Who would be a realistic addition for a center pickup?
- BlazinMike

Have to find a player who was making $1 mill or less to start the season from a bad team that wants a draft pick...

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

Have to find a player who was making $1 mill or less to start the season from a bad team that wants a draft pick...

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo
- Al

That's only true if you're unwilling/unable to trade a current roster player.

No merit to Cole or Jagr as the Hawks do not need wingers. If the Hawks look to splash, they'll splash with David Legwand.
- Bjm84

Not worth the key stokes on Legwand....

Too expensive and Nashville will be able to move him East. Plus Legwand has a say in where he goes, but Nashville won 't trade with the Hawks unless no choice and they will have choices.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

That's only true if you're unwilling/unable to trade a current roster player.
- Ogilthorpe2

That's a given in my book....

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

That's a given in my book....

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo
- Al

Likely, but stranger things have happened.

That's only true if you're unwilling/unable to trade a current roster player.
- Ogilthorpe2

Or if the other team retains salary.

Or if the other team retains salary.
- DarthKane

That too.

The only current roster players who I could conceive being moved this season are Bickell, Versteeg, Smith, and Bollig. The first two unlikely, and the second two don't gain you much cap wise, but if the other team retains salary then maybe Smith or Bollig free up just enough space to add a palyer of higher value. But I doubt it.

Or if the other team retains salary.
- DarthKane

aren't we maxed out with 3 salary retention contracts now?

Likely, but stranger things have happened.
- Ogilthorpe2

They are having a very good year and I can't see anyone of value moving now...

Look for a Pirri or Morin to go by the deadline....Maybe.

Otherwise after the playoffs if things end with a thud...The draft or in the summer is the time for bigger moves to happen.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

That too.

The only current roster players who I could conceive being moved this season are Bickell, Versteeg, Smith, and Bollig. The first two unlikely, and the second two don't gain you much cap wise, but if the other team retains salary then maybe Smith or Bollig free up just enough space to add a palyer of higher value. But I doubt it.
- Ogilthorpe2

.....And Smith and Bollig are players that can't be replaced just yet and aren't enough to get you more than a rental. Can't see tearing apart 2/3 of a vg 4th line.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

Watching Backes park his large frame in the front of the net, I start to ponder who on the Hawks will move him out of the way this spring IF they meet in the central divisional finals. Keith? Leddy? NO. It's Seabrook or bust.

I'm a lighting a candle that STL doesn't make a move for a goalie by March 5th.
- SteveRain

The same David Backes that has 3 points in his last 13 games against the Hawks (not the ice hogs game from last year)? You're worried about him?

Are the Hawks possibly shopping for a new ECHL affiliate next season?

http://ht.ly/tIsGo

Are the Hawks possibly shopping for a new ECHL affiliate next season?

http://ht.ly/tIsGo
- EKolb13

...Or they can make it work with Chicago.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

Not to mention he didn't have the physical gifts of the other guys. He was slow, weak, and not tall. He didn't have that real long reach Mario had. How many goals did he score by having the longer reach and getting to pucks to knock it in? A lot. Physical tools are a Huge advantage
- tomcat24

He also had an deceptively good shot and could shoot the lights out of the penthouses.

not sure where this is coming from, Coles cap hit is 4.5 per
- FourFeathers773

It came from Eric Staal's cap hit....

In any event Coles cap hit is $3.5 mill too much anyway.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo

Its that time of year where TG gets that nudge as to who will be there in the end. Last year, in the face of the CC is not good enough and the team too soft, TG stood by the Hawks.

The year prior, TG picked the Kings in late February when they were not even in the playoffs.

I have 2 more weeks before I go final, but as of now, I am leaning towards the Sharks and Blues in west and do not see a threat from the East. I would pick Leafs and Penguins right now.

I have 10 days to make my call.

Obviously there is the wild card of injuries yet to play out down the stretch. But feel the Hawks and their fans will be surprised by how fast Colorado and a few others have become and how tough they will be on the Hawks.

...Or they can make it work with Chicago.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo
- Al

There's that too...

aren't we maxed out with 3 salary retention contracts now?
- FourFeathers773

No, the limit is on the team retaining the salaries. In our cases the Panthers and the Islanders.

Its that time of year where TG gets that nudge as to who will be there in the end. Last year, in the face of the CC is not good enough and the team too soft, TG stood by the Hawks.

The year prior, TG picked the Kings in late February when they were not even in the playoffs.

I have 2 more weeks before I go final, but as of now, I am leaning towards the Sharks and Blues in west and do not see a threat from the East. I would pick Leafs and Penguins right now.

I have 10 days to make my call.

Obviously there is the wild card of injuries yet to play out down the stretch. But feel the Hawks and their fans will be surprised by how fast Colorado and a few others have become and how tough they will be on the Hawks.
- TrueGrit

If the Leafs go to the Cup Finals you should move to Vegas.

No, the limit is on the team retaining the salaries. In our cases the Panthers and the Islanders.
- DarthKane

But aren't the retentions only on contracts signed before the new CBA?

.....And Smith and Bollig are players that can't be replaced just yet and aren't enough to get you more than a rental. Can't see tearing apart 2/3 of a vg 4th line.

The road to Gold for Team USA and Team Canada:Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1eGCLyo
- Al

I was thinking more along the lines of Pirri or Morin plus one of Bollig or Smith included to free up a tad more cap space. This might allow the Hawks to trade for a more significant player IF the other team retains some salary. Not a likely scenario, but just an example of how creative trades could be theoretically possible.

No merit to Cole or Jagr as the Hawks do not need wingers. If the Hawks look to splash, they'll splash with David Legwand.
- Bjm84

Legwand would not be a splash. More like a single rain drop in an ocean.

I was thinking more along the lines of Pirri or Morin plus one of Bollig or Smith included to free up a tad more cap space. This might allow the Hawks to trade for a more significant player IF the other team retains some salary. Not a likely scenario, but just an example of how creative trades could be theoretically possible.
- Ogilthorpe2

I guess as much as the lack of cap space it would be dangerous to destroy 2/3 of a line. To accomplish what?

A 2nd line center?

I see the thinking but it is very difficult to win a Cup without a vg 3rd/4th line...

I see either Smith or Bollig...Maybe that gets a decent rent a center...

But aren't the retentions only on contracts signed before the new CBA?
- Al

I haven't read that anywhere, but that's not to say you aren't right. Everywhere I read comments generically on contract and not when they were signed.

http://www.capgeek.com/faq/new-cba

Legwand would not be a splash. More like a single rain drop in an ocean.
- Elbows15