John Jaeckel: Bowman speaks/Rumor update

First!

JJ - thanks for the update!

Seems like folks forget that at the heart of it the Hawks are a for profit business and while admittedly they are a bit different in that the product they sell is professional sport, they are still at their heart a business. No business makes public their acquisition plans for the reasons you've outlined. Though thankfully (for us fans), sometimes things may leak. In addition, I've been on the inside of enough acquisitions in business to understand what's true the moment you hear it may change substantially in the next moment. Appreciate you sharing what you hear.

Hope they are able to pull something off this year, but please not Iginla. It (if that's all you do) does not make you better or more likely to advance in the playoffs. You can afford that sort of thing when you have Vermette on your third line but not when you are struggling to score on more than just one line.

Could some of the discussion about Duchene (and others we don't know about) actually end up having an impact this summer instead of at the TDL? Things are so tight at the TDL because so many teams are (or believe they are) still in the playoffs.

Clearly a big salary (or salaries) will have to go this summer. We keep hearing that the goalie market will be sarutated. How hard will it be to find a team that Crow will go to and who wants / has cap space to take him. And hopefully isn't in the West?

I dunno. Maybe I'm the one taking crazy pills here.

Got a good chuckle out of that this morning

Without the core group there would be "0" Cups. Tallon is responsible for the core.

The Bowmans have handed out the HORRIBLE deals. That is why this team STINKS!

Lucky the Goaltending was hot early part of season to get them a good record.

How's the Danault trade looking?

Ladd trade?

How about the GREAT Timonen trade?


Funny you cheerleaders/fans have ZERO clue!

Carry on.
- Goalie-33

Stan should have traded the CORE and put his stamp on the team! EPIC FAIL!

We'll wait and see what they're able to pull off. But agree with Marlowe no on Iginla.

As the cap starts to affect more teams, one thing I hope the league does to help out the ability to trade higher-priced players is raise the cap floor. Does anyone know if the floor is set based on a % of the ceiling, or is this something the league can negotiate over the summer? I would think that most owners would go for this.

yo....how bout giving weise another shot

They really should just wait until the off-season and acquire a LW for Toews then, them getting a LW now doesn't get them a cup and the price is always high for a rental. Getting a long term solution is a much better and smarter option than continuously filling it at the deadline for a combo of picks/prospects and depleting the farm.

Did you say wait until offseason?

Yeah lets keep watching the hot garbage they have been giving Toews to play with for the last 2 years even longer.

If a deal of Kruger Hartman & Forslin for Duch is out there it should be made ASAP!!

Kruger overpaid 3rd liner for 12 mins a game. Hartman good upsude will never be a top 6. Forslin good upside but not a top 4 guy.

Or Hjmalarsson & Motte/Schamltz to TOR for JVR.

Bowmans are the Worst!

Could definitely see Duchene going to Montreal. Would really love to see him playing with Toews and or Kane.

If the hawks are not able to land him or Tatar, then maybe consider staying pat on the roster and addressing needs in the offseason. Might be for the better if it becomes a transition year and then go all in the next season.

Good article JJ but I don't agree with the following in bold:

'Imagine you're an opposing GM (and it's kind of stunning that some fans out there still require this explanation) and you read that Bowman is talking in the media about his desire (need) to make a big deal for a top 6 left wing. Don't you think that amplifies your bargaining position (as an opposing GM) with him—as he is now automatically a bit more desperate to make a deal because he has promised his fan base as much?'

The reason I say that I don't agree is GM's often talk about what they are looking to add in the media. That in no way translates as it being a promise any of it will happen. I also don't believe it affects the potential cost to obtain a player. The cost always seems to start very high for all teams selling on their players that are garnering interest, and then it's up to them on whether they will lower the demanded return enough for a deal to actually happen.

I seriously doubt a comment in the media such as the one you are indicating makes any discernible difference.

Stan should have traded the CORE and put his stamp on the team! EPIC FAIL!
- HawkintheD

Stan should have traded the CORE and put his stamp on the team! EPIC FAIL!
- HawkintheD

I know right ! Bowman = Dumbass ! (frank)in red font !!

Could definitely see Duchene going to Montreal. Would really love to see him playing with Toews and or Kane.

If the hawks are not able to land him or Tatar, then maybe consider staying pat on the roster and addressing needs in the offseason. Might be for the better if it becomes a transition year and then go all in the next season.
- 93Joe

Lots of smoke around MTL - Duchene.

Could definitely see Duchene going to Montreal. Would really love to see him playing with Toews and or Kane.

If the hawks are not able to land him or Tatar, then maybe consider staying pat on the roster and addressing needs in the offseason. Might be for the better if it becomes a transition year and then go all in the next season.
- 93Joe

I still say Stan should look at acquiring Boyle. If nothing else he's an upgrade over Desjardins. I'd think the acquisition price for Boyle would be reasonable too.

Did you say wait until offseason?

Yeah lets keep watching the hot garbage they have been giving Toews to play with for the last 2 years even longer.

