What did people expect?

[PatrickShart]

Seriously, after going through some posts/threads...what did people expect?



Who didn't think the Hawks were going to let - Eager, Burish, Madden just walk?



Try to move Sopel's 2.3mil cap hit for a #5 Dman?



Was the moves of Byfuglien, Ladd and Versteeg really a "shock"? The real question was if Sharp would have been traded instead...and good to see he's not and the Hawks keep their center depth - Toews, Sharp, Bolland and now Reasoner. Sharp, can play wing if any of the young centers step in (Dowell, Pirri, Kruger).



Guess what - and it hasn't happend yet...but Huet will get sent down/moved to the KHL - gasp!



There's so much bitching about the Hawks signing a 500K goon - that may play 40gms on a need basis...guess what, Hawks will need a 21st player. IT DID NOT COST THEM ANY OF THOSE PLAYERS MOVED. Its fucking stupid to think they moved Ladd to sign this guy. He fills a role and frankly, there were times when the Hawks were playing STL at the end, I wish the Hawks had a guy like this to dress - and I hate the "goon" role - but this guys is a bad MFer, so if they Hawks have one, I'm kind of glad its him and he'll win a fight or two.



This year Hawks team is going to be different than last years team..and chances are, maybe even younger. I think so far, the avg age of the team for 2010-2011 is what - 26 years old? With about 12 of them with STANLEY CUP RINGS??? This team is going to be alot like the 2008-2009 team, where they had some younger guys playing to prove something and may be a little hungry and create a new identity - Stalberg, Vishnevskiy, Bickell...maybe Skille, Dowell, Beach or Lalonde.



Will they win the cup next year?? Who knows...I do know they'll be young, exciting and still REALLY fucking skilled. With the young players Stan brought in and the great picks he acquired...chances are, they'll be hoisting the cup sooner rather than later.



If someone can tell me a team with the 2 stars of Toews (22) and Kane (21) that they'd rather have for the next decade...I'd like to know who?

 

[E Runs]

Huzzah!

 

[Ton]

Well gee golly sorry if I can't get excited over signing a guy like John Scott.



I don't have a problem with the other moves but rather than Scott I'd rather have an Eager-type guy. No matter, its no big deal, I'm sure he will contribute for 40-some games he dresses for the 4 minutes of ice time he gets.



As far as moving Ladd, sounds like negotiations weren't going well so why not move him instead of letting him leave via offer sheet?



Versteeg move was great, Stalberg with great upside.



Buff move also great.



Biggest problem is that they have not filled the holes yet that were left by departures... sure it will be done soon. LW is a disaster.

 

[LordKOTL]

Not excited about Scott, but I was hoping there was an outside change that we'd get Ladd back--after all, the 1.6 hit he had last year, a raise to 2M without Scott would have worked...



but Likely, either Ladd wanted too much, or Niemi and Hammer are going to make Ladd cost-prohibitive, and really I liked Ladd while he was here (we won that trade for Ruutu), but I know which side my bread is buttered on.



And for what Burish and Frasier got, I think their new contracts are an overpayment--but good for them in getting over 1M.



And, as RK pointed out...WE WON THE CUP! Can't beat that with a stick as far as I'm concerened. Can't say that in Edmonton, Atlanta, Dallas, or Toronto.

 

[DBQHawkFan]

[quote name="Ton"]Well gee golly sorry if I can't get excited over signing a guy like John Scott.



I don't have a problem with the other moves but rather than Scott I'd rather have an Eager-type guy. No matter, its no big deal, I'm sure he will contribute for 40-some games he dresses for the 4 minutes of ice time he gets.



As far as moving Ladd, sounds like negotiations weren't going well so why not move him instead of letting him leave via offer sheet?



Versteeg move was great, Stalberg with great upside.



Buff move also great.



Biggest problem is that they have not filled the holes yet that were left by departures... sure it will be done soon. LW is a disaster.[/quote]



I would rather have an Eager type too, but I am not sure you can find a guy like Eager out there for $500K, but I could be wrong.

 

[CLWolf81]

[quote name="DBQHawkFan"]



I would rather have an Eager type too, but I am not sure you can find a guy like Eager out there for $500K, but I could be wrong.[/quote]



We might have a guy like that in Rockford, and I'm sure hoping for the puppet's sake that this is the chance.

 

[Ton]

Well Bickell will probably come in along with Dowell and be tough enough to fill the void for Eager, Fraser or Burish... its not like those three were the only ones, we have so many of that in our system.



Not sure why the philosophy changes and all of the sudden we need an enforcer. We are in desperation for cap space I would assume Bowman would gun for someone that can project to playing a full season, not 40-50 games for barely 6 minutes a game.



Who knows though, maybe I'm wrong. Time will tell.

 

[roshinaya]

It was expected, but to really see these guys, who all grown on us for the past couple of years get shipped out is a little bit disheartening. It was the depth of the 3rd and 4th lines that played the difference this year and that depth is gone now and the Hawks are now among the "mortals". They have the important core together and will still be fighting for top position (hopefully) and we have to remember the pundits always like to hyperbole when talking about the losses the Hawks had this off-season. And talks about "trainwrecks" after Burish left is a little too much.

From the doom&gloom of "One of Toews, Kane and Keith has to go!" before the season, I think the Hawks have made out pretty well from the salary dumps. Something the "experts" thought would only return peanuts.



Prospect Camp should be especially interesting to see how some of the youngsters acquired look.

