Getting rid of Hammer is risky, unless there is a replacement already in place. I see time and time again people saying to trade him, but trade him for what exactly? I'm not banking on Leddy being a legit top 4 option next year, especially on the defensive side. Not only that, but Olsen clearly isn't ready, while Lepisto and SOD both need to be replaced. That then leaves you with 2 1/2 d-men, and I don't think we'll go high enough to bring Suter to Chicago.
If we honestly go into next year with Crawford and Emery as our goalies, I think that's the beginning of the end for Bowman.
That tandem is just NOT an option for us if we want steady success. One of them needs to go and replaced by a better goalie.
Also, Morrison, Brunette, Frolik, Bickell and Kruger need to go. Re-sign Mayers. Sign another 3rd line center, I'm a fan of Reasoner. Trade Crawford for something... sign Vokoun or Thomas. Just a legitimate starting goalie....
If we honestly go into next year with Crawford and Emery as our goalies, I think that's the beginning of the end for Bowman.
That tandem is just NOT an option for us if we want steady success. One of them needs to go and replaced by a better goalie.
Also, Morrison, Brunette, Frolik, Bickell and Kruger need to go. Re-sign Mayers. Sign another 3rd line center, I'm a fan of Reasoner. Trade Crawford for something... sign Vokoun or Thomas. Just a legitimate starting goalie....
I think the 2 guys most likely to be moved are Stalberg and Hjalmersson. They are both talented guys that you can get a good return for. They aren't going to move Kane, Sharp, Bolland, etc. They need to start trading these prospects for actual players. I'm tired of seeing 1st and 2nd year guys on a roster ready to compete for the Cup.
I would trade Sharp in a heartbeat if the Hawks got decent assets in return. A 2nd line center maybe.
Sharp has become way too one dimensional. He also had a horrible playoff series.
Hey look, the guy we fired for no reason is now likely going to win GM of the year. What a surprise!
Congrats to Tallon on coming in to another team and spending a bunch of money. He is very good at that. I would venture to guess there are a lot of GM's out there that could join a team and improve that team by adding $10-$15 mil in payroll.
I would trade Sharp in a heartbeat if the Hawks got decent assets in return. A 2nd line center maybe.
Sharp has become way too one dimensional. He also had a horrible playoff series.
Sharp lead the team in hits this playoffs. He's been playing almost the entire 2nd half with a hurt wrist. Sharp has 77 goals in the last 2 years....he's pretty damn valuable to what the Hawks do. He's not untouchable but the list of guys you trade him for is pretty small.
Congrats to Tallon on coming in to another team and spending a bunch of money. He is very good at that. I would venture to guess there are a lot of GM's out there that could join a team and improve that team by adding $10-$15 mil in payroll.
Sharp lead the team in hits this playoffs. He's been playing almost the entire 2nd half with a hurt wrist. Sharp has 77 goals in the last 2 years....he's pretty damn valuable to what the Hawks do. He's not untouchable but the list of guys you trade him for is pretty small.
Maybe that is the case, I really don't know how bad his injury is. The issue I have is he is not creating. Was really shying away from contact early in the series. He's got a big contract now so the heat is on.
Congrats to Tallon on coming in to another team and spending a bunch of money. He is very good at that. I would venture to guess there are a lot of GM's out there that could join a team and improve that team by adding $10-$15 mil in payroll.
The funny thing is - Dale took a team many thought were the favorites to 'Fail for Nail'...and he has outlasted the Blackhawks' season. He wins his division...has won more games in the playoffs than the Hawks. Heck he won a home playoff game or two
A goalie won't matter with those craptastic 2nd and 3rd line defensive pairings.
Those pairings are fine if the coaching comes down on them. They were too lenient on our defense and that allowed them to ignore assignments for offense's sake. After our 9 game losing streak and our defense tightened up, we were very good
I'm as big a fan of Vokoun as there is but putting him with Emery would be a disaster. Vokoun isn't the kind of starter than plays more that 55 games as is, just like Thomas.
Clowe is the perfect winger for Kane and Toews, very much like Hartnell would be (but he isn't going anywhere for a very long time).
Getting even one of Pavelski or Clowe would be amazing. Have to imagine the cost will be pretty high, though.
I know Shaw is undersized but I'd love to see him all year on a line with Kane and Toews. He goes in front of the net, he digs in the corners, he can finish around the net, he'll stick up for a guy. Seems like a great match to go with those guys.
