and even this year by giving Bolland that horrible contract.....
- UnnamedSource

Paul Blart? ...really?

I am actually shocked how many wins the pens get. They are always near the top of the standings. If they got a better performance from MAF they might be a real competitor for the conference title. Kunitz and dupuis as ur 1st line wingers? Really? Yet they are always competitive. Bit I agree about ur point with Toews and Kane. I don't like all that money in 2 players, either
- tomcat24

They are competitive until the playoff start. Then their lack of depth is put on display.

That is what the Hawks will become. A decent regular season team that won't get past the 2nd round.

And they will make 30% of the cap space for the length of the contract. So there really isn't relief in sight.

Less? Pretty sure they are going to get more than they make now.
- Elbows15

You said so much for a championship team implying they should take less then market value so the hawks can win. Corrext?

So what about my suggestion to you is off if you are hung up on people taking less then what they are worth?

I still feel like an ass hole to this day. My dad had a Roy Campenella mitt that I would use now and then. One day I couldn't find it. Don't know if someone stole it when I was at the park or if I just lost it somewhere myself. But it never showed up.
- 6628

Don't want to make you feel too bad here 66 -- I still have my Campy, that was my 1st catcher's -- worn in to the point of hurting to be able to do anything more than catch some easy toss these days.

Paul Blart? ...really?
- ArlingtonRob

what?

I'm fully aware that owners/GM's are their own worst enemies...they act the fool, then complain about revenue when the CBA is due for renegotiation.

Rinse & repeat...

Who knows what a mess the revenue situation will be in 7-8 years when both sides again sit down for another....chat.
- ArlingtonRob

Call me crazy but fehr got baseball stable. It's way early. But something to watch. Bettman is a snake. That I don't question.

okay trade kane and let me know how that goes. And then be prepared for the Bobby Hull comparisons. Or roenick or Belfour. Another star player dealt in their prime because the organization was too cheap.

I'd take kane and Toews at a combined 20 million cap hit then oduya at 5-6 million.

2 cup winning guys each won a selke and not even in their primes yet.
- SteveRain

Kane won a Selke? And the Selke is a consolation prize. Let me know when either has won a Hart.

what?
- UnnamedSource

Your avatar? Isn't that Kevin James as Paul Blart: Mall Cop

You said so much for a championship team implying they should take less then market value so the hawks can win. Corrext?

So what about my suggestion to you is off if you are hung up on people taking less then what they are worth?
- SteveRain

They will be making the market. Their value is around the same as Getzlaf and Perry.

OR Crosby and Malkin.

Kane won a Selke? And the Selke is a consolation prize. Let me know when either has won a Hart.
- Elbows15

Smythe. Smart phone issued. Apparently selke is in my vocabulary more often then Smythe.

They will be making the market. Their value is around the same as Getzlaf and Perry.

OR Crosby and Malkin.
- Elbows15

10 million will be a steal for them in 5 years.

Cap will go up. 30% now is accurate but in a few years could be in the low 20s. Especially if the outdoor games continue.

Smythe. Smart phone issued. Apparently selke is in my vocabulary more often then Smythe.
- SteveRain

The goal is to win championship. As at least I thought it was. Not market two players to all the novice fans. But if you are happy buying season tickets to watch two guys and a bunch of stiff play, by all means, enjoy it.

No, you're not fine with $10.8 per. Assume the cap goes WAY up next year to $75m. Or assume it goes up a decent amount to $72.5m. Take out a pencil and paper. Start figuring out the rest of the 2015/2016 team and which players will have to be traded away to fit $21.6m for Toews/Kaner. When you're done figuring out the hawks 2015/2016 roster that is cap compliant, come back to the board and tell us if you're still "fine" with $10.8. $9.8 each is going to be brutal in terms of what it will do to the roster. $10.8 is ridiculous in terms of necessary cuts.
- Cmonalready

Don't disagree. But that's on Bowman. Ling term deals to other guys should be just as scrutinized. More importantly his picks have to pay dividends quickly.

Bowmans time is about to start to get very interesting. See how much success this team has over the next 3-4 years. Can't stash his chips forever.

10 million will be a steal for them in 5 years.

Cap will go up. 30% now is accurate but in a few years could be in the low 20s. Especially if the outdoor games continue.
- SteveRain

IN 5 years when they are past their primes and have wasted their most productive years?

As of now only 2 are scheduled.

