what about kane, leddy and a pick for lecavalier, purcell and panik.
- boltsfan48

Kane and a 1st round pick for Stamkos.

Why would ANYONE take this contract?
- Scabeh

Wasn't Montreal trying to deal for him a couple of years back?

And once again...not even close. Not even in the atmosphere.
- HawkFan27

Wow I wouldn't make that trade if I was Buffalo....what do you feel Kane is worth ? Pomers numbers are better this year and he is playing with either a 3rd/4th line center or a 3rd line wing in Hecht.

Well that's not what you said. You measure a team not by it's best time, and not by it's worst time. They are not the Hawks that were leading the NHL in points, but they also aren't the Hawks that are .500. Watching all the doom and gloom in here gets crazy. The Hawks lie somewhere in the middle of that. Do they have warts, yes. Do a few additions make this a cup team, who knows. This is not last years team, for the only reason being they can add parts to this team if they want to. The can add significant payroll to this team. That doesn't mean they will, but they can.

They have not played .600 hockey in six weeks against a weaker group of opponents than they will face primarily ON THE ROAD, where the Hawks are less than stellar.

Like I said before - it's not about where they stand now - its about if they can get ~40 more points in the next 32 games. I mean you don't want them to be an eight seed again right? Especially if they can't win on the road.
- Return of the Roar

Wasn't Montreal trying to deal for him a couple of years back?
- EKolb13

Oh yeah, they did.

But since we failed at getting an awful contract, we got another one in Gomez.

It. Was. Brillant.

In hindsight I'd rather have sign Buff and Niemi over Seabrook/Hjalmer Crow. I'd deal Seabs right now for Byfuglien.

Interesting, but would anyone overpay for Kane?
- shruew

I'm sure plenty of GM's would.

Kane and a 1st round pick for Stamkos.
- EKolb13

I'd keep Stamkos if I were New Jersey.

Kane is worth alot for sure, but I'm not sure every team is ready to sell the farm for him.

There's a reason he's not THE GUY in chicago and it would probably be the same thing elsewhere.

I would trade Kane for Parise straight up assuming Zach would resign with the Hawks for a price that isn't outrageous.
- Tweek

Parise will be looking for more money than Kane is getting now.

Admittedly I don’t watch many Hawks but I see the highlights and the stats. I think you’re really on to something here only (as you say) they get a piece back will improve the team this year and for many to come. I still think that, more than scoring, the Hawks would have greater benefit from a stronger goalie. Maybe I’m just reading too much into his peripheral stats but I’ve seen a numerous highlights where Crawford's tending looked fairly pedestrian. That said, what established #1 goalie is available? Apart from that, if there is a deal to be made for a more physical winger (like a Nash) without losing any of the scoring you’d have to seriously consider it.

Parise will be looking for more money than Kane is getting now.
- Al

Maybe.

Parise is the better player of the two though.

In hindsight I'd rather have sign Buff and Niemi over Seabrook/Hjalmer Crow. I'd deal Seabs right now for Byfuglien.
- dstarz20

Is this the first float in the idiot parade? You've got to be out of your mind on this one!

Parise will be looking for more money than Kane is getting now.
- Al

Agreed. So will Corey Perry in a couple of years.

Oh yeah, they did.

But since we failed at getting an awful contract, we got another one in Gomez.

It. Was. Brillant.
- Scabeh

I agree. Your GM really won that trade.

jj
nice blog
you and i were on the same wavelength
i think kane is the most expendable core player
i mentioned this morning kane for getslaf but i would take nash
could we get getslaf straight up for kane?

not so much on perry
let kane go to a team not in playoff contention so he can dazzle the crowd with his skills while not playing defense and cherry picking all game

I agree. You're GM really won that trade.
- EKolb13

Great piece JJ, well presented.

Since we are in semi hypothetical land, let me submit this to idea for consideration.

While Q may have been the perfect coach for this team a few years ago, I theorize that perhaps his style and approach to a maturing group is not evolving itself. That is as a result, you have a rigid micro manager that players are tired of walking on egg shells around.

