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.
- EKolb13

Roger! The bigger point is they could start the season by moving Rozsy, sending TT down, and keeping JO, Leddy and Sharp.

this press conference is just a pat ourselves on the back fest

rocky is the best, bowman is the best, fans are the best, Toews and Kane are the best..blah blah blah same old song and dance from McD

this press conference is just a pat ourselves on the back fest
- EnzoD

You expected anything else? I'm just surprised they didn't save the press conference for Friday, right before the opening ceremony for the fan convention.

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

Just to be sure, we're talking about Ryan Smyth, the ex Oiler who is really old right? Or am i thinking of the wrong guy?

Trading Sharp now makes no sense. The idea in general of moving him for a high end prospect/draft picks is understandable, but why do it now? This upcoming season there's no possible way we'd be better without him if that's what we're moving him for. We CERTAINLY wont be better or more Cup worthy the season after that with the cap casualties coming, most likely wont be as stacked as we are now in 2016-17 either....This roster heading into next year is loaded up and ready for a Cup run. Get rid of Sharp next summer for a package to add future building blocks. His value will still be high, he's not all of a sudden gonna suck the year after posting career numbers if he's still gonna be playing with 19 and 88. As for now id look at moving Oduya, Leddy, Rozy, or Versteeg all before Sharp.

Just to be sure, we're talking about Ryan Smyth, the ex Oiler who is really old right? Or am i thinking of the wrong guy?
- BlazinMike

Same guy. You don't think he has 1 more year in him to push for the cup?
I really do not like him, but if he could be had for cheap and had something left, would he not be another option?

Same guy. You don't think he has 1 more year in him to push for the cup?
I really do not like him, but if he could be had for cheap and had something left, would he not be another option?
- powerenforcer

He is retired. Bettman made him do it.

Roger! The bigger point is they could start the season by moving Rozsy, sending TT down, and keeping JO, Leddy and Sharp.
- scottak

Yeah, you could. However, IF Bowman can trade Rozsival without having to take any salary back, that only leaves approximately $250,000 in cap space after recalling Dahlbeck to serve as the 7th defenseman.

The team could get away with that, but the first sign of injury someone is going to have to go on LTIR in order to recall someone else from Rockford. The team needs enough cap room equal to the cap number on the contract to recall someone from Rockford.

Honestly, if Bowman is going to do this right, he needs to clear about $3 million in cap space just to run a roster of 22 players.

rocky is the best, bowman is the best, fans are the best, Toews and Kane are the best..blah blah blah same old song and dance from McD
- EnzoD

Yeah, pretty hilarious. I wanna thank John and Stan....Stan and Rocky....Rocky and John.

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.
- EnzoD

I think Bickell is traded next year and replaced by McNeill.

The Hawks may go all in this year...I know it seems silly to have Sharp on the 3rd line at 5.9 million (or even Saad or Bickell), but what a hell of a luxury if for only 1 year. And it would create matchup nightmares for the other team.

I think waiting till next year is risky, because you likely won't get the return you could get this year, but keeping Oduya, keeping Sharp and hell...even keeping Leddy (who I am not a fan of) this year make the Hawks BETTER than last year (due to development of Saad and addition of Richards).

Then next year say goodnight...Sharp, Bickell, Oduya, Leddy...maybe someone else all gone. NOW, if that FOLLOWS a parade then I think no Hawk fan would complain.

Also, after such a purge I would imagine players like McNeill, TT, Dalhbeck, Johns, Danault are even closer and more ready. A couple of those guys (TT, McNeill and Dalhbeck) are said to be pretty damn close to being NHL ready NOW...another year of seasoning can not hurt them? We WIN the Cup, give Sharpie and the boys a big hug, send them off into the sunset and bring up kids...who would be supporting a STILL strong team of Kane, Toews, Saad, Hossa, Seabrook, Keith, Hammer, Crow...with other strong complimentary players like Smith, Kruger and maybe even Morin.

But "an all in" in hockey is just so damn hard. It's not as easy as baseball...get a stud pitcher to put you over the top, win a couple series and viola' you have a Series ring...in the NHL they line you up with FOUR brutal 7 game series and coming out of the West? Not easy in the least.

this press conference is just a pat ourselves on the back fest
- EnzoD

What did you expect exactly?

"I can't believe we resigned in this horrible town"

"Wirtz is a cheap bastard"

"Bowman should trade have the team so we can have more money"

LMAO...its like when people get all up in arms after they interview the GM of some team and he doesn't say he's trading player xyz and says he likes him and part of the team.

Will be interesting to hear if anyone asks the Twins about leaving $ on the table to field a competitive team...or if that was on the 'do not ask' list.

Sweet...someone just asked.

