Would you please stop with the Soriano comparison? Totally different situations...
- blackhawk24

Not really....McDonough trying to make splash.

There is NO COINCIDENCE Hawks signed guys large to large contracts under his watch after that goof outbid himself for Soriano by 30+ million. Team was up for sale...I get that...the way he does business can't be ignored.

I understand your point. The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that maybe all of the vitriol that was spewed toward the front office on Sunday, may have been noticed by those IN the front office, which prompted them to get in on Parise. I know the Hawks keep things close to the vest, but they weren't in on Parise and Suter and all of a sudden they were front-runners. Hmmm.

So the whole 'we like our team' thing, is a low blow, sure. I'll admit. But you're all assuming that their offer in Suter/Parise is earnest. Perhaps Stan knew Parise was into Pittsburgh and just wanted to give him something to think about, at least for his own fan base. Seems like a stretch, but would you put it past a guy who afraid to make the ballsy move? Just looking at the other side of the coin.
- eburgio

The Hawks didnt make these offers to just get the fan base excited. Hawks fans will stop going to games if the team isnt improved. You couldnt get a Hawks ticket in the 80s and 90s. The fans will stop going if the team doesnt perform well. The Hawks fans in this town are unique to every other team, the fans will stop going.

The Cubs have fan bases that are real baseball fans and will show up when the team producers and unfortunatley the Cubs have tourists that fill Wrigley even in the bad times.

The Bears will sell out their 8 home games because there is only 8 home games and its football.

The White Sox dont really count because even when things are great and the Sox are in 1st they dont sell out.

The Blackhawks better land one of these guys, Suter was the target but all the Parise talk has everyone going crazy, me included. If the Hawks miss out on both of these guys then the Hawks will have people wayyyyyy more pissed off then when the Hawks were just doing nothing.

Mike Halford ‏@HalfordPHT

Free agency, man. RT @clipper377 Jet owned by Red Wings parent company left Madison WI 45 mins ago. Carrying Suter? http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N559LC
- KillaB917

First there were rumors that Parise and Suter wanted to play together now they might want to play for [current] divisional rivals? And what about Suter wanting to play for a Western Conf. team? Good chance Detroit goes to the East?

Real simple guys...

To those of you saying the Hawks BETTER get one of these guys that's impossible. By numerous media reports they've put a huge step forward on trying to improve the team. By all accounts the Hawks offered Brodeur a 2 yr/12 mil contract - 3 mil more than the Devils.

If they don't come away with them it's not because they didn't try.... I think they certainly did. Alas, those players just simply might have wanted to go to another team.

Michael Russo‏@Russostrib

Updated Zach Parise article with a lot more quotes from the #Devils free agent #mnwild #nhl | http://StarTribune.com http://www.startribune.co...orts/blogs/161245225.html

Mike Halford ‏@HalfordPHT

Free agency, man. RT @clipper377 Jet owned by Red Wings parent company left Madison WI 45 mins ago. Carrying Suter? http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N559LC
- KillaB917

Here's the problem with this line of reasoning.

ANY team (and Suter himself) can hire a private jet to ferry him form Detroit or Pittsburgh or Nashville to Madison. Do you really think no other team has thought about this or offered it.

Do you really think the Wings' jet was going to stay in Madison forever? So how is this important. The Wings made a big pitch for Suter. So did other teams.

Bob Suter, Ryan's dad wants him closer than a long jet flight away, that's why the family soured on Nashville. Ryan's farm is 1.5-2 hours BY CAR from Chicago's NW suburbs.

He might well sign in Detroit or elsewhere, but a lot of people are truly not seeing the forest for the trees.

Mike Halford ‏@HalfordPHT

Free agency, man. RT @clipper377 Jet owned by Red Wings parent company left Madison WI 45 mins ago. Carrying Suter? http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N559LC
- KillaB917

Yeah, Suter was the guy in handcuffs with a bag over his head, he's been kidnapped by the Wings.

He either has to:

(a) sign one or both of P and S

or

(b) what does he do if they don't?

I would understand not getting either - although if that happens, I would like Rocky to do an analysis of why Chicago and Blackhawks were shut out - but I would certainly hope - and expect - that he/they haven't thrown everything at P & S, with no other plan.

Offseason could be a success without P & S if there is other movement to solve current problems: 2nd line center, crease-clearing defenseman, face-off circle improvement, PK improvement, PP improvement.

