Not trying to be a Richard, but that's a lot of "if's".
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree, Ogie. Unless Bickell scores over 20 goals a season, that's a tough contract to take. Glad he gave us the same hometown discount Sharp did!!

I'm just hoping Leddy's deal is nothing above $2.5M. If Emery or Rozy want anything north of $1.5M, no thanks. I would like to see them sign a top UFA face off guy next, above all else. If Emery does sign for anything more than one year, it definitely tells me Crawford is gone after next year, especially with the ridiculous deals goalies have been signing lately. (Rask is said to be looking at an 8 year $56M deal!? If true, ).

Would love to see Briere for a small cap hit...but think Carcillo and Brookbank would/should need to go to make it happen.
- DK002

+1

Not sure how much he has left in the tank, or how much it would cost, but what about bringing in Matt Cullen?

I went on record when Subban signed the deal back in January and said Marc Bergevins best move for Hawks and many other teams, is getting that deal done for 2 years. That bridge contract.

In the big picture it really is the best deal for players and teams.
- TrueGrit

Leddy bet on himself and allowed the Hawks to catch their breath....Can be a win-win.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I agree, Ogie. Unless Bickell scores over 20 goals a season, that's a tough contract to take. Glad he gave us the same hometown discount Sharp did!!

I'm just hoping Leddy's deal is nothing above $2.5M. If Emery or Rozy want anything north of $1.5M, no thanks. I would like to see them sign a top UFA face off guy next, above all else. If Emery does sign for anything more than one year, it definitely tells me Crawford is gone after next year, especially with the ridiculous deals goalies have been signing lately. (Rask is said to be looking at an 8 year $56M deal!? If true, ).
- hawks2010

Bicks is worth $16 million PHUCK'N SMILES THIS SUMMER for the joy he and his mates have brought to us all.

Bicks is worth $16 million PHUCK'N SMILES THIS SUMMER for the joy he and his mates have brought to us all.
- philco28

Not sure how much he has left in the tank, or how much it would cost, but what about bringing in Matt Cullen?
- hawks2010

Probably too much.

I don't know why, but I've been getting the feeling that Stan will sign Kyle Chipchura for the 4th like. I'd much prefer Boyd Gordon or Matt Hendricks but Chipchura would be a lower cost option.

I'm too entertained by the Salary Cap Calculator on CapGeek, so let me share my thoughts (I apologize that I've done this so many times.)

Let's look at what we DEFINITELY have in place for next season ...

Bickell / Toews / Hossa
Sharp / _____ / Kane
Saad / Shaw / Smith (I think this is going to be the new third line)
_____ / Kruger / _____

Seabrook / Keith
Hjalmarsson / Oduya
_____ / Leddy
Brookbank

Crawford
Emery (I'll assume they somehow finalize a contract with him)


Now, looking at the blanks, the logical blanks that I see come from the fourth line, and those blanks could easily be occupied by the likes of Morin and Hayes. However, I don't think that it would be smart to play Kruger with two inexperienced (for the most part) players. I think that it would be wise for the team to bring in a veteran presence to help Kruger and one of the kids (likely Morin) out. So, with that being said, I sign ... Jerred Smithson for a cap hit of $850,000. Smithson is 6'3" and 209 LBS. He can play right wing or he can play center, and he owns a career face-off percentage of 54.9%. He is excellent at the draw and is also a player that can hit. He had almost 100 hits this past season, and the two years prior he had 162 and 128 respectively. He is good on the penalty kill as well. I also like Matt Hendricks, but I think that he will draw more interest than Smithson will, and will likely command more. With this being done, I think that Jeremy Morin will have the ability to play on the fourth line with two players who are very sound defensively. All three players play very hard and I can see all three finding chemistry.

Our roster now looks like this ...


