A beat said maybe either vertigo or migraines

When asked if he had passed the concussion tests Q said of course he did he didn't have a concussion.

Weird stuff goin on right now
- ehawk

Q was kind of snappy about "im not getting into the injury" when the press asked further

I feel like if it was something like vertigo or migraines, why wouldnt they just say that? Its pretty minor and not exactly something teams can target. I mean, migraines or vertigo is akin to just admitting the guy has the flu IMO

Never know...I believe Richards will continue to be paid by the Rangers. The buyout will net Richards over 20M dollars for the next decade or so.

I'd say that gives Mr. Richards some financial flexibility to play for whomever he chooses.

All of us should be so lucky.
- ArlingtonRob

You were really close...$20.667M over the next 12 years, which included this year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...20-million-170515419.html

Q was kind of snappy about "im not getting into the injury" when the press asked further

I feel like if it was something like vertigo or migraines, why wouldnt they just say that? Its pretty minor and not exactly something teams can target. I mean, migraines or vertigo is akin to just admitting the guy has the flu IMO
- FourFeathers773

If you recall, Bickell took a hit from Belesky in the 1st game of the Anaheim series. He went to the dressing room for awhile. I thought it was a shoulder at the time. Whatever it is, the guy is banged up.

if you are around for game 4......shoot me a text and Ill buy you an adult beverage post game.

Hope all is well.
- SteveRain

I will text ya. Take care.

If Ryan Johnsen didn't garner an offer sheet I doubt Saad does. I personally think that will handled before it even gets to that point. There has been nothing to indicate that contract talks between Saad and the Hawks have been contentious.
- Elbows15

That's what i'm hearing

You really think the Hawks will let Kruger go? I would think they would sign him asap,because honestly,after Richards and Vermette leave,this team is extremely weak down the middle...Plus Kruger is a not only a Bowman guy but a Q guy as well...I'd hate to think they would keep Steeg and let Kruger be signed,rather than try and unload Steeg and sign Krugs even if it is for a bit more
- captainserious

Only if he's offer sheeted.

That's what i'm hearing
- John Jaeckel

I can't recall where I saw it but Friedman said something along the lines that the Hawks know what they will offer and that it will be accepted. Friedman is usually a pretty solid source.

Only if he's offer sheeted.
- John Jaeckel

I doubt that Saad or Kruger reach the point that an offer sheet is possible. Obviously Saad is the priority, but Kruger is important too and I doubt he goes anywhere.

Teams aren't going to waste an offer sheet on a 4th line center no matter how good he is that role. And Kruger is probably one of the 3 best in that role. I can, however, see a team trading for his RFA rights.
- Elbows15

Not sure how exactly you "waste" an offer sheet.

If the compensation is low enough, like in Kruger's case a 2nd or 3rd round pick, you can sign him at a price that's doable for you but not for the Hawks, and say you're a Western Conference team and it would hurt the Hawks, how is that a "waste?"

Especially if his role, which is really a third line C, is something you need.

Are you saying it just because he's not a marquee player?

Dunno, Elliote Friedman was talking about how teams might want to offer sheet Kruger in the last couple of days. Could make sense it seems to me.

I doubt that Saad or Kruger reach the point that an offer sheet is possible. Obviously Saad is the priority, but Kruger is important too and I doubt he goes anywhere.
- DarthKane

You would hope not.

Yeah, can you imagine a newly signed free agent sitting his ass down in the dressing room of the Oilers or Maple Leafs and soon realizing he has 5 or 6 years ahead of him playing with those clowns. Its an important part of the decision. Sometimes more money isn't worth the grief.
- RickJ

The Leafs have Babcock now, Rick. Things are a changing.

They spent all season slagging on Kessel but when it comes to trading him, nothing is good enough. After all Kane said he is the most skilled player he has ever played with.

Curious to hear how the two of you define the differences between Kruger and Bolland.

I've never seen Danault play other than a jr tourney a few years back for a period, so I'm interested.
- vabeachbear

Both tough to play against, Kruger MUCH better on draws, better on the PK, Bolland more dynamic offensively, when he was healthy. Both miserable to play against.

