John Jaeckel: Hawks Will Be In On Suter

first

I would love it if this happened but isn't this just the Soupy contract all over again unless the Hawks do one of the long term Keith/Hossa deals? It was rumored that Suter was looking for $7mil per year.

And #20 jersey is available!

Chelios and Suter looked great together as will Seabs and Suter!

I would love it if this happened but isn't this just the Soupy contract all over again unless the Hawks do one of the long term Keith/Hossa deals? It was rumored that Suter was looking for $7mil per year.
- dan9189

Better player than Campbell, probably won't be for as long a term and maybe better fit under the new CBA.

Think about it: Hjalmarsson and Oduya for Suter. DONE. Montador and Olsen are 5-6.

To make Suter work you need to get rid of one of two contracts (Hossa or Sharp). Otherwise Hawks are back in cap hell.

Chelios and Suter looked great together as will Seabs and Suter!
- PFD_Hawks

Who was the better Hawks defensive pairing? Chelios and Suter or Keith and Seabrook? For my money its Chelios and Suter.

Ryan Suter in Chicago would make me a happy camper, although I am not getting my hopes up at this point. A lot can happen between now and July 1st but my fingers are crossed.

I'm not sure Hjalmersson's contract will be that easy to move this summer. We're not the only people who know that he sucks.

To make Suter work you need to get rid of one of two contracts (Hossa or Sharp). Otherwise Hawks are back in cap hell.
- roenick

Not necessarily at all. In addition to cap growth, you have to factor in salaries that will/might be gone as well. Start with Hjalmarsson and Oduya.

It is very workable potentially.

Am I reading too much into this, will Gary suter be the asst coach?

I'm not sure Hjalmersson's contract will be that easy to move this summer. We're not the only people who know that he sucks.
- Dieselhead

Again, disagree. I don't think he sucks. Never have. In fact, I think a lot of Hawk fans underrate him quite a bit. People point to his $3.5 million salary and I won't argue he's mor elike a $2.5 million-3 million defenseman. But he is young, has more ceiling and is a top 5 guy on most teams.

Am I reading too much into this, will Gary suter be the asst coach?
- powerenforcer

Whatever it takes, if you lower Keith's minutes to a #3 level, I think he returns to top form as well.

If you guys sign Suter can you please send us Seabrook for Yakupov?

Cap problem fixed and Yakupov will likely be a impact player right away.

If you guys sign Suter can you please send us Seabrook for Yakupov?

Cap problem fixed and Yakupov will likely be a impact player right away.
- gretzky

No thanks!!!

No thanks!!!
- nelli312

worth a shot

Yes, the Campbell contract was an albatross, but I think partly due to the way that Q used Campbell. If Campbell was a shut-down D man with a friggin' cannon on the PP, I doubt anyone would b*tch.

Isn't the big question on D with Montador? How is he recovering? When or If he plays is he going to be able to handle a full season? Lot of question marks when dealing with concussions.

Again, disagree. I don't think he sucks. Never have. In fact, I think a lot of Hawk fans underrate him quite a bit. People point to his $3.5 million salary and I won't argue he's mor elike a $2.5 million-3 million defenseman. But he is young, has more ceiling and is a top 5 guy on most teams.
- John Jaeckel

Most will say it takes 200-300 NHL games to really solidify a defensemen. Hjarms is at 260, I think his best is yet to come.

If you move Bolland (insert Kruger) and Hjalmarsson (insert Suter), the cap $$$ that leaves is $6.875. So if that's the deal to get the cap relief to bring in Suter, that's a no brainer!

Add to the fact that Bolland and Hjalmarsson will likely bring back a pretty decent return in NHL ready players and/or picks/prospects, I'm all for doing a deal like this for starters to help solidify our D. I'd still bring in a Carkner and Konopka to add needed grit, and Konopka is a faceoff stud and would look really good on our 4th line...

