With regard to the Ottawa rumors, they’ve been linked to the Hawks & Barker for a while. I personally think Barker’s a better fit for Carolina than Ottawa, but Ottawa’s name has been linked more often. They also appear to have a couple pieces the Hawks could take back and do nothing with between now and the end of the season that wouldn’t kill the roster; Picard, to me, is a poor man’s Barker so the fall off on the third d-line wouldn’t be huge.

Your suggestion that Kubina could be a fit in Chicago is intriguing. I’m totally with you that Skille’s days in Chicago are numbered as much as anyone’s, unloading both to an Eastern Conf team would make great sense for a quality rental like Kubina.

The biggest issue we’re all going to have to fight thru as Hawks fans right now is the continued lack of qualification of how the tagging rule will play a role in the Hawks signing the three studs. I’ve read that the Hawks need to move as much as $8M to they need to move only $1M to they’re fine and have nothing to worry about. If the Hawks don’t make a move before they come home Dec 1 and announce the three deals as planned, we’ll know the tagging rule’s over rated. But from what I’ve read in the CBA, they need to move money off the books before they can put the pen to paper with Kane, Keith and Toews.

Thanks as always, Dave!

In any case, Bowman would be better served by looking to Atlanta, a team in a resurgence. Pavel Kubina is an impending UFA, a big, strong experienced d-man, with a Cup ring, so that makes more sense to me than any deal with Toronto.

I could see Barker and Jack Skille as part of the package.

Waddell is building a young team, and John Anderson certainly knows Barker and Skille from his/their time in the AHL.

Barker and Skille would definitely help the Thrashers, and that deal works for the Hawks as well.

Kubina in Chicago definitely strengthens the team for the playoffs.

To address the Sens-Hawks rumor, this has been flimsy from day one.

IMO Ottawa is not a credible trade partner because of Bryan Murray’s conservative track record. He isn’t the type to take on a young 3-million dollar d-man, when he can plug in cheaper talent. While Barker could help the Sens, Murray will probably opt to go with what he has.

Cheers,

Dave

Picard, to me, is a poor man’s Barker w/ an expiring contract. He could be brought back for significantly less than Barker’s $3M cap number, thus saving the Hawks $ down the road. There’s also Shawn LaLonde & Dylan Olsen making Barker & Sopel both expendable moving forward.

If you check out my post on bringing back Chelios, he might spell Hendry for a game here or there and those two, w/ Hjalmarsson, would be your stay-at-home blue liners.