Same guy. You don't think he has 1 more year in him to push for the cup?
I really do not like him, but if he could be had for cheap and had something left, would he not be another option?
- powerenforcer

1st of all i thought only younger players could qualify as Restricted Free Agents. 2nd, even if the guy wasnt retired, i dont think he would bring much to the team.

Wasn't questioning that: just that you don't NOT put someone on a lower line because he's making too much money - if you already have him (this is the accountant in me).
- StLBravesFan

but isn't part of the equation that the moves you make aren't just about next year - its also 2 or 3 years down the line - its like a game of chess. Avoid cap hell where you have to give away assets (hope they learned their lesson) in a year or 2 to be compliant. Plus, when the pipeline is empty because they constantly draft in the bottom of the first round, there won't be top prospects to fill the voids around the corner AND they won't have cap space available for a free agent because they hung onto assests for too long at to high a cost.
As an example...Sharp & Bicks & Chi 1st for E Kane and Winn 1st
hawks under cap, replaced size and goals and have a potentially higher pick in draft
now they have flexibility to do other things on their terms
I dunno

but isn't part of the equation that the moves you make aren't just about next year - its also 2 or 3 years down the line - its like a game of chess. Avoid cap hell where you have to give away assets (hope they learned their lesson) in a year or 2 to be compliant. Plus, when the pipeline is empty because they constantly draft in the bottom of the first round, there won't be top prospects to fill the voids around the corner AND they won't have cap space available for a free agent because they hung onto assests for too long at to high a cost.
As an example...Sharp & Bicks & Chi 1st for E Kane and Winn 1st
hawks under cap, replaced size and goals and have a potentially higher pick in draft
now they have flexibility to do other things on their terms
I dunno
- dpard

I like it!

In case you did not get enough at the press conf. Towes on 87.7 in a few minutes

In case you did not get enough at the press conf. Towes on 87.7 in a few minutes
- Cup-Bearer

I really like when Toews starts talking about winning the Cup (or not winning it). You can tell lifting that Cup is the reason he's on this planet.

This kid will go down as one of the greatest captains in history. We are in the middle of watching a Hall of Famer work his craft..I for one am thankful. Look around the NHL and the captains...full of whiners, divers, prima donnas, immature children...and the hawks got THIS GUY!!!!

Roger! The bigger point is they could start the season by moving Rozsy, sending TT down, and keeping JO, Leddy and Sharp.
- scottak

The even BIGGER point is that you have no cap space to allow for short term injuries.

Whether you gave 20,21,22,23 on the roster (and I don't know whether or not the CBA mandates a minimum roster or not) - you can't be so close to the cap that you have zero flexibility in recalling players: multiple short term injuries occur all of the time in this league.

The even BIGGER point is that you have no cap space to allow for short term injuries.

Whether you gave 20,21,22,23 on the roster (and I don't know whether or not the CBA mandates a minimum roster or not) - you can't be so close to the cap that you have zero flexibility in recalling players: multiple short term injuries occur all of the time in this league.
- StLBravesFan

Versteeg. Not even sure why we ever even traded for him. You add him to the exit ramp and that gives you more flexibility. He is useless on this team...not really a fourth line banger, won't sniff top 6 minutes and we have plenty of better candidates to fill third line winger roles. Hell, I'd love to see a third line of Smith/Kruger/Sharp. It was pretty effective in the Cup finals.

I would be fine with Sharp for a former 1st rounder that is 1-2 years away from the NHL and a high draft pick or depth player with some ability. I just wish Stan would make a move already! the suspense is taxing my mind!! It would be interesting to see if Sharp could be moved at the deadline this season. It seems that teams have their lineups mostly set and injuries/under performance during the season will bring more demand for a scoring top line winger. Stan should be working his butt off right now on the phones bc he probably has a list of about 10 names that are "untouchable" but everyone else is open season until he gets under the cap
- EnzoD

I think you keep him and go for it all this year or trade him now and get what you can(not saying that eliminates being a contender). I don't see any way you trade him at the deadline unless something catastrophic happens like Keith, Toews and Crawford are all done for the season and you know its over.

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

Basically stamping the rent check return to sender. Glendale owns that arena, yet all of that town management has been replaced now.

Exactly. But that will most likely happen if they wait until next summer. Who knows about now? I would hope an elite scorer like him returns at least a bottom 6 guy and a great prospect.
- tomcat24

How bout just a great great prospect alike Drouin for sharp

Same guy. You don't think he has 1 more year in him to push for the cup?
I really do not like him, but if he could be had for cheap and had something left, would he not be another option?
- powerenforcer

Might he now skate about the same as Zus did last year?

How bout just a great great prospect alike Drouin for sharp
- goaler11

Yzerman made some slick moves. His team is at or near the cap limit and looking better. They have lots of kids and Yzerman isn't trading Drouin. I wish Bowman could make that trade.