Hypothetical

[Pez68]

So, if it came down to having to trade Sharp, to make the cap space to sign Hjalmarsson, would you do it? Or would you let Hammer sign the offer sheets and take the picks? I'm really torn on this one.

 

[5Minutes4Fighting]

Depends upon what we're getting in return for Sharp. Also, big factor is whether Hawks can unload the Campbell contract. If he goes, losing Hammer is not an option.



-5Minutes

 

[jakobeast]

[quote name="Pez68"]So, if it came down to having to trade Sharp, to make the cap space to sign Hjalmarsson, would you do it? Or would you let Hammer sign the offer sheets and take the picks? I'm really torn on this one.[/quote]



It depends on what picks we get for him, but I think I would rather hold onto the Hammer. I don't think we would get the picks I think we would want/deserve.

 

[Guest]

It depends if you have a Center to replace him.



Right now without Sharp this team is extremely weak at Center depth wise. I'm surprise no one mentioned this.



Toews-Bolland then who else can even be considered top 6 potential? None.



When a team lacks depth at Center they usually aren't quite successful in the Post season let alone able to make the playoffs without issues along the way.

 

[GoBucky]

Darren Dreger reported that the Hawks are not planning on trading Sharp. John Jaeckel and Al Cimaglia have reported that they're hearing that SJ is planning on throwing big offers at Niemi and Hammer.

 

[roshinaya]

Any offersheet to Hammer won't give more than a 2nd rounder as any offer won't need to be too high for the Hawks having problems matching. I am torn who I'd like for the Hawks to retain. Sharp is very versatile player and had a great playoffs and considering the weak center depth on the Hawks he is very important. Hammer has the potential to become a great player and the Hawks seem to be very high on him and for good reason.

 

[DBQHawkFan]

[quote name="GoBucky"]Darren Dreger reported that the Hawks are not planning on trading Sharp. John Jaeckel and Al Cimaglia have reported that they're hearing that SJ is planning on throwing big offers at Niemi and Hammer.[/quote]



San Jose? I know that Blake retired, but where will they come up with the money to make these big offers? The still have to sign Marleau, Pavelski, Setoguchi and Nabokov. Possibly Malhotra. I can see them letting Nichol go. But all of those players will get raises that will about burn up Blake's a lot of salary. I looked and they were at $55 mil last year not counting Blake. Not sure what his salary was, but I imagine it was pretty steep. Last year Pavelski was at 1.6 and Setoguchi was at 1.2. They will get sizable raises I would think.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

[quote name="GoBucky"]Darren Dreger reported that the Hawks are not planning on trading Sharp. John Jaeckel and Al Cimaglia have reported that they're hearing that SJ is planning on throwing big offers at Niemi and Hammer.[/quote]



Just what SJ needs... another rebound machine. If there is a big offer for Niemi take it. It's possible his value is at it's highest right now. Who knows if he turns out like Cam Ward?

 

[Guest]

[quote name="GoBucky"]Darren Dreger reported that the Hawks are not planning on trading Sharp. John Jaeckel and Al Cimaglia have reported that they're hearing that SJ is planning on throwing big offers at Niemi and Hammer.[/quote]



I also heard Sharp was not on the list. Funny he will be at the awards tomorrow night in Las Vegas with the Cup.



Niemi has been taken to Arbitration. I'm pretty sure there are going to be no offers coming at him because of this.



Hjarlmarsson my sigh a qualifying offer once a deal or two is made at the Draft, or shortly after, before July 1st.



All this speculation is quite funny!

 

[GoBucky]

[quote name="R K"]



I also heard Sharp was not on the list. Funny he will be at the awards tomorrow night in Las Vegas with the Cup.



Niemi has been taken to Arbitration. I'm pretty sure there are going to be no offers coming at him because of this.



Hjarlmarsson my sigh a qualifying offer once a deal or two is made at the Draft, or shortly after, before July 1st.



All this speculation is quite funny![/quote]



Agreed, every day it's something new. Two days ago, Sharp was the one being shipped out. These "experts" are spending too much time making things up with little to no concrete info.

 

[Tater]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Just what SJ needs... another rebound machine. If there is a big offer for Niemi take it. It's possible his value is at it's highest right now. Who knows if he turns out like Cam Ward?[/quote]



WTF!!!! Who hacked into Stu G's account !!!!

He would never post something like this.

 

[Guest]

[quote name="Tater"]



WTF!!!! Who hacked into Stu G's account !!!!

