I will be there for 2 games and will have a follow up blog that I will share with everyone.

Stay tuned.
- TyCamScore

Will be at the weekend games myself with my father,brother and nephew.Looking forward to read what you have to say.

If Justin Schultz is getting $3.675 from EDM, I can't imagine that Nick Leddy's agent will be asking for a cent less than that next summer.
- BreakoutHockey

He'll be asking for more.

He'll be asking for more.
- EKolb13

I will be asking for more. If Leddy agreed to stick around a few years for $3.675 that wouldn't be such a bad thing, but it's highly unlikely.

I will be asking for more. If Leddy agreed to stick around a few years for $3.675 that wouldn't be such a bad thing, but it's highly unlikely.
- DarthKane

Sure - give Leddy another million, on top of Saad's additional $2+ and Kruger's additional $1+ and Toews and Kane (additional $8.4) -where's it all coming from?

Sure - give Leddy another million, on top of Saad's additional $2+ and Kruger's additional $1+ and Toews and Kane (additional $8.4) -where's it all coming from?
- StLBravesFan

Shedding a couple of big contracts next summer?

CoughSharpCoughBickellCough

Sure - give Leddy another million, on top of Saad's additional $2+ and Kruger's additional $1+ and Toews and Kane (additional $8.4) -where's it all coming from?
- StLBravesFan

If you don't give that money to Leddy you're going to give it to Oduya. Either way big changes are coming next season.

If you don't give that money to Leddy you're going to give it to Oduya. Either way big changes are coming next season.
- DarthKane

Another point: If Leddy gets the 3.8 or whatever, how long before Hjalmarsson (who voluntarily, we presume, signed a very friendly deal) starts wondering what the Hell he did to get stuck making the same (about) as Leddy for another five years?

He's a great guy, with a great wife, who both seem to like Chicago, but at some point....

Shedding a couple of big contracts next summer?

CoughSharpCoughBickellCough
- EKolb13

And then - right about the time the cap settles in and the Hawks are looking toward a couple of stable years - along will come an expansion draft - who do they look to lose then?

A very complicated 3 years coming up for Bowman and Company.

Another point: If Leddy gets the 3.8 or whatever, how long before Hjalmarsson (who voluntarily, we presume, signed a very friendly deal) starts wondering what the Hell he did to get stuck making the same (about) as Leddy for another five years?

He's a great guy, with a great wife, who both seem to like Chicago, but at some point....
- StLBravesFan

Hjalmarsson knew what he was doing by signing for $4.1 and I'm sure his agent educated him as well. Hammer left money on the table to he could play for a team he loves in a city he loves (and for fans who love him). He doesn't strick me as the type of guy who would worry about the situation, especially since there is nothing he can do about it.

Hjalmarsson knew what he was doing by signing for $4.1 and I'm sure his agent educated him as well. Hammer left money on the table to he could play for a team he loves in a city he loves (and for fans who love him). He doesn't strick me as the type of guy who would worry about the situation, especially since there is nothing he can do about it.
- DarthKane

Yes, but....

And then - right about the time the cap settles in and the Hawks are looking toward a couple of stable years - along will come an expansion draft - who do they look to lose then?

A very complicated 3 years coming up for Bowman and Company.
- StLBravesFan

I haven't even thought about expansion. I could see the league expanding to 32, but not to 34 teams.

I'm not going to worry about it until the league actually does expand, and it's a done deal.

Yes, but....
- StLBravesFan

No buts...

There's nothing Hjalmarsson can do about it. Plus, we don't know how he'd feel. He could be completely happy making $4.1 million. I think it's more of the fan base that would think guys like Leddy or Oduya shouldn't make more than Hammer because their not as good. Contracts don't often match a player's true value.

I haven't even thought about expansion. I could see the league expanding to 32, but not to 34 teams.

I'm not going to worry about it until the league actually does expand, and it's a done deal.
- EKolb13

Before the league explands they should relocate a team or two. Florida to Seattle or Quebec city seems like a no-brainer.

Would explansion fees be considered HRR and drive up the salary cap?

@ChrisKuc: Sheldon Brookbank had hoped to re-sign with #Blackhawks but defenseman is moving on and will attend Flames' training camp on a tryout.

@ChrisKuc: Sheldon Brookbank had hoped to re-sign with #Blackhawks but defenseman is moving on and will attend Flames' training camp on a tryout.
- DarthKane

I bet that means that Rozsival will be sticking around...

Before the league explands they should relocate a team or two. Florida to Seattle or Quebec city seems like a no-brainer.

Would explansion fees be considered HRR and drive up the salary cap?
- DarthKane

No. Expansion fees go ENTIRELY to the owners, which is completely insane and yet another reason why anyone who supports the owners in their neverending series of lockouts is equally insane. The players don't see a cent of that money.

