But again...somebody has to go. No way around it. With the possible exception of Rozy, I would be very leery of trading a D-man.
- Ogilthorpe2

Even though Oduya has his rocky moments who can possibly fill his shoes THIS year, in house or free agent with no monies to sign anyone. If sharp is the odd man out - what are the odds rozy goes and brookbank signs cheap to keep playing/chance to win again?

Thank goodness Hammer signed a home town deal for a few years.

Think this was said recently Defense Wins Championships. One of the main reasons we could 'repeat' last year was our D was still intact. I would hate to lose 4 quality guys and the depth to go with it.

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agree.

I also would rather keep both Leddy and Oduya. Trade Sharp instead. At least the defense will be as good or better than other Conference opponents in the playoffs.

With Sharp and minus Oduya I believe it would be tougher to win. The onus might come down to if Dahlbeck develops. Leddy could be better but good enough? Maybe Dahlbeck would even move ahead of him. I could see this happening.

What could the Toews and Kane press conferences be about?

They already released statements about their contracts and the convention is a few days away. Whats with the bridge press conference?

Versteeg: he has to show he is healthy then could try to trade him. Maybe when some team has an injury. Timing can mean a lot insofar as trading goes.
- jhawk59

Either situation could unfold. As well saving even a little bit could be necessary.

McNeill comes up. Versteeg and Leddy traded. Maybe even at the trade deadline they would be dealt. Get a center who can win a face off. I'd bet that if Oduya is here, then Rosy and Brookbank are headlights. Dahlbeck and Rundblad are alternating as 6th and Johns is next. That is the price to keep Oduya and to give Leddy one more season to take a big step in development.

Now reality below:

I want to see if someone can find a team that could fit Sharp under the cap. Chicago cannot take much salary back. Chicago has an extra forward in Regin and I am guessing either Rosival or Brookbank will be retained. Seems like a Bowman move.

JJ - I enjoy the work and all of the comments out here in AZ. A die hard Chicago sports fan.



Being a STH for this horrible run team in the desert, Glendale is too cheap to pay for housing. Got to help the local club so I can see the Hawks at least once a year.

As for Sharp and Leddy trade them while the value is high, even if it's a above average 3rd line center and a couple of prospects or draft picks coming back.
- Rtoppel

Niiiiiiice my frent

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.
- Ogilthorpe2

If only we could find a guy that had the same # of points as Bickell had in the playoffs last year, yet had 63! wait let me say that again, 63!!! more points than Bickell had in the regular season. Then we'd be talking about a great fit, right?

Kidding aside, I agree that we'd have to factor in the trade returns and what the Hawks would do with the extra 1.9M in cap space. However, I just can't see that Bickell + 1.9M in cap space + returns from a Sharp trade would be better than Sharp + returns from a Bickell trade.

And quite frankly, I'm not in favor of trading either this offseason. I say unless someone bowls you over with an offer, keep them both for this year and re-evaluate after this season (and seems like the Hawks are going down that path too). Bickell and either Sharp or Seabrook are likely gone in a year.

JJ - I enjoy the work and all of the comments out here in AZ. A die hard Chicago sports fan.



Being a STH for this horrible run team in the desert, Glendale is too cheap to pay for housing. Got to help the local club so I can see the Hawks at least once a year.

As for Sharp and Leddy trade them while the value is high, even if it's a above average 3rd line center and a couple of prospects or draft picks coming back.
- Rtoppel

The city can't be THAT cheap: they were paying the league $50MM per year to keep the Coyotes there, weren't they?

If only we could find a guy that had the same # of points as Bickell had in the playoffs last year, yet had 63! wait let me say that again, 63!!! more points than Bickell had in the regular season. Then we'd be talking about a great fit, right?

Kidding aside, I agree that we'd have to factor in the trade returns and what the Hawks would do with the extra 1.9M in cap space. However, I just can't see that Bickell + 1.9M in cap space + returns from a Sharp trade would be better than Sharp + returns from a Bickell trade.

