If they send K down (which I'm not sure is possible, let alone probable), they save $900,000 on his cap hit.

Raanta gets brought up at his $925,000 cap hit.

A wash.

IF you can, and do, send K down.
- StLBravesFan

Khabby is a $1,7 mill cap hit...and you can't bury it in the AHL.

Maybe Edmonton would take him back, they seem to be really struggling. Or maybe Buffalo really wants the #1 overall draft pick, Khabby could help them out.
- DarthKane

I think Edmonton has been there, done that and will never do it again with Khabby.

Will Bickell turn out like Frolik did, a high priced bottom 6 player who will be expendable in the off-season?

How about against a team which has issues shooting the puck at the net?
- faustus1500

Can't play against his own team.

Khabby is a $1,7 mill cap hit...and you can't bury it in the AHL.
- Al

If he goes down, tho, only his cap hit above $900,000 still counts against the cap - right?

So - and I'm not necessarily recommending it - send him down and his remaining hit is $800,000. Bring Raanta up (same qualifier applies) and his cap hit is $925,000.

Goalie cap hit remains at about $1,700,000.

Khabby is a $1,7 mill cap hit...and you can't bury it in the AHL.
- Al

Teams can bury $925,000. Anything above that still stays on the cap.

But then the question becomes, if we can pretty much count on Khabi to give up 4 goals a game like he has so far (WAY too much)...at what point do we say "enough" and give Raanta a shot? I know we need to give CC a break every now and then, but come on!
- Murph76

The bigger issue here might not necessarily be the goaltending, but the poor defensive play and horrible turnovers. Granted, Khabi hasn't been particularly impressive and needs to improve, the players in front of him haven't done him (m)any favors.

I highly doubt that this early in the season, the FO makes a panic move and swaps back-up goalies. The team hasn't really gelled just yet.

Saturday's game against Charlotte Raanta got caught a half dozen times out of the blue paint at inopportune times either behind the net or coming out to challenge a player/shot. Perhaps it's just him adjusting to the smaller ice surface and doesn't quite realize just how quick the opposition can come rushing in? Otherwise, he's seeing plenty of shots and making big saves. Overall, he looks like a pretty steady goaltender to me.
- EKolb13

Eli - would you him up here so soon?

A few observations from attending the game:

1) If Khabby is our biggest worry this team will be just fine. This organization will figure out the backup goaltending situation.

2) Morin, Saad and some of the young kids certainly are making it known that they belong.

3) Defense. Need to shore up the key strength of this team.

All in all.. very happy with the start to this season.
- CaptainBlackhawk

And if C2 gets hurt?

If he goes down, tho, only his cap hit above $900,000 still counts against the cap - right?

So - and I'm not necessarily recommending it - send him down and his remaining hit is $800,000. Bring Raanta up (same qualifier applies) and his cap hit is $925,000.

Goalie cap hit remains at about $1,700,000.
- StLBravesFan

The missing factor is Khabby's $300,000 bonus on top of his $1.7 million salary. Does that affect anything if Khabby were to be buried?

Eli - would you him up here so soon?
- StLBravesFan

If it comes down to an injury, is there any other choice?

Honestly, I don't think Raanta can do any worse than Khabby at this point. The hope is that he would do better, and I would feel confident enough that he could be better than Khabby.

And if C2 gets hurt?
- Ogilthorpe2

Pray that Khabby and Raanta can hold down the net?

Good news.

Yeah, well that is only half the story. Consider: his linemattes; the five skaters he is usually playing with and the caliber of five players the opponent puts out against him; and so many other factors at least I do not know.

How about, does he have skill players helping him get those points? On powerplay? Is the opponent applying any strategy, such as intimidation? How good are teams he scores against lately? What type of goals, from where on ice ?

Want to get a clear picture. Helpful to have more information. TT is not player I expect to come help Chg late this season. He probably is going to be a top six forward here.....eventually.

Beside the obvious most talked about Icehogs, again not until next season earliest want to try to gauge how younger Broadhurst fits in. Only so many jobs on forward lines open. You have a Mills sort on fourth so a Broadhurst brings us ( fill in the blank) as compared to Morin or someone else and they give us (fill in blank) on third line? Or will Shaw become the third line RW if TT were a top six? What is the upside for Ross? Hartman and Nordstrom, Dannault and McNeil as center or wingers?