Bickell / Toews / Hossa
Sharp / _____ / Kane
Saad / Shaw / Smith (I think this is going to be the new third line)
Morin / Kruger / Smithson

Seabrook / Keith
Hjalmarsson / Oduya
_____ / Leddy
Brookbank


Moving on, I think that one other pressing question is, who pairs up with Nick Leddy? I think that the answer SHOULD be Michael Rozsival. However, the big question remains, would he be willing to take a slight pay-cut in order to give the team more breathing room? Or will another team snag him because they offered more money? At the end of the day, I think that it is the latter. So, with that being said, I think that Nick Leddy has a new partner by the name of ... Kurtis Foster. Yep. Kurtis Foster. Kurt Foster is 6'5" and 225 LBS. He's coming off of a season where he wasn't really used by the Philadelphia Flyers, but what is really appealing about Kurtis aside for his size is the offense he brings. For his career, Foster has 160 points in 405 games. However, what is significant about his numbers is that he has 95 points off the power-play. That means more than half of his offense comes from the man advantage. During his best season ('09-'10 in Tampa Bay) he had 42 points, 26 off which came off the power-play (only Mike Green, Sergei Gonchar, and Dan Boyle had more assists than he did. He had more than the likes of Niedermeyer, Pronger, and Doughty to name a few.) I think that given more playing time, and given Chicago's electric offense, I think that he can really thrive in the same way Rozsival did. I think he will be a VERY affordable cap hit. I'm estimating around $900,000 for his services on a one-year deal. He would REALLY upgrade the power-play.

Bickell / Toews / Hossa
Sharp / _____ / Kane
Saad / Shaw / Smith (I think this is going to be the new third line)
Morin / Kruger / Smithson

Seabrook / Keith
Hjalmarsson / Oduya
Foster / Leddy
Brookbank


Our defense now looks set. Brookbank/Foster will essentially alternate if need be, but I like how our defense is looking.


And now, we have come to the most pressing question. This question hurts to even think about. No scientist or mathematician can come up with an answer as to WHO will fill the role of the second line center. However, I think that the job is essentially filled by .... drum-roll please ..... *drum roll* .... BRANDON PIRRI! YES! You guessed it! Brandon Pirri, the leading scorer in the AHL this past season. He *surprises* everyone and wins the job. Stan said that he wanted to give some of the younger kids an opportunity to win a spot, and Brandon Pirri is this year's Mega Millions Lotto winner. Brandon will skate with Kane and Sharp, two of the best wingers in the NHL. He will have an ample amount of pressure placed upon his shoulders, but I think the kid steps up! I think that Stan is the happiest of them all for saving an extra penny! Amid the frustration of Blackhawks fans everywhere, I think Pirri can really turn some heads. The 'Hawks will have around $1,500,000 of cap space for the upcoming season, and when it's said and done I think that by the trade deadline if it remains a problem the 'Hawks will end up acquiring a LEGITIMATE second line center.

So, ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together and let me hear you scream as I present to you ... your 2013/2014 Chicago Blackhawks!


Bickell / Toews / Hossa
Sharp / Pirri / Kane
Saad / Shaw / Smith
Morin / Kruger / Smithson

Carcillo / Hayes

Seabrook / Keith
Hjalmarsson / Oduya
Foster / Leddy
Brookbank

For the rockford people: who did Kruger play with during the lockout? I remember him being really productive there

- mrpaulish

bickell for 4, that is the price. as long as he comes through during playoffs. nuff said.

bickell for 4, that is the price. as long as he comes through during playoffs. nuff said.
- jsabey

im a huge clarkson fan. we cant get him. everyone hates him, i think he would have been an awesome pick up.

I can already see myself this October begging the Hawks to put Sharp at 2C...

...to borrow from Yogi Berra, it'll be "deja vu all over again".

You might be sad, but not me. Wanted him gone a year ago.

But thanks for the Cup winner Rat! That was a memorable way to go out.
- ArlingtonRob

i hope your future hawks have the knack for the puck, and the ability to hit people hard.

