Sharks sign RFA Niklas Hjalmarsson

[chrisdetroit 189]

How can you say Byfuglien isn't a very good player and then mention Bolland and Brouwer as elite top 6 players? Byfuglien is as good or better than both of them, Versteeg as well.

They aren't going to be able to stack all of those guys on the top 2 lines either, as they will need to spread as much talent out as they can to make up for the fact that they'll have 5 or 6 scrubs filling out the bottom two lines.

No doubt Hossa is an elite player, and those who are saying otherwise are crazy. Its true he didn't do much last year in the playoffs (he didn't really need to) and did pretty darn well coming off surgery in the regular season. The Hawks will desperately need his scoring next year, so I can understand why they don't deal him.

That said, someone else is gonna have to be gone, as it stands now. I don't believe in any assumption that they will "somehow get rid of Campbell". I think Sharp is gone, which will be a major bite to them. There are many teams in the league that have amazing high end talent in their top 6, and don't make the playoffs or deep runs.

Hossa has a carreer point per game average of 0.925 over 777 regular season games and

0.758 over 120 playoff games.

This is an unbelievable difference and it is LONG TERM over hundreds of games.

The guy's numbers OVER HIS CAREER plumment when it comes to playoffs.

Elite player - yes, but only in the regular season.

Before you say that most players numbers drop in the playoffs, look at other players numbers. Nobody comes close...

[hooon 1,089]

Hossa has a carreer point per game average of 0.925 over 777 regular season games and

0.758 over 120 playoff games.

This is an unbelievable difference and it is LONG TERM over hundreds of games.

The guy's numbers OVER HIS CAREER plumment when it comes to playoffs.

Elite player - yes, but only in the regular season.

Before you say that most players numbers drop in the playoffs, look at other players numbers. Nobody comes close...

Ok... and I was never trying to argue otherwise. The Hawks are going to need his production badly next year. That's all I meant.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Hlalmarsson would have been nice for the Sharks to help replace Blake with.

[hooon 1,089]

Hlalmarsson would have been nice for the Sharks to help replace Blake with.

,

Indeed. The Sharks with Jammer would be quite a threat. In the regular season, that is.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

They're giving up Sharp???

Any way to make a three way trade or someway to get him in a Wings jersey?

Oh now that would be a nice sight. Guy is seriously underrated. Lets hope if he does get moved, it's to the east.

[Guest Crymson]

I was referring to his offensive abilities and ability to QB a PP...

Bogosian, Enstrom and Hainsey are all viable power play QBs. Enstrom, in particular, is very good; he had 44 assists last season, and he had a higher PPG than Campbell on a team that had far less talent than the Blackhawks. The Thrashers don't need Campbell---certainly not at the price he costs.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Crymson

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Bogosian, Enstrom and Hainsey are all viable power play QBs. Enstrom, in particular, is very good; he had 44 assists last season, and he had a higher PPG than Campbell on a team that had far less talent than the Blackhawks. The Thrashers don't need Campbell---certainly not at the price he costs.

I'm not too sure what the Kings defensive situation is, but don't they have alot of cap space that would have been used for Kovie? Campbell might be a nice addition for them.

[Guest Crymson]

I'm not too sure what the Kings defensive situation is, but don't they have alot of cap space that would have been used for Kovie? Campbell might be a nice addition for them.

You've got to think in the long-term sense here. Campbell is under contract for the next four seasons. Do you think the Kings want to be spending up that much cap space for that long on a defenseman who isn't worth anywhere close to it? They're already going to need to pay Doughty and Johnson at the end of the season, as both are RFAs. Further, he doesn't bring anything that they don't already have; the Kings have got a very solid defensive corps at the moment.

The fact that he's a good defenseman doesn't mean that anyone, regardless of how much cap space they have---and bear in mind that those franchises who will not be near the cap this season are those for whom doing so is not financially viable, and as such are even less likely to pick up such a large contract---will want to pick up his outrageous cap hit. It's his contract that makes him unappealing.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Crymson

[Grim 5]

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.

[Guest Heaten]

Every morning I wake up, I think to myself "Wonder how many Chicago Blackhawks players will be on the firesale today".

Been a pretty entertaining off-season. Better than last years Chicago's debacle and poor management circus we got to watch unfold. Next year should be pretty good too...

Lol. Chicago makes my off seasons so much funner

[newfy 695]

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.

