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

Nielsen is the 2C you really want.
- DarthKane

Nicely done....

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

Commitment wise.....1 year only.

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

Nielsen is the 2C you really want.
- DarthKane

Eller or Nielsen, maybe Vermette.

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.
- Al

gotcha......I don't know if acquiring so many picks with the talent pool of this years draft is smart.....

But thats just me.....I would rather take semi-developed or close to NHL players instead.

What kind of return do you think Sharp would get? I bet he can bring in a good young player and a pick

Commitment wise.....1 year only.
- Al

....leave it to the Hawks to commit to a solution at 2C for one year.....this board would go nuts

It does give them so cap flexibility for sure...what does the 2015 FA pool look like?

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.
- UnnamedSource

Will help you here:

Versteeg should be riding jackasses in Nova Scotia, permanently. He stinks. Doesn't resemble the player 0f 2009-10. FInd a way to move him.

Bollig - spare tire, 13th forward on his best day but will be kept for his physical play.

Morin - trade bait because he can't make the top 6. McNeill is proably a better fit starting on the 3rd or 4th line.

Shaw - out of shape? I don't think so. Concerned about how long he can last playing the way he does.

Eller or Nielsen, maybe Vermette.
- Ogilthorpe2

As you know I like Nielsen.....and Vermette.....

Eller....I like and I don't....to inconsistent.

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.
- UnnamedSource

Even with trading sharp and getting a kesler the team would still be pretty similar to the team that was a goal away from playing for the cup. We would lose defensive depth but up front maybe sharp brings in a player for line 3. Like an eller. Some on other boards brought up a detroit player or 2 like jurco or sheahan. Shaw-Sheahan-smith or smith-shaw-jurco. I have no idea what sharp gets

Eller or Nielsen, maybe Vermette.
- Ogilthorpe2

Or maybe Nielsen AND 1 of Eller or Vermette.

Will help you here:

Versteeg should be riding jackasses in Nova Scotia, permanently. He stinks. Doesn't resemble the player 0f 2009-10. FInd a way to move him.

Bollig - spare tire, 13th forward on his best day but will be kept for his physical play.

Morin - trade bait because he can't make the top 6. McNeill is proably a better fit starting on the 3rd or 4th line.

Shaw - out of shape? I don't think so. Concerned about how long he can last playing the way he does.
- RickJ

Agree with most....but I can tell you the Hawks were disappointed with Shaw and his lack of conditioning last off season.....he played well the first part....and then disappeared after the olympic break. Two big signs of fatigue....dumb decisions on the ice....and stupid penalties....both describe Shaw in the second half.

Agree with most....but I can tell you the Hawks were disappointed with Shaw and his lack of conditioning last off season.....he played well the first part....and then disappeared after the olympic break. Two big signs of fatigue....dumb decisions on the ice....and stupid penalties....both describe Shaw in the second half.
- UnnamedSource

Given Shaw's style of play he's always going to take penalties. He just needs to work on his timing a bit better. Shaw isn't a perfect forward, but he's getting better and he's needed on our 3rd line.

Sharp (top line LW)
Shaw (3rd line/possibly 2nd C)
Leddy (3rd pairing D, with upside)
1st round
And Danault

to get Ryan Kesler ? A bit much don't you think????
- reeder16

Holy smoking Crack WAY TO DAMN MUch

How good of the odds do you guys think the Hawks pull off a deal for Kesler?

I think friday is going to shake out in a way that will suprise everyone. just wait and SEE! in stan we trust!

Even with trading sharp and getting a kesler the team would still be pretty similar to the team that was a goal away from playing for the cup. We would lose defensive depth but up front maybe sharp brings in a player for line 3. Like an eller. Some on other boards brought up a detroit player or 2 like jurco or sheahan. Shaw-Sheahan-smith or smith-shaw-jurco. I have no idea what sharp gets
- tomcat24

True.....but here are some thing top consider....let's say Sharp goes/Keslerel comes..

Saad is still young......most smart hockey people feel he will be a stud....but more or less he will have to replace 30+ goals on the wing..still hasn't scored 20 in a season. Sure, acquiring Keslerer means he will also have an impact on scoring.....but will Saad also take the next step.

Bickel.....will he play like plays in the playoffs......no injuries this offseason......needs to play like a 4 million dollar player all season....has yet to.

If both those players are up on the top 6 our bottom six has NO size outside of Bollig.....

ANd don't discount defensive depth...it is the engine that drive the system of the Hawks....without it CC is an average goaltender...

Given Shaw's style of play he's always going to take penalties. He just needs to work on his timing a bit better. Shaw isn't a perfect forward, but he's getting better and he's needed on our 3rd line.
- DarthKane

I would like him better at wing.....

I understand the penalty thing but some of the ones he took were ridiculous....and it goes back to fatigue......if he dedicates himself this offseason there is no issue...

I think friday is going to shake out in a way that will suprise everyone. just wait and SEE! in stan we trust!
- SaskHawkFan

I wouldn't be surprised to see Stan go off the board to address our need for more depth down the middle. That's typically how Stan's done things lately.

I think people calling for eller to be 2C would be disappointed

Definitely more of a 3C type.

I think people calling for eller to be 2C would be disappointed

Definitely more of a 3C type.
- FourFeathers773

yes!

I wouldn't be surprised to see Stan go off the board to address our need for more depth down the middle. That's typically how Stan's done things lately.
- DarthKane

Hawks are always tight lipped..........very well could be possible that when they make a move no one saw it coming.

Hawks are always tight lipped..........very well could be possible that when they make a move no one saw it coming.
- UnnamedSource

Except for you and I...we called Nielsen loooong ago.

yes!
- UnnamedSource

I've seen him play a bunch and I just don't see it

Like a bigger version of mike fisher, but if the name of the game is a real 2C to play with saad and kane, look elsewhere

Agree with most....but I can tell you the Hawks were disappointed with Shaw and his lack of conditioning last off season.....he played well the first part....and then disappeared after the olympic break. Two big signs of fatigue....dumb decisions on the ice....and stupid penalties....both describe Shaw in the second half.
- UnnamedSource

Yup, Shaw was up and down thru the season so I have nothing to refute your lack of conditioning thought. I do think he played with some rib issues for a good part of the year. I remember seeing him get crunched behind the net at the UC. And then the leg injury sustained when Stoner hit him in the playoffs, probably shouldn't have been playing against the Kings.

But he's a gamer, good teams don't ditch those kind of players.

I've seen him play a bunch and I just don't see it

Like a bigger version of mike fisher, but if the name of the game is a real 2C to play with saad and kane, look elsewhere
- FourFeathers773

He was lights out the first two months last year.....and then crap the rest of the season.