Kane at Center?

[MassHavoc]

It's not even like we are looking for a Top D-man or a number one wing or a center or whatever. I realize that good second line centers are not exactly falling all over the place right now, but you've had like 2 years to grow one, trade for one, or sign one. How is it not possible to get this done, we have enough in the minors to make trades. Wings coming out our ass like ::insert TCD joke here:: and yet, we consistently have said for a while now that the missing piece is 2nd line center. We know it, they know it, everyone knows it, yet we keep plugging in stop gaps to see what sticks. It's just so frustrating to have such a glaring need in front of everyone and nothing done to address it, and they almost try to ignore it at this point. I would much rather see them start slamming true center youngsters in there at this point to see what sticks if they aren't going to make a move.

 

[R K]

so that's the line up as of right now



Sharp-Toews-Saad

Brunette-Kane-Hossa

Frolik-Bolland-Bickell

Carcillo-Mayers-Smith/Olesz



Stalberg IR

 

[PatrickShart]

Being up against the cap last year - not sure who they could've traded for salary for salary to get a second line center, especially not knowing Campbell would be moved.



I think the number 1 priority was finding the money to get Seabrook, Crawford and Sharp signed.



Now...this offseason, yes - they had space. But what centers were moved or available? To trade..it would have probably cost Leddy, Morin (although being concussed, not sure anyone would trade for him), Hjarlmarsson...



It takes two teams to make a trade and someone has to be availble. Turris is out there - would you want the Hawks to give a young prospect - then have to give him 3+ mil he's seeking? Gagner is hurt, but will cost a good Dman for sure (Hjarlmarsson).



I just don't know who/what available where they should just go find one. With the cap space they have, if Kane doesn't pan out...I'm sure at some point this season being they finally have cap flexibility without having anyone up anymore to be signed, it will be taken care of.

 

[LordKOTL]

In any of the papers..espn...

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/6357

Thanks!

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

so that's the line up as of right now



Sharp-Toews-Saad

Brunette-Kane-Hossa

Frolik-Bolland-Bickell

Carcillo-Mayers-Smith/Olesz



Stalberg IR

Holy **** those top two lines are stacked... I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Frolik get some time on the 2nd line. As much as people knock on the guy... he could be a 25-30 goal scorer this year.

 

[MassHavoc]

When is the last time they had a real second line center that wasn't a stop gap? Even the year they won the cup everyone knew their weakness was at center. They won a cup without solid depth (decent enough I guess, but who was it, Toews, Bolland, Madden, Fraser, Sharp). So you are telling me that Madden... as good and as solid a vet there is, there is no one out there better than him if that's as good of a center as is needed to win a cup. We're in the same position we were last year, the year before, Toews, Bolland, ? ? ? ? Sharp moved to center. It's bullshit. At least now they've taken a step to solidify the 4th line... oh, wait they are moving a wing with Center experience to Center there as well. But I have no problem with that on the 4th line. They year we won the cup we were looking for a center, the year before, the year before, how many years must it be the constant fucking question mark.

 

[PatrickShart]

Again....who is out there you wanted them to sign - or is available for trade?



Laich? 4.5mil

Richards? 6.67mil

Connely? 4.75mil

Arnott? 2.8mil



Trade for RFA?

Dubinsky would've cost Hjarlmarson, Leddy, Morin...at minimum one of those...possibly picks as well...then signed for 4.2mil

Carter/Richards went for a ton of prospects.



Hawks have - Pirri, Kruger...probably a year away/should get looks this year. McNeil and Danault were first round picks.

 

[supraman]

When is the last time they had a real second line center that wasn't a stop gap? Even the year they won the cup everyone knew their weakness was at center. They won a cup without solid depth (decent enough I guess, but who was it, Toews, Bolland, Madden, Fraser, Sharp). So you are telling me that Madden... as good and as solid a vet there is, there is no one out there better than him if that's as good of a center as is needed to win a cup. We're in the same position we were last year, the year before, Toews, Bolland, ? ? ? ? Sharp moved to center. It's bullshit. At least now they've taken a step to solidify the 4th line... oh, wait they are moving a wing with Center experience to Center there as well. But I have no problem with that on the 4th line. They year we won the cup we were looking for a center, the year before, the year before, how many years must it be the constant fucking question mark.

