Why do I have this sinking feeling that when everything is said and done - Stan gets a 3rd rounder for Sharp and has to retain $1M, then he has to package Stephen Johns with Bickell in order to get Bickell traded and meanwhile Oduya has moved on and Kruger signs an offer sheet that Stan can't afford to match. But hey ... Stan almost got a 1st rounder for Sharp before the draft.

Why do I have this sinking feeling that when everything is said and done - Stan gets a 3rd rounder for Sharp and has to retain $1M, then he has to package Stephen Johns with Bickell in order to get Bickell traded and meanwhile Oduya has moved on and Kruger signs an offer sheet that Stan can't afford to match. But hey ... Stan almost got a 1st rounder for Sharp before the draft.
- EbonyRaptor

I would diagnose you with acute pessimism

Waiting is also the most dangerous part.

Every day that goes by increases the chance the Kruger and/or Oduya decide enough.

That's your potential return for Sharp - 16 and 27.
- StLBravesFan

i would agree, pretty good return imo. move him now for what we can and get it over with.

Why do I have this sinking feeling that when everything is said and done - Stan gets a 3rd rounder for Sharp and has to retain $1M, then he has to package Stephen Johns with Bickell in order to get Bickell traded and meanwhile Oduya has moved on and Kruger signs an offer sheet that Stan can't afford to match. But hey ... Stan almost got a 1st rounder for Sharp before the draft.
- EbonyRaptor

I am no expert sir, nor am I insulting your opinion or sinking feeling, but I believe it is very unlikely they move their best D prospect.

Now I'm hearing one of the Florida owners is saying it's the first he's heard of it.

Well, could be.

But the notion that

a) Florida has ZERO interest in Sharp (what Fialkov believes)

or,

b) has had no discussions about him

. . . is very hard, almost impossible, to believe. Contrary to any official statements.

I mean 10-15 NHL GMs are interested in Sharp. Why WOULDN'T Dale Tallon with his team needs and his cap space be one of them? Because of Dave Bolland?

Stupid.
- John Jaeckel

Sounds like it's losing traction as each minute passes. Shoot was kinda hoping to land Sharp. Would be good for young Panther team.

Why do I have this sinking feeling that when everything is said and done - Stan gets a 3rd rounder for Sharp and has to retain $1M, then he has to package Stephen Johns with Bickell in order to get Bickell traded and meanwhile Oduya has moved on and Kruger signs an offer sheet that Stan can't afford to match. But hey ... Stan almost got a 1st rounder for Sharp before the draft.
- EbonyRaptor

Im a little more optimistic about sharp. i think Bickell still has value to some teams, hopefully it doesnt cost us Johns.

I would diagnose you with acute pessimism
- bhawk1s

Guilty. Not by nature - but this trade fiasco it turning more fubar as the minutes tick by.

Sounds like it's losing traction as each minute passes. Shoot was kinda hoping to land Sharp. Would be good for young Panther team.
- BravePackCats27

If it dies, it will probably be because Sharp wouldn't waive. He had a specific concern that Tallon likely would have had to get complete organizational buy-in to reassure Sharp on it. Guessing they wouldn't do it—if it is in fact dead.

Now I'm hearing one of the Florida owners is saying it's the first he's heard of it.

Well, could be.

But the notion that

a) Florida has ZERO interest in Sharp (what Fialkov believes)

or,

b) has had no discussions about him

. . . is very hard, almost impossible, to believe. Contrary to any official statements.

I mean 10-15 NHL GMs are interested in Sharp. Why WOULDN'T Dale Tallon with his team needs and his cap space be one of them? Because of Dave Bolland?

Stupid.
- John Jaeckel

They have Viola and Cifu as owners and neither strikes me as someone who would comment on a trade...Both sharp business guys-traders who should know how to keep their mouth shut.

I am no expert sir, nor am I insulting your opinion or sinking feeling, but I believe it is very unlikely they move their best D prospect.
- 93Joe

You can't expect me to express my pessimism without a little exaggeration (hopefully) - can you?

Not sure how that "division" would fit with an Eastern and Western Conference arrangement.
- ArlingtonRob

I'd anticipate a shuffle after the expansion and any franchise movement. Plus HOU isn't happening any time soon.

Guilty. Not by nature - but this trade fiasco it turning more fubar as the minutes tick by.
- EbonyRaptor

Reminds me of how I use to plan things at work, I planned for the worst possible outcome and things usually turned out only a little bit worse than that

That is just so old.

If Arizona wasn't in the news so often for their financial issues, the spotlight would be on the Panthers for theirs. I hope the team succeeds in that market, but wouldn't bet a nickel on it. They don't draw flies at home and their road games are give away tickets.
- RickJ

Check their record last year meat. They are an up and coming team whether you want to believe it or not and who honestly cares. They've only made the playoffs once in like the last 8 years so fans might be fed up just like Hawks fans didn't show up when they were losing. Now the Blackhawks are making black people like hockey. LIS start winning and fans will come and it's starting to happen in Florida. Lots of young talent.

You can't expect me to express my pessimism without a little exaggeration (hopefully) - can you?

- EbonyRaptor

I would never take that away from you. I do understand your concern.

Check their record last year meat. They are an up and coming team whether you want to believe it or not and who honestly cares. They've only made the playoffs once in like the last 8 years so fans might be fed up just like Hawks fans didn't show up when they were losing. Now the Blackhawks are making black people like hockey. LIS start winning and fans will come and it's starting to happen in Florida. Lots of young talent.
- BravePackCats27

Question, no one is denying the young talent on FLA, but in your honest opinion with how the current roster is, how/what do u see them seeded next year?

