For all of the geniuses crowing about Garth taking Bowman. First of all, it is a 4rth round pick! How many of those will make the Blackhawks roster in the next 5 years? The Isles OTOH still need the picks and may find a gem.

Also, this trade may be more about Rockford than Chicago. If Regin and PMB get sent down it costs the Hawks $75k in cap space and the Icehogs could use some veteran leadership for the kids. Particularly vet forwards who play a D style - which Ted Dent (Hogs coach) seems to have difficulty teaching.

Isles make space for another move and/or bring up a prospect like Strome. I also wouldn't be surprised if Garth now owes Bowman a "favor" down the road. Good deal for both sides.

Many questioned Bowman when he traded for Frolik and Handzus. Said both players were "soft" or their careers were over. Totally turned around Frolik and Zus was worth it just for his minutes and faceoff presence in last year's playoffs - though he defines the word "sucks" this year.

Not sure if Regin or PMB will be a Frolik, Zus, or Rusty Olesz but I will be interested to see what Q can do with them.

Of course, I would have preferred Matt Martin for that or a higher pick.....

Hope the Isles turn the corner. Looks like the talent is coming. Loved your team since Billy Smith was kicking asses.

ps: WTF was Snow thinking with Vanek?Should have made those picks conditional to him signing.
- steelhead

I think u misunderstand us... None of us are under the dilusion that Garth Snow is a great GM. We also realize it is only a 4th round pick in a terrible draft. We wanted these guys gone ... and they are gone. We gained 1.375 mill in cap.. but it's not like we are anywhere near the cap cieling.. I don't think it's a good trade by your GM.. but truly it's a non event.. except for us it means we see Lee or Strome or even Boulton instead of Regin.. thank God.

It's really shocking how bad he looks, yet he is out there at the end of the game along with the other sniper Martin
- Vukota

I honestly turned off the game after Bailey gave the puck away on the PP in the first. ... game over.

Was just told, offers for Vanek "suck" right now and unless someone steps up he will be an isle at 3p
- Dan Petriw

Not surprised.

Player use- Weight
Matchups- Thompson
Thinking- All four centers

Jack's job is battle level!

- keaner17[[/URL]

Love this

Not surprised.
- Vukota

Yeah me either lest face it. There is never going to be a great deal from him in Garth eyes. If we get nothing for him Wang has to fire him or he is going to lose his whole fan base

It was only 1 or 2 comments. Most here seemed to see both sides. Didn't mean to offend.

Hawks have another 4th in this year's draft from the Bolland trade. It seems everyone thinks this year's draft has no depth so I wouldn't be surprised to see them move more picks and older prospects like Pirri by the deadline.

Question: Snow is now trading Vanek from weakness. If he gets a weak return for him is Snow in trouble?
- steelhead

no

Will Wang spend for UFAs. I guess that offer to Vanek shows he will.Finding a coach may be the key. Bring in a decent coach and UFAs with winning backgrounds. Quennville came in 09 and then letting Havlat walk and signing Hossa that off season may have been the 2 final turning points for the Hawks.
- steelhead

Yeah, considering he has offered $78 million in extensions this season, I think they've shown they're willing to spend if it's an asset they want and the price is right. That said, they're VERY selective over just where they put there money..except for Bailey

Was just told, offers for Vanek "suck" right now and unless someone steps up he will be an isle at 3p
- Dan Petriw

Not surprised. I don't expect them to magically get better on March 5 either, when Snow will be further away from the driver's seat. At that point, every team will know he'll have to take something or get nothing.

Love this
- niteislander

I figure given the effort to create it, I need to keep throwing it up here every so often before that jack-hole is canned!

Was just told, offers for Vanek "suck" right now and unless someone steps up he will be an isle at 3p
- Dan Petriw

And Amac?

Frankly at this point, I'd be happy if we get a bag of popcorn for Vanek as long as Amac goes with him!

Not surprised. I don't expect them to magically get better on March 5 either, when Snow will be further away from the driver's seat. At that point, every team will know he'll have to take something or get nothing.
- UIF

We will get a draft pick and a prospect who has been in the AHL for 12 years

Was just told, offers for Vanek "suck" right now and unless someone steps up he will be an isle at 3p
- Dan Petriw

Just beautiful. Have a bad feeling about this. Isles really trading from a position of weakness with Vanek being a UFA and the MN thing.