Actually, that holds true even if the do get P and / or S.
- StLBravesFan

I definitely understand your points, the only thing that trips me up is I have a difficult time believing that they just compulsively would throw literally hundreds of millions of dollars at free agents because of a little bit of bad press. (That is if all these rumors of the Hawks offers are true, which it actually does seem like at this point). My view is that they were probably in on these guys all along, but started off with low offers, but once they realized that the lowball offers weren't going to work, they had to step it up...and having an owner who will back it up, it makes me feel better, whether they end up getting these guys in the end or not, at least management is on board with making a significant move to help the team.

Yeah, Suter was the guy in handcuffs with a bag over his head, he's been kidnapped by the Wings.
- Dieselhead

Sharp is an athlete...traveling and moving around is part of the game. I seriously doubt he drove around for 3 months (like I did) looking for the perfect house to fit his budget. The uber-rich don't do it like us. He probably looked at a few houses, no more. He got a list of mansions and went to look at a few and then picked one. Give me a salary of 5/million per and I could get a great house, with great everything, in a great school system in a few days.

It is PURE conjecture to say he wouldn't waive his NTC to move. PURE conjecture based on extraneous factors. Who would have dreamed Campbell would waive HIS NTC to play in freaking Florida.

YOU DONT know what Sharp will do. YOU DONT know. So until then, his movement should be on the table if it will help the organization. I'd rather keep Kane than Sharp even though I think Sharp is a better guy. Lets roll the bank Kane matures, grows up (it may happen)...younger, far more dynamic than Sharp.
- kwolf68

Haha. You spend a paragraph of PURE conjecture and then tell me that's its PURE conjecture on my part?

So since Sharp is an athlete, he doesn't care about what his wife wants or what's best for his baby or the school system or any of that crap? He's an athlete, so what you and I would look for in a house doesn't apply to him? He's not a 23 year old kid man. He's not buying a bachelor pad haha.

Not really....McDonough trying to make splash.

There is NO COINCIDENCE Hawks signed guys large to large contracts under his watch after that goof outbid himself for Soriano by 30+ million. Team was up for sale...I get that...the way he does business can't be ignored.
- SteveRain

You cant play cards sitting on your hands

Real simple guys...

To those of you saying the Hawks BETTER get one of these guys that's impossible. By numerous media reports they've put a huge step forward on trying to improve the team. By all accounts the Hawks offered Brodeur a 2 yr/12 mil contract - 3 mil more than the Devils.

If they don't come away with them it's not because they didn't try.... I think they certainly did. Alas, those players just simply might have wanted to go to another team.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I will finish your last sentence "wanted to go to another team... because they know the operation of the team is a huge clusterf*ck".

Not really....McDonough trying to make splash.

There is NO COINCIDENCE Hawks signed guys large to large contracts under his watch after that goof outbid himself for Soriano by 30+ million. Team was up for sale...I get that...the way he does business can't be ignored.
- SteveRain

The scenario in which drove that is totally different. Cubs were coming off a 96-loss season, it was window dressing, that's it. Lip-stick on a pig sort of speak. Not with the 'Hawks. Total drive for another cup. Not selling a team.

It's also no coincidence that McD is here only cuz dollar Bill dropped dead. Now, the team is competing against others: PGH, NJ, perhaps MIN & DET too.

Oh BTW, the Cubs outbid the next highest team on Fonzie by a cool $46M.

Eklund:
Chicago Possibilty for Suter as Well? (E4)
"From a source, "Coach Q lobbied for Suter in Chi... More so than Parise." I am told however the monstrous deal for Parise comes all the way from the top.."

I will finish your last sentence "wanted to go to another team... because they know the operation of the team is a huge clusterf*ck".
- RickJ

Why should any sort of upper management strife cause a player not to come here if the front office is spending cash to always keep a winner on ice?

Haha. You spend a paragraph of PURE conjecture and then tell me that's its PURE conjecture on my part?

So since Sharp is an athlete, he doesn't care about what his wife wants or what's best for his baby or the school system or any of that crap? He's an athlete, so what you and I would look for in a house doesn't apply to him? He's not a 23 year old kid man. He's not buying a bachelor pad haha.
- coldsteelonice

Bottom line --- The Hawks say we want to trade you sorry, especially in the form of a salary dump, he has a modified clause so he can give them a list and they can ship him out. Definitely a movable player if the Hawks want him to be. Same thing for Kane, same thing for anyone not Toews or Keith or Seabs.

