John Jaeckel: Sens/Hawks Rumor and Prospect Update

What's your take on the Columbus situation now JJ, new GM and all?

I think it would have to be a major overpayment to land a guy like neil.

I am hearing the return for Neil would be a lower line forward

Not trying to be a homer, but the return for Neil should be a lot more than a lower line forward .... why would we trade down??

why would we trade a lower line player who's loved and brings ottawa exactly what they need, for a different lower line player, who nobody will care about, and probably doesn't bring what neil does?

1st - if hawks want neil, they'll have to overpay

2nd - with karlsson and spezza out, the season shot, and the sens likely icing a VERY young and inexperienced roster, the team will need his grit, toughness, and leadership moving forward.

I am hearing the return for Neil would be a lower line forward

Not trying to be a homer, but the return for Neil should be a lot more than a lower line forward .... why would we trade down??
- GadesnSens

You take a look at the lower line forwards for the Hawks, tell me none of them could not be return for Chris Neil. I can think of one or two or three, including the guy whose name I heard.

Then connect the dots. It would be a value for value deal. Different skills, but arguably equal value.

why would we trade a lower line player who's loved and brings ottawa exactly what they need, for a different lower line player, who nobody will care about, and probably doesn't bring what neil does?

1st - if hawks want neil, they'll have to overpay

2nd - with karlsson and spezza out, the season shot, and the sens likely icing a VERY young and inexperienced roster, the team will need his grit, toughness, and leadership moving forward.
- sensarmy_11

Look at the Hawks lower lines. Really?! There are 2-3 players there who have value and upside.

The guy whose name I heard—I think an argument can be made that he might be an overpayment for Neil.

Listen, I'm not saying this rumor will or should happen. But it seems to me your logic is maybe overvaluing Neil (who is a nice player) but not Gordie Howe either.

Wont have to worry about a trade for Neil if Kassian is picked up by the Hawks. Will it be announces today if Kassian was claimed by anyone ?

Wont have to worry about a trade for Neil if Kassian is picked up by the Hawks. Will it be announces today if Kassian was claimed by anyone ?
- mrpaulish

Lots of teams considering a claim on Kassian. Unlikely he will be there for the Hawks.

Look at the Hawks lower lines. Really?! There are 2-3 players there who have value and upside.

The guy whose name I heard—I think an argument can be made that he might be an overpayment for Neil.

Listen, I'm not saying this rumor will or should happen. But it seems to me your logic is maybe overvaluing Neil (who is a nice player) but not Gordie Howe either.
- John Jaeckel

Its a fact that Neil is overvalued here in Ottawa, thus the necessity to over pay to get him. We need the skill set that he brings, so if a team wants him, they'll have to pry him from our cold, dead mitts

What's your take on the Columbus situation now JJ, new GM and all?
- blackhawk24

Kekalainen is highly regarded as a talent evaluator. Davidson knows him. Only way to go is up for the BJs, who now have a strong GM, coach and some pieces on defense at least.

Lots of work to do. I'm not remotely sold on Mason or Bobrovsky. Very little talent upfront.

Look at the Hawks lower lines. Really?! There are 2-3 players there who have value and upside.

The guy whose name I heard—I think an argument can be made that he might be an overpayment for Neil.

Listen, I'm not saying this rumor will or should happen. But it seems to me your logic is maybe overvaluing Neil (who is a nice player) but not Gordie Howe either.
- John Jaeckel

i'm not arguing that they dont' have value.....saad and bolland are very nice pieces, who under normal circumstances i would gladly take on my team. that being said, circumstances in ottawa right now are not normal. ottawa NEEDS neil right now, and in order to move him, i think murray would need to REALLY good offer. especially when you consider that neil has actually been offensively productive this year, not just a physical presence.

Its a fact that Neil is overvalued here in Ottawa, thus the necessity to over pay to get him. We need the skill set that he brings, so if a team wants him, they'll have to pry him from our cold, dead mitts
- GadesnSens

Well, I will just say, not sure the deal should be made by either club, and I'll hold back on naming the Hawk forward for my own reasons. But I will say that he is a player with some superlative skill. Also, it is just a conversation as far as I'm told.

Look at the Hawks lower lines. Really?! There are 2-3 players there who have value and upside.

The guy whose name I heard—I think an argument can be made that he might be an overpayment for Neil.

Listen, I'm not saying this rumor will or should happen. But it seems to me your logic is maybe overvaluing Neil (who is a nice player) but not Gordie Howe either.
- John Jaeckel

Bolland is the only bottom 6 player I can see having enough value for the Sens to move Chris Neil - and that is arguably overpayment by the hawks.

That said, I don't think it's wise for the Sens, where we have Spezza, Turris, Zibanejad, Smith, O'Brien, Regin, and Da Costa down the middle when healthy, and would then have an even worse logjam at C ton our hands - plus, we'd then miss Chris Neil's presence in the locker room and on the ice, not to mention the fact he's a fan favorite.

