That's assuming you can't get rid of someone else on the next couple years. What if Bolland can be replaced by Kruger in a year or two? What if Sharp is still tradeable after a couple years? What if Hossa retires in a couple years? I think you try and win, as long as your not to reckless you should be able to figure it out later. Also please no more RFA mess ups. The salaries the Hawks paid RFA's before their cup was crazy, that's what led to this mess.
- droe411

look at the numbers, RFA was not the problem.
The Hawks were going to face serious cap problems no matter what. And the bonus carry over was a problem too.
The problem, SB handled it poorly. There was no room for error and it was not a good situation. He really needed to evaluate his talent. But the thought was, keep the core and fill in the holes with lesser paid talent and make the playoffs. It almost worked but took a toll on the core. But the questions are: how good is the core? And you need a team to win the cup.

If I am Scott Howson, THE first person I call is Bowman because he is NOT going to get a better player in return for Nash, than Kane.
- hawks2010

Nash is not moving until one of two things happens - Howson sees the situation for what it is - Nash's contract wipes out any hope of a "return" and he wakes up and decides he needs to just dump the salary and move on.

Or two - some team is stupid enough not to wait him out to come to that conclusion and decides to overpay on top of an over the top contract.

Until Proven otherwise?

Scott, Monty, O'D, Brouwer, Lepisto, Oduya, Turco, Q, Kitchen, Havi, etc, etc, etc
- Ogilthorpe2

I know I know, I mean this year. I will look at this year as a fresh start, maybe Rocky has put the pressure on him enough to make his balls drop. Who knows?

So Nash has 50 or so goals more than Kane since Patrick's been in the league, great. Are goal scorers what we need? Is that what you're saying? You would think with the forwards we have there would be plenty of goals.

Also, not sure why everyone has thought of Kane as a sniper. He's ALWAYS been a playmaker over a sniper but with the ability to score goals, too.

The kid deserves kudos on his play last year especially learning the C position at the NHL level.
- TKON

People keep saying that this team has no problem scoring goals. I think they do. The playoffs the last two years goal production has been an issue and its because the offense has become too perimeter-oriented. There is not a enough offense on this team to win the Stanley Cup. IMO, Rick Nash makes the Hawks a way better offensive team in the playoffs than Patrick Kane. Also getting rid of Frolik, Kane and Hammer for Suter and Nash is only +2.5 million in salary, still leaves the hawks with plenty of cap too sign someone now and make a move at the deadline.

Also, I know Kane seemed more involved in the game when he played center, but I think thats just the nature of the position. To me he was still brutal defensively and looked to move the puck a lot less. I will say when Tazer was down he did seem to pick his "compete" level up, which was good and frustrating.

Until Proven otherwise?

Scott, Monty, O'D, Brouwer, Lepisto, Oduya, Turco, Q, Kitchen, Havi, etc, etc, etc
- Ogilthorpe2

Only potential saving grace: he was working under a different roster-building philosophy then than he apparently is now: filling in short term and cheaply around a core (then) vs. hopefully going for younger real talent (now).

And LeBrun is someone I trust. I believe, based on all I've heard, that if Kane is being shopped, it is very quietly. And I also suspect now, right before FA is not the best time to move him for cap reasons.

And I also think you could see a Kane/Nash deal AFTER the Hawks work some other stuff out in FA.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed on all parts. Also, this was said by Lebrun last night. We all know things can change in an hour

Dorsett blows! We have Carcillo and Bollig and Im sure there is a player in Rockford that we can call up that is just as miserable as Derek Dorsett.
- nickmo2699

Dorsett would be a throw in. He's as physical as they come. I want to say he spent more time in the box than on the ice haha! 235 PIM or something like that.

Carcillo and Bollig are not enough. Hawks need more physical players. Not saying Dorsett is my top choice.

i gotta go with Ogi on this. at best, you can say that Bowman's moves have been low risk...but all have turned out to be low reward as well
- eburgio

what has SB done well:
- picked up Leddy and moved Barker
- Campoli pick up was good
- moved Skille
otherwise - Nothing!
He must have an easy job. Look busy and don't create any waves.

