Speculation: Bowman: We'll do everything we can to keep Bickell

[IU Hawks fan]

Figured I'd split this off as it's actual 'news' and has nothing to do with dumping Leddy.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus
Bowman on Bickell: "Bick and the organization go back a long ways.... We've had a lot history together, we certainly want to continue that."

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus
#Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman tells Sun-Times he'll do "everything we can" to keep Bryan Bickell next season. Doesn't think it's far-fetched.

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[Hawkscap]

It seems like the only way it can logically happen is if they trade Bolland.

 

[ColdSteel2]

Well, at least they aren't just kicking him to the curb. Trying and doing are two different things. Just get it done.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I think they'll definitely try. I just hope they don't overpay. If he wants to stay I think he'll have to give some sort of discount (I guess in exchange for length)...b/c I wouldn't want to pay him what I expect he'd be able to get from somewhere like Edmonton.

 

[SLarmer28*]

Bickell over Bolland thread in three, two, one ......

 

[SLarmer28*]

http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/i...ks-will-do-everything-we-can-to-keep-bickell/

 

[Bubba88]

Bickell over Bolland makes the most sense... that's why it should happen.

Shaw and Krüger are fine as bottom 6 Centers and Bolland has proven to not being able to play the #2 C spot.

I still hope we find a way to keep them both in the end.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Question is can we afford him.

Answer, probably not.

 

[ColdSteel2]

No, the question is: Do we want to pay him what it will take to stay or do we want to cut ties and try to win without him?

 

[Bubba88]

depends on his asking price...

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

If Hawks win the cup and Bickell wins MVP the Hawks will have to bring him back at all costs

 

[ColdSteel2]

If Hawks win the cup and Bickell wins MVP the Hawks will have to bring him back at all costs

Good point, maybe in this case, winning the Conn would be a plus just to force the issue.

 

[moose vasko]

You can only have so big a core (used to be 8 but with the cap dropping there's an argument making the rounds for 7). Excluding Bolland we already have 6. Bickell on a big contract would make 7 and if Hjammer can keep it up he would be the 8th. Depending on what CC does during the rest of his contract he could also make a strong case for himself.

We can't keep everyone and we are going to lose guys again despite being in a lot better position cap-wise than we were 3 years ago.

 

[LBS8844]

I would think Crawford, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, and possibly Keith are also in the running for MVP at the moment. While hard to imagine given the aforementioned "names", Bickell winning the MVP would be awesome!

 

[ColdSteel2]

You can only have so big a core (used to be 8 but with the cap dropping there's an argument making the rounds for 7). Excluding Bolland we already have 6. Bickell on a big contract would make 7 and if Hjammer can keep it up he would be the 8th. Depending on what CC does during the rest of his contract he could also make a strong case for himself.

We can't keep everyone and we are going to lose guys again despite being in a lot better position cap-wise than we were 3 years ago.

I think we need to keep those 8 guys and just roll with it. I say this because I expect the cap to go up a lot and it is a long CBA that will go through most of these contracts.

 

[Illinihockey]

I heard on the radio that Bickell likes Chicago and feels comfortable here. Keith took a discount, Kane and Toews probably took a little discount, I don't think its too far fetched for Bickell to take less than he could get elsewhere. Would you rather live in Chicago and be a Cup contender every year for $3.25 mil or play in Winnipeg for $4 mil a year?

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I would think Crawford, Hossa, Kane, Sharp, and possibly Keith are also in the running for MVP at the moment. While hard to imagine given the aforementioned "names", Bickell winning the MVP would be awesome!

I agree. They will give it to Crawford or Keith, imo, before they give it to Bickell.

 

[brtriad]

I'm a Bolly fan, but at this point I'd take Bickell over him in a heartbeat. What a playoff warrior.

 

[HockeySauce]

Keep Bickell if he wants to be reasonable, let him go to free-agency if he thinks he's worth more than 3.5M. Easy.

 

[Teemu]

There shouldn't be much of a problem fitting Bickell into the cap structure, although this does prevent any UFA signing.

 

[Sir Psycho T]

I like Bickell but that is getting out of hand and I hope that is just speak from Bowman.

I want him to stay, certainly not at any cost though.

 

[madgoat33]

If Hawks win the cup and Bickell wins MVP the Hawks will have to bring him back at all costs

so you're a huge fan of the raven's signing of flacco then?

 

[HockeySauce]

I like Bickell but that is getting out of hand and I hope that is just speak from Bowman.

I want him to stay, certainly not at any cost though.

"At any cost" weren't Bowman's words.

And can someone explain to me why Chicago having to sign Bickell becomes more prevalent should he win the Conn Smythe? I don't get it.

Not that it matters, because the ONLY way Bickell wins the Conn Smythe over Crawford, Keith or Sharp/Hossa/Kane is if he leads the Hawks in goals by 2-3 and has as many points as the Hawks leading scorer - and even then, it still probably goes to Keith or Crawford.

 

[Sir Psycho T]

"At any cost" weren't Bowman's words.

And can someone explain to me why Chicago having to sign Bickell becomes more prevalent should he win the Conn Smythe? I don't get it.

Not that it matters, because the ONLY way Bickell wins the Conn Smythe over Crawford, Keith or Sharp/Hossa/Kane is if he leads the Hawks in goals by 2-3 and has as many points as the Hawks leading scorer - and even then, it still probably goes to Keith or Crawford.

Don't get that either, it doesn't change what he has or hasn't accomplished over the last few years.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Because knee jerk reactions is what this board does best.