So you dont feel like a trade for a LW coyld happen this week
- mrpaulish

Stanbo blew it today, he could have signed Steve Ott as his #1LW and Kenny Holland beat him to it.

But the Leafs will give him Joffrey Lupul for nothing.

The support group should be better on this team than in 2010-2011.
Stan won't bust the core up until they fail significantly and probably not until age is a real issue.

I would have traded AA...Otherwise signing Campbell was a layup and he should help.

Bowman will look to add a couple of vets and hope for a pleasant surprise from Mott or Schmaltz or similar. Then he will hope the club stays close and he can figure a way to acquire a need or two at the deadline.
- Al

Thanks Al. I am very excited about what Campbell will do as far as balancing the 3 D-pairings this year. Also, just checked the 2010-11 team and it was 19's best RS of his career. 32G, 44A 76Points to Kane's 73points. Kopecky with 42 points as the best "depth scorer" with Bickell+ Bolland at 37 and Brouwer at 36 points. Pisani, Skille, Dowell, Stalberg as the depth. Still took Vancouver to Game 7 OT!

EDIT: Toews looks exactly the same but Kane looks like a child
- EnzoD

Seems the general consensus on here is that Schmaltz, Motte, and Debrincat are long shots to make the roster in their first year. But, they have the same experience these two did when they came in and made the cut. Is there that much of a skill differential given their relative draft spots? Or, was the 2007 team so bad that expectations were lower?

I also keep thinking of Jamie Benn who was drafted 129th. Maybe we luck into some lightning in a bottle with at least one of them.

So you dont feel like a trade for a LW coyld happen this week
- mrpaulish

Who can be traded now without asking permission....Kruger? TVR?
Who else could fetch a decent player....??

I was on the conference call today and I'm not saying it is gospel but Bowman said he will look to acquire role players...Doubts there will be a bigger name coming here than Campbell.

Thanks Al. I am very excited about what Campbell will do as far as balancing the 3 D-pairings this year. Also, just checked the 2010-11 team and it was 19's best RS of his career. 32G, 44A 76Points to Kane's 73points. Kopecky with 42 points as the best "depth scorer" with Bickell+ Bolland at 37 and Brouwer at 36 points. Pisani, Skille, Dowell, Stalberg as the depth. Still took Vancouver to Game 7 OT!
- EnzoD

Yep....some overachievers are needed again.

Who can be traded now without asking permission....Kruger? TVR?
Who else could fetch a decent player....??

I was on the conference call today and I'm not saying it is gospel but Bowman said he will look to acquire role players...Doubts there will be a bigger name coming here than Campbell.
- Al

Maybe a FA signing or two at forward like the Rozy one in '13...aging vet on the cheap with a bit left in the tank?

Hopefully more than Brunette or Pisani had...

Stanbo blew it today, he could have signed Steve Ott as his #1LW and Kenny Holland beat him to it.

But the Leafs will give him Joffrey Lupul for nothing.
- RickJ

Ott for #1 LW?
Does Lupul play as many games as he sits out hurt?

Ott for #1 LW?
Does Lupul play as many games as he sits out hurt?
- pjm901

Gets hurt every year and usually its major. I think the Leafs told him to go home and never come back, we"ll just mail your cheques.

Kane's hair looked better then.

So did mine.
- StLBravesFan

Think Toews lost a little too. Both picked up some nice hardware, pocket change, and beautiful gfs. Think it's a fair trade for the hair they can go the urlacher hair route

Interesting to look at the central division now after the last 72 hours and gauge what teams improved or regressed. The blues are in a remodel let's be honest, the stars for as well as they score their problem is in net and the avalanche's problem is still on the blue line. The jets don't seem to know what they want to do and the only thing they can do is find their way to the sin bin which leaves us with the preds and wild. My question for Nashville is who is going to wear the 'C'? the wild have improved only because getting rid of vanek is addition by subtraction. I see the central division regressed as a whole which could be beneficial for the Hawks. The wild and the preds will be the toughest challenge for the Hawks in my opinion but what the hell do I know!

Who can be traded now without asking permission....Kruger? TVR?
Who else could fetch a decent player....??