I agree with you Mass, I want a 2nd line center. I really thought moving Soupy would have made it happen. But looking at it, we had the same issue at goalie for years. Habby/Huet. Huet/Niemi. Turco/Crow. We finally have a no doubt starting goalie, no competition shit goalie in Crow. After 3 years of flopping the **** around with our netminders.

 

[R K]

When is the last time they had a real second line center that wasn't a stop gap? Even the year they won the cup everyone knew their weakness was at center. They won a cup without solid depth (decent enough I guess, but who was it, Toews, Bolland, Madden, Fraser, Sharp). So you are telling me that Madden... as good and as solid a vet there is, there is no one out there better than him if that's as good of a center as is needed to win a cup. We're in the same position we were last year, the year before, Toews, Bolland, ? ? ? ? Sharp moved to center. It's bullshit. At least now they've taken a step to solidify the 4th line... oh, wait they are moving a wing with Center experience to Center there as well. But I have no problem with that on the 4th line. They year we won the cup we were looking for a center, the year before, the year before, how many years must it be the constant fucking question mark.

They Drafted the 2nd line Center this year in the first round.



As PMX said last year with the Cap crunch no way were they finding one UFA and this year past Richards there weren't really any available. And yes Madden served a great purpose. Notice when the SC finals came around fraser sat and Madden played. There was a reason for that. If anything this team lacks lower line Centers such as Madden. When you can just plug a guy like Sharp on the 2nd line, it makes that problem far less of a problem.



Kane may do. Him playing with Hossa, when Hossa premadonna is playing where he must, might just get both guys more points. The only reason Kane is playing Center is that Hossa wanted to play with him and was not willing to switch to the left side, nor play Center. So they accomodated Hossa. It is what it is.

 

[R K]

I agree with you Mass, I want a 2nd line center. I really thought moving Soupy would have made it happen. But looking at it, we had the same issue at goalie for years. Habby/Huet. Huet/Niemi. Turco/Crow. We finally have a no doubt starting goalie, no competition shit goalie in Crow. After 3 years of flopping the **** around with our netminders.

What 2nd line Center was available this year. Past Richard who they could not afford or face the Cap crunch again? There were none. They drafted the 2nd line Center. Who might must make this team next year. So if depth at C is what you need at the TDL, you have 3 mil in Cap Space to do so.

 

[R K]

Again....who is out there you wanted them to sign - or is available for trade?



Laich? 4.5mil

Richards? 6.67mil

Connely? 4.75mil

Arnott? 2.8mil



Trade for RFA?

Dubinsky would've cost Hjarlmarson, Leddy, Morin...at minimum one of those...possibly picks as well...then signed for 4.2mil

Carter/Richards went for a ton of prospects.



Hawks have - Pirri, Kruger...probably a year away/should get looks this year. McNeil and Danault were first round picks.

Dubinsky wasn't leaving NY and that would be the only one on the list I'd consider. Maybe Laich but he wasn't leaving WA either.

 

[PatrickShart]

I was just listing the centers that came to the top of my head that were UFA or RFA...



With Laich and Dubinsky, they both make over 4mil - Hawks have 3.9mil-ish in space now, and have to sign Saad



They wouldve been right at the cap - yet again - if they went out and got one of those guys.



Instead, they now have 3-4 prospects a year or two away, that make less than 1mil, and can trade for a guy as the year goes on, with that cap space.



Depending how teams are doing...these are some centers on the last year of their deals -

Koivu - 2.5mil ANA

Gaustad - 2.5mil BUF

Jolkinen - 3mil CAL

Stoll - 3.4mil LA

Rolston - 5mil NYI

Wolski - 3.8mil NYR

Langkow - 4.5mil PHO

Moore - 1.1mil TB

Grabovski - 2.9mil TOR



May be trade deadline moves....but what if Kane/Hossa tear up this year - 90pts each? Then...with the 3mil in room, they go get a guy like Doan in his last year of his deal in PHX? What would Doan/Toews/Sharp look like as a line? Not too fun to play against, IMO

 

[dlrob315]

I was just listing the centers that came to the top of my head that were UFA or RFA...



