No one is going to do anything helpful to the Hawks. Doing the 19 and 88 deals BEFORE clearing the cap overage was a huge strategic mistake. Splash over strategy now puts Stanley and company in a position of no leverage to make deals.

No one wants Roszival or Versteeg, and it will be difficult to take any kind of contracts back in exchange for Leddy or Oduya.

The only real options the FO has now involve giving guys away purely to get under the cap.
- Return of the Roar

-Its not about helpful . The Hawks have a few assets that would be helpful to other clubs Leddy , Oduya, or Sharp.... teams would probably line up to make deals , maybe ot for equal value skill wise but $ is value as well. So a Leddy for Martin and a pick deal would be perfect. Leddy HLEPS the Isles get closer to the playoffs and above the cap floor , the Hawks get a lesser role player that is cheaper.

-If Kane and Toews were not signed yet the Hawks would be in serious trouble. Way more trouble than having to shed 2-3m in cap space.

THE KANE AND TOEWS $ DOESNT KICK IN UNTIL NEXT SEASON

The "Splash" as you say ? 10m for two elite super stars for the rest of their careers ?

Come on man , you're better than that .

The Hawks only have to make 1 trade to get under the cap .

This will happen easily , half the league would LOVE to have Leddy , Oduya or Sharp . The Hawks can make any of these deals with or without players in return and get under the cap and still be ultra competitive .

Sentence Leddy to Buffalo for a high second.
- DirkGraham

Young defensemen aren't in Buffalo's "needs" column at the moment.

Yeah, people really need to take TT off the roster and realize it's only 1.4 and change and not over 2.2. Not unless TT goes off the charts in the preseason OR an injury occurs OR somebody blows Bowman's doors off for a rostered forward. Otherwise, the signing of Richards has TT destined for Rockford.
- SteveRain

Exactly and if by some chance Terainven makes the team then Regin is the odd man out.

Because it shows their hand and exposes their predicament longer term. If you think this year is tough wait until the year after.
- Return of the Roar

So - other teams were surprised they signed Toews and Kane for $10.5 each?

Exactly and if by some chance Terainven makes the team then Regin is the odd man out.
- DarthKane

Even if Teuvo does enough to make the team, I think he's still going to Rockford.

Even if Teuvo does enough to make the team, I think he's still going to Rockford.
- EKolb13

Probably right , depending who gets moved. If Sharp gets traded I see TT on Wing with Toews and Hossa .

2- Richards , Saad , Kane.


If Sharp stays TT to Rockford then the Hawks only need to clear about 2m .

-Its not about helpful . The Hawks have a few assets that would be helpful to other clubs Leddy , Oduya, or Sharp.... teams would probably line up to make deals , maybe ot for equal value skill wise but $ is value as well. So a Leddy for Martin and a pick deal would be perfect. Leddy HLEPS the Isles get closer to the playoffs and above the cap floor , the Hawks get a lesser role player that is cheaper.

-If Kane and Toews were not signed yet the Hawks would be in serious trouble. Way more trouble than having to shed 2-3m in cap space.

THE KANE AND TOEWS $ DOESNT KICK IN UNTIL NEXT SEASON

The "Splash" as you say ? 10m for two elite super stars for the rest of their careers ?

Come on man , you're better than that .

The Hawks only have to make 1 trade to get under the cap .

This will happen easily , half the league would LOVE to have Leddy , Oduya or Sharp . The Hawks can make any of these deals with or without players in return and get under the cap and still be ultra competitive .
- mrpaulish

Don't overvalue the least valuable assets the Hawks have. If there was such a clamoring for these guys we would have seen deals made for them by now.

Since the deals are now public, and even though they do not kick in for another year, what little leverage the Hawks had is now diminished by what every team they deal with sees as a position of weakness going forward.

I suspect any one trade they make to get through this year will be more in the form of a giveaway than getting anything of value in return.

So - other teams were surprised they signed Toews and Kane for $10.5 each?
- StLBravesFan

Other teams now know what the cap obligation is going forward. The parties could have agreed to defer execution/announcement of the deals until other things got handled. All I am really saying.

