The cap at less than 70m is stressing me out
- mrpaulish

That is more stressing than losing out on Kesler.

Didn't Bonnino not dress several playoff games? He took several bad penalties in the games I saw. Particularly the late games against the Kings. He is fast but out of control. Sbisa really regressed last year. Maybe he bounces back. I would have thought the equivalent package from us would be more like Krueger, Leddy, our first and a third. Maybe that would have been worth it? Woulda coulda shoulda Stan.

Where are all the Nuck fans with bat lines to Benning now? No number 10. No raid of the Duck's prospect chain.

Ducks got better. Boudreaux is still the coach and the Kings path to the WCF just got harder.

Kesler to the Blues would have hurt more than this. I still think they need to move Sharp but this rumored package from JJ probably will require Leddy or Oduya over Rosival to get it done. That could get them the pick and Gudbranson, real cap relief and a chance to go get Stastny or other pieces.

The place will be a nuclear wasteland once its announced that Olli Jokinen has been signed.
- Beaver-Warrior

haha

Zack Smith for Leddy
Frans Neilson for Bickel

problem solved
- SaskHawkFan

I could actually live with this. Centers would be Tazer-Frans-Krug-Smith...that's workable for sure.

Not a fan of trading off a big boy like Bicks however. Damn can't believe I'm posting to NOT trade Bickell after being so against him all these years.

That is more stressing than losing out on Kesler.

Didn't Bonnino not dress several playoff games? He took several bad penalties in the games I saw. Particularly the late games against the Kings. He is fast but out of control. Sbisa really regressed last year. Maybe he bounces back. I would have thought the equivalent package from us would be more like Krueger, Leddy, our first and a third. Maybe that would have been worth it? Woulda coulda shoulda Stan.

Where are all the Nuck fans with bat lines to Benning now? No number 10. No raid of the Duck's prospect chain.

Ducks got better. Boudreaux is still the coach and the Kings path to the WCF just got harder.

Kesler to the Blues would have hurt more than this. I still think they need to move Sharp but this rumored package from JJ probably will require Leddy or Oduya over Rosival to get it done. That could get them the pick and Gudbranson, real cap relief and a chance to go get Stastny or other pieces.
- tredbrta

agreed on this

anyone listening to Silvy and Waddle ? joking how anyone has interest in NHLHawks draft/trades vs NBA/bulls.
- georgem

Typical...

...to each their own. I'd say almost all of us here have zero interest in the NBA, it's draft, and the absurdity that is the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

Can you imagine if NHL GM's were hamstrung like NBA GM's where every trade had to match dollars and talent had little to nothing to do with anything?

And talk about exciting...just imagine the NHL draft if you knew that only the top 3-5 prospects had any chance of being impact players, and that anyone taken after the second round was virtually worthless.

Yeah...the NBA is just scintillating...edge of your seat excitement I say...

Putting on 20-25 lbs. in the offseason isn't terribly difficult. Just ask Big Buff.


- CBHawks88

Does TT like doughnuts?

Bickell only hits in Playoffs anyway I mean they prolly could sign a Ryan Malone type for half the salary of Bickell
- hawkshossa81

Who gives a flying (frank) about the regular season? Bickell's playoff production is easily worth $4M. We paid Sharp more than that to do next to nothing.

So what your stating is.. unless we got Kessler..

With the #1 Pick in the 2015 NHL Draft the Chicago Blackhawks pick...
- victorymc98

Read it. What I'm stating is that we are NOT the most talented team in this league anymore.

Typical...

...to each their own. I'd say almost all of us hear have zero interest in the NBA, it's draft and the absurdity that is the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

Can you imagine if NHL GM's were hamstrung like NBA GM's where every trade had to match dollars and talent had little to nothing to do with anything?
- ArlingtonRob

HA, Guys last night were talking during softball on who the Bulls picked.. I went guys, the draft isn't till tomorrrow..

Who gives a flying (frank) about the regular season? Bickell's playoff production is easily worth $4M. We paid Sharp more than that to do next to nothing.
- CBHawks88

That is a major reason to keep him. So he sleeps 41 games a year and he kicks ass for 41 games...but he does get it done in post-season. You can't over-rate that. He is about the only guy with any size and other than Seabrook no one hits more than he does on this team. We need MORE size, not less of it.

That is a major reason to keep him. So he sleeps 41 games a year and he kicks ass for 41 games...but he does get it done in post-season. You can't over-rate that. He is about the only guy with any size and other than Seabrook no one hits more than he does on this team. We need MORE size, not less of it.
- kwolf68

Well said.

Read it. What I'm stating is that we are NOT the most talented team in this league anymore.
- Q...argh

Vegas seems to think they are, even with the team as is.


But keep thinking the sky is falling...it's what you do best.

That is a major reason to keep him. So he sleeps 41 games a year and he kicks ass for 41 games...but he does get it done in post-season. You can't over-rate that. He is about the only guy with any size and other than Seabrook no one hits more than he does on this team. We need MORE size, not less of it.
- kwolf68

The guy got a THIRD OF A POINT PER GAME in the RS, and did NOT have a big PO season. How is THAT worthy of near-2C money???

