John Jaeckel: Why No PTO's?

#1

Plan C...save the little cap space left for the trade deadline.

Wow JJ,

I've been reading your blog for many years now, as you know, and this is one (and really the last 3 or 4) have been some of the most depressing/sobering in recent memory. I just hope we're pleasantly surprised and McNeil/Hartman ARE ready for the big club, Lundberg is as advertised, our upgraded D kicks some major A...and perhaps Bowman has a trick or two up his sleeve to fill out the rest of the roster. The way I'm looking at it, your basically preparing us readers for a 1st round playoff exit (if we even make it) barring some act of God

you way over pay at the trade deadline for guys that never really get comfortable in the system did Weiss and Flech a upgrade over what danult would have brought in the playoffs? No and we would have have the extra 2nd round pick and danult on as the 3-4 line center who is clearly a upgrade over Moose. Ladd was not bad in the playoffs but it was not like he was one our best players. Maybe middle of the road and we gave up a 1st and AB prospect for him. The only real advantage is teams are more likely to eat some of the contract late in the year then they would in OCT. 95% of the time you look back at a trade and are very underwhelmed how much the add to the team. I would rather swap SVED or GUS or POKKA or HARTMAN or TVR for a LW in OCT-NOV and let him get to know how to play with his linemates and in q's style.

JJ

I think the Blues have like 10 PTO players now, maybe more. I bet they have the same impact as the Hawks PTO players.

Part of me things maybe, at least you don't have a lot of guys who have no shot taking reps from other players.

John Jaeckel: Why No PTO's?
- John Jaeckel

Stanbo may be looking at his young gun N.A. squad and thinking why do I want to sign some veteran PTO guys looking for one last contract when I have a bunch of kids in the system looking for the chance to play. Right or wrong, he's looking to make this team younger, which is a good thing.

Last blog was telling us not to get over our Skies on any of these players (prospects) .Now I guess it the old saying never get to high or to low .The score in these games really is meaningless ,it is very unstructured hockey .More just individuals showcasing their individual talents .

I for one have said the HAWKS would not do much this offseason. Got a little caught up in the move Crow to save some Dough rumors .But really HAWKS are pretty set ,we never have complete team 2nd line Center 4thDman now 1ST OR 2ND LW . It is just the nature of the beast (cap) and all teams have holes . HAWKS went the short 1 true defensemen last year ,and it was tough .But still very close . I think the HAWKS core is better able to withstand a hole up front then in the backend .
I believe the HAWKS will have a couple young players (Hartman Schmaltz Motte McNiel ) out of that bunch .And 1 or 2 of older players (Rasmassen Lundberg Carrick ) playing in the line-up this coming year .
And they will make the playoffs and be a tough out very tough ..GO HAWKS !!!!!!

I like the Avs PTOs.

"a bleeding hemorrhoid called a maxed-out salary cap" -- HA!

Interesting point about the PTO's. I didn't really think about it, but they didn't invite anyone this year.

I thought David Booth might be a target of theirs for a PTO. Could have been a cheap LW pickup.

There is another option, they may have offered PTOs to a few players. Those players chose to go elsewhere. I think it's possible after seeing how some of the last additions have fared under Q. Flash, Weiss, Ehrhoff come to mind. I also don't recall any PTO's making the team. Then again my memory is terrible. Is it possible that Stan did contact a few players that chose to go elsewhere? I don't think that is out of the realm of possibilities.

I like the Avs PTOs.
- DDM-Coga

Didn't they invite Gabriel Bourque?

Always seemed like he had good energy.

Interesting point about the PTO's. I didn't really think about it, but they didn't invite anyone this year.

I thought David Booth might be a target of theirs for a PTO. Could have been a cheap LW pickup.
- Hank3Henshaw

Booth is a permanent annual resident of the injury reserved list. The Ducks are welcome to him.

Booth is a permanent annual resident of the injury reserved list. The Ducks are welcome to him.
- RickJ

Good point. He does get injured a lot.

Didn't they invite Gabriel Bourque?

Always seemed like he had good energy.
- Hank3Henshaw

Jiri Tlusty, Gabriel Boruque....and then Rene Bourque (boooo), but the 1st 2 guys could be good depth pick ups if they show up and have good camps

Plan C...save the little cap space left for the trade deadline.
- waitforawhistle

Most likely. And heaven-willing, they can keep that person(s) for more than 25 games.

Great blog JJ.

I'm still thinking that Bowman makes a trade by the end of training camp - moving out a defensemen in a package to pick up another forward.

Stanbo may be looking at his young gun N.A. squad and thinking why do I want to sign some veteran PTO guys looking for one last contract when I have a bunch of kids in the system looking for the chance to play. Right or wrong, he's looking to make this team younger, which is a good thing.
- RickJ

Would have been nice to have an under-23 good enough to be on TNA....

I just hope we're pleasantly surprised and McNeil/Hartman ARE ready for the big club...
- Murph76

My gut tells me that McNeill stays in Chicago - whether or not he's ready for the big club.

Great game - OUTSTANDING overtime - Outstanding goal by McKinnon.

TNA OT win.

Too bad if they don't move on.

But - King Hendrix appears to be back.

My gut tells me that McNeill stays in Chicago - whether or not he's ready for the big club.
- EKB13

I'm rooting for him, he's definitely put in the
time and seems the most ready out of all the
prospects/Hogs from what you've said Ek.

Would have been nice to have an under-23 good enough to be on TNA....
- StLBravesFan

That's an extremely elite team of kids. Even NHL vets like Saad and Couturier are basically spare tires with that squad.

Plan C...save the little cap space left for the trade deadline.
- waitforawhistle

Your right!..........so we can unload at the deadline once we are out of the playoff race, teams will over pay for that shot at the chalice just like we did........only prolly alittle smarter. Call me negative if you want boys, but smart hockey fans know right now , that with what we have right now and the. As they are called glaring holes in some spots , Q will ride thecrap out of his vets and come march they will be just plain beat down and wore out.
2nd thing here is the draft,in Chicago, these guys just roll the dice for this year and if they are out of it they can unload ?????? Gain significant cap space, possibly get a lotto draft pick , take the hit for a season , fans will. Be pacified with the 3cups, the core could still be some what strong the following Sept . And who knows what kind of cap space they can have going into FA July 1, 2017, McD will market the hell out of that draft come next spring anyway. Plus a big plum is Tazer gets a whole season of the great Panik on his wing plus some of the other line ups dreamt up on these boards. Unless there is a great poker hand atStans Table , I don't think my theory is that far off for a season boys????? You tell me! I'm listening !

Sticking it to Q? Really? Who came up with that? Who's in third grade?

Sure doesn't fit the 'one goal' narrative. Hopefully most games they score more than one goal.