John Jaeckel: Lockout Over. What's Next.

Best news I've heard in awhile!!

HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look forward to the season finally starting!!!

Stan wake up little buddy you're on the clock again...

Can Stan actually get us a #2 center just like he got us a goalie in the offseason I'll believe it when I see it...

JJ it'll be great to have the blog back focused on hockey instead of CBA stuff...

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!

Have Crawford or Emery even been playing anywhere? EA Sports does not count.

Not sure which Montreal center would be of interest to the Hawks? Montreal is pretty thin down the middle in terms of quality players.

Ottawa is a different story. They have Spezza, Turris and Zach Smith on their first three lines. All are are signed to good long term deals. They have a bunch of other guys who are pretty solid. Jim O'Brien was really good down the stretch and in the playoffs last year. He was the Senator's best player on the penalty kill. Da Costa looks good and they have a big kid Grant who will fight for a spot at a short training camp.

What is the kind of player the Hawks are looking to land? I suspect it is player like Smith. But, the price would be steep, especially after Ottawa dealt Foligno. I just don't believe the Hawks would be able to offer up the kind piece the Senators need.

Have Crawford or Emery even been playing anywhere? EA Sports does not count.
- HajdukChicago

Not to the best of my knowledge..

My unofficial tally of who's been playing:

Kane
Frolik
Bickell
Leddy
Shaw
Kruger
Bollig
Smith
Hjalmarsson
Stalberg
Rozsival


And who hasn't:

Toews
Sharp
Seabrook
Keith
Oduya (played in a charity tournament in Thailand. Yes, Thailand)
Hossa
Montador
Bolland
Brookbank
Mayers
Carcillo
Crawford
Emery


This could be an opportunity for a kid like Hutton.

Not sure which Montreal center would be of interest to the Hawks? Montreal is pretty thin down the middle in terms of quality players.

Ottawa is a different story. They have Spezza, Turris and Zach Smith on their first three lines. All are are signed to good long term deals. They have a bunch of other guys who are pretty solid. Jim O'Brien was really good down the stretch and in the playoffs last year. He was the Senator's best player on the penalty kill. Da Costa looks good and they have a big kid Grant who will fight for a spot at a short training camp.

What is the kind of player the Hawks are looking to land? I suspect it is player like Smith. But, the price would be steep, especially after Ottawa dealt Foligno. I just don't believe the Hawks would be able to offer up the kind piece the Senators need.
- spatso

The deal that was discussed was essentially (with some add-ins) Hjalmarsson for Smith

The deal that was discussed was essentially (with some add-ins) Hjalmarsson for Smith
- John Jaeckel

Ottawa has some problems on defence I think - Jared Cowen has an injury, Gonchar and Philips are getting long in the tooth.

I'd be happy if Hammer could be used in trade to acquire Ben Bishop or Robin Lehner. Don't think they would give up a good center in return for #4 only.

According to TSN, an interesting provision of the new CBA:

Teams can only walk away from a player in salary arbitration if the award is at least $3.5 million.

E.g., the Hawks would have had to resign Niemi at the $2.5MM (wasn't it?) two years ago.

The deal that was discussed was essentially (with some add-ins) Hjalmarsson for Smith
- John Jaeckel

Possible, if Grant kid continues to grow his game.

Smith is a huge fan favorite in Ottawa. But, they need another top 4 Dman with Cowen gone for the season. Hjalmarsson would certainly look good to them and would be a good fit with the Swedes already on their roster.

Another issue in Ottawa is in goal. Lehner is the best goalie by far in the AHL. His backup (Ben Bishop) has been very good and is also ready for prime time. Anderson gave them real solid goaltending all last year. I think Ottawa is going to have to move a goalie to get the Dman they need.

Ottawa has some problems on defence I think - Jared Cowen has an injury, Gonchar and Philips are getting long in the tooth.

I'd be happy if Hammer could be used in trade to acquire Ben Bishop or Robin Lehner. Don't think they would give up a good center in return for #4 only.
- RickJ

Oops, you beat me there. Bishop makes sense. Anderson is a possibility. Lehner is gold in the Ottawa depth charts.

