Well, part two of the Expansion Draft deal that was cooked up between The Hawks and The Las Vegas Goldenrods finally went off today, with Marcus Kruger's $3 Mil salary departing to Nevada in exchange for "Future Considerations" (read: nothing).
No, kids, it only looks like Al Secord.
So, where are we at? Currently, $600K below cap but with only 21 of 23 roster spots filled, although the Hossa cap-relief story is still being plotted.
I was right on a couple of predictions in the past week or two and ridiculously wrong on some others (like Joe Thornton being had for $4 Mil or less...and he got $8 Mil today!) but that's not slowing me down!
Stan is done with the defense and will staff from within, beginning with Rutta and Forsling and a side of Ville Pokka.
I expect Rozsie to retire.
Stan will be looking for an affordable center, one that can win a damn faceoff now and again. The pickings are slim to say the least with a host of old and/or undesirable "options". Best bet, just spitballin' here, is perhaps Mikhail Grigorenko, who totaled 23 points for the dismal Avalanche and won 57% of his draws. Grigorenko earned $1.3 Mil last season, however, and was probably not tendered an offer by The Avs because he wants/needs a raise. His teammate, John Mitchell, wouldn't be an awful stop-gap checking center, but possesses virtually no offensive upside.
The list of available centers is dotted with names that make me nervous, though. What if Ryan White is the best The Hawks can attract and afford?
Somebody get Dennis Rasmussen on the line and tell him we made a mistake.
Postscript: Oh well, it was an idea.
Hawks GM Stan Bowman WASTED NO TIME going out and TAKING WHAT HE WANTED, signing five UFAs today, one of which may or may not actually be of use.
Patrick Sharp
One of my favourite Hawks returns to the fold but, no matter how much I like the guy and hope for the best, there are huge asterisks all over this deal. After a poor season, interrupted by two concussion-related time outs and hampered by a nagging hip injury, Sharpie was had for a relative song ($800K + $200K bonus for being able to walk without assistance at season's end). Whether this pans out will depend on how serious this hip injury was and how well it was repaired, 'cos Sharpie without at least some speed just won't cut it. There's also the risk of a stern look or a loud noise causing another concussion. And how to deploy the prodigal? If any fuel remains in the tank Sharp might be a pretty good addition to the third line, adding some opportunistic scoring vs. weaker opponents, with spot duty on the power play, perhaps. BUT you know Q is gonna try him in Panarin's spot...just wait...
Manky hip or not there's ONE Hawk I can always outskate.
Lance Bouma and Tommy Wingels
Not the same guy but both most definitely Guys, and a pair of fellows that each had a single promising season 2-4 years ago and have been backsliding offensively ever since.
These signings are mystifying to me. With some potential holes down the center Stan goes out and signs one Guy who is indicated as a center...but never plays there (Bouma), and another who is listed as a wing but will occasionally do mediocre spot-duty down the middle (Wingels). I get it, we're gonna need some Guys, as it appears that neither Desjardins nor Rasmussen will be asked to return but, holy shit, is no one available that can win a faceoff or knows how to play center?
At this rate I would not be shocked if Vik Stalberg is signed in the next 24 hours and, now that I've thunk about it, he would be preferable to either of these players.
Jordan Oesterle and Jean-Francois Berubé
Well, one is a defenseman who struggled to stay in The Oilers' lineup and the other is a pretty good AHL-calibre goaltender who sported a 3.57 GAA with Brooklyn last season. I won't even bother telling you which is which because it doesn't matter.
Marcus Kruger
Wasn't he supposed to be traded by now? As much as I'll hate to see Krugs go...he simply has to at this point. The Hawks are now $2 Mil over the cap not including Bouma & Wingels (salary details not yet known but count on $1 Mil give or take) or the one or two defensemen who will need to be added to the roster. AND the word is that The NHL is giving Stan some jipp about burying Hossa's cap hit on the LTIR. I guess he's handling it. He'd better be handling it.
