.....Exactly
- Al

Hello Al

Han shot first.
- DarthKane

nicely done....

Was this necessary?
- eburgio

Absolutely not.... but not unusual.

I'm going to create a list of things I am looking forward to no longer seeing on here, come July 5th. Assuming a few things are cleared up by then, here's my start.

1. The wacky daily rumors started by Ek
2. The constant 'JJ/Al have you heard anything' posts, when Al just updated us 32 minutes earlier
3. The endless ridiculous trade proposals where Vancouver is assumed to eat half of every salary
4. The bickering on here about Jeff Carter and whether the Hawks should've pursued
5. The bickering on here (in general)
6. The debate on whether or not Kevin Hayes will sign with the Hawks (it's clear, he won't)
7. The debate on whether or not Kevin Hayes has any trade value (he doesn't)
8. The debate on what the Hawks get if Kevin Hayes doesn't sign with the Hawks
9. Kane/Toews agreeing to long-term extensions (again, assuming this is cleared up)
10. The debate about the involvement of McD (I'm happy with the two cups, personally)
11. The end of attacking JJ's and his sources
12. Rumored Sharp dirtbag behavior (assuming we hear, because I really wanna know)
13. Making excuses for Versteeg's knee as it relates to his brain farts with turnovers

We have a lot to be thankful for as Hawks fans. Reading here is a high-stress environment most days. There are far more qualified people than us driving the bus at 1901 W. Madison. Let them do their job and support the team.

Gotta ask, is Mike Cammellari an option? He COULD skate with Kaner & Saad?
depends on what kind of cash they can move first, right?
- wonthecup10

Great scorer but if you want to see Q blow his top this would be the perfect acquisition....

No one said that, so thanks for putting words in my mouth. Shaw's a tough little bugger for sure. Disingenuous no less? I'm lying?

For example, the Hawks pay Hossa less than Sharp. Who's better? Really? So that argument doesn't really hold water.

And guess what, the guy who make less but plays as well or better—well, to Rick's point, that's the guy you hold on to.

Shaw IS more physically mature than Kruger (regardless of age).

I will end this by saying, my original point WAS there are hockey people who would take Kruger over Shaw, and maybe even Hawk management. Doesn't mean Shaw sucks or that Kruger is categorically better. They are different types of players actually. But if you want to say Shaw is better than Kruger period, ok, but you will get an argument. Like the one(s) you just got.
- John Jaeckel

I think other teams value both and if either were dealt it wouldn't be easy to replace them for similar money.

If the Kesler trade happens it will get even testier. Hawks fans arguing with each other over whether it was a good trade or not and then arguing with the Canuck fans about who won the trade.


- jhawk159

Only the team getting Kesler will win it, it's compensation going the other way. The team that gets Kesler will either get a piece that puts them over the top or a piece that puts them in the conversation. (Ducks)

Kaner should pull a Ryne Sandberg, go into uncle John & say "you want me to sign, get rid of this guy , right now, it's either him or me!"
I wish Kaner would have reared back & busted Sharp right back in the mouth!, let that pretty boy little A hole go hide behind his Mix buddy Eric then!
I hope it is Shart for Louie Erickson, maybe Ek will finally get 1 right!
- wonthecup10

With the damage control management has had to do with Kane. He wouldn't dare pull something like that. With the rumors that were out there about Kane... the Sharp stuff seems pretty tame.

They are rumors and some people take it as Gospel and run with it.

A lot of quality posters here and from what I can tell good guys. I just want to see it stay that way because it's fun reading everyone's take on certain things.

Incorrect. Hossa is making 7.9 next year. Sharp 6.5. You are correct if you are talking about cap hit.

Next 3 years...
Sharp. 6.5 - 5.5 - 5.5
Hossa. 7.9 - 7.9 - 4.0
- eburgio

I was. Doesn't matter. There is an argument that Kruger = or > Shaw. All I was saying. There is an argument. And a good one. That you'll get from people who know the game beyond goals and assists.

If the Hawks made the move I suggested:
29 19 81
20 17 88
10 16 11
52 FA 28

Terravainen spends part/ most of the year in RFD Dahlbeck/ Johns replaces Leddy

The Hawks are a better team than last season and you keep your #1 prospect. Play him at wing, alleviating the pressure on him to be a 2C in his rookie season
- reeder16

Why not give TT the 4c gig and get some on the job training like Krueger

Only the team getting Kesler will win it, it's compensation going the other way. The team that gets Kesler will either get a piece that puts them over the top or a piece that puts them in the conversation. (Ducks)
- golfingsince

Right. You're better than this. What's the point? So you can look coool for all the mental midgets in the nuck thread?

