I'd trade Bolland and a 1st to Pitt for Staal.
- pri$ey

I wouldn't. He is unrestricted after this year. Bolland and a first... for a possible rental.

It would be tough for anyone to beat Bolland, Saad and a 3rd..

If the 3rd was a 2nd, I think that would be more than enough.

Staal is really important to Pitt and I understand them not wanting to trade him, but they'd be replacing him with the perfect player for the position they would be trying to fill, while saving money on Staal's current contract plus getting a high-end prospect and a 2nd rounder..

I just posted the same thing in the Pens thread and said I'd be hesitant if it were a 2nd round pick included.

I love Staal and would drool over him jumping over the boards in the 2nd line role after Toews but I'd still be worried because his contract is only 1 more season..
- pri$ey

I'd be OK on Staal for Bolly, etc if I knew Kruger was ready for a 3C role for 82+ games. That Staal has only 1 year left on his current deal and could command double that after `13 is scary. But if this were a lock-and-load approach like it was a couple years ago, and that includes a certain UFA from NSH, I'd have to say go for it.

I would appreciate an explanation of what exactly it is that I did wrong? I had a difference of opinion with you on Hossa's condition. If your goal is to ban everyone who doesn't agree with you or who provides conflicting information to what you're blogging, then who's the one serving up propaganda? I'm allowed to have my sources, my information and my opinion, and I'm allowed to share them on an open forum (as long as I'm not insulting anyone).

So with that said, please explain what was so offensive that you felt the need to alert the moderators. And I'd rather you do it publicly so everyone understands exactly what is and isn't allowed on your comments board.
- andru2797

You provided zero facts or source reference for your pronouncement that Hossa would be 100% October 1. As though it was scripted by Hawk ticket sales. When I questioned you on it, you tried to make it about how I handle disagreements. And you were disrespectful—which is a violation of the code of conduct.

Still no answer to the original question either, just an escalation of making it about me.

Your cover is blown. Your agenda—for whatever reason— is to pump the company line and undermine anyone critical of the Hawks (especially me) at every turn.

I don't care if you disagree. Lots of people disagree with me.

But here's the thing, I'm not going to get into a discussion with you, publicly or privately, that remotely comes near my defending myself against your innuendoes and rhetorical switchbacks. I don't need to.

You have been publicly asked by others here before as to whether you are working for the Hawks. Have you not? (Umm, yeah, ya have)

Very simply, you're a troublemaker with an agenda. Remember "gerry"? Where did he go? Maybe you can join him.

I am done with you, and if you get to be too much of a problem, you will be gone. The fact that I have wasted this many keystrokes should tell you how close that is.

You would think Bryan bickell would step it up and be that kinda forward....
- southernhawk

ssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttttttttttt!
thats kind of like a chick making you a promise and does the complete oposite!

You provided zero facts or source reference for your pronouncement that Hossa would be 100% October 1. As though it was scripted by Hawk ticket sales. When I questioned you on it, you tried to make it about how I handle disagreements. And you were disrespectful—which is a violation of the code of conduct.

Still no answer to the original question either, just an escalation of making it about me.

Your cover is blown. Your agenda—for whatever reason— is to pump the company line and undermine anyone critical of the Hawks (especially me) at every turn.

I don't care if you disagree. Lots of people disagree with me.

But here's the thing, I'm not going to get into a discussion with you, publicly or privately, that remotely comes near my defending myself against your innuendoes and rhetorical switchbacks. I don't need to.

You have been publicly asked by others here before as to whether you are working for the Hawks. Have you not? (Umm, yeah, ya have)

Very simply, you're a troublemaker with an agenda. Remember "gerry"? Where did he go? Maybe you can join him.

I am done with you, and if you get to be too much of a problem, you will be gone. The fact that I have wasted this many keystrokes should tell you how close that is.
- John Jaeckel

holy christ JJ! hey did you see jesse's story i believe on how the hawks could land staal? reaching but that wood be nice!

I wouldn't. He is unrestricted after this year. Bolland and a first... for a possible rental.
- ilinkhawk

isn't bolland UFA after this year? only way pitts get the #1 should be if the hawks get an extention, i am sure pitts would want some other type of compensation if bolland walks also?

isn't bolland UFA after this year? only way pitts get the #1 should be if the hawks get an extention, i am sure pitts would want some other type of compensation if bolland walks also?
- wonthecup10

Bolland = 2 seasons left

did any of you guys see rosenblooms article in the trib the other day? "the more the kings play ,the worse the hawks look" . guys.........i can't say i dis agree with him too much on this 1! JJ,AL? what do all you guys think? leave out the personal crap about rosenbloom, but i think he 's on target on this one!