People keep saying that this team has no problem scoring goals. I think they do. The playoffs the last two years goal production has been an issue and its because the offense has become too perimeter-oriented. There is not a enough offense on this team to win the Stanley Cup. IMO, Rick Nash makes the Hawks a way better offensive team in the playoffs than Patrick Kane. Also getting rid of Frolik, Kane and Hammer for Suter and Nash is only +2.5 million in salary, still leaves the hawks with plenty of cap too sign someone now and make a move at the deadline.

Also, I know Kane seemed more involved in the game when he played center, but I think thats just the nature of the position. To me he was still brutal defensively and looked to move the puck a lot less. I will say when Tazer was down he did seem to pick his "compete" level up, which was good and frustrating.
- rollpards19

+1

Dorsett would be a throw in. He's as physical as they come. I want to say he spent more time in the box than on the ice haha! 235 PIM or something like that.
- Assman22

Yes, a 235 PIM guy would be an excellent add for the Hawks stellar PK units.

Yes, a 235 PIM guy would be an excellent add for the Hawks stellar PK units.
- Return of the Roar

For reply to DaleHalas on previous blog entry.

Concerning Campbell, all i am saying if they were going to move Campbell, do it during the 2010-1 season when you really needed cap space.

btw, SB is always looking for the better end of a trade, that is why Campbell and Huet were not moved sooner or us picking up more help at the deadline last year. We need face-off help, and we got diddly. Oduya was a decent pick up but sucked in the playoffs. I am not sure if he is the answer going forward.

And your cap space theory move, it is one way to look at it. But how did it work out last year. We still ended up with Montador and/or Leddy playing trying to fill shoes of Campbell. And we still ended up with OD and Lepisto and Scott trying to fill those bottom 5,6,and 7 spots.
- Topshelf2010

I agree with you that trading Campbell in 2010/11 would have been preferable. I just disagree that there were any trade partners at that time to make it happen.

And the Hawks would have traded Huet for a 3M+ bad contract. Someone that they could have buried in the minors. There just weren't any takers.

And I'm not sure what people expect teams to be doing at the trade deadline. Detroit knew it was probably Lidstrom's last year. And they still ended up 4M+ below the salary cap at the end of the year. Teams just don't have the assets to be trading first round picks for 6th defenseman every year. Let alone making multiple moves at the trade deadline.

And I and everyone else agree on Montador. He wasn't the player the Hawks thought they were getting when they signed him. No surprise they are trying to move him now.

And the Hawks still have serious salary cap issues. They are being masked because the Hawks are playing 5-6 rookies each year. Something that is going to have to stop if the Hawks actually are going to compete. Which is why the Suter rumors make no sense to me.

Now I could see the Hawks trying to trade for a 2nd pair right side d-man. Those rumors make a whole log of sense to me. Hawks only have one legit right side d-man on the team. Let Leddy return to his natural left side on the bottom pair. IMO, outside of a trade for a goalie, adding another right side D-man is probably the biggest impact the Hawks could make.

look at the numbers, RFA was not the problem.
The Hawks were going to face serious cap problems no matter what. And the bonus carry over was a problem too.
The problem, SB handled it poorly. There was no room for error and it was not a good situation. He really needed to evaluate his talent. But the thought was, keep the core and fill in the holes with lesser paid talent and make the playoffs. It almost worked but took a toll on the core. But the questions are: how good is the core? And you need a team to win the cup.
- Topshelf2010

I did look at the numbers, all RFA's under Tallon got paid way to much even before the RFA paperwork mess. Bolland got paid to much, Buff got paid to much, and all the people in the RFA mess made to much. Over paying role players is what did some of the damage to this team. You won't find me defending Bowman, but there was a reason this team needed blowing up after the cup. Every single RFA that Tallon paid in a three year span made 3 million plus, way to much money.
Bowman's logic has been wrong the last two years. He bet on the fact that you could put anyone with our core and we would win, well that isn't the case. He has to stop getting over the hill players and stop playing youngsters who don't belong in the NHL. Start shopping for real NHL talent, that may require someone in this "vaunted" core to be traded. I don't care who goes as long as they win.