I was on the conference call today and I'm not saying it is gospel but Bowman said he will look to acquire role players...Doubts there will be a bigger name coming here than Campbell.
- Al

Al, I think Q should humble himself and give McNeill and Hartman legit shots at sticking with this team come camp. There are players like Steve Downie, Hudler, and a few others out there, no more fricken Versteeg or Vrbata either. If there is any legs to it and they are destined to lose TVR next year, that Yakupov story seems intriguing. A kid like that may thrive playing next to Daddy Hossa and it could be a find for the Hawks.
SB should have stood pat last spring, we'd be looking at Dano, Danault and a freshly picked 1st rounder going into camp. His run is about over, trade record is terrible ,he was handed this team, Dale did most of the work. Now he has to actually get on a plane like most GM ' s do and go scout kids like Dale has done. Very disappointing, especially having to write a check for 10 k in 3weeks, with a total of 9 fricken forwards on the roster per the Hawks web site. 19 has to be seething under his collar.
And for those ducks farting in shallow water thinking Motte, Schmaultz or 5"2 Debrincat will make the team without 1second of pro hockey ....NADDA! I realize other teams are facing similar situations, ??????????????

I wouldn't count the Blues out yet. They still have a lot of good players. If they can get reliable scoring from someone other than Tarasenko they will be tough.

I wouldn't count the Blues out yet. They still have a lot of good players. If they can get reliable scoring from someone other than Tarasenko they will be tough.
- pjm901

How are they going to react to the coaching situation?

I am back from a long ban from this site. Had a lot of time to brew:
1) Someone in the media needs to ask Bettman why the contracts that he has deemed "illegal" has basically saved the Phoenix/Arizona/Winnipeg franchise, 2 seasons in a row?
2) The recapture clause is an empty promise - we as parents know this all too well. (I will stop this car if you keep saying that, etc). It is basically a clause so no new contracts are written that way.
3) Some other posters pointed out that there will be some new "rules" inserted into the CBA to help Edmonton when McGod's ELC contract is over. Bet (tman) on it.
4) Phoenix IS STILL a joke of a franchise. Why would anyone want to support that team? Why would Doan want to play there, it is obvious he has no desire to win.
5) If the Las Vegas team is named Black anything, it will be another dig to the Blackhawks franchise.
6) Don't post anything in Paul Stewart blogs.

Al, I think Q should humble himself and give McNeill and Hartman legit shots at sticking with this team come camp. There are players like Steve Downie, Hudler, and a few others out there, no more fricken Versteeg or Vrbata either. If there is any legs to it and they are destined to lose TVR next year, that Yakupov story seems intriguing. A kid like that may thrive playing next to Daddy Hossa and it could be a find for the Hawks.
SB should have stood pat last spring, we'd be looking at Dano, Danault and a freshly picked 1st rounder going into camp. His run is about over, trade record is terrible ,he was handed this team, Dale did most of the work. Now he has to actually get on a plane like most GM ' s do and go scout kids like Dale has done. Very disappointing, especially having to write a check for 10 k in 3weeks, with a total of 9 fricken forwards on the roster per the Hawks web site. 19 has to be seething under his collar.
And for those ducks farting in shallow water thinking Motte, Schmaultz or 5"2 Debrincat will make the team without 1second of pro hockey ....NADDA! I realize other teams are facing similar situations, ??????????????
- wonthecup10

Some players do make the team without having played pro hockey. Training camp gives them a shot to prove that they belong.

Also Dale didn't do all of the work. Bob Pulford somehow gets left out of this discussion. Seabrook, Crawford, Keith, Wisniewski, Bickell, Bolland and Buf were all drafted before Tallon was GM. Toews, Kane, Kruger and Hammer (not 100% on if Tallon was the one that took him) were drafted by Tallon.

Look at LA roster. 26 players under contract and over the cap. Scuderi retires?

Look at LA roster. 26 players under contract and over the cap. Scuderi retires?
- -Doh-

I'm not sure how Scuderi retiring helps the Hawks. Won't they still be on the hook for their portion of his cap hit because he is a 35+ guy - so retiring doesn't make it go away?

Maybe a FA signing or two at forward like the Rozy one in '13...aging vet on the cheap with a bit left in the tank?

Hopefully more than Brunette or Pisani had...
- HawkintheD

I would agree.

Some players do make the team without having played pro hockey. Training camp gives them a shot to prove that they belong.

