Again, I don't disagree with you. However, if no one else can take the #2C job and if Bowman is going for broke, I have a gut feeling that the organization will give Teravainen a look there.
- EKolb13

I really hope your gut feeling is from some bad fish instead.

Not that I wish you ill health, of course....

So far, according to Twitter, Kane, Sharp Oduya, Kruger and Hammer are at practice this morning..

Edit...Toews is there also but not dressed for practice and no Keith either..

I bet the Avs would absorb his cap hit if there was another kicker thrown in as well.
Like the Sabres Flames deal for Kotalik a few years ago.
- DDM-Coga

Last deal like that the Hawks made was Gilmour and Dumont for Grosek. Dealing with Buffalo is BAD....(do I need to bring up the Hasek trade?)

Why SHOULD a team take that chance on Bryan Bickell? He's 6'4" 230 lbs. He theoretically should be a menace to play against with that size and wrist-shot ability. If it wasn't for his "magical" post-season, would he still even be wearing an Indian sweater this season? If I'm paying a player $4 million annually, I expect production. I certainly don't expect him to be in the dog-house or a healthy scratch every now and then to wake him up. And I certainly am not paying him that kind of money to produce a mere 20 points and a negative +/- (albeit worst on the team) of a Stanley Cup contender.

THIS is exactly why you don't take gambles on "one year wonders" or in this case, "one playoff wonders." I understand in this day and age with the salary cap increasing and players salaries inflating every year that $4 million isn't what it used to be, but rather "market value", but that's still a good chunk of the salary cap that could be attributed elsewhere.

If you find ANYONE to take on Bickell and that contract, you don't think twice. He's on pace for his third straight 20-point season. He certainly leaves more to be desired, and that hasn't changed during his four-year tenure in Chicago.
- TommyHawk

It's not a question on whether a GM should take a chance on Bickel. It's a questions of risk and if the money left on his contract is worth it...and by all accounts it is. 4 million is the new 2 million moving forward with the expected year by year increases of the salary cap. When is contract enters the final year it will be viewed as a steal (when you compare him to others at a similar position). I know everyone likes to focus on his postseason performance last year as they should, but lets not forget he was solid the past two regular seasons as well. Yes, he doesn't hit like we want him to..yada yada yada but his numbers were good/decent. He does not have a history of being injury prone, this is the first season he's missed significant time. Plus, he played with a major injury during the postseason when he did so well. As far as the "what GM would want that contract" theory...every year we see GMS/Owners spend money on bad contracts. How many times have we seen an aging veteran with a history of injuries at the age of 35 years or older get a big contract, when by all accounts that players skills will be in decline as soon as he signs the paper. So a player in his mid twenties with a manageable contract is somehow a risk? I don't buy it. With his size, age, potential, and money left on his contract a lot of GM's would make a deal for Bickel in their sleep.

Regarding TT and whether or not he might be ready this year... isn't there a contractual benefit to keeping him off the big club this year? I thought we discussed this a while back, where the hawks keep rights to him for an additional season if they make him wait until 2014-2015 season to suit up. If that is true, I don't see Stan equating the present value of throwing him in the lineup, green at the NHL level, for the playoff run with the future value of one more year on contract.

Notes from the organization propaganda machine...

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=706446
- EKolb13

So far, according to Twitter, Kane, Sharp Oduya, Kruger and Hammer are at practice this morning..

Edit...Toews is there also but not dressed for practice and no Keith either..
- Glenman12

Way to go Captain. Sit on your ass when your team mates are out there working hard. Keith too. Strip the letters off of those candy asses.

You aren't serious comparing Bolland to Bozak are you?

What the hell has Bozak ever won? And where was he in Game 7 of the Leafs - Boston series? Right, scratched with a sore leg. And what did Bolland do in Game 6 vs Boston - scored the Cup winner if I recall.

Bolland and the regular season aren't a good fit. At playoff time, he comes to play and has proven it. The injury history is the real issue with him.
- RickJ

so what you're saying is that one game and one goal (albeit a HUGE goal) makes one player more valuable then the other.

i don't think bozak is anything special, but he's at least as good as bolland.

as for the "what has he won", that argument is pretty weak.....you win as a team, yes bolland scored the winner, but honestly, what does that prove? he was in the right place at the right time.

for the record, i think both players are fairly similar.......my point is that there is no way bolland deserves 1 mil + more than bozak..........esepcially when you factor in his injury history, as you've eluded to.

over their careers, bozak has played nearly 100 less games, and has only 10 less points.

yes, bolland has outscored him in the playoffs, but let's be realistic here......one played his career with the blackhawks, who've probably been the best team in teh NHL over the last 5 years or so......and the other has played his entire career with the leafs. nuff said.

