Sure it all makes sense but things have a way of working itself out. All of this is a scenario that could happen but more than likely won't. Who's to say Sharp and Seabrook finish their contracts in a Hawk sweater. Maybe Crawford is replaced after next year by the newly signed Raanta. You talk as if they don't have a replacement but you are also talking about two years from now. Hammer will likely be resigned.........and Leddy may not.......you have prospects in the system who fill some of these spots but again suggesting Hossa is a bottom six in two years is based on nothing which was your original argument.....and now it's about cap space 2 years from now.
- UnnamedSource

Raanta could very well be the guy that they got from Florida who everyone was excited about.

The Bowman philosophy dating back to Detroit shows they usually don't pay goalies big money...but in this case....they may no choice.

In my best Chris Farley impersonation:

Hey Dave Bolland...remember that oe time...when like you guys were losing in game 6,and Frolik redirected an Oduya shot to the front of the net,and you beat Boychuk to it and scored the game winner with less than a minute to go? Do you remember?

Dave Bolland: Yeah

Chris Farley: That was awesome!
Rip big guy!
- captainserious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1PUhcqBg98

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 6m
Following teams, IMO, not likely to buy out: ANA, BOS, BUF, CGY, CAR, COL, CBJ, DAL, FLA, LA, MIN, NJ, NSH, OTT, PHX, SJ, STL, WSH, WPG.

Like someone said, Carolina needs help on D too. #5 is better than #7 and gets him out of the conference.

If Leddy prices himself out of Chicago, would think #5 guantees our 6'5" guy is available, #7, maybe not so much
- ikeane

I don't think the hurricanes thinj=k they ahve a big need for anything but a depth defenseman...
The Carolina organization has been adamant about why they don't pick defenders (they take longer) and then the ONE time they uncharacteristically select one in midget Ryan Murphy, an unreal "offenseman" they are yet to see any returns on their selection. He will be there eventually and I don't think he and leddy can co-exixt but who knows the way the position of defense is morphing to more "point guard" than "pounder-types."

So no I don't think Carolina is picking anything but a winger and that slot is too low to get good value there, and players or extra picks and picking a bit later in the Buffalo, or Columbus, or Calgary spots suits them better

He may be a top 6 in 2 years...may be...but he also was an extremely durable player and the past 2 years injuries have taken their toll on him. As they do with everyone as they approach 35+.

I promise you wont be a top player in 2021.....

Again, I love Hossa but the contract he has it makes very hard to keep him past next season based on age, term, and cap hit.
- SteveRain

Of course he won't and more than likely he is the buy out next year but, all these future cap issues will work themselves out and likely will never happen. You forget StanBo worked it all out after 2010 and the Hawks won the cup three years after that.........

I have had the occasion to talk with him at my friend bar b/c he live behind Pony.
not a crowd of people but Wiz & Bolland and he was really good at choosing his words and being pretty careful...and thsi was BEFORE the Sedin Sisters and Bettman comments.
So I agree no dummy understands when on the ice you didg deeper and grittier and dirtier...
- wiz1901

Yea I had a brain fart on the retirement thing. I am sure if Hoss is ready to hang em up he'll have a CBO exercised against him. I'd like Hossa to remain in the organization if possible. He's world class in every aspect of hockey and life. Great, high character guy and a face of what we want our Chicago Blackhawks to be.
- kwolf68

Hossa has been my favorite Hawk since arriving simply because he busts his butt all the time and is a leader. I think we never win one Cup if we didn't sign him. His style of play definitely helped rub off on Toews. Simply for that he will always be one of the best moves the franchise ever made.

In my best Chris Farley impersonation:

Hey Dave Bolland...remember that oe time...when like you guys were losing in game 6,and Frolik redirected an Oduya shot to the front of the net,and you beat Boychuk to it and scored the game winner with less than a minute to go? Do you remember?

Dave Bolland: Yeah

Chris Farley: That was awesome!
Rip big guy!
- captainserious

I actually think a Hossa buyout is coming.






But at the end of next season, when they really will need the cap space to sign those tow first line guys, what are their names?

I actually think a Hossa buyout is coming.






But at the end of next season, when they really will need the cap space to sign those tow first line guys, what are their names?
- wiz1901

I agree. I think Hossa returns for one more year. The Hawks use one CBO on Monty or Olesz then bank one.

Raanta could very well be the guy that they got from Florida who everyone was excited about.

The Bowman philosophy dating back to Detroit shows they usually don't pay goalies big money...but in this case....they may no choice.
- SteveRain

Could be but after winning two cups in three years in the salary cup era I'm going to trust the organization and give them the benefit of the doubt that they know what they're doing....

