We'll see. The other issue is NOW al to of these guys have to develop FAST. Which is not in the best interest of the system you describe. Detroit developed talent for years because they let these guys marinate for years in the minors.
- John Jaeckel

Now that is a legitimate problem. However there's no reason to think we couldn't acquire someone elses depth by flipping our pick's/prospects. Hell that's how we landed versteeg, handzus, oduya, campoli (who was alright his last play not withstanding), Leddy, Regin (this years depth). Thats another reason its good to have a lot.

Aliu was out at my rec skate in Oakville, ON last year. So that pretty much sums it up.
- TyCamScore

Was he out therr to build cnfidence ??

Was he out therr to build cnfidence ??
- mrpaulish

Yeah... mine.

You'd think
- John Jaeckel

No red font?

Now that is a legitimate problem. However there's no reason to think we couldn't acquire someone elses depth by flipping our pick's/prospects. Hell that's how we landed versteeg, handzus, oduya, campoli (who was alright his last play not withstanding), Leddy, Regin (this years depth). Thats another reason its good to have a lot.
- Walky

We got guys... the problem is we can't pay them...

We'll see. The other issue is NOW al to of these guys have to develop FAST. Which is not in the best interest of the system you describe. Detroit developed talent for years because they let these guys marinate for years in the minors.
- John Jaeckel

Certainly would be better to do it Detroit's way: would Detroit have been able to do it in a hard-cap league?

Certainly would be better to do it Detroit's way: would Detroit have been able to do it in a hard-cap league?
- StLBravesFan

Detroit would not have survived a hard cap era.


This is a whole new world

I think across the NHL drafting is about the same. It's a total hit n miss game. Bowman really needs to make he sure he has the right coaches in Rockford. The development of those prospects will be vital down the road. I still think Saad can be a good C. Above all we have 2 super stars locked up for the next 8 years. Good stuff.

Out of the large pool of draft picks in recent years, we've seen Saad, Kruger, Smith and Shaw emerge in the last 3 seasons as legit NHL players. Likely Morin this year. Looking at the relative projections of those players when they were drafted as compared to the recent draftees/current prospects in Rockford, I find it pretty hard to believe that we WON'T see at least 3 or 4 of that next crop become useful Blackhawks.

Somehow, the assumption is that NONE of the currently-lauded prospects (McNeill, Danault, Teravainen, Hartman, Carey, Dahlbeck, Johns, Clendening, etc., not to mention potential "longshots" like Nordstrom, Ross, Rasmussen) will become good enough players to fill the roles of eventually-departing cap casualties? None of the long-range prospects drafted in the last two drafts - Schmaltz, Hayden, Louis, Dahlstrom, etc. - will be worth anything? Sorry, don't buy it.

Certainly would be better to do it Detroit's way: would Detroit have been able to do it in a hard-cap league?
- StLBravesFan

Certainly would have been harder as Illitch/Holland wouldn't be able to acquire whomever so they could give a guy more time to develop.

Out of the large pool of draft picks in recent years, we've seen Saad, Kruger, Smith and Shaw emerge in the last 3 seasons as legit NHL players. Likely Morin this year. Looking at the relative projections of those players when they were drafted as compared to the recent draftees/current prospects in Rockford, I find it pretty hard to believe that we WON'T see at least 3 or 4 of that next crop become useful Blackhawks.

Somehow, the assumption is that NONE of the currently-lauded prospects (McNeill, Danault, Teravainen, Hartman, Carey, Dahlbeck, Johns, Clendening, etc., not to mention potential "longshots" like Nordstrom, Ross, Rasmussen) will become good enough players to fill the roles of eventually-departing cap casualties? None of the long-range prospects drafted in the last two drafts - Schmaltz, Hayden, Louis, Dahlstrom, etc. - will be worth anything? Sorry, don't buy it.
- BreakoutHockey

Who actually said "none"?

My point is, you can't assume either way.

But anyone assuming they WILL work out is just as bad as anyone saying NONE will work out—which no one is. There are some guys on here just assuming that the NHL depth the Hawks will lose will BE replaced by current prospects. And that could be optimistic.

Let's be clear on that.

Certainly would have been harder as Illitch/Holland wouldn't be able to acquire whomever so they could give a guy more time to develop.


- HawkintheD

True

So basically the Hawks had no alternative if the farm system is not all that it is cracked up to be. They had to pay both. I think when we look back in 2 yrs Hawks fans will love these contracts. Hawks may have set the bar ( much like they did with Keith) but lesser players will get more money in the years to come.

Who actually said "none"?

My point is, you can't assume either way.

But anyone assuming they WILL work out is just as bad as anyone saying NONE will work out—which no one is. There are some guys on here just assuming that the NHL depth the Hawks will lose will BE replaced by current prospects. And that could be optimistic.