And quite frankly, I'm not in favor of trading either this offseason. I say unless someone bowls you over with an offer, keep them both for this year and re-evaluate after this season (and seems like the Hawks are going down that path too). Bickell and either Sharp or Seabrook are likely gone in a year.
- ozzzie19

So - who do you blow off to get under the cap (need at least $2.2MM to come off, preferably something more)?

The rights to Kevin Hayes HAVE NO VALUE he is a UFA August 15th , why would someone trade for him ?

To sweeten the Sharp deal you include Leddy . Then take some useful piece back that makes less than 4m per.....
- mrpaulish

I think the rights to Salak and Henrik Karllson can be added along with Hayes for a quality return.....

The problem with Bickell is we may have to shed him by next year anyway in order to make cap room for Toews, Kane and Saad.
- Canardhawk

The kid from the W should be just about ready then.

Why does anybody ever trade for the rights of an impending free agent? To obtain a window of exclusive negotiation with a player you feel you may be less likely to get on the open market.
- Sandus

If the rights to Hayes WERE traded the Hawks would lose the 2nd round pick as compensation for his not signing. The compensation pick does not transfer. No one would be stupid enough to pay them a 2nd round pick for the rights to negotiate with Hayes for 1 month until he is UFA so why would the Hawks do this?

Sharp and a 3rd for a Zach Smith/Matt Martin type, plus a first.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yes!

More likely though it would be an exchange of 1st rounders. Maybe Murray or Snow would go for that.... I doubt either will just trade out of the 1st round for Sharp considering the state of their teams.

Even though Oduya has his rocky moments who can possibly fill his shoes THIS year, in house or free agent with no monies to sign anyone. If sharp is the odd man out - what are the odds rozy goes and brookbank signs cheap to keep playing/chance to win again?

Thank goodness Hammer signed a home town deal for a few years.

Think this was said recently Defense Wins Championships. One of the main reasons we could 'repeat' last year was our D was still intact. I would hate to lose 4 quality guys and the depth to go with it.
- Elliots07

You have to think Brookbank had to get some offers. The fact he has not moved tells me he is waiting on the hawks to move a d man (Can SB tell a guy dont sign anywhere, we will sign you when we get the space-handshake agreement?). The way he played in the playoffs replacing Seabrook had to raise some eyebrows

You have to think Brookbank had to get some offers. The fact he has not moved tells me he is waiting on the hawks to move a d man (Can SB tell a guy dont sign anywhere, we will sign you when we get the space-handshake agreement?). The way he played in the playoffs replacing Seabrook had to raise some eyebrows
- Cup-Bearer

Brookbank is solid defensively. Good piece to have especially in the playoffs where the ice gets a lot smaller and the defense checks a lot tighter. All in favor of having Brookbank back next season at a reasonable cost.

So - who do you blow off to get under the cap (need at least $2.2MM to come off, preferably something more)?
- StLBravesFan

A) Carry 13 forwards, TT starts in Rockford
B) Sell Versteeg for a bag of peanuts
C) Recall any damn forward you want to be the 13th man

Pretty damn easy.

A) Carry 13 forwards, TT starts in Rockford
B) Sell Versteeg for a bag of peanuts
C) Recall any damn forward you want to be the 13th man

Pretty damn easy.
- ozzzie19

That nets you about $2.4MM - leaving you about $200,000 below the cap: not much room or flexibility to recall someone in case of short-term injury not requiring LTIR.

What could the Toews and Kane press conferences be about?

They already released statements about their contracts and the convention is a few days away. Whats with the bridge press conference?
- FourFeathers773

Really! The biggest contracts in league history, team history. Hawks get the spotlight. This screams look what we did, isn't it awesome. Positive PR

Edit: Next week buried in the sports section Hawks trade (pick). No one available for comment

The more I think about it and listen to the conversations here, I believe the Blackhawks are going to go with the strategy that worked in 2010, and get the Rockford shuttle going again.