Read it. What I'm stating is that we are NOT the most talented team in this league anymore.
- Q...argh

And more importantly, one of the top 2 talented guys on our team is not happy. Which makes his future totally unclear. If SB had gotten Kessler, Q would probably have moved him to wing anyways....

That is a major reason to keep him. So he sleeps 41 games a year and he kicks ass for 41 games...but he does get it done in post-season. You can't over-rate that. He is about the only guy with any size and other than Seabrook no one hits more than he does on this team. We need MORE size, not less of it.
- kwolf68

Got to cut salary somewhere if all of you want a #2 center and not gonna get any easier next year after toews and kane extensions kick in

Vegas seems to think they are, even with the team as is.


But keep thinking the sky is falling...it's what you do best.
- darkman

Vegas betting odds mean nothing...

Morin's deal is a one way at 800.000

$1M to Morin, $1.25M to Bollig, $4M to Bickell ... our 2C gone for GARBAGE.
- Q...argh

I like how you round morin's deal up by 200k but dont round bollig's deal down by 250k. Very clever

I'm not clinging to anything. What I am stating is very simple:

This team is STILL (today) the most talented team in the NHL. If they make some minor teaks - just like the previous 6 seasons - they will be right in the thick of things to win the Cup.

They didn't need to give up an immense amount to get Keslor and destroy their cap for future years. And that is, precisely, the reason why they didn't.
- CaptainBlackhawk

The two sides of this argument are never going to see eye to eye. No one will ever convince the other side that they're wrong.

Personally, I think the Blackhawks were both lucky to force and game 7, but also that the Kings were lucky that final bounce went their way. The Hakws were not as great as they could be in any series they played, including against the Kings, but they weren't playing anywhere near their best as a whole and it took half the team stepping up and making their own luck to pull off what they did. To me, this means the Hawks are in good shape for next year with minor tweaks even if adding an establish 2C would have been icing. They just need to play up to their own standards.

That is a major reason to keep him. So he sleeps 41 games a year and he kicks ass for 41 games...but he does get it done in post-season. You can't over-rate that. He is about the only guy with any size and other than Seabrook no one hits more than he does on this team. We need MORE size, not less of it.
- kwolf68

And you guys sound like you would rather get rid of sharp instead of bickell how crazy is that

All im saying with all the high contracts on the roster you cant have a 3rd line winger taking up 4mil of your cap space

That is more stressing than losing out on Kesler.

Didn't Bonnino not dress several playoff games? He took several bad penalties in the games I saw. Particularly the late games against the Kings. He is fast but out of control. Sbisa really regressed last year. Maybe he bounces back. I would have thought the equivalent package from us would be more like Krueger, Leddy, our first and a third. Maybe that would have been worth it? Woulda coulda shoulda Stan.

Where are all the Nuck fans with bat lines to Benning now? No number 10. No raid of the Duck's prospect chain.

Ducks got better. Boudreaux is still the coach and the Kings path to the WCF just got harder.

Kesler to the Blues would have hurt more than this. I still think they need to move Sharp but this rumored package from JJ probably will require Leddy or Oduya over Rosival to get it done. That could get them the pick and Gudbranson, real cap relief and a chance to go get Stastny or other pieces.
- tredbrta

Bonino played in all 13 playoff games, had 8 points and was a plus 3. Avg. toi was 17:40.

And more importantly, one of the top 2 talented guys on our team is not happy. Which makes his future totally unclear. If SB had gotten Kessler, Q would probably have moved him to wing anyways....
- TrueGrit

Bingo! If I'm Kane, I only play here if Chicago's the highest bidder. He wasted 2 of his prime years shackled by Handzus and a revolving cast of wingers and 4C's as his "center," and now he's likely gonna get more of the same.

The guy got a THIRD OF A POINT PER GAME in the RS, and did NOT have a big PO season. How is THAT worthy of near-2C money???
- Q...argh

His post-season was better than Hossa's (if you go by stats). Everyone was gearing up to shutdown Toews line, which Bickell was on. It was tough sledding for that line being matched up with Doughty and Kopitar throughout the finals and other teams top guys. Bickell, like Hossa, didn't blow up, but played very well. Had that line sucked, the matchups would have changed. If you really think Bickell played poorly in the post-season based on stats, then you didn't watch the games. He and Hossa both played excellent hockey, but they were up against the best in the world...give credit to the opponents.

Morin's deal is a one way at 800.000
- wiz1901

I think Morin is going to be bargin next year. i really liked what he brought when he was up.

Bingo! If I'm Kane, I only play here if Chicago's the highest bidder. He wasted 2 of his prime years shackled by Handzus and a revolving cast of wingers and 4C's, and now he's likely gonna get more of the same.
- Q...argh

So does playing him with Towes a full season make him happy enough to stay?