Let's be clear on that.
- John Jaeckel

I'm not assuming that ALL will. That would be insane. But I think it is safe to assume - particularly if you are a GM/hockey operation department worth your salt - that at least some of your draft picks will be developed into useful NHL players. Particularly when recent past points to several examples of that.

The other options are...what, exactly? You have no cap space to sign free agents. You can trade away core players to create a massive amount of cap space, but chances are the players you find on the open market will be inferior players with a market-inflated cap hit that is higher than the better player you just needlessly jettisoned.

So, you go all-in with your prospects. You do everything you can do to develop them properly and hope that, much like between June 9th, 2010 and June 24, 2013, enough of them develop to make a difference and propel your team to be a legitimate Cup contender. Short of gutting your team of stars and fielding a middle-of-the-road club with average players on low cap hit contracts in top 6 roles, this is your only option.

So basically the Hawks had no alternative if the farm system is not all that it is cracked up to be. They had to pay both. I think when we look back in 2 yrs Hawks fans will love these contracts. Hawks may have set the bar ( much like they did with Keith) but lesser players will get more money in the years to come.
- LetsGoHawks79

No argument. I am also of the belief that they can lose Sharp, gain some cap breathing room and maybe get some other things done (with some cap growth).

So basically the Hawks had no alternative if the farm system is not all that it is cracked up to be. They had to pay both. I think when we look back in 2 yrs Hawks fans will love these contracts. Hawks may have set the bar ( much like they did with Keith) but lesser players will get more money in the years to come.
- LetsGoHawks79

I think Dean Lombardi sees things the same way. Picking up Carter and Richards long contracts and giving Brown Kopi and Quick long contracts, he was criticized for the amounts and lengths. Now he looks like a genius because the contracts always get bigger and the cap will always go up.

I think Dean Lombardi sees things the same way. Picking up Carter and Richards long contracts and giving Brown Kopi and Quick long contracts, he was criticized for the amounts and lengths. Now he looks like a genius because the contracts always get bigger and the cap will always go up.
- dprice818

A lot of GMs do.

So, after the Hawks somehow get cap compliant for the upcoming season, lets say they win the cup again. Does the possibility of Hossa going on LTIR or accepting a trade increase?
He'd be 36, with his name on the cup 3 times, at or within whispering distance of 500 career goals and a nearly sure entrance in to the HOF. I want to believe some strategy like this was part of the "deal" when they signed him to that 12 year contract.

Ugh, I never thought I could get more sick of the word cap.
- InvisibleOrange

No. The strategy for that contract was for him to retire near the end of the contract ( his actual cash salary is $1M for each of the last 4 years of the contract, beginning 2017-18), and those last years with $5M cap hits just vanish into the dust. But in the last CBA, the league penalized those contracts, and if those contracts are ended by retirement before they run their course, the team is penalized by recapturing all that cap gain in the earlier years against future year's caps. There was a strategy in place for him to retire before that contract ended. Then the new CBA changed the math and screwed the Hawks for this contract, retroactively. Of the many problems the hawks face w Hossa's contract now, one thing to think about is whether Hossa will be interested in playing in 2017-2021 for $1M per year. Assuming he's not, the hawks are screwed and will be sitting on $4M/year of dead cap space. So picture 2017/18, with Toews, Kane and a retired Hossa taking up $25m in cap space for two players!

I'm very curious for someone who understands this issue better than me to explain whether a LTIR is feasible to solve this problem...whether his back or concussion history might not allow him to play after, say, 2017/18, and have that dead cap penalty not kick in. How does LTIR replacement work? Will the league allow this to happen without a big stink? I'd appreciate someone's help on this.

No argument. I am also of the belief that they can lose Sharp, gain some cap breathing room and maybe get some other things done (with some cap growth).
- John Jaeckel

Pretty much have to. This year possibly, next year definitely. I'm just hoping they can get something similar to the package from Ottawa you mentioned a few days back.

If they can get a useful depth guy like Z Smith, prospect and a pick this year I think they should. Not sure if that's too low or too high just know they likely can't take anyone back making anything north of a couple mil.

7 years $6 per for Cory Schneider in NJ

7 years $6 per for Cory Schneider in NJ
- FourFeathers773

7 years $6 per for Cory Schneider in NJ
- FourFeathers773

6 mil seems to be the going rate for a #1.

6 mil seems to be the going rate for a #1.
- Beaver-Warrior

good deal for both IMO

What's the feeling on the signings?

Great to have them back... but that's a lot of cap space.

Kinda sucks... I thought the might do 8.5 million.

What's the feeling on the signings?

Great to have them back... but that's a lot of cap space.

Kinda sucks... I thought the might do 8.5 million.
- jimmc7722

Tavares at 5.5M is highway robbery. And he still has, what, 3 years left on that deal?