I think we learn the answers when they get here and have earned a shot by playing well in AHL and in spot fling(s) in Chg. remember they would take someone else job when they are ready.
- jhawk59

Lot of questions here and I don´t have time to answer all of those this time. But TT is probably most skilled forward in his team this season. He is not getting lot of help from his teammates and I think he has created a lot of scoring changes for his linemates but they just couldn´t score.

I´m going to see him this saturday. I will try to report more about his game overall. I just say that Finnish Elite League has 14 teams and competition is pretty good. There aren´t that many easy games for TT if any.

Teams can bury $925,000. Anything above that still stays on the cap.
- EKolb13

I believe you are correc t but can't see it happening too soon.,

Khabby is a $1,7 mill cap hit...and you can't bury it in the AHL.
- Al

Not true Al. The Hawks can send him down (he needs to clear waivers first) and his cap hit will decrease by $900,000, which is the amount you are allowed to hide in the AHL under the new CBA. Since Raanta has a cap hit of $925,000, the net increase of the swap to the Hawks cap is $25,000.

I believe you are correc t but can't see it happening too soon.,
- Al

I think you're right. I don't think the organization is just going to jettison Khabby yet. Maybe Q leans on Crawford a little more going forward until Khabby finds his bearing or the organization gives up and goes with Raanta.

If Khabby were to be sent to Rockford, would he be a good or bad influence on Shalunov? I'd hate to see another Vishnevskiy/Makarov situation.

Not true Al. The Hawks can send him down (he needs to clear waivers first) and his cap hit will decrease by $900,000, which is the amount you are allowed to hide in the AHL under the new CBA. Since Raanta has a cap hit of $925,000, the net increase of the swap to the Hawks cap is $25,000.
- mohel

It's actually $925,000.

Also, Khabby has a $300,000 bonus attached to his contract. Does that kick in if he's "buried" in the minors?

Lot of questions here and I don´t have time to answer all of those this time. But TT is probably most skilled forward in his team this season. He is not getting lot of help from his teammates and I think he has created a lot of scoring changes for his linemates but they just couldn´t score.

I´m going to see him this saturday. I will try to report more about his game overall. I just say that Finnish Elite League has 14 teams and competition is pretty good. There aren´t that many easy games for TT if any.
- MjulQvist

Keep sending those reports.

Wow...old man Jagr scored... on a breakaway...when Marty St. Louis fanned on a shot...

And to think the Hawks lost to the Lightning twice
- prd797

I was watching that game before the Hawks game started and all i could think was "Good god how (frank)ing slow are these teams?" I swear after watching the Hawks fly up and down the ice (even on bad nights), when i watch other teams play it seems like their all skating in quicksand or something. Stamkos and St. Louis were the only ones i noticed with a little pep in their step. NJ and the rest of the Lightning were painfully slow, then the Hawks came on and i was like "Ok thats more like it". Love the Hawks, Tazer rules, Crawford saved the game. Bulin needs to be done...he cant play anymore.

Wish they could swing the cap hit numbers somehow to bring up Raanta, he has GOT to be an improvement over Khabibulin.
- Murph76

It's actually $925,000.

Also, Khabby has a $300,000 bonus attached to his contract. Does that kick in if he's "buried" in the minors?
- EKolb13

Khabby'POO should get a bonus to GET TAE PHUCK OUTTA CHICAGO

Bulin needs to be done...he cant play anymore.
- BlazinMike

There's always the Nancy Kerrigan option...

Not true Al. The Hawks can send him down (he needs to clear waivers first) and his cap hit will decrease by $900,000, which is the amount you are allowed to hide in the AHL under the new CBA. Since Raanta has a cap hit of $925,000, the net increase of the swap to the Hawks cap is $25,000.
- mohel

I confused my wording....You guys are correct on cap hit....


But Raanta would earn $850,000 more is salary..His AHL salary is $70,000.

It's actually $925,000.

Also, Khabby has a $300,000 bonus attached to his contract. Does that kick in if he's "buried" in the minors?
- EKolb13

Performance bonus I would assume NHL only.

There's always the Nancy Kerrigan option...
- EKolb13

Tonya Harding and her goons are just a call away...who gonna drop the dime