Too soon to worry about Havlat talks?
It has been more than a week since Hawks GM Dale Tallon resumed contract negotiations with Martin Havlat's agent.
Is progress being made? Nobody is saying.
I thought this might get done quickly since both sides sounded so eager for it to happen, but the longer it goes on the better the chances Havlat hits the open market as a free agent on July 1.
While the Hawks want Havlat back, it looks like it has to be on their terms, which might mean less than the $6 million he earned in each of the last three seasons. Does Havlat want a long-term deal? Do the Hawks want to go shorter? It's all speculation right now.
Perhaps there will be movement soon with the Hawks having completed their organizational meetings on Thursday.
If the Hawks don't have a contract done with Havlat by the draft in three weeks, then it might be time to worry if you are a Havlat fan.
Does anyone else think that Mike Cammallari might be a suitable, even better, replacement for Marty Havlat? His scoring numbers are excellent, and he's a pesky fellow who plays with a nasty edge. He would give us a legitimate #2 center behind Toews and enable Dave Bolland to settle in as our #3 where he might in the long term be better off. I don't know, I'm just a little leery of committing to Havlat long-term. If he's willing to take a short-term deal, then maybe. I guess I'm preparing myself for him signing with Edmonton or Montreal. Getting back to Cammallari, he had 82 points last season, drove his opponents nuts, and is one year younger than Marty. Let's add Cammallari and Beauchemin, throw in Kyle Beach, and go to work. Anybody have some scouting info on Shawn LaLonde?
but it wont' be in Detroit...
will it be in Chicago?
I suspect Chelios would certainly go for that idea (& make every effort to have his contract fit the hawks cap situation) & there might be enough reasons on the management side to consider bringing him back.
chicago native returns to finish off his career at "home" provides mcdonough an opportunity for more "feel good" stories about rocky "righting perceived former wrongs" & bringing former fan favorites back into the fold...
he has a ton of experience which the young hawks most certainly could use & benefit from, tho the question has to be asked...even tho the spirit is willing, is the flesh too weak(ened)?
bowman won a cup with him & obviously knows him well - his commitment to the game & getting/staying in shape would be a great example for the hawks younger players (the main reason the wings hung on to him for as long as they did, imo).
the downside would be limited & controllable - if he doesn't cut it on the ice, he sits, but the dedication & knowledge of the game he would bring could still be of benefit and it is doubtful he causes any problems if he doesn't get ice time...
fwiw, i think the hawks bring him back for one final year...
can JR be far behind???
The only possible reason I can ever see this is happening is for teaching the young kids, but other then that.....how does signing a has been help this team move forward?
I understand your thought process, but I really hope that they don't allow this to happen. This is not the Chris Chelios that left the Hawks. He's an old man, and if you think that Barker or Walker are slow just wait. Chelios is obviously campaigning for another year, and somebody needs to tell him to hang it up.
He can come back and do commercials with Savard.
Kane and Toews won't take Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Malkin or Crosby money to keep. They aren't elite players like Malkin and Crosby. End of story, they just are a couple levels below those guys at scoring points. The other reason their contracts won't be too outrageous is because they are RFA. RFA players don't take as much money to lock up as UFA. Now, yes these guys are going to want to get paid, and I'm sure they will get paid, but the total contract value won't be in those ball parks yet...
To the hockey operation in Chicago they hold the same value. In Pittsburgh Crosby and Malkin are expected and do carry the team and the same thing will occur here in Chicago if Toews and Kane are signed long-term. At this point Toews and Kane do not possess the same crazy scoring ability as Crosby and Malkin but few if any combos in the league do. Since both Toews and Kane both raised their overall level of play this year over what we saw in year one I think it is safe to say that we have not seen their best play as of yet.
