Thanks cobber! I'll be sure to down a couple in honour of the very welcoming reception I've received.
Appropriately enough my local pub serves a homebrew/local beer on tap simply called piss, so a very fitting welcome indeed
- AusHawk

Nice on the piss. Spent some time between Melbourne (mostly), Sydney and Adelaide a decade or so ago, (thinking about it 20 years ago), man time flies.

Spent time in probably 25 countries around the world, Aussie was always my favorite.

One foreign country where it was good to be an American. Single in your 20s, it was always a looked forward to trip!

Nice on the piss. Spent some time between Melbourne (mostly), Sydney and Adelaide a decade or so ago, (thinking about it 20 years ago), man time flies.

Spent time in probably 25 countries around the world, Aussie was always my favorite.

One foreign country where it was good to be an American. Single in your 20s, it was always a looked forward to trip!
- vabeachbear

Melbourne is now home for me (originally from a small country town 4 hours from the nearest rink), and not much has changed.... Americans out here still seemingly have first crack at all the good looking ones haha. So please, tell your men stay away, I don't need the extra competition!!

Melbourne is now home for me (originally from a small country town 4 hours from the nearest rink), and not much has changed.... Americans out here still seemingly have first crack at all the good looking ones haha. So please, tell your men stay away, I don't need the extra competition!!
- AusHawk

It's gotta be the adorable accent! Maybe you should come visit here where that shoe's on the other foot! (I'm a gal. Accents work)

It's gotta be the adorable accent! Maybe you should come visit here where that shoe's on the other foot! (I'm a gal. Accents work)
- Marlowe

Its in the works! Hoping to get over and catch up with some friends I made travelling through Turkey a few years ago, who much like yourself were intrigued and somewhat bemused by my accent haha.

But a USA/Canada trip is definitely high on the list of priorities

Hi all,
First time poster, grateful daily reader.

First off, thank you to all for the (often) informative discussion and chat that occurs.
As an Australian, sadly hockey is a minority sport, so Hockeybuzz is a lifesaver, especially as my job allows me to read a computer most of the day, and as most of the good stuff happens overnight my time, I often have a lot of catching up to do .

JJ, you do a fantastic job, so please keep up the good work, or else my days will get very boring, very quickly.

Hoping for some signings/good news soonish, and a good year to follow .
- AusHawk

Welcome Mate!!!

Its in the works! Hoping to get over and catch up with some friends I made travelling through Turkey a few years ago, who much like yourself were intrigued and somewhat bemused by my accent haha.

But a USA/Canada trip is definitely high on the list of priorities
- AusHawk

and a trip to the UC for the whole Hawks experience will have to be in order! Welcome to the board!

If the Hawks can find a serviceable 1LW or play Panarin at 1LW and find a serviceable 2LW, whether it's by FA signing (unlikely without movement of $$), trade (again, would hate to see more people go, but its becoming more and more of a foregone conclusion), or a lightning in a bottle unknown signing (Does Panarin have a clone somewhere in a Russian lab??), I'll be a very happy Hawk fan
- AusHawk

Personally, for the top two lines, I would like to see:

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Ladd/McGinn-AA-Kane

One more thing, I wonder if the Hawks will look to add a guy like Stempniak on the cheap as a 3RW. Made $850K last year...had 50 something points.

Personally, for the top two lines, I would like to see:

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Ladd/McGinn-AA-Kane
- 93Joe

$$ wise we have more chance at McGinn yeah? But these lines would definitely be nice come opening night. Ideally someone like a fully healthy Ladd or a Jamie McGinn who can crash and bash a bit more along the boards while being able to finish some chances would be nice in the top 6.

Stempniak or Chimera would also be a nice veteran add if they can make the $$ work

Personally, for the top two lines, I would like to see:

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Ladd/McGinn-AA-Kane
- 93Joe

Would love Ladd or McGinn. I just don't see it happening unless someone (AA, Kruger, Crawford) go. This is McGinn's chance to make some big bucks on a 3-4 year deal and you best bet he's going to take it.

I think you're going to see 1 year (maybe 2 year deals) with vet players. As someone just suggested, my prediction is you see a combination of 2 new forwards from the likes of Flash/Stempniak/Chimera/Gagner with Campbell coming back on D.

Personally, for the top two lines, I would like to see:

Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Ladd/McGinn-AA-Kane
- 93Joe

Also, I think Panarin would go crazy playing with Hossa IMO. Hossa has really been a shoot first kind of guy (even more so lately) and Panarin likes that puck back on the half wall.

I think Toews and Hossa start the season together, but as the year progresses and starts to head into playoffs, I would like to see:

Panarin-Toews-Panik?
2LW (FA - someone that can finish)-AA-Kane
3LW (FA/Prospect)-Kruger-Hossa


Panarin's comments sounded like he preferred to play away from Kane. I think he and Toews could be a force and it would give the Captain elite talent to play with who can finish after he does all the dirty work.

Correct and if there was a comp at that time it was Getzlaf/Perry and if you adjust for age and accomplishments Kane and Toews got what they deserved.
- Al

But again why based on accomplishments? I really don't care what the player did I only care about what they are able to do moving forward. 3 cups (as you mentioned for Seabrook) should have NO bearings on a contract negotiation. Yeah that's great, thank you for doing your job, now what are you going to produce the next x amount of years?

Would love Ladd or McGinn. I just don't see it happening unless someone (AA, Kruger, Crawford) go. This is McGinn's chance to make some big bucks on a 3-4 year deal and you best bet he's going to take it.