And Amac?

Frankly at this point, I'd be happy if we get a bag of popcorn for Vanek as long as Amac goes with him!
- keaner17

Not me keaner. Isles better get more than popcorn for Vanek.

Hi this is Garth, Vanek is up fro grabs?

Ok we will give you a number one draft pick our top prospect and a player of your choice.

Ok umm is the prospect from Maine and or Mass.?

No

Umm sorry not good enough.

Just beautiful. Have a bad feeling about this. Isles really trading from a position of weakness with Vanek being a UFA and the MN thing.
- ses111

Even though the situation might come accross as obvious to some GM's, Vanek's agent leaking his contract rejection out isn't helping matters. If folks thought there was a chance the Isles would negotiate up to the deadline and beyond, the offers might be more significant today. Instead, he's made it clear that he'll likely sign with NO team until after July. That's a killer. When a player says to the public, pre deadline, " I would want to be a UFA no matter what team I'm on", it's a dagger.

Not me keaner. Isles better get more than popcorn for Vanek.
- ses111

yeah...it was more sacrasm than anything. I assure you, I want at least a decent prospect.

Even though the situation might come accross as obvious to some GM's, Vanek's agent leaking his contract rejection out isn't helping matters. If folks thought there was a chance the Isles would negotiate up to the deadline and beyond, the offers might be more significant today. Instead, he's made it clear that he'll likely sign with NO team until after July. That's a killer. When a player says to the public, pre deadline, " I would want to be a UFA no matter what team I'm on", it's a dagger.
- keaner17

The agent really may have did in the Islanders. Teams can now play even more hardball with Garth.

Even though the situation might come accross as obvious to some GM's, Vanek's agent leaking his contract rejection out isn't helping matters. If folks thought there was a chance the Isles would negotiate up to the deadline and beyond, the offers might be more significant today. Instead, he's made it clear that he'll likely sign with NO team until after July. That's a killer. When a player says to the public, pre deadline, " I would want to be a UFA no matter what team I'm on", it's a dagger.
- keaner17

Everybody knew those were his plans except snow #fackingjokeofafranchise

yeah...it was more sacrasm than anything. I assure you, I want at least a decent prospect.
- keaner17

I thought it might be.

Everybody knew those were his plans except snow #fackingjokeofafranchise
- Vukota

I'll say it again, If I knew Vanek had such a hard on for Minn I would have never made the deal. I did not know this when the Isles made the trade.

Everybody knew those were his plans except snow #fackingjokeofafranchise
- Vukota

They did, but what they didn't know was if he were dealt to the right team, if that may change. After Vanek's clarifying of the situation, he made it clear that no matter what team he was on right now, he'd reject the offers. So if you're Anaheim thinking, maybe a cup run would get him in the fold for a longer term, you now know better.

I'll say it again, If I knew Vanek had such a hard on for Minn I would have never made the deal. I did not know this when the Isles made the trade.
- ses111

The bigger question is if MN will feel the same. Some think that could be Miller's destination and they do need a goalie. If they took on a contract for him, fitting Vanek in might not be so attractive given Parise and Suter's contracts.

They did, but what they didn't know was if he were dealt to the right team, if that may change. After Vanek's clarifying of the situation, he made it clear that no matter what team he was on right now, he'd reject the offers. So if you're Anaheim thinking, maybe a cup run would get him in the fold for a longer term, you now know better.
- keaner17

Well that's the gamble you take and Snow has gotten burned to a crisp on this one

Well that's the gamble you take and Snow has gotten burned to a crisp on this one
- Vukota

Yep. And the worst part is it's not the first time this has happened to him. It certainly won't help UFA's feel good about coming here either because it will feed into any perception that he's incompetent.

Yep. And the worst part is it's not the first time this has happened to him. It certainly won't help UFA's feel good about coming here either because it will feed into any perception that he's incompetent.
- keaner17

The whole Ryan Smyth thing happening, even if it happened a number of years ago, should have made the Isles more careful with these types of moves. It's not good at all. Teams are going to be telling the Islanders you take what we offer or you lose him for nothing.