C'mon now. Pretend you were GM in Chicago, of all the talent there...

Who could you possibly place a higher value on retaining than Kane and Towes? That organization revolves around those two.

Neither player is going anywhere, anytime soon.
- SuperCat

Stripes already said a lot of what I'd say too. Of course they want them both to stay, but they're going to make probably 9M per season each. They are a cap-strapped team and I just don't know that it'll work out long term if they did that.

Not to mention the fact that people have choices. Just because the team wants them and could throw 10+ per season at them doesn't mean they have to stay.

Oh I agree there is just one issue, I don't see Kane taking a discount to stay there. The way he has been playing and knowing he is one year away from getting a chance to really cash in might stray him from signing.
- Stripes77

He's going to get north of $9 million whether he signs with Chicago or elsewhere. I think Chicago already knows they're going to have to break the bank for both of them, Toews included. We all like to think of Toews as this guy who will do anything to win, including take less money, but remember, he was front and center of the "entitled little brat" campaign during the lockout.

Stripes already said a lot of what I'd say too. Of course they want them both to stay, but they're going to make probably 9M per season each. They are a cap-strapped team and I just don't know that it'll work out long term if they did that.

Not to mention the fact that people have choices. Just because the team wants them and could throw 10+ per season at them doesn't mean they have to stay.
- stashu

As we've learned over the years, even under the new CBA, the cap is anything but airtight. They'll be able to make it work if they really want to.

Oh I agree there is just one issue, I don't see Kane taking a discount to stay there. The way he has been playing and knowing he is one year away from getting a chance to really cash in might stray him from signing.
- Stripes77

You're prob right about that, he's definately gonna want to get paid. Kane and Towes will probably both be offered $9 mill per year. That may in turn force guys like Hossa, Sharpe, Crawford & Seabrook out of town in favor of young up-and-comming players like Saad.


While such a model might spell an end to the dynasty of the Blackhawks, all good things are bound to run their course in time. But the Hawks might not really have much of a choice. To lose both Kane and Towes would be even worse than when the Sabres lost Drury & Briere, it would be an implosion.


In a few years the Blackhawks will probably look like the old Ottawa teams of Heatly/Spezza/Alfredson. One big line, and a lot of role players.

You're prob right about that, he's definately gonna want to get paid. Kane and Towes will probably both be offered $9 mill per year. That may in turn force guys like Hossa, Sharpe, Crawford & Seabrook out of town in favor of young up-and-comming players like Saad.


While such a model might spell an end to the dynasty of the Blackhawks, all good things are bound to run their course in time. But the Hawks might not really have much of a choice. To lose both Kane and Towes would be even worse than when the Sabres lost Drury & Briere, it would be an implosion.


In a few years the Blackhawks will probably look like the old Ottawa teams of Heatly/Spezza/Alfredson. One big line, and a lot of role players.
- SuperCat

Looking back, it's pretty insane how stacked the Sens were.

are we good yet?

Looking back, it's pretty insane how stacked the Sens were.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Pretty crazy when you consider they had Chara too. Even Wade Redden was a great two-way player for a while.

are we good yet?
- homiedclown

What do you mean by "Good"?

are we good yet?
- homiedclown

Nope. We're all still terrible human beings.

Pretty crazy when you consider they had Chara too. Even Wade Redden was a great two-way player for a while.
- SuperCat

Yep. Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson in his prime, Chara, Hossa, Havlat, Redden, Kelly, Neil, Volchenkov, Phillips, Comrie, Vermette, Fisher... They were probably the most stacked team in the last 15 years.

Yep. Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson in his prime, Chara, Hossa, Havlat, Redden, Kelly, Neil, Volchenkov, Phillips, Comrie, Vermette, Fisher... They were probably the most stacked team in the last 15 years.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

No goal tending though!

Good news is I could see all of these Eastern conference teams making a push for Ehrhoff.

Car
Det
Fla
Ota
Phi
Pit
Wsh

Throw in a 2nd rd pick with Ehrhoff next year to sweeten the deal see what you can get. Buffalo could be in a good position to deal him now.
- ImThatGuy

Ehrhoff and 31st overall for:

Car - 2015 1st, D Jaccob Slavin
Det - 2014 2nd, RW Teemu Pulkkinen
Fla - 2015 1st
Ott - 2015 3rd, LW Shane Prince
Phi - 2015 1st, 2014 3rd
Pit - Beau Bennett
Wsh - Andre Burakovsky (Sabres give up St Louis 2015 1st)

Ehrhoff and 31st overall for:

Car - 2015 1st, D Jaccob Slavin
Det - 2014 2nd, RW Teemu Pulkkinen
Fla - 2015 1st
Ott - 2015 3rd, LW Shane Prince
Phi - 2015 1st, 2014 3rd
Pit - Beau Bennett
Wsh - Andre Burakovsky (Sabres give up St Louis 2015 1st)
- TheSabresTaco

Sounds the most intriguing to me.

