When Brandon Saad becomes a 6'3" #1 center he can compare salary notes with Ryan Johansen.

Until then, his comparables are with wingers like Max Paccioretty and a few others around the league. Over $4M if he has a good season.
- RickJ

Excellent point! RJ to Saad is completely apples to oranges.

Based on last year's numbers and that he is RFA I think the comp is the McGinn deal in Colorado. That was $2.95 and Saad would generate a better deal than JM with 10 more assists and inflation.

If Saad blows through last year's 19 G 28 A performance then the number could get closer to RJ but he is still not a center.

Certainly the Hawks have some cap concerns going forward (nothing like post 2010 SC, imo) but so do the Kings...before they even get to Kopi, they have to deal with new contracts/replacements for:
Pearson
Toffoli,
Williams,
Stoll
Martinez,
Muzzin,
Regehr,
Clifford &
A backup goalie

all will be FA/RFA after this season.
All tolled, 11 spots with a little less than $14 mil (according to capgeek), that's $1.3M per and my guess is Stoll, Williams, Toffoli & Pearson will each require more than that.
Only then do they get to deal with Kopi.

So after this season and with with Richards signed until 19-20 & Brown signed until 2000 forever, they will have their own cap issues in short order...

and there you have what i like to refer to as a glass house kind of thing...
- dsav123

I think the Kings would be wise to get Kopitar taken care of before all those other guys. I know its a team sport but you need stars more than you need grinders and secondary types. No offense meant towards the names on that list above, but Kopitar is head and shoulders better than all of them obviously. So i would assume the Kings worry about his contract first, then fill in the pieces with whats left cap wise.

Glass house sounds right but no. Nobody is throwing stones. The article here is about Kane, and the Hawks going forward. My comment was that going forward the Hawks, IMO, would do better to improve defensively and dumping Leedy does not do that, plus the 88 and 19 contracts make significant improvement very difficult. I did not come here and say the Kings are perfect, but they are in a much better spot cap wise.
- PlayerX

I think if you take what a blogger writes about the team he's covering, or what the fans of the team say as what the front office is actually thinking/doing then you're looking at the situation incorrectly.

Just because John writes about Kane getting better or other playmakes in the system, doesnt mean that he or anyone else posting here doesnt think defense is important. Pretty sure the front office knows what they want and what they're trying to do. They saw the season/playoffs last year and will do what they can to get the team in position to win...i hope haha.

Excellent point! RJ to Saad is completely apples to oranges.

Based on last year's numbers and that he is RFA I think the comp is the McGinn deal in Colorado. That was $2.95 and Saad would generate a better deal than JM with 10 more assists and inflation.

If Saad blows through last year's 19 G 28 A performance then the number could get closer to RJ but he is still not a center.
- tredbrta

I thought Saad was quite good in the series with the Kings, up and down vs the Blues and Wild. He needs to convert many more of his scoring chances into goals effective immediately if he wants the next contract to have very large numbers on it.

If he has a great season and I'm his agent I'm asking for Landeskog, E.Kane, Jeff Skinner, Jamie Benn figures.

Bowman on the other hand probably has not more than Clarke McArthur, Kunitz, Oshie, Pacioretty thoughts in mind.

Whatever it is, Sharp and /or Bickell will be moving on if they want to keep Saad.

Gotta say I was amazed how Bowman lost all the guys from the first Cup and still won another, then threatened a third.
- PlayerX

I'm sure he appreciates the cudos.

Also, I think your occasional visit here to "needle" the board about the Hawks weak group of d men is misguided. Those lackluster defensive numbers in last year's POs had more to do with the lack of defensive help from the forward group of the Hawk's than a fall off by the defensive group (though there was one).

