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Here's a quick blog with some rumors and details surrounding the Hawks' pitches for both of the marquee free agents of 2012.

The big one that I heard this morning is the Hawks allegedly offered Parise a $14 million signing bonus. When you hold that up next to angles reported by many others over the last 24 hours, it appears this is the wedge the Hawks used to assert themselves in this bidding war, and perhaps assume the upper hand.

It is also rumored New Jersey, at the very least, could not or would not offer this kind of upfront cash. $14 million in cash, on the table and not spread out over a number of years, is a powerful psychological weapon. It is hard to walk away from it, and it sends the message: we're the Chicago Blackhawks, one of the richest, highest profile brands in pro sports, and if you join us, you can expect more iike this . . . in endorsements, winning and lifestyle.

And while I have not heard geography is quite the issue for Parise that it is for Suter, it could matter. Again, somewhat like Suter, of all the teams bidding only the Wild (duh) are closer to Parise's home than Chicago is. Further, I heard last night that Parise's significant other is a fan of Chicago as a place to live.

And what about Bob . . . well, Bob Suter's son . . . Ryan? Though I have been beating this drum for a number of weeks and few seem to be willing to see it, geography apparently matters a lot for Suter. As of Sunday evening, the Hawks had allegedly withdrawn from the Suter bidding as they were unable to match osme of the bigger dollars being thrown around by other teams.

But something funny happened on the way to Joe Louis Arena. I am told Suter's family weighed in, and the question was asked: is proximity to family and the family farm in Madison, maybe more important than a few million more dollars over the next decade? At that point, I'm told, Suter's camp came back to the Blackhawks yesterday morning, and the Hawks were back in that race as well.

Where it stands, or stood as of late last night, is the Hawks have made significant individual offers to each player, and a "combined" offer (with obviously less dollars for each) should the two players decide they want to play together in Chiocago— for what would be arguably the most powerful on-ice roster in the NHL.

Some will scoff. But if it made sense for Pittsburgh, with their existing salary commitments, why not Chicago— a bigger market, with significant endorsement opportunities and geographic advantages for two Midwestern natives?

I am not arguing here that the Hawks will get either or both players, or that they should, versus any other club. I am saying that all the "conventional wisdom" that originally ruled the Hawks out of the bidding for either player was apparently wrong.

How it will play out we should all know better by the end of the day today.

In the meantime, the Hawks cannot be criticized for failing to step up and take a huge swing.

How the Hawks will pay for it is a problem for people paid much more to solve those issues than myself or anyone who reads this blog or posts those questions on Twitter. However, Cris at the 300 Level has a blog this morning showing how the Hawks can easily afford one of these players. To afford both, yes, likely, the Hawks would have to consummate one of several alleged deals in place for defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson—and maybe another deal of a larger salary.

But they are prepared to do it, if they hit the free agent lottery later today.

We shall see.




JJ

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