Eli...

I'm well aware of JJ's skepticism, and it's justified. We all should be skeptical of prospects, especially those marketed heavily by the big club. One thing I'm not gonna do is draw conclusions based on draft position, and whether he fell or not. There's a long list of quality NHL talent taken in later rounds.

But Bernier, as an example, is NOT an established NHL goalie in my mind.

If Hawk scouts think highly enough of Bernier to make the move...then I'll bless it and hope for the best.

Regarding Saad...like every fan I'm hopeful. But the guy has lit it up in Juniors, and that's all he can do until he faces stiffer competition. Some were promoting Makarov as a future NHL scorer, but that guy never scored much at any level...and now he's long gone.

Time will tell on all these players.
- ArlingtonRob

Tons of kids kill it in Juniors. Kings have 3 kids who killed it in juniors and only one of which is possibly gonna make the team in the next year. Toffoli Vey and Weal tore it up in juniors. There are reason they like Saad were 1st round picks or even high 1st round picks.

I don't think he's a lock for greatness. He's got some upside. He's no guarantee that you make the playoffs or win a cup with him. However, he can't be any worse that Crawford.
- EKolb13

Yes...yes he can.

I am finding all this speculation and bad trade talk as tireing as the Hawks last playoff run............er stumble. FA moves should have already happened and those should have really been in the bottom 6 fowards and another physical Blue liner (Hannan). Any improvement to the top 6 will be via trade (most likely with another GM Stan has worked with or for) however I doubt anything will happen. Stan swung and missed with last years group, he is gun shy now. So IMO the light at the end of the tunnel is that this will be Qs and Stans last season, lets hope that Rockey burries McDoughnut in the Downtown offices with Pullford.......................NEXT!

It's a free country, and I can't stop people from being idiots, but please try to actually read this since some of you could not process the blog as written:

1) I am not saying the Hawks should trade Leddy
2) I am reporting some of what I see and some of what I hear

If you think its not plausible, that's fine. i will just tell you, I have heard separately from arguably my two best Hawk sources that:

a) the Hawks would consider dealing Leddy (weeks ago)
b) they are shopping him hard now

And in my opinion, yes, Leddy has a couple of flaws, one of which could seriously impair the development some see as a given. I'll leave those true believers with this.

Two words: Tom Poti.
- John Jaeckel

jj, i'm no expert but i said the same during the season before this stuff regarding leddy. i think the kid will be alright IF he can play what i call big boy hockey.
the argument about him only being 21 holds no weight with me, look at the 2 kids on the flyers, courtier & schenn. they bring a good hard game every nite. leddy needs to grow a pair!
and please JJ , tell me NO WAY is bowman looking at re aquiring rene bourque! we already have 1 dog named bickell on our team, we don't need another 1!
still wondering about jason arnott? on the radar or not? i hope so!

jj, i'm no expert but i said the same during the season before this stuff regarding leddy. i think the kid will be alright IF he can play what i call big boy hockey.
the argument about him only being 21 holds no weight with me, look at the 2 kids on the flyers, courtier & schenn. they bring a good hard game every nite. leddy needs to grow a pair!
and please JJ , tell me NO WAY is bowman looking at re aquiring rene bourque! we already have 1 dog named bickell on our team, we don't need another 1!
still wondering about jason arnott? on the radar or not? i hope so!
- wonthecup10

At this point I would say Rene is better than Bickel.............Not saying I want Bourque...........just saying

At this point I would say Rene is better than Bickel.............Not saying I want Bourque...........just saying
- blkhwkfn

respectfully, neither are any good!... pass!

Seguin is as much a #1C right now as Kessel or JVR.

Of the B's core, is Krejci the most likely to move at F? Sure, I guess. Do you move him for Nick (frank)ing Leddy? Not in a million years.

I've said it before, you move Krejci now - be prepared to see Chris Kelly centering your 1st line about 3 weeks into the season.
- Double_A

I dont think Seguin is ready this year to be #1 center, but he is more than capable to fill the role if needed. On the Bruins team he has the luxury of having Bergy, Kelly, and Campbell behind him so he is not going to have to shoulder the brunt of the defensive duties. Seguin is more offensively talented than Krejci, and would help boost the production of Lucic and Horton. His defensive play is not up to par yet, and he needs work on his faceoffs but he like I said before he has the luxury of depth and a good system to help his flaws.