Meh, Hossa does not look nearly as dynamic or as good anymore as he did with Pitt and Detroit. Is he good? Yeah. Is he great? After these last 2 playoffs and watching him play quite often, he just doesn't seem like the special player he once was.

[hooon 1,089]

Meh, Hossa does not look nearly as dynamic or as good anymore as he did with Pitt and Detroit. Is he good? Yeah. Is he great? After these last 2 playoffs and watching him play quite often, he just doesn't seem like the special player he once was.

I'll agree with you about his playoff vanishing act, but he was a beast last year in the regular season, especially considering he came off of surgery. However, his production for the Hawks was all just icing on the cake. They really did not NEED him per se, but he was a major contributor. He is also one of their best defensive forwards.

It'll be interesting to see how he does next year on a team that is severely less stacked than his previous squads.

[Buppy 1,720]

...

Before you say that most players numbers drop in the playoffs, look at other players numbers. Nobody comes close...

Datsyuk

Regular season:

592 points, 606 games: .977 ppg

Playoffs:

76 points, 110 games: .691 ppg

[Guest Heaten]

I like Hossa, but I don't like his contract for DRWs. We have enough long term contracts with Z and Franzen. I like Datsyuk's contract because it's long enough to get him through his prime years, short enough to not hurt this team's future.

[Original-Six 254]

Before you say that most players numbers drop in the playoffs, look at other players numbers. Nobody comes close...

Joe Thornton says hi.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Datsyuk

Regular season:

592 points, 606 games: .977 ppg

Playoffs:

76 points, 110 games: .691 ppg

Minus his 2002 season as a rookie on the third line his ppg is much better.

Their last three years:

Datsyuk ppg: 264/244 1.08 45/50 .9

Hossa's ppg: 188/203 .92 56/64 .875

He still has been at almost a ppg pace the last three years despite his poor 09 post-season. This coming off a great cup win giving him two total for the career. Hossa was without a cup, signed a one year deal in order to get that same cup, scored 40 goals in the regular season, and talked about wanting a long term deal while playing against his former team. He severely underacheieved and in the goal scoring department suffered as well.

Also considering Datsyuk has been able to perform brilliantly offensively without 100+ point playmakers centering him (which was Hossa's only ppg post-season), I would say he is a bit more reliable in the playoffs than Hossa.

[newfy 695]

Minus his 2002 season as a rookie on the third line his ppg is much better.

Their last three years:

Datsyuk ppg: 264/244 1.08 45/50 .9

Hossa's ppg: 188/203 .92 56/64 .875

He still has been at almost a ppg pace the last three years despite his poor 09 post-season. This coming off a great cup win giving him two total for the career. Hossa was without a cup, signed a one year deal in order to get that same cup, scored 40 goals in the regular season, and talked about wanting a long term deal while playing against his former team. He severely underacheieved and in the goal scoring department suffered as well.

Also considering Datsyuk has been able to perform brilliantly offensively without 100+ point playmakers centering him (which was Hossa's only ppg post-season), I would say he is a bit more reliable in the playoffs than Hossa.

And even when Dats is in a slump like the 09 playoffs, it was the best slump I've ever seen. He was still by far teh best defensive player out there stealing the puck and getting chances. He just couldn't get points.

[Broken 16 381]

Minus his 2002 season as a rookie on the third line his ppg is much better.

Their last three years:

Datsyuk ppg: 264/244 1.08 45/50 .9

Hossa's ppg: 188/203 .92 56/64 .875

He still has been at almost a ppg pace the last three years despite his poor 09 post-season. This coming off a great cup win giving him two total for the career. Hossa was without a cup, signed a one year deal in order to get that same cup, scored 40 goals in the regular season, and talked about wanting a long term deal while playing against his former team. He severely underacheieved and in the goal scoring department suffered as well.

Also considering Datsyuk has been able to perform brilliantly offensively without 100+ point playmakers centering him (which was Hossa's only ppg post-season), I would say he is a bit more reliable in the playoffs than Hossa.

A cheesy +1 on rep didn't seem good enough. Excellent post. Spot on.

[newfy 695]

I'll agree with you about his playoff vanishing act, but he was a beast last year in the regular season, especially considering he came off of surgery. However, his production for the Hawks was all just icing on the cake. They really did not NEED him per se, but he was a major contributor. He is also one of their best defensive forwards.

