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

Didn't Detroit do most of their damage, pre salary cap? They've won one since then, and have done a nice job drafting and developing, but Illitch certainly wasn't shy on spending pre cap days. Having the ability to absorb salary certainly made it easier to acquire the Hulls, Shanahans,and Haseks of the world. They were ahead of the game on drafting the Europeans though. First on the Russians, then the Swedes, although it seems finally the rest of the league has leveled that ground.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._team_payrolls_in_the_NHL

Is this your way of trying to get us to support the Parise and Suter contracts?
- FourFeathers773

I'm okay with them. If you're not... I'm okay with that also

It's a big IF, but IF Morin's game develops, wouldn't that be an adequate replacement for Versteeg? Saves you 1.4M right off the hop. Versteeg's game needs to improve to be given exemption status over the brain farts.
- eburgio

That's a very long list and includes many league minimum players. Unloading Versteeg is the issue, but let's hope SB can make it happen.

Would have been nice if they would of left us a million or so for locker room towels.
- Canardhawk

Towels don't win champioships. You guys will be alright

Someone else who will draw the ire of all here the first time Duncs drills the puck into an opposing shin pad.

Hopefully whoever it is will instruct the PP special teamers to shoot more and score off rebounds than trying to set up Sharpie sneaking in for the perfect back door pass play.
- HawkintheD

I agree, Because that will mean it will be a short handed goal for whichever team he is traded to, That would be bad.

Seems to me the Hawks will likely trade Leddy and/or Oduya (I just can’t see the Hawks giving him a raise next year with the twins new contract.) Roszival will hopefully be gone this year but for sure next year. Not seeing anything on Brookbank unless he is waiting until the Hawks do something with Leddy and Oduya. The management hope here is Rundblad and if that doesn’t work out we will be in a world of hurt for D-men after this year or even this year.

Didn't Detroit do most of their damage, pre salary cap? They've won one since then, and have done a nice job drafting and developing, but Illitch certainly wasn't shy on spending pre cap days. Having the ability to absorb salary certainly made it easier to acquire the Hulls, Shanahans,and Haseks of the world. They were ahead of the game on drafting the Europeans though. First on the Russians, then the Swedes, although it seems finally the rest of the league has leveled that ground.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._team_payrolls_in_the_NHL
- howiehandles

Totally agreed. No cap (for most of their reign) allowed them to let kids develop. The Hawks will not hav that luxury. All the more reason, the picks need to really hit.

Yes. Stan Bowman is just handing out "overpays" by a million dollars.. just cause.

These weren't overpays. The contracts he referred (the Ducks players) to were in a salary cap world that was less than what it is now and what it is expected to bounce to in the coming years.
- CaptainBlackhawk

the Perry and Getzlaf deals were late last spring......under the current Cba with a general assumption of an increase in the cap. Which was less than expected and thats why, in comparison, I think the contracts for your big boys are too high. about a mil over each. Like I said its just my opinion.

Puckin Hostile ‏@PuckinHostile · 2m
Klas Dahlbeck: Object in Mirror Closer than it Appears http://fb.me/1w5YtqKG1




As ELi has been saying , a hammer clone

Das Es Gut
- mrpaulish

Sounds good.
Can never have to many good/great "D" prospects.

That's a very long list and includes many league minimum players. Unloading Versteeg is the issue, but let's hope SB can make it happen.
- ArlingtonRob

If moving Versteeg is the ultimate answer to the Hawks being cap-compliant and Cup-competitive, I'm sure Stan can make that one thing happen. A proven (but slowed) top-6 forward with a cap hit of only $2.2M should have draft-pick value, but I think more will happen with this puzzle.

I think a bigger move - Sharp, Leddy, Rozy, Oduya, Versteeg, prospect package - needs to happen this year when the Hawks have just a LITTLE bit more leverage rather than waiting until next year when they don't, plus the extra hits of Saad and Kruger looming. Are we setting up for just 1 more Cup run in '14-'15 or longer term success? I hope the FO opts for the latter.

Just my $.02.

Totally agreed. No cap (for most of their reign) allowed them to let kids develop. The Hawks will not hav that luxury. All the more reason, the picks need to really hit.
- John Jaeckel

Detroit knew what they are doing no doubt...

Here kids became great very quickly and produced in a big way.....And every one of the key players got really good pretty much at the same time.

Imagine if Keith's contract timing was different???....Add an extra $3 mill to his cap hit....Seabrook could be more too.

