Not sure you have options if kesler says he will hold out
- molly2522

He is under contract for two more years . Vancouver holds one very big option.

He would look nice playing with Burrows and Jensen.

And now he needs to be aggressive - now he needs to make bigger moves than he has before.

He should get a quality 2C - not necessarily Kesler or Stastny, but someone who has proven able to hold down a top-2 center position.

He should he beginning to move away from the cap so that next summer doesn't become a repeat of 7/1/2010.

I don't think he'll do either, so we have to hope that Saad-Shaw-Kane works all year as line 2, or that TT can come in and - be what? 2C on Kane's line?

He'll try to go old and cheap and/or young unproven and cheap to shore up lines 3 and 4 - which has worked one year out of the last three.

And successful or not, he'll go into 2015's summer scrambling to create cap space for new paper for four major players.

I don't know - maybe it all does work out with a deep run next spring - it certainly could.
- StLBravesFan

Does he need to be aggressive? Or is that what some of us think??

Right now...without making a single move the Hawks are the favorite to win the cup....granted this means nothing in June/July...

However if he "fails" to pull off a "major" move the Hawks still have Sharp, Hossa, Toews, & Kane....

Sure it would be nice to have Kesler, Stasny, and Spezza......but if they find someone like a Nielsen or someone along those lines and retool the backend of the blue line and the bottom six....again non aggressive moves...... the Hawks will be in it right to the end next season....

And now he needs to be aggressive - now he needs to make bigger moves than he has before.

He should get a quality 2C - not necessarily Kesler or Stastny, but someone who has proven able to hold down a top-2 center position.

He should he beginning to move away from the cap so that next summer doesn't become a repeat of 7/1/2010.

I don't think he'll do either, so we have to hope that Saad-Shaw-Kane works all year as line 2, or that TT can come in and - be what? 2C on Kane's line?

He'll try to go old and cheap and/or young unproven and cheap to shore up lines 3 and 4 - which has worked one year out of the last three.

And successful or not, he'll go into 2015's summer scrambling to create cap space for new paper for four major players.

I don't know - maybe it all does work out with a deep run next spring - it certainly could.
- StLBravesFan

The Tallon/Bowman thing has about run its course.....don't ya think?

The "LA model" is going to blow up next year when they have to figure out a way to get:

Next year:
Williams
Stoll
Clifford
Perason
Toffoli
Martinez
Muzzin

... under contract

And the 2016-17 year needing to get Kopitar under contract.

Yeah. Have fun with that "model".
- CaptainBlackhawk

Cap WILL go up another 5m or so... LA is in great shape to resign those guys (IF) they even want to resign. Reghr most likely retiring by 2015 anyways. As a kings fan I'm not worried at all

He is under contract for two more years . Vancouver holds one very big option.

He would look nice playing with Burrows and Jensen.
- VANTEL

This makes no sense and you know it
For two years your team will not be a contender and you will get nothing for him

Everyone is forgetting the elephant in the room. If you don't bring in someone that #88 wants to play with, like it or not, you run the risk of him ending up in Buffalo next season.

The easiest way to get a long term commitment, and probably a home town discount, from #88 is to bring in #17 from the Canucks. Without that, Kane either gets full boat money and then you really have cap issues or possibly ends up an ex-IndianHead.

This makes no sense and you know it
For two years your team will not be a contender and you will get nothing for him
- molly2522

I expect him to be traded next week to be truthful. it will be to the highest bidder.

What you are suggesting is nuts.

Kesler and Canucks are not battling at all. linden and Kesler go way back. He went up to Mgmt and said he wants a chance at a cup and Benning/Linden said too bad we would love for you to,stay but ok we will find a deal.


This other nonsense about hands being tied is just that ,nonsense

Everyone is forgetting the elephant in the room. If you don't bring in someone that #88 wants to play with, like it or not, you run the risk of him ending up in Buffalo next season.

The easiest way to get a long term commitment, and probably a home town discount, from #88 is to bring in #17 from the Canucks. Without that, Kane either gets full boat money and then you really have cap issues or possibly ends up an ex-IndianHead.
- DMCsPulledHammy

If the Hawks don't acquire a Kesler type center my guess is........he stays.

Does he need to be aggressive? Or is that what some of us think??

Right now...without making a single move the Hawks are the favorite to win the cup....granted this means nothing in June/July...

