Winner of most ridiculous post on hockeybuzz...and that is saying something!
- ozzzie19

please explain what was ridiculous about it? ott and neil play the EXACT same type of game, and have very similar point production.

was ott not traded for derek roy.....so expecting neil to be had for some plugs is pretty ridiculous.l

O'Reilly
- John Jaeckel

at $5 +mil/year...for a Cup run ? I'll take the 26 year old vet over a 20 year old legend in his own mind.

You might be right about him being a star. But you also can't assume his being a star will guarantee the Hawks are ever this close again. There are those who want to believe—and have said as much—that the prospects including Saad will automatically replace this core.

IMO, the only guy who has shown that promise is Teravainen. Saad has 2 points in 12 games, playing alongside two likely Hall of Famers. Doesn't mean he's a bad prospect. Lots to like, making some pretty outstanding athletic plays, but there are some gaps in his game (in spite of all the ridiculous hype that's out there—he is not a complete NHL top 6 PF yet by any stretch). I will also tell you that he has had 10, 20, 30 game spurts in his career that blow people's doors off, then suddenly he gets "complacent." How many games, honestly, have you actually seen him play?

Promising young players get dealt for older stars all the time.
- John Jaeckel

That's how Iginla landed in Calgary.

I question whether Iginla can skate with the Hawks, and I KNOW that Patrick Kane is less effective on the left side, period.
- wiz1901

Valid points.

please explain what was ridiculous about it? ott and neil play the EXACT same type of game, and have very similar point production.

was ott not traded for derek roy.....so expecting neil to be had for some plugs is pretty ridiculous.l
- sensarmy_11

Valid argument on your point, but honestly, I don't quite equate Neil to Ott, though they are similar style players.

Tracey Myers ‏@TramyersCSN
Good news, boys and girls: next shootout, Marian Hossa will be one of the contestants on the Shot is Right. #Blackhawks

Hope he proves me wrong...but Hoss is a mail in specialist in the shootout...it looked like a chore to him. Hope he proves me wrong.
- philco28

He's got to be better than Sharpie, right?

Come on....


So the plan is - move Hossa or Sharp to acquire Chris Neil and Ryan O'Reilly to capitalize on the Toews's small window. Those two players give the 'Hawks a better chance to capitalize on that small window than Hossa and Sharp? Really?

Moving Bolland is the only part of that proposed plan that makes any sense, if O'Rielly can be had.

You keep using the phrase "it would not be difficult." Running head first into walls isn't too difficult either - doesn't make it smart or productive.
- FredoXV

No. Trouble reading?

You can amnesty or trade Sharp or Hossa if there are cap issues AFTER winning the Cup this year. And no one will care because they just won and the few that do won't matter in terms of selling tickets.

Hoss has mad skills...but in tight, if he tries to deke...haven't seen him pull it off. Last few s/o chances i recall him taking...i was pretty sour when i saw him come in with NO SPEED and flip a weak arse shot straight at the goalie.

Would love to see him fly in full speed and wire a well placed shot to one of the four corners or go fin hole.
- philco28

Well, as many games are going to the SO, could be Hoss has something special cooked up for Nemo, who he has to know pretty well. Book on Nemo is go high.

Valid argument on your point, but honestly, I don't quite equate Neil to Ott, though they are similar style players.
- John Jaeckel

it's certainly much better than equating him to mike brown or carcillo, which were some of the earlier comparisons.

i'm not saying neil is going to fetch a 70pt center, but his worth is certainly close enough to ott's that make som of the earlier suggestions of his worth (not by you, but some other posts) ridiculous.

neil has a lot of value, he's not a "dime a dozen" 4th line player. there's a reason that lots of teams show interest in him pretty much every year, around trade deadline.

You might be right about him being a star. But you also can't assume his being a star will guarantee the Hawks are ever this close again. There are those who want to believe—and have said as much—that the prospects including Saad will automatically replace this core.

IMO, the only guy who has shown that promise is Teravainen. Saad has 2 points in 12 games, playing alongside two likely Hall of Famers. Doesn't mean he's a bad prospect. Lots to like, making some pretty outstanding athletic plays, but there are some gaps in his game (in spite of all the ridiculous hype that's out there—he is not a complete NHL top 6 PF yet by any stretch). I will also tell you that he has had 10, 20, 30 game spurts in his career that blow people's doors off, then suddenly he gets "complacent." How many games, honestly, have you actually seen him play?