So while it seems crazy in theory to pay 22 year old guys the same or more than Datsyuk and Zetterberg, in real life that is almost certainly what will occur. The only question to be answered is whether the team that pays will be the Hawks. My guess is yes but with another season still to go before their current contracts end a lot can happen to change perceptions.
he's a proven 50 goal scorer, turned 28 in january, 5 more years left on his contract @ $7.5M, but obviously comes with some baggage.
campbell just turned 30, has 7 more years left on his deal @ $7.14M and has to deal with issues of his play not measuring up to the expectations his lofty salary created.
despite the knocks he's taken, campbell brings a lot to the team - he has great mobility - good puck skills & picks his spots to throw huge, possible momentum changing hits.
obviously a very limited market for guys with huge long term deals, but i think the dollars & relative value might work in this case - senators would prefer not to take big dollars back, but may not have a choice if they want to move heatley & they are also (like a lot of other teams) looking for a puck moving Dman & campbell fits that bill.
not sure i would make that deal, but it might be an intriguing way of replacing havlat's offense with a more sturdy, reliable (healthwise) player, and if the hawks could replace campbell with a UFA like bouwmeester at a more reasonable price, they could effectively reduce their contract commitments & perhaps make their cap more manageable, but that is a big "IF".
i would still take bouwmeester over keith (based on size, everything else being similar), which would open up moving underpaid RFA keith for a young top 6 forward, tho i think jordan staal's price tag just went up...
chicohawk says: i would still take bouwmeester over keith
You know all Bouwmeester has done/been his entire career so far?
He has been a "projection" of what he can do.
Granted, he is long and fluid.
He's is no Duncan Keith in terms of TRACK RECORD!
No team trades reliable proven for unproven but upside at the same position UNLESS that GM is an idiot. Oh, so I see your point.
As far as Heatley, the only reason the Hawks actually attempt more than a modest attempt at trying to convince Bryan Murray to a package for the present devalued Heatley (36 goals not 50, 4 mil bonus due in week) or the ones from teams dying for a scorer IS IF THEY ARE REPLACING "is it still to early to worry" Halvat.
Not that I don't like Bouwmeester, and may someday be an impact rusher, but he is not Keith now.
I still like a Barker Sharp Skille + a pick trade to add Heater alng side the one year Halvat deal to set the stage for a guns loaded 2010 Cup shoot out.
Larmer was traded in a three team deal for a wing who had upside too. Patrice Poulin.
He sells poutine at Mike North's Montreal hot dog stand.....
I'm not trying to knock Keith - the guy has played a ton & left it all on the ice every game since arriving in Chicago & has developed into a very good Dman who has been vastly underpaid.
as for their track records, bouwmeester has actually played almost 2 more seasons in the nhl despite being the same age as keith & drafted the same year (bouw was picked 3rd overall in 2002 - keith 54th). keith has made 1 playoff appearance, bouw just missed his first this year with a florida team that has been in a constant state of flux since he's been there - trading core guys like luongo, jokinen, 3 GMs, 3 coaches, etc. Bowmeester has 2 World Championship gold medals, including one after his 2003 rookie year where he chipped in with 7 assists, 1 World Cup Gold & a WC silver in 2008. He was chosen to the defending Olympic champions' 2006 team. Keith won a silver with Bouwmeester in the 2008 WCs.
bouw logs close to 30 minutes a game & has consistently been among the league leaders in that category & scores more than keith. as for +/-, keith was a combined -11 his first two years, bouwmeester at the same age was a +24, though the past two seasons, keith has the clear advantage in that category.
overall, i don't think there is enough evidence to support that one "track record" is more proven than the other. they are both very good, proven Dmen.
but enough about the past - the reason i take bouwmeester over keith is size.
bouwmeester at 6'4, 212, can take big bodies & clear guys from in front - keith can't & has to rely purely on his mobility, positioning & stick to get the job done - he does it well, but bouwmeester adds another dimension that keith simply can't because of physical limitations.
as well, i think size enhances durability - they both log up to 30 mins/game & as the years add up, i think that will take a bigger toll on the smaller keith than it will on bouwmeester - meaning fewer injuries & being able to play at a top level longer.
as for Heatley, he is one way they can replace Havlat (who imo is gone despite what his twitter says) while moving salary out at the same time. i suggested campbell simply from the standpoint of getting out from his long term contract, & not because i think he doesn't add to the hawks, but i also like the barker + sharp idea, tho that would be the equivalent of giving up havlat & sharp for heatley, which is a lot, but I would still be tempted to make that move if they turn down campbell. (moving campbell frees up room to sign bouwmeester at a more reasonable price & term & i think is less disruptive to the team).
murray is going to take any reasonable offer he gets before Jul 1 to avoid paying the $4M bonus due Heatley on Jul 1 - there is talk he is going to raise the asking price if he has to pay the $4M, but adding another player to the deal is only going to increase his payroll & reduce his cap room - i think he wants to avoid that & will take less to get a deal done before Jul 1. San Jose is also reported interested & offering up michalek & vlasic according to an Ottawa paper.
