Elbows, what is it you don't like about this guy? At a towering (by Hawks standards) 6ft 2in, 190 LBS he's arguably the fastest skater on this team, is a + player in Corsi numbers (Q loves possession and speed), is willing to work along the wall and in the crease, hustles back on D, has good bottom 6 hands/skill, was talented enough to be drafted in the 3rd round, can play wing or center, is in his prime physically at 28 yrs old and maybe most importantly for me he will accept a role.

Inked at 650k!

Look at his #'s. http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=78679

He's played on some good and bad Ottawa clubs and a bad Isles team. In his only full season, 75 games, he hit double digits in goals with 29 points. I don't know which line he played on that year but I'd guess bottom 6. Nice numbers.

I just don't see what's not to like from a guy who would figure into a probable 4th line role that adds to team speed and isn't a midget on a team that needs some size.
- Mr Ricochet

All I think about with Regin is his excellent play in G6 with Minny and tying up Suter from the puck and letting Kane close out the series.

Elbows, what is it you don't like about this guy? At a towering (by Hawks standards) 6ft 2in, 190 LBS he's arguably the fastest skater on this team, is a + player in Corsi numbers (Q loves possession and speed), is willing to work along the wall and in the crease, hustles back on D, has good bottom 6 hands/skill, was talented enough to be drafted in the 3rd round, can play wing or center, is in his prime physically at 28 yrs old and maybe most importantly for me he will accept a role.

Inked at 650k!

Look at his #'s. http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=78679

He's played on some good and bad Ottawa clubs and a bad Isles team. In his only full season, 75 games, he hit double digits in goals with 29 points. I don't know which line he played on that year but I'd guess bottom 6. Nice numbers.

I just don't see what's not to like from a guy who would figure into a probable 4th line role that adds to team speed and isn't a midget on a team that needs some size.
- Mr Ricochet

Yeah, what he said.

It's not like anyone is projecting him as top6 or really even top9. He's good depth.

Yeah, what he said.

It's not like anyone is projecting him as top6 or really even top9. He's good depth.
- Ogilthorpe2

And - it's not like there is a "for sure" better 4th line center on the roster (or at Rockfish, TT included).

And - it's not like there is a "for sure" better 4th line center on the roster (or at Rockfish, TT included).
- StLBravesFan

As a 13th forward Stan realistically won't do much better than Regin. As much as I want Nordstrom to be ready I don't think he's there year. Most of the other quality prospects in Rockford are probably not ready for full time NHL ice time. However, if a rookie manages to steal Regin's spot then all the better. If not then Regin is a good depth forward.

As a 13th forward Stan realistically won't do much better than Regin. As much as I want Nordstrom to be ready I don't think he's there year. Most of the other quality prospects in Rockford are probably not ready for full time NHL ice time. However, if a rookie manages to steal Regin's spot then all the better. If not then Regin is a good depth forward.
- DarthKane

Nordstrom is a guy who really intrigues me, because of his size speed combination. And as I mentioned I watched games 3-4-5 and the first 5 minutes of game 6 in the STL-Hawks series yesterday and Q scratched Versteeg for Nordstrom in the series clinching game 6.

That speaks volumes that Q would put the kid in in that spot. IMO this kid is a sleeper. May not get a spot this year out of camp but any injuries or trades and the Swede could very well see big league time.

Anyway at least there is legitimate competition on the bottom 6, where the Hawks were weak last year. Let the Rasmusans, Regins, Morins, Nordstroms, McNeils fight for the 1-2 spots available. In theory they will have better depth because of the legitimate competition.

All I think about with Regin is his excellent play in G6 with Minny and tying up Suter from the puck and letting Kane close out the series.
- teh_HAWKZ

This...... I noticed this guy right away because of his speed. So I would just watch a few of his shifts, and nothing else. He does a lot of things like you just mentioned that aren't found in a boxscore.

He lifts/ties up sticks, fills lanes, keeps pucks alive, wins his share of puck/board battles and uses his speed to disrupt.