Perhaps it was just a lousy trade...

As a 20yo in his first full season in the NHL

played all 82 games...3 goals...34 assists...-12...ATOI... 22 minutes a game
- ArlingtonRob

I think the Wild fell victim to local pressure and reached to Draft Leddy when they did.

He also wasn't the best of students from what I have heard so his college days were going to be numbered.

Prospects Camp Chubbies

Before anyone sets in motion a domino falling Leddy is gone because of Clendening scenario I say. "Cool your jets."

This is prospects camp.

Over the course of the every one, I have seen more than a number of fan sites, hockey publication sites, and official team sites start beating big drums on so many of these kids.
Lalonde was in the hawk line-up as a replacement no less than TWO season ago.
Morin was done deal.

@AlCimaglia
Pure kool-aid with a mix of official team PR sugar.

I saw a bit of Clendening this last season and came away impressed with his toughness and defensive awareness…I already expected the QB general and puck mover & carrier.
His father wanted him to go pro and seems to be quite "involved' with his son's decisions.

I, for one don't see the up-ice burst of a Leddy in him so far. he seems more a spurt skater.
I was NEVER an advocate of Leddy's quick ascension but I think I understand that business and team needs sometimes are behind these moves.
I thoroughly think Leddy is no where near a finished product.
But I also think for me to launch him, it would have to bring exceptional return.

To think that Adam Clendening is penciled in as his replacement in 2013 is more than disturbing…it is quite irresponsible.
I just want to use an example of James Wisniewski…do all of you remember just how long it took them to finally bring him to the majors? You think that was an accident, or the team eventually being forced to play him because he just was far too good to continue in the minors.
I think that Clendening's star shines only after he shows it in the AHL.

What any Bowman says about ANY HAWK PROSPECT is basically a more positive than negative comment to continue the company line that we are doing things correctly.
(ANYBODY remember reading in the Hawk program how Mike Prokopec was gonna hold down 3rd line duties for a decade with the hawks?????)

If and WHEN this kid is an NHL ready pro may be tied to Leddy's future IN THE FUTURE…

Leddy's RFA contract may be a bone of contention. (Yeah, maybe his agent can get the WILD to piss away more money by offering to sign him.)
But Leddy will act as a trade chip at a date in March IF this rife between his agent and the hawks even exists…only if they get a REAL impact guy at the deadline.

If only it was so easy to dip to the farm and fill a line up on defense!

Just not the way it is.

Granted the Hawks defense will continue to change and be filled from within and you can't have too many of the same kind of players there…but the recent memories of chucking talented players after the Cup win still stands strong in the minds of the brain trust and will work against rash moves of defesnsemen with upside.

Now…if they feel Leddy is done developing, then they would be doing their best to fortify the cupboard at both prospect and pro level to make sure the spots are not holes.

and if some team REALLY OFFERED Doan more tha 7mil a year...
Let him go...
he is I guy i love on the ice, but whose purse empty is irresponsible.
- wiz1901

To a great extent the Hawks got away with rushing Leddy...They would be wise to give Clendenning at least the better part of this season in the AHL.

Trading Leddy should only be done to snag a bona fide top six forward from a rebuliding team. Like a Stastny trade for example and it would take more than Leddy alone.

If Bowman wanted to trade Leddy he could have it done by breakfast...

21 yr old puck rushers are something most teams would hold onto instead of trade...Unless they were positive his spot could be filled.

His contract status won't matter a bit unless he wants out... or someone writes an offer sheet. Otherwise the Hawks are in complete control no matter who the agent is....

It might be me, and I'm no scout, but I'm cautious and skeptical when it comes to goalie prospects. I am not sold on the greatness that is Jonathan Bernier.

That said, I'm not dead set against it...just leaning against it.
- ArlingtonRob

I think it's a little unfair to call Bernier a "prospect". Does that mean every backup that hasn't been afforded a great deal of playing time because the #1 is great should be considered a prospect now? Bernier is a NHL caliber goalie. Much more so than anything else that is available (with the exception of Lu of course) outside or inside the Hawks organization. Comparing Crawford & Bernier's statistics may add a little clarity. Bernier 2.44GAA 0.916SV%, Crawford 2.79GAA, 0.909SV%.