Neither do I. The problem was the public nature of the deals combined with the timing. I am sure there was a way to keep the deals on the DL. I feel like McD needed something to create buzz at the convention and that trumped what was smarter to do. Totally agree on Bickell. Here is to hoping he rebounds from the injury bug and shows his value.
- Return of the Roar

I was one of the few guys saying it would be over 9 million. I was thinking more of 9.5 but again....those deals will be steals in a year or so. We already saw what Montreal gave Subban. It's just beginning, especially as the cap rises.

Of course McDonough wanted a splash. The players didn' want to answer those questions, nor did the front office. it was going to happen and McDonough and Wirtz both came out publicly last year it was top priority.

The short term, this year, and next year, will be rough....This year they can make it work by moving one guy....next year will be the FIRST true test for Bowman IMO. Lots of guys needing to be signed, who he keeps vs who he lets go. Does he trade to Sharp? Are any of these prospects ready to step in and make a solid contribution? Will the deals he gave out to CC and Bickell pay off?

Your new core after this could very well be.....19,88,50, 2,4,7,27. 81 or 10.

Even if Teuvo does enough to make the team, I think he's still going to Rockford.
- EKolb13

That would make the most sense, his ELC can slide one more year and he gets some seasoning in the A.

Wait...?? Are you suggestion both or 1 of Leddy/Oduya for Lee + Martin?
- Ur Not Me

Yea I was thinking one of them but in hindsight that's probably not a fair trade for NYI. The Islanders are loaded at center and are weak on defense and top 6 wingers (not converted centers like Lee or Nelson). I think a bigger trade with Sharp, Oduya and a 2nd could land a nice package back that would include either Lee or Nelson plus Martin plus a pick.

No.
- EKolb13

Yes

But for real, I'd love sharp on our top line with benn and seguin. I just don't see us helping you guys or you guys helping us and sending us a good player. As much as I like the hawks I guess I have to hate you guys now being in our division.

Even if Teuvo does enough to make the team, I think he's still going to Rockford.
- EKolb13

I'm with you....so cap deficit of 1.4 and change. Figure they want to move a little over 2 to have money to play with in case of an injury of a trade to fine tune.

Next year again...it will be dependent upon the cap, but some tough calls for SB to make.

Yes

But for real, I'd love sharp on our top line with benn and seguin. I just don't see us helping you guys or you guys helping us and sending us a good player. As much as I like the hawks I guess I have to hate you guys now being in our division.
- NoobasaurusRex

Bingo!

Division rivals are not going to go out of their way too help each other out.

Agreed, and that is why I think it will be Leddy and you may even see an Oduya extension long before a guy like Kruger.

Bottom 6 guys can be replaced. Top 6 and top 4 d men are hard to come by.
- SteveRain

I wouldn't bet a penny Kruger will be back....and I agree.
When push came to shove the 1st to go was the easiest to replace...Bollig.

Oduya could likely stay if he gives a favorable deal...It will be tough for him because this is his last big swing and the only time he has been in position to make really big money. It will depend on how much he wants to stay with Hammer because others will offer him more in the summer.

teams are gonna know that chicago is gonna have to trade someone... even if you try to do a bargaining war chicago isnt going to get equal value. oduya? a second round pick alone would be a dream come true. leddy for martin straight up might have to be acceptable.
- ChrisMS

Hawks paid a 2nd and 3rd rounder for Oduya and, though older, is clearly a better player now than when coming from WPG.

Very few legit defensive d men available out there. If the Hawks see real value it may be from Oduya.

Sharp to Boston for Gregory Campbell
- nickmo2699

Love it

I'm with you....so cap deficit of 1.4 and change. Figure they want to move a little over 2 to have money to play with in case of an injury of a trade to fine tune.

Next year again...it will be dependent upon the cap, but some tough calls for SB to make.
- SteveRain

Indeed. I think next summer will be the start of the Hawks re-tooling the roster until the cap catches up too the Toews & Kane deals. My bet is that Sharp and Bickell will be gone at next year's draft.

Don't overvalue the least valuable assets the Hawks have. If there was such a clamoring for these guys we would have seen deals made for them by now.

Since the deals are now public, and even though they do not kick in for another year, what little leverage the Hawks had is now diminished by what every team they deal with sees as a position of weakness going forward.

I suspect any one trade they make to get through this year will be more in the form of a giveaway than getting anything of value in return.
- Return of the Roar

Next summer the cap will likley increase more than this summer...

When you are supposedly dangling players with only 1 year remaining like Oduya/Leddy there is only so much trade value to be had regardless of Kane/Toews.