They have Viola and Cifu as owners and neither strikes me as someone who would comment on a trade...Both sharp business guys-traders who should know how to keep their mouth shut.
- Al

Right. My sense too. They may be gun-shy about Dale's impulse buys (Bolland), but there is almost no valid comparison.

Florida fans and media can say what they want, how many 30 goal scorers do they have on their team, and I'll bet Dale was/is getting him at a bargain price.

Nilsson deal must have been in the works for a little bit as he's already signed a 1-year deal with EDM.

Wonder what the details on the deal are - surely a 2-way unless Oilers have something else up their sleeve.

Question, no one is denying the young talent on FLA, but in your honest opinion with how the current roster is, how/what do u see them seeded next year?
- Ur Not Me

It's hard to say right now. I wanted them to get a top 6 winger or at least a fringe top 6 like Oshie or even Sharp. If the team stands as is they will be fighting for a playoff spot again but I think they get in as last seed or second to last seed. If DT makes a trade for a winger to slot in top 6 they can be middle of pack and possibly make some noise in playoffs.

Check their record last year meat. They are an up and coming team whether you want to believe it or not and who honestly cares. They've only made the playoffs once in like the last 8 years so fans might be fed up just like Hawks fans didn't show up when they were losing. Now the Blackhawks are making black people like hockey. LIS start winning and fans will come and it's starting to happen in Florida. Lots of young talent.
- BravePackCats27

I don't come on here and exchange insulting names and unlike you apparently, don't pay any attention to the colour of another fan's skin or what race likes hockey.

I've been in the building 4 or 5 times for Panther's games against various teams - it isn't an NHL experience comparatively speaking. They have plenty of good young players now, they need those kids to become playoffs contenders soon, not later.

Yeah Blackhawks fans know that feeling. I remember how empty the UC was before Kane and Toews arrived. Now everyone and anyone(even the majority who don't even know what icing is) are wearing Blackhawks gear in Chicago. Start winning and the fans will follow and show up.
- BravePackCats27

Lack of winning was only part of it. Horrid ownership was the majority.

Blow by blow,

He tweeted the panthers have no interest in sharp with the hashtag #seebolland

So, i take that as they have no interest in Sharp because he's an overpaid blackhawk like Bolland, get it? I mean, there's almost no other similarity there, but what the hell it's just 140 characters and a submit button, why not.

So i asked him is that a quote or your opinion?

He wouldn't answer. Well he said it's a "fact," but wouldn't say if it was a quote or his opinion. I asked him two more times and he wouldn't answer.

Because it's his opinion (at this point). And he knows it.

He COULD be right. But I have a good source on this who spoke to someone a lot closer to Dale than Harvey Fialkov is this afternoon. So I'll go with that source, with all due respect.

There is (or was) interest.

The Stars claimed through one of their media guys that they weren't interested in Sharp about an hour after the Hawks rejected their offer.

OF COURSE Dale Tallon is interested in Patrick Sharp. So are about 10-15 other GMs to varying degrees. That was a dumb thing for him to say.
- John Jaeckel

A lot of beat writers just like to talk without knowing anything. Joe haggerty said it was 100% boychuk wouldn't sign with the isles.

Check their record last year meat. They are an up and coming team whether you want to believe it or not and who honestly cares. They've only made the playoffs once in like the last 8 years so fans might be fed up just like Hawks fans didn't show up when they were losing. Now the Blackhawks are making black people like hockey. LIS start winning and fans will come and it's starting to happen in Florida. Lots of young talent.
- BravePackCats27

Sometimes it's best not to compare things that shouldn't be compared...But in case you need to hear more....

The Hawks went from 3400 season ticket holders to 14,000 in one year and didn't make the playoffs the season before.

Comparing the potential appetite for the Panthers now to what was here is like comparing the size of a watermelon to an apple.

The Panthers do have some talented young players but...

There are 30 NHL teams and last season the Panthers ranked 30th in attendance.
They averaged 11,265 fans per game...That's 10,504 fewer than the Hawks.

Why do I have this sinking feeling that when everything is said and done - Stan gets a 3rd rounder for Sharp and has to retain $1M, then he has to package Stephen Johns with Bickell in order to get Bickell traded and meanwhile Oduya has moved on and Kruger signs an offer sheet that Stan can't afford to match. But hey ... Stan almost got a 1st rounder for Sharp before the draft.
- EbonyRaptor

Putting Bickell on waivers and sending him down makes more sense. The Hawks top D prospect is not going to be moved...simply to move Bickell.

I don't come on here and exchange insulting names and unlike you apparently, don't pay any attention to the colour of another fan's skin or what race likes hockey.

I've been in the building 4 or 5 times for Panther's games against various teams - it isn't an NHL experience comparatively speaking. They have plenty of good young players now, they need those kids to become playoffs contenders soon, not later.
- RickJ

Pretty sure that comment was a laugh towards a viral video that's been going around from a fan on the streets after the cup win. Anyone have that link?

It's hard to say right now. I wanted them to get a top 6 winger or at least a fringe top 6 like Oshie or even Sharp. If the team stands as is they will be fighting for a playoff spot again but I think they get in as last seed or second to last seed. If DT makes a trade for a winger to slot in top 6 they can be middle of pack and possibly make some noise in playoffs.
- BravePackCats27

Out of last years teams who made the PO's, who going to slide off that list?
Keep in mind, if healthy, CLB leaped frogged a bunch of teams (on paper) right now.