Stop talking about long term deals and 5-6 million per for these two. Stop comparing them to Zetterberg's deal. Z is 30. Toews and Kane will not get that kind of money for their first contracts post rookie contract. Big difference between 30 years old and 22 years old. Perception becomes and reality and if we keep talking about it, management will be forced to give away the bank too early.
so you can see it in September 2010.
Oh believe, Rocky is trying hard to convince the kids to your way of thinking too.
unless you think toews & kane aren't the hawks equivalent of pittsburgh's crosby & malkin, then your comment & comparisons are way off base.
crosby & malkin signed, big money, longer term deals BEFORE they went on to win a cup & last time I checked they are in their early 20s.
you can bet the agents for toews & kane are going to make just that comparison to the hawks when the time comes (and maybe compare their value to the team with someone, like, say, brian campbell...)
if you want the hawks to be cheap with their "homegrown" stars (like they were with bobby hull, etc.) in favor of castoffs from other teams, you are (perhaps unwittingly) pining for the "good" old days of william w. wirtz....
i for one have seen enough of that act & i much prefer the current wirtz version so far.
hawks management is going to have to find a way to lock up their younger core in a cap world - not going to be easy, but as i have said several times, they should be signing these guys first (not havlat or barker or other UFA/RFAs) to give them first crack at the cap pie & set the bar for the supporting players.
Chico: You are not wrong in your assertions, but the fact is that Toews and Kane are not Crosby and Malkin. We're talking about players who don't average a point a game. I/we love them to death, especially Toews, but I think that there needs to be an intermediate contract between the rookie contract and the megastar contract.
Toews and Kane WERE as good as Malkin and Crosby, but they are NOT.
I know.
Reality bites.
Or as the old man said, sitting at the Crosby lottery drawing in disgust: "Where's the justice?", with the hawks only getting the chance ot draft seventh and get Anze Kopitar, oh I mean Jack Skille.
Euro-phobia get you there, dale, after Mike Smith ignored every North American in sight the previuos years?
Granted their agents MAY ask for Crosby/Malkin money....
but the similarities/comparisons are there.
crosby & kane were both 1st overall picks, malkin 2nd vs. toews 3rd.
malkin scored 85 points his rookie year to win the calder compared to 72 for kane who also won the calder a year later. he had a much better sophomore year than kane did (accomplished despite crosby being out for a long stretch), but kane's agent will suggest his ankle injury suffered late December held his point production back...
crosby despite having a great rookie year missed the playoffs & lost the calder to ovechkin. he led his team to the playoffs (a first round exit) in his second season as an assistant captain & was named captain after that season before he turned 20 (youngest captain ever) & before he was extended.
toews had a good rookie season that was cut short due to injury, and also missed the playoffs and lost the calder to kane...he was named captain at age 20 (3rd youngest ever behind crosby & lecavalier) and led his team to the playoffs & a 3rd round exit in only his 2nd season.
i'm not suggesting that toews & kane are going to follow crosby & malkin in leading their team to a cup in their 3rd or 4th seasons, but that is how they are being presented by tallon & marketed by mcdonough (eg "one goal" ads, all-star voting campaign, etc.) and how a lot of hawk fans view them.
their agents are also going to make the case that their "value" to the hawks (in terms of drawing fans & generating revenues) is probably bigger on a comparative basis simply due to the size of the chicago market vs. pittsburgh.
so while their stats may not match crosby & malkin, I expect their contract extensions are going to be in the same ballpark, based on their similarities & respective contributions to their teams.
as i've mentioned before, if i'm hawk management, I would approach these guys and tell (remind) them they are the hawks "go to" guys going forward (particularly if/when havlat isn't re-signed) and accordingly, management is going to give them priority when it comes to negotiating new deals (over havlat, or other UFAs/RFAs) & give them first crack at a cap pie that will be shrinking going forward.
