Is Saad a core Hawks player?
- golfingsince

For all intents and purposes he is. He still needs development as a player. But the fact that he's giving top 6 production while still on an entry level contract makes him as important to the organization going forward as Toews, Kane, Hossa, etc….

Which is why they'll do everything to keep TT out of the deal too. Even if it means killing it. It's essential to find the players that can come in and give big production while on early contracts.

From a negotiating leverage perspective, it would behoove the Hawks to clear the cap space prior to making a deal for Kesler. So if Sharp is suddenly moved to MTL, domino's are about to fall

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.

- Sconnie

Any team that gives more than $3 mill on a short deal (two,yr maximum) is nuts. Bolland is always going to be injury prone, missing lots of games. And no guarantee that he will be healthy in playoffs.

If this is sort of remotely true:

NHLSourcesSay @NHLSourcesSay · 6 t

#BreakingNews #Ducks have offer on table for #Canucks Ryan Kesler; two 1st round picks 10th, 24th overall + top prospect. #NSS #confirmed


NHLSourcesSay @NHLSourcesSay · 6 t

#Hawks need to up offer, VAN want Tervainen + Leddy + 1st round pick. #Canucks willing to keep 50% of Kesler salary #NSS ball in CHI court


NHLSourcesSay ‏@NHLSourcesSay

#Penguins still in mix, Kesler's second choice behind #Hawks. Current offer of Sutter + Pouliot + 1st round pick not enough for #Canucks


Anaheim's offers by far the worst unless prospect is named Jesus On Ice Skates. Or Gretzky. It's a weak draft.

Piuttsburgh's is solid and competitive with the Hawks.

Leddy and Pouliot are comparable. Sutter and who the Hawks have probably been offering (Danault or Hartman) are comparable. In both cases, one team's asset just has more experience than the other.

Of ALL the assets actually named here, Leddy is by far the surest thing/highest upside. Pouliot CUOLD end up a better player than Leddy. But that would likely be 2-3 years away minimum. Leddy has all the tools Pouliot does and more size. There ARE valid questions about Leddy's decision-making an delay in his own end, but he has improved in those areas every year. And at 22, he is a top 4 defenseman/PP threat on just about any team in the league except maybe Chicago and 2-3 others.

Granted, Sutter is more of a sure thing than Hartman or Danault. But the best player right now =of all these guys is Nick Leddy. And he could well be 5 years from now.
- John Jaeckel

I'm surprised PIT is offering Pouliot. The guy should be a stud. He was one of/if not the most impressive player for Canada in the WJC.

I would bet he'll be better than Leddy in due time... but then again, I'm not a scout. He just seems to have more between the ears to go along with his elite skill set.

JJ - have the Hawks gave up on my favourite little prospect Danault? I hope the Hawks find a way to keep him. Tons of character.

@tycam - Rumours For Everyone
http://bit.ly/1ru2t2i

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.
- paulr

LA's core is just built differently.

Also, this may not be a popular sentiment on this board but I would take Doughty any day over Keith.

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: The Ryan Callahan deal once finalized with Tampa will be six years x $5.8 M AAV with partial NTC

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: The Ryan Callahan deal once finalized with Tampa will be six years x $5.8 M AAV with partial NTC
- captainserious

Good for him.

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

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

To name a few?

Right!

Williams is a nice player to have. Great in last playoffs. Previously last couple regular seasons he is injured a lot and not producing a whole lot of goals. Seemingly not always a Sutter favorite? Toffoli is a young guy who has to have at least one full good season to be considered a core piece. Voynov is another nice player but is he a first pair or even strong #2 pair worthy. He is good but not a top guy yet.

LA's core is just built differently.

Also, this may not be a popular sentiment on this board but I would take Doughty any day over Keith.
- golfingsince

At his age yes, if they are the same age no. Doughty is slightly better offensively and more physical but not as good defensively and Doughty plays a more high risk style. Babcock paired Keith with Weber as the first pairing because Keith is more reliable defensively.

Good for him.
- mrpaulish

Interesting how Callahan and Drouin fit in next year. Callahan will surely miss chunks of the schedule with injuries.

To name a few?

Right!

Williams is a nice player to have. Great in last playoffs. Previously last couple regular seasons he is injured a lot and not producing a whole lot of goals. Seemingly not always a Sutter favorite? Toffoli is a young guy who has to have at least one full good season to be considered a core piece. Voynov is another nice player but is he a first pair or even strong #2 pair worthy. He is good but not a top guy yet.
- jhawk59

So the Hawks core includes who exactly ?

Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabs.

Seeing as how Hossa is 3 years older than Williams who was deemed too old for a core piece he certainly doesn't apply.

LA's core is just built differently.

Also, this may not be a popular sentiment on this board but I would take Doughty any day over Keith.
- golfingsince

For the long term, Yes, Doughty... like if im building a team from scratch...

For just next year or two... Keith had a slight edge still.

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

Using your source (HF), the 'Hawks are fourth, but I'm sure you know that. Prospects are just that, and a risk. I'm ok with the 'Hawks dealing Teuvo in the right deal, as I don't think he'll ever be better than a good player, and I want to see the 'Hawks maximize the now, and make the most of the current group. They can deal Sharp to stockpile the future.

So the Hawks core includes who exactly ?

Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabs.

Seeing as how Hossa is 3 years older than Williams who was deemed too old for a core piece he certainly doesn't apply.
- golfingsince

Kane, Toews, Keith, Sharp, Hossa and Seabrook

Williams is and was never a core player, he is a good complimentary player.

From a negotiating leverage perspective, it would behoove the Hawks to clear the cap space prior to making a deal for Kesler. So if Sharp is suddenly moved to MTL, domino's are about to fall
- Sundevil

Leverage for a Sharp deal is affected by the demand among other teams. If five teams are willing to trade for him, the leverage for the Hawks comes from the fact that they will be bidding against each other. In that case it is irrelevant whether they need to trade him. On the other hand, as is the case with Kesler, Sharp has some ability to determine if and where he goes.

Also, the Hawks would have all summer to get to the cap number - teams are allowed to go 10% (about $7M) over in the off-season.

So the Hawks core includes who exactly ?

Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabs.

Seeing as how Hossa is 3 years older than Williams who was deemed too old for a core piece he certainly doesn't apply.
- golfingsince

I would actually say Kane, Toews, Keith, Hjalmersson, Crawford, with Saad right on the cusp. (closer to the core than toffoli would be, but not yet fully there).

Seabrook will probably be a cap causality after this contract is over, or maybe even before then.

I would actually say Kane, Toews, Keith, Hjalmersson, Crawford, with Saad right on the cusp. (closer to the core than toffoli would be, but not yet fully there).

Seabrook will probably be a cap causality after this contract is over, or maybe even before then.
- gnosox1986

Decision time on Seabrook is next summer, when he'll be eligible for an extension.

Morning people. Hopefully today is the day!

LA's core is just built differently.

Also, this may not be a popular sentiment on this board but I would take Doughty any day over Keith.
- golfingsince

Nothing wrong with a difference of opinion on this board, and I'd agree with you. Nothing wrong with Keith, I just like what Doughty brings from a physical standpoint, and offensively. Duncan is too hesitant on the PP, which bugs the fudge out of me.

Morning people. Hopefully today is the day!
- SUDA88

At his age yes, if they are the same age no. Doughty is slightly better offensively and more physical but not as good defensively and Doughty plays a more high risk style. Babcock paired Keith with Weber as the first pairing because Keith is more reliable defensively.
- paulr

Not at all. He paired Keith with Weber because Weber is a rock defensively, not to mention the whole left right thing. Without question Canada's two best skaters at the Olympics were Doughty and Weber.

Now I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3R5M1oWE_E

Using your source (HF), the 'Hawks are fourth, but I'm sure you know that. Prospects are just that, and a risk. I'm ok with the 'Hawks dealing Teuvo in the right deal, as I don't think he'll ever be better than a good player, and I want to see the 'Hawks maximize the now, and make the most of the current group. They can deal Sharp to stockpile the future.
- howiehandles

But key line of HF evaluation of Ducks is:

Key Losses: Jakob Silfverberg (graduation), Hampus Lindholm (graduation), Emerson Etem (graduation), Devante Smith-Pelly (graduation).

They have a strong roster presence of young guys 22 and under. I think they would move any of them (except for Lindholm) as part of a package deal for Kesler. The Chicago graduate is Saad and the Hawks are not open to that kind of move.

So, if you are trying to sell hope to the Vancouver fans you go with the best youth package you can get. This is where the Hawks have difficulty matching the Ducks firepower.

Now I know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3R5M1oWE_E
- stashu

Not at all. He paired Keith with Weber because Weber is a rock defensively, not to mention the whole left right thing. Without question Canada's two best skaters at the Olympics were Doughty and Weber.
- golfingsince

Whatever.