John Jaeckel: Christmas In August

First

2nd

I have a feeling Oduya will be the odd man out when Stan finally gets under thae cap. Shedding JO's contract brings us under the cap and allows Stan the flexibility to roll with 23 players.

Keeping the Leddy of today over Oduya certainly makes no sense. But it's hard to ignore how young Leddy the potential he has. Personally I would still keep Oduya, but I can see the benefit of going with Leddy. Ideally Stan finds a taker and trades Roszival for a pick (or even future considerations) but that may be difficult.

Do you think you guys will take a run at MDZ for a cheap 1m contract if you are able to move Versteeg and Rozi? Or are you going with with Runblad on the 3rd pairing?

I find it weird Del Zotto isn't signed and it feels like hes waiting for a team like you guys or Boston to become cap compliant first

Yeah....I don't think Oduya goes anywhere this year, Johnny is part of the next run
and despite whatJJ thinks, I also think Rosival is a steal at his pay if a team loses a top six guy or realizes someone they thought WAS one, is one.
Now Versteeg gets more bites after he looks more like post knee injury Versteeg, so that would men a nice showing in tranning camp and then there will be interest.

I just don't see the corner being small that you are all painting the Hawks into...if push comes to show there are plenty botton end standing teams with roomy Caps who would value a third rounder as part of the Hawk package to take a rostered player

Do you think you guys will take a run at MDZ for a cheap 1m contract if you are able to move Versteeg and Rozi? Or are you going with with Runblad on the 3rd pairing?

I find it weird Del Zotto isn't signed and it feels like hes waiting for a team like you guys or Boston to become cap compliant first
- DDM-Coga

If Stan deals a defenseman he'll need to sign another one or give Cumiskey a shot. Dealing Oduya would give Stan just over $1.1 million in cap space and I'd rather see Brookbank brought back than taking a chance in MDZ.

As much as I love him, I think a Sharp deal makes the best sense. The Hawks could Ice a top six of Toews, Richards, Bickell, Kane Saad and Hossa. And a bottom 6 from the likes of Kruger, Shaw, Regin, Smith, Versteeg, Morin, Nordstrom (plus any young pups from the farm, AND what comes back from the Sharp deal, which should easily be another 3rd and 4th liner or two).

I just think the Hawks have more depth at forward and with the emergence of Saad, and the arrival of Richards, can withstand a departure of Sharp. I don't like breaking up the d-men of Keith, Hammer, Seabrook, Leddy and Oduya.....those 5 are a solid five to work with and need only a stedy 6 and 7 to complement them.

Time will tell, but I think with the right return....Sharp is the way to go...he will fetch the biggest return, AND shed the biggest Cap hit....

Yeah....I don't think Oduya goes anywhere this year,
and also think Rosival is a steal at his pay if a team loses a top six guy or realizes someone they thought WAS one, is one.
Now Versteeg gets more bites after he looks more like post knee injury Versteeg, so that would men a nice showing in tranning camp and then there will be interest.

I just don't see the corner being small that you are all painting the Hawks into...if push comes to show there are plenty botton end standing teams with roomy Caps who would value a third rounder as part of the Hawk package to take a rostered player

- wiz1901

The Red Wings could use Rozsival they're defense needs some work and the addition of a veteran RH defenseman would help.

D

I find it weird Del Zotto isn't signed and it feels like hes waiting for a team like you guys or Boston to become cap compliant first
- DDM-Coga

The fact is DelZotto is lousy in his end in many phases...

He thinks he is still a promising project with upside that deserves top four minutes and more compensation that an on the job training player deserves.

And if you didn't think the Ranger dump was enough to dissuade other NHL competitors the very fact that Nashville told him no interest/tell your story walking...might have REALLY had all other teams see flashing caution signs with him.

Just think about it- here, everyone can't find any love for Rosival....compare him to DelZotto and you see one guy whose on the decline but does all the little things with his aging skill package to defend.