Explain to (remind) them that the more $ they take, the less left to fill any gaps to improve the team going forward & the more will be expected from them individually. the less they take, the more management will be able to afford other players to improve the team. essentially you ask these young guys to be leaders of the team on AND off the ice - if they ask too much of the pie given their contributions, then management has to question whether these guys are long term keepers - i think toews will be more accommodative - i'm not sure kane will.
that Toews and kane were "like" Crosby and Malkin, and DESERVED malkin crosby money, that agent would be laughed out of the business.
How many Kane & Toews jerseys are selling in Chicago (& across North America, given Chicago's original 6 history & status) to new fans & old ones who are now finding it safe to come out of the closet again after years of embarassment thanks to WWW?
I'm sure there are a lot of Crosby & Malkin fans out there, especially in Canada & Russia, and obviously Pittsburgh who are buying their jerseys, but I'll bet that Kane & Toews jerseys still outsell them...simply because there are more hawk fans out there than pens fans.
if you want to give the impression that contract negotiations are simply about on-ice performance, that may play well to naive fans, but ignores that this is a (big) business.
if you think kane or toews' agents aren't going to point out the hawks own marketing efforts focusing primarily on these two kids, that has driven a tripling in season tickets & a waiting list (despite major price increases) in just over a year, as well as increased corporate sponsorships, tv & radio ad revenues, etc., you should stick to discussing on-ice matters since your suggestion about what agents use in negotiations are so off the mark they are laughable.
don't translate to them getting crosby malkin numbers in a production contract.
Check how many of their sweaters are selling.
oh, and btw, Chico Maki, was ordinary.........................
what kind of production numbers did he put up?
lets compare him to jordan staal who signed for $16M over 4 years...
bolland drafted 2nd rd 32nd overall in 2004 - last year was his first full year in the league - a good year with 19 goals, 47 pts, +15, but worth this contract????
staal drafted 1st round, 2nd overall in 2006 - played 2 full years before he signed his extension, scored 29 in his rookie year with 7 shorties, his production as a 19 yr old dropped off to 12 goals in his 2nd season but helped his team make the finals...
and you are trying to somehow suggest that toews & kane aren't going to get similar contracts to crosby & malkin when bolland gets this deal???
the only way toews & kane don't is if hawk management wait to negotiate new deals with these guys after the cap gets reset & a new economic reality sets in for clueless GMs like Tallon...
Seeing as Zetterberg and I think Datsyuk both signed long term for between $5-6 million per year the extensions for Toews and Kane might be manageable. Considering their cap hit is already just shy of $3 million that is only another $2-2.5 for each. That would be less then Habby/Havlat's contract that is coming off the books. Should be plenty to lock up the real core of the team (counting Keith in there). We can't let the Brouwer/Fraser/Eager and others overwhelm us. Detroit does well by signing their studs and the other guys they fill in. That is where they get their veteran discounts.
I thought that Dudley did a good job. It is a shame to see him go because everyone has said he is a very good personel/scout guy.
I just want to say that I really loved the Hawks last year. Being a Canuck fan living in Vancouver area was okay but the Hawks played the style of hockey I enjoy. They had a rare team chemistry and losing Havlat and Khabibulin will rob this team of that chemistry. Havlat with Bolland and Ladd was exceptional with Havlat the key guy. Try replacing him?? For example as silly as this sounds the Canucks have never found a rw for the Sedin twins since Anson Carter left a few year ago. A. Burrows looked good there this year actually but my point is Carter who clicked nowhere before clicked with the twins. It was just one of those things. I think the Hawks should really go after Havlat because of this chemistry. M. Hossa, a superstar may not even bring what Havvy brought to Chicago. Unfortunately the Bulin Wall is gone unless Huet gets moved soon. Khabby also was part of that chemistry as the team worked their butts off for him because they knew how bad he wanted to win and he led the way by battling like a true warrior. I know some fans don't like him but he is somebody I would want on my team if I was trying to win a Stanley Cup.
Anyone UFA the Hawks sign should be for a 1 year deal. Can only afford a bit of extra cap space for a year. Can't afford to keep Khabby or Havlat. Wish them luck and let them go.