You get enough of these types who fill/except a roll and you have a team that creates mismatches and scoring chances, or at the very least wins a territorial battle.

Nordstrom is a guy who really intrigues me, because of his size speed combination. And as I mentioned I watched games 3-4-5 and the first 5 minutes of game 6 in the STL-Hawks series yesterday and Q scratched Versteeg for Nordstrom in the series clinching game 6.

That speaks volumes that Q would put the kid in in that spot. IMO this kid is a sleeper. May not get a spot this year out of camp but any injuries or trades and the Swede could very well see big league time.

Anyway at least there is legitimate competition on the bottom 6, where the Hawks were weak last year. Let the Rasmusans, Regins, Morins, Nordstroms, McNeils fight for the 1-2 spots available. In theory they will have better depth because of the legitimate competition.
- Mr Ricochet

Good point about the competition for the bottom 6, but more likely the 4th line. Hopefully this competition brings out the best in whomever ultimately makes the team. We may not need these guys that much this season, but we will next year for sure.

Good point about the competition for the bottom 6, but more likely the 4th line. Hopefully this competition brings out the best in whomever ultimately makes the team. We may not need these guys that much this season, but we will next year for sure.
- DarthKane

Nordstrom is also a very smart or heady player. It is reasonable to expect that Nordstrom would excel as the fourth center. I am in favor to see this plays out. Then Kruger gets an extended look at #3 center. Either Kruger can produce more points or he is trade fodder. There are too many prospects who become capable of NHL performance some point -in - time this season or next. There are too many of those prospects to expect where Bowman is going to dump most of them for picks. No, the prospects have to filter in as bottom line and make the salary cap easier to manage.

Versteeg and Rosival playing well and being healthy is a preresiquite to their eventual trade(s). Eventually Bickel and Kruger must be more or be gone! I would expect to see McNeill take Bickel spot - keeping a large size player with some offensive ability and some snarl.

Competition has to be the key to the success of the bottom lines and to some extent even the top lines. Bottom line players sometimes do move on to a top line if only temporarily. Someone like Morin could really put up some numbers if he gets a stretch of games on a top line.

I may be in the minority but I really hope that among Bickel, Morin, McNeil and TT would come the very capable 50-75% of the goals Sharp produces. Sharp is a misnomer for a name, too, as he pounds way so many shots into the goaltenders pads or square in the chest. Yeah Sharp gets hot and he is really good in so many ways when he wants to be. But I fear the loss of a cohesive defense pairs when Oduya goes. I like buying one more year for all the dmen prospects to develop.

That translates into moving Sharp before Oduya. If you keep both, I can live with Leddy departure. But I prefer to gamble and see if Leddy can take that next step in development. I like to see competition to replace Sharp. I believe this team is stronger in the playoffs by retaining Oduya instead of Sharp. The strong goaltending and defense will beat the teams which are deep at centerice and or mug their opponents. You have to stop them first. Not try to out score them because Sharp is so valuable.

Bickell - Shaw - Morin
Versteeg - Kruger - Smith

Thats one of the top 3-4 bottom 6's i can think of in the NHL. If Versteeg and Bickell have bounce back years and/or if Morin takes it to the next level then it might be THE best bottom 6. The Richards signing will help us keep Shaw(someone who's proven he can play in the top 6 if needed) on the 3rd line, and both Kruger and Smith(2 3rd line caliber players) on our 4th line, which is HUGE. Last year in the playoffs Shaw, Kruger, and Smith were moved around all over the place(especially Smith). We shouldn't have that problem anymore. Also Regin is there as a nice insurance option as a 13th forward.
- SimpleJack

Meh, not a lot of good defensive forwards there, with the exception of Kruger. I'd like to see a bit more nasty in that group too.

FWIW, I have no issue with Regin at all. Guy plays hard and generally smart. Also can make some plays around the net too.

Meh, not a lot of good defensive forwards there, with the exception of Kruger. I'd like to see a bit more nasty in that group too.
- John Jaeckel

Bickell and Shaw give you some "nasty". From what i saw from Morin last year(mainly when he was playing on that 3rd line with Bickell towards the end of the season) he doesn't shy away from contact either. I think Ben Smith is better than most 4th liners in the league. Versteeg is the only player who no doubt looks weak, but he also has the potential to improve or he can be swapped with Regin.

