What a crazy couple of days.
The term "rumors swirling" was never more true. Swirling and contradicting and disappearing then reappearing.
First. the Hawks are after Evgeni Malkin, then they're not, then maybe they are.
Marcus Kruger is on the market. Wait, no he's not. Well, yes, he might be if the Hawks eat some of his salary.
Corey Crawford, Artem Anisimov, Andrew Shaw, Brent Seabrook. Lots of names.
So as I sit here at my computer in the early morning of draft day, what appears to have happened is this. As I was told for several days, the Hawks would wait for the final cap number to be announced to make any big decisions. When it was announced, as I heard from a solid source yesterday, they went into sort of a fire sale mode.
This is my take:
The team apparently acknowledged that too many big money contracts had been given to too many guys, in light of a $73 million cap that is unlikely to go up much, if at all, next year. And there's the matter of extending Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin.
Thus the Hawks were/are exploring dealing the aforementioned: Shaw, Kruger, Anisimov, Crawford.
I have heard directly conflicting reports on the possibility of Seabrook being shopped, and as he has a fairly strict NMC with a modified NTC deferred to the last two years of his deal, I pretty much don't seen that deal happening.
Yes, Crawford has an NMC—with a modified NTC that I believe is in effect now—meaning if asked, he has to submit a list of teams to which he would accept a deal to.
Anisimov and Kruger have NMCs in their new deals, but neither has taken effect yet.
More of my take:
I think if the team is shopping Crawford, and I keep hearing that they are quietly doing so, they might be asking too much in return in what is a buyer's market for goalies this summer.
If you'd asked me two weeks ago the likelihood of Kruger being dealt, I would have said next to zero. However, in light of what I've heard over the last 48 hours, I suspect it's more possible. All that said, if I had to bet, the team does not move Kruger.
First, as some smart people have pointed out, why retain salary on a relatively middling contract to get rid of a very useful and not easily replaced player?
Second, Kruger gave the Hawks a huge discount on a bridge deal last summer in order to remain in Chicago—and get paid starting this year.
Trading him now would severely damage the Hawks' credibility with any player they ask to work with them in the future. Take that to the bank.
All that said, the Hawks may need to move a big contract, and it may take packaging Kruger or Shaw's rights to help get it done.
As with the last two summers, time is not on Stan Bowman's side, because everyone knows he is up against the cap and has some work he needs to get done.
In return for Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, Nick Leddy, and Stephen Johns, all Bowman has left to show are Ville Pokka, Anisimov, some leftover cap hit for (gag) Rob Scuderi, and a few days of UFA rights to Andrew Ladd.
Unlike the last two summers, Bowman may need to move quickly and not wait for a better offer in a buyer's market.
In addition to the Malkin thing, which is appearing more and more to be somewhere between a publicity stunt and maybe a brief phone call the other day, I was told yesterday the Hawks would like to be serious players for Milan Lucic—which makes a little more sense logistically and in terms of a need—a big, physical LW who can play in the top 6.
But none of that remotely matters if the Hawks don't get some business done here in the next few days.
So here's what I think we can expect:
1) A trade or two that will result in creating cap room, perhaps bringing back picks and/or a younger player or two. I heard two names yesterday, was asked not to share at this point: a young 2C and a power LW who is more of a lower line guy, but may have some upside.
2) Perhaps a move in free agency on a power LW who can play in the top 6. Lucic, maybe a Troy Brouwer.
3) The chips I can see moving from the Hawks are Shaw, Crawford, Kruger and possibly Anisimov.
4) One team I would watch is the Flames—I heard yesterday the Hawks were in talks with Calgary.
Finally:
One thing I have heard from a couple of independent sources "close to the Hawks" is that the team is more comfortable than some might imagine handing the #1 goalie job to Scott Darling.
While I continue to hear people talk about Brian Campbell's desire to return to the Hawks, I have yet to hear from one credible source that the Hawks want him back.
That doesn't mean they don't want him—I just haven't heard that they do. And with all the other talk, normally, i would have heard it by now. Stay tuned on that. It could just be a piece of business that the team thinks it can get to later in the summer.
Will update as I hear it,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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