It's an ugly list but there are a few reclamation projects that may be worth exploring...

Matthew Peca, for example, is only 24, with 7 points in 20 NHL games, and is only in his 3rd year as a pro.
- BINGO!

Panik, Jurco, Duclair. Sorry, I'll pass on any more reclamation projects. Roll the dice with a draft pick.

Sometimes you all have to look outside the box.....
- powerenforcer

Panik, Jurco, Duclair. Sorry, I'll pass on any more reclamation projects. Roll the dice with a draft pick.
- Rota's Rooter

Probably the way to go. Throw all the kids you can at the roster and let them run. See where they take you.

There's not much hope for this team as far as depth goes.. Kane is the only core player who's worth keeping for the long haul, but good luck getting rid of the other guys with their NTCs, and all that $, not to say they don't deserve it but other teams don't care about the 3 cups they won for us. Maybe it's time to take a little bit of pressure off these team Captains and put the letters on younger players.
Schmaltz for C?

I think Kane is the only one with Value though. You'd have to be hard pressed to find a GM to take Keith, Toews, or Seabrook. All decent players (right now), but all overpaid, out of their primes with too much term.
- cuethenoise

Actually, if we were to pay the bonus portion for Toews before the start of next season, the rest of his actual salary for a team with cap hit space would not look that bad. Even if they had him for the duration of his contract.
As for Kane, What might Columbus offer for him and AA to reunite with Panarin? And would that make it easier for them to extend Panarin? Columbus has a lot of nice assets especially on defence.

Is there any info on this apparent locker room conflict that Burish alluded to?
- Hank3Henshaw

*This is my pure speculation as a casual, internet fan*

I've been on some losing hockey teams before and no one likes losing.
It sucks. Especially, when you recently were a winning hockey team.
Frustration grows, players say things to one another that are half true and they only half mean, out of frustration.

Judging by my outside observation of the Hawks, there is most likely a divide between the players who are performing at, or above expectations and the "stars" who are performing below expectations.
I'm pointing out the stars here, because on all of the hockey teams I've played on, its the stars who shine the highest when we won, and fell the furthest when we lose. If we win a game, its probably because our best players put points on the board, not because some 4th liner got in 3 extra hits on the other teams 3rd pairing d-man.

Look at the Hawks. Toews, Seabrook, Saad. All "stars/veterans with championship pedigree" who are vastly under performing. Keith is in a grey area in my eyes, I'll let everyone else debate that.

I would bet that Kane has befriended some of the younger guys off the ice (Schmaltz, Vinnie, Hartman, ADB) and is frustrated with the old group of vets "coasting" and under performing on their multi-year highly paid contracts, while he still busts his butt on and off the ice, striving to improve at the same rate (or higher) than the guys who haven't won anything yet, and are playing for their next contract. The young guys on ELC's.
I'd also imagine it irritates Kane internally *IF* any of the veterans have yet to take a mentor-ship role, or take a mentor role seriously and go the extra mile to elevate the skills and mental state of the kids playing. Its been documented that Sharp took ADB under his wing, Kane, some of the others in Florida in the off season, but no documentation of Toews/Saad/Seabrook doing anything beyond the call of duty.

Pure speculation, but I don't think I'm that far from the truth

It's an ugly list but there are a few reclamation projects that may be worth exploring...

Matthew Peca, for example, is only 24, with 7 points in 20 NHL games, and is only in his 3rd year as a pro.
- BINGO!

I can see why Bowman wanted Ejdsell from Nashville. The center well is not deep this year. Do you happen to have a website other than Sportrac to look up UFAs? They are the one I have used, but they don't show faceoff%.

Peca might be an interesting signing, but I have a hard time seeing the Hawks happily signing another 5'8" player. His faceoff percentage is not bad, but I don't think Chicago would sign him over the other players they have at their disposal.

I guess I am being a bit of a doomer-boomer here, but I don't see an immediate answer to the Hawk's roster holes. This team is probably two seasons from contention.

Actually, if we were to pay the bonus portion for Toews before the start of next season, the rest of his actual salary for a team with cap hit space would not look that bad. Even if they had him for the duration of his contract.
As for Kane, What might Columbus offer for Kane and AA to reunite with Panarin? And would that make it easier for them to extend Panarin? Columbus has a lot of nice assets especially on defence.
- 67hawks

That conversation STARTS with either Werenski or Jones. And will require 4 more blue-chip pieces/1sts, and maybe another cost controlled roster player.

There's not much hope for this team as far as depth goes.. Kane is the only core player who's worth keeping for the long haul, but good luck getting rid of the other guys with their NTCs, and all that $, not to say they don't deserve it but other teams don't care about the 3 cups they won for us. Maybe it's time to take a little bit of pressure off these team Captains and put the letters on younger players.
Schmaltz for C?
- ifaughtthelaw

At first glance i disagreed immediately, but after some thought, he might actually be the guy of the young group I would pick in this hypothetical situation.