Just like the Kings defensive numbers were also a reflection of Sutter getting his entire forward group to hustle and back check consistently. This, plus the FACT that officials were allowing more holding and interference in the playoffs in 14 than 13, helped your D group overcome their obvious (and still present) shortcomings. Regehr (until IR), Mitchell and Greene were all immobile. Voyanov was a dear in the headlights most of the time. Muzzin made some nice progress - his improvement gave Doughty more confidence to be aggressive.

For Chicago. If Q identifies 4 lines and sticks with rolling them the defensive numbers will look more like 13. That is one of the keys for the Hawks.

Considering the clear problems the Hawks had - mainly from rolling less than 4 lines - and the fact that it still took 7 games and OT for the Kings to win - your high horse has weak legs.

I thought Saad was quite good in the series with the Kings, up and down vs the Blues and Wild. He needs to convert many more of his scoring chances into goals effective immediately if he wants the next contract to have very large numbers on it.

If he has a great season and I'm his agent I'm asking for Landeskog, E.Kane, Jeff Skinner, Jamie Benn figures.

Bowman on the other hand probably has not more than Clarke McArthur, Kunitz, Oshie, Pacioretty thoughts in mind.

Whatever it is, Sharp and /or Bickell will be moving on if they want to keep Saad.
- RickJ

That is what it could look like. Saad was clearly one of the best 2-3 players on the ice when the Hawks turned the LA series. If he keeps that up a Benn type deal may be coming and SB will definitely be moving Sharp or someone from clear weakness next OS. That could make the return resemble Brian Campbell. One of the reasons part of me would like to see that larger move come sooner rather than later.

If Saad improves again then that Sharp/Bickell move will be easier this year. Just hope that maximizes the return. Would be nice to see at least a return of a solid NHL player/s for depth here plus a high pick or some strong prospects back.

Is anyone else having trouble keeping signed in on an iPad with IOS 8 - or do I just have a settings problem.

I keep getting logged out.

Is anyone else having trouble keeping signed in on an iPad with IOS 8 - or do I just have a settings problem.

I keep getting logged out.
- StLBravesFan

There are many Wifi issues with IOS8. We haven't approved the release of this software at my company due to the number of bugs among them being Wifi disconnects and very hard use of the battery.

Is anyone else having trouble keeping signed in on an iPad with IOS 8 - or do I just have a settings problem.

I keep getting logged out.
- StLBravesFan

My Android always logs me out and sometimes doesn't let me log into this site.

I was wondering If I was the only one having log in issues. I know the site is usually slower in the summer but its been really slow , Ive wanted to get into discussions but have not had the ability to log in .

Is anyone else having trouble keeping signed in on an iPad with IOS 8 - or do I just have a settings problem.

I keep getting logged out.
- StLBravesFan

Not sure, my commodore is working fine with ZUS 29 dial up, operating system....

There is a joke in there somewhere.....

Not sure, my commodore is working fine with ZUS 29 dial up, operating system....

There is a joke in there somewhere.....
- TrueGrit

But I'm using the Pirri-Frolik protocol - should be working fine.

Not sure, my commodore is working fine with ZUS 29 dial up, operating system....

There is a joke in there somewhere.....
- TrueGrit

Not a good one though.

My Android always logs me out and sometimes doesn't let me log into this site.

I was wondering If I was the only one having log in issues. I know the site is usually slower in the summer but its been really slow , Ive wanted to get into discussions but have not had the ability to log in .
- mrpaulish

I used to have the same problem with my Android phone. However, I was using the first Samsung Galaxy at the time. Old tech probably had something to do with it.

I've had no problems what so ever since switching to the iPhone 5S last year.

I think the Kings would be wise to get Kopitar taken care of before all those other guys. I know its a team sport but you need stars more than you need grinders and secondary types. No offense meant towards the names on that list above, but Kopitar is head and shoulders better than all of them obviously. So i would assume the Kings worry about his contract first, then fill in the pieces with whats left cap wise.
- BlazinMike

If i'm not mistaken, they can't do anything with Kopitar until after this season is over...kind of like the Hawks with Toews & Kane. Either way, it's pretty messy...