Oops, you beat me there. Bishop makes sense. Anderson is a possibility. Lehner is gold in the Ottawa depth charts.
- spatso

Bryan Murray is a shrewd evaluator of talent and for sure he and Melnyk want to beat the Leafs and that buffoon Brian Burke out of a playoff spot again. But he is going to have to shore up his defence corps or it won't matter who's in goal or up front. Maybe a bigger deal than just a Dman for a goalie. But I know for sure the Hawks need help in net.

Can teams buyout their own player and resign them immediately to a lower contract?

I hope the Hawks buyout Monty, and I don't know who else? Frolik? Crawford? Oduya the pizza man? Who else would be a candidate? Olesz?

Bryan Murray is a shrewd evaluator of talent and for sure he and Melnyk want to beat the Leafs and that buffoon Brian Burke out of a playoff spot again. But he is going to have to shore up his defence corps or it won't matter who's in goal or up front. Maybe a bigger deal than just a Dman for a goalie. But I know for sure the Hawks need help in net.
- RickJ

In addition, it appears that Pittsburgh is trying to do a deal to get Gonchar back. Bryan Murray has never had a problem with doing a big deal. Perhaps something does happen. It is going to have to be quick, training camp in 3 days!

Can teams buyout their own player and resign them immediately to a lower contract?

I hope the Hawks buyout Monty, and I don't know who else? Frolik? Crawford? Oduya the pizza man? Who else would be a candidate? Olesz?
- captainserious

Buyouts are after this season. Best to leave it on the back burner for now.

Sooooooo....

What are the chances that one side or the other fails to ratify this thing? Don't forget who we're dealing with here.

I'm not excited...yet.

Sooooooo....

What are the chances that one side or the other fails to ratify this thing? Don't forget who we're dealing with here.

I'm not excited...yet.
- Ogilthorpe2

As long as Bettman or Fehr don't have a vote, it is full speed ahead!

Sooooooo....

What are the chances that one side or the other fails to ratify this thing? Don't forget who we're dealing with here.

I'm not excited...yet.
- Ogilthorpe2

Its not over yet....

If and when this horse sh i t fiasco is over...i tip my hat to Dylan Olsen who told me after the Rockford/Toronto game that he expected a deal within 24 hours. I should have mentioned that in my post on the last thread...but with all the crushed hopes throughout this farce...i didn't bother.

Sooooooo....

What are the chances that one side or the other fails to ratify this thing? Don't forget who we're dealing with here.

I'm not excited...yet.
- Ogilthorpe2

I would think the only problem would be some "surprise" in the written formal document that pisses off one side or the other.

Absent that, what incentive would the players have to reject? They really got almost everything they wanted, given the 50/50 split to begin with. They went along withFehr from day one - the won't vote against him now.

There might be grumbling among the owners, but Bettman wouldn't have made the deal without knowing his constituents would support him

Possible, if Grant kid continues to grow his game.

Smith is a huge fan favorite in Ottawa. But, they need another top 4 Dman with Cowen gone for the season. Hjalmarsson would certainly look good to them and would be a good fit with the Swedes already on their roster.

Another issue in Ottawa is in goal. Lehner is the best goalie by far in the AHL. His backup (Ben Bishop) has been very good and is also ready for prime time. Anderson gave them real solid goaltending all last year. I think Ottawa is going to have to move a goalie to get the Dman they need.
- spatso

I think the Hawks could really use a top goalie prospect in Lehner over Smith.

Hjalmarsson (+?) for Lehner

Not only would the Hawks be dealing from a position of strength, (and Ottawa)but they would relieve some $ off their cap, as well as fill their biggest hole in the system.

I think the Hawks could really use a top goalie prospect in Lehner over Smith.

Hjalmarsson (+?) for Lehner

Not only would the Hawks be dealing from a position of strength, (and Ottawa)but they would relieve some $ off their cap, as well as fill their biggest hole in the system.
- hawks2010

Which is based on the premise that Brookbank and Rozsival have something left in the tank and are not the latest broken down has beens signed by StanBo...

Can teams buyout their own player and resign them immediately to a lower contract?

I hope the Hawks buyout Monty, and I don't know who else? Frolik? Crawford? Oduya the pizza man? Who else would be a candidate? Olesz?
- captainserious

Or Hossa in the summer of '14, IF his age seems to have caught up to him.

Or Hossa in the summer of '14, IF his age seems to have caught up to him.
- hawks2010

I could see Hossa retiring if that's the case.

Any word if the CBA contains any changes to the UFA or RFA statuses for players?