He would never post something like this.[/quote]





If you only knew.

 

[bookjones]

[quote name="R K"]It depends if you have a Center to replace him.



Right now without Sharp this team is extremely weak at Center depth wise. I'm surprise no one mentioned this.



Toews-Bolland then who else can even be considered top 6 potential? None.



When a team lacks depth at Center they usually aren't quite successful in the Post season let alone able to make the playoffs without issues along the way.[/quote]



BINGO! From my vantage point Sharp has made himself invaluable to the Hawks for a myriad of reasons but even if you had to just pick one, their depth/lack thereof with/without him at Center is the most obvious one.





Latest tweet on the subject from Bob McKenzie:

I don't believe Sharp will be moved. Strategy seems to be to keep strength in middle - Toews, Bolland, Sharp. Expendables are wingers.



SOURCE: http://twitter.com/tsnbobmckenzie

 

[TSD]

[quote name="Stu Grimson"]



Just what SJ needs... another rebound machine. If there is a big offer for Niemi take it. It's possible his value is at it's highest right now. Who knows if he turns out like Cam Ward?[/quote]





I cant believe I saw those words come out of your mouth, but I agree with you.



If this playoffs has taught the NHL anything, its that you dont need a 6 million dollar man in net to win a cup. Niemi was solid, and made the big save when we needed it, but was he 6 million dollars a year good? **** no. He was a rebound machine though.



Goalies everywhere should be shitting their pants as far as contracts are concerned. After this experience I cant see why you need a goalie worth more than 3m per to win a cup.



NHL Live had a good discussion about this a few weeks ago about how goalies in recent history seem to have one or two good seasons then fall into mediocrity and no goalie out there seems to be able to sting 4 or 5 good seasons together and judging by team performances, you dont need a 6 million dollar man in net to win a cup.



I am now of the school of thought as long as your goalie can play in the nhl if the team up front is good you have a shot. Take the wings with Ty Conklin or chris osgood in recent history, they had great seasons/post season runs with goalie's that would be pulling backup duty anywhere else that isnt st. louis.





Look at vancouver, like it or not they do have a great team, but not as good as ours. We raped luongo again.



Their 6 million dollar man should have evened the playing field but he didnt. Goalies are just too high risk to commit that much money to in my opinion.

 

[TSD]

[quote name="R K"]

All this speculation is quite funny![/quote]





Come on RK speculation is whats fun about the offseason.

 

[whalerhawk]

Lets see, we have Olsen, Leddy and Lalonde as defensive prospects. None of which play a similar style to Hammer, but still, all decent prospects.



Tell me one guy we have the rights to that can replace what Sharp does.



I love Hammer, but right now, Sharp is the more irreplaceable guy.



I disagree that any offer sheet to Niemi or Hammer will yield just a 2nd round pick in return. Anything between $3.08 million and $4.5 million per year gets us a 1st and a 3rd. If the offer sheet is $3 million or less, I am guessing we will match. If its more, we get more than a 2nd round pick in return.

 

[MassHavoc]

Sharp is the last guy you want to trade in my opinion because of his flexibility. He can play any forward position well and that also allows you to be able to trade any forward position as he can fill in. Not only does he give you the flexibility on the ice, but also the flexibility in trade matters.

 

[Pez68]

I agree on Sharp and our center situation. Don't get me wrong, I think he is nearly irreplacable. Where I am torn is, I think Hammer is going to be something special. A genuine stud. He's already a damn good defenseman, and he's what, 22? Not many guys get thrown into the mix with Campbell the last two seasons, and have the success that he has had. He is a stabilizing force back there.



The Hawks will match any offer up to the point that they get a first and a third back. If it's 3 mil per year, it is 3 mil per year. I just don't know who replaces Hammer RIGHT NOW, if he was to walk. Our top D prospects might be another 2-3 years out...

 

[Guest]

If he were to go, which I know for sure he wants to stay, then you would have Keith-Seabrook, campbell-Lalonde maybe? You'd still have probably three of the top defensemen in the league.



Just saying. Center is far more important.

 

[Pez68]

[quote name="R K"]If he were to go, which I know for sure he wants to stay, then you would have Keith-Seabrook, campbell-Lalonde maybe? You'd still have probably three of the top defensemen in the league.



Just saying. Center is far more important.[/quote]



True, but the thought of losing Hammer makes me want to cry. There's a lot more servicable centers out there than there are top four defensemen.