After today's news... a player of this stature will not be able to fit within the Hawks plans.

They now live in a homegrown/Brad Richards type signing for the next decade or so.

Plus E. Kane is beyond a "turd" - guy is straight up cancer that breeds the type of "how did we just loose 4 games straight to the LA Kings in the 1st round" performances.

Chemistry is more important than most think. If you think otherwise... you've never played the game in a competitive setting before.
- TyCamScore

What? Wake up they have been living in that since the first cup. That is literally the only way to have continued success in the NHL with the salary cap. You have to draft and evaluate players well and be able to make shrewd decisions on when to trade aging vets or acquire outside help.

I really dont think its that unrealistic to move either Rozy or Versteeg for a 5th-6th rd pick.

If what others say is true (and I haven't looked at the cap numbers yet), and the Hawks need to shed $3 million before the season starts, how do you envision it happening. No one is going to =give you a box of tape for Rozsival or Versteeg.
- John Jaeckel

... but are they movable? Or is no one willing to take on Versteeg or Rozsival?

You do realize those are ALL before the cap era. Big difference.

Who ever tweets those are not thinking. Monopoly money is fun to throw around.
- RobitailleFAN20

Exactly. More appropriate to compare those to MLB salaries of that year and not the NHL especially now.

Why do these guys have to always sign matching contracts? It's like we've got our own little Sedin's.

I understand the roster challenges coming up and banking on the talent pipeline but here's what I'll say...

Havent the Hawks been drafting and developing talent, signing them long term, and managing all this against the cap for the last several years?

They're never big free agent players in most years (think the last time they spent in free agency was when they signed Hossa and Kopy and the summer they signed Brunette, Jammer and Car Bomb but even that was for nickels.

We know they won't win a Cup every year but they did rebuild their depth that was thrown away after 2010 and won a Cup three years later. Why can't this happen again?

Why do these guys have to always sign matching contracts? It's like we've got our own little Sedin's.
- Hal9000y2k

Simply put: PR

Well, doesn't it all depend on what they need to ice a full roster and get under the cap? maybe moving Oduya doesn't get it done.
- John Jaeckel

I doubt sharp is willing to waive his no trade.

Have to look elsewhere to get under cap. I like the idea of rundblad getting a fair shot. As well as seeing dahlbecks game translate to the nhl.

Hawks had no choice, you would have hoped for a discount, but it didn't happen.

15 players signed next year at around 65 million already spent. So probably 8 million more based on a 73 million cap for 8 guys. That is tough.

Gonna be harder and harder for teams to roll out 4 quality lines, because other teams are gonna over pay the premier teams bottom 2 line guys when they hit UFA trying to find that winning attitude.

Drafting and development is all the more critical as teams move forward.
- fsanford

Isn't this what JJ has been talking about?
From what I have read about his blogs and from what I get out of them is that he doesn't believe Chicago has the "right pieces" to replace guys like Sharp, Bickel, Oduya...the guys that had an impact on both cups with the prospect pool going forward.

I could be wrong, but definitely a tough situation going forward.

I understand the roster challenges coming up and banking on the talent pipeline but here's what I'll say...

Havent the Hawks been drafting and developing talent, signing them long term, and managing all this against the cap for the last several years?

They're never big free agent players in most years (think the last time they spent in free agency was when they signed Hossa and Kopy and the summer they signed Brunette, Jammer and Car Bomb but even that was for nickels.

We know they won't win a Cup every year but they did rebuild their depth that was thrown away after 2010 and won a Cup three years later. Why can't this happen again?
- golfbard

Because thats hard and the hawks will have to do things that people won't like. Theres no way we can continue having success if we keep doing the things that created and continued our success.

Simply put: PR
- Beaver-Warrior

Yeah, I get that. PR and egos of course.

Why do these guys have to always sign matching contracts? It's like we've got our own little Sedin's.
- Hal9000y2k

Except our "Sedins" have their names on the Cup and the Conn Smythe.

Exactly. More appropriate to compare those to MLB salaries of that year and not the NHL especially now.
- blackhawk24

100 MLB players make more than Kane and Toews.

Why do these guys have to always sign matching contracts? It's like we've got our own little Sedin's.
- Hal9000y2k

Always?

So many times....

Twice.

Fans complaining about money toews and kane will get, weren't around to see what happen to this team in the mid 90's. Those were some tough times to see a once proud team crumble into a joke. Im excited for the future of this team for the next 8 years.