It's a no brainer imo.

I am presently in Broadway, Virgina in a KOA...88 but the temps in the mountains started dropping as soon as we got out of their pool.

As much as I love him, I think a Sharp deal makes the best sense. The Hawks could Ice a top six of Toews, Richards, Bickell, Kane Saad and Hossa. And a bottom 6 from the likes of Kruger, Shaw, Regin, Smith, Versteeg, Morin, Nordstrom (plus any young pups from the farm, AND what comes back from the Shgasrp deal, which should easily be another 3rd and 4th liner or two).

I just think the Hawks have more depth at forward and with the emergence of Saad, and the arrival of Richards, can withstand a departure of Sharp. I don't like breaking up the d-men of Keith, Hammer, Seabrook, Leddy and Oduya.....those 5 are a solid five to work with and need only a stedy 6 and 7 to complement them.

Time will tell, but I think with the right return....Sharp is the way to go...he will fetch the biggest return, AND shed the biggest Cap hit....
- hawk35

I think the Hawks want to take another run at the cup next season and Sharp will be included in that run. After this season Stan will need to clear up some cap space and I'd expect to Stan to move Sharp and maybe another contract.

I think the Hawks want to take another run at the cup next season and Sharp will be included in that run. After this season Stan will need to clear up some cap space and I'd expect to Stan to move Sharp and maybe another contract.
- DarthKane

What in the world gives you that idea?

I think the Hawks want to take another run at the cup next season and Sharp will be included in that run. After this season Stan will need to clear up some cap space and I'd expect to Stan to move Sharp and maybe another contract.
- DarthKane

Agree completely...seriously doubt Sharp goes anywhere before next offseason at the earliest. And if Sharp has another productive year I'm sure they'd want to keep him even longer... althought the cap may force a move with the new T&K contracts kick'n in after next season.

What in the world gives you that idea?
- Jeropotato

Voices. Slow in the Oiler thread, huh?

Agree completely...seriously doubt Sharp goes anywhere before next offseason at the earliest. And if Sharp has another productive year I'm sure they'd want to keep him even longer... althought the cap may force a move with the new T&K contracts kick'n in after next season.
- ArlingtonRob

What are your winger prospect like? Would you ever move Teravainen to the Wing? Morin could make the big jump for an increased role? Hartman close in his development?

It will be interesting to see if any of those young guys take the next step in their development. Would make it a lot easier to move out Sharp for Cap reasons if you have a young guy ready to take his spot instead of trying to find a cheaper replacement for him via Trade.

What in the world gives you that idea?
- Jeropotato

The Force.

What are your winger prospect like? Would you ever move Teravainen to the Wing? Morin could make the big jump for an increased role? Hartman close in his development?

It will be interesting to see if any of those young guys take the next step in their development. Would make it a lot easier to move out Sharp for Cap reasons if you have a young guy ready to take his spot instead of trying to find a cheaper replacement for him via Trade.
- DDM-Coga

RH and LH. No. Remains to be seen. A year away.

Thanks for stopping by.

The Force.
- DarthKane

I was guessing gas. Soo close.

We can't win next year unless we are better and we can't be better by getting rid of Sharp..........it's sort of a crazy thing to even contemplate............me thinks it must be Leddy and giving up on what might be for a shot in 2015.......that's not to say he won't be a wonderful player but we can be better without him

I was guessing gas. Soo close.
- Elbows15

They're pretty much the same thing.

If I'm Bowman, it's less about who I give up and more about who or what I get in return. If there's a team that really covets Sharp, Oduya, Bickell and/or Leddy to part with significant assets to get him/them, then that's the deal I make.

That stated, the Hawks would miss Oduya a lot more than Sharp, IMO. This is despite Sharp being their leading scorer last year, perhaps their best leader in the Cup Final vs. the Bruins just two years ago, and an alternate captain for years. Also despite Oduya constantly frustrating me with his turnovers.