 

[PatrickShart]

Well, if DT wasnt handing out 3mil dollar contracts like it was Xmas candy for players that just played 1 full season, maybe one or two of them would still be here.



These guys were RFA's and thier salaries skyrocked out of line -

Versteeg - 91gms - 53pts - goes from 490k to 3.083mil

Byfuglien - 101gms - 44pts- goes from 675k to 3.0mil

Barker - 149gms - 66pts - goes from 985k to 3.083 (never played 82gms - 149gms over 3 seasons)



Sopel goes from an non-roster invite ....offered 800K by DET ...to 1yr-1.5mil from CHI...to a 3yr-2.33mil cap hit



Hell, Bolland got 3.25mil for 5yrs with only 1 full/healthy season after making 850k.



Yes, these guys helped the Hawks win the cup and everyone loves and hugs them....gummi bears and candy for everyone....but those were some pretty inflated contracts in my opinion and everyone and their mother knew thew were gone.



No one asked you to jump for joy or get excited for a 500K signing. I don;t think the Hawks are announcing the signing as some huge move by the team and I don't think anyone said he was going to be the answer. The previous season, Hawks signed Matt Walker for 600K..and he only played 54,48 and 43gms respectively for STL in the previous 3 seasons but he filled a role, as this guy will.

 

[Ton]

pmxc, like I said, I'm willing to give Scott some time before passing serious judgment on this move but as of now it looks like a waste to me. Could be wrong, and if he turns out as another Matt Walker that would be fine with me. All the other moves were coming, and as much as I don't like seeing those guys moved I understand that they are still good deals and Bowman milked them for everything they were worth.



Hes done a great job so far but there is still work to be done, lets hope he can fill those holes now and do it successfully.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I expected all that happened with the exception of Ladd... that sucked.

 

[PatrickShart]

It sucks, but on the flip side, maybe Ladd gets more money/longer terms there...which he should get. Or a chance to be a top 6 guy...



I'm excited to see what Stahberg brings. He seemed to have pretty good hands and speed...and hopefully playing with the skill of these Hawks, he can net 15-18 goals that Ladd did for 1/3 of the cost. Or maybe Bickell becomes that guy, after getting some experience last year at 6'4 225lbs can becaome a more complete power forward...

 

[Guest]

I expected everything that happened to happen. I think 99% of this board did.



I'm a little unhappy about Ladd but still understand and am not surprised by it.



The Hawks now have some work to do. They can still find some competent players that will fit both Money and Talent wise.



Sign fucking Hjarlmarsson and Niemi already. Jesus.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

I was expecting that the STH discount would return after the one goal was achieved.





Seriously though, this team basically lost a luxury that very few teams even had 1/3 of, and that is a strong 3rd line that can check and score. It was a luxury that I expected to be gone after this season.



This loss does not put the team in dire straights. Far from it, since the 'Hawks still have one of the best 1st and 2nd lines in the league, and a very good 1st/2nd line d (assuming Hammer is resigned).



That third line is going to be mostly filled by guys that have had time to grow in the AHL and have decent NHL experience. It will not be a high scoring line, but will still be effective and will still be able to play the team scheme.



People should just get used to it, because this is going to happen many times over during the course of many seasons when this team can compete. All part of the success and the cap.

 

[Guest]

hows the idiot board biscuit? I have yet to go over there.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

[quote name="R K"]hows the idiot board biscuit? I have yet to go over there.[/quote]





Not too bad. Versteeg riled most up. Some people are salivating over the goon just like here.



A few of usual idiots are just having their posts removed to keep order (I am too cranky to do otherwise). The other idiots have already jumped to the LBJ bandwagon and are non-existent.



The good posters are also keeping things level headed.

 

[PatrickShart]

RK...there is no other board! (I havent been back - not even for a peek- since coming here....I dont think I could take that) I am HF50's nemisis still, even though it doesnt say it.



I think, in a way though....some of these "changes" may negate a bit of the hangover. Maybe some of the new blood gives the players a new hunger were those new players want to win and pushes the guys coming back to another level to help them get there.



I still think the Hawks are going to boast 3 scoring line...

Kopecky - Toews - Hossa .....Kopecky was great after Olympics

Stalberg - Sharp - Kane ....... Stalberg has size and speed/may net 20 with Kane

Bickell - Bolland - Brouwer...... 22g from Brouwer on the 3rd line...full 82 from Bolland?



And that doesnt include if Stu's boy makes the team...maybe Kopecky gets bumped down...hell, Toews only potted 25g last year...he's due for a 40...and a full 82 of Hossa as well with the Hawks style could easily get 40+, with the cup ghosts off his back.



The Hawks may have gotten bigger and younger this offseason and who knows, maybe more skilled. Time will tell.

 

[whiteevo]

[quote name="R K"]I expected everything that happened to happen. I think 99% of this board did.



I'm a little unhappy about Ladd but still understand and am not surprised by it.



The Hawks now have some work to do. They can still find some competent players that will fit both Money and Talent wise.



Sign fucking Hjarlmarsson and Niemi already. Jesus. [/quote]



NO SHIT GET THIS DONE

 

[IceHogsFan]

[quote name="whiteevo"]



NO SHIT GET THIS DONE[/quote]



I said the same thing yesterday.

 

[fanof19]

I am always amazed at the shit people will whine about. Winning the Cup isn't good enough for the "hockey experts".