In all fairness though Crawford has played 4 more seasons in his professional career so I'll just compare their stats from that last 3 years. Bernier 2.04GAA, 0.926SV%. Crawford 2.68GAA, 0.911SV%. Both goalies have been very consistent throughout their respective careers but it's pretty clear who the better goalie is and who I would prefer on the Hawks, not to mention that Bernier is 4 years younger with arguably much more potential.

It's a free country, and I can't stop people from being idiots, but please try to actually read this since some of you could not process the blog as written:

1) I am not saying the Hawks should trade Leddy
2) I am reporting some of what I see and some of what I hear

If you think its not plausible, that's fine. i will just tell you, I have heard separately from arguably my two best Hawk sources that:

a) the Hawks would consider dealing Leddy (weeks ago)
b) they are shopping him hard now

And in my opinion, yes, Leddy has a couple of flaws, one of which could seriously impair the development some see as a given. I'll leave those true believers with this.

Two words: Tom Poti.
- John Jaeckel

I'm assuming that if they do trade Leddy, it will be for value, and not just a dump because they don't like Sheahy(?).

Can (I won't ask "will") they get enough back to make it a positive deal? Are you hearing anything about the possible return?

Blackhawks still closest to a deal with Habs that will send Hjalmarsson. Hawks still want Plekanec but Habs want Stalberg included. Now some attention shifted to Bourque with the Hawks feeling out of Doan.
- saukhead

Like I said the other day if Bergevin can send Bourque and his contract back to the Hawks this summer he should win the GM of the year award.

“If you’re counting on going in the free agent market to improve your team that’s a tough strategy to be successful at,” Bowman said on Friday regarding the Hawks’ quiet approach to free agents.

Al,

Notice he said 'improve' this time and not 'build' through FA


SB and tough don't mix.
- moylander

Strongly doubt it. Because Q knows what I and a lot of other people do: Saad ain't ready for prime time. Bowman just falling back on his usual default argument when he fails to produce NHL quality players.
- John Jaeckel

The Hawks made the deal becasue they unloaded a salary(Barker) and got a defender back they thought was going to help them win the Cup.

Leddy turned out to be much better than Fletcher imagined. Fletcher wanted to improve right away.

Fletcher made a bad deal period. Leddy>>>Barker

I think the Wild fell victim to local pressure and reached to Draft Leddy when they did.

He also wasn't the best of students from what I have heard so his college days were going to be numbered.
- Al

Kind of like Dylan Olsen..........

I think it's a little unfair to call Bernier a "prospect". Does that mean every backup that hasn't been afforded a great deal of playing time because the #1 is great should be considered a prospect now? Bernier is a NHL caliber goalie. Much more so than anything else that is available (with the exception of Lu of course) outside or inside the Hawks organization. Comparing Crawford & Bernier's statistics may add a little clarity. Bernier 2.44GAA 0.916SV%, Crawford 2.79GAA, 0.909SV%.

In all fairness though Crawford has played 4 more seasons in his professional career so I'll just compare their stats from that last 3 years. Bernier 2.04GAA, 0.926SV%. Crawford 2.68GAA, 0.911SV%. Both goalies have been very consistent throughout their respective careers but it's pretty clear who the better goalie is and who I would prefer on the Hawks, not to mention that Bernier is 4 years younger with arguably much more potential.
- Tuke17

Bernier hasn't played a 1/2 season in the NHL. Bernier by all logic can only be called a prospect or possible # 1 tender someday.

You might want to look up the stats for Pascal LeClaire and Steve Mason, also their contracts signed after EL too, before diving in head first on young goal tenders.

Kind of like Dylan Olsen..........
- blkhwkfn

Olsen had to go to Rockford from what I heard....

At this point I would say Rene is better than Bickel.............Not saying I want Bourque...........just saying
- blkhwkfn

Bourque is trash. Plain and simple. Bickell is great for his pricetag, not to mention he is a great guy in the locker room/off the ice.

Part of me wonders if this whole 'cap hell' reservation from hawks fans/PR is overblown. Lots of teams including the flyers are always pushing the cap and manage to navigate it quite well. For instance, The flyers always have bonus money factored in and for the last couple seasons have had the Pronger and Laperierre contracts. They also still have Walker and Shelley on the payroll. I'm not as familiar with other teams but I do know some teams always are at the cap and still manage to get in the FA game.

