I agree completely...and I'm a White Sox fan. But I'm also old enough to remember the pre-DH days of the American League.
- ArlingtonRob

Man you old fogies... I just love watching pitchers standing at the plate and crapping in their pants trying to lay down a bunt. The DH is a good thing.

John,
If the Hawks pick up Halpern and Erskine would the roster be set or do you think SB would need still need to make another move? I like both as depth guys but getting a d-man who they could pair with Hammer would be huge.
- jhawk159

Those guys could go a long way toward fixing what ails the team. Make a move now, you still have time to evaluate and tinker if need be.

Could be. I don't know much about Tampa.
- EKolb13

I am hopeful thy Chicago makeS another run at the cup and puts Vancouver out. Outside of being a fanatical Lightning fan I am also cheering for the Leafs and the Hawks.

Well give. Yards Bickell for malone...or downie....
- southernhawk

Yards? I'd trade Malone if he is willing to waive his NTC.

Find that a little hard to believe JJ since they've been ranked in the top 10 of many publications lists of prospects. I think while they don't have any stand out superstars right now they are very deep in terms of forwards however some of their better prospects are the younger ones (McNeill, Saad, Hayes, Danault) that might not be up for 2-3 years. I said it before and I'll say it again, you'd be hard pressed to find ANY other NHL club that has produced players like the Hawks have the past 6-7 years. They have a great scouting dept that never gets any credit but they always seem to know what they're doing when it comes to drafting and not just the easy picks (Kane, Toews) but landing later round picks as well.

Also some of their most recent prospects have graduated to the big club in the past year or so (Kruger, Leddy, Shaw, J.Hayes).
- dan9189

I don't know which publications you refer to. Compare them against the Blues or even the Wings and they aren't so great.

The Hawks have produced great players over the last five years through drafting obscenely high after sucking obscenely for a decade. Not through developing guys drafted in the latter part of rounds— which describes pretty much ALL their prospects now. So, you have no point there. Shaw is proving to be a steal, but he has not been "developed" by the Hawks.

You can't assume Morin or Saad is included. In Saad's case at least, you shouldn't assume that.
- John Jaeckel

I'm going to see Saad play Sunday. Can't wait.

JJ - Do you give a deal with Washington a 75% chance of happening?
- golfbard

Less than 50 actually. Usually, they talk about a deal with a given team for a type of player then go get that type of player form someone else eventually.

Yards? I'd trade Malone if he is willing to waive his NTC.
- Artyukhin76

Yards iknow right...its the text in this SMART phone....

Yards iknow right...its the text in this SMART phone....
- southernhawk

I know, I'm using my iPhone and it drives me nuts sometimes.

I don't disagree that most prospects don't pan out, that's definitely true. I would be interested in knowing how you've decided the Hawks prospects aren't good overall? Hockey Prospectus hasn't had the Hawks outside of the top 5 in the organizational rankings (not including NHL players) all year, and even if you have qualms with HP certainly the range can't dip much lower than top 10.

Halpern is a nice player, no doubt, but again I ask, if he is all the things you guys have heaped on him, why would Washington move him when they have a dearth of that stuff already?
- PhatJoeSki

Other publications have the Hawks around 13th.

The great Saad (he was taken 43rd for a reason) and Morin are likely 2nd line players if that. Same with Danault and McNeill. There are no elite prospects in the pipeline. None. A lot of "good" prospects who might have an NHL future of some kind, more so than most organizations actually. But no Tarasenkos.

On Halpern,

JJ, Al, others, what do you give up for this guy? I like him too, but now that we have a potential real deal in the works, lets throw out some value. Of course this is all subjective and I am not asking to play gotcha, but rather try to gauge perception of value.

I am not sure of Washingtons immediate needs, wondering what they may be looking for? A Lalonde, potential puck mover on the blue line with Green issues (not saying Lalonde is ready today of course).

My inclination is that they are looking to get more mobile on the blue line.
- TrueGrit

The return I heard was pretty high. It IS a seller's market. Do you want your GM to better your team for the playoffs as your team is 4th in the conference or continue a love affair with Jeremy Morin or Brandon Pirri (just examples).

"while Booth is -8 and missed a month due to injury."


Booth is actually -2 while playing with the Canucks.
He has scored 13 points in 21 games with the Canucks, not too shabby.
- bryndog

Thanks for the correction. All Hail the Canucks.