Hawks should buyout Sopel and just take the $777,777 cap hit over the next 4 years intead of 2.33 over the next 2.
It's less attractive, but Hawks could get out of the Huet deal with 1.875 mil cap hit over the next 6 years. If the guy really doesn't perform, it's still an option if the team decides to go with a Young goalie or maybe a discounted vetern.
If they even mention Hossa as a possible signing, let's vow to become Hamilton fans.
There is no reason in the world for Havlat to sign here before July 1st unless he feels he'll get no offers from anyone but the Hawks or he loves here so much that he wouldn't consider signing elsewhere no matter what. Neither of these scenarios is likely. Montreal makes a lot of sense financially as they have plenty of money under the cap but oh my the pressure Havlat will have there if he signs a huge deal. In Chicago he's a great player but with Toews, Kane, Sharp and Versteeg he sort of blends in offensively and is never expected to carry the team. Anyone that gets a Canadian vault of cash in Montreal is going to be expected to walk on water....and not just when it is frozen. And God help him if he gets injured again. Either way, the first time he goes 5-6 games without scoring the fans and brutal media will be all over him....and that is tough to live with for 5-7 years. Can't wait to see what happens. We'll probably see quick movement as soon as one of the UFA scorers gets signed by someone.
In my opinion Khabibulin will have to sign a lowball contract if he wants to stay in the NHL. I see the line of teams waiting to pay an injury prone 37 year old goaltender 3-4 million per year as a very short one. If he drops to a million or less someone will take a chance and see if they can coax at least one great season out of him.
There will be a few moves with trades at the entry draft. Always is true. But most moves come in a spiral effect after the first two or so f/a signings, which I expect very close if not on July 1. Some teams will make that big splash in order to get their house in order for the remainder of shaping up their roster during the summer. Of course, some teams look for training camp battles as well, but the major f/a signings you expect near July 1, then a short respite while some teams consider the ramification(s) of the signings and maybe go to their "plan B." I do think with Bowman's around and the recently concluded organizational meetings, that Blackhawks really do have a plans" A"," "B", maybe even "C." Their biggest priority has to be to re-sign the guys they value most, and sign them pronto. Then and only then does it become practical to move on to the remainder of the roster issues.
You have to figure most f/a want to see what the market offers, or are taking the nice early sign (JULY 1 ) tender. Havlat will most likely get a lower offer from Chicago, and it doesn't matter if you think the offer is purposely made to make it look like they tried to retain him. Tallon and McDonough don't care what you think, they know they have this marketing thing in their hip pocket, so they will give Havlat only what they can afford to give DUE to the salary cap. If the offers are close to Chicago, I say Havlat wants to stay HOWEVER I see him leaving. But not to Montreal if they also keep Kovalev. Two players too brittle -- injury, off year, lack of effort, whatever--but Havlat will get another offer.
It is likely reasonable to expect Bowman's thinking on the team's personnel has an affect upon Tallon.
So, maybe after it has been determined the location of some of last year's roster, expect maybe one or two attempts to sign a tough, experienced type on the blueline. Maybe a veteran forward, if one is available whom they like and at a fair price. Pahlsson will return at a fair price, too..that's "too" because there may be room for another veteran type forward pick up. If Havlat goes, has to be a pipe dream to find a way to bring in (read: afford)
a player of near identical ability.
It just makes too much sense that Barker doesn't return. Maybe they will even try to trade him, or just take the picks as compensation. We have to cut someone, some players just can't return. Rleive us from his cap number and then re-signing the others isn't so tough. And we have a better idea what kind of players are under contract if the Versteeg's are signed, that is, when a year from now we are looking at Toews, Kane, D Keith signs.
I expect a Fraser will try very hard to be better in the face off circle. He competes and as much as I've been outspoken against him and Brouwer, I've also recognized their good points. I expect that if Managment is smart about making a decision on a Barker, then those two can return moree than any other reason because they are still very affordable. Guys like Eager, they aren't anxious to go anywhere new unless someone overwhelms them with an offer and or they aren't confidant Chicago will give them a descent contract. I love Eager when he plays smart, but what GM is careless enough to offer him big money based on a nice playoff? Daddio and lots of other posts I basically agree with everything said, except Cammalarri will logically sign with another team before Chicago even makes a good offer, you think? I don't want another small guy, anyway. Just have to go with what we have and maybe we step back a year in our playoff aspiration (long run, that is).