I can see why Bowman wanted Ejdsell from Nashville. The center well is not deep this year. Do you happen to have a website other than Sportrac to look up UFAs? They are the one I have used, but they don't show faceoff%.

Peca might be an interesting signing, but I have a hard time seeing the Hawks happily signing another 5'8" player. His faceoff percentage is not bad, but I don't think Chicago would sign him over the other players they have at their disposal.

I guess I am being a bit of a doomer-boomer here, but I don't see an immediate answer to the Hawk's roster holes. This team is probably two seasons from contention.
- TexasHawk

For face-off percentage, no. But I never really look at that. A decade of the Hurricanes being consistently one of the best faceoff teams in the league and never winning anything has led me to mostly ignore that particular stat.

That conversation STARTS with either Werenski or Jones. And will require 4 more blue-chip pieces/1sts, and maybe another cost controlled roster player.
- Slofire94

And that conversation quickly ends when Jarmo hangs up the phone.

That conversation STARTS with either Werenski or Jones. And will require 4 more blue-chip pieces/1sts, and maybe another cost controlled roster player.
- Slofire94

Absolutely not. No way in hell.

And that conversation quickly ends when Jarmo hangs up the phone.
- BlazinMike

I don't think he shies away from trading one of the two defensemen, but then you're looking at probably one more roster guy and a 1st at most.

For face-off percentage, no. But I never really look at that. A decade of the Hurricanes being consistently one of the best faceoff teams in the league and never winning anything has led me to mostly ignore that particular stat.
- BINGO!

It has some importance though. Especially for "possession" teams that aren't over physical in getting the puck back

Right.

But, I never read or heard anything that said he asked for a trade out of EDM. That team was stacked and could have won more. Why would he want out?

I was always under the impression the GM started moving guys like Coffey, etc., prior to getting a deal in place to move Gretz--which was a complete surprise to Wayne.
- Hank3Henshaw

there was speculation that he got word that the oil were listening to offers and he said...ok...then I want out...also his wife was an actress and wanted to move to LA...

I don't think he shies away from trading one of the two defensemen, but then you're looking at probably one more roster guy and a 1st at most.
- BINGO!

Ehh, if we're re-building we're going to want blue chip prospects and picks.
But for Kane, we'll need to justify it with either of the two defense man because they're already NHL proven

And that conversation quickly ends when Jarmo hangs up the phone.
- BlazinMike

Thanks for Panarin! *hangs up and blocks number*

That conversation STARTS with either Werenski or Jones. And will require 4 more blue-chip pieces/1sts, and maybe another cost controlled roster player.
- Slofire94

Jones is the better player. Seth Jones will be in the Norris conversation for the next decade. He is an absolute 200ft stud.

It has some importance though. Especially for "possession" teams that aren't over physical in getting the puck back
- BlazinMike

I've never seen it have any real impact. In certain game situations winning a face-off can be very useful, but attributing any more value to them over the course of a full season than just regular puck battles is fools gold.

Whether you win the faceoff or win a puck battle against an opponent along the boards, the outcome is the same.

Ehh, if we're re-building we're going to want blue chip prospects and picks.
But for Kane, we'll need to justify it with either of the two defense man because they're already NHL proven
- Slofire94

And how does Columbus justify it?

Jones is the better player. Seth Jones will be in the Norris conversation for the next decade. He is an absolute 200ft stud.
- EnzoD

McKinnon has been a great player to date as well, but for the life of me, with COL perpetual search for defenseman, I'm surprised they didn't take him in that draft.

I've never seen it have any real impact. In certain game situations winning a face-off can be very useful, but attributing any more value to them over the course of a full season than just regular puck battles is fools gold.

Whether you win the faceoff or win a puck battle against an opponent along the boards, the outcome is the same.
- BINGO!

That's what I'm saying though, for a team like the Hawks who aren't particularly good at winning board battles, faceoff wins help to get possession.

For face-off percentage, no. But I never really look at that. A decade of the Hurricanes being consistently one of the best faceoff teams in the league and never winning anything has led me to mostly ignore that particular stat.
- BINGO!

The only defense I offer of my position is that faceoff wins usually drive possession. Possession has pretty much been Hawks' MO over the past decade. Without Vermette, the Hawks probably don't win the cup in 2015. Faceoffs are not the only thing, but they are something.

Annecdotally, Toews seemed to play better once Kampf was in the lineup. That is really more speculation on my end though. I don't have hard facts like an increase in Corsi% to justify it.

I also am opposed to a top-6 center floating far under 50% in that category. It seems like this board has elevated Schmaltz, a player I like, to rather high levels. The kid is a winger.

McKinnon has been a great player to date as well, but for the life of me, with COL perpetual search for defenseman, I'm surprised they didn't take him in that draft.
- BlazinMike

Seth Jones is why I don't want the Canes to part with Hanifin.

And how does Columbus justify it?
- BINGO!

They can't score, and they have solid depth both in terms of prospects and NHL Dmen.