Hi JJ et all, finally decided to join in. Been watching the Hawks since '78 & loved the old Norris matchups on HNIC (got LeafsTV on watching CHI play the last game at the Gardens back in '99 - Gilmore in Red & Stumpy in blue & white).

Looking at the "bottom of the barrel" list the one name that jumps out to me is Sam Gagner, but mostly because he got 8 points on us that one game. I know he's not the youngest (27) or the biggest (5'11") and he's been hurt a bit the last few years but he had a descent run with CBJ with 47% at the dot an 50 pts. Plays C/LW, and could be a very "cost effective" pickup. Passes more than he shoots...?
- mudhawk13

Welcome Mudhawk

And the second winningest coach in NHL history who is still very much in his prime. No way Q goes upstairs. The compete in that man if the Hawks dumped him early would, I think, cause him to go somewhere else to coach and prove how wrong the decision was to let him go.
- Marlowe

I am not a Q fan by no means, but Bowman is certainly not finished in finalizing this team. A top 6 forward (or 2) and another Dman is still needed to give Q a team that will compete for another Cup. He has gotten the team younger and faster so far, but at least 2 more moves are needed. I'm thinking the E. Kane talk is just a diversion. I would be kind of shocked if McD and company would take that character gamble. I'm hoping Galchenyuk is still available and on their radar instead.

You're probably correct but I still think E. Kane's name is still being kicked around by Stan & Co.
- Tuke17

It is

Link to 312 podcast recorded last night:

https://itunes.apple.com/...the-312/id1140238881?mt=2

(look for #1 in playlist)


I talk Sharp rumors and their validity, drop a free agent name I'm told the Hawks may pursue (Brian Boyle), further talk on possible Anisimov trade.

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

I think either makes sense especially with the smallish Schmaltz likely centering the line (I think Ansisimov gets dealt).

I agree especially Yakupov who is a flat out bust. He was in and out of the lineup last year and a change of scenery just didn't work. He's Alexander Daigle 2.0.
- golfbard

i had a neighbor who was from finland who was really happy when the hawks drafted Tony Salmelainen... he was going to be a great player... i guess he was wrong. 18 total NHL points, i think.

How about some Kerry Toporowski love.

i had a neighbor who was from finland who was really happy when the hawks drafted Tony Salmelainen... he was going to be a great player... i guess he was wrong. 18 total NHL points, i think.
- jt19

Wasn't he drafted by Edmonton?

I think either makes sense especially with the smallish Schmaltz likely centering the line (I think Ansisimov gets dealt).
- golfbard

Let's hope so. The last really great Russian player was Sergei Federov playing for the Winged Wheel. Was able to elevate his game and his teammates in the playoffs, something I've not seen since.

Would love for Stan to take a flyer on EKane.
Make it happen Stan!

Wasn't he drafted by Edmonton?
- powerenforcer

Salmelainen's NHL player rights were traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Chicago Blackhawks for defensman Jaroslav Špaček on January 26, 2006. In the summer of 2006, he signed a new contract with the Blackhawks. On June 16, 2007, he was traded, with Jassen Cullimore, to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange of Sergei Samsonov.

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

Thanks for the update JJ, but again, I would be knocked on my arse if they brought in a "highly questionable" character guy in Evander Kane, especially now after losing the absolute highest character professional guy in Marian Hossa. JMO.

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

Assuming this is why you are thinking Calvert would be a good option?

E. Kane is of very questionable character. They have lost a lot of that trait with Hossa, Kruger and Hammer... I'm out on Evander.

If those guys turn out to be too expensive, how about others that fit that build?

Colbourne (col)
Comeau (col)
Matthias (win)
Lowry (win)
SAP (nj)

JJ would take chance on yakobov rw with sadd and towes skill and speed help out on pp then be able to panik to lw with kane and smaltz if we can not aquire a to lw or if we do(evander kane) move panik to bottom 6 and make that stronger. Panik dauptin hartman good 3rd line. Would like your thoughts on this and keep upbthe good work. Thanks

Assuming this is why you are thinking Calvert would be a good option?

E. Kane is of very questionable character. They have lost a lot of that trait with Hossa, Kruger and Hammer... I'm out on Evander.

If those guys turn out to be too expensive, how about others that fit that build?

Colbourne (col)
Comeau (col)
Matthias (win)
Lowry (win)
SAP (nj)
- TyCamScore

I hear ya , but there is an old saying....

"Take stud power forwards with character flaws in their contract year..."

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

Do they need a C like AA? Evander Kane on a line with 88 would be damn nice. Say they take AA for EK your top two lines are

20 19 14
EK 8 88

Not saying this is going to happen or should happen, but kind of fun to think about.