I disagree though. All of the character development/story is leading up to fights, so they have to hash them out eventually, and last night was a good example I think.
- stashu

All good. I know the fight has to happen, but when you only have 10 episodes to work with, it's tough when you dedicate an entire one to a dark fight with awkward pacing.

No goal tending though!
- Stripes77

IMO Emery did his job. A lot of others disappointed during their playoff runs.

Sounds the most intriguing to me.
- buffalofan19

I'd put it at my second favorite. I might be more intrigued by the 2015 lottery ball.

If we swing any deals with Nashville, I'd love to get either Calle Jarnkrok or Miikka Salomaki. They're some under-the-radar guys that are doing pretty well. Doubt they give up Forsberg.

It's amazing to me the trend that has come in the playoffs during the past couple of years. Instead of trying to avoid matchups with certain teams top pairs, teams seem to be in favor of going right at them. Chicago did this against Chara as well.

If I'm the Rangers, I would split McDonaugh and Girardi right now. The Kings have found something in both their games, and are exploiting it.
- buffalofan19

Agree, part of it I think is the fact that they play so many minutes that essentially they will make more mistakes just because the opportunity for them to do so is greatly increased, but another part of me thinks that people just hype up this mythical defensemen that never existed. One that never makes a mistake. At least in Doughty's case they have been few and far between

Agree, part of it I think is the fact that they play so many minutes that essentially they will make more mistakes just because the opportunity for them to do so is greatly increased, but another part of me thinks that people just hype up this mythical defensemen that never existed. One that never makes a mistake. At least in Doughty's case they have been few and far between
- sbroads24

Doughty has made a few mistakes of his own in the defensive end as well. The difference is he's making really big impact plays to offset them. There's being the guy that simply "never" makes a mistake, and then there's the guy that just dominates on both ends more often than not. Doughty is the latter right now.

Ehrhoff and 31st overall for:

Car - 2015 1st, D Jaccob Slavin
Det - 2014 2nd, RW Teemu Pulkkinen
Fla - 2015 1st
Ott - 2015 3rd, LW Shane Prince
Phi - 2015 1st, 2014 3rd
Pit - Beau Bennett
Wsh - Andre Burakovsky (Sabres give up St Louis 2015 1st)
- TheSabresTaco

I would try to get Schenn and Hartnell (Salary purpose) out of Philly + maybe a 15 2nd rd pick.

If we swing any deals with Nashville, I'd love to get either Calle Jarnkrok or Miikka Salomaki. They're some under-the-radar guys that are doing pretty well. Doubt they give up Forsberg.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

They just got him i don't think they will move him

i also think he will be in the top 4 for rookie of the year in 2014-2015

Doughty has made a few mistakes of his own in the defensive end as well. The difference is he's making really big impact plays to offset them. There's being the guy that simply "never" makes a mistake, and then there's the guy that just dominates on both ends more often than not. Doughty is the latter right now.
- buffalofan19

For a guy like Doughty, he's bound to make a few mistakes considering how much he handles the puck.

That's why I found it funny when Hawk fans seem to always blame Keith, and always praise Seabrook. Keith is the one handling the puck more, he's bound to make more mistakes

For a guy like Doughty, he's bound to make a few mistakes considering how much he handles the puck.

That's why I found it funny when Hawk fans seem to always blame Keith, and always praise Seabrook. Keith is the one handling the puck more, he's bound to make more mistakes
- sbroads24

The disconnect though, is that, if you're going to handle the puck that much, you had better be making a really big play with it at some point. Other than game 6, you didn't see enough of that from Keith, and it was certainly to a lesser extent that Doughty.

That being said, you're right. Seabrook isn't nearly as effective as he is without Keith.

I would try to get Schenn and Hartnell (Salary purpose) out of Philly + maybe a 15 2nd rd pick.
- ImThatGuy

Schenn and Hartnell, I don't think that deal would fly unless Hartnell had an abomination of a year.

Yep. Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson in his prime, Chara, Hossa, Havlat, Redden, Kelly, Neil, Volchenkov, Phillips, Comrie, Vermette, Fisher... They were probably the most stacked team in the last 15 years.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Wow, forgot about Havlat!