Kruger still has upside, kid is still physically immature.
- John Jaeckel

Wow, he must be really immature if you're expecting another grow spurt at 24 years of age! What is he a tortoise?

Did Schultz actually earn those bonuses or were they in the contract but totally unachievable - like Braden Schenn's when he signed with LA?

Teams like the Oilers, Flames, Islanders etc have one thing they can promise - if you sign with us you are going to play. The Hawks can't and won't do that with Kevin Hayes and thats likely the reason they can't get his signature on a contract.

For all I know Hayes may only be good enough to make teams like the Flames and Oilers and thereby get some playing time with a bad NHL team instead of grinding it out for awhile in the AHL. If that's what he wants, who really cares about losing him.
- RickJ

Those bonus can only be earned at the NHL level...Schultz has played around a 125 games and unless he is getting a fat check for every minus I'm not sure how much he could have heard.

Kaner should pull a Ryne Sandberg, go into uncle John & say "you want me to sign, get rid of this guy , right now, it's either him or me!"
I wish Kaner would have reared back & busted Sharp right back in the mouth!, let that pretty boy little A hole go hide behind his Mix buddy Eric then!
I hope it is Shart for Louie Erickson, maybe Ek will finally get 1 right!
- wonthecup10

I have said it and inferred it, but the hawks have a very thin wire to walk the next few months.

The debate is not about needing a 2C to win etc and all the comparisons with 2010 and 2013. It is more serious in my opinion. And regardless of the Sharp thing too. That is, there is no room for missteps. Kane has made it clear, as JJ pointed out, he is not going to waste his prime years skating with players that do not belong in the league.

All our fan debate about overpaying and not overpaying etc, and all other sub plots is secondary to the organization clearly demonstrating to Kane their commitment to keeping him happy. Any misstep here and you get Toews doing an extension without him and/or the Kane thing being dragged into next season, which would have an 80/20 percent chance of being bad to disastrous.

Should that scenario play out and drag on, the Chevy Romance stuff and the dreams of a hockey dynasty/perennial contender stuff just swirls around the bowl and our fan honeymoon comes to a screaching halt.

Just one mans opinion.

Right. You're better than this. What's the point? So you can look coool for all the mental midgets in the nuck thread?
- Elbows15

Watcha drinking?

Wow, he must be really immature if you're expecting another grow spurt at 24 years of age! What is he a tortoise?
- mcmasterkev

He could add some muscle.. ya know

With the damage control management has had to do with Kane. He wouldn't dare pull something like that. With the rumors that were out there about Kane... the Sharp stuff seems pretty tame.

They are rumors and some people take it as Gospel and run with it.
- armbar22

I agree, how do you think that weather chick feels also, if indeed she's the one. she is held in high esteem amongst the masses, so I am sure it's probably garbage, but I could see Sharp scumming around like that, I think he gets too much of a pass around here, I HOPE Stan Bowman does whats best for the team & not Patrick Sharp & his media possy.

Watcha drinking?
- golfingsince

Scotch. you?

A lot of quality posters here and from what I can tell good guys. I just want to see it stay that way because it's fun reading everyone's take on certain things.
- WelcomeToTheWeb

Nope, most of us post from prison.

Nope, most of us post from prison.
- TrueGrit

They have internet there?

Scotch. you?
- Elbows15

What kind? Also, Czechvar.

I absolutely knew it when I posted that: the Hawks cannot get better than the compensation pick for his rights - no other team would be willing to give up a second or a first for a two-month window to talk to a kid who they could get for nothing in August.

The 24th pick in the 2nd round next year is THE BEST they can do.

What am I missing?

If there is no sense in talking to me, stop talking to me.
- StLBravesFan

If a team traded for Hayes, would they get the compensatory 2nd rd. pick if he did not sign with them? I don't know the rules.

Wow, he must be really immature if you're expecting another grow spurt at 24 years of age! What is he a tortoise?
- mcmasterkev

If a team traded for Hayes, would they get the compensatory 2nd rd. pick if he did not sign with them? I don't know the rules.
- coldsteelonice

Yes