Kesler and Spezza are massive downgrades from Thornton. Spezza is basically just Thornton with no defensive capabilities at all and will just leave after one year. Kesler is no guarantee with health and his game has been steadily declining.
Thornton would be great but if Hawks could get Kesler they would pull that trade
Easier cap hit to handle and he has played with Kane before
Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Kesler-Kane
ANybody know what happened to Steeger this season? I think injuries, right?
Tore ACL last year ,,, Rushed back to early and had issues with it all year
Never got conditioning back (Thus why he looked a little slow skating for Hawks this year)
+ Once he got into a funk with Hawks he never pulled himself out of it playing mostly depth role with occasional top 6 spot duty
Hawk fans expect him back even though we don't want him ,, Bowman and Hawks sound like they are chalking up his struggles to knee and loss of confidence playing thru it
What young players are the Blackhawks willing to give up? I highly doubt they'll give up Teravainen. Saad is probably not going anywhere.
Leddy as the main piece of a Thornton trade just doesn't seem like enough in my opinion even though he's a top four defenseman.
Leddy and Morin from NHL roster
In system probably would be anyone not named Teravainen , Hartman or Johns (3 most important prospects for Hawks IMO)
So guys like
C/W Joakim Nordstrom (3rd round 2010)
C/RW Mark McNeill (18th overall in 2011)
C/LW Phillip Danault (26th overall in 2011)
D Adam Clendening (2nd round 2011)
And other guys in system
Also could acquire rights to Kevin Hayes (2010 24th overall) and see if you have luck signing him (Wont sign with Hawks it appears). Would get 54th pick in 2015 draft if unable to sign him
- Hayes is believed to have not been fan of Hawks trading his brother
- And watching his brother unable to crack Hawks lineup has kid looking for place he could quickly jump to NHL role and not be in battle with a bunch of other prospects