Yeah, we differ on our opinion of Leddy. I think he is in reality a 4D on a championship team, and thus at $5.5 mil making too much. He is NEVER going to be better than Hjalmarsson, and thus should never be paid more, and we know he wasn't going to sign for $4mil.

I think Q will be gone before 19/88/2/4/7/81. He is not going to be around for any type of "rebuild". I am not a Q apologist by any sense. There are plenty of things I question with his personnel decisions, style of play, PP, PK, etc. That being said however, none of us really know the reason behind some of the decisions. We don't see practices, we don't know what he is looking at in games, we don't know what he has asked of certain players. We can all speculate, but it is just that, speculation.

I fully agree that a lot of this will be on Stan and the scouting/development department to make this "model" work. Can a cup be won by a team with 5-7 highly paid superstars and the rest low paid veterans and prospects? Only time will tell. Maybe PIT does it this year.
- TheTrob

Leddy and Hjalmarsson are completely different players so they are both effective/impactful in their own way. Hammer will never be PP1 point guy that can be a 1 man breakout, gain the offensive zone with a controlled entry, or contribute 40points a year. Leddy will never be the defensive stalwart that Hammer is, but there are maybe 1-2 guys in the entire league that are as sound defensively as 4. Nick Leddy is a minute-munching 2-way D that was the best player on the ice for an Islanders team that got farther than the Blackhawks in this year's playoffs. Blame Q, Blame Stan, Blame Leddy or whoever, but he is a solid Offensive Top 4 Dman, and only 25 years old. He has room to grow and is just another casualty of Bryan Bickell's contract...like Saad, Sharp + Oduya after him.

Leddy and Hjalmarsson are completely different players so they are both effective/impactful in their own way. Hammer will never be PP1 point guy that can be a 1 man breakout, gain the offensive zone with a controlled entry, or contribute 40points a year. Leddy will never be the defensive stalwart that Hammer is, but there are maybe 1-2 guys in the entire league that are as sound defensively as 4. Nick Leddy is a minute-munching 2-way D that was the best player on the ice for an Islanders team that got farther than the Blackhawks in this year's playoffs. Blame Q, Blame Stan, Blame Leddy or whoever, but he is a solid Offensive Top 4 Dman, and only 25 years old. He has room to grow and is just another casualty of Bryan Bickell's contract...like Saad, Sharp + Oduya after him.
- EnzoD

Nice post Enzo!

Yeah Dale has given out some questionable contracts, but I still contend that the blunder he takes the biggest blame for here with the Hawks wasn't even his fault. I believe it was Buf and a few others weren't qualified in time and it cost the Hawks some $'s to keep them, thus some cap hell, wasn't it Stanley that was in charge of contracts at the time? I know Tallon ultimately took the bullet for the blunder as the GM, but he easily could have thrown Stan under the bus.
- TheTrob

Right on. The Asst. GM is in charge of that stuff, and that was SB. As soon as the hawks took on Scotty Dale had to know what was coming. And if he didn't he wasn't looking. I called that shot eeeeeeemediately.

Ahh.....

Bolland....coming off a huge year playing with Havlat and ladd was signed because Uncle Dale so badly wanted that Mikita comparison to hit.....I'll give you that one.

Bickell...they could have extended mid season, chose NOT to, and got bent over. Not did he dominate and paint them into a corner but Bowman had no viable options because he dealt away Brouwer, Jimmy Hayes, and the other kids weren't ready.

Kruger....again, dealt away Danault and the rest is history.

Just sad.
- SteveRain

Exactly. I am a lawyer, albiet a some what new one, but you don't wait until you have no leverage and then come to the table needing something or in this case someones continued services.

Not yet....others may disagree....

East is a joke....really is....I've watched these games and the Hawks would have smoked most of these teams, and they weren't even at their best.

NBC is praying Pittsburgh makes it....and then I don't care who plays them I will pulling HARD for the WC. I HATE Crosby. What a whiny girl......loved seeing oVi smack him across the wrist last week.
- SteveRain

Totally agree.

For as great a player as Sid is man does he evoke a reaction out of most hockey fans, and mostly because of his whining. Even the people that "like" him, can't stand his whining. Sid's a whiner, Kessel is a tub of goo, Letang is a POS....plenty of reasons to not like the Pens.

Yeah Dale has given out some questionable contracts, but I still contend that the blunder he takes the biggest blame for here with the Hawks wasn't even his fault. I believe it was Buf and a few others weren't qualified in time and it cost the Hawks some $'s to keep them, thus some cap hell, wasn't it Stanley that was in charge of contracts at the time? I know Tallon ultimately took the bullet for the blunder as the GM, but he easily could have thrown Stan under the bus.
- TheTrob

Correct...Dale wasn't in the office for personal reasons that day and delegated the tasks of getting those sent out in time of the deadline.

Versteeg, and many others benefited from it......

He was a golf pro in the burbs in the 90s which from what I heard was a riot. Especially his private lessons.