Yes, a 235 PIM guy would be an excellent add for the Hawks stellar PK units.
- Return of the Roar

Got me. I think you get my point though, Hawks still need to add a couple more physical forwards. Again, DD wouldn't be my top choice, just made sense in the trade.

what has SB done well:
- picked up Leddy and moved Barker
- Campoli pick up was good
- moved Skille
otherwise - Nothing!
He must have an easy job. Look busy and don't create any waves.
- Topshelf2010

Very good drafts last 2-3 years, especially 2011.

youre kidding right? kane has played along at least 1 of patrick sharp, marian hossa, or jonathan toews his whole career.

in his entire career Nashs best linemate was derrick brassard, antoine vermette, rj umberger, huselius, or zherdev

kane has been on lines with 2 future HOF's in hossa and toews

Nash is lucky if he ever gets an all star on his team
- FourFeathers773

No, I'm not kidding. Ray Whitney and Sergei Federov were good players too, no?

Toews was not a HOF in his rookie year or his second year was he? Last year was Hossa's first full year without injury minus 1 game I believe.

I see your point on Nash but don't underestimate what Kane has done. He's been fantastic and still only 23 years of age.

what has SB done well:
- picked up Leddy and moved Barker
- Campoli pick up was good
- moved Skille
otherwise - Nothing!
He must have an easy job. Look busy and don't create any waves.
- Topshelf2010

Give him credit for locking up Sharp and Seabrook.

Stalberg was a solid move. Versteeg has been on what 4 teams in 2 years? If you don't think that's a red flag then I don't know what is.

People keep saying that this team has no problem scoring goals. I think they do. The playoffs the last two years goal production has been an issue and its because the offense has become too perimeter-oriented. There is not a enough offense on this team to win the Stanley Cup. IMO, Rick Nash makes the Hawks a way better offensive team in the playoffs than Patrick Kane. Also getting rid of Frolik, Kane and Hammer for Suter and Nash is only +2.5 million in salary, still leaves the hawks with plenty of cap too sign someone now and make a move at the deadline.

Also, I know Kane seemed more involved in the game when he played center, but I think thats just the nature of the position. To me he was still brutal defensively and looked to move the puck a lot less. I will say when Tazer was down he did seem to pick his "compete" level up, which was good and frustrating.
- rollpards19

The goal scoring when we really needed it did seem to be lacking. I won't argue that. Team chemistry is a big thing with this team and I don't think it's up to par.

He wasn't great defensively but he was much improved from earlier seasons. It's still a work in progress for him.

You can't win the 2016 Cup next year - you can only win the 2013 Cup.

If Nash is the (or an important) difference getting you to next year's Cup, you do it (if you can).

Window of Opportunity is closing.
- StLBravesFan

Window of Opportunity is closing??? Hawks have one of the youngest teams in hockey with a top 3 farm system how is the window closing? Nash is great player with horrible contract that just doesn't fit with Hawks current roster and salary cap sorry but that is fact.

Window of Opportunity is closing??? Hawks have one of the youngest teams in hockey with a top 3 farm system how is the window closing? Nash is great player with horrible contract that just doesn't fit with Hawks current roster and salary cap sorry but that is fact.
- DeepThreat

The farm system is not top 3. Maybe top 10 with no top line sure fire future stud. Nash for Kane straight up I would not do!

Window of Opportunity is closing??? Hawks have one of the youngest teams in hockey with a top 3 farm system how is the window closing? Nash is great player with horrible contract that just doesn't fit with Hawks current roster and salary cap sorry but that is fact.
- DeepThreat

Agreed. Window is far from closing LOL

No, I'm not kidding. Ray Whitney and Sergei Federov were good players too, no?

Toews was not a HOF in his rookie year or his second year was he? Last year was Hossa's first full year without injury minus 1 game I believe.

I see your point on Nash but don't underestimate what Kane has done. He's been fantastic and still only 23 years of age.
- TKON

I dont count federov when its his 16th, 17th, and 18th years in the league. Guy was a shell of himself after leaving detroit, guy never scored 20 goals again

ray whitney was only there for nash's rookie year

The goal scoring when we really needed it did seem to be lacking. I won't argue that. Team chemistry is a big thing with this team and I don't think it's up to par.

He wasn't great defensively but he was much improved from earlier seasons. It's still a work in progress for him.
- TKON

I don't think they have a problem scoring in the regular season. The playoffs is where this team of smurfs would have trouble scoring. D tightens down, Hawks smallish forwards are happy to sit on the outside.