Wouldn't be surprised to see Rozy and Leddy moved with Dahlbeck, Rundlad and perhaps a Brookbank signing (which may explain why he still hasn't signed elsewhere) coming out of camp. Rundblad is the wild card.

On paper that looks worse than last year, but I'm not so sure that'll be the case on the ice.

I crunched some numbers (slow day at the office) and there is a way to keep both Oduya and Leddy for $4,000,000 each, assuming the cap is $74,000,000 for the 15/16 season. I made some assumptions on re-signing certain platers too. Keep in mind that due to the cap crunch sacrifices will need to me made. Either the defense or forward units (or both) will need to take a hit:

Saad ($4 million) Toews ($10.3 million) Hossa ($5.275 million)
Morin ($0.8) Teravainen ($0.894) Kane ($10.3)
Versteeg ($2.2) Shaw ($2) Smith ($1.5)
McNeill ($0.863) Kruger ($1.75) Nordstrom ($0.75)
Danault ($0.863)


- DarthKane

Lose Versteeg. His contract is done after this season. So if the cap is $71 million, it might still work. OR if it goes to $74, you can probably keep/bring someone else.

So you're saying that TT is not the next coming of Nathan Mackinnon or Patrick Kane?? Well shoot! I had him penciled in as the #1 Center, slot Toews where he belongs on the 2nd line. I was expecting at least 82 points and a +30. Maybe next year!

Wouldn't be surprised to see Rozy and Leddy moved with Dahlbeck, Rundlad and perhaps a Brookbank signing (which may explain why he still hasn't signed elsewhere) coming out of camp. Rundblad is the wild card.

On paper that looks worse than last year, but I'm not so sure that'll be the case on the ice.
- grinder10

Not this season. After this year Stan will need to make some big changes so he might as well keep the team together as long as possible.

So you're saying that TT is not the next coming of Nathan Mackinnon or Patrick Kane?? Well shoot! I had him penciled in as the #1 Center, slot Toews where he belongs on the 2nd line. I was expecting at least 82 points and a +30. Maybe next year!
- EnzoD

I heard Teravainen is demanding a trade to the Rangers to play with Hayes.

Agreed Ty. He looked underwhelming in his short audition last season, but Oduya wasn't so hot when he started with the Hawks either. Getting started in camp with the team/coaches will give us a much better assessment of what he can do as a Hawk. D need a little time to get comfortable in a new system anyway--especially the young ones. He could be significantly better than many of us think. Intriguing that he's also righty...
- grinder10

Yep - forgot to mention in the blog that Rundblad has another thing going for him... he's right-handed.

In case you're wondering here's the breakdown:
Lefties - Keith, Hammer, Oduya, Leddy
Righties - Seabs, Rozy, Rundblad

Keep in mind the elusive right-handed defenceman is in high demand these days. Heck, the Leafs even traded for Roman Polak because of this. And he's awful.

Adam Clendenning, Trevor Van Riesmdyk and Stephen Johns also fit in the right hand category of the defenders expected to compete at training camp.

Yep - forgot to mention in the blog that Rundblad has another thing going for him... he's right-handed.

In case you're wondering here's the breakdown:
Lefties - Keith, Hammer, Oduya, Leddy
Righties - Seabs, Rozy, Rundblad

Keep in mind the elusive right-handed defenceman is in high demand these days. Heck, the Leafs even traded for Roman Polak because of this. And he's awful.

Adam Clendenning, Trevor Van Riesmdyk and Stephen Johns also fit in the right hand category of the defenders expected to compete at training camp.
- TyCamScore

I really enjoyed your piece on Rundblad. Once he's given a lego mate shot I believe he'll do very well.

I crunched some numbers (slow day at the office) and there is a way to keep both Oduya and Leddy for $4,000,000 each, assuming the cap is $74,000,000 for the 15/16 season. I made some assumptions on re-signing certain platers too. Keep in mind that due to the cap crunch sacrifices will need to me made. Either the defense or forward units (or both) will need to take a hit:

Saad ($4 million) Toews ($10.3 million) Hossa ($5.275 million)
Morin ($0.8) Teravainen ($0.894) Kane ($10.3)
Versteeg ($2.2) Shaw ($2) Smith ($1.5)
McNeill ($0.863) Kruger ($1.75) Nordstrom ($0.75)
Danault ($0.863)