Lastly, seriously review what REALWIZ says. He nearly always hits the nail on the head. Steve Rain, REALWIZ explained the Makarov point production and development as a plyer in Russia, quite well in one of the last posts. Makarov is going to have to be our next best offensive player after Havlat goes. I hope Tallon isn't too ignorant to see this, and Scotty..he might have an idea on Makarov, but if Makarov asks for too much money, Bowman would maybe advise to just sign a cheap veteran or go with some other youngster (Skille -- a worse choice, but makes Tallon feel better!).
I really must add one last thing: Maybe there is something to Campbell plays better if he has a better partner in his pairing. Huet may perform better but we know what we have in him, don't we. Maybe Niemi isn't yet ready and would someone offer him too much money for us to match? Crawford isn't going to lead you to the promised (Stanley Cup) land, but is OK..not our answer long term in goal. Niemi may be. Rockford was terrible last year. Pelletier descent, don't knock because he didn't "wow" you. Dowell forget it. Connely would be hard pressed due to his size to ever make our roster. Maybe Carlsson will be ok, after that it is you know who (Bech/Aliu when will they be ready?) and that's basically it for the immediate top prospects
I hear you HP. I do.
I think I am being a bit naive hoping that Havlat would sign quickly, but I just don't see that happening anytime soon. If it were, it would have been done. The question now is, is exactly what is the plan?
Regardless if this team achieved more in 2009 then anyone thought in the ivory tower, is a moot point. They have to continue to improve and take the necessary steps. Losing Havlat, and expecting a guy like Brouwer, Skillie, or Beach to fill that huge gap is going to blow up in this team's face. I don't see any way to view that other then a step backwards. IF they lose Havlat, then they must sign a proven top 6 forward.
The cap is getting interesting. Reading a lot of articles stating it staying flat this year, and possibly going up next year. Not saying I believe it, but I'm not going to sit here and be dictated to by the Hawks preparing for gloom, knowing damn well that's not the reality of the situation.
I guess, I just still don't trust this management enough to interpret the silence as a good thing. RFAs can be signed by now, unless guys like Versteeg and Bolland are using Krejci's signing as a starting point.
Again, why not start talks with Kane, Toews, and Keith to try and lock them up now? IF this is your core, get them signed, so you know what is available to spend. Does anyone want to read hundreds of articles next year asking Keith, Kane, and Toews about their contract situations?
I heard Mr. Sassone on the Score during the playoffs discussing the possibility of the Hawks proactively signing the Big 3 now so their contracts aren't such a big distraction next year. Tim said that was an option with Duncan Keith but not with Toews and Kane. I believe he said it has to do with the fact that Toews and Kane are still playing through their rookie contracts and those are more restrictive than for someone like Keith who has been around a while.
Perhaps more will be written about this soon or at minimum the topic will come up at the convention next month.
Crosby signed a 5 year extension after the 2nd season of his 3 yr "rookie" contract - the CBA allows for extensions in the last year of an entry level contract.
so come Jul 1, toews & kane can both be extended as well as obviously keith.
these 3 guys should be the priority of the hawks - not havlat or any other UFA/RFA.
if they aren't extended Jul 1, and instead the hawks re-sign havlat to a long term deal eating up a shrinking cap pie, this team's development will be stunted for a long time.
Appreciate the clarification.
Anyone read that offseason breakdown on tsn.ca regarding the Hawks?
the info on that article. interesting read
Watch fo r Havlat to end up back in Canada, either Montreal, Vancouver or maybe even Edmonton. When Burke grabs the Sedin twins on July 01 the Canucks will panic and overpay Havlat or Hossa. You can't blame these players for testing the free agent market just to see what kind of offers they will get. Montreal will overpay Havlat or any good player just to ice a team. Nobody wants to play there and they could lose Kovalev, Koivu, Tanguay and Komisarek from their core. Also where will the Bulin wall end up?? He wants too much money and might price himself out of a starters job elsewhere. I thought Philly or Wash were destinations for him but the cap space and his salary means this will not happen. Philly is rolling the dice on Emery while saving cap space to try and land Bouumeester. Lots of goalies available means the good cheap ones will go first and Khabby who will not go cheap could price himself out of a job.