Also Dale didn't do all of the work. Bob Pulford somehow gets left out of this discussion. Seabrook, Crawford, Keith, Wisniewski, Bickell, Bolland and Buf were all drafted before Tallon was GM. Toews, Kane, Kruger and Hammer (not 100% on if Tallon was the one that took him) were drafted by Tallon.
- pjm901

Some of the players you mentioned were drafted by Mike Smith not Pulford.....Keith-Seabrook.

Some of the players you mentioned were drafted by Mike Smith not Pulford.....Keith-Seabrook.
- Al

Thanks. Got a bit lazy with my googling.

I am back from a long ban from this site. Had a lot of time to brew:
1) Someone in the media needs to ask Bettman why the contracts that he has deemed "illegal" has basically saved the Phoenix/Arizona/Winnipeg franchise, 2 seasons in a row?
2) The recapture clause is an empty promise - we as parents know this all too well. (I will stop this car if you keep saying that, etc). It is basically a clause so no new contracts are written that way.
3) Some other posters pointed out that there will be some new "rules" inserted into the CBA to help Edmonton when McGod's ELC contract is over. Bet (tman) on it.
4) Phoenix IS STILL a joke of a franchise. Why would anyone want to support that team? Why would Doan want to play there, it is obvious he has no desire to win.
5) If the Las Vegas team is named Black anything, it will be another dig to the Blackhawks franchise.
6) Don't post anything in Paul Stewart blogs.
- powerenforcer

I am with you on #2. The recapture will hopefully go away and it should. EX post facto is ridiculous. These new deals that Ladd, Stamkos and others got today are going to be the next target. A great majority of $$ paid in signing bonuses and low salaries. I do not see these new deals as that different from the Weber, Luongo, and Hossa deals.

I'm not sure how Scuderi retiring helps the Hawks. Won't they still be on the hook for their portion of his cap hit because he is a 35+ guy - so retiring doesn't make it go away?
- EbonyRaptor

Scuderi wasn't 35 when he signed this deal. If he retired his cap hit will come off the books for Pittsburgh, Chicago and LA.

Al, I think Q should humble himself and give McNeill and Hartman legit shots at sticking with this team come camp. There are players like Steve Downie, Hudler, and a few others out there, no more fricken Versteeg or Vrbata either. If there is any legs to it and they are destined to lose TVR next year, that Yakupov story seems intriguing. A kid like that may thrive playing next to Daddy Hossa and it could be a find for the Hawks.
SB should have stood pat last spring, we'd be looking at Dano, Danault and a freshly picked 1st rounder going into camp. His run is about over, trade record is terrible ,he was handed this team, Dale did most of the work. Now he has to actually get on a plane like most GM ' s do and go scout kids like Dale has done. Very disappointing, especially having to write a check for 10 k in 3weeks, with a total of 9 fricken forwards on the roster per the Hawks web site. 19 has to be seething under his collar.
And for those ducks farting in shallow water thinking Motte, Schmaultz or 5"2 Debrincat will make the team without 1second of pro hockey ....NADDA! I realize other teams are facing similar situations, ??????????????
- wonthecup10

I will save you some angst...Bowman will never stand pat and keep a lottery ticket like Dano at the deadline over going all in, until Kane and Toews are 30 or older and they can't take a game over any longer.

The formula will be to lose younger players if they want to go for the Cup at the deadline. It's hindsight to say they should have stood pat. In all due respect you probably would have bet your house in the summer of 2010 this club would never win 2 more Cups in the next few years.

This is a special situation, at least 4 future HOF players on the roster and maybe first ballot HOf players at that...If the group stays together and wins again, the 4 could turn into 5 HOF players easily.

So you will see more of the same and the plan will be to stay close enough and not be overwhelmed by injuries and then to add again, right before the deadline.

I am with you on #2. The recapture will hopefully go away and it should. EX post facto is ridiculous. These new deals that Ladd, Stamkos and others got today are going to be the next target. A great majority of $$ paid in signing bonuses and low salaries. I do not see these new deals as that different from the Weber, Luongo, and Hossa deals.
- KMFDMLight

Those deals don't circumvent the cap. They just ensure they get paid whether there is hockey or not. Both salary and signing bonus are factored in the cap.

Thanks. Got a bit lazy with my googling.
- pjm901

Smith had so many awful 1st round picks...Many were Russians, it's easy to forget the good ones. But he did nail two very important pieces of the foundation.