is on, he is lights out. But when he is off his game, and it happens far too often to be a dependable #1, he is ECHL quality in the blue paint. I'm not a Mason fan and have zero faith that he can play consistent hockey in the playoffs to lead his team on a deep run. Good luck!... and I like Philly more than most teams in the East!

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

That he does, good two way player willing to go into the boards and fight it out and end up with the puck. And this past season he's really learned how to score. He knows where to go after he digs out the puck to be in prime scoring position and he can skate!

His RS stats in Philly are better than his poor stats in CBJ (with his rookie year as an outlier). That being said, he has given up soft goals in key situations his entire career (Round 1 of 2016 that was VERY winnable for the Flyers). Again, when he is on, he is lights out. But when he is off his game, and it happens far too often to be a dependable #1, he is ECHL quality in the blue paint. I'm not a Mason fan and have zero faith that he can play consistent hockey in the playoffs to lead his team on a deep run. Good luck!... and I like Philly more than most teams in the East!


- EnzoD

Photoshopped Bobbi Lu out from that one.

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
- Ehstripes

Yeah five regular season games 2G 3A. Three playoff games 2Gs.

His RS stats in Philly are better than his poor stats in CBJ (with his rookie year as an outlier). That being said, he has given up soft goals in key situations his entire career (Round 1 of 2016 that was VERY winnable for the Flyers). Again, when he is on, he is lights out. But when he is off his game, and it happens far too often to be a dependable #1, he is ECHL quality in the blue paint. I'm not a Mason fan and have zero faith that he can play consistent hockey in the playoffs to lead his team on a deep run. Good luck!... and I like Philly more than most teams in the East!


- EnzoD

He isn't far too often of his game. You are incorrect. Been very consistent last 3 years .
Either way cc is not what the flyers need right now at all.

Photoshopped Bobbi Lu out from that one.
- blackhawk24

Not a fan of Luongo either. He was outplayed by Thomas Greiss in the Panthers v Isles series. And those Hawks v Canucks series were just awesome....

He isn't far too often of his game. You are incorrect. Been very consistent last 3 years .
Either way cc is not what the flyers need right now at all.
- rinaldo

Agree to disagree. What about Round 1? You call that on his game?


EDIT: Please note, this is all being said bc I am a pseudo fan of the Flyers in the East. The only East teams I would root for over Philly are the Blue Jackets (I'm an OSU alum) and the Panthers (Blackhawks' south). Mason is NOT the answer to take your squad to the promised land...see Bogie's post below with FACTS to prove my point.

And here we were thinking that Hawks' fans overvalue prospects/players. Mason + Neuvirth > Crawford???? That has got to be the most asinine thing I have read on this blog in quite some time. Steve Mason has not been a consistently good goalie since his rookie year in CBJ and that was like 2009. The guy can get hot but when he is off, he is arguably one of the worst goalies in the NHL. I strongly believe Mason cost Philly that series. They outplayed Washington for long stretches and were right there in Game 6 before yet another soft goal from basically the top of the circle and boards on a wrist shot from Backstrom that made it a 2 goal game in the 3rd period...the dagger. Good luck with Nuevirth+Mason and that d-core behind "The Ghost" Philly fans.
- EnzoD

well...there is alot of competition...but yes...some people just cant help themselves as they claim white is black and back is white...thats called psychotic

playoff record: W L OT GA Save%
craw: 48 33 11 2.26 .920 slightly better than regular season numbers
manson 2 9 0 3.14 .895 much worse than his regular season numbers

How Much would you guess 5-6?
- vabeachbear

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

What about Crawford for Brandon Bollig + a pick? Then Q could roll the "Freddy-Boll-'Shint" line!

Agree to disagree. What about Round 1? You call that on his game?


EDIT: Please note, this is all being said bc I am a pseudo fan of the Flyers in the East. The only East teams I would root for over Philly are the Blue Jackets (I'm an OSU alum) and the Panthers (Blackhawks' south). Mason is NOT the answer to take your squad to the promised land...see Bogie's post below with FACTS to prove my point.
- EnzoD

Your picking and choosing. He wasn't great and many reasons they lost

The flyers are so far away from the promised land it is a moot point. Check his numbers vs cc the last 3 years on a much much worse team