It was a Hallmark moment - holding hands and skipping down the waiting area....

I am starting to think the hawks do something big. It would be nice to get kesler but I see it as 50\50. One of those twitter rumor guys who is probably 10 years old thought a good trade for sharp is to philly for couturier. I somehow doubt it. But imagine LA going up against toews-kesler-couturier

Yes and no....

Versteegs health is the wildcard.....if he's healthy next year it changes the dynamic of the team.....if not then if we keep what we have with no changes with the bottom six....we still can't roll four lines in the postseason.....

Air Supply playing in the background.......as a mood enhancement.....touching....as Hallmark always does....

No, they are all UFAs. Sharp being traded would coincide with Kesler being brought in. Plus, to bring in any other forward, one of Versteeg, Morin, or Smith will need to be moved IMO.

With Nordy....Danault...McNeil.....and maybe Hartmann......one of those will be the 3rd line center of the future.....so I don't see someone else's young player coming back as a return....reason being....cap issues in the future.......


Thats why I've always believed a Frans Nielsen or that type of player with a small cap hit/contract length is the perfect type of player.....

.....and if the return for Sharp is a high draft pick....with the depth of this years draft being questioned.....even if we acquire Keslerio......the Hawks did not improve their team overall....

The first shoe to drop could be a trade which nets the Hawks, Ducks, Penguins or a team out of left field a top 10 Draft pick.

The Ducks already have the 10th selection...

Have to think the 3 piece requirement I heard today is correct....2 players (younger players) and low draft pick is the asking price for Kesler.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

The first shoe to drop could be a trade which nets the Hawks, Ducks, Penguins or a team out of left field a top 10 Draft pick.

The Ducks already have the 10th selection...

Have to think the 3 piece requirement I heard today is correct....2 players (younger players) and low draft pick is the asking price for Kesler.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Wouldn't the Canucks want a high draft pick?

I still hope we get kesler and then by trading sharp we can get 2 young players on low salaries. Eventually those 2 players will need bigger contracts so we can dump another high priced player in a few years. By then the cap will be going up a lot.

So where are we at.....


Sounds like we are close with Keslerski....have the Bowmans received the McD stamp of approval???

All in all for whats on the table its sounds like a solid move....TT would be a big prospect to move but at the end of the day there is no guarantee he develops into what people think he will become....his future is mostly at RW...where we have Hossa & Kane.....he's not a third line player and I don't see him having an impact as a center.....so he fell into the lap of the Hawks and you have the opportunity to fill a need some think has been a glaring hole in the organization........so in the end it makes sense.....if its helps us win another cup or two then it's worth it.

Patrick Sharp....if the above deal is made we still have an issue with our third line/bottom six and the back end of our blue line. Any deal with Sharp has to replenish these needs....plain and simple. Bickel and Saad will more than likely be the forwards in the top six......so our bottom is

23-65-11......no size
28-16-52......works for the regular season.....not the playoffs

Am I forgetting someone???

...and has much as Dahlbeck and Johns have been labeled as ready for the next step.....I don't two rookies on the back end of the D with Q on the bench....

And finally .......Ogi....Elbows....Mohel....StL(Sage)....HawkintheD...Rollpards....Darth....Captain Serious....Eburgio....Paulish.......TC.....Beav....PaulR...if Im missing anyone I apologize...thank you for the kind words.....the messages......and the support.....I owe you guys a beer and a pat on the back.......
- UnnamedSource

No problem in the words of emerson, Lake, and Palmer: welcome back my friend(s) to the show that never ends

The first shoe to drop could be a trade which nets the Hawks, Ducks, Penguins or a team out of left field a top 10 Draft pick.

The Ducks already have the 10th selection...

Have to think the 3 piece requirement I heard today is correct....2 players (younger players) and low draft pick is the asking price for Kesler.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Just don't see the Hawks being willing to pay that type of price for Kesler. They would work on getting Spezza first, who may fit their long range planning better anyway.

I still hope we get kesler and then by trading sharp we can get 2 young players on low salaries. Eventually those 2 players will need bigger contracts so we can dump another high priced player in a few years. By then the cap will be going up a lot.
- tomcat24

Keslerez and Sharp are a wash salary wise....


