Who do you want from the Blackhawks roster?

I think Niemi signs for lower, because fact is he had an okay year that looks good since the Hawks don’t allow many shots…period. His sv% is okay, good not great.

I think that’s a little too much for Sharp, though I haven’t followed hockey all that much. I think more along the lines up Flash and a decent prospect, or maybe even flat out one of Varlavirthby (Neuvirth I guess) maybe does it.

Chicago also wants to dump Huet’s contract, though he’s signed through 2012 with a Cap hit of $5.25 mil (i think). But with the amount of goalies in your system right now, I doubt that he’d be a good option and all that $$ could be used better

Either Versteeg or Sharp would look great with Semin…assuming he’s still here of course.

Keith please.

The problem with your plan of Flash is that he’s going to get signed to at least 2.5 million, despite his flaws.

Versteeg.

2nd line center who excels at both ends of the ice and is an good PKer to boot.

Dump Flash, call up MP (to play wing or center) – salary wash
Dump BMo?
Belanger? like him for depth.

It would be tight, but I think he’s great. Would they really let him go??

How much is Hossa’s contract?

If the Caps are always toting “losing” as the experience they need to win.. well then.. Hossa = The fuckin’ GANDALF of hockey

FOR BRIAN CAMPBELL

WHAT

Sharp, by a landslide, both for contractual purposes and his skill-set as a potential center contrasted with the team’s need for size up the middle (6’1, 200) without sacrificing skill (Sharp’s had a great year – 25-41-66 with only 28 PIMs). He’s also got playoff experience without being too old, at 28 years old with 37 NHL playoff games and counting. He was also reliable at the dot this year, at 51%. He averages 18 minutes a game this year with Chicago (B-Mo averaged 5 fewer shifts and 16 minutes, Belanger the same number of shifts but 15 minutes a game which might highlight Minn’s quicker line changes than ours. That second line seemed to average 19 and change over 20ish shifts, so it’s within his expected workload. (Note: B-Mo and Belanger are 5’11, 180ish.)

Also, his scouting report on SBNation looks awfully familiar:

Has plenty of versatility and skill. Skates very well and has the hockey sense to play a top-six role at any forward position. Kills penalties with aplomb. Tends to wear down over the course of the long season, so he could be better if he got stronger physically. Is better when playing a wing position than at center. Versatile scoring forward.

Sharp’s the guy I’d take from Chicago, but he really just strikes me as an upgraded Belanger. I’m not too sure about Sharp’s ability to win physical battles for loose pucks, would love to see some film. If the team wants to have a counter-punch for the defensive schemes of teams like NJ and MTL, it comes from having forwards that can win puck battles down low after you decide to implement the dump-and-chase option more regularly.

Not that I like to admit the enemy’s strength, but the Pens do a great job of winning pucks behind the net – all three of their lines (I maintain the Pens’ fourth line is there to meet minimum player requirements) are centered by big guys who reliably and effectively win puck battles along the boards and come away with it well-protected, defender on their back.

If we’re looking for a defensive forward and an upgrade up the middle, I say we see if 1-1.5M sticks to get pending UFA Jeff Halpern back into the organization. I think the window’s closed on guys like John Madden and Robert Lang. The way he’s playing, Pavelski will get first line money with a team willing to buy him. Kyle Wellwood isn’t physical enough. I keep looking up and down the UFA C list for next year, and at the top end, it’s absolutely flooded with undersized centers.

Am I the only person who sees Mackan as the second line center answer? I know he’s only 20, but he strikes me as the perfect fit, with either of our vets or Perrault at third C, provided he’s got size at the wings, like Fehr and Chimera.

I like Kim Johnsson, he was the D that I was kind of hoping the Caps would get at the deadline, if they did go for the big splash. Not sure the price is right, even with over 11 mil of cap space potentially departing.

Sharp, Seabrook, Versteeg, Hjalmarson, Big Buff, Ladd.