I think you're going to see 1 year (maybe 2 year deals) with vet players. As someone just suggested, my prediction is you see a combination of 2 new forwards from the likes of Flash/Stempniak/Chimera/Gagner with Campbell coming back on D.
- TyCamScore

You're most likely correct IMO. Assuming Ladd or McGinn can get say.. 4x4 it's not a bad deal for either side. One has to assume that Ladd or McGinn know that the Hawks are probably the most enticing (despite the damn salary cap) because of their core and recent success. Still cup contenders and the rest of the league knows that. The team needs a legitimate 1/2LW who is still relatively young to play on the top two lines. Stempniak is a RW, Chimera is aging but he can still wheel, Gagner is a no go IMO - he didn't perform all that well in recent years. I think the front office could pull in one of Ladd or McGinn.

Lol...settle down.
- Jeropotato

Ha. I'm still worked up from reading last summer a whole Pittsburgh discussion of player value that had a rating system that measured from 1 to Sydney Crosby. You can't make this stuff up. They discuss a rating system where the the top of the measuring stick is literally Sydney Crosby.

That could work, JJ, but my concern is that AA picked up a lot of loose change (and created a lot of traffic for his linemates) by camping in front of the net, which is not really Kruger's game. I wonder what impact that would have on 72 and 88.
- Hank_Greenberg

Good point. Conversely, Kruger plays at a higher speed. AA isn't exactly a boat anchor, but it's real hard to say one way or the other how 72 and 88 will increase or fall off unless they tried it for half a season.

If Martin is looking for $3 million or more per season, he isn't coming to Chicago.
- EKB13

^^^^^

If Freddy steps into the 3C role and contributes 30 points and solid fancy stats his salary is ok. But then he no longer is your 4th line specialist, his only role in his NHL career, and you now have to find one.

But why wouldn't you sign a 3 mil per guy who actually IS and HAS scored 30-35 points as a 3C instead of Freddy for that role when he's never, and probably won't, scored 30+ points a year? And is no longer your 4C specialist?

Freddy is in over his head as a 3C but is paid near to one. Put him at 3C and you've weakened both the 3C slot as well as the 4C slot.
- Mr Ricochet

Was Sami Pahlsson a 3C? Answer: yes. Are they basically the same player? Answer: yes.

Or a fourth possibility Vadim Shipachyov.
- Dabearshawks

Yes, possibly, but last I heard, his even coming to NA is not at all assured (this year).

Your idea about paying for future performance not past performance is logical and should be followed...But not the case when players are just entering their prime and have already won 3 Cups.
- Al

To add to this AA/Kruger intrigue.

A guy told me about a week ago that the "shopping" of Kruger was a test balloon to see what the market is for "lower line" centers—with the idea being the Hawks would actually acquire another "lower line" C.

"They have no intent of actually trading him."

Not a regular source, but he has been right about some stuff recently—FWIW.

If AA is the actual trade chip, and Kruger is bumped up, Bob's your uncle, they acquire more of a "3-4C" in return for AA (at a lower cap hit) or on the open market.

Good point. Conversely, Kruger plays at a higher speed. AA isn't exactly a boat anchor, but it's real hard to say one way or the other how 72 and 88 will increase or fall off unless they tried it for half a season.
- John Jaeckel

One question I have which I hope JJ or another reader more educated than myself can answer, what is Krugers tank like? His avg TOI from what I can see has only once been above 15:00, whereas Anisimov is usually up above 15:00 and this year was at 18:00.

I know he is an elite athlete who as pointed out plays at a higher speed, but does he have the tank to play 2C? Especially if he is combining that with his PK duties.

I don't quite get the push to get rid of AA, 42pts out of a 2nd line center isn't bad. Besides that he was always in front of the net blinding goalies. Seems like teams had a hard time moving him out of the crease. Have to wonder how many goals were scored where he didn't get any credit but his presence in front of the goalie played a big role.
- walleyeb1

It's not stellar either. Wiz could get 30 points a season playing with those two.

One question I have which I hope JJ or another reader more educated than myself can answer, what is Krugers tank like? His avg TOI from what I can see has only once been above 15:00, whereas Anisimov is usually up above 15:00 and this year was at 18:00.

I know he is an elite athlete who as pointed out plays at a higher speed, but does he have the tank to play 2C? Especially if he is combining that with his PK duties.
- AusHawk

He was 2C much of 2012. I wouldn't fret it from an endurance/conditioning standpoint. Kruger is a warrior. The more legit worry is does his skill level/game acclimate to playing with elite scorers. I think it could. Others may differ, and I respect their opinion.

Wow. Spoiled much? How old are you? Win a cup or you're not doing your job?
- Jocelyn26

No, their job is to play hockey at the highest level, Seabrook (kane and Toews too but I don't think they are overpaid) did just that hence he did his job (happened to win 3 cups along the way). BUT, that does not mean he deserves to be overpaid the next contract based on what he accomplished. He should be paid on what his trajectory is moving forward. GM's made a bad habit in the 90's and early 00's for paying older players big dollars who were clearly on the decline. I might ask you how old you are as you probably do not recall the awful 3 yr 6M deal the Hawks gave Gilmour who was DONE at that point, or at the very least nowhere near worth 6M. Past performance should matter very little if at all when negociating a contract. THAT was my point.

Hi all,
First time poster, grateful daily reader.

First off, thank you to all for the (often) informative discussion and chat that occurs.
As an Australian, sadly hockey is a minority sport, so Hockeybuzz is a lifesaver, especially as my job allows me to read a computer most of the day, and as most of the good stuff happens overnight my time, I often have a lot of catching up to do .

JJ, you do a fantastic job, so please keep up the good work, or else my days will get very boring, very quickly.

Hoping for some signings/good news soonish, and a good year to follow .
- AusHawk

Welcome aboard.

I like you too Enzo, but (frank) off with your proper 'Hawks thread protocol.
- Jeropotato

That's it. Back to Garth's thread with you.