And now, we have come to the most pressing question. This question hurts to even think about. No scientist or mathematician can come up with an answer as to WHO will fill the role of the second line center. However, I think that the job is essentially filled by .... drum-roll please ..... *drum roll* .... BRANDON PIRRI! YES! You guessed it! Brandon Pirri, the leading scorer in the AHL this past season. He *surprises* everyone and wins the job. Stan said that he wanted to give some of the younger kids an opportunity to win a spot, and Brandon Pirri is this year's Mega Millions Lotto winner. Brandon will skate with Kane and Sharp, two of the best wingers in the NHL. He will have an ample amount of pressure placed upon his shoulders, but I think the kid steps up! I think that Stan is the happiest of them all for saving an extra penny! Amid the frustration of Blackhawks fans everywhere, I think Pirri can really turn some heads. The 'Hawks will have around $1,500,000 of cap space for the upcoming season, and when it's said and done I think that by the trade deadline if it remains a problem the 'Hawks will end up acquiring a LEGITIMATE second line center.

So, ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together and let me hear you scream as I present to you ... your 2013/2014 Chicago Blackhawks!


Bickell / Toews / Hossa
Sharp / Pirri / Kane
Saad / Shaw / Smith
Morin / Kruger / Smithson

Carcillo / Hayes

Seabrook / Keith
Hjalmarsson / Oduya
Foster / Leddy
Brookbank
- TommyHawk

Like I just said...by late October I'll be begging the Hawks to move Sharp over to 2C when Pirri is a -10 after 15 games.

i hope your future hawks have the knack for the puck, and the ability to hit people hard.
- jsabey

My future Hawks?

So what's your excuse for being up at this hour?

My future Hawks?

So what's your excuse for being up at this hour?
- ArlingtonRob

im not trying to be a jerk, think of what bolland did.

My future Hawks?

So what's your excuse for being up at this hour?
- ArlingtonRob

as far as im concerned you are my best friend. good question by you. i probably am drunk, but, i'm still with it. i guess we are doing what we need to do. i wouldve love to have clarkson. that guy is a monster. bickell, isnt much name??? whatever. good for him. sad to see bolland go, a real hockey player.

im not trying to be a jerk, think of what bolland did.
- jsabey

Regarding Bolland...injury issues and his inabiltiy to play 2C made his salary unacceptable...at least in my eyes.

I'm pleased they received 3 picks for him and I hope one of them works out.

Simple as that...in a hard cap world tough decisions must be made.

as far as im concerned you are my best friend. good question by you. i probably am drunk, but, i'm still with it. i guess we are doing what we need to do. i wouldve love to have clarckson. that is a monster. bickell, is that is name??? whatever. good for him. sad to see bolland go, a real hockey player.
- jsabey

I'm still hangin' out at our shop...where I work nights...I've had a few beers myself.
Now I would luv to sign Clarkson, the guy can be a monster...

...too bad it won't happen.

Regarding Bolland...injury issues and his inabiltiy to play 2C made his salary unacceptable...at least in my eyes.

I'm pleased they received 3 picks for him and I hope one of them works out.

Simple as that...in a hard cap world tough decisions must be made.
- ArlingtonRob

u are right. i knew it. i just had to be the guy to be real belligerrent about it.

I'm still hangin' out at our shop...where I work nights...I've had a few beers myself.
Now I would luv to sign Clarkson, the guy can be a monster...

...too bad it won't happen.
- ArlingtonRob

ur right i know, i just wont let bolland go easily

ur right i know, i just wont let bolland go easily
- jsabey

The Hawks have Shaw, and they've drafted like 3 more guys that play that relentless style. I'm optimistic about the Hawks future...

...they'll likely be very competitive for years.

I'm still hangin' out at our shop...where I work nights...I've had a few beers myself.
Now I would luv to sign Clarkson, the guy can be a monster...

...too bad it won't happen.
- ArlingtonRob

if you are going to mess around with money, that is the type of guye u do it on.

if you are going to mess around with money, that is the type of guye u do it on.
- jsabey

i was typing while you wher typing, i know what you are saying.

I'm going home my friend...

chat with ya after JJ's next post.

Here's hoping the Hawks surprise and sign a solid forward for center ice.

Adios.