AT some point you have to let the guys go a little and play. And I am speaking more of the roll guys. I know he is paid to win and will use the tools at hand, but the end result is wearing guys out and a divided dressing room. Players who are core and the rest.

I of course am only speculating, however, as romantic as it is to wish we had Buff, Ladd and Versteeg (all players in an out of Q's doghouse), who thinks that if those guys came back or were still here, that they would be thrilled with their yo yo rolls? Buff and Ladd have all but said this and have thrived with core rolls on their new teams. Any fan who thinks either of them would trade what they have now to come back and be non core player is seeing the world with rose colored glasses.

Again, just speculation, but feel that guys like the above mentioned and add Campbell all zipped their lips watching guys get anointed core ahead of them, knowing that, although they are good players, they are/were far from being head and shoulders above the rest on the ice. And sadly we are seeing that mentally, some of the ones we anointed are not that dynamic or capable of true leadership.

So is Q and his style/culture a hindrance to this team and its growth?

Maybe.

Parise is the better player of the two though.
- Scabeh

Yep and further along in his career as well.

Is this the first float in the idiot parade? You've got to be out of your mind on this one!
- EKolb13

Am I? Seen the stats? Please, enlighten me.

Is this the first float in the idiot parade? You've got to be out of your mind on this one!
- EKolb13

2nd float, first one is brian campbell for patrick kane float

Q puts him out there every time when this situation happens (when they are down a goal killing a penalty). Every time Kane is at center ice looking for a breakaway so obviously the coaches are fine with it or they wouldn't keep putting him out there in those situations. Go back and watch the playoff game against the preds that is where he was then as well. I am not saying that is why they scored that goal but I wouldn't point that out as a reason to bash Kane's lack of effort.

As for trading him if the right deal comes along (like a Nash) you have to do it. Kane is not an untouchable as others have said the only untouchable is Toews.
- whoopis

if you call that "bashing his effort," that's fine, but I am also not alone in that and you have numerus other people to address that to. 3 on 5 are bad odds, pal, Didn't pay last night did they?

And that still wouldn't even be close.
- HawkFan27

haha, no it would not....

Am I? Seen the stats? Please, enlighten me.
- dstarz20

Stats tell the whole story, especially with Seabs vs Buff.

Nice call...

Great piece JJ, well presented.

Since we are in semi hypothetical land, let me submit this to idea for consideration.

While Q may have been the perfect coach for this team a few years ago, I theorize that perhaps his style and approach to a maturing group is not evolving itself. That is as a result, you have a rigid micro manager that players are tired of walking on egg shells around.

AT some point you have to let the guys go a little and play. And I am speaking more of the roll guys. I know he is paid to win and will use the tools at hand, but the end result is wearing guys out and a divided dressing room. Players who are core and the rest.

I of course am only speculating, however, as romantic as it is to wish we had Buff, Ladd and Versteeg (all players in an out of Q's doghouse), who thinks that if those guys came back or were still here, that they would be thrilled with their yo yo rolls? Buff and Ladd have all but said this and have thrived with core rolls on their new teams. Any fan who thinks either of them would trade what they have now to come back and be non core player is seeing the world with rose colored glasses.

Again, just speculation, but feel that guys like the above mentioned and add Campbell all zipped their lips watching guys get anointed core ahead of them, knowing that, although they are good players, they are/were far from being head and shoulders above the rest on the ice. And sadly we are seeing that mentally, some of the ones we anointed are not that dynamic or capable of true leadership.

So is Q and his style/culture a hindrance to this team and its growth?
- TrueGrit

I think so. It's an idea I can get behind.

Actually Hossa is the highest paid healthy forward at $7.9M.
- roenick

Not in terms of cap hit. And cap hit is ALL that matters in terms of the team on the ice.

The other issue is, Hossa is playing, arguably, like a $7.9 million player— near MVP numbers in total.

Actually.