Tkachuk will sign for closer to 7, if not more. I also don't think Tkachuk moves, Calgary would do anything to keep him he brings so much to the team and so many things that can't be replaced, he is a really unique player. And if you want to see the entire league blow up then you put Chucky and Wilson on the same line!

Value wise in the trade I don't think you are out to lunch, I just don't see it happening

not enough money or trade value for Tkachuk

Kempny is NOT a benefit. No one will ever forget what he did to help WAS get the cup, he had a GREAT playoff run. They're finally seeing why he so a healthy scratch sooo many times with CHI...a bad defensive team and still couldn't get ice time. He NEEDS to play next to a guy with the caliber of Carlson in order to be effective. Much in the way the Rob Scuderi played next to Doughty...or Oesterle next to Keith...or (I thought...maybe wrong on this one) Ceci next to Karlsson. Truly elite Dmen like Carlson...take on poor linemates and make that line good.

Although I agree with @SmugTkachuk I like the way the team looks, above.

Calgary, like Washington, is pretty much a one-power-play-unit team this year. Tkachuk's part of the group that generates half their offense. They'd win more games with Holtby and Kempny, for sure, but I think you'd have an easier time convincing them to part with Hanifin and a 3rd, for an eat-your-vegetables trade package than with a high-scoring kid like Tkachuk. Flames fans would rather send Brodie and a 2nd, or Kylington and a 1st, but for all the use the team is actually getting out of Hanifin, they might as well trade him.

That doesn't help much with clearing roster spots on left defense, but it frees you up to trade Orlov to a team like Montreal seeking a #1LHD, for more picks and prospects. Then you end up with Hanifin, Djoos, and Siegenthaler on the left side, which I think works pretty well, next year. Depending how Djoos and Siegenthaler play, you can keep both or trade one the next year to make a spot for Johansen, when he's a fully developed offensive force, and no longer waiver-exempt.

Kempny is +14, this year, playing 19 minutes a night, with two goals and six points. He starts 45% of his shifts in the defensive zone, and shots are even, when he's on the ice. He's starting to play PK, too. Kempny blocked 44 shots in the playoffs, and landed 31 checks. Carlson figured in less than half of his five playoff points. Kempny got the puck in deep to Connolly who immediately set up Eller for the Cup-winning goal. Carlson was on the other side of the ice, covering the point just fine, but I wouldn't say that Carlson magically made that happen.

Kempny got limited ice time in Chicago last year mostly because he plays left defense, where Duncan Keith was still playing 24 minutes a night, causing Keith to go -29. Kempny, playing two years in Chicago, mostly without Keith, was +21. Now that Chicago has a new pair of eyes behind the bench, Keith is averaging just 22 minutes a game, is only -1 so far, and there's more opportunity for younger defensemen to prove themselves, which is working out especially well for Jokiharju, but everybody's doing pretty well with a little bit of a chance. Kempny's only problem in Chicago was Q. The only reason he was scratched while Keith played half of the available minutes in some games is that Q was living in the past, trying to play 23 year old Keith.

That's actually a very fair assessment. Q was quite particular when it came to his guys. He was that way for YEARS. Kempny still plays the majority of his time with Carlson though and I had already agreed that his playoff time was great. What has he done this year away from Carlson?

Thanks so much. Sometimes Kempny plays with Madison Bowey, and they've been surprisingly not bad together. Haven't seen him much with Niskanen yet, but it's not like that's a tough gig.

Edit: Kempny's not much on offense, but he's a steady defensive guy on a cheap contract. That's why I think CGY happily takes him and Holtby for Hanifin and a 3rd or so. Hanifin in Carolina had offense out the ear, but in CGY he's just a steady defensive guy an a less cheap contract than Kempny's, because Gio gets all the offensive mintues. I don't think they're moving Tkachuk.

Kempny has 1 point when away from Carlson this year. Against Dallas on November 3rd. all the rest came with Carlson.