so what you're saying is that one game and one goal (albeit a HUGE goal) makes one player more valuable then the other.

i don't think bozak is anything special, but he's at least as good as bolland.

as for the "what has he won", that argument is pretty weak.....you win as a team, yes bolland scored the winner, but honestly, what does that prove? he was in the right place at the right time.

for the record, i think both players are fairly similar.......my point is that there is no way bolland deserves 1 mil + more than bozak..........esepcially when you factor in his injury history, as you've eluded to.

over their careers, bozak has played nearly 100 less games, and has only 10 less points.

yes, bolland has outscored him in the playoffs, but let's be realistic here......one played his career with the blackhawks, who've probably been the best team in teh NHL over the last 5 years or so......and the other has played his entire career with the leafs. nuff said.
- sensarmy_11

One game, one goal? You just lost all credibility.

Lot of talk about Miller and Ott to the Blues making them the Stanley Cup favorite

@BroadStBull: Marty St. Louis has requested a trade from the #Lightning, Newsday confirmed.

Teravainen's team Jokerit is up 5-1 at the end of the 2nd period...TT....no points

One game, one goal? You just lost all credibility.
- Ogilthorpe2

I said it was a HUGE goal....obviously it wasn't the same as scoring some meaningless goal in november.

my point was that you can't judge a guy based on one moment, no matter how huge that moment was.

look at bickell.....you guys re-signed him based off of one good playoff run, and now most people on here seem to think he's overpaid.

look at leino in buffalo. the guy had a great playoff with philly, going all the way to the finals, and got paid.....now it's one of the worst contracts in the league.

i'm not saying bolland is a bad player, i think he's a good player......but one goal that he scored last year should have no bearing on teh contract extension he signs for next year.

Teravainen's team Jokerit is up 5-1 at the end of the 2nd period...TT....no points
- captainserious

Bust.

Teravainen's team Jokerit is up 5-1 at the end of the 2nd period...TT....no points
- captainserious

Trade the bum!!!

Last deal like that the Hawks made was Gilmour and Dumont for Grosek. Dealing with Buffalo is BAD....(do I need to bring up the Hasek trade?)
- ikeane

I remember that deal....oh man was that a bad one.

Lot of talk about Miller and Ott to the Blues making them the Stanley Cup favorite
- PEIHawkFan

That's $9.3MM in cap coming STL's way with only $1.7MM in space on their end. Who would go? Roy and Halak? That's about $7MM. Rentals for rentals, players all UFA after the season. That might be a win all around.

Never fear - we've got Regin

You still listening to "that guy" in the stands with you?

Pierre Marc Concussion isn't going to help this team. He's depth in case of injury. If he plays with the big club, you may as well count the Hawks out. There will be too many injuries to enough key personnel in order to not make a long run in the playoffs. He can help Rockford, who are in the hunt for a playoff spot.
- EKolb13

Eli,I hope Stan steamroles everybody with a significant trade for a no. 2 center, I just figured Bouchard had experience. so it is probably Zues for the ride home.

Sooooo Bickell and Pirri gets you Marty St Louis right ???

That's $9.3MM in cap coming STL's way with only $1.7MM in space on their end. Who would go? Roy and Halak? That's about $7MM. Rentals for rentals, players all UFA after the season. That might be a win all around.

Never fear - we've got Regin
- Return of the Roar

I would bet that before St.Louis did that deal that they get Miller and probably Ott promising to re-up with the Blues. Something significant just short of Taresanko and? Are certain to gotheother way. Nice potential trade for the Blues butno guarantees.

Sooooo Bickell and Pirri gets you Marty St Louis right ???
- mrpaulish

Nope - have to send $4.9MM of ROSTER money the other way to fit him in.

How about a three-team deal:

Los Angeles Kings - Marty St. Louis
Chicago Blackhawks - Jeff Carter
Tampa Bay Lightning - Bryan Bickell, Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Chicago's 1st and 2nd round picks

Yes please.

A good read into the story of the 'founder' of the growing tradition of Finnish goalie excellence:

http://www.theatlantic.co...e-puck-stops-here/357579/

Sooooo Bickell and Pirri gets you Marty St Louis right ???
- mrpaulish

Would that even work in NHL 14?

How about a three-team deal:

Los Angeles Kings - Marty St. Louis
Chicago Blackhawks - Jeff Carter
Tampa Bay Lightning - Bryan Bickell, Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Chicago's 1st and 2nd round picks

Yes please.
- TommyHawk

I've always been a Carter fan, I was hoping we could have pried him away from Columbus.