Before the league explands they should relocate a team or two. Florida to Seattle or Quebec city seems like a no-brainer.

Would explansion fees be considered HRR and drive up the salary cap?
- DarthKane

No.

If they were to add (expand, not relocate) 54 teams, they were talking about $1.4B - which works out to almost $50MM per team WITHOUT sharing with the players.

So - if its 2 teams at $350MM each, that's about $23,000,000 each.

I still think Leddy moves. He will not be a top 4 defenseman under Quennevile, and you can't afford to pay a 3rd pairing dman upwards of $4mil with the other high cap hits on the team. Regardless of what any of us think of Rundblad, Stan didn't give up a 2nd round pick for the hell of it. I thought it then and I still believe it now - Bowman views Rundblad as his Leddy insurance.

I bet that means that Rozsival will be sticking around...
- EKolb13

Moving a winger makes sense because we are deeper (organizationally) at wing vs defense. I don't think Sharp moves now so that leaves Versteeg and Bickell.

Moving a winger makes sense because we are deeper (organizationally) at wing vs defense. I don't think Sharp moves now so that leaves Versteeg and Bickell.
- DarthKane

I don't think Bickell is going anywhere either. That's about the only big body the Hawks have up front.

I think it's still going to come down to one of Oduya or Leddy who goes.

I don't think Bickell is going anywhere either. That's about the only big body the Hawks have up front.

I think it's still going to come down to one of Oduya or Leddy who goes.
- EKolb13

I agree about Bickell, especially with Bollig gone we can't afford to lose another big guy.

I still think dealing Leddy makes the most sense, losing Oduya would hurt too much (and not just my feelings).

Dirk Graham?
- Uncheckable21

If Danault turns into a Dirk Graham type I would be thrilled, Bear. I see him more of a Bolland type. The pre injury Bolland. With a bit more offense to his game.

Let's get one thing straight. Leddy is a classic textbook power skater. That's much more than just a straight line skater. He gets as much out of the outer edges as the inner edges. He's also still young. That much is fact. The hockey part is debatable and 250 games is not just a rookie. I understand what you on one end and savvyone on the other end always say. Certainly you're right that if it wasn't for his skating he wouldn't be here. Also agree that the hawks window is now and we all know the hawks have to make a move. If a team with a coach that takes pride in helping players develop trades for Leddy that would not be the worst thing in the world. But the kid has a gift so the hawks better get a good return or with the proper attention from a coach Leddy could make the hawks look foolish down the line.
- 6628

And who is to say that the Hawks coaching staff hasn't worked on Leddy with all the things you mentioned? I don't buy that at all. Barry Smith is one of the best player development people in the league.

And figure skaters use both edges equally. What does it have to do with playing the game of hockey?

There is not another D man on the Hawks, Mr. Norris included, that has the capability to skate the puck end-to-end like Nick. 23 years old. I don't care so much about the 250 NHL games, he's 23 and won't be 24 until next March.

If I were coaching, I'd be working specifically on those plays where Nick blows by everyone, teammates included, and finds himself at the opposing circle or lower. Got to remember he likely did the same thing in h.s. but was up against guys that make it easier to get to the front of the net. Instead of Nick's teammates watching him race down the ice, they should be working on getting into position for a pass or a rebound off a shot. I'd be having him/team do reps that would make it all 2nd nature. Instead, what we get now are teammates that are a whole zone behind the play.

I've said it before and will again -- and in the bolded above -- if Nick gets traded my hope is he goes somewhere where he will have a coach/coaching that will utilize his speed and ability to carry the puck. IF that ever happens, look out. You're not going to be worrying about putting the guy on the ice because he's going to lock down another team's offense. They'll be worrying instead about what's coming back their way.
- savvyone-1

Moving the goal post again? Please. How can a player who has been playing the game since he was a wee one NOT know that firing the puck around the boards after his end to end rush is the wrong thing to do?

Morgan Reilly is 20 and already a much better player than Nick Leddy.

Which is why I have campaigned to have him paired with Hammer. People point to the Keith pairing, but Keith and Leddy play a similar style. Leddy needs a stay at home D man to have the confidence to play his game.

I just don't see that happening, and I think Leddy has burned every bit of patience/chances with Q and his staff. I'll be shocked if he's still here opening night.
- SteveRain

Keith and Leddy do not play anything close to a similar style. People need to stop comparing the two.

Leddy could never, even if he realized all his supposed potential, play a top pairing shutdown role. Which Keith has. Also. For all the crap Keith takes from Hawk fans, let's not forget Duncan (frank)ing Keith is a top pairing D-man on Team Canada, Leddy will never be a top pairing D-man on any team.