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Heard from a solid source this afternoon on a range of subjects:
KESLER
The Hawks are interested for a variety of good reasons, but Vancouver’s asking price is high.
SHARP
Add Winnipeg, in need of a shake-up and close to Sharp’s hometown of Thunder Bay, ON (well, close by Canadian geographic standards) to the list of Canadian teams (Toronto and Montreal reported previously) looking at the Hawk winger.
This source confirmed what another source had yesterday on the Canadiens’ interest. Deals with either club, I’m told, could be multi-player transactions.
Winnipeg is an intriguing angle. Sharp automatically brings the credibility of 2 Stanley Cup wins and the marketability of, well, Patrick Sharp. If you want a “face… for your franchise, Sharp certainly qualifies. Don’t discount the hometown boy angle.
The other thing here is Jet GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s proclivity for ex-Hawks.
But here’s what’s even more interesting. While Cheveldayoff might be looking to ship out troublesome but uber-talented Evander Kane, the Hawks had some interest this past season in their former property, Andrew Ladd, the current Jet captain. Ladd, in turn, was rumored to have not been a huge fan of Sharp’s when both wore the Indianhead.
Ladd is precisely the kind of player—more so than the enigmatic Kane— the Hawks lacked and needed sorely versus LA in these past playoffs.
The plot thickens.
FRONT OFFICE
This source has now tipped me twice on a brewing front office battle between Team President John McDonough and his Special Assistant Al McIsaac and just about the rest of the club’s management.
Lacking a lot of detail, it seems that there is growing resentment over McDonough’s need to be involved in all decisions and taking credit for the ones that pan out well.
No huge surprise there, but if there is such a rift, it could very negatively impact the Hawks’ decision-making process, alignment and nimbleness this offseason.
Have you heard this song before? Dial back to about 10-12 years or more ago, when the Bill Wirtz front office was characterized by power struggles within a front office overcrowded with titles and functionaries.
HANDZUS
99% likely to retire this offseason, I’m told.
More as I have it,
JJ