So Blackhawk fans, taking the money out of the equation, hypothetically, which of your SCW goalies would you prefer to start the 2013-14 season with?

Crawford or Niemi?

Based on what's come from West Madison, the organ-I-zation picked CC a few years back.

Not going to happen. The Hawks used both their compliance buyouts this summer on Montador and Olesz.

What will probably happen is that Hossa will retire sometime before his contract is up, and the Hawks will take some sort of penalty cap-wise when that happens.
- EKolb13

Or perhaps some creative use of LTIR...?

So Blackhawk fans, taking the money out of the equation, hypothetically, which of your SCW goalies would you prefer to start the 2013-14 season with?

Crawford or Niemi?

- scottak

Doesn't matter, can win with either behind our stellar defense. Therefore, I'd take money into the equation and go with whomever is cheaper.

If Crawford hits FA, does any other team give him a similar contract? I just don't
see it.

Or perhaps some creative use of LTIR...?
- ArlingtonRob

Maybe. However, if Hossa wants to pull a Kovalchuk and retire to then play overseas, I think that would take the LTIR option off the table.

I've yet to chime in on this so here it goes.

I'm not at all surprised at the money and unless peeps were expecting CC's next contract to be about $3.5 - $4 mil a year (not realistic when you look at the goalie market the past few years) then CC got pretty much what good/elite goaltenders are making now a days. If anything the term surprised me because you're basically locking CC up for 7 years total so that's putting an awful lot of trust in CC. Personally I would've only gone 4-5 years max.

I don't think it's a bad contract but I definitely think it's a risky one just like Bickell's. Hopefully it turns out fine but it's the kind of deal that can get a GM fired if it backfires.

As for Hammer's contract, I'd love to see the Hawks extend him but I also would like to see another year from him like last year. Remember his first two years after signing his extension were not up to par so I'd like a repeat of last year and more before the Hawks commit $6 mil a year to him (yes he will get that much from either the Hawks or some other team).

I'm no economist by any means, but would the weakened Canadian Dollar possibly influence the cap somewhat?
- EKolb13

What exchange rate are you following Eli? The dollars are still near parity...which is great for the NHL and it's players.

Did I miss something?

If Crawford hits FA, does any other team give him a similar contract? I just don't
see it.
- RomanF

Crawford is a Cup winner...a Jennings winner...and has rock solid stats.

But I'll repeat the big one...he's a Cup winner. Being a winner gets you noticed.

He would get paid regardless of how skeptical Hawk fans view him.

What exchange rate are you following Eli? The dollars are still near parity...which is great for the NHL and it's players.

Did I miss something?
- ArlingtonRob

I remember reading something about the Canadian Dollar being weaker (possibly close to 90 cents to the USD in the near future) while all the expansion/relocation talk was going on a couple months ago. Perhaps it's improved?

If Crawford hits FA, does any other team give him a similar contract? I just don't
see it.
- RomanF

I would almost go as far to GUARANTEE Crawdiddly gets 5.5 per at least from someone

6? flip a coin

Maybe. However, if Hossa wants to pull a Kovalchuk and retire to then play overseas, I think that would take the LTIR option off the table.
- EKolb13

You seriously think Hossa would pull a Kovalchuk? Few Russian hockey players can be trusted, but are Slovaks known to abandon NHL contracts?

Hossa has always appeared to be a player that wants to compete against the finest players in the best league.

I can't see him quitting like Kovalchuk...

I remember reading something about the Canadian Dollar being weaker (possibly close to 90 cents to the USD in the near future) while all the expansion/relocation talk was going on a couple months ago. Perhaps it's improved?
- EKolb13

Just checked today's rate and it's .95/1...which is about where it's been for years.

You seriously think Hossa would pull a Kovalchuk? Few Russian hockey players can be trusted, but are Slovaks known to abandon NHL contracts?

Hossa has always appeared to be a player that wants to compete against the finest players in the best league.

I can't see him quitting like Kovalchuk...
- ArlingtonRob

I can't see him quitting like Kovalchuk, but I could see him hang'em up in the NHL to help support a club in Slovakia if the KHL were to expand there. Like sometime around the summer of 2016 or after, when the salary starts to drop on his NHL contract.

If Crawford hits FA, does any other team give him a similar contract? I just don't see it.
- RomanF

I don't either. I think it was an overpayment, but at least he helped you win a SC before getting overpaid.

Probably between 4-5 Million/Yr, and about 4 years is what I would think. More than that is a reach IMO.

I can't see him quitting like Kovalchuk, but I could see him hang'em up in the NHL to help support a club in Slovakia if the KHL were to expand there. Like sometime around the summer of 2016 or after, when the salary starts to drop on his NHL contract.
- EKolb13

I'd be surprised if he left for the KHL with their second class facilities, 6 hour flights to Siberia on substandard aircraft and mob connected ownership.

Now I do see him returning to Slovakia when his playing days are over, perhaps to a coaching career like his father.

But it's all just a hunch on my part...

I don't either. I think it was an overpayment, but at least he helped you win a SC before getting overpaid.

Probably between 4-5 Million/Yr, and about 4 years is what I would think. More than that is a reach IMO.
- carcus

Personally, I think the "reach" is the annual prediction of a Blues Stanley Cup victory.

I'd be surprised if he left for the KHL with their second class facilities, 6 hour flights to Siberia on substandard aircraft and mob connected ownership.

Now I do see him returning to Slovakia when his playing days are over, perhaps to a coaching career like his father.

But it's all just a hunch on my part...
- ArlingtonRob

...and a hunch on my part as well.

Personally, I think the "reach" is the annual prediction of a Blues Stanley Cup victory.
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed.

Personally, I think the "reach" is the annual prediction of a Blues Stanley Cup victory.
- ArlingtonRob

Who has an annual prediction?

No big deal, I think it is too much. Not losing any sleep over it though.

I would almost go as far to GUARANTEE Crawdiddly gets 5.5 per at least from someone

6? flip a coin
- FourFeathers773

I would agree, teams like Calgary or the Islanders would have paid him that much. I think Stan added a bit more as compensation for no NTC.

Not meant to be a dig at Hawks GM,but that is a stupid contract. Owners and GMs just keep on driving up the prices and handcuffing the team for years to come.

Six million dollar salaries use to be reserved for the elite players but now are being handed to average players. Well at least we can all look forward to another lockout at the end of the CBA and listen to owners cry foul.

Sorry ,don't like the contract at all.
- VANTEL

You lose a bet?

My fear with CC is he has a very short body of work 1 good year, 1 bad year, 1 Cup where he missed half he season and was matched, numbers wise, by his #2.

Where do we go if 13-14 is more like 11-12 than last year? The more prudent option would have been to see how he does the first half of 13-14, then make a decision. And you still could have gotten him for 6/36 mid season.
- scottak

Agreed.

He may have been matched numbers wise by Emery, but the eye test tells you Emery just isn't as good. And the boys always seemed to play harder in front of Razor, knowing they had to. Post-to-post, probably the slowest in the league. He was perfect for a #2, but I don't think things end well in Philly if they try riding him for a full season.

Where do we go if next year is more like two years ago? Two cups in five years. I'm okay with that. Crow is in his prime and seemed to overcome his bugaboos last year.
- 1mbecker

Had to, or wanted to?

Doesn't matter, can win with either behind our stellar defense. Therefore, I'd take money into the equation and go with whomever is cheaper.
- RomanF

Yup.

Yup.
- Ogilthorpe2

Hi Ogie!