Bolland = 2 seasons left
- moylander

got it!

did any of you guys see rosenblooms article in the trib the other day? "the more the kings play ,the worse the hawks look" . guys.........i can't say i dis agree with him too much on this 1! JJ,AL? what do all you guys think? leave out the personal crap about rosenbloom, but i think he 's on target on this one!
- wonthecup10

On target, yes - but anything new? No.

Guys here know what's wrong, why they lost to Phoenix, why they probably would lose to LA.

And many can say it better - like you, WTC10 - if you would only remember you're not ee cummings, and use some white space.

On target, yes - but anything new? No.

Guys here know what's wrong, why they lost to Phoenix, why they probably would lose to LA.

And many can say it better - like you, WTC10 - if you would only remember you're not ee cummings, and use some white space.
- StLBravesFan

A literary hockey board. Whoda thunk?

On target, yes - but anything new? No.

Guys here know what's wrong, why they lost to Phoenix, why they probably would lose to LA.

And many can say it better - like you, WTC10 - if you would only remember you're not ee cummings, and use some white space.
- StLBravesFan

Wow, a ee cummings reference. This sure is the thinking fans blog. Well played!

Burish, please!!!! (Though Kane doesn't need any more party buddies...)
- hawks2010

I think that falls in the highly doubtful category.

It would be tough for anyone to beat Bolland, Saad and a 3rd..

If the 3rd was a 2nd, I think that would be more than enough.

Staal is really important to Pitt and I understand them not wanting to trade him, but they'd be replacing him with the perfect player for the position they would be trying to fill, while saving money on Staal's current contract plus getting a high-end prospect and a 2nd rounder..

I just posted the same thing in the Pens thread and said I'd be hesitant if it were a 2nd round pick included.

I love Staal and would drool over him jumping over the boards in the 2nd line role after Toews but I'd still be worried because his contract is only 1 more season..
- pri$ey

Even though I'm of the opinion Staal won't be dealt this summer...

Why would Pit. be interested in Saad....Someone who grew up there and was speculated to be drafted by the Pens and they passed on last summer??

did any of you guys see rosenblooms article in the trib the other day? "the more the kings play ,the worse the hawks look" . guys.........i can't say i dis agree with him too much on this 1! JJ,AL? what do all you guys think? leave out the personal crap about rosenbloom, but i think he 's on target on this one!
- wonthecup10

I didn't read the article but...

I was the one who wrote awhile ago the Hawks would have no excuses if they lost to the Coyotes...

IMO the Kings are better than the Coyotes so I'm not sure of the point.

holy christ JJ! hey did you see jesse's story i believe on how the hawks could land staal? reaching but that wood be nice!
- wonthecup10

If I may...

I got questioned on Twitter today because someone said Jessse stole my story on Bolland...I wrote awhile ago Bolland was the first of the core group since 2010 to be made available.

I don't think anything was stolen and Jesse's story seems to be his own speculation....

There are some holes in the premise...From a dollar and cents standpoint the Pens aren't saving all that much in cap space but the bigger issue is Saad...

It was speculated the Pens would draft Saad...Local boy who they could have easily been watching closely for some time....They chose to pass on him at the Draft..

Why would the Pens have an interest in acquiring Saad now??

Plus, if Staal gets traded now, which I doubt, the package will be bigger than Saad and Bolland.

If I may...

I got questioned on Twitter today because someone said Jessse stole my story on Bolland...I wrote awhile ago Bolland was the first of the core group since 2010 to be made available.

I don't think anything was stolen and Jesse's story seems to be his own speculation....

There are some holes in the premise...From a dollar and cents standpoint the Pens aren't saving all that much in cap space but the bigger issue is Saad...

It was speculated the Pens would draft Saad...Local boy who they could have easily been watching closely for some time....They chose to pass on him at the Draft..

Why would the Pens have an interest in acquiring Saad now??

Plus, if Staal gets traded now, which I doubt, the package will be bigger than Saad and Bolland.
- Al

Just because they didn't pick him at the draft doesn't mean they had no interest in him. It only means that, when they made their pick, they thought that someone better was available. The Hawks chose Kane over JVR and everyone else, it doesn't mean they had zero interest in all of the other available players. It only means they had to prioritize and make A pick.

Just because they didn't pick him at the draft doesn't mean they had no interest in him. It only means that, when they made their pick, they thought that someone better was available. The Hawks chose Kane over JVR and everyone else, it doesn't mean they had zero interest in all of the other available players. It only means they had to prioritize and make A pick.
- Ogilthorpe2

Saad was a home town kid who dropped at the Draft and was available for Pit.
The story back then was Saad was just what the Pens needed,
a skillful winger...

I guess anything is possible and right now many want to believe the Penguins will be anxious to trade Staal, who just about every team would want, for a "hope"(someone they could have had for free basically last summer) and a player who isn't as good as Staal.

Sounds feasible to me...NOT.

Saad was a home town kid who dropped at the Draft and was available for Pit.
The story back then was Saad was just what the Pens needed,
a skillful winger...

