My second favorite Hawks player The Hammer spent a few years being skewered here for his bloated (but market comparable) $3.4M salary after the Hawks matched the sheet he signed and now great angst because Crow may have some of the $ that #4 absolutely so richly deserves now on a new deal. It will never end on this board.

At least the overpaid Michael Frolik is gone, much to the dismay of many who suddenly decided he was an integral component of the machine, 11 goals in 136 regular season games be damned.

Next up for abuse is big Jimmy Hayes because he just can't skate. It's coming in a week or 2.
- RickJ

Nor can he play center.

My second favorite Hawks player The Hammer spent a few years being skewered here for his bloated (but market comparable) $3.4M salary after the Hawks matched the sheet he signed and now great angst because Crow may have some of the $ that #4 absolutely so richly deserves now on a new deal. It will never end on this board.

At least the overpaid Michael Frolik is gone, much to the dismay of many who suddenly decided he was an integral component of the machine, 11 goals in 136 regular season games be damned.

Next up for abuse is big Jimmy Hayes because he just can't skate. It's coming in a week or 2.
- RickJ

Yep, and it's going to be awesome. Can't wait.

If you don't think Hammer deserved the criticism in 11-12 you weren't watching. An argument can be made Frolik is overpaid and, if his offense stays missing in WPG, he will hear it even more there (seeing Cooke and Cluster get decent deals tells me the market on Frolik is about right).

If you are looking for a thread that only praises the players and the FO then go over to Lil Ian's propaganda thread and pretend everyone is discussing the Hawks instead of the Nucks.

Nor can he play center.
- EKolb13

Or wing...at an NHL level.

Yep, and it's going to be awesome. Can't wait.

If you don't think Hammer deserved the criticism in 11-12 you weren't watching. An argument can be made Frolik is overpaid and, if his offense stays missing in WPG, he will hear it even more there (seeing Cooke and Cluster get decent deals tells me the market on Frolik is about right).

If you are looking for a thread that only praises the players and the FO then go over to Lil Ian's propaganda thread and pretend everyone is discussing the Hawks instead of the Nucks.
- tredbrta

Thanks for the alternative option but I'm hanging in until the end of September at least because the pressure to fire Coach Q for a sub .500 preseason record will be really intense by then.

I don't know. Good question. I know Jokerit's season starts starts sometime next week.
- EKolb13

I would think TT will be in camp for awhile.

Thanks for the alternative option but I'm hanging in until the end of September at least because the pressure to fire Coach Q for a sub .500 preseason record will be really intense by then.
- RickJ

Gotcha.

Red font never hurts.

The CBC deal runs through next season. Between the expected increase in that contract as well as a stronger Canadian dollar, I think there are a lot of reasons to expect the revenue to go up next year.
- QStache

The CBC will probably lose the contract to TSN and the Can$ has dropped over 6 cents in the last year.

Really? I wonder if they use those numbers when they try to sell sponsorships.
- Nerko77

On ice sponsors are chump change compared to TV revenues anyway, I can't imagine it matters too much either way

On ice sponsors are chump change compared to TV revenues anyway, I can't imagine it matters too much either way
- rollpards19

On ice sponsors exist only because of TV - many are not even seen by the paying customers.

Yep, and it's going to be awesome. Can't wait.

If you don't think Hammer deserved the criticism in 11-12 you weren't watching. An argument can be made Frolik is overpaid and, if his offense stays missing in WPG, he will hear it even more there (seeing Cooke and Cluster get decent deals tells me the market on Frolik is about right).

If you are looking for a thread that only praises the players and the FO then go over to Lil Ian's propaganda thread and pretend everyone is discussing the Hawks instead of the Nucks.
- tredbrta

What drove me slightly mad during that time period was that Hammer would make the very same mistake as DK and DK would get a pass, meanwhile Hammer would get burn in effigy here.

What drove me slightly mad during that time period was that Hammer would make the very same mistake as DK and DK would get a pass, meanwhile Hammer would get burn in effigy here.
- Beaver-Warrior

Especially from Olcyzk. It was almost impossible to listen to on TV.

Good read JJ! Hello fellow Hawks fans. The calender turned and we are off to the races. It should be an interesting season both on and off the ice.

Kudos to the posters on this board. There were some interesting points made by many. It made for some enjoyable reading.

All I can say is 2 Cups in 4 years. WOOOO HOOOO.
Oh yeah, (frank) the Blues. Of all the other invaders, they were cracking me up. Wait until they give Pietro 7 mil per.

Go Hawks!

The CBC will probably lose the contract to TSN and the Can$ has dropped over 6 cents in the last year.
- A_SteamingLombardi

The fact the Canadian Dollar has risen in recent years along with the price of oil has helped the economy up North and the NHL.

If things get better in the US ticket prices will continue to rise and the NHL will benefit form greater revenue for the majority of teams.

The NHL has been pretty much insulated from a bad economy here because of the strength up North and/if when things even out the league won't suffer.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Excuse me? I don't ever recall debating what 2d line center the Hawks should trade the Hammer for. I do how ever recall saying that the faithful here would start missing him by the second month of the season. There were a couple more of us (RickJ comes to mind) who also felt along the same lines. Please stop with all these sweeping "everybody here" statements.
- Beaver-Warrior

You're excused. (you burp?)
Right I am sweeping the generalities...but there were plenty you saw Hammer as good as gone to solve "the problem" at centre.
I just think that there are many talking out of both sides....pissin on one guy emotionally and then suddenly figuring out within a year that the player really wasn't as bad" as they were ranting.