Adding Suter will likely allow Keith to play less minutes, which we all agree should (should!) help his game. Suter can play both PP and PK, and is a huge upgrade to one dimensional Hjalmarsson.

Guess I'm going to root for the Coyotes to bounce the Preds very soon, as that will likely help stamp Suter's ticket out of Nashville...

everyone will be in on Suter. welcome to the party.

seriously though, the preds are imploding. if this is how their season ends there's no way he's back. and if he leaves I think Weber leaves next year too.

Serious question though:

Is there a single team in the NHL that won't be in on Suter?

#1 D man for nothing but cash is smart for any team unless it's a huge overpayment cap hit wise or too long of a deal.

Cap implications can be worked out after signing.

Suter solves a lot of problems. He brings intelligent defense (read: low PIM), size, mobility, left handed point shot (hello power play), and big minute endurance.

So now your top three D men are truly top three. But does that just mean that its another 25-30 min player that gets used up while the bottom pairing stays on the bench for 56 minutes a game? Are Monty and Olsen really the future third line? Really??

Yeah, Oduya and Hammer are a salary wash for a $6.5-7MM contract. So you are back to even to get the rest of the pieces you need - 2C, big winger, size on D.

And I'm sorry, Dave Bolland needs to stay - at least until there is a bonafide and NHL performance level verifiable player who is as good or better than he is to take his place. And I am sorry, how many NHL games has Danault played in? Oh yeah - zero. Kruger - one year of NHL play and undersized. Can any of us objectively say that if Bolland got hit by a bus tomorrow that Kruger could perform equal to or better than the Rat? Unless that is a resounding yes answer, it is too soon to think about trading Bolland. Let Kruger earn his chops as the center of the fourth line, and when he can add some muscle and prove he can win 45% or more of his faceoffs you spot play him on the third line to audition for the role in time for Bolland's contract to expire.

Better to focus on dumping/trading the train wrecks brought in with the Campbell money. Sometimes you add just as much by subtracting.

I just hope that Suter + rookies is not the game plan, because that is not enough either.

everyone will be in on Suter. welcome to the party.

seriously though, the preds are imploding. if this is how their season ends there's no way he's back. and if he leaves I think Weber leaves next year too.
- hereticpride

Don't discount the Chicago/Madison factor. Trust me.

Suter solves a lot of problems. He brings intelligent defense (read: low PIM), size, mobility, left handed point shot (hello power play), and big minute endurance.

So now your top three D men are truly top three. But does that just mean that its another 25-30 min player that gets used up while the bottom pairing stays on the bench for 56 minutes a game? Are Monty and Olsen really the future third line? Really??

Yeah, Oduya and Hammer are a salary wash for a $6.5-7MM contract. So you are back to even to get the rest of the pieces you need - 2C, big winger, size on D.

And I'm sorry, Dave Bolland needs to stay - at least until there is a bonafide and NHL performance level verifiable player who is as good or better than he is to take his place. And I am sorry, how many NHL games has Danault played in? Oh yeah - zero. Kruger - one year of NHL play and undersized. Can any of us objectively say that if Bolland got hit by a bus tomorrow that Kruger could perform equal to or better than the Rat? Unless that is a resounding yes answer, it is too soon to think about trading Bolland. Let Kruger earn his chops as the center of the fourth line, and when he can add some muscle and prove he can win 45% or more of his faceoffs you spot play him on the third line to audition for the role in time for Bolland's contract to expire.

Better to focus on dumping/trading the train wrecks brought in with the Campbell money. Sometimes you add just as much by subtracting.

I just hope that Suter + rookies is not the game plan, because that is not enough either.
- Return of the Roar

Kruger is undersized but Bolland isn't? They're the same size and kruger will likely end up bigger when he matures.

Today, I take Bolland over Kruger. A year from now? I'm not so sure. That's what you pay scouts and GMs for. And people who've made a lot more evaluating hockey players than you or I have are very high on Marcus Kruger.