The goal is to win championship. As at least I thought it was. Not market two players to all the novice fans. But if you are happy buying season tickets to watch two guys and a bunch of stiff play, by all means, enjoy it.
- Elbows15

Hey I wanted Kesler. I know it's today not tomorrow. Preaching to th choir.

Again blame lies squarely 100% on Bowmans. Up to them to make this roster competitive and cup worthy.

Let the fun begin.

IN 5 years when they are past their primes and have wasted their most productive years?

As of now only 2 are scheduled.
- Elbows15

Over dramatic. At 31 and 30 they aren't past their primes. Not by any stretch. 35? Yes.

Both of these kids want to win I don't see that changing as they get older. Look at sharp and Hossa. Both have been pretty good for past their primes.

Hey I wanted Kesler. I know it's today not tomorrow. Preaching to th choir.

Again blame lies squarely 100% on Bowmans. Up to them to make this roster competitive and cup worthy.

Let the fun begin.
- SteveRain

And the way to do that is to move one of them. Think Buffalo wouldn't jump at the chance to be able to give Kane the extra year?

Your avatar? Isn't that Kevin James as Paul Blart: Mall Cop
- ArlingtonRob

I like it.....

Over dramatic. At 31 and 30 they aren't past their primes. Not by any stretch. 35? Yes.

Both of these kids want to win I don't see that changing as they get older. Look at sharp and Hossa. Both have been pretty good for past their primes.
- SteveRain

They may want to win. The point is, as good as they are, those two alone won't be able to do it alone. Crosby and Malkin are better and they can't.

They won Cups because they were on good, balanced teams.

Were you ever there for a Bruins or Flyers game after a sunday afternoon Bears game?
- 6628

Absolutely...the place would be rocking...and talking about drunks who would climb over the boards during intermission and wave their banners to the crowd . Somehow these idiots would never fall on the ice ... But the cops would be slipping and sliding and falling trying to apprehend these guys and the crowd would roar the boys on. There was no respect for management. There would be many times during a season when you would see stray dogs slipping and sliding on the ice. The best acts where always when some super rat would enter the ice surface. ( the Stadium was loaded with those critters) The ice crew would line up horizontally with their ship shovels and force the rat to leave the ice surface via the big door. Was a fun time !

They may want to win. The point is, as good as they are, those two alone won't be able to do it alone. Crosby and Malkin are better and they can't.

They won Cups because they were on good, balanced teams.
- Elbows15

This I love Kane And Toews but them making almost 11 mill per year is way to much for 2 players. For a team already up against the cap THIS year...it could get ugly next year as to who we have to give up to get under the cap.

And the way to do that is to move one of them. Think Buffalo wouldn't jump at the chance to be able to give Kane the extra year?
- Elbows15

You do realize to get a player close to kane will cost you 7+ million in ufa. So to save 3 million? And what guarantee do you have a to0.pick will pan out? If you go that route and by the time gets the experience and learning curve you are years out.

Kane and Toews are playoff performers. Blessed to have both. Time to place faith in Bowmans hand to do the rest. Or else you find somebody who can.

Why the (frank) are we arguing about the Toews and Kane deal? They are going to get paid and paid what they are worth. Whether that is 9.5 or more per year , that is the cost of doing business. And stop it with the trade Kane nonsense for (frank)'s sake. The reason why they won't be the Pens is because their other stars/secondary players are hell of a lot better than Pitts garbage. As Steve Rain said, StanBow needs to figure this out.

I'm fully aware that owners/GM's are their own worst enemies...they act the fool, then complain about revenue when the CBA is due for renegotiation.

Rinse & repeat...

Who knows what a mess the revenue situation will be in 7-8 years when both sides again sit down for another....chat.
- ArlingtonRob

The problem with the last CBA was that as HRR grew, the players' percentage of HRR grew - so what started out as 48% (I think) wound up at 57% (I think).

And it was the higher rate just at the margin - it went back to dollar one - the owners were getting a smaller percentage of each marginal dollar than they thought.

This CBA is a straight 50% (now) forever - or at least until the end of this CBA.

They may want to win. The point is, as good as they are, those two alone won't be able to do it alone. Crosby and Malkin are better and they can't.

They won Cups because they were on good, balanced teams.
- Elbows15

The reasons the Pens lost was not because of Malkin and Crosby making what they do, it was because Sid wanted to fight everyone two years ago and this past year, he couldn't score.
Their coach and two star players weren't the leaders that were needed when their team needed them to be.