It'll be interesting to see how he does next year on a team that is severely less stacked than his previous squads.

It makes me wonder if like you said, they don't need him so he plays well and once the pressure is on and games are tighter he disappears. He hasn't ever played for a reg. season team that has had pressure. The wings, pens and hawks were all top of the confrence teams and Atlanta was always bottom so there was no pressure.

He just doesn't seem like a big time player to me at all and he's going to have to do ALOT to shake that reputation.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

This almost guaruntees they'd be unable to sign Modano as some reports suggest.

[Frozen-Man 144]

I'll agree with you about his playoff vanishing act, but he was a beast last year in the regular season, especially considering he came off of surgery. However, his production for the Hawks was all just icing on the cake. They really did not NEED him per se, but he was a major contributor. He is also one of their best defensive forwards.

It'll be interesting to see how he does next year on a team that is severely less stacked than his previous squads.

That to me is part of the problem, that is an awful lot of money to pay for an awfully long time for a player you don't need. He is great and don't really blame him but not the best decision by the Hawks, in my opinion.

I like Hossa, but I don't like his contract for DRWs. We have enough long term contracts with Z and Franzen. I like Datsyuk's contract because it's long enough to get him through his prime years, short enough to not hurt this team's future.

I like Dat's contract too and I think that Kenny would have liked to sign similar deals for Mule and Z, however, he never would have gotten near the cap hit he got if it weren't for the years meaning that we probably wouldn't have Mule if not for the length of both their contracts.

[magicaldatsyuk 6]

so what's the latest with hjalmarsson? did the hawks match the offer?

[Buppy 1,720]

Minus his 2002 season as a rookie on the third line his ppg is much better.

Their last three years:

Datsyuk ppg: 264/244 1.08 45/50 .9

Hossa's ppg: 188/203 .92 56/64 .875

He still has been at almost a ppg pace the last three years despite his poor 09 post-season. This coming off a great cup win giving him two total for the career. Hossa was without a cup, signed a one year deal in order to get that same cup, scored 40 goals in the regular season, and talked about wanting a long term deal while playing against his former team. He severely underacheieved and in the goal scoring department suffered as well.

Also considering Datsyuk has been able to perform brilliantly offensively without 100+ point playmakers centering him (which was Hossa's only ppg post-season), I would say he is a bit more reliable in the playoffs than Hossa.

And there's still a bigger difference between Datsyuk's regular and playoff performance. And while Datsyuk does do things other than score, so does Hossa. Stop acting like a bunch of jilted-lover-cry-ass-Penguin-fans about Hossa. Both struggle scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. Both contribute a lot in other areas; defensively, creating opportunities, and pressuring the opposition. Both are elite players, and any team would love to have either one of them.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

And there's still a bigger difference between Datsyuk's regular and playoff performance. And while Datsyuk does do things other than score, so does Hossa. Stop acting like a bunch of jilted-lover-cry-ass-Penguin-fans about Hossa. Both struggle scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. Both contribute a lot in other areas; defensively, creating opportunities, and pressuring the opposition. Both are elite players, and any team would love to have either one of them.

I would rather not, considering Datsyuk is paid to be an elite defensive playmaker, and Hossa is paid to be an elite defensive goal scorer. Which of those have you seen more of the past three years?

Sure I would love to have Hossa on this team, but the guy was unable to produce offensively for Detroit and Chicago. Also considering he has had much more to play for than virtually all of his teammates the past two years.

[Broken 16 381]

And there's still a bigger difference between Datsyuk's regular and playoff performance. And while Datsyuk does do things other than score, so does Hossa. Stop acting like a bunch of jilted-lover-cry-ass-Penguin-fans about Hossa. Both struggle scoring in the playoffs compared to the regular season. Both contribute a lot in other areas; defensively, creating opportunities, and pressuring the opposition. Both are elite players, and any team would love to have either one of them.

It doesn't take a genius a simply watch both players and see that Datsyuk is the more reliable player. Numbers aside, Datsyuk is simply better in almost every category. Especially in the playoffs. Hossa is on is ass swimming 10X more than Datsyuk.

Accusing people of being "jilted-lover-cry-ass-Penguin-fans" just because they acknowledge that Datsyuk is obviously the better playoff performer in recent years is silly. It just makes you sound like a jilted-cry-ass-Hossa-fan.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Broken 16