The key is for Q to set that 4th line and give them regular shifts. If he tries to play a 3 line game this year the horses will be done in come playoff time. Be smart, hustle, forecheck with an edge. That's all your 4th line has to do. Bring some energy and give your top guys a breather. Just roll em Q!! I know it's hard for you to do.

FWIW, I have no issue with Regin at all. Guy plays hard and generally smart. Also can make some plays around the net too.
- John Jaeckel

You think Rasmussen gets time this year? Good size and might also be another guy to chip in on that 4th line.

I just spent a couple hours giving seriuos thought to re-ordering my top 120 players in the 2015 and I gotta say this is turning out to be a superb class.
By the time you get to that pick 54 the hayes compensation, there are quality players from big defenders to big centres, to really exceptional goaltender prospects.

This is the very first class in a very long time where five 'tenders go in the first couple rounds who are so much better than the goalers you saw picked in the first couple last year or the few previous.

I started thinkering with my first round and before I knew it a guy I had as a top five two years ago, Dylan Strome, was on the board in the TWENTIES!

Sure you can get into a Jack Conor debate with your friends but don't dismiss Noah Hanifin or Oliver Kylington...and you can surely for argument purposes say Pavel Zacha Travis Konecny, Colin White, touigh Paul Bittner, lil Mitch Marner, the Roys, Rantanen, and Yevgeni Svechnikov, Lawson Crouse, the Flying Dutchamn Danny Sprong may not be ranked as future franchise players they all seem like much better players than you imagine on the board where you see their names.

It is an unquestionally strong class that will either stand up as one of the finest, or level out as just one of the best in a long time...http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/mock-draft/2015/

You think Rasmussen gets time this year? Good size and might also be another guy to chip in on that 4th line.
- z1990z

The question is more "what if a spot opens up for him with a trade of a big forward that clears Cap space?"

Elbows, what is it you don't like about this guy? At a towering (by Hawks standards) 6ft 2in, 190 LBS he's arguably the fastest skater on this team, is a + player in Corsi numbers (Q loves possession and speed), is willing to work along the wall and in the crease, hustles back on D, has good bottom 6 hands/skill, was talented enough to be drafted in the 3rd round, can play wing or center, is in his prime physically at 28 yrs old and maybe most importantly for me he will accept a role.

Inked at 650k!

Look at his #'s. http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=78679

He's played on some good and bad Ottawa clubs and a bad Isles team. In his only full season, 75 games, he hit double digits in goals with 29 points. I don't know which line he played on that year but I'd guess bottom 6. Nice numbers.

I just don't see what's not to like from a guy who would figure into a probable 4th line role that adds to team speed and isn't a midget on a team that needs some size.
- Mr Ricochet

I know what his numbers are and they are unimpressive. He is ten years out from his draft class and has managed to stay up in the big league for one full season. He is not a good FO guy so he really isn't a good guy to have kill penalties.

Interesting you mention Q. Q didn't really see fit to play him in the playoffs last year. He still makes less than a million a year which is highly indicative of his value around the league. He is nothing more than a placeholder. He really doesn't help you win . Yeah yeah he makes a nice play here and there but over the long haul, he is a guy you barely noticed played during a game.

Whatever. I am not going to spend more time discussing a guy who is a marginal NHLer at best. I hope someone makes him an afterthought.

To me, its pretty telling that he can't even stay in the NHL on bad teams.

The question is more "what if a spot opens up for him with a trade of a big forward that clears Cap space?"
- wiz1901

Whom do you keep and whom do you deal if one of Sharp, Oduya, or Leddy is to be dealt due to salary cap? I know you have a strong opinion, WIZ. You may not agree with my reasoning in the post a few above.