The carolina organization has been adamant about why they done't pick defenders (they take longer) and then the ONE time they uncharacteristically select one in midget Ryan Murphy, an unreal "offenseman" they are yet to see any returns on their selection.

So no I don't think Carolina is picking anything but a winger and that slot is too low to get good value there, and players or extra picks and picking a bit later in the Buffalo, or Columbus, or Calgary spots suits them better
- wiz1901

I like your reasoning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1PUhcqBg98
- nickmo2699

Great top 10! Thanks for the link!

yeah I heard he was going pro but just didn't see how they were gonna fit a contract right now.
He starts in Rockford, but he has exception feet and will quickly adjust i believ and be the one who pressures Stanton's spot as the 6/7 before next seaosn is over.
Again they like to take it slow with these guys, but he has seen lots of international competition and quicker attackers so I'm betting he adjust nicely ovee the next year....but not as a Hawk right away.
- wiz1901

I could see in a couple of years......Seabs being traded....Hammer taking his spot and Johns playing on the second unit.

I actually think a Hossa buyout is coming.






But at the end of next season, when they really will need the cap space to sign those tow first line guys, what are their names?
- wiz1901

That's been my thinking as well. And it makes the most sense, given that Hossa is currently injured. You put him on IR, let him take his time recovering, let him play in the Olympics, and then bring him back after that for the playoff run and the playoffs.

You have a healthy and rested Hossa and give him one last shot at a Cup as a Hawk.

It's not about judging and risking further injury. It's about asking yourself what would you do to be called a champion and bring a championship to your organization and the city. These guys did that, Bickell, Hoss, Tazer, they ARE warrioirs and they pushed pain aside to once again call themselves Champs. That's my gripe and comparison w Cutler. You can have your thats not fair opinion, but were not talking about the regular season. We are talking about being one half away from going to the Super Bowl.
- nickmo2699

And we're talking about people's health and careers - I'm not willing to ask them to risk it all - already injured - just to entertain me.

Nick Cotsonika ‏@cotsonika 1m
Bergeron has a small hole in lung, Chiarelli told repoters via @GlobeFluto
- FourFeathers773

Just heard on NHL network he was admitted to the hospital shortly after the game and has been there since. Horrible, hope he gets healthy soon. One tough SOB. Lots of respect for him.

I could see in a couple of years......Seabs being traded....Hammer taking his spot and Johns playing on the second unit.
- UnnamedSource

I would be surprised if they resigned Seabs after his next deal is up. There's a lot of wear on those tires ...

I actually think a Hossa buyout is coming.






But at the end of next season, when they really will need the cap space to sign those tow first line guys, what are their names?
- wiz1901

Someone that has a disc problem so bad that he cant feel one leg would be very tempted to retire especially if that person is set financially for the rest of his life

I could see in a couple of years......Seabs being traded....Hammer taking his spot and Johns playing on the second unit.
- UnnamedSource

According to HNiCanada, Seabrook was who they were gonna trade THIS off seaosn until he became the glue guy in the playoffs.

(I had trouble not thinking the people who surmised this did so w/o inside info, b/c I just kept think ..."then who is our big defenseman?")

Could be but after winning two cups in three years in the salary cup era I'm going to trust the organization and give them the benefit of the doubt that they know what they're doing....
- UnnamedSource

As do I....and we will know by next Friday if they have 1 compliance left...

And we're talking about people's health and careers - I'm not willing to ask them to risk it all - already injured - just to entertain me.
- StLBravesFan

Exactly. Look what happened to poor Tommy Harris!!!

They had a deal basically done in March for Bickell (insanely low $ too), but then it got derailed. Last I heard, they were zeroing in on something very similar to Hjalmarsson's current deal. Bickell could do better in UFA, but he goes to a worse team and probably a worse market. My info, from a sourece close to his family is he wants to stay in Chicago, and the Hawks have him as top priority. So I see that getting done—but the $ and timing forces some other issues.
- John Jaeckel

I wouldn't be surprised that you hear he is a long term blackhawk at the parade

Someone that has a disc problem so bad that he cant feel one leg would be very tempted to retire especially if that person is set financially for the rest of his life
- Maggie

Maybe they have had that conversation and Hossa says the same and they are just waiting for the parade to end...

(and the Blackhawks lose the best game to game all around 200 foot player who never quits on any play....

...and you know the hawks HAVE to sign him as an ambassador since he would be the only two Cup one they ever had...so it's not like he couldn't rest his head and body and still be honored, respected and loved...

Someone that has a disc problem so bad that he cant feel one leg would be very tempted to retire especially if that person is set financially for the rest of his life
- Maggie

I should have added IMO