If a deal of Kruger Hartman & Forslin for Duch is out there it should be made ASAP!!

Kruger overpaid 3rd liner for 12 mins a game. Hartman good upsude will never be a top 6. Forslin good upside but not a top 4 guy.

Or Hjmalarsson & Motte/Schamltz to TOR for JVR.

Bowmans are the Worst!
- Goalie-33

Stop slow down and take a deep breath!
You mad bro???? Have a Snickers Bar!!!!

Could definitely see Duchene going to Montreal. Would really love to see him playing with Toews and or Kane.

If the hawks are not able to land him or Tatar, then maybe consider staying pat on the roster and addressing needs in the offseason. Might be for the better if it becomes a transition year and then go all in the next season.
- 93Joe

THAT is exactly my wish Joe.

Do what you can to land a Duchesne, Langesckog, Tatar or somebody of quality and not on last legs.

If they are not attainable, scrap the Iginla, Doan, vanek crap and ride with the young guys. they will be better for it next year.

I just hope they don't trade for trash just to appease the masses looking for a move and only make a deal if it makes sense....

Stop slow down and take a deep breath!
You mad bro???? Have a Snickers Bar!!!!
- BGKarras

- DarthKane

.... Hilarious

Good article JJ but I don't agree with the following in bold:

'Imagine you're an opposing GM (and it's kind of stunning that some fans out there still require this explanation) and you read that Bowman is talking in the media about his desire (need) to make a big deal for a top 6 left wing. Don't you think that amplifies your bargaining position (as an opposing GM) with him—as he is now automatically a bit more desperate to make a deal because he has promised his fan base as much?'

The reason I say that I don't agree is GM's often talk about what they are looking to add in the media. That in no way translates as it being a promise any of it will happen. I also don't believe it affects the potential cost to obtain a player. The cost always seems to start very high for all teams selling on their players that are garnering interest, and then it's up to them on whether they will lower the demanded return enough for a deal to actually happen.

I seriously doubt a comment in the media such as the one you are indicating makes any discernible difference.
- kingcong39

Some GMs don't. Bowman doesn't. And while I kind of agree most GMs around the league know exactly what Bowman's up against. You can't discount the notion of managing fan base expectations.

I still say Stan should look at acquiring Boyle. If nothing else he's an upgrade over Desjardins. I'd think the acquisition price for Boyle would be reasonable too.
- DarthKane

Meh, upgrade the Bottom 6? OK, I think Boyle makes sense if you deal Kruger+ for something else. seems unlikely they could do both though.

Boyle makes zero difference this year if they don't add another skilled LW.

Sticking to my prediction that the HAWKS will do very little to nothing this year ,as they did over the summer . Maybe if something cheap falls in their lap as Campbell did over the summer ,but that has not been a stroke of genius . Stan may learn from that and figure better to continue with young players .

I still think the big show will be draft day or early ,with the HAWKS moving Crow for a late 1st or early 2nd .Like Andersson going to the leafs last year . Then trying to move those picks and a roster player to move up in the draft .

May as well get use to watching these kids play and progress .And hope the core has another run left in it .

Just say no to Iginla, Sharp, Doan or Vanek.

Unless you can get Tatar, Nyquist, Duchesne or Landeskog dont bother as it wont make a damn difference. And don't mortgage the future for one player.

If they can, and I say "if" they can ...... they must try and shed some of the heavy contracts before or after the off season even if it means getting nothing in return other than salary relief. Im looking at you Seabs, Crow and Krug.

The core is no longer what is was and a shake up needs to be done to reinvigorate the team not to mention to be cap compliant. Other than Kane and Panarin very few are playing at an elite level. Youth at a higher level needs to be coming in.

Sticking to my prediction that the HAWKS will do very little to nothing this year ,as they did over the summer . Maybe if something cheap falls in their lap as Campbell did over the summer ,but that has not been a stroke of genius . Stan may learn from that and figure better to continue with young players .

I still think the big show will be draft day or early ,with the HAWKS moving Crow for a late 1st or early 2nd .Like Andersson going to the leafs last year . Then trying to move those picks and a roster player to move up in the draft .

May as well get use to watching these kids play and progress .And hope the core has another run left in it .
- oldduffman

If not this year, when?

I honestly don't think that's how the team is thinking right now—they will default to that if they can't get something done.

Bowman's comments yesterday are the same thing he said at this time the last two seasons. Then he goes out and "overpays" (by some fans' estimation–even though it was the right thing to do) to make a bigger move.

I don't think anyone can assume that this team is magically a lot better next year based on the "growth" of Schmaltz, Motte, Hino et al, and if they don't make deep run next year, the following year you might be without Panarin, Keith is 36, Hossa is 40.

I think it's fair to say, your goalie tandem next year is not Crawford and Darling. So that area–which has saved this team much of the year—could easily be worse. Who are you gonna get to back up Crawford, for example, at 600K per year who's as good as Darling?

If you go with Darling, there likely is some drop off form CC to him. And then who, also, is the backup.

But bottom line, the economics of keeping both are not likely. So again, if not this year, when?