If each could be retained, fine. But trying to beat teams deeper and better at the center position is going to be a real tough challenge. There is a better group with Richards but the Chg cast still is worse than the Kings centers, for example.,

So keeping the defense as strong as possible and relying upon Crawford appears the obvious priority. If you cannot stop a team like the Kings, then Sharp's scoring is not going to mean a whole lot.

It is not easy making trades and the return on any trade may change depending upon the time of the season the trade goes down.

I am not the biggest Oduya fan but he appears to fit well on Chg defense. Everyone then fits into their slot on the defense pairs. The best way for Leddy to improve is to stay on Chg defense with Oduya still here as well. I guess a lot of your decision could be based upon what level of NHL defense you believe Leddy could become. Is he a descent second pair maybe two years from now?

Also Chg does have at least at least four dmen prospects and from this group there should eventually emerge at least one descent bottom pair NHL dman. So it is not like there isn't another dman prospect if you do trade Leddy. I include Dahlbeck, Johns, TVR, and Fournier in that group of four. I dismiss Clendenning or Rundblad ever sticking in Chg - that they do would be mildly surprising and a bonus. I suspect Rundblad is NHL capable but needs playing time, needs experience and may not be enough mistake free for Q to play him much at all.

Clendenning has to show better for at least half an AHL season before he could even be considered for recall.

So while there are prospects on defense for Chg, I am guessing the only one who could be descent and NHL ready now is Dahlbeck. If the team cannot sign Brookbank after Leddy is dealt, then leaning on not ready for NHL dmen prospects plus Cumiskey is rather scary.

I realize some say you must keep a Sharp; he is a proven veteran. I just wonder if Sharp should be a sacrificial lamb because Oduya and, maybe Leddy, are needed more for the defense than Sharp for the offense. If possible I reiterate I am in favor of giving Leddy one more season to keep improving.

Whom do you keep and whom do you deal if one of Sharp, Oduya, or Leddy is to be dealt due to salary cap? I know you have a strong opinion, WIZ. You may not agree with my reasoning in the post a few above.

If each could be retained, fine. But trying to beat teams deeper and better at the center position is going to be a real tough challenge. There is a better group with Richards but the Chg cast still is worse than the Kings centers, for example.,

So keeping the defense as strong as possible and relying upon Crawford appears the obvious priority. If you cannot stop a team like the Kings, then Sharp's scoring is not going to mean a whole lot.

It is not easy making trades and the return on any trade may change depending upon the time of the season the trade goes down.

I am not the biggest Oduya fan but he appears to fit well on Chg defense. Everyone then fits into their slot on the defense pairs. The best way for Leddy to improve is to stay on Chg defense with Oduya still here as well. I guess a lot of your decision could be based upon what level of NHL defense you believe Leddy could become. Is he a descent second pair maybe two years from now?

Also Chg does have at least at least four dmen prospects and from this group there should eventually emerge at least one descent bottom pair NHL dman. So it is not like there isn't another dman prospect if you do trade Leddy. I include Dahlbeck, Johns, TVR, and Fournier in that group of four. I dismiss Clendenning or Rundblad ever sticking in Chg - that they do would be mildly surprising and a bonus. I suspect Rundblad is NHL capable but needs playing time, needs experience and may not be enough mistake free for Q to play him much at all.

Clendenning has to show better for at least half an AHL season before he could even be considered for recall.

So while there are prospects on defense for Chg, I am guessing the only one who could be descent and NHL ready now is Dahlbeck. If the team cannot sign Brookbank after Leddy is dealt, then leaning on not ready for NHL dmen prospects plus Cumiskey is rather scary.

I realize some say you must keep a Sharp; he is a proven veteran. I just wonder if Sharp should be a sacrificial lamb because Oduya and, maybe Leddy, are needed more for the defense than Sharp for the offense. If possible I reiterate I am in favor of giving Leddy one more season to keep improving.
- jhawk59

The Hawks have time tho. If they can hang on for a year and dump Rozi and Versteeg somehow on a bottom feeder then they can have another solid year of development for Saad....+ the cap might go up 5+Million....now is not the time to move Sharp, from an outsiders perspective.