If moving Versteeg is the ultimate answer to the Hawks being cap-compliant and Cup-competitive, I'm sure Stan can make that one thing happen. A proven (but slowed) top-6 forward with a cap hit of only $2.2M should have draft-pick value, but I think more will happen with this puzzle.

I think a bigger move - Sharp, Leddy, Rozy, Oduya, Versteeg, prospect package - needs to happen this year when the Hawks have just a LITTLE bit more leverage rather than waiting until next year when they don't, plus the extra hits of Saad and Kruger looming. Are we setting up for just 1 more Cup run in '14-'15 or longer term success? I hope the FO opts for the latter.

Just my $.02.
- bwarner929

I'm not suggesting that moving Versteeg is the "ultimate" answer to anything. It's my opinion that the guy is simply a liability, in particular a liability for a team with cup aspirations.

I just don't think he offers anything...he's done in my opinion.

Sounds good.
Can never have to many good/great "D" prospects.
- camfor

This guy is why the Hawks will possibly move Oduya or even Leddy

I'm not suggesting that moving Versteeg is the "ultimate" answer to anything. It's my opinion that the guy is simply a liability, in particular a liability for a team with cup aspirations.

I just dont' think he offers anything...he's done in my opinion.
- ArlingtonRob

Agree, and I figured that was your point but didn't go back to read the whole thread. Getting a draft pick and opening up a spot for a prospect seems like a win-win to me. But I hope it doesn't end there - more depth tweaking required this year.

Detroit knew what they are doing no doubt...

Here kids became great very quickly and produced in a big way.....And every one of the key players got really good pretty much at the same time.

Imagine if Keith's contract timing was different???....Add an extra $3 mill to his cap hit....Seabrook could be more too.
- Al

Agreed. I will just say this. A lot of the kids the Hawks hit with were taken HIGH. HIGH in the first round. HIGH in the second round. Etc

A lot of the guys the Hawks are counting on now were taken later in rounds. Just an observation, but I think over time the law of averages applies, unless you really out scout and out develop the other clubs.

I think it's wrong to assume that a lot of these draft picks haven't panned out just because they're not on the team yet. One reason is because they haven't stolen jobs from a team that has been very well stacked as of late. Another is that they like to follow the Detroit model and give them ample time to develop in the minors. Also, Q tends to favour experience a little more and let guys make their mistakes in the minors. Further still, why burn years off of that entry level eligibility if you don't have to. Still, they haven't really needed them to play on the big team yet because Bowman's done a good job of maintaining veteran depth. And with all these reasons we've still seen Shaw and Staal fast-tracked into the lineup, Kruger, Bickell and Smith all make the jump successfully, and Morin, Nordstrom and others knocking on the door. I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

So JT 68 points and PK 69 points are worth 10.5 mil ea. Guess Getz and perry should have got 13mil ea.

I think it's wrong to assume that a lot of these draft picks haven't panned out just because they're not on the team yet. One reason is because they haven't stolen jobs from a team that has been very well stacked as of late. Another is that they like to follow the Detroit model and give them ample time to develop in the minors. Also, Q tends to favour experience a little more and let guys make their mistakes in the minors. Further still, why burn years off of that entry level eligibility if you don't have to. Still, they haven't really needed them to play on the big team yet because Bowman's done a good job of maintaining veteran depth. And with all these reasons we've still seen Shaw and Staal fast-tracked into the lineup, Kruger, Bickell and Smith all make the jump successfully, and Morin, Nordstrom and others knocking on the door. I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
- mcmasterkev

They just don't have the luxury Detroit had in the uncapped era to let these kids develop anymore. And not when these kids now almost have to be counted on to fill big shoes.

If moving Versteeg is the ultimate answer to the Hawks being cap-compliant and Cup-competitive, I'm sure Stan can make that one thing happen. A proven (but slowed) top-6 forward with a cap hit of only $2.2M should have draft-pick value, but I think more will happen with this puzzle.

I think a bigger move - Sharp, Leddy, Rozy, Oduya, Versteeg, prospect package - needs to happen this year when the Hawks have just a LITTLE bit more leverage rather than waiting until next year when they don't, plus the extra hits of Saad and Kruger looming. Are we setting up for just 1 more Cup run in '14-'15 or longer term success? I hope the FO opts for the latter.

Just my $.02.
- bwarner929

You need to try to do nothing to make your team worse for the coming year - a very real potential to go deep into the play-offs and compete for a Cup - and when you have that chance, you worry about the future in the future - go for the win now.

You can always try to be a seller at TDL if it doesn't work out.

I've been pretty adamant that they shouldn't trade Sharp, because I am NOT comfortable with Saad and Bickell as the #1 and 2 LW's going into the season.