If Havlat and Bulin walk and two elite players aren't signed to replace them, this team does not make the playoffs in 2010. Bulin had some bad games and let a few bad goals, but he won more games for us than he cost us. Huet will not be able to do the same. Havlat was a force in both ends of the ice and a plus player all year. You put a Jack Skille on the ice to take Havlat's place and that will cost you games.
I'd be shocked if there's any announcement before the FA feeding frenzy. You're right '39, who can blame any pending free agent his right to consider his options. We'd all do the same thing. If Marty or Nik were going to re-sign they'd have done it by now. IMO, they're going to walk barring no other offers which, of course, is not going to be the case. Maybe Nik resigns but not before he has considered the other offers. Marty, like many have pointed out, is going to have to take a significant drop in wage to stick around for any term. It should have been done by now if it was going to get done. I suspect they're playing "who'll blink first" at the moment but in reality, the "team" and the teams future are more important than any single player today and the 13MM the 'hawks will save could go a long way towards securing that future in a couple of years.
It's been 10 more days. Now do we worry?
All I know is Emery is a steal at 1.5 million attitude or not.
Where the hell is Dale Tallon? Just curious. He talked a big game when the season ended, but since his team organizational meetings I haven't heard one peep from him, which makes me extremely nervous. Not a radio guest appearance, not an article with quotes, nothing.
I take the whole twitter thing as far as I can throw it. It could be the same guy who got twitter sued by being Tony LaRussa, acting as Havlat or Allan Wash (havlat's agent).
All I know is, it's June 10th, and nobody has been signed. Not an RFA, or UFA. Not good. Tallon better get his fat @ss off the golf course, and start improving this team.
Dale's probably on the Golf course with a Player Agent or two .
...especially considering the circumstances. If I'm Havlet, why wouldn't I see what the open market will bring? This may be his last chance for a big contract (especially with his health history). The only way the Hawks could have signed him early, was to give him a really good offer, and they aren't in the position to do that with their current and future cap issues.
If the open market does not give Havlet a big money deal, the Hawks chances will be much better to sign him. If he gets a big deal, he is gone.
thus is the cat and mouse time, where the team talks to the agents, sneaks a few calls to the players, says they will think on it, they will wait until close to the draft and then maybe figure out who they want to get serious with first and then it will begin...no urgency.
Isn't this exactly what I told you they would do stand stand and stand pat for as long as possible!?!
If you access to twitter, you'd laugh at the Havlat manuevering that I mentioned before. The way to get the fans irate if they let him walk, because he wants to be here. He apparently isn't putting his condo on the market, and had dinner with Tallon in Pittsburgh on 5/31.
Not saying I believe it, but it is what is posted on his blog/twitter.
The between the benches commentator should be working a glory hole in the wings shower.
He does seem to root for the Hawks opponent often and I think your right he does seem perfect for the GLORY Hole!!!!!FerryWing SMORGASBORD.
LMAO.
Hey there John, thanks for putting me on to Hockey Buzz. Just want to tell you I really enjoy your site with credible hockey insight and good fishing stories. If you ever come to the Campbell River area of beautiful Vancouver Island, B.C.. be sure and let me know so we can have a BBQ and a few brewskies. My hockey background goes back to 1970 when I was invited to a NYR training camp and I have been running a fantasy NHL team since 1979 building through the amateur draft and running a team like a real NHL only without having to deal with monetary issues. I watch 40-50 games a week on NHL center Ice and hockey is my life. I am getting close to 60 now but I still play hockey three times a week from September to April. Being retired we play three times a week in the morning allowing me to be ready for NHL games starting a 4 PM our time. Thank god my wife has always let me do my thing. Keep up the good work! Can't wait till July 01
After Tyler Kennedy's lucky goal to give the Pens a 2-0 lead, instead of just citing Kennedy's and the checking line hard work (and their 2nd goal of the game), he makes up this garbage: "Well, Lidstrom and Ericksson are out there and the BOTH are left defense."