Missed that angry home biased announcing he brought that Foley great. I pull for the Panthers as a Dale fan.

I love the Hawks, but hate McDonough and his suites. If the tribune offered me a beat writer's job I would pass...not because I'd be afraid but because what's the point...you get limited access to players, and if you write a non positive article you get less access next time. Instead they are all lay up articles...truly those guys twitter accounts are the closest thing to their actual thoughts that aren't controlled by the Hawks.

Once Sassone passed, nobody was allowed to walk the line anywhere.............

Right on. The Asst. GM is in charge of that stuff, and that was SB. As soon as the hawks took on Scotty Dale had to know what was coming. And if he didn't he wasn't looking. I called that shot eeeeeeemediately.
- 6628

he knew...once Scotty took in Savard's training camp and practice structure and immediately pushed to get him canned...Dale's power was gone.

Heard from somebody very close to Dale it was the worst kept secret and he took the high road, and thus got his name on the cup as a parting gift.

he was a players' GM.....

Exactly. I am a lawyer, albiet a some what new one, but you don't wait until you have no leverage and then come to the table needing something or in this case someones continued services.
- bhawks2241

Nice have a few friends who are attorneys. Give you guys credit....tough gig. Classic bar stories, though.

Totally agree.

For as great a player as Sid is man does he evoke a reaction out of most hockey fans, and mostly because of his whining. Even the people that "like" him, can't stand his whining. Sid's a whiner, Kessel is a tub of goo, Letang is a POS....plenty of reasons to not like the Pens.
- TheTrob

yeah, and that's why I am pulling for the Blues because I think if the caps don't beat them, the Blues are the best shot. Plus, I have no beef with STL. Makes the rivalry better, and they are a fun team to watch. Good to ssee Brouwer getting some spotlight. hated seeing him go to Washington.

Exactly. I am a lawyer, albiet a some what new one, but you don't wait until you have no leverage and then come to the table needing something or in this case someones continued services.
- bhawks2241

That's some Lionel Hutz stuff

he knew...once Scotty took in Savard's training camp and practice structure and immediately pushed to get him canned...Dale's power was gone.

Heard from somebody very close to Dale it was the worst kept secret and he took the high road, and thus got his name on the cup as a parting gift.

he was a players' GM.....
- SteveRain

We need Q and the Bowman's on the same page. Not to say they arent, but this crap Q pulled with the playoff line up was a joke.

Kempny most TOI for either team for 2nd straight game at 22+, CZE beat SWE 4-2

yeah, and that's why I am pulling for the Blues because I think if the caps don't beat them, the Blues are the best shot. Plus, I have no beef with STL. Makes the rivalry better, and they are a fun team to watch. Good to ssee Brouwer getting some spotlight. hated seeing him go to Washington.
- SteveRain

I wouldn't mind any of the teams left in the west at this point, but I would agree that the Blues have the least flaws of any of the teams left. Pietrangelo really has developed into a force, Brouwer has given them what they need and Backes has not been as dumb and douchey as in the past. Dallas still questionable in the D end and in the net. I like SJ, but just when you think they are rolling, they struggle to put a team away. I like the way Laviolette has the Preds playing, Josi is a beast (im still not a fan of Weber) and Rinne hasn't crapped the bed yet, i just think they are still a few pieces short.

Kempny most TOI for either team for 2nd straight game at 22+, CZE beat SWE 4-2
- Sundevil

GET IT DONE STAN!!

That's some Lionel Hutz stuff
- Hank3Henshaw

Works on contingency? No, money down!

I wouldn't mind any of the teams left in the west at this point, but I would agree that the Blues have the least flaws of any of the teams left. Pietrangelo really has developed into a force, Brouwer has given them what they need and Backes has not been as dumb and douchey as in the past. Dallas still questionable in the D end and in the net. I like SJ, but just when you think they are rolling, they struggle to put a team away. I like the way Laviolette has the Preds playing, Josi is a beast (im still not a fan of Weber) and Rinne hasn't crapped the bed yet, i just think they are still a few pieces short.
- TheTrob

Honestly, if we boil it down to players, I would like to see Pavelski get a Cup. Of all the remaining players, it would be him first and Marleau second. Ovie is a distant third.

Wait..Dave Bolland was compared to Mikita? By whom?

As far as the hatred for Daley goes by some on this board, I would have to loved to seen the posts after the Phoenix series when Shane Doan was beating Oduya into the glass every chance he had, and Oduya was coughing up pucks in prime chances leading t goals...which at the time I believe was why folks in New jersey and ATL/WPG referred to him as the pizza man.

yet the coaching staff and front office stayed with him and wouldn't you know it....he and Hammer became the 2nd, 1st pairing that no other NHL team could match.

So yes, again...I liked the deal of Daley at the time. Did he suck while he was here? Sure....no worse then oduya, but the intangible thing here is Daley wanted out and drove his own way. That part is the most concerning to me because I felt over time, like Oduya, Daley could have been a serviceable D man and helluva lot better option then what they had all year with those Swedish dogs they kept rotating in.