Seabrook ($5.8) Keith ($5.538)
Hjalmarsson ($4.1) Oduya ($4)
Leddy ($4) Rundblad ($1)
Johns ($0.8)

Crawford ($6)
Raanta ($0.75)

Total Cap: $73,484,295

So keeping both Oduya and Leddy means losing both Sharp and Bickell. The forward unit takes a hit but the defense is solid. The alternative could be to keep Bickell and let one of #8 or #27 walk and replace them with a $1 million defenseman.
- DarthKane

Hey DK it's DK...kind of wild when you see those cap hits for Toews and Kane in black and white...Would love to hang onto Leddy...he's got a lot of offensive skill to his game, great skater and passer...but can he put it all together? Or does he do it for someone else...

Hey DK it's DK...kind of wild when you see those cap hits for Toews and Kane in black and white...Would love to hang onto Leddy...he's got a lot of offensive skill to his game, great skater and passer...but can he put it all together? Or does he do it for someone else...
- DK002

My preference would be to keep Oduya but I think Leddy stays.

Very quiet. I think Leddy gets moved. But we'll see.
- John Jaeckel

Here's the thing that is interesting..
Unless Cap Geek is wrong and they aren't usually, the only single player who could be logically dealt for picks/prospects to solve the cap issue is Leddy.

That said Leddy is the most valuable trade chip out of the bunch that could be dealt and it seems like the time to do so was a lot earlier in the summer.

My belief is Bowman didn't paint himself into a corner...or at least I will give benefit of the doubt for now... But if Brad Richards would have been signed for $300k less Bowman would have had more options.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

prehistoric spongebob... LOL

Here's the thing that is interesting..
Unless Cap Geek is wrong and they aren't usually, the only single player who could be logically dealt for picks/prospects to solve the cap issue is Leddy.

That said Leddy is the most valuable trade chip out of the bunch that could be dealt and it seems like the time to do so was a lot earlier in the summer.

My belief is Bowman didn't paint himself into a corner...or at least I will give benefit of the doubt for now... But if Brad Richards would have been signed for $300k less Bowman would have had more options.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

If Stan trades Rozsival and goes with a roster of 22 then he has $877,372 to sign or promote a 7th defenseman. Of all the options available trading trading Rozsival, a part time defenseman, makes the most sense. This way the 13 forwards, 6 dmen (including Rundblad) and 2 goalies remain intact. Stan can use this season to determine if Oduya or Leddy stays Beijing this year. If Stan wants to trade Leddy he'll get a solid return now or after next season.

I heard Teravainen is demanding a trade to the Rangers to play with Hayes.
- DarthKane

I want to see who plays center on that line. That player is truly the great unknown

I know it wouldn't happen, but if Stan did nothing and hawks were over the cap, what would happen? Would they have to forfeit games until they were compliant?

I want to see who plays center on that line. That player is truly the great unknown
- jhawk59

Those 2 prospects are so special they'd both play centre on the same line at the same time.

Here's the thing that is interesting..
Unless Cap Geek is wrong and they aren't usually, the only single player who could be logically dealt for picks/prospects to solve the cap issue is Leddy.

That said Leddy is the most valuable trade chip out of the bunch that could be dealt and it seems like the time to do so was a lot earlier in the summer.

My belief is Bowman didn't paint himself into a corner...or at least I will give benefit of the doubt for now... But if Brad Richards would have been signed for $300k less Bowman would have had more options.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

And if Crawford wasnt given $6 per WAYYY earlier than he should have, we would have more room too

Lets admit, if Crawford went into this past season without an extension, and the same results happened, .917 sv pct, 2.26 GAA, loss in game 7 of WCF vs LAK, would he really be looking at more than the 6x6 we gave him with a NMC/Modified NTC?

I dont think so, the only reason we should have gave him a contract then is if he was giving us a deal, and im not sure anyone calls it that

And if Crawford wasnt given $6 per WAYYY earlier than he should have, we would have more room too

Lets admit, if Crawford went into this past season without an extension, and the same results happened, .917 sv pct, 2.26 GAA, loss in game 7 of WCF vs LAK, would he really be looking at more than the 6x6 we gave him with a NMC/Modified NTC?

I dont think so, the only reason we should have gave him a contract then is if he was giving us a deal, and im not sure anyone calls it that
- FourFeathers773

Starting goalies get $6 million per year, that's just the going rate now. If Stan didn't give Crawford that contract he would have walked, then who would we be left with?

