2014 Offseason Thread

[the canadian dream]

Brad Richards isn't what he used to be as we all know. He can't even remain in a cup final series without being benched now. He's well past his prime. No thanks to Brad he's not a second line center anymore come playoff time which is what the Hawks need. Would be serviceable through the reg season but i have huge doubts about his playoff ability and stamina now. </p>

 

[LordKOTL]

Between Sharp and Hossa I'd keep Hossa...he brings more to the table for less money in spite of being older.</p>


 </p>


I'm not against the idea of Sharp being traded--of all the players he's the most "replaceable" as it were (more than Hossa or Seabrook), but a move will have to hinge on him waiving his NTC, and for all we know any team that he would want to go to would not be able to do the trade.</p>

 

[winos5]

I don't expect any block buster trade being made.   One flukey garbage goal bouncing puck away from the Stanley Cup Finals and suddenly there is a fervor to move Sharp, Hossa or package our best prospects and young players for an aging, declining Kesler?</p>


 </p>


Expect Stan to add by subtraction and sign a few free agent roster players.   A back up goalie, a 5-6 defenseman, a 3rd/4th liner ect ...</p>


 </p>


Good start saying good bye to Handzus</p>


 </p>


And I still say if they trade anyone it will be Leddy.</p>

 

[cplmac]

Trading Leddy would be a monumental brainfart, and moving Hossa would be equally ridiculous and many times more difficult with his 12 year contract that still has 7 years remaining.  I don't think anyone wants to trade Sharp because of one bouncing puck, I think it was his post season implosion on the whole.  He's been really good over the years but he didn't show up this post season.  Offensively Brad Richards is a solid 2C, his defensive game has really gone down hill though which will the Hawks a difficult fit.  His post season performance wasn't good either so I would take him if the price was right.</p>

 

[winos5]

Leddy has been a disappointment in the playoffs since becoming a Blackhawk.   </p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Leddy is a also playing 3rd pairing minutes, with Roszival and Brookbank. He's not a shutdown type dman that you would reserve a 3rd pairing with. He's a puck moving dman that makes good first passes on the breakout, can move the puck, and jumps in offensively. He'd be great playing with Hammer as their two styles would complement each other.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

For the right price (talking million or two at best) and term (one year) I wouldn't mind seeing Richards on the Hawks. He wants to win another championship, he's a skilled center and he isn't a liability like Handzus was. He might complement Kane more so than Shaw on the 2nd line.


This would allow the Hawks to give Teuvo some time in Rockford that everyone is bitching about him needing, and if it doesn't work out he's gone in a year.

 

[PatrickShart]

Sure Hjall is better defensively than Rozy/Brook and some may think it would help Leddy/be better for him.  But would it help Hjarl?  Nik's play may end up suffering playing with a less better defensive player  When Campbell left, Nik stuggled.  Oduya complimented his game very well.  Just to assume Leddy can play those minutes with Hjarl may be a giant mistake</p>

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Worth a shot. Don't know how much better defensively Campbell was compared to Leddy.

 

[cplmac]

Not much, Campbell actually had a similar game to Leddy but Leddy is better in every category, some by a little some by a lot.  There isn't a team in the NHL that wouldn't be happy finding Leddy on their third line, most would be pretty damn happy to have him on their second line.</p>

 

[Variable]

If they plan on keeping Leddy, he has to be moved up to the second pairing after this season, or during this season pending on if they move Oduya in the coming weeks (I hope not). So it's either you find out if he and Hammer can work together or you move him. I wouldn't move him, he's a great puck possession player, we know that much. And you have to assume his next contract is going to be somewhere in the 3-4 million range. So you can't be scared to try him out on the second pairing with Hammer if you want to keep him.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cplmac" data-cid="232772" data-time="1403636535">


Not much, Campbell actually had a similar game to Leddy but Leddy is better in every category, some by a little some by a lot. There isn't a team in the NHL that wouldn't be happy finding Leddy on their third line, most would be pretty damn happy to have him on their second line.</p></blockquote>


Campbell is a much smarter player. More physical as well. The only area Leddy is better would be straight on speed

 

[Variable]

Reports are that Canucks want Saad or Teuvo in any package for Kesler. Good,  that kills that deal. **** that.</p>

 

[MassHavoc]

I bet it's an E6 too</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Doesnt kill the deal.  Just means the Hawks don't want to trade either of those 2 for him.</p>

 

[Variable]

Well if they don't back off that it does. It'd be much easier for the Canucks to trade him to Anaheim, where alleviating cap space for the other team won't be an issue to consider and they'd get a better pick and overall deal out of it. Three team deals are rare and  I won't ever see the sense in Vancouver trading for an older player in Sharp with a bigger and longer cap hit than Kesler and any other prospect not named Teuvo or someone like Saad involved. </p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Anyone shocked that this is what the Canucks would ask for? Not me exactly what I thought they would want. Vancouver has zero interest in vet players right now they want youth and they want rebuild blocks. No idea what the Ducks have to offer Vancouver either. Ducks aren't exactly a team in the position to be selling their futures either and they don't have a lot of them to start with. Don't see how Vancouver dealing with the Ducks is easy when the Ducks don't have much to offer in return. Who are the Ducks going to offer up? Rickard Rackel?</p>

 

[Variable]

Etem,  and I believe they have the 10th pick in the draft. I don't know if I'd say it'd be easy, but it definitely would be easier to get a deal done with Anaheim than the Hawks just because of their cap situation.</p>

 

[PatrickShart]

And Anaheim is in the same division - maybe Vance doesn't want to trade with them


Hawks may rather offer something with Shaw, Leddy and Kruger rather than TT


If they get Kesler, they can still move Sharp elsewhere in a different deal

 

[the canadian dream]

Canucks could do better than Etem and a 10th. Not that Etem is a bad prospect at all.</p>


 </p>


Think people are undervaluing Kesler here. Yes he has injury issues like anyone else who plays his style but he's one of the top 2nd rung centers in the league and could be a first on many teams. Guys a two way reliable player and experienced at 29. I know Hawk fans still hold grudges against the guy to a degree and remember him having struggled against the Hawks in the past...but lets not forget that Kesler is also a guy who shut down Toews for a series in an outstanding fashion. Guys a solid player no matter what bias gets in the way of that. Canucks aren't just going to flip him for nothing and it's going to be a long shopping period. As of right now with the Hawks I am sure their #1 concern is getting Toews and Kane extended before July 1. Once that is out of the way cap space and all that other stuff will become a bit clearer. I highly doubt any real discussions btw the Hawks and Canucks have actually even taken place yet.</p>