Promising young players get dealt for older stars all the time.
- John Jaeckel

Look at the Kings last year. Come playoff time they brought up Nolan and King and those two were bangers throughout the playoffs, very successful, chipping in a couple big goals as well. These are guys that we should have waiting in the wings in Rockford. IMO, this is where failure has come in scouting plan. Saad is dynamite and like you said there is a lot to like, but if he is an intrical part to a move that would bring a power forward from the East, you have to make that move. Saad is good but like i noted before, his skillset is not one in a million. You can find guys through the draft that do exactly the same things. Guys like Hossa and Kane and Toews have Skill sets that you cant just find year after year.

No. Trouble reading?

You can amnesty or trade Sharp or Hossa if there are cap issues AFTER winning the Cup this year. And no one will care because they just won and the few that do won't matter in terms of selling tickets.
- fattybeef

IF they won the cup this year...wouldn't you think that they could likely trade one or the other (most likely Sharp)? Why amnesty if you can trade one, get something in return, and not have to pay off the remainder of the contract?

Hawks offersheet O'Reilly for 4.6-5 million per year give up picks 1, 2, 3. Have two fully functional face off winning top lines. A reliable hard hitting veteran presence and become very very difficult to play against.

Not difficult.
- fattybeef

...and the RFA signing rules state you can only trade your teams 1st, 2nd, 3rd round picks, etc. NOT go out and get some new ones.

This was why Burke came to Bowman to reacquire a Toronto draft pick he needed to sign Kessel (when he thought he was just going to outwardly sign Kessel as opposed to the trade he finally made...
- wiz1901

Fair enough

Getting O'reilly is a real long shot especially being in the same Conference, but it would definitely be an upgrade over Bolland offensively. Defensively probably not.
Who would you rather have as your second line center JJ? O'Reilly or Bolland?
- Greek7

I'll take Bolland at $3.375 over O'Reilly at $5+.

I know I am going to get burned, but if Stan is talking to colorado, he should offer Keith and Bolland for Statsney and Downie.

Yes, I know Keith has a NMC.
- powerenforcer

You do know Downie is out for the year right?

That would do...notice though how he didn't take a skating start before touching the puck...he's got great speed...he should use it to try to put more pressure on the goalie...

this would do too


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG9bsm1M0Y0
- philco28

Good God, it isn't brain surgery. Thanks for posting, Phil. I want to see the glove that stops that. Maybe Roy. And he also had the stick side corner too.

He's got to be better than Sharpie, right?
- fourfeathers

at this point, yes....but Sharpie at least hit the post or bar in one of his tries

So forget Iginla....

Do you think right now, this team, can win a Stanley cup constructed as is?
- SteveRain

Shhhh.... He's enjoying the ride.

IF they won the cup this year...wouldn't you think that they could likely trade one or the other (most likely Sharp)? Why amnesty if you can trade one, get something in return, and not have to pay off the remainder of the contract?
- frafra

Did I not put amnesty OR trade?

Did I not put amnesty OR trade?
- fattybeef

whoops! wasn't attacking! just misread it!

Good God, it isn't brain surgery. Thanks for posting, Phil. I want to see the glove that stops that. Maybe Roy. And he also had the stick side corner too.
- John Jaeckel

I'd like US see more of that from Hoss instead of these limp wrist shots along the ice from 40 feet out.

SHOW US THAT SLAPPER 81

I'll take Bolland at $3.375 over O'Reilly at $5+.
- Ogilthorpe2

The question was who do you prefer as your 2C. O'Reilly is a 2C. Bolland is a very, very good 3C.

You do know Downie is out for the year right?
- yahoodi

Did not know that. Haven't followed things closely.

I take my offer off the table.

The question was who do you prefer as your 2C. O'Reilly is a 2C. Bolland is a very, very good 3C.
- John Jaeckel

Last year I thought RoR looked like a mini-Toews, just not as advanced as CAPT Serious was at that age.

The question was who do you prefer as your 2C. O'Reilly is a 2C. Bolland is a very, very good 3C.
- John Jaeckel

Ok JJ...good point to differentiate...but where do you get the cheese to pay the brat ?

I know when you compare both players in their prime that comparisons of any kind seem absurd, but the whole Brunette fiasco has made me kind of gun shy to the idea of giving up significant assets for a player as long in the tooth as Iggy. Maybe it's just me?