Sorry, my mouth and red wing chubby haven't been in the way of my eyes as is the case with Pierre's.
Ericksson has played the right side on the defense this and every series.
Granted they are BOTH left handed shots, but in general 86 % of the leagues defenseman are.
It couldn't just eb agreat energy line goal it had to be an excuse.
Boy I love doc Emerick and Eddie is O-kay, but do we need the constant babbling around the really good play by play doc does?
Maybe Pierre can tell us on the Canadian broadcast how both Calgary and Vancouver are just destroying the hawks again with videotape from their playoff series victories?
Sometimes I think there is beauty in a little silence in the broadcast, but maube the quest to grab every possible fan in front of the TV compels NBC to have thid guy there, but i do not get it PERIOD!
Non stop all game long. Even until the very end, he's screaming that Penguin put his hand over the puck in the crease, or calling out for interference pentalies against the Pens, or yelling about a love tap on Zetterberg that is dangerous. Please. I may watch the game on mute on Friday, but if the Pens get up, it'll be priceless to hear all that great inside information Pierre gets sitting in between the benches. It's cool for Maltby to taunt Crosby, yet when the Hawks were taunting Iginla in game 4, he was ready to kill somebody. Such a two face prick. His segment with Mike Milbury in between periods, would be my own personal hell. Somebody in the ivory tower in the NHL marketing department needs to get on this.
What I have noticed, is how amazing Craig Adams has played. Remarkable. Like the Pens in 07, hopefully the Hawks will raise their game next time they enter the postseason.
Their will be no excuses for guys not blocking shots, taking the body, playing balls out, and back checking all game long. This year was the free pass, next year it will not be tolerated. Notice the two teams that have taken the Wings to 7 games sacrificed everything?
for not laying it on the line like Pittsburgh is.
13 minutes left in the game six when Matt Cooke pasted Datsyuk and then gave Zetterberg the stick on the way out was a think of beauty. And the capitals gave up on Cooke after he left Vancouver? He's under 6 foot but 215 and just doesn't give up either!
Although the 30 year old Scuderi probably will NOT leave Pittsburgh, and is maybe 6 foot defenseman, you have to wonder what he gets as an UFA...pretty reasonable I would assume.
Pipedream...he will play for less and stay.
And Malkin destroyed Lidstrom on one check too.
Our "scroing" players are not off the hook either to do the things necessary to win....
I mentioned that about Kane in Game 2 vs Detroit, regarding your last sentence above, and got hammered because of it.
I'm also on record for:
-I'm not a huge Huet supporter, so I think if you can deal him...fine. I doubt anyone takes on his contract, so with that said, I think the Hawks need to sign a veteran backup for a reasonable price. I don't know if you can risk having a mediocre Huet (if he flops as the man), and an unproven backup with a team looking to make progress.
-I also do not want Khabby back. The man is old, let him go back to Russia and stone Jagr on breakways in the Red Square. Signing him, proves to me that the Hawks made an awful move with Huet, and now have given him 2 free years at 11 million total, to sit around and be used sparingly. I just don't see the logic in that at all. He is not the low price veteran I am thinking of.
Jacukel-- I absolutely see a similarity in Fleury & Huet. Especially when, at the most critical time near the end of the game, he was down & out. TOTALLY out of the crease. All together. At the side of the net. Not in front of the net. Scuderi had to make 3 saves for him. Calling Fleury the #1 star of the game was a joke. The breakaway save doesn't happen if the defenseman isn't pressing from behind as Cleary would have had more time to pull the puck back and go cookie jar like he was trying to. For a butterfly goalie to win-----THE DEFENSE HAS TO PLAY OUT OF THEIR MINDS!!!!! Last night, the pens defense saved the game, not their goalie. And Fleury & Huet handle the puck about the same, which is to say BRUTAL.
I think Fleury's a pretty good goalie, regardless.
And having watched Khabibulin bugger the puck for the last four years, Huet and Fleury look like freaking Mario Lemieux handling the biscuit compared to him!
Pretty effective goalie, right? Anyone else notice a stylistic similarity to our own #38? He goes down pretty quickly and plays from the down position a lot. Just saying.