Trade Kruger to Vegas for a pick.
Trade Crawford to Philly for Couturier and St. Louis's 1st round pick in 2018 which Philly owns.
Trade Anisimov and St Louis's 1st round pick to Buffalo for Kane (with them retaining 1/2 salary)
Trade Hossa and Highmore to Arizona for their 4th round picks in 2018 and 2019.
Sign Ryan Miller and Niemi at $2.5mil each for 2 years.
Sign Sharp $2 mil for one year
Sign Oduya $2 mil for 1 year
Sign Gagner $2 mil for 3 years

Saad Toews Panik
Kane Couturier Kane
Sharp Gagner Hartman
Fortin Schmaltz Hayden
Kero

Keith Murphy
Kempny Seabs
Oduya Rutta
Forsling

Niemi
Miller

Let's hope so. The last really great Russian player was Sergei Federov playing for the Winged Wheel. Was able to elevate his game and his teammates in the playoffs, something I've not seen since.

Would love for Stan to take a flyer on EKane.
Make it happen Stan!
- savvyone-1

There have been plenty of great Russians since Federico:
Datsyuk
Malkin
Ovechkin
Bobrovsky
Tarasenko
Kovalchuk

I hear ya , but there is an old saying....

"Take stud power forwards with character flaws in their contract year..."
- mrpaulish

ha. That is an old saying they do say.

I'm still out on E. Kane. A good friend of mine knows his "manager" (whom I've met before as well) and have heard some terrible stories that didn't go mainstream.

I'm just a huge believer in character. Skill obviously has to be there, but if everyone in Winnipeg (including form. Hawks Ladd and Buff) wanted him out ASAP, I can't see the current Hawks going to battle for this guy in the playoffs.

So we lose a few high chararter guys but wasn't that everybodies reason why SEABS should be kept and given a big raise and massive contract since he was the real leader of the team. The reality was Hossa, Hammer, Kruger were never very vocal so I'm not sure they would be guys that would talk with Kane much either way. I would argue Teows, SEABS, and do a lesser extent Kane since Kane had his issues and came back and really got focused and focused on staying out of situations that could have been Trouble.

Any idea what it would cost to get kane? If we could do it without giving up hart, AA, Schmaltz. if Hossa ends up on LTIR and kruger gets moved it might be close. I would probably give up a 1st. or maybe forlsing or or debrinct and a 2nd or something like that.

SAAD-TEOWS-PANIK
KANE-AA-KANE
HART, SCHMALTZ, KERO, JURCO, MOOSE, HINO, DEBRINCT, FORTIN, SHARP.

I could get behind a Schmaltz-Kane-Kane line. I was having trouble picturing Schmaltz centering PKane, thinking they needed some protection, some nasty. Check.

Still have the feeling Kane would be a good fit with the Hawks , has all the things JJ indicated that the Hawks are looking for off season. Young , fast tough. And only has a year left on contract so he knows he can't mess up.

Galchenyuk needs to be signed and will we back in the same cap hell in a year or so when Shmaltz, Hartman, Kempeny need new contracts. Hawks need cap space not only for this year but for a few years down the road or we will be losing players again and this time it will be young developing players.
That's why we have to fill spots with players with 1 year lft on contracts or players with cheaper contracts Calvert, Merrill (LV)

Link to 312 podcast recorded last night:

https://itunes.apple.com/...the-312/id1140238881?mt=2

(look for #1 in playlist)


I talk Sharp rumors and their validity, drop a free agent name I'm told the Hawks may pursue (Brian Boyle), further talk on possible Anisimov trade.
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

Would be beyond stoked to have Boyle

Don't make Chief cry on Twitter JJ

I love how his entire shtick was thrown go the wayside when trying to act like his "sources ", knowledge and insight into the game are better than yours

ha. That is an old saying they do say.

I'm still out on E. Kane. A good friend of mine knows his "manager" (whom I've met before as well) and have heard some terrible stories that didn't go mainstream.

I'm just a huge believer in character. Skill obviously has to be there, but if everyone in Winnipeg (including form. Hawks Ladd and Buff) wanted him out ASAP, I can't see the current Hawks going to battle for this guy in the playoffs.
- TyCamScore

I'm not saying he has changed; his problems in Buf. have been documented already. However, his time in the Peg' was a few years ago and he was still a VERY young player. Our own Kane has had very similar problems as EK has and if he hadn't scored the OT winner in 10' against Philly or any number of other amazing things he has done on the ice, maybe certain players in Chi would have been asking for him to be released.

Some people take longer to mature than others and maybe the strong leadership as well as what one might consider a "kindred spirit" in PK is enough to get him to fly right for an opportunity to play with some very high end talent and a chance to win a cup on what would be an extremely dangerous team.

OTOH, I most certainly would not sell the farm to bring him in but if a deal can be swung along the lines of AA for him I would take it. IIRC Kane has a 3.75 cap hit this year so the $ works (unless Im thinking of someone else). It really seems like a boom or bust type scenario. You either have probably the best 1-2 punch in the league or you end up with "Days of our lives".