However if he "fails" to pull off a "major" move the Hawks still have Sharp, Hossa, Toews, & Kane....

Sure it would be nice to have Kesler, Stasny, and Spezza......but if they find someone like a Nielsen or someone along those lines and retool the backend of the blue line and the bottom six....again non aggressive moves...... the Hawks will be in it right to the end next season....
- UnnamedSource

Who made them the favorite - Bovine or whatever that betting service is? They follow the money - where the betting goes - not the real expected on ice performance.

I've said it several time - I don't care about Kesler, Spaezza, Stastny - Nielsen is fine - to me that would be a major aggressive deal, because it would require moving some important assets. If Stan could get it done - and replace any pieces that would have to be moved - , I'd call it a successful summer (I'm assuming Toews and Kane get resigned).

I'd call it an excellent summer if he could do that and create some cap space.

The Tallon/Bowman thing has about run its course.....don't ya think?

- UnnamedSource

Yes - Bowman's adds solidified the 2013 Cup run.

Bollig, Brookbank, Emery, Frolik, Handzus, Ledfy, Oduya, Roszival, Saad, Shaw, Stalberg - all Bowman adds, all contributed to the win.

In response to dan9189's post on the Kesler deal being an overpay, etc. and how those deals never work out.

This is conventional wisdom that isn't. I heard the SAME argument against dealing for jeff Carter (same kind of return by the way) three years ago. Probably from you. How'd that work out? 2 Stanley Cups later, same guy who DESTROYED all these great guys we can't afford to trade on the Hawks a few weeks ago.

B.S.

Stop making excuses for a front office that is way too conservative at times. Dean Lombardi, to this point, has shown he has bigger stones than Stan Bowman.

Bowman inherited a much bester hand from Tallon. MUCH better. Lombardi has done more with his, precisely because he is not afraid to go big and trust his judgement. Or he doesn't have a meddlesome team president tying his hands.

Results speak volumes.
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

I never said those deals don't work out, I said in trades with big names involved you rarely ever see "a fair trade" so to speak where value is traded for equal value. I want Kesler in a Hawks jersey, I will make that crystal clear. But why the hell would the Hawks offer Sharp or TT or both? Kesler has all the leverage here, if I'm Bowman I'm offering a guy like Bickell and a prospect that isn't TT. That's it. If you don't like our deal, fine then move on and try and get a better deal. Doubt you (Vancouver) will find it.

I think you misunderstood that post.

Who made them the favorite - Bovine or whatever that betting service is? They follow the money - where the betting goes - not the real expected on ice performance.

I've said it several time - I don't care about Kesler, Spaezza, Stastny - Nielsen is fine - to me that would be a major aggressive deal, because it would require moving some important assets. If Stan could get it done - and replace any pieces that would have to be moved - , I'd call it a successful summer (I'm assuming Toews and Kane get resigned).

I'd call it an excellent summer if he could do that and create some cap space.
- StLBravesFan

Nielsen isn't on the block.

Nielsen isn't on the block.
- Hawks82

Make them an offer they can't refuse.

But there are other "Nielsen's" out there who could be had, if Stan could creatively get one of them.

Make them an offer they can't refuse.
- StLBravesFan

If it is like the offers they are making to Vancouver there will definitely be refusing.

If it is like the offers they are making to Vancouver there will definitely be refusing.
- VANTEL

Vantel, just curious. Do you work for the Nucks, Hawks or NHL? If you don't then how do you even have a clue what offers have been made or might be made or how Lovey Dovey Kessler is with management? No one knows that isn't part of either team or the NHL. You do know everyone puts on a happy face for the media. Just like the Owners/GM's saying the coach has their full confidence. A week later the coach is axed. Until something happens ALL is speculation and BS.

Vantel, just curious. Do you work for the Nucks, Hawks or NHL? If you don't then how do you even have a clue what offers have been made or might be made or how Lovey Dovey Kessler is with management? No one knows that isn't part of either team or the NHL. You do know everyone puts on a happy face for the media. Just like the Owners/GM's saying the coach has their full confidence. A week later the coach is axed. Until something happens ALL is speculation and BS.

