Off Season Wish List

[R K]

I'm actually quite surprised that the Habs signed Markov to that contract and are prolly letting Wiz go, and know quite a few Habs fans that agree with me on that one. He was solid for them. Comparing him to Burrows is rather silly from my perspective...Burrows is one of the most hated players in the nhl...haven't heard the same about Wiz.



So is Kruger playing centre for us? He was the one guy I've been trying to figure where he fits in the lineup....i know it's not even July lol.

Assuming they don't find a Center I would imagine yes. I can't see them not going after a guy like Laich to gain some experience there.



Either way you have to figure a way to allow Sharp-Toews-Kane to be paired together ALL SEASON. I imagine once those three guys get going together it will be hard for even the BEST NHL Defense to contain them.



THen with someting like Morin-Laich-Hossa and Frolik-Bolland-Bickell your top three lines are stacked.

 

[Larmer83]

Rumor has it Nashville is going to make a "Monster Offer" to Richards.



Playing him 6 times a year would really fucking suck. He often has the Hawks number!

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/rangers/pre_draft_bombshells_9p8exihDkggHqqMjFKwVmK

Multiple sources have told The Post that the 31-year-old, 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is seeking an eight-year contract in the range of $50M to $55M, a number that could escalate in a triangular bidding war between revenue powerhouses in Manhattan, Philadelphia and Toronto.

 

[R K]

Hopefully Stan sits by watching!



Sharp-Toews-Kane



Morin-laich-Hossa



Frolik-Bolland-Bickell



Asham-Madden-Konopka



Pretty dangerous.

 

[bookjones]

Assuming they don't find a Center I would imagine yes. I can't see them not going after a guy like Laich to gain some experience there.



Either way you have to figure a way to allow Sharp-Toews-Kane to be paired together ALL SEASON. I imagine once those three guys get going together it will be hard for even the BEST NHL Defense to contain them.



THen with someting like Morin-Laich-Hossa and Frolik-Bolland-Bickell your top three lines are stacked.

Yes to the 1st. Yes to the 2nd. Yes to the 3rd.

A fourth line of Somebody (maybe they keep Stalberg)-Kruger-Smith is could be pretty damn suave too for a 4th line.





Not that I am adverse to many people's suggestions that they perhaps pick up Erik Cole either as he's entering the twilight of his career and could probably be had for a fair price. Dude did score 25 goals this past season which makes for sweet sugarplums dancing in the head but that looks more like a contract year aberration to me. I could live with Cole or Morin on the LW of that 2nd line though I likely err on the side of youth if Morin looks all mega-studly again at both Prospects and Training Camps as well as pre-season.

 

[R K]

I think you need more experience and grit on that 4th line. Smith or Morin on my lines are the odd man out for depth.

 

[bookjones]

Hopefully Stan sits by watching!



Sharp-Toews-Kane



Morin-laich-Hossa



Frolik-Bolland-Bickell



Asham-Madden-Konopka



Pretty dangerous.

What do you reckon that 4th line would cost? Will it leave room after Laich and them to then fill the D holes?

 

[bookjones]

I think you need more experience and grit on that 4th line. Smith or Morin on my lines are the odd man out for depth.

Yeah, I agree but I am now just worried by the roles and therefore fundage they have to use to fill up the D too. Still, while they may make him play for the Hogs I don't think for one second they have plans to have Kruger spend the entire season in Rockford.

 

[R K]

14.4 mil



Laich would get 3-4



Sharp would get 1.5-2



So that's about 7-8 left.



Madden 1.2

Ahsam 1.2

Konopka 1

Frolik 2.2

Campoli 1.8



About 6 ish. It's definitely doable.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Hopefully Stan sits by watching!



Sharp-Toews-Kane



Morin-laich-Hossa



Frolik-Bolland-Bickell



Asham-Madden-Konopka



Pretty dangerous.

Puh-lease no to that 4th line...the only one I would want to see in the indianhead (again) is Madden, and that's pushing it. I said in another thread why I dont think Konopka is the option we want, -32, less then 30pts in his career. Asham....well I have hate for him because he was a Flyer. Other then that, I just never really cared for his style of play. I do like that 2nd line, although I would try Frolik on the left side instead.



What about Mike Grier???? Chad LaRose or Fleishman on wing???

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

I'd love to have Richards but realistically he's gonna be out of our price range. Toronto and New York are gonna throw tons of money at him, probably in the higher 6 to lower 7 million dollar range. Hawks are going to have to be similar, and we just got out of cap trouble, doesn't make sense to handcuff ourselves again.



Ideally we'd grab Laich somewhere between 3.5 and 4 million and he'd play on our 2nd line. Some good other options out there in Reasoner, Talbot, Connolly, LaRose, and a few others would look good on our third line should Laich want too much.

 

[bookjones]

14.4 mil



Laich would get 3-4



Sharp would get 1.5-2



So that's about 7-8 left.



Madden 1.2

Ahsam 1.2

Konopka 1

Frolik 2.2

Campoli 1.8



About 6 ish. It's definitely doable.