Already angry with the repeat "opinions" on Crawford's deal...it is done. Moot.

Two cups when i thought i would never see another and "so many" here are knee deep in opinion that it is starting to stink.

I have enjoyed the Canuck fan comraderie and the Maple Leaf fan misdirected koolaid, but I am planning more constructive past times until the games start, because fan "Crowstorm" seems so silly, misdirected, and puzzling.

Anyone know if TT will be at training camp?? I am thrilled with his signing anc can't wait to see what he can do. Anyone know?
- flyerdude17

After the signing, all parties said that TT wouldn't play in the NHL until after he completed his last year in Jokerit.

Since the joke would be on Jokerit to take away one of their first line guys in order to draw some new evaluations against NHLers in an NHL training camp, would it be so very safe to assume he stays the phuck in Finland and does what he is getting paid to do there?

Is Robert Hägg gonna be in Flyer's spring training? There, i guess you got your answer...

I just think it is going to be hard for some to adjust. Crawford (along with many others) are going to lose several inches off their pads. That is going to mean either opening up their five hole more, or opening up the posts more if they keep their knees closer together when they go down in the butterfly.

It is going to open up more of the net, so it will be an adjustment.
- carcus

it means that whatever doesn't get past his glove will get thru his 5 hole

My second favorite Hawks player The Hammer spent a few years being skewered here for his bloated (but market comparable) $3.4M salary after the Hawks matched the sheet he signed and now great angst because Crow may have some of the $ that #4 absolutely so richly deserves now on a new deal. It will never end on this board.

At least the overpaid Michael Frolik is gone, much to the dismay of many who suddenly decided he was an integral component of the machine, 11 goals in 136 regular season games be damned.

Next up for abuse is big Jimmy Hayes because he just can't skate. It's coming in a week or 2.
- RickJ

Boooooooo.

There was more to Frolik's game than goals.

The first game Leaf babies versus Blackhawk tots is tomorrow and no mentions of ways for us to see the games even on the maple leaf site.... I know everyone is going to be on their toes to find channels feeds and streams in the next 24 right?

I also like the deal.

I think we'll see the cap increase dramatically next season to close to 70 million.

With about 55.6 committed to 13 players for next season (not counting Hammer), the Hawks would be in a position to have about 14 million to sign Hammer and fill out the roster.

Considering some of those open spots will be taken by relatively cheap, younger players who may be ready (McNeill, Danault, Nordstrom, Clendening), I think that while 6 million is fairly steep today, it may work out ok in the future.

The interesting part is also what happens with Antti Raanta. He presumably chose Chicago because he thought it would give him a chance to play. Now that the starter's role is locked up for the forseeable future, I hope we don't get another Alexander Salak situation.

I can't argue with any of this. I am not sure what they're thinking. It seems monumentally idiotic unless they know some things the rest of us don't (ie cap inflation, a plan to move an Oduya, etc). Which I am prepared to believe is possible.
- John Jaeckel

Very well could be, and I don't disagree moving Oduya isn't in the cards....

I just don't get the timing of the deal....that is all. Doesn't make a lot of sense, and seemed rush to get it done.

In the end, I'm a guy on a blog ranting about my opinion. I can only hope they do have a plan in place to offset the potential cap hell that looms....Otherwise, I would hope all the talking heads who have been showering Bowman with rose petals since "the streak" dig up all their cap hell columns and have at it.

I am excited NFL is back, which means hockey is around the corner...Completely ignored baseball...if that is still a sport.

I also like the deal.

I think we'll see the cap increase dramatically next season to close to 70 million.

With about 55.6 committed to 13 players for next season (not counting Hammer), the Hawks would be in a position to have about 14 million to sign Hammer and fill out the roster.

Considering some of those open spots will be taken by relatively cheap, younger players who may be ready (McNeill, Danault, Nordstrom, Clendening), I think that while 6 million is fairly steep today, it may work out ok in the future.

The interesting part is also what happens with Antti Raanta. He presumably chose Chicago because he thought it would give him a chance to play. Now that the starter's role is locked up for the forseeable future, I hope we don't get another Alexander Salak situation.
- andru2797

Not as easy as that.....

You will have at least 7 million tied up in Raanta (RFA) & Hammer (if you choose to resign him) and that could be on the low end...So at 62 million with 8 million in cap space to lock in at least 6, probably 7 guys it gets dicey....especially when one of those guys on the cheap NOW, is going to want a very NICE raise....that man? One Andrew Shaw......So I hope Johnny Oduya is renting....

Boooooooo.

There was more to Frolik's game than goals.
- DarthKane

I like Frolik as well, but what he was being paid for...didnt' make financial sense for this team to keep him. he was a solid all around player, who was being paid like a top 6 guy.

The time he signed that deal, Hawks had very little, if any, proven depth guys on this team.

I like Frolik as well, but what he was being paid for...didnt' make financial sense for this team to keep him. he was a solid all around player, who was being paid like a top 6 guy.

The time he signed that deal, Hawks had very little, if any, proven depth guys on this team.
- SteveRain

I agree that $2.33 million was too much for Frolik given his role. If he was making $1.33 he'd still be on the team. I just think by now people should have adjusted their expectations of Frolik, it's unrealistic to expect him to score 20 (on Chicago at least). Even though Frolik was overpaid he did provide value to the team and played an important role in our Cup win. But sadly his role on the 4th line and PK can be replaced. I think Cleary or Raymond would be decent options for the 4th line.

Report: Hjalmarsson signs a 5-year extension. No details announced yet.

There's an extension worked out with Hammer