Yeah, can you imagine a newly signed free agent sitting his ass down in the dressing room of the Oilers or Maple Leafs and soon realizing he has 5 or 6 years ahead of him playing with those clowns. Its an important part of the decision. Sometimes more money isn't worth the grief.
- RickJ

He wasn't an RFA, but that makes me think of the Justin Shultz situation...

...the guy chose to play for Edmonton instead of playing for a very good team in Orange County California. That one left me scratching my head...

The Leafs have Babcock now, Rick. Things are a changing.

They spent all season slagging on Kessel but when it comes to trading him, nothing is good enough. After all Kane said he is the most skilled player he has ever played with.
- Elbows15

I was talking in the past tense. Sure, Babcock will introduce discipline and professionalism to this rudderless ship but he has a long road to hoe as does the guy in Edmonton.

The problem with Kessel is that he is now mid-career, never been with a winner so his tag is as an out of shape malcontent, loser, whatever. Babcock will deal with the out of shape stuff fast if they don't trade him first. JVR is also going to get a very hot poker shoved up his butt too.

But at the end of the day, they have nothing great down the middle of the ice. That's hard to fix quickly.

Not sure how exactly you "waste" an offer sheet.

If the compensation is low enough, like in Kruger's case a 2nd or 3rd round pick, you can sign him at a price that's doable for you but not for the Hawks, and say you're a Western Conference team and it would hurt the Hawks, how is that a "waste?"

Especially if his role, which is really a third line C, is something you need.

Are you saying it just because he's not a marquee player?

Dunno, Elliote Friedman was talking about how teams might want to offer sheet Kruger in the last couple of days. Could make sense it seems to me.
- John Jaeckel

There is a stigma attached to tendering an offer sheet amongst GMs. It also takes a player actually signing one. In my view its bad business for the player.
right or wrong it puts the "difficult" label on them. Whether I believe it to be true or not doesn't matter. Its the perception that will be out there. Lord knows perceptions die hard.

I happen to think Kruger is among the best, if not the best, at what he does. If anything I think the Hawks would trade his RFA rights before it even got to that point. JMO.

Omigosh- i just spent a long time answering you and lost it!

I have been very prejudiced against small and russian.

I had Mike Reilly going to Winnipeg #156th overall b/c he was 5 10 high school defender out of Shattuck-St. Mary's.

I didn't have Panarin picked at all. (I have sent you a PM with my 2010 Mock)
Funny though I had four Russians in the first rounding including a sleeper. two were SUPER GOOD players still in russia and two were with CHL teams:
10 Tarasenko
Alexander Burmistrov with Barrie Colts, Evgeny Kuznetsov and sleeper /flop Kirill Kabanov who was playing in moncton until he went home.
I didn't have a lot of russian drafted and not many were
Ivan Telegin, Stanislav Galiev & Maxin Kitsyn were in my second round and no other Russians until the every late 5th round...


Because his birth came early in terms of when the draft class starts Sept. 15th 2011-Sept 14th 2012, he was what's called an older draftee, who by all intenst should be stronger if not bigger, a bit more developed, or at least showing a higher level of production whereever he is playing.

So they both weren't on the radar, and panarin wasn't part of any internatioanla events, and BOTH actually needed much time to blossom.
it is diificult to predict who grows, who grew his game and there is more chance teams grab bigger more developed than quessing if some kid who doesn't speak english, will one day be the most improved player in the KHL (he won some award to that effect)

But now to attempt to answer what you are asking...you want me to say where a 23 yr. old small forward and a 21 year college defender slot RIGHT NOW upside wise in this class...
Let me start with Reilly.

I say he slots before my #19 or #20 infront of the other deemen of Jérémy Roy, Thomas Chabot, Nicolas Meloche, Noah Juulsen, Jakub Zboril, Vince Dunn, and even though someone may reach and take Oliver Kylington, based on his upside not his showings so far.