Other publications have the Hawks around 13th.

The great Saad (he was taken 43rd for a reason) and Morin are likely 2nd line players if that. Same with Danault and McNeill. There are no elite prospects in the pipeline. None. A lot of "good" prospects who might have an NHL future of some kind, more so than most organizations actually. But no Tarasenkos.
- John Jaeckel

JJ...any insights on why Saad broke camp with the big club and Shaw did not?

Man you old fogies... I just love watching pitchers standing at the plate and crapping in their pants trying to lay down a bunt. The DH is a good thing.
- Dannyboy

To each their own. I will always consider the DH a gimmick. It's just not real baseball, it's beer league bull**** in my opinion. If you play the damn field you should grab a bat and step into the box. Besides, it makes Dbags like Clemens think twice before throwing at someones head.

When the Vancouver Canucks traded Mikael Samuelsson for David Booth, the hockey world screamed steal—all the focus was on how great the Great Booth would make the Great Canucks. Hasn’t really worked out that way. At least not yet. Samuelsson is not really the story in Florida, except in 18 games he’s +1, while Booth is -8 and missed a month due to injury. And that’s the real story here.


Not yet being the key words. Look at you JJ having to bring up the Canucks in your Hawks/Panthers gameday blog...they're always there, in the back of your mind, all you can think about is the hate you have for the Canucks. Don't worry I have no doubt that the Booth for Samuelsson deal will end up being a steal especially in the playoffs.
- CanUSA17

Hate? No, more amusement.

Hey whys didn't they resign Jake Dowell I'm sure he would have signed for cheap.....gritty and a true center....
- southernhawk

Jake's a good kid but he probably burned some bridges on his way out.

To each their own. I will always consider the DH a gimmick. It's just not real baseball, it's beer league bull**** in my opinion. If you play the damn field you should grab a bat and step into the box. Besides, it makes Dbags like Clemens think twice before throwing at someones head.
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed, but then my boy Harold Baines would have been out of baseball in his late 20's. But i do despise notorious head hunter (i.e. Pedro Martinez) pizza's of chit throwing at guys.

I agree completely...and I'm a White Sox fan. But I'm also old enough to remember the pre-DH days of the American League.
- ArlingtonRob

NW burbs, Pale Hose, Stone Age roots. You and I have a LOT in common, my friend.

The return I heard was pretty high. It IS a seller's market. Do you want your GM to better your team for the playoffs as your team is 4th in the conference or continue a love affair with Jeremy Morin or Brandon Pirri (just examples).
- John Jaeckel

John,

Agree completely. If Bowman and Co. believe this team can win the cup this year, then go for it. If they value the prospects highly and consider the future brighter than the present, hold off. It's Bowman's call...we fans can only hope for the best.

Other publications have the Hawks around 13th.

The great Saad (he was taken 43rd for a reason) and Morin are likely 2nd line players if that. Same with Danault and McNeill. There are no elite prospects in the pipeline. None. A lot of "good" prospects who might have an NHL future of some kind, more so than most organizations actually. But no Tarasenkos.
- John Jaeckel

What are you hearing on the Swedish kids? Seemed like they were turning some heads in the Juniors recently.

Here is the link for a Panther/Tallon story from today.

bit.ly/yrRFxM

I spotlighted a few bad signings this summer when the money was flowing in Fla.

Good for those players but if Florida doesn't become a solid playoff team soon Panther management will be bag holders on a few deals.

JJ...any insights on why Saad broke camp with the big club and Shaw did not?
- philco28

Saad was better in camp, period. Hockey is funny that way. Listen, Saad, to me, is a boom or bust type player. He could be another Ryan Smyth or another Skille. Scouts are divided on him and a surprising number are not over the moon either.

What are you hearing on the Swedish kids? Seemed like they were turning some heads in the Juniors recently.
- QStache

Like Kruger, potentially good middle line guys, Rensfelt and Nordstrom both project as third liners.

NW burbs, Pale Hose, Stone Age roots. You and I have a LOT in common, my friend.
- John Jaeckel

I do still miss the red pinstripes...and smoking in the dugout.

Man you old fogies... I just love watching pitchers standing at the plate and crapping in their pants trying to lay down a bunt. The DH is a good thing.
- Dannyboy

The pipes are calling . . .