Grim

Has Aaron Ward signed somewhere? He'd make a decent #6 if Kenny is still looking...

Turco is serviceable.... but he's also a playoff-underachiever at 35 years old. the Hawks are rolling the dice on some pretty bleak odds.

curious, i thought Turco already turned down $2M/yr offer from the Flyers...

ooo.... now i'm hearing it's indeed a phone-conference supposedly to announce a signing for Jose Theodore. Niemi's being dumped. very interesting predicaments indeed!

supposedly Stan Bowman will hold an impromptu press conference some time tonight. Judging by the hasty timing, they've probably come to terms with Niemi...

I think the Cap will ironically be the final death knell for fighting in the NHL. Very difficult to fit one-dimensional role players into the roster.

Thanks eva, I figured you had the definitive word. how about after arby? should they come to terms, can he be traded this season? I can't imagine Niemi being slotted below Halak or Rinne. I bet it goes *at least* $3.5M. Wouldn't the Hawks problem be worsened if Huet was rostered? sure I barely grasp that +10% cap offseason overage concept... but i'd imagine carrying his $5.6M cap hit surely is going to hurt more than the benefit of his play will offset.

can they trade a player that goes to arbitration? can he be signed/traded before his hearing??

An arbiter just awarded Clark MacArthur $2.4M... and the Thrashers walked away. I really don't think the Blackhawks are even in the same stratoshere in talks with Niemi.

this keeps getting better and better... i just read something similar to what you wrote, Doc. Lamorello just may have extended this offer with the intent to have it rejected. Nice. have fun in the KHL Kovalchuk

wake up folks... the only reason this contract is being rejected is because an owner or two is protesting. more than likely its the Kings' owner raising a kerfuffle. the previous deals were allowed to go through cuz in the end no one objected.

quick, lets sign datsyuk to a 30 year $100M extension.... before the league changes the rules!

turco would have to sign something seriously close or less than what Ozzie currently makes. add to that, Ozzie would have to be moved first.

I'm sure Helm received his qualifying tender... when is his arbitration hearing??

oh gawd... please don't tell me Modano is trying to negotiate-in his role... we don't need that at all. I am really excited at the chance that Mikey could play for his hometown team, but there should be no strings

Judging by the goalies that made it to the Cup finals, we should be all set in net with Jimmy! I still think Osgood should be sent packing, especially if Babs won't use him. Is Conklin available??

who is hating on Hossa?? I think he's a wonderful player... he just didn't work out with Datsyuk and Z. Maybe Hossa needs to be the focal point of whatever line he plays? Oh well. I think he signed a sweetheart deal that was meant for Detroit. Kenny probably overpaid for Franzen. Oh well, hindsight is a *****. My sole point in this thread is that the Hawks were Contenders/Conference finalist level before Hossa. Subtract all their player losses this year, I don't think they'll be as good. Was one Cup run worth it? maybe so... but I just think they could have done more to keep it all intact.

Sure Hossa's contract is palatable.. which is why he should have been the trade bait. absolutely no one wants to touch Brian Campbell or Cristobal Huet. I love Marian Hossa's game, but he's a carpetbagger. Hossa mustered only 3 goals in this Cup run. In the same run, Versteeg scored 6 and Byfuglien 11... you absolutely never ditch playoff scoring! especially not the ones developed through your farm system. No worries, Hossa will make a wonderful trade chip come next offseason when them Hawks are ousted in the first round.

Hossa's cap-friendly contract would've made a much more attractive trade asset. I'd still rather have Versteeg + Byfuglien over Hossa.

Does Hossa have a NTC? they should have dumped him and kept much of their role players...

this is an obvious loophole in the cap. no doubt this will be addressed in the next cba.

well... it was a nostalgic thought that he would sign here. I fully expect to hear a Maltby signing soon. *yawn*

I really don't know why so many here are being impatient... you just know its either going to be Modano or Maltby.

I wouldn't blame Modano for delaying any announcement... the organization and fans still have to grieve/deal with Probert's funeral on Friday. Folks, this is certainly no Lebron-esque media saga.

I wonder if Halak's recent deal will affect Niemi's arbitration...