Now panarin is another matter. I look at the draft class and have a smaller wing in Mitch Marner at #5, and but i like so many of these forwards that maybe I could slot him 26-30, but having not seen him on the North American sheet, I might even not like him until slot 43 before I select Dante Salituro.

These prejudices still exist because in the big leagues BIG means big guys who can hurt these guys, dominate them physically.
It's nice to believe that Panarin will be a fireball dominat rookie scorer from year one, but I am not so sure if i am drafting if don't play safe with size.

i haven't looked at this in years, and omigosh, you know who i had the hawks taking 210 overall?

Trevor van Riemsdyk

No lie.
- wiz1901

Wasn't Saad the 43rd pick when the Hawks drafted him? Just sayin

I was talking in the past tense. Sure, Babcock will introduce discipline and professionalism to this rudderless ship but he has a long road to hoe as does the guy in Edmonton.

The problem with Kessel is that he is now mid-career, never been with a winner so his tag is as an out of shape malcontent, loser, whatever. Babcock will deal with the out of shape stuff fast if they don't trade him first. JVR is also going to get a very hot poker shoved up his butt too.

But at the end of the day, they have nothing great down the middle of the ice. That's hard to fix quickly.
- RickJ

Their D is also awful and that isn't easy to fix either.

Agree about JVR.

war on ice reporting Hawks are going to be hit with 1.25 mil in performance bonus overage next year because of KT bonuses for number of games played this year

I havent read back, but whats the theory on Bickells injury?

Bickell makes it sound like a concussion and Q outright comes out and says he never had a concussion

Seems odd
- FourFeathers773

Perhaps Bicks has developed an allergic reaction to dogs...

...doesn't he have a dozen or so running around his house?

He wasn't an RFA, but that makes me think of the Justin Shultz situation...

...the guy chose to play for Edmonton instead of playing for a very good team in Orange County California. That one left me scratching my head...
- ArlingtonRob

Who knows what kind of promises the Oilers made to Shultz, probably a guarantee he would be in the NHL for sure. Turns out he isn't very good or wasn't ready and he wound up with a horrendous squad that killed any development for the kid. Pretty much the same thing with Jake Gardner.

That's a selling tool the Hawks can use with Mike Reilly - you want to be a great player? - sign with the best and learn under the best. There is no difference in money he can make under an ELC, the potential for winning is the carrot.

Both tough to play against, Kruger MUCH better on draws, better on the PK, Bolland more dynamic offensively, when he was healthy. Both miserable to play against.
- John Jaeckel

So you are saying that if Danault gets coached up on the draws like Kruger did in the last off season, Danault will end up as good or the better player?

I'd take that as well.

There is a stigma attached to tendering an offer sheet amongst GMs. It also takes a player actually signing one. In my view its bad business for the player.
right or wrong it puts the "difficult" label on them. Whether I believe it to be true or not doesn't matter. Its the perception that will be out there. Lord knows perceptions die hard.

I happen to think Kruger is among the best, if not the best, at what he does. If anything I think the Hawks would trade his RFA rights before it even got to that point. JMO.
- Elbows15

I thought Hjalmarsson's days with the Hawks would be numbered when he signed the sheet from SJ...

...not so since he then extended for what is now a bargain. So I guess not every player is stigmatized.

war on ice reporting Hawks are going to be hit with 1.25 mil in performance bonus overage next year because of KT bonuses for number of games played this year
- Dunnhawkey

If true, makes the trade even worse, hard to believe they didn't realize this and account for it if they were playing him.

Ah. I hadn't seen that. Still would be a concern to me. I was aware he was struggling with them for some time.
- Elbows15

There have been positive comments from both sides. Saad and Bowman have both said clearly they want to get a deal done in more than positive ways IMO. Bowman's was more than just an Armstong type statement. Saad has been asked several times. He always starts with something to the effect of "other priorities now" but follows with something about staying. Even if they have to overpay I think they need to treat him like Hammer - he fits too well with T/K.

this thread would entertaining to say the least if that were to happen.
- Elbows15

I'd poop in a stairwell.