Trading Rozsival for a pick (someone should need a solid vet 3rd pair D-man) and sending TT to Rockford yields the $3M CAP space needed. And you can always cut back to 12 forwards and 6 D if needed. You can get from Rockford to the UC in a couple of hours, and ORD has direct flights to almost every city in the NHL (not sure about EDM and WPG). So if someone is hurt, an Ice Hog can be there the next day.

Then the Blackhawks could skate their best team possible for 14-15, including Sharp, Leddy and Johnny O. They can worry about moving Sharp and a D after the parade. Plus after another full season, they should be aware of exactly where Leddy's ceiling will be.

The more I think about it and listen to the conversations here, I believe the Blackhawks are going to go with the strategy that worked in 2010, and get the Rockford shuttle going again.

Trading Rozsival for a pick (someone should need a solid vet 3rd pair D-man) and sending TT to Rockford yields the $3M CAP space needed. And you can always cut back to 12 forwards and 6 D if needed. You can get from Rockford to the UC in a couple of hours, and ORD has direct flights to almost every city in the NHL (not sure about EDM and WPG). So if someone is hurt, an Ice Hog can be there the next day.

Then the Blackhawks could skate their best team possible for 14-15, including Sharp, Leddy and Johnny O. They can worry about moving Sharp and a D after the parade. Plus after another full season, they should be aware of exactly where Leddy's ceiling will be.
- scottak

BINGO! the Rockford 90 shuffle

BINGO! the Rockford 90 shuffle
- Cup-Bearer

If that is the case (Rockford Shuttle), it would be cool if the team changed their theme song to the Rockford Files theme song.

Quick question - If Ryan Smyth is still available, couldn't you trade Bickell and bring Smyth in for 1/2 the salary and get a little better play around the net?

Quick question - If Ryan Smyth is still available, couldn't you trade Bickell and bring Smyth in for 1/2 the salary and get a little better play around the net?
- powerenforcer

Ryan Smith the dinosaur oiler guy? Didnt he retire last season?

The more I think about it and listen to the conversations here, I believe the Blackhawks are going to go with the strategy that worked in 2010, and get the Rockford shuttle going again.

Trading Rozsival for a pick (someone should need a solid vet 3rd pair D-man) and sending TT to Rockford yields the $3M CAP space needed. And you can always cut back to 12 forwards and 6 D if needed. You can get from Rockford to the UC in a couple of hours, and ORD has direct flights to almost every city in the NHL (not sure about EDM and WPG). So if someone is hurt, an Ice Hog can be there the next day.

Then the Blackhawks could skate their best team possible for 14-15, including Sharp, Leddy and Johnny O. They can worry about moving Sharp and a D after the parade. Plus after another full season, they should be aware of exactly where Leddy's ceiling will be.
- scottak

No, the team can't really cut back to 12 forwards and 6 defensemen.

As it stands right now, the three guys that could conceivably be sent down and would hide their total cap hit in Rockford would be Morin, Rundblad and Regin. Odds are Morin and Rundblad wouldn't make it through waivers, and I can't see Bowman taking a chance sending Regin through waivers either.

I could see the team running with 22 players to start the season. As long as there is enough cap room with the 22 players, then the Hawks can use the bus system on the kids in Rockford.

Like him or hate him, Bickell shows up in the playoffs, and there is nobody in the system capable of replacing his size. Plus, the return for Bickell would be less, and trading him would not shed as much in cap dollars.
- Ogilthorpe2

i just read about a kid at prospect camp who could "be the next Bickell"....john hayden i believe..but he is 2 years away from competing for a roster spot so bickell will likely be with the Hawks for the duration of his current deal.

Ryan Smith the dinosaur oiler guy? Didnt he retire last season?
- BlazinMike

Did he officially retire? I still see him as a RFA on capgeek.