Am I wrong to think maybe it's Stan?
- moylander

They went into cap hell 2 summers ago. $4.1M bonus carryover from '09-'10 was applied in '10-'11. This was on top of new deals to Toews, Kane & Keith, to the tune of another $10M or so.

Money had to be shed & we can argue 'til the cows come home; what deal was worst & what should have been done. That's all in hindsight now.

Stan got them in better (cap) position due to trades the last 2 seasons & with the cap going up, new deals to Sharp & Seabrook didn't impact them as much.

What's on Stan is not building the correct roster, not managing money. Guess its not a surprise given he was the bean-counter/contract guy when Dale was GM.

To a great extent the Hawks got away with rushing Leddy...They would be wise to give Clendenning at least the better part of this season in the AHL.

Trading Leddy should only be done to snag a bona fide top six forward from a rebuliding team. Like a Stastny trade for example and it would take more than Leddy alone.

If Bowman wanted to trade Leddy he could have it done by breakfast...

21 yr old puck rushers are something most teams would hold onto instead of trade...Unless they were positive his spot could be filled.

His contract status won't matter a bit unless he wants out... or someone writes an offer sheet. Otherwise the Hawks are in complete control no matter who the agent is....
- Al

Al, one of the best posts of the day! stasny ?? i'll take it. but now were talking if your gonna trade a kid like leddy! anything short of that would be a fleecing!by the way does colorado need a guy like leddy? and is giguere available??

Bernier hasn't played a 1/2 season in the NHL. Bernier by all logic can only be called a prospect or possible # 1 tender someday.

You might want to look up the stats for Pascal LeClaire and Steve Mason, also their contracts signed after EL too, before diving in head first on young goal tenders.
- Al

Bernier's contract isnt bad. His next contract wont be bad unless he gets traded this offseason and starts and has a stellar year and signs something mega. Hes an RFA next offseason. Its a nice bargaining chip.

The Hawks made the deal becasue they unloaded a salary(Barker) and got a defender back they thought was going to help them win the Cup.

Leddy turned out to be much better than Fletcher imagined. Fletcher wanted to improve right away.

Fletcher made a bad deal period. Leddy>>>Barker
- Al

BLAHHHHHHH ..................Cam Barker was a draft choice of Dale Tallon in 04, the first two picks were money! After that it was a huge fall off. I wasnt a fan of the Barker pick could of had Ladd (taken with the 4th pick). Hated the Jack Skillie pick as well, Devin Setoguchi next pick.

So the Sadd discusion.....isnt he closer than Clendening, Danault and McNeil who were all drafted ahead of him the same draft?

They went into cap hell 2 summers ago. $4.1M bonus carryover from '09-'10 was applied in '10-'11. This was on top of new deals to Toews, Kane & Keith, to the tune of another $10M or so.

Money had to be shed & we can argue 'til the cows come home; what deal was worst & what should have been done. That's all in hindsight now.

Stan got them in better (cap) position due to trades the last 2 seasons & with the cap going up, new deals to Sharp & Seabrook didn't impact them as much.

What's on Stan is not building the correct roster, not managing money. Guess its not a surprise given he was the bean-counter/contract guy when Dale was GM.
- blackhawk24

Havent seen many checks finished in the locker room or off the ice...........Just sayin

Olsen had to go to Rockford from what I heard....
- Al

Right but I thought he had to cause he was flunking out of school. Not sure why he couldnt go to Jrs..........read that somewhere..........could have been at the UC on the bathroon wall......not sure

They went into cap hell 2 summers ago. $4.1M bonus carryover from '09-'10 was applied in '10-'11. This was on top of new deals to Toews, Kane & Keith, to the tune of another $10M or so.

Money had to be shed & we can argue 'til the cows come how what deal was worst & what should have been done. That's all in hindsight now.

Stan got themin better position due to trades the last 2 seasons & with the cap going up, new deals to Sharp & Seabrook didn't impact them as much.

What's on Stan is not building the correct roster, not managing money. Guess its not a surprise given he was the bean-counter/contract guy when Dale was GM.
- blackhawk24

Yes and that is why I believe he is cautious when it comes to adding salary!He has done well in my opinion of restocking the depth.It just remains to be seen if he can make some good hockey trades to fill out the roster without selling the farm.