- PaulNewman

Um because Linden was on the radio yesterday and said exactly that duh

JJ,

I never said those deals don't work out, I said in trades with big names involved you rarely ever see "a fair trade" so to speak where value is traded for equal value. I want Kesler in a Hawks jersey, I will make that crystal clear. But why the hell would the Hawks offer Sharp or TT or both? Kesler has all the leverage here, if I'm Bowman I'm offering a guy like Bickell and a prospect that isn't TT. That's it. If you don't like our deal, fine then move on and try and get a better deal. Doubt you (Vancouver) will find it.

I think you misunderstood that post.
- dan9189

Do you honestly think you can get Kesler on the Hawks without trading at least one of those guys?

Do you honestly think you can get Kesler on the Hawks without trading at least one of those guys?
- Shenanigans20

Apparently they do.

Canucks hands are tied so they are going to offer Kyle Beach and we will take it whether we want to or not and be happy about it.


I'm out of here . We will find out which team Kes is on next week .Blues Pens or Ducks .

Enjoy your week

Um because Linden was on the radio yesterday and said exactly that duh
- VANTEL

Ya, I guess the radio isn't media. Sorry, my mistake.

Do you honestly think you can get Kesler on the Hawks without trading at least one of those guys?
- Shenanigans20

Yes I think the Hawks can acquire Kesler without including either of those two guys in the deal especially when Kesler holds all the leverage. Like I said I'd offer Bickell and another prospect (not TT) and even the rights to Kevin Hayes if he's not going to sign here. Pittsburgh (Kesler's other preferred destination) doesn't have the organizational depth the Hawks have and they're not trading James Neal or Letang for Kesler. The guy always rumored to come back from Pittsburgh has been Sutter who is a nice #3C. Bickell can be a top 6 guy in Vancouver and maybe even the elusive power forward they've been trying to find for years now. Add in a couple of NHL ready guys and you got a deal.

Ya, I guess the radio isn't media. Sorry, my mistake.

- PaulNewman

So using media to form opinions or get information is all BS.

You do know the internet is a social media . This very site is media that you are getting information from . So according to you, all this is just bull and we are living in a matrix .

Yes I think the Hawks can acquire Kesler without including either of those two guys in the deal especially when Kesler holds all the leverage. Like I said I'd offer Bickell and another prospect (not TT) and even the rights to Kevin Hayes if he's not going to sign here. Pittsburgh (Kesler's other preferred destination) doesn't have the organizational depth the Hawks have and they're not trading James Neal or Letang for Kesler. The guy always rumored to come back from Pittsburgh has been Sutter who is a nice #3C. Bickell can be a top 6 guy in Vancouver and maybe even the elusive power forward they've been trying to find for years now. Add in a couple of NHL ready guys and you got a deal.
- dan9189

Sorry, but that's a terrible deal for VAN. I know Kesler holds some of the cards, but VAN, technically, doesn't HAVE to make a deal to any team but that's not likely an option really. Tough spot VAN is in. Never easy when a player wants out.

Sorry, but that's a terrible deal for VAN. I know Kesler holds some of the cards, but VAN, technically, doesn't HAVE to make a deal to any team but that's not likely an option really. Tough spot VAN is in. Never easy when a player wants out.
- Shenanigans20

Last time a player wanted out was Rick Nash . Columbus won that trade head over heels.

I guess you can say the St.Louis trade too but the guy is getting on in his years and TB did pretty good Was it Callahan and one or two firsts for St.Louis?

The Tallon/Bowman thing has about run its course.....don't ya think?

- UnnamedSource

Agreed. But remember Hossa choose the Hawks based on his formula he put together with his agent. That's why he rejected a long term deal with wings. Wings haven't sniffed a cup since then and are in the decline.

No gm is perfect. However a highly rated prospect means about as much now as what brovadas cup odds are. Nothing. I'll take. A proven NHL guy over a cub bard of what could be any day.

If it is like the offers they are making to Vancouver there will definitely be refusing.
- VANTEL

Has there been an offer?

Again, how do you know what Benning has offered or been offered?

The speculation here is simply about what JJ heard and what Grarich reported that Kesler's only options were the Pens and Hawks. Taking Ana out of this conversation.

JJ heard that Saad was the starting point and the Hawks walked. If talks reopened then either Benning dropped the Saad demand or there is a slim chance the deal has expanded as that would probably be the only way the Hawks would allow the conversation to keep going.