Queue Ogie?

Kesler has played more games than Sharp the last 3 years.
- tredbrta

Kesler hasn't played in more games than Sharp the last 3 years.

See you at the United Center on Oct. 11!
The Blackhawks will open the home portion of their 2014-15 season on Sat., 10/11 vs. Buffalo. They will also play the Stars in Dallas on 10/9. The team's full schedule -- home and road -- will be announced tomorrow afternoon.
- CaptainBlackhawk

A week and a half later than last year.

Training camp opens three weeks before that - say, September 15.

Season ended June 1 - so 3 1/2 months of summer vacation compared to a little over two months last year.

Enough to come in refreshed, rested, and in shape?

Could it be that the Nucks wont move Kesler till after a new HC has been named?

Your comment makes sense except a big move would be also to trade a player to open cap space even though the return wouldn't be a big splash.

There was a lot to like about Kane with Saad and Shaw but...
The other reason to get a #2 C would be to bolster the 3rd line which was MIA since January and have Shaw anchor it.
- Al

I agree on all of this - just questioning where they realistically can send Sharp - given his NTC, and his age and contract.

Kesler hasn't played in more games than Sharp the last 3 years.
- Al

Sorry, should have added quotes. Maybe the number of years is different. Also, I think he means regular season games but Ogie points out quite a bit that Kesler's injury history is over reported.

I agree on all of this - just questioning where they realistically can send Sharp - given his NTC, and his age and contract.
- StLBravesFan

No dispute here....He will go East is my guess.

And experienced vet like Roszival would do well, too - at less money.
- StLBravesFan

Versteeg too!

Kesler hasn't played in more games than Sharp the last 3 years.
- Al

Sharp has played more games but only by like 13.

No dispute here....He will go East is my guess.
- Al

Isn't Sharp's wife an east coaster?

I think you and I are expressing very boring bowmanesque point of view? Sharp is going to approve a move to the Nucks?....I don't see it. Bowman is going to move his 23 year old prize acq....leddy?...I don't see that either. Bowman is going to move TT and number 1 pick maybe more for Kesler?....nope.
- bogiedoc

Agree completely. You have history and precedence on your side. Oduya gets moved before Leddy. And TT would be tough for Bowman to move. First rounder in a weak draft. No problem for me but you know how Stan covets his draft picks even in an alleged weak draft. Got to make him nervous with no second round choice as well.

Sharp and oduya I can see dealt simply because he has little choice due to the cap. His prized kids? Not so much.

Sharp has played more games but only by like 13.
- WhatTheNuck

Including the playoffs?

Isn't Sharp's wife an east coaster?
- tredbrta

I thought a local girl from his hometown area but not positive.

Saad(.764167) - Toews(6.3) - Kane(6.3)
Bickell(4.00) - Kesler(5.0) - Hossa(5.275)
Bolling (1.25)- Shaw(2.0) - Versteeg(2.2)
Raymond(2.0) - Kreuger(1.325) - Moss(2.5)

Seabrook(5.8) - Keith(5.538)
Hjalmarsson(4.1) - Oduya(3.375)
Leddy(2.7) - Greene(2.5)


Cap Space of about 680,000 left.

- JasonDh

Bickell on the 2nd line? Yuck! Bollig and versteeg on the 3rd line? Really yuck!

I love Kesler but if he holds that much leverage then it's silly to overpay for him. Look at past trades for better players and they almost NEVER get equal value in these types of trades.

My offer would be this: Bickell and the rights to Kevin Hayes plus another pick/prospect.

Bickell is a luxury for the Hawks to have and would fit on Vancouver's 1st line nicely with the Sedins. Maybe he can do for them what Kassian couldn't. Plus he is younger then Sharp and still has 3 years left on his deal. I don't want to hear the size argument because you can replace size and Kesler is far from Smurf so you're getting size and the better player back in the trade. Hayes will most likely not sign with the Hawks but he will sign somewhere where he'll compete for a roster spot this year. He'd be a nice young piece in Vancouver.
- dan9189

Non-starter. Gotta add big bodies with skill like Bicks, not subtract. If a Kesler acquisition means TT/Leddy going as assets, more cap money has to removed elsewhere.

For most scorers I think you can make the argument peak years are 25 and under. It's a lot like football but doesn't get the attention. I think the game physically wears on guys, that's the only explanation I can think of. There are always exceptions but I've noticed an awful lot of scorers who play at a very high level until 25 ish and start to decline.
- Hemingways

Is kane declining?

Queue Ogie?

Kesler has played more games than Sharp the last 3 years.
- tredbrta

Kesler has played hurt and lowered is production and effectiveness the last couple years is what talking about him being injured talk about.

This is what I've heard (from someone who'd know—I'll leave it at that):

UNTOUCHABLE

Kane
Toews
Saad

NEAR UNTOUCHABLE

Hossa
Seabrook
Hee-jalmersson


MAKE ME AN OFFER, BUT

Kruger
Shaw
TT
Crawford


LET'S TALK

Bickell


BEING SHOPPED

Oduya (or Leddy, but both will not be dealt)
Sharp
- John Jaeckel

Dunc's on the first list, right? Flip Bick/TT.

Heard the same. If Saad was part of a package it would be hard not to think of Chicago as the frontrunner for Kesler. Remember folks win/win
- VanHockeyGuy

Sorry but NO FREAKIN WAY will Saad be in the deal. He is an untouchable and a gross over payment for Kesler. NOT gonna happen !!

If the Hawks are putting Leddy, TT and a late first on the table for Ryan Kesler, Benning should forget anything about a Vancouver-Chicago rivalry and do the deal.

This is a BUYERS MARKET for centers: Spezza, Kesler, Richards, Thornton, Plekanec and ore unlike any other in recent years.

I heard months back that was the sort of parameters of an offer the Hawks made, but I think they wanted a little more back and they probably should.
- John Jaeckel

Exactly correct........... AND I think most of us wouldn't be opposed to Bickell too
if that gets the deal done. Leddy, TT and Bickell will be an overpayment for Kesler, but does help Vanc with size and youth, and addresses our cap sitch.

I'll say what I said before:

Either Patrick Sharp,
Nick Leddy,
and/or possibly even Teravainen

would be tough for any other team in the market for a center to top.
- John Jaeckel

what are the chances the 'Hawks could get away with subbing 27 for 8 in that return package?

That would open space but who replaces Bickell?
- Al

I guess the real question is where do you want your weakness? Number 2 center or a left wing?

Teuvo Toews Hossa
Saad Kesler Kane
(American born line)
Bicks Kruger Shaw
Bollig Smith Versteeg/Morin

Keith Seabs

Hammer dahlbeck (Swedish connection 2.0)

Leddy clendening

Crawford
Raanta

Isn't Sharp's wife an east coaster?
- tredbrta

New England.

I guess the real question is where do you want your weakness? Number 2 center or a left wing?
- Canardhawk

Hawks can play Sharp and Saad at LW, sign a physical LW for bottom six like Winnik. Bickell disappears far too much to eat $4 mil a year in cap space IMO

I still think Chicago and the Isles make a trade.

Isles need a top LW to play with Tavares and Okposo, and help on defence. Top 4 preferably!!!

Chicago needs a 2C and to move a contract for cap reasons.

Isles have Neilsen, #5 in the draft, and other prospects that can be moved.

Chicago has Sharp, Leddy, TT, and Oduya that could be moved.

There has to be a deal there somewhere????