The Hawks have time tho. If they can hang on for a year and dump Rozi and Versteeg somehow on a bottom feeder then they can have another solid year of development for Saad....+ the cap might go up 5+Million....now is not the time to move Sharp, from an outsiders perspective.
- Jeropotato

I do not believe Bowman would trade anyone if he wasn't forced to due to salary cap hell. Moving only Versteeg and Rozi is something that would not transpire soon. Both have to prove they are healthy. Versteeg also proves he is not shying away from checking and avoiding big hits. Rozy that he is not too slow and his presence, too, is valuable as insurance by a team needing depth on their blueline.
The cap going up $5 mill seems rather unlikely - not that much. But who knows really if the cap goes up half that amount?

The only other thought I have on Sharp is if he could be used as a center in the playoffs against certain teams. For example, LA Kings. Take away the a Kings advantage depth wise at the center position. Then it becomes Chg skill vs La skill and pits each team's defense and goaltending as being paramount.

I do not believe Bowman would trade anyone if he wasn't forced to due to salary cap hell. Moving only Versteeg and Rozi is something that would not transpire soon. Both have to prove they are healthy. Versteeg also proves he is not shying away from checking and avoiding big hits. Rozy that he is not too slow and his presence, too,is valued as insurance by a team needing depth on their blueline.

The cap going up $5 mill seems rather unlikely - not that much. But who knows really if the cap goes up half that amount?

The only other thought I have on Sharp is if he could be used as a center in the playoffs against certain teams. For example, LA Kings. Take away the a Kings advantage depth wise at the center position. Then it becomes Chg skill vs La skill and pits each team's defense and goaltending as being paramount.
- jhawk59

I'll try to find the link...but it has something to do with the TV deal. It would have gone up more this year but the NHLPA didn't want as high a percentage of players dollars in Escrow .

I'll try to find the link...but it has something to do with the TV deal. It would have gone up more this year but the NHLPA didn't want as high a percentage of players dollars in Escrow .
- Jeropotato

They borrowed $1Mm from next year's new TV money to get it to $68 - the league wanted to pull another $1MM into this year, but the NHLPA said no.

They borrowed $1Mm from next year's new TV money to get it to $68 - the league wanted to pull another $1MM into this year, but the NHLPA said no.
- StLBravesFan

Why would the NHLPA say no to a higher cap fo rths year? That money goes directly to the players.

Why would the NHLPA say no to a higher cap fo rths year? That money goes directly to the players.
- PuckMaster

It was something about money held in escrow. If the actual revenues don't come in a certain % of the cash goes back to the teams.

Why would the NHLPA say no to a higher cap fo rths year? That money goes directly to the players.
- PuckMaster

The cap set at the beginning of the year is just an estimate of what the split will be. Somehow they estimate a low/mid/high number each year, and, in negotiations between the league and the PA, the cap is set somewhere in that range for the year. Part of the pay to the players is held back into an escrow fund - which the owners kick into also - awaiting final end of year results.

There is a "true-up" after each season, with the players either giving back money out of the escrow, or the league kicking in more money, based on actual financial (HRR) results.

The higher the original cap estimate, the higher the escrow % the players have held back.

It is to the advantage of players with signed contracts to have a lower cap: the bulk of the burden then falls on the unsigned players, who have less available for their contracts, thus lowering the overall pay-out to the players, and reducing the amount given back if revenues fall short.

I'm not sure what happens if there is extra revenue - does that go to players above their contracted salaries?

Not sure I wrote all of that clearly enough - and if I've written something incorrect, I'm sure (and would welcome) a correction will be provided.

Since the teams with CAP space are almost exclusively non-playoff teams, you are asking one of these teams to TRADE a 2015 first rounder, that now the lottery includes EACH and every team.
Already a superior top two and possibly a couple franchise defenders right after that, do you really think some team is gonna give up even the slightest chance of picki ng first?
(Oh that's right the Isles did for Dal Colle!)
- wiz1901

Wiz,

Have you seen any real detailed stuff on the "new draft lottery"? I have seen some high level type things but nothing very detailed. Any help would be appreciated.