Eklund:
Chicago Possibilty for Suter as Well? (E4)
"From a source, "Coach Q lobbied for Suter in Chi... More so than Parise." I am told however the monstrous deal for Parise comes all the way from the top.."
- al_blog

This doesn't surprise me at all...

Suter helps defensively
He helps on the PP

Two huge issues last year. Rocky wanted a "big splash" and Parise/Suter are exactly that.

Campbell had a NTC and he left...it's not hard. Just have to work the trade partner work on the player.

Per Buccigross...Redwings had a private jet land and take off in Madison today. Now that could be the Chelios clan wooing him....So if that's the case, and they promise use of the corporate jet for his family.....AND tons of $$....good bye.

This is going to be one gigantic tease....
- SteveRain

Are you sure it wasnt just a gas and go?

I will finish your last sentence "wanted to go to another team... because they know the operation of the team is a huge clusterf*ck".
- RickJ

Yeah, the Hawks' organization is so much worse than Minny's and Nashville's and for God's sake New Jersey's, which is completely broke.

I'm sorry but the only team of the ones these guys are considering that deserves big kudos for being THE best organization in the league is Detroit, and there are elements of the current team that make less attractive from a competitiveness standpoint than the Hawks right now.

No matter what a team offers, they can't possibly guarantee that they're gonna get a player no matter how big the offer or how impressive they make the city sound.

Why should any sort of upper management strife cause a player not to come here if the front office is spending cash to always keep a winner on ice?
- CaptainBlackhawk

Players talk and they know what gives on every team in the league. Believe it or not, Lamorello runs a tight simple ship in Jersey. Players love the guy and if you are one of Lou's boys he looks after you forever. It's killing Parise to think about leaving the Devils, he just wants them to be close on their bid and he will stay.

Jesse Rogers‏@ESPNChiHawks

Nothing new to report but hearing all sorts of things including Parise/Suter still ending up on same team. What a get that would be.

Jesse Rogers‏@ESPNChiHawks

But nothing definitive so it's just speculation right now. They simply have not decided yet.

Yeah, the Hawks' organization is so much worse than Minny's and Nashville's and for God's sake New Jersey's, which is completely broke.

I'm sorry but the only team of the ones these guys are considering that deserves big kudos for being THE best organization in the league is Detroit, and there are elements of the current team that make less attractive from a competitiveness standpoint than the Hawks right now.

No matter what a team offers, they can't possibly guarantee that they're gonna get a player no matter how big the offer or how impressive they make the city sound.
- flahawkfan

Billions of Wirtz's dollars = very important

Stadium + new practice facility / mall = important

Toews being a winner and still very young = super important

Q being one of the most respected coaches in the NHL if you like him or not = kind of important

Bowman family involved regardless of competence = important

Chance to make lots of ancillary dollars = could be important

Living in the best city in the United States of America aside from the goofy weather = could be important

Demonstrating they are willing to do what is necessary to try and be annual contenders = super important

Lots of good things going on

I definitely understand your points, the only thing that trips me up is I have a difficult time believing that they just compulsively would throw literally hundreds of millions of dollars at free agents because of a little bit of bad press. (That is if all these rumors of the Hawks offers are true, which it actually does seem like at this point). My view is that they were probably in on these guys all along, but started off with low offers, but once they realized that the lowball offers weren't going to work, they had to step it up...and having an owner who will back it up, it makes me feel better, whether they end up getting these guys in the end or not, at least management is on board with making a significant move to help the team.
- hawkfan79

All of this - but, again, ultimately, if they don't get them: kudos for trying, but what have you done for me lately? What did you get instead?

Is the new team better than the old team and a SC contender? That is the ultimate....

Breaking NEWS: Huge presser called for 3 PM today. It appears that the Blackhawks will anounce Chic-fil-a as the official Chicken Samich of the Chicago Blackhawks. Word is its a 5 year deal.

Yeah, the Hawks' organization is so much worse than Minny's and Nashville's and for God's sake New Jersey's, which is completely broke.

I'm sorry but the only team of the ones these guys are considering that deserves big kudos for being THE best organization in the league is Detroit, and there are elements of the current team that make less attractive from a competitiveness standpoint than the Hawks right now.

No matter what a team offers, they can't possibly guarantee that they're gonna get a player no matter how big the offer or how impressive they make the city sound.
- flahawkfan

The Hawks are a terrific organization but alot of players like a simple, out of the limelight existence. Running out to do commercials doesn't turm everybody's crank.

And Jersey may be broke now, but I smell the hand of Bettman dragging new money and partners in right now - how else could they be bidding if there isn't new money?