I guess anything is possible and right now many want to believe the Penguins will be anxious to trade Staal, who just about every team would want, for a "hope"(someone they could have had for free basically last summer) and a player who isn't as good as Staal.

Sounds feasible to me...NOT.
- Al

I'm not necessarily saying that Pitt will trade Staal, or that Saad would be something they would want. All I'm saying is just because they didn't draft him doesn't mean they didn't/don't think highly of him.

On target, yes - but anything new? No.

Guys here know what's wrong, why they lost to Phoenix, why they probably would lose to LA.

And many can say it better - like you, WTC10 - if you would only remember you're not ee cummings, and use some white space.
- StLBravesFan

Rosenblum, like Mariotti, tries to be inflammatory to increase readership. But unlike Mariotti, he offers zero insights, deep thoughts or information that we don't already know. The ten seconds I wasted skimming that article I want back. He's a d-bag.

Saad was a home town kid who dropped at the Draft and was available for Pit.
The story back then was Saad was just what the Pens needed,
a skillful winger...

I guess anything is possible and right now many want to believe the Penguins will be anxious to trade Staal, who just about every team would want, for a "hope"(someone they could have had for free basically last summer) and a player who isn't as good as Staal.

Sounds feasible to me...NOT.
- Al

I don't see any reason any team should be looking for Saad in particular or the Hawks would be seeking to trade him in particular, unless of course they deem him overvalued by others...

Though... Saad's per game numbers this year are marginally better than even Yakupov's... albeit with an extra year under his belt...

Even though I'm of the opinion Staal won't be dealt this summer...

Why would Pit. be interested in Saad....Someone who grew up there and was speculated to be drafted by the Pens and they passed on last summer??
- Al

Saad's stock has gone through the roof since last June's draft. Even the Hawks themselves passed over Saad 3 times while drafting McNeill, Danault and Clendening. Does that mean they don't think much of Saad? Of course not.

If I may...

I got questioned on Twitter today because someone said Jessse stole my story on Bolland...I wrote awhile ago Bolland was the first of the core group since 2010 to be made available.

I don't think anything was stolen and Jesse's story seems to be his own speculation....

There are some holes in the premise...From a dollar and cents standpoint the Pens aren't saving all that much in cap space but the bigger issue is Saad...

It was speculated the Pens would draft Saad...Local boy who they could have easily been watching closely for some time....They chose to pass on him at the Draft..

Why would the Pens have an interest in acquiring Saad now??

Plus, if Staal gets traded now, which I doubt, the package will be bigger than Saad and Bolland.
- Al

Like you, I'm doubtful the Pens are going to trade Staal, but they may just have to because some of the contracts on their roster could become a real burden.

They have 2 guys @$8.7M/year and one of them is UFA after next season and he assuredly won't be taking a pay cut.

They have Fleury, Neal and Martin @ $5M and losing a bad contract like Martin's easily is next to impossible for them.

They know Staal is going to get $minimum 6M soon as he goes UFA, probably more. So, do they risk losing him for nothing or move him a year early. And if they decide to move him before his current deal expires, what will the market be willing to pay?

If I'm the Hawks, at the very least I knock on the Pen's door with a list of my prospects on EL contracts and my draft picks and tell them I have cash and cap space.

And then I would extend an offer of one of McNeill/Kruger/Kevin Hayes, plus Saad and Hammer for Staal and Paul Martin. By doing that, you get your #2 C for a year and the replacement on D for Hammer and Oduya who you cut loose. Pens get some cheap youth and rid of Martin's contract and the problem of trying to resign Staal next year.

At least try something like that Mr. Useless General Manager Stan Bowman.

I don't see any reason any team should be looking for Saad in particular or the Hawks would be seeking to trade him in particular, unless of course they deem him overvalued by others...

Though... Saad's per game numbers this year are marginally better than even Yakupov's... albeit with an extra year under his belt...
- busmaster

If Bowman is smart he uses his picks and prospects to improve the team now whether it is Saad or someone else. It would be foolish of him to hold on to all these guys. Their trade value may never be as high as it is right now because they are unknown and haven't played in the NHL. Their whole idea was to build around the core with veteran depth players who can contribute unlike Bruno and O'D. If they were in a rebuilding plan it would be a different story. They have their core locked up now it's Bowmans job to find the players to supplement them now instead of four years from now.

If Bowman is smart he uses his picks and prospects to improve the team now whether it is Saad or someone else. It would be foolish of him to hold on to all these guys. Their trade value may never be as high as it is right now because they are unknown and haven't played in the NHL. Their whole idea was to build around the core with veteran depth players who can contribute unlike Bruno and O'D. If they were in a rebuilding plan it would be a different story. They have their core locked up now it's Bowmans job to find the players to supplement them now instead of four years from now.
- jhawk159

i stopped reading after the first few words