However, with that said, if the Organization believes they will get far more for Sharp this year, as opposed to next, that would classify as a shrewd move. I never thought they needed big moves for the offseason and I feel the same way now.
- eburgio

I think either player could have success at #1 and #2. I'm hoping that Bickell comes back 100% healed. I have never been a big fan of his, But he is the team's only typical power forward. And if Saad comes back at the same level as the latter half of the playoffs, Then he will be impressive.
The only concern for me is that both players seem to disappear for stretches and then wow you with heightened play. We would like to see them perform consistently.
If Saad does perform at the playoff level, I hope we can get him signed?

Agreed. I will just say this. A lot of the kids the Hawks hit with were taken HIGH. HIGH in the first round. HIGH in the second round. Etc

A lot of the guys the Hawks are counting on now were taken later in rounds. Just an observation, but I think over time the law of averages applies, unless you really out scout and out develop the other clubs.
- John Jaeckel

Yes...And caution flag should be up.

Agreed. I will just say this. A lot of the kids the Hawks hit with were taken HIGH. HIGH in the first round. HIGH in the second round. Etc

A lot of the guys the Hawks are counting on now were taken later in rounds. Just an observation, but I think over time the law of averages applies, unless you really out scout and out develop the other clubs.
- John Jaeckel

Which is what good or-gan-i-za-tions do.

So - between Toledo (if applicable) and Rockfish - is the development system up to the task?

If Tallon is searching for scoring I like the earlier proposal of Sharp and Leddy for Bjugstad and a pick. I remember watching him play at my last unit in Minnesota and seeing his highlights in Sunrise and he would be perfect on the 3rd line this year, and replace Richards next year. IMO

Which is what good or-gan-i-za-tions do.

So - between Toledo (if applicable) and Rockfish - is the development system up to the task?
- StLBravesFan

Can't speak to Toledo and typically maybe 1-5% of those guys ever see the NHL anyway.

Rockford, well, not great results the last couple of years, but the standings can be misleading as far as player development.

Didn't Detroit do most of their damage, pre salary cap? They've won one since then, and have done a nice job drafting and developing, but Illitch certainly wasn't shy on spending pre cap days. Having the ability to absorb salary certainly made it easier to acquire the Hulls, Shanahans,and Haseks of the world. They were ahead of the game on drafting the Europeans though. First on the Russians, then the Swedes, although it seems finally the rest of the league has leveled that ground.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w..._team_payrolls_in_the_NHL
- howiehandles

The original post - to which the above is the response- mentioned that Blackhawk prospects need to develop fast.

What is your definition of "fast."

If the forward prospects who are entering their second professional season are any good, then by the end of this upcoming season they should be pushing hard to stick in Chicago. One spot held down for one season and pending their arrival, goes to Versteeg. Fine. Let him fill in. If he shows he is healthy, maybe Bowman can move him for a mid to late round 2015 choice. I would take anything, actually, to rid Chicago of his contract, his service, and lower the salary cap going forward.

I am not going to delve into the prospects on defense, because everyone should know by now that Dahlbeck is ready, Johns is not, Clendenning has a big step to make/ his spot in Chicago is questionable at best, and the others cannot be fairly judged until they play for a season in the AHL.

Now back to the forwards in Rockford....

It is not too difficult to imagine McNeill can score some, Danault become a shutdown center with descent scoring ability, and Nordstrom is a lot like Kruger. They would hopefully bring energy and not coast in any games. Which is what is needed because some veterans do coast too often. The key is whether these prospects may become as valuable as those whom they replace. Shaw, Kruger decisions may ultimately be forthcoming after next season, but wait and see if those players may exit. The scenario could change.

I would want to investigate using a Shaw and a Kruger to move up to a very high first round choice. I would hope to draft a forward whom is projected to replace the scoring Sharp provided. That is the only logical step in securing talent to replace Sharp. Your farm club does not have a first line talent wing. Right now TT has to be thought of as a bonus. Whatever he provides, whenever. Hopefully he provides a good two way game in two years because both Shaw and Kruger could be gone.

Saad will become the Hossa replacement. Hossa is going to begin a slight decline for two more seasons, then retire. Bowman cannot afford a free agent without moving some significant salary. After Shaw and or Kruger is gone, I do not know there is enough dollars available if it is a bidding war for a new top line player. So going the route i suggest appears the only way. A high draft choice who develops, would not be cost prohibitive.

I do not even want to think about Seabrook leaving. Who says he has to leave, anyway. He can be re-up for a slight raise - perhaps wishful thinking/ hometown discount.