I know I'm late to the party here, but the Hawks did what they had to do. If anyone is to blame its Kane and Towes, their agents and families for being greedy. But can you even call them greedy? That's another debate. But as far as the Hawks, decision, I back it. When do you ever get 2 players of this caliber? Look at way back when, when the Sabres dropped Dury and Briere and what happened to that franchise and the long road back to relevancy. And those 2 were never on the level of Toews and Kane.

When they signed 5 year contracts at 6.3 per in 2009 for the 2010-11, the cap for the 09-10 season was 56.8mil. That was 22.2% of that years cap hit. Now they signed 8 year contracts at 10.5 per in 2014 for the 2015-16 year. This year's cap is 69mil. That is 30.5% of total cap hit. All things relative, not as bad as I first thought.

It will be a tough pill to swallow 2015-16 and 2016-17. I think after that it will be fine.

Get ready for cap hell.
- hankthetank

They've been there once before already, and climbed back out to win another cup. Ill reserve judgment for a year from now.

... but are they movable? Or is no one willing to take on Versteeg or Rozsival?
- PuckAndSticks

Personally, if Stan Bowman wanted me to take one of those guys—knowing Bowman is strapped—I'd say, ok, but give me Leddy too. And I'll give you a box of tape. Let the negotiations start there.

What? Wake up they have been living in that since the first cup. That is literally the only way to have continued success in the NHL with the salary cap. You have to draft and evaluate players well and be able to make shrewd decisions on when to trade aging vets or acquire outside help.
- Walky

Sorry... agreed... just been hearing these Ryan Johanson & E. Kane trade proposals for so long, that I thought some people forgot.

Until this type of money for #19 & #88 (which everyone knew was coming) there was room to make a team dynamic change... no going back now though.

The "turn" around for this team could have been handled by any regular fan.

-Put ALL the games on TV
-Actually try and Win

This was an easy turn around . People have always LOVED The Blackhawks . LOVED them. Knew it wouldn't take long to get fans back in the seats
- mrpaulish

Oh no, we're all on the bandwagon. Screwing around with a black and white to get OnTV, while listening to Foley and Tallon on AM. I'll never forget Rich Preston sliding into the post after an OT winner vs Minnesota. It didn't hurt that there was porn after the Hawks game. At 13 year old, I was living the life.

I know I'm late to the party here, but the Hawks did what they had to do. If anyone is to blame its Kane and Towes, their agents and families for being greedy. But can you even call them greedy? That's another debate. But as far as the Hawks, decision, I back it. When do you ever get 2 players of this caliber? Look at way back when, when the Sabres dropped Dury and Briere and what happened to that franchise and the long road back to relevancy. And those 2 were never on the level of Toews and Kane.
- Buffalo-Sabres

This is a good problem to have. We signed two of the best players in the league. Plenty of lean years would I would have been happy to have two good players to sign.

100 MLB players make more than Kane and Toews.
- StLBravesFan

Now, or back in 2004? That's the year someone cited $10-11M NHL contracts.

When they signed 5 year contracts at 6.3 per in 2009 for the 2010-11, the cap for the 09-10 season was 56.8mil. That was 22.2% of that years cap hit. Now they signed 8 year contracts at 10.5 per in 2014 for the 2015-16 year. This year's cap is 69mil. That is 30.5% of total cap hit. All things relative, not as bad as I first thought.

It will be a tough pill to swallow 2015-16 and 2016-17. I think after that it will be fine.
- PuckAndSticks

looking at about 7-10 mil salary dump to make room for Kane/Toews ext and Saad and Kruger resigns as RFA's. Stanbow would line to extend Saad..if he has a monster year...look out. Adios Versteeg, Sharp and Oduya.

Personally, if Stan Bowman wanted me to take one of those guys—knowing Bowman is strapped—I'd say, ok, but give me Leddy too. And I'll give you a box of tape. Let the negotiations start there.
- John Jaeckel

I don't know a team like the Sharks Rangers or Blue Jackets could probably use a guy like Roszival. A little overpaid but a capable top 6 Dman which is something teams like that are lacking or lost. We might not get much back but these teams would be stupid not to shore up a hole for next to nothing. Yeah it helps the hawks but they will do something to fix themselves, no reason not to make yourself better because of it. Steeger is a little more complicated. But he is capable depth at a cheap price. Plus he's "fun". Both could also work for salary floor teams. Hell florida could take both so that they can trade Campbell since he wants out.