You still need money to build your bottom six and D depth...

I'm sorry...

Morin-Shaw-Versteeg
Bollig- Kruger-Smith.......does not impress me......unless you drop Bickel down....and put Steeger up on the top six....but with Q's line juggling how long will that last.

Defensive Depth.....sounds like Leddy will be in the deal for Keslerley.....so we pick up some money there......but with BBank....and assuming Rosival is traded....again picking up money...you have 3 positions to fill......assume one is Dahlbeck......who are the other two....and no BBank is not taking a discount to come back.

Yep...SQLserver issues. Takes several attempts to load the page most times.

Just don't see the Hawks being willing to pay that type of price for Kesler. They would work on getting Spezza first, who may fit their long range planning better anyway.
- RickJ

Money wise yes.....system wise???? I don't know.

Oops, looks like I spoke too soon.
But I just checked looks like you're under way now.

Keslerez and Sharp are a wash salary wise....


You still need money to build your bottom six and D depth...

I'm sorry...

Morin-Shaw-Versteeg
Bollig- Kruger-Smith.......does not impress me......unless you drop Bickel down....and put Steeger up on the top six....but with Q's line juggling how long will that last.

Defensive Depth.....sounds like Leddy will be in the deal for Keslerley.....so we pick up some money there......but with BBank....and assuming Rosival is traded....again picking up money...you have 3 positions to fill......assume one is Dahlbeck......who are the other two....and no BBank is not taking a discount to come back.
- UnnamedSource

I don't think the bottom 6 is that bad. Definitely needs work, though. There has to be a way to dump versteeg. I expect the swedes to get an audition: nordstrom and the new guy. I also hope we get a young player or 2 for sharp that can play on line 3. Young guys on cheap salaries.

Meaning a 1st round lower pick from 1-10....not a high 1st round pick
The way I term it is confusing to some.
When I say low I mean an early round selection.

Canucks own #5 now.

Oops, looks like I spoke too soon.
But I just checked looks like you're under way now.
- Ogilthorpe2

Something tells me you watched a lot of soccer today.......

With Nordy....Danault...McNeil.....and maybe Hartmann......one of those will be the 3rd line center of the future.....so I don't see someone else's young player coming back as a return....reason being....cap issues in the future.......


Thats why I've always believed a Frans Nielsen or that type of player with a small cap hit/contract length is the perfect type of player.....

.....and if the return for Sharp is a high draft pick....with the depth of this years draft being questioned.....even if we acquire Keslerio......the Hawks did not improve their team overall....
- UnnamedSource

Bang on with the Nielsen assessment. I've addresses the 2C void ideally and won't break the bank (either cap acquisition cost).

We could still have a top 9 of:

Sharp - Toews - Hossa
Saad - Nielsen - Kane
Bickell - Kruger - Shaw

I'd like to see Stan acquire another centre, either a 3C or 4C.

Kesler's fun to talk about and all, but I'm not sure he's the guy I want.

I think the only logical way for Hawks is to somehow get an early round pick.

Canucks... I'm fairly certain can bank on the #10 pick Anaheim has now.

About 2.5 seconds worth as I walked past an airport bar. Most I've watched all week.

Kesler's fun to talk about and all, but I'm not sure he's the guy I want.
- Ogilthorpe2

Still would need at least one very good player for the bottom six.

Kesler's fun to talk about and all, but I'm not sure he's the guy I want.
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree, Kesler is not the 2C you are looking for. *waives hand*

Nielsen is the 2C you really want.

I don't think the bottom 6 is that bad. Definitely needs work, though. There has to be a way to dump versteeg. I expect the swedes to get an audition: nordstrom and the new guy. I also hope we get a young player or 2 for sharp that can play on line 3. Young guys on cheap salaries.
- tomcat24

Yes young players are cheap but...TC....do you think a cup contending Hawks teams will have more than 2 young/rookie players on it???

Defeats the purpose of making a big trade for Kesler.....


Bottom Six...

Versteeg.....health is the concern
Smith....Solid...no issues
Kruger....solid no issues
Shaw....consistency dumb penalties...needs to be in better shape
Bollig....will he improve?
Morin.....will he get the chance?


Lots of question marks...especially with Steeger.