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First off, kudos and congratulations to the L.A. Kings and their fans. What a great series.
Second, you have to give credit to the Hawks. They left everything on the ice. But everything just wasn't quite enough this year—so close, but not enough.
They came within one sort of fluky goal of getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals in two consecutive years and possibly becoming the first repeat Champions in the salary cap era.
But who—and hopefully not the Hawk front office—wants to rest on those laurels?
The truth is, the Kings might not have matched the Hawks' blueline depth (although, certainly, one of my favorites, Niklas Halmarsson, could take roasting this morning for falling asleep on Marian Gaborik's game-tying goal with 7 minutes left), but the Hawks were outmatched up the middle (at center) and in terms of size/speed combination.
And that's where Stan Bowman needs to get busy this offseason.
This organization can't—and won't—be satisfied with what just transpired. If anything, it's testament to the character and talent they have. They just need some help this offseason.
To that end, I have heard from two strong sources now that changes are coming.
Specifically, the Hawks like their blue line depth, and they like their prospect blue line depth, so much that they just might be shipping one Johnny Oduya out (Calgary could be the team) for prospects and picks. Oduya's spot would then be filled by a matriculating Nick Leddy (who can't be blamed for L.A.'s game-wnning goal last night).
The Hawks love prospects Stephen Johns and Klas Dahlbeck. Dahlbeck, a Hjalmarsson clone, is the closer of the two. He and a solid veteran would form the third pair.
With the cap dollars recouped by moving Oduya and perhaps another asset in a deal, the Hawks could make a move on another center who fits somewhere on lines 2 or 3. Michal Handzus has had more lives than a cat. Andrew Shaw is probably better on the wing. That, in turn, has put too much pressure on Jonathan Toews and Marcus Kruger.
Don't be too terribly surprised also if the latest shiny object of the Hawk marketing machine, Teuvo teravainen, gets moved to bring back a center. You have to give to get. Teravainen is a really nice prospect with obvious upside. He's also another 170 pound forward (the last thing the Hawks need) and might not be a center in the NHL either.
Finally, I'm told the Hawks will make a move, if vancouver is entertaining, on center Ryan Kesler of the Canucks. Discussions took place with then-Vancouver GM Mike Gillis a few months ago.
I'll pass along more as I hear it.
Wow. Tough way to lose, but no doubt, the Kings earned it.
JJ