Hawks paid a 2nd and 3rd rounder for Oduya and, though older, is clearly a better player now than when coming from WPG.

Very few legit defensive d men available out there. If the Hawks see real value it may be from Oduya.
- tredbrta

Oduya is not only better than with Jets....He is much better than he has ever been in any point of his career.

Before this turns into a pipe dream of us trading Versteeg or Rozsival and getting back some highly coveted prospect or draft pick.....and then wiz's head explodes, lets take a step back.

1 TT is still showing on cap geek's roster. I dont' see him starting the year in the NHL unless he absolutely tears up the preseason. So you can deduct his 800K right away and now you have a cap deficit of around 1.4 and change.

2. Outside of TT, you have 3 highly HYPED guys that all of the sudden the media has hitched their wagons to. Cledening vs Johns vs Dahlbeck. That isn't by coincidence. I heard on the hawks post game radio show after game 7, Dahlbeck's name come up UNPROVOKED which tells me a D man is 99.9% going, unless Stan Bow is blown away for an offer on Sharp or Bickell.

3. As much as the Jay Zawaski's of the world want to drive Versteeg to the airport, at 2.2 million for the next 2 years, he has value in a cap world and a roster stacked with HIGH dollars on high end players. He's a low risk, high reward, and they aren't going to move him. Period.

4. Rozsival is possible as moving him, gets you 800K below the cap with a 22 man roster, which contrary to what some may want to believe, is VERY possible considering they may know full well this is their last push for a cup with the current core. May take sweetening that pot with Rozsival and prospect that many think is coveted but the Hawks are sour on.

So out of all that....you get down to where we were 2 months ago.....Oduya vs Leddy. I would venture to guess the Hawks have had talks with Oduya's agent about what # JO wants on his next deal and if he's willing to be a team guy and leave $$ on the table for a chance to win. If he is....then LEddy will be dealt. Q doesn't seem to be a fan of Leddy, and can this team really afford to pay a #5 d man over 3+ million starting in 2015-16? I don't think they can.

Leddy out east for a prospect during camp as LONG as Dahlbeck or Cledening or Johns all don't bomb, and the winner of the 3 man competition, if there is even a competition, will be the Hawks 6/7 d man along side the bag of pucks known as Rundblad.
- SteveRain

Great post.

Since the deals are now public, and even though they do not kick in for another year, what little leverage the Hawks had is now diminished by what every team they deal with sees as a position of weakness going forward.

I suspect any one trade they make to get through this year will be more in the form of a giveaway than getting anything of value in return.
- Return of the Roar

That would be silly to assume.

The entire world knew those extensions were coming. Teams already knew that, even if the extensions weren't done this summer, every move the Hawks made had to have Kane and Toews long term cap hits in mind. Everyone knew their AAV's were going to be close to 9-10 million.

Those extensions literally changed nothing IMO, and it was smart to get them done sooner rather than later since you're talking about two of the best forwards on the planet.

I was one of the few guys saying it would be over 9 million. I was thinking more of 9.5 but again....those deals will be steals in a year or so. We already saw what Montreal gave Subban. It's just beginning, especially as the cap rises.

Of course McDonough wanted a splash. The players didn' want to answer those questions, nor did the front office. it was going to happen and McDonough and Wirtz both came out publicly last year it was top priority.

The short term, this year, and next year, will be rough....This year they can make it work by moving one guy....next year will be the FIRST true test for Bowman IMO. Lots of guys needing to be signed, who he keeps vs who he lets go. Does he trade to Sharp? Are any of these prospects ready to step in and make a solid contribution? Will the deals he gave out to CC and Bickell pay off?

Your new core after this could very well be.....19,88,50, 2,4,7,27. 81 or 10.
- SteveRain

Bolland was offered around the summer before he was dealt....Same might be true of Sharp going next summer.

No matter what....One big move needs to happen if Saad and others are the real deal.

Yes

But for real, I'd love sharp on our top line with benn and seguin. I just don't see us helping you guys or you guys helping us and sending us a good player. As much as I like the hawks I guess I have to hate you guys now being in our division.
- NoobasaurusRex

If there was a team to bet on in Vegas in regards to over/under for wins it's Dallas IMO. You could very well be the Colorado of last year. That's a dangerous team down in Big D. Just need some more D men, and you are right there.

Great post.
- tredbrta

Thanks....