It would be a dirty little 4th line to be sure. Hmmm, I think I am over the Madden jonesing though---he's a year older and though fucking invaluable to the Hawks during the SC Playoffs his legs looked dead tired the final third of the regular season really. Maybe. Asham I'd be cool with. Konopka eats a lot of penalty minutes with very little offensive return---dude only got 9 pts this past season. I'd pass on him. I think the size+speed combo rarity of Stalberg coupled ONLY with the knowledge that he started to "get it" re using his big ass body towards the end warrants one more shot. If he's continued to work on that, he's bigger than Konopka, likely costs the same or just under, and can score more points.



ETA: Oh, Laich is going to get $4 mil MINIMUM---it's a seller's market with this UFA class.

 

[Ton]

I heard Bowman isn't even interested in Laich, yet everyone is penciling him in. I'd bet we don't land him.



We are going to re-sign Kopecky, I'd assume that is why Brouwer is gone and I heard Wisniewski, Kaberle, and Sopel are all targets for the Hawks -- looks like they want to replace Campbell more than they want a center. I haven't heard of any "top" centers that the Hawks are interested in, if they were to get someone it would be on the cheaper end through free agency, otherwise maybe they are looking at another trade.

 

[R K]

problem is the 4th is your checking line and Stalberg, doesn't check.



Asham and Konopka would bring grit. I could go without Konopka and use another with Scott from time to time against teams like the canucks.

 

[R K]

thats funny I thought I've read from multiple guys like Kuc-Sassone, ect ect Kopecky wasn't going to be resigned. Brouwer is gone because of Q. Not to free Cap space. If Q liked Brouwer, he'd still be here.



Don't get a Center and put Kruger there. So you have Morin-Kruger-Hossa. No fucking thanks.





And Tony everyone is throwing ideas out there. Mostly at this point what "we" would do. I read something the other day talking about the Hawks possibly interested in Laich. And Laich interested in Chicago. Can't remember were I read it though.

 

[R K]

It would be a dirty little 4th line to be sure. Hmmm, I think I am over the Madden jonesing though---he's a year older and though fucking invaluable to the Hawks during the SC Playoffs his legs looked dead tired the final third of the regular season really. Maybe. Asham I'd be cool with. Konopka eats a lot of penalty minutes with very little offensive return---dude only got 9 pts this past season. I'd pass on him. I think the size+speed combo rarity of Stalberg coupled ONLY with the knowledge that he started to "get it" re using his big ass body towards the end warrants one more shot. If he's continued to work on that, he's bigger than Konopka, likely costs the same or just under, and can score more points.



ETA: Oh, Laich is going to get $4 mil MINIMUM---it's a seller's market with this UFA class.

Anything over 4 and no way. Option number Reasoner. Who's not a 2line center. So then you do what tony wants and move Bolland up. Frolik-Bolland-Bickell is your 2nd line and Smith/Morin-Reasoner-Hossa is your third. Hossa can move back and forth I guess.

 

[bookjones]

Puh-lease no to that 4th line...the only one I would want to see in the indianhead (again) is Madden, and that's pushing it. I said in another thread why I dont think Konopka is the option we want, -32, less then 30pts in his career. Asham....well I have hate for him because he was a Flyer. Other then that, I just never really cared for his style of play. I do like that 2nd line, although I would try Frolik on the left side instead.



What about Mike Grier???? Chad LaRose or Fleishman on wing???

Ooh. . .that could be tasty. I totally forgot about Tomas Fleischmann being UFA. If his illness has been properly treated and he's fully recovered then he's good to go.

 

[Ton]

We'll see, that's all I heard, not opinionated. I agree we need another center.



When did Kuc say we wouldn't re-sign Kopecky? Bet it was before the Campbell/Brouwer trades.



We'll see what happens, as of now there are no interest in any specific centers, either they don't have interest in the FA crop, they are looking at a trade, or they just haven't told anyone who they are interested in... which I doubt the last one is true.

 

[R K]

We'll see, that's all I heard, not opinionated. I agree we need another center.



When did Kuc say we wouldn't re-sign Kopecky? Bet it was before the Campbell/Brouwer trades.



We'll see what happens, as of now there are no interest in any specific centers, either they don't have interest in the FA crop, they are looking at a trade, or they just haven't told anyone who they are interested in... which I doubt the last one is true.

All four of them had articles about the Hawks that would probably not be back. Kopecky was one of them.



They aren't going to say shit about interest now for sure. It's a week or so away. that would be dumb. I'm 100% sure he's been talked about.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

The problem we've always said, RK, with Bolly on 2nd line is he has a tendency to disappear there. For some reason he doesn't pay with the same intensity, IMO, on the 2nd line.



Books, I think Brooksy would take a 3-5 yr contract in the 3.5 to 3.8 range, I honestly dont think he gets 4....unless it is from one of the teams that HAS to spend to hit the CAP floor.

 

[R K]

The problem we've always said, RK, with Bolly on 2nd line is he has a tendency to disappear there. For some reason he doesn't pay with the same intensity, IMO, on the 2nd line.



Books, I think Brooksy would take a 3-5 yr contract in the 3.5 to 3.8 range, I honestly dont think he gets 4....unless it is from one of the teams that HAS to spend to hit the CAP floor.

I agree with you. Others may not. I love him as the 3rd line Center. He's perfect there. Just as he was with Ladd and Havlat.