Starting goalies get $6 million per year, that's just the going rate now. If Stan didn't give Crawford that contract he would have walked, then who would we be left with?
- DarthKane

Had they known at the time that the cap was only going to $69, not the presumed (and approved by the league) $71, perhaps they would have leaned on Crawford (and Bickell) a little more.

And to blame Crawford for the loss to LA is absurd: he was not as good as he could (should) have been, but the other high-priced talent there didn't earn their contracts: Sharp, Keith, Hossa, Quenville - who performed really well in that series?

Crawford was a major reason they got past St. Louis and Minnie.

Starting goalies get $6 million per year, that's just the going rate now. If Stan didn't give Crawford that contract he would have walked, then who would we be left with?
- DarthKane

I dont agree, we gave Crawford a sweetheart deal, not the other way away

Crawford could have walked, but what other team out there is giving Crawford 6x6 when he wont be playing behind a blackhawks cup contending team anymore?

not knocking CC, but any team that is/was definitely going out and looking for an upgrade in net via free agency this summer (VAN, CGY, MIN, NYI, STL, WSH, WPG) either doesnt have the room or wouldnt pay him that money to sit back there and get peppered behind an inferior team

I dont agree, we gave Crawford a sweetheart deal, not the other way away

Crawford could have walked, but what other team out there is giving Crawford 6x6 when he wont be playing behind a blackhawks cup contending team anymore?

not knocking CC, but any team that is/was definitely going out and looking for an upgrade in net via free agency this summer (VAN, CGY, MIN, NYI, STL, WSH, WPG) either doesnt have the room or wouldnt pay him that money to sit back there and get peppered behind an inferior team
- FourFeathers773

If you had your way and Crawford walked and got $6 with the Islanders (for example) whom would you have as our goalie?

If you had your way and Crawford walked and got $6 with the Islanders (for example) whom would you have as our goalie?
- DarthKane

Then we could easily have gotten Halak at $4.5 per, if not a little cheaper

Halak playoff sv pct .923
Crawford playoff sv pct .920

Then we could easily have gotten Halak at $4.5 per, if not a little cheaper

Halak playoff sv pct .923
Crawford playoff sv pct .920
- FourFeathers773

On a go forward basis I much prefer to have Crawford over Halak. Halak is decent, but not at Crawford's level.

Part of the problem in letting Crawford walk is that you have no guarantee on who his replacement will be. There's a risk that guys like Halak are scooped up by other clubs, then we're left with a goalie combo of Raanta and Leighton.

Crawford may not be a top 5 goalie in the league but he's pretty damn solid. He was a big reason we beat St Louis and he was very good against Minnesota. The reality is that we don't have any other goaltending options and were lucky to have a solid netminder like Corey. If cap space is needed Stan can get t by trading forwards were we have more organizational depth.

On a go forward basis I much prefer to have Crawford over Halak. Halak is decent, but not at Crawford's level.

Part of the problem in letting Crawford walk is that you have no guarantee on who his replacement will be. There's a risk that guys like Halak are scooped up by other clubs, then we're left with a goalie combo of Raanta and Leighton.

Crawford may not be a top 5 goalie in the league but he's pretty damn solid. He was a big reason we beat St Louis and he was very good against Minnesota. The reality is that we don't have any other goaltending options and were lucky to have a solid netminder like Corey. If cap space is needed Stan can get t by trading forwards were we have more organizational depth.
- DarthKane

This is all hypothetical, but Halak hasnt been given a shot at a long playoff run since he was in MTL, where he carried them to the ECF

I think Halak is very underrated and they should have given him a shot this year in STL while he was healthy, but they panicked and went after Miller

If we let Crawford go and got Halak in that 4-4.5 mil range, I wouldnt be very disappointed at all

Starting goalies get $6 million per year, that's just the going rate now. If Stan didn't give Crawford that contract he would have walked, then who would we be left with?
- DarthKane

I think most teams would like to keep the cap hit for goalies at or below 6 million. Starter should get 4-6m and the backup .5-1m. Breifly looking at what teams are commiting to the position. Boston is over 9 and Anaheim is under 2. LA,SJ,AR, MN,ED and Chicago are all close in the West. So teams like SL, 3.3m still are trying to find that guy.

When I was talking to Stan at an event we held last Thursday he told me they were going to make one move. I asked him of the Nick Leddy rumor and he smirked and said we have to make one move. Take that for what it is.[/img]