Just don't see it happening, especially with the season shot now with Karlsson out - there's just no fit here.

i'm not arguing that they dont' have value.....saad and bolland are very nice pieces, who under normal circumstances i would gladly take on my team. that being said, circumstances in ottawa right now are not normal. ottawa NEEDS neil right now, and in order to move him, i think murray would need to REALLY good offer. especially when you consider that neil has actually been offensively productive this year, not just a physical presence.
- sensarmy_11

OK, Saad is not a lower line forward and at present, neither is Bolland.

Based on a limited sample size, it is hard to see Chris Neil ever getting the Sens Brandon Saad. And it might well be that Neil is untouchable and this was just a conversation.

That said, this comment and your earlier one tells me you are making some inaccurate assumptions about the Hawk roster and some of its players, including on the lower lines.

i'm not arguing that they dont' have value.....saad and bolland are very nice pieces, who under normal circumstances i would gladly take on my team. that being said, circumstances in ottawa right now are not normal. ottawa NEEDS neil right now, and in order to move him, i think murray would need to REALLY good offer. especially when you consider that neil has actually been offensively productive this year, not just a physical presence.
- sensarmy_11

Lol. Bolland and Saad are top 6 forwards on this years roster.

Bottom 6 : Shaw Bickell Stalberg Frolik Mayers Bollig

I think Frolik would be enough for Neil , different skill sets but equal value.

Bolland is the only bottom 6 player I can see having enough value for the Sens to move Chris Neil - and that is arguably overpayment by the hawks.

That said, I don't think it's wise for the Sens, where we have Spezza, Turris, Zibanejad, Smith, O'Brien, Regin, and Da Costa down the middle when healthy, and would then have an even worse logjam at C ton our hands - plus, we'd then miss Chris Neil's presence in the locker room and on the ice, not to mention the fact he's a fan favorite.

Just don't see it happening, especially with the season shot now with Karlsson out - there's just no fit here.
- TommyDeVito

He's not the player I heard. And he's not a bottom 6 player for the Hawks.

There could be no fit. Although I did not hear this specifically, it seems to me this is a Hawk-initiated conversation based on their needs.

But it would hurt to lose Frolik at this point in time because hes been awesome on the #1 PK in the NHL

Well, I will just say, not sure the deal should be made by either club, and I'll hold back on naming the Hawk forward for my own reasons. But I will say that he is a player with some superlative skill. Also, it is just a conversation as far as I'm told.
- John Jaeckel

I will respect your discretion, but will assume that (and not stirring the pot) the emergence of Saad is making the team more comfortable letting this guy go.

Or perhaps he is not a roster player for Hawks?

You know this is part of the drill JJ.

I will respect your discretion, but will assume that (and not stirring the pot) the emergence of Saad is making the team more comfortable letting this guy go.
- TrueGrit

I think that is a fair assumption, though I did not hear that. And I think you are probably thinking of the right guy.

Great read JJ. I think at this point I would prefer Zack Smith over Neil. Only supelative skill player playing in the bottom 6 I can think of that could be available is Stalberg. The meets the overpayment you mentionned, but if SB has talked to his agent and it does not look like the Hawks will be able to afford him next year I could see him going and Neil filling in on the 3rd line. I would prefer that Shaw get moved back to wing, Kruger move up to the 3rd line, and Zack Smith take over the 4th line duties. Do you think Mayers will get offered around the league or waived? He was a veteran spark plug last year, and this year's O'Donnell/Brunette...nothing left in the tank.

Well, I will just say, not sure the deal should be made by either club, and I'll hold back on naming the Hawk forward for my own reasons. But I will say that he is a player with some superlative skill. Also, it is just a conversation as far as I'm told.
- John Jaeckel

Not sure I'd give Kruger on this one. To me he has tremendous upside. He's only scratching the surface of what he can be. I am totally impressed by his overall game, especially on the kill.

OK, Saad is not a lower line forward and at present, neither is Bolland.

Based on a limited sample size, it is hard to see Chris Neil ever getting the Sens Brandon Saad. And it might well be that Neil is untouchable and this was just a conversation.

That said, this comment and your earlier one tells me you are making some inaccurate assumptions about the Hawk roster and some of its players, including on the lower lines.
- John Jaeckel

i don't pretend to be an expert...i just went to the hawks page, looked at the depth chart, and those 2 guys were in your bottom six.

i wasn't saying that neil is worth saad, i think that would be a big overpayment by chicago, i was just saying that he was a valuable player that i thought was in your bottom six (it was in reply to you saying i didn't think there was any value in your bottom six).

who would be your bottom six then? bollig, kruger, shaw, frolik..... the only one i think ottawa would be interested in would be shaw, but not sure the hawks would move him for neil, given his age and potential

Not sure I'd give Kruger on this one. To me he has tremendous upside. He's only scratching the surface of what he can be. I am totally impressed by his overall game, especially on the kill.
- blackhawk24

Well, Kruger is one of the 2-3 guys I mentioned who have upside, not going to say right now who I heard in connection with this. But I will also say Kruger is highly thought of throughout the NHL.

Not sure I'd give Kruger on this one. To me he has tremendous upside. He's only scratching the surface of what he can be. I am totally impressed by his overall game, especially on the kill.
- blackhawk24

I would think Frolik or Stalberg would be the piece that can get Neil