Another thing...how long will this Kesler trade crap linger on? Up until the draft! The entire summer? It's starting to annoy me
- captainserious

I imagine Kesler will be dealt Friday.

@TSNBobMcKenzie: PIT and Portland GM-coach Mike Johnston are finalizing a deal that will make him Pens' next head coach. Not quite done yet but expected.
- captainserious

The reason the Pens couldn't sign Willie Desjardins was because ownership insisted he take on assistant coaches ownership wanted. Desjardins took the job in Vancouver because they allowed him to build his own coaching staff.

I have a little different perspective. I am watching primarily from the Spezza angle and the return to the Senators. Everything on Spezza is about his going to St. Louis, except for possibly Anaheim hanging in the weeds. Read it the same way on the Hawks and Kesler.

Anaheim has one of the top rated prospect pools (HF). They are going to get either Kesler or Spezza. I don't think they have turned on the full fire power yet or even made it clear which is their first choice.

But, you present the issues with the best and most objective clarity.

I imagine Kesler will be dealt Friday.
- golfingsince

Still waiting to hear what team has a better core than the Hawks.

Still waiting to hear what team has a better core than the Hawks.
- paulr

Kings

I have a little different perspective. I am watching primarily from the Spezza angle and the return to the Senators. Everything on Spezza is about his going to St. Louis, except for possibly Anaheim hanging in the weeds. Read it the same way on the Hawks and Kesler.

Anaheim has one of the top rated prospect pools (HF). They are going to get either Kesler or Spezza. I don't think they have turned on the full fire power yet or even made it clear which is their first choice.

But, you present the issues with the best and most objective clarity.
- spatso

The Hawks are right up there as the 4th rated prospect pool. If the Nucks manage to get the Ducks and Hawks into a bidding war it will be good for them.

Kings
- golfingsince

Haha Kopitar Carter, Doughty Quick and??????

The Hawks are right up there as the 4th rated prospect pool. If the Nucks manage to get the Ducks and Hawks into a bidding war it will be good for them.
- paulr

I personally think that unless blown away at some point this deal may come down to who is on the board @ #10.

There is about a 0% chance he will be moved
- John Jaeckel

And I hope you're overestimating

I personally think that unless blown away at some point this deal may come down to who is on the board @ #10.
- golfingsince

Why do you think that because you're on a Hawks board or because you know something?

The reason the Pens couldn't sign Willie Desjardins was because ownership insisted he take on assistant coaches ownership wanted. Desjardins took the job in Vancouver because they allowed him to build his own coaching staff.
- paulr

The only coach they told him he had to keep was Tocchet. The bigger hang up was the 2 year deal with "team option for 3rd". For a team that could be in transistion in 2 years if they dont have a good Cup run to two... thats a lot of insecurity for a first time coach...

Also, Desjardin is a Western Canada guy...He's from Saskatchewan and coached for years in Alberta with M.H.

But does Benning want Leddy?

But if Chicago waits to the last minute before the draft, is the asking price come down? Vanc is asking for more than is fair market value, which if in their shoes anyone should do.

If you want to wait and see if Tervainen can become the next good two way point producer core player in chg, then you are hoping that Benning wants Leddy. In the end it is Bowman who just doesn't want to part with TT and this probably will kill a Kesler deal to Chg.

Is Neal going to be happy playing in Vancouver? Does Vancouver maybe want to move Kesler salary and not take back the same size of a big contract a la Neal?

If you can put yourself in Benning's place, do you accept Leddy and either Bickel or Shaw plus the # 1 from 2014? No, Benning wants the bigger skill guy - potentially biggest skill guy - in Tervainen.

I would ignore those Florida rumors associated with Chg. Bowman is not trading Tervainen there in order to get the #1 overall.

Haha Kopitar Carter, Doughty Quick and??????
- paulr

Brown, Williams, Toffoli, Voynov to name a few.

They've won 2 of the last 3 cups and yet you laugh.

I'm curious about the effect the new management in Van will have on trading Kesler (no matter where). I would think they are less attached to him than was the previous management. But they also likely want to show the owner than they can get things done and get a good return.

My wild-assed guess is that they want to get the assets back for him (he is going to be a diminishing asset soon), but are going to drive a hard bargain. But at the end of the process, keeping him is not what they want to do.

Brown, Williams, Toffoli, Voynov to name a few.

They've won 2 of the last 3 cups and yet you laugh.
- golfingsince

While i agree with your point, so dont take this the wrong way... Toffoli wouldn't be a "core" guy yet, and Williams is old and wouldn't be a part of the "core going forward" but yes... i would agree Brown and Voynov are in that group.

Why do you think that because you're on a Hawks board or because you know something?
- paulr

If someone that either ANA or Van really likes is still there at #10 then it certainly impacts a decision.

While i agree with your point, so dont take this the wrong way... Toffoli wouldn't be a "core" guy yet, and Williams is old and wouldn't be a part of the "core going forward" but yes... i would agree Brown and Voynov are in that group.
- gnosox1986

Is Saad a core Hawks player?

Brown, Williams, Toffoli, Voynov to name a few.

They've won 2 of the last 3 cups and yet you laugh.
- golfingsince

I laughed at you!

Brown, Williams and Voynov are very good secondary players none are core players. Toffoli like Saad is knocking on the door.

Chicago's core is far superior to LA's, what LA has that the Hawks don't is superior depth and that was what won LA's two cups and when the Hawks had better depth was what won their two cups.

Reasons Hawks like Kesler more than Spezza:

1) he is 2 million per year cheaper (Hawks are always close to the cap and that could be two bottom 6 guys).


2) Kesler will hit people: he had 133 hits while Spezza had 17.

Besides for those two reasons they are very similar but the Hawks need guys that will hit and have a cheaper salary
- BearsnHawks

Exactly...he brings some grit to the top six....and I would welcome it

Is Saad a core Hawks player?
- golfingsince

I would say yes....a hossa 2.0...in the making

Question here -

If VAN is really willing to keep half of Kesler's salary, why in the world is this deal not done right now? So long, TT.

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie · 1h ·

David Bolland's initial ask of TOR was 7 or 8 yr deal worth shade under $5M per year. If TOR counters it will be for shorter term/lower AAV.

Question here -

If VAN is really willing to keep half of Kesler's salary, why in the world is this deal not done right now? So long, TT.
- FredoXV

I can't imagine the Nucks keeping half of his salary, they are already paying Gillis, Tortarella, Booth, Ballard and Luongo not to play I doubt they want to keep doing that.

Kings
- golfingsince

Well not among dmen as core guys.

Daughty, then Voynov and Muzzin? Yikes. That is like saying Doughty and two sort of good but not #2 worthy on any team depth. Voynov and Muzzin could get better but not seeing them as a whole lot better one day.

Compared to

Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson. And darkhorse Dahlbeck maybe becomes a good second pair dman. Maybe.

I personally think that unless blown away at some point this deal may come down to who is on the board @ #10.
- golfingsince

I think it unfolds earlier. Vancouver has the #6 pick as well. If they get the #10 as well they can do some serious work on draft day and give a new GM a great start. Saw some speculation that Vancouver wants #10 because they could do a deal and move up to #1 and draft Sam Reinhardt.