Too soon to worry about Havlat talks?

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.

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.....

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.

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

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.

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!?!

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.

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?