With Laich and Dubinsky, they both make over 4mil - Hawks have 3.9mil-ish in space now, and have to sign Saad



They wouldve been right at the cap - yet again - if they went out and got one of those guys.



Instead, they now have 3-4 prospects a year or two away, that make less than 1mil, and can trade for a guy as the year goes on, with that cap space.



Depending how teams are doing...these are some centers on the last year of their deals -

Koivu - 2.5mil ANA

Gaustad - 2.5mil BUF

Jolkinen - 3mil CAL

Stoll - 3.4mil LA

Rolston - 5mil NYI

Wolski - 3.8mil NYR

Langkow - 4.5mil PHO

Moore - 1.1mil TB

Grabovski - 2.9mil TOR



May be trade deadline moves....but what if Kane/Hossa tear up this year - 90pts each?  Then...with the 3mil in room, they go get a guy like Doan in his last year of his deal in PHX?  What would Doan/Toews/Sharp look like as a line?  Not too fun to play against, IMO

Depends when that trade is made.  If the trade is made at the deadline that 3.9m is even more golden.  The 4m that Laich and Dubinsky makes will become less than 2m, in all actuality they could afford both of them.  The 3.9m that the Hawks have in cap space does not shrink but the players salaries shrink.

 

[PatrickShart]

Well aware of that - and Dubinsky/Laich (NMC) aren't getting traded

 

[dlrob315]

Well aware of that - and Dubinsky/Laich (NMC) aren't getting traded

I needed examples.

 

[MassHavoc]

Jesus fucking Christ what does this off season have to do with needing a center for the last 5 years. 7 years. He'll I can't remember how long its been.

 

[xatruio]

I'd love Rolston, although since he was on the Devils last year and they were so horrid i don't know if he's accurately NHL capable anymore cuz they sucked so hard--moreso just me loving him in NHL2K2 haha



the year before last he was certainly still a good player at the NHL level, at least

 

[the canadian dream]

Ugh no. Kane doesn't need to play center and not sure why anyone would want to based on 2 pre-season games. We have seen through 3 seasons what Kane can do on the RW when the coach uses him properly. No need to mess with a good thing.



Kane/Toews/ Slot whoever gets the privilege

Hossa/Sharp/ Who ever gets the privilege



Top 2 lines don't need bonafide all-star LWers. These four guys will make all-stars out of whoever you throw on the left side.



I will never understand why so many people are against Sharp playing center either. Just makes no sense after what we have seen him do at that position when he plays it (did he not have a career year last year playing a large chunk of the minutes at center?). We all love the STK line (I love it as much as anyone else) but we have to let it slide. It's not as if we won't see them together during powerplays or late during tight games. Just because Sharp is slotted as #2 center in the roster depth doesn't mean he will be married to the position every minute during a game.



Just me.

 

[Variable]

I just don't get why they don't want to give (at least not to start out) Pirri a chance at taking that role. If he were just decent, average, that would open so many possibilities. You could have the STK line if you wanted. Brunette plays with Pirri and Hossa. You could switch out all the wingers throughout the top 3 lines and get Frolik time with Toews and Kane or Toews and Hossa without really losing any kind of depth or having to play players out of their more comfrotable position/roles. I would think, especially for a guy like Q who changes lines as much as he does, that it couldn't hurt to try.

 

[dlrob315]

The Hawks are looking to contend for the Cup and may feel they need to have as many veterans as possible to get there.



They already have a lot rookies/prospects on the roster:



Saad

Frolik

Olecz

Leddy

Stalberg

Smith



To address that some of these guys are not rookies or prospects: they play like it and are reclamation projects.



But I still think we may see Pirri as some point going up and down.