I wish someone on this thread was perceptive enough to see that.
- Elbows15

Bickel...Argh!!

Kaner to Buffalo for Getzky Ott
- UnnamedSource

May have to add to get a player like Ott.

You're referring to yourself in the third person now?
- rollpards19

Isn't that what all the big stars do?

Its Tuesday. Who we trading today?
- Elbows15

Pirri and Morin for Legwandddd

and

2 #3 picks and LALONDE for Matt Martin !

Just a thought to possibly generate cap space. Over the next few games I would like to see Leddy in Oduya's normal spot to see if he can handle the extra minutes and responsibiity. If so, Oduya could become bait. I prefer to see if Roszival could fetch anything with an over $2 mil cap hit for a #6/7 dman role.

Very hesitent to do anything to disrupt the dcore now though. If a MacDOnald form the Isles could come in to be paired with Leddy, or maybe Depres from the Pens, this would make Roszival more expendable to me.

Thoughts?
- ikeane

Only one. Why would the other teams make those moves? I guess I could see the Islanders because MacDonald will be be an UFA. Why would Pitt move a younger D-man for someone who is Rozy's age?

Agreed.

Besides, Soviet Russia and East Germany no longer exist, so they have less need to push their political agendas through "Sportsmanship and Goodwill".

Even if they did still exist...be better than that. Be better than Soviet Russia, be better than East Germany. We should be better than that. Isn't that what made the 1980 Gold so special?

*steps off high horse, and prepares for the ridicule associated with agreeing with powerenforcer*
- Ogilthorpe2

I love you too Ogi.

Agreed.

Besides, Soviet Russia and East Germany no longer exist, so they have less need to push their political agendas through "Sportsmanship and Goodwill".

Even if they did still exist...be better than that. Be better than Soviet Russia, be better than East Germany. We should be better than that. Isn't that what made the 1980 Gold so special?

*steps off high horse, and prepares for the ridicule associated with agreeing with powerenforcer*
- Ogilthorpe2

IF the goal is to have a competitive sporting event the rules need to be set by a central body (IOC in this case). Same if the goal is to have people actually watch it. Doesn't work well if some do the amateur thing and some do the pro thing.

Either way, Garth Snow comes out looking like a fool. First whining when Okposo wasn't picked, then crying when his guy that does get picked gets hurt.
- MartiniMan

I see Snow's argument this way...

He's opposed to NHL participation because he's worried about injuries to key players. That said, if NHL is participating, as much as he personally doesn't want him there, he believes it's wrong for Okposo to have been left off of the roster.

I find nothing incongruous with this stance.

Pirri and Morin for Legwandddd

and

2 #3 picks and LALONDE for Matt Martin !
- mrpaulish

Its the right to Lalonde. Why Martin? What does he bring? I am asking because many seem to like him and in the Islander games I have watched, I have barely noticed him. What am I missing?

Only one. Why would the other teams make those moves? I guess I could see the Islanders because MacDonald will be be an UFA. Why would Pitt move a younger D-man for someone who is Rozy's age?
- Elbows15

This would be why the Isles would trade him, not why they would limit their market to the Hawks and take less than other teams would pay. It is common for some to believe that the other GMs are simply there to help the Hawks win again, and that other teams won't bid more than what the Hawks might offer.

Its the right to Lalonde. Why Martin? What does he bring? I am asking because many seem to like him and in the Islander games I have watched, I have barely noticed him. What am I missing?
- Elbows15

He's Carcillo without the bad reputation. A cruiser weight red ass with enough skill to keep up.

Bickel...Argh!!
- UnnamedSource

In my opinion you can Versteeg to the list of players who will benefit from the break. The knee injury he had was pretty bad. 3 weeks of rest and rehab has to help that. And yes, I am aware there is nothing good about a knee injury of any kind. Believe me I know.

Its the right to Lalonde. Why Martin? What does he bring? I am asking because many seem to like him and in the Islander games I have watched, I have barely noticed him. What am I missing?
- Elbows15

The 300+ hits per year.

I feel like whe the Hawks are a tad more phyical it creates more turn overs and wth the skill we do have shuld equal more goals.

In my opinion you can Versteeg to the list of players who will benefit from the break. The knee injury he had was pretty bad. 3 weeks of rest and rehab has to help that. And yes, I am aware there is nothing good about a knee injury of any kind. Believe me I know.
- Elbows15

I don't believe you.

He's Carcillo without the bad reputation. A cruiser weight red ass with enough skill to keep up.
- Ogilthorpe2

So, a cheaper version of Ott? He would be stapled to the bench playing on the Hawks Ogi. He gets himself out of position a lot going for the hit.

I don't believe you.
- Ogilthorpe2

When we meet you will. You will hear mine creaking.

So, a cheaper version of Ott? He would be stapled to the bench playing on the Hawks Ogi. He gets himself out of position a lot going for the hit.
- Elbows15

I didn't say I wanted him, just pointing out what I perceive to be the things that others like about him. I tend to agree, it's probably what got Brouwer shipped out too.