What differentiates the Hawks most IMO is their blue line, particularly their second pairing. I've read complaints here about the Hawks' blue line depth but how many teams have a better second pairing than Hjalmarsson and Oduya? Better than the top pairing on many teams. Then having a guy like Leddy in the third pairing is a major bonus, almost an extra weapon you can bring out that most teams don't have. This kind of blue line depth separates the Hawks from, say, the Penguins, and from just about every team in the NHL (Kings have a good pairing, I'm sure there are others). Now, if you move Leddy to the second pairing, he goes from a bonus to shaky, and one of the best second pairings in hockey becomes merely very good. If you lose Oduya, you lose a lot.

On this team, if you lose Sharp, guys will pick up the offense. Any player who plays with Toews and Hossa for most of the year as Sharp did will score a bunch of goals, even a healthy Bickell might score 15-20 in that role. Saad looks ready for a regular top-six role, perhaps alongside Kane and Richards. While every team can use another scorer, especially one as versatile as Sharpie, he's probably more redundant on this team than he would be on most others.

If I'm Bowman, it's less about who I give up and more about who or what I get in return. If there's a team that really covets Sharp, Oduya, Bickell and/or Leddy to part with significant assets to get him/them, then that's the deal I make.

That stated, the Hawks would miss Oduya a lot more than Sharp, IMO. This is despite Sharp being their leading scorer last year, perhaps their best leader in the Cup Final vs. the Bruins just two years ago, and an alternate captain for years. Also despite Oduya constantly frustrating me with his turnovers.

What differentiates the Hawks most IMO is their blue line, particularly their second pairing. I've read complaints here about the Hawks' blue line depth but how many teams have a better second pairing than Hjalmarsson and Oduya? Better than the top pairing on many teams. Then having a guy like Leddy in the third pairing is a major bonus, almost an extra weapon you can bring out that most teams don't have. This kind of blue line depth separates the Hawks from, say, the Penguins, and from just about every team in the NHL (Kings have a good pairing, I'm sure there are others). Now, if you move Leddy to the second pairing, he goes from a bonus to shaky, and one of the best second pairings in hockey becomes merely very good. If you lose Oduya, you lose a lot.

On this team, if you lose Sharp, guys will pick up the offense. Any player who plays with Toews and Hossa for most of the year as Sharp did will score a bunch of goals, even a healthy Bickell might score 15-20 in that role. Saad looks ready for a regular top-six role, perhaps alongside Kane and Richards. While every team can use another scorer, especially one as versatile as Sharpie, he's probably more redundant on this team than he would be on most others.

- RomanF

Agree

JJ am I reading too much into your blog? Didn't Sharp have a shoulder injury late last season and in the PO? You didn't wish him in the section of players who need health and healing. Are you hinting that Sharp will be the big salary gone before opening game?

Sharp to NYI for Josh Bailey and 2015 2nd.

If Stan deals a defenseman he'll need to sign another one or give Cumiskey a shot. Dealing Oduya would give Stan just over $1.1 million in cap space and I'd rather see Brookbank brought back than taking a chance in MDZ.
- DarthKane

Wasn't Oduya still in the walking boot at the convention? If so, will he be ready for the start of the season? If not, Stan doesn't have to make a move now. Oduya starts the year on LTIR and Stan can wait until Oduya is almost ready to go and some teams have seen what they're lacking in the early part of the season.

JJ am I reading too much into your blog? Didn't Sharp have a shoulder injury late last season and in the PO? You didn't wish him in the section of players who need health and healing. Are you hinting that Sharp will be the big salary gone before opening game?

Sharp to NYI for Josh Bailey and 2015 2nd.
- powerenforcer

He sure played like he was hurt. I found it odd that we didn't get the laundry list of injuries after the Hawks were eliminated as is customary. Also, Sharp himself begged off answering the question.