Oh well...woulda coulda shoulda, but I am upset about the numerous national articles I keep reading about the pens turnaround and D stability came together once Daley arrived. Cant' argue that, and they and tampa, and STL look to be the cup favorites. Maybe San Jose.....
- SteveRain

This post about Daley vs Oduya got me to thinking, when Oduya got to the Hawks, they still only had 1 Cup, the core was still young. My point being, you get a new guy, you have more time to acclimate.

When Daley got here, there were 3 Cups and an older core. Granted Toews and Kane are in their prime, but their cap hits make it harder to ice a competitive team. And you're core d-men are now mostly in their 30's. And the Hawks know the time is NOW to get as many Cups as they can because the window is closing due to age and cap.

My point about this is...there's much less time to acclimate. Daley NEEDED to come in and show he could replace Oduya. I'm not blaming him, whether it be his hip or just his overall game or Q not trusting him enough, he couldn't do it quick enough. He probably knew it and asked out. Not sure that was the way to go, but that's what happened.

Would be interesting to know what would have happened if the Hawks acquired Daley with the idea of a mini-rebuild...or if they had acquired Daley instead of Oduya back in the 2011-2012 season.

This post about Daley vs Oduya got me to thinking, when Oduya got to the Hawks, they still only had 1 Cup, the core was still young. My point being, you get a new guy, you have more time to acclimate.

When Daley got here, there were 3 Cups and an older core. Granted Toews and Kane are in their prime, but their cap hits make it harder to ice a competitive team. And you're core d-men are now mostly in their 30's. And the Hawks know the time is NOW to get as many Cups as they can because the window is closing due to age and cap.

My point about this is...there's much less time to acclimate. Daley NEEDED to come in and show he could replace Oduya. I'm not blaming him, whether it be his hip or just his overall game or Q not trusting him enough, he couldn't do it quick enough. He probably knew it and asked out. Not sure that was the way to go, but that's what happened.

Would be interesting to know what would have happened if the Hawks acquired Daley with the idea of a mini-rebuild...or if they had acquired Daley instead of Oduya back in the 2011-2012 season.
- CanOCorn

Why acquire a 32 yr old for even a mini rebuild?

EdiT: nvm. read it wrong. I will add this. If the Hawks had acquired Daley instead of Oduya they would have 2 less Cups.

Wait..Dave Bolland was compared to Mikita? By whom?
- TTtime

Dave Bolland's agent

Dave Bolland's agent
- EnzoD

He would be about the only one and maybe Bolland's parents.

I think that Johns has looked OK. Good some games, really poor others. He maybe projects out ok, but realistically he would have been a 6/7 on the Hawks this year, with maybe an outside chance to be a 4/5 next season and moving forward.

People here tend to overvalue the prospects that have been moved. Olsen, Clendening, Dahlbeck, Lalonde, all moved and all left with various degrees of pining for them as they were going to be the next coming. In reality, none of them have made much of an impact whatsoever.

Is Johns better than what is currently available? That is still to be seen. Other than to definitively state that Rundblad sucks, It's really too early to say Gustafsson, Svedberg or Johns is viable NHL D-man or a bust yet.
- TheTrob

The point that I made when the trade happened in real time is Johns was the #1 prospect in Rockford at the time....Any criticism of him now has to be taken with a ton of salt.

Johns played like 14 NHL games this year with the Stars....Tough to gear up to the NHL in that amount of time for a young dman...and now he is thrown into a pressure cooker.

I don't know what he will become but right now he is better than any young dman here except for TVR.... So to have to include him in the Sharp trade did hurt.

Florida just re-signed Erik Gudbranson to a 1 year $3.5 million deal today. I thought they would have locked him up long term.
- DarthKane

Can't really do a long term yet as they have a lot marbles rolling around on the table...
He could get paid nicely and stay with them long term but I think the Panthers talked him into waiting for a better long term deal.

he knew...once Scotty took in Savard's training camp and practice structure and immediately pushed to get him canned...Dale's power was gone.

Heard from somebody very close to Dale it was the worst kept secret and he took the high road, and thus got his name on the cup as a parting gift.

he was a players' GM.....
- SteveRain

Tallon took the high road to an extension and a raise....

The point that I made when the trade happened in real time is Johns was the #1 prospect in Rockford at the time....Any criticism of him now has to be taken with a ton of salt.

Johns played like 14 NHL games this year with the Stars....Tough to gear up to the NHL in that amount of time for a young dman...and now he is thrown into a pressure cooker.

I don't know what he will become but right now he is better than any young dman here except for TVR.... So to have to include him in the Sharp trade did hurt.
- Al

And he has been better than nearly all of the Star's NHL regulars on defense. It was an awful trade, and some people like to marginalize players who have been moved. Leddy has been fantastic since leaving the Hawks (#1 D in Brooklyn), yet he "isn't even a top 4D" in the eyes of some. Its a way that some fans help themselves feel better about the plethora of lopsided Salary Cap compliance trades that StanBo has been a part of.