The 300+ hits per year.

I feel like whe the Hawks are a tad more phyical it creates more turn overs and wth the skill we do have shuld equal more goals.
- mrpaulish

I agree to an extent Paul. And lord knows I wouldn't mind watching a Hawk player crunch people. I just think in the system the Hawks play they value positioning more than the big hit.

The problem with the premise of your argument, the 4 mil gets you...
(or GOT you)
Jaromir jagr with no wheels left

"2nd line" centre Derek Roy.
I love thsi one...the fans in Buffalo were appalled by his play for his pay prior, and still not a number two centre.
Mike Ribeiro is the closets to one and that is ONE WAY and he got 5.5 Mil
Matt Cullen got 3.5 MILLION!
Steven Weiss 4.9 million !!!!!
Val Fillppula FIVE Million! and he is not a solid pivot either.
Hell, Stalberg STALBERG got THREE!
Boyd Gordon got THREE.
ELIAS 5.5 mil and close to done.

so please don't tell me or Bowman about how you were gonna get him a second line centre in lieu of Bickell's departure.

Going outside always cost more.
You keep trying develop a centre who can excel to be your Logan Coture and hope that he can handle the spot and the injuries and generate offense.


It's nice to play GM, but you know teans usually don't let good centremen capable of second line duty go to UFA.
when Kesler gets there, we get in the front of the line, but until it happens please don't tell where the money used to reward a player in your own system is not worth it.
The Bickell contract may not be as sexy as his last one to unload but it isn't an inconvenience for any team to take one in the next year or so when the Cap soars...
- wiz1901

Wiz...my man...mellow...

Nowhere was I suggesting that the $4MM spent on Bickell could/would/should have snatched the Hawks a 2C.

I merely said that if you factor out Bickell's peaks and valleys, he's no $4MM player. Nothing in his career body of work supports it. They paid him for his career to date peak performance just like Dale paid Huet based upon an 11 game body of work with the Caps.

That said, the bigger question is what power forwards could have been had for about that same money? More options at that role than the 2C I think. I think having a legit power forward in this lineup mitigates the absence of a true 2C. Now that they have neither, they are in a much tougher spot.

After reading Q's recent comments about Bickell, I am thoroughly convinced he was clutching a rabbit's foot in one pocket and his lucky penny in the other while speaking those comments. They need Bickell to show up soon, and Q knows it.

For the record, I like Bickell. I'm rooting for him to have an upward trajectory. I also think he has been playing hurt when he should not have been playing at all. I do think he will play better as he heals. I just don't see him as equivalent in talent to say a Curtis Glencross type player, who is I think the type of player they want in Bicks, but is far more worth the money based upon the stats and the history.

When we meet you will. You will hear mine creaking.
- Elbows15

At least I know you won't be sneaking up on me...hopefully Q...Argh has a similar affliction.

So, a cheaper version of Ott? He would be stapled to the bench playing on the Hawks Ogi. He gets himself out of position a lot going for the hit.
- Elbows15

Martin has a bit of a brain and may be coachable. I saw him a few times when he played for Sarnia and he had some scoring ability to go with his physical play. He has good wheels and would be an upgrade over Bollig. I imagine the isles will want allot back in return.

Just a thought to possibly generate cap space. Over the next few games I would like to see Leddy in Oduya's normal spot to see if he can handle the extra minutes and responsibiity. If so, Oduya could become bait. I prefer to see if Roszival could fetch anything with an over $2 mil cap hit for a #6/7 dman role.

Very hesitent to do anything to disrupt the dcore now though. If a MacDOnald form the Isles could come in to be paired with Leddy, or maybe Depres from the Pens, this would make Roszival more expendable to me.

Thoughts?
- ikeane

You want Nick Leddy playing to start playing the hardest d-minutes in the league when he's barely a break even playing sheltered minutes?

I didn't say I wanted him, just pointing out what I perceive to be the things that others like about him. I tend to agree, it's probably what got Brouwer shipped out too.
- Ogilthorpe2

Martin has a bit of a brain and may be coachable. I saw him a few times when he played for Sarnia and he had some scoring ability to go with his physical play. He has good wheels and would be an upgrade over Bollig. I imagine the isles will want allot back in return.
- paulr

Q likes Bollig a lot. And for good reason. As far as positioning goes, he does it very well.

In my opinion you can Versteeg to the list of players who will benefit from the break. The knee injury he had was pretty bad. 3 weeks of rest and rehab has to help that. And yes, I am aware there is nothing good about a knee injury of any kind. Believe me I know.
- Elbows15

Excellent point (sorry for the compliment). The knee rehab (ACL, especially) seems like a long tiring slog, and athletes sometimes seem to need another period of rest before they are normal again. That time could help Versteeg a lot.