A couple of those names give me gas. Semin? LMAO. WHY on earth would Semin be linked to Chicago? Although he DOES check the boxes. WINGER! SOFT! FLOATER!

Forget all the goalies!

Grabo, yea OK but not holding breath, pricey for rental.
Zidlicky. Snore.
Burish. YES, 4th line forechecker, PK guy
Boyes. Meh
Hannan. Not inspiring, but OK defensive d-man I suppose

The only one of that bunch I have ANY interest in is Burish to help with lower line depth, fore check, and PK.

The rest are not inspiring at all.
- kwolf68

Why is Ott not on that list? Heard on the local radio today that they are linking him to Vancouver. Wouldn't that be lovely? I still think Cory Sarich can help out on "D". The issue with both these guys are that their teams are still sniffing around that final playoff spot. Kinda like the Hawks!

Hemsky 2 yrs 10mil. Wow. That is A LOT for that guy.
- Dino_Sucks

With only a couple exceptions the Oilers have nothing but cheap contracts. By the time their kids start knocking on the bank vault Hemsky's 2 year deal is over, so on that front it won't hurt the franchise overall and Hemsky did flash Point-Per-Game skills in the past. His last 3 years have been uninspiring with him mostly injured and the team has been a wreck.

Thing is, he may be playing WORSE this year, even though there is reason to be excited in Edmonton with the young talent they have. If he was showing signs of getting back to what he was 4 years ago, then this deal could be justified. But he is way off his PPG pace of other seasons and is experiencing his worst +/- ever.

To me, he looks like a player on the downside even though he's still fairly young. The trajectory just looks bad and CERTAINLY not warranting such a huge deal.

Why is Ott not on that list? Heard on the local radio today that they are linking him to Vancouver. Wouldn't that be lovely? I still think Cory Sarich can help out on "D". The issue with both these guys are that their teams are still sniffing around that final playoff spot. Kinda like the Hawks!
- Gasboy

Yea, Ott would be perfect, no argument at all. The fact Eklund is NOT reporting Ott linked to Chicago is actually a pretty good sign.

There goes zidlicky to new jersey.

This is getting humorous now. Maybe he'll get barker back!!!

According to kyperos, zidliky to devils is imminent.

The latest from Ek's rumor chart.

Strictly for entertainment purposes...

The Hawks to some varying degree of interest are "in" on:

Grabo, Zidlicky, Campoli, Burish Bernier, Bobrovski, Semin, Sanford, Niittymki, Boyes, and Hannan.

Any of those names do anything for anybody?
- Ogilthorpe2

Do anything for me? About as much as your fro!

There goes zidlicky to new jersey.

This is getting humorous now. Maybe he'll get barker back!!!
- SteveRain

No huge loss there. Zidlicky is ho hum and not very big. Although he would have been an experienced guy on the blueline.

What about josh gorges...he hits fights blocks shots ....and I don't think he would cost Stan his beloved 1st round pick he leads the league with 174 block shots 30 more than the next guy
- southernhawk

I feel like a kid at Christmas who doesn't know the box he's about to open contains socks.

I feel like a kid at Christmas who doesn't know the box he's about to open contains socks.
- SteveRain

And only one sock!

And only one sock!
- hockey nut 28

with holes in it

This deadline cant get here fast enough, all this talk of semantics and theories is making my simple neanderthal hockey brain throb

I feel like a kid at Christmas who doesn't know the box he's about to open contains socks.
- SteveRain

Dude, thats hilarious!

I feel like a kid at Christmas who doesn't know the box he's about to open contains socks.
- SteveRain

I'm beginning to feel like the kid at Christmas who was told by the parents they didn't think they could afford gifts so he gets his older brother's hand-me-downs.

This deadline cant get here fast enough, all this talk of semantics and theories is making my simple neanderthal hockey brain throb
- Smithwicks

Cool username, great beer. Crystal Lake, eh?

Florida has acquired C Jerred Smithson from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft


Preds moving a contract to acquire more help??? Falling farther behind.
- yobwoc03

Rumor is it they covet Derek Roy. Nashville definitely is looking to add, and NO DOUBT is making a push for the Cup....wish our team would do the same.....

I don't have a good feeling about the trip out to the left coast....not feeling good about the playoffs either ....

Rumor is it they covet Derek Roy. Nashville definitely is looking to add, and NO DOUBT is making a push for the Cup....wish our team would do the same.....
- hawks2010

I think it's them or Detroit this year. I don't have confidence in the head cases in Vancouver or the choke artists in San Jose. And everyone else just isn't good enough.

Rumor is it they covet Derek Roy. Nashville definitely is looking to add, and NO DOUBT is making a push for the Cup....wish our team would do the same.....
- hawks2010

The Predators have the prospects to get it done too.

This blog has become irritating. The Hawks lost last night because Bowman hasn't beefed up the blue line? How did they win 4 in a row previous? Insanity. Shepard, enjoy your sheep!

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

This is getting pretty humorous. SB has sat on his hands for so long that his hands have gone numb and he can no longer sign any trade contact. And the fact still remains that it is a sellers market and the prices for players are going up by the hour for marginal players. IMO I'm not sure there are many players a avalible that will help this team. This team is far from a contender, at best they're a bubble team that will not make it past the first round with crappy special teams,questionable defence and goaltending and coaching disitions that leave you scratching your head.

I have a theory regarding Stan holding on to first round picks.

He would need them if he were to offer sheet any RFAs in the summer.

Need one 1st and 1 3rd for any player making $3.1MM-4.7MM
Need one 1st one 2nd and one 3rd for any player making $4.7MM-6.3MM
Need two 1st one 2nd and one 3rd for any player making $6.3MM-7.8MM
Need four 1sts for anyone making over $7.8MM

Does Stan have any RFAs targeted for next season that would require him to conserve his picks for next summer?

I don't have a good feeling about the trip out to the left coast....not feeling good about the playoffs either ....
- southernhawk

If you'll recall my comments, I am in agreement with you. Welcome to the club!

Yea, Ott would be perfect, no argument at all. The fact Eklund is NOT reporting Ott linked to Chicago is actually a pretty good sign.
- kwolf68

I don't think Ott is going anywhere. He looked great last night (except for the cheap slash on Kruger) Plus I think I read where he wanted to stay in Dallas and he's in his prime so why would they move him??

Stan is aiming to be a seller by Monday to stock pile draft picks.