But I'm using the Pirri-Frolik protocol - should be working fine.
- StLBravesFan

Well played....you probably are getting redirected to Sharks page then....

Not a good one though.
- Ogilthorpe2

(quietly thinking to myself) one day, I am going to get Ogi's approval...and then...and then...validation (with Allanis morrisette music playing in the background).

If i'm not mistaken, they can't do anything with Kopitar until after this season is over...kind of like the Hawks with Toews & Kane. Either way, it's pretty messy...
- dsav123

I read in the off season an artical where the writer made an excellent point. With the cap the best teams(especially SC winners) will always need to shed talented/proven players, when their contracts come up, they more than others will get their payday. This makes the farm so important. As PlayerX said SB did a nice job after 2010. After this year another re-tooling and an equally nice job is necessary. LA, will feel it next year, Boston is feeling it now in a bad way. Pitt is still hurting.

You really got to make those 1st and 2nd rounders pan out and get lucky on subsequent picks. With that being said, knowing faces are going to change, who will replace:

Sharp
Bickell
Leddy
Rosy
Oduya
Versteeg
Richards
???

You might keep a couple of these, or get a vet or two but I'm guessing 4 or 5 Rockford players get their chance.

I read in the off season an artical where the writer made an excellent point. With the cap the best teams(especially SC winners) will always need to shed talented/proven players, when their contracts come up, they more than others will get their payday. This makes the farm so important. As PlayerX said SB did a nice job after 2010. After this year another re-tooling and an equally nice job is necessary. LA, will feel it next year, Boston is feeling it now in a bad way. Pitt is still hurting.

You really got to make those 1st and 2nd rounders pan out and get lucky on subsequent picks. With that being said, knowing faces are going to change, who will replace:

Sharp
Bickell
Leddy
Rosy
Oduya
Versteeg
Richards
???

You might keep a couple of these, or get a vet or two but I'm guessing 4 or 5 Rockford players get their chance.
- Cup-Bearer

Pretty much not going to have much choice cup. It would be great if one or two can be inserted into the mix this season some. Get them a little taste. Injury call ups and the likes.

Pretty much not going to have much choice cup. It would be great if one or two can be inserted into the mix this season some. Get them a little taste. Injury call ups and the likes.
- Elbows15

Agreed, got to enjoy this run. The Blackhawks will not be the cup favorite next year, sadly.

I hope that SB doesn't overlook the fact that Oduya is considering a cap friendly deal (2yrs at 1.4mil please?) and that he and hammer have chemistry to the point that HAMMER COULDN'T SPEAK and they still got the job done, and did it well.

It's not that Oduya by himself isn't a viable option to be shopped. It's the situation that makes him a better choice to keep around. He's a great compliment to Hjammer - who is amazing already.

I hope that SB doesn't overlook the fact that Oduya is considering a cap friendly deal (2yrs at 1.4mil please?) and that he and hammer have chemistry to the point that HAMMER COULDN'T SPEAK and they still got the job done, and did it well.

It's not that Oduya by himself isn't a viable option to be shopped. It's the situation that makes him a better choice to keep around. He's a great compliment to Hjammer - who is amazing already.
- ZenlarTheRed

Im pretty sure the GM has all the info he needs to get the Hawks cap compliant and make the best possible move for 2014-2015

Agreed, got to enjoy this run. The Blackhawks will not be the cup favorite next year, sadly.
- Cup-Bearer

And there is nothing guarenteed in this year either. I´m gonna enjoy supporting this team in good and in bad. It´s like marriage but from this one you can´t walk out of. No matter what happens.

Of course I will feel mad, sad, anger and joy, depending how Blackhawks are doing. And I´m curious how they are going to handle the cap or what kind of trades they are going to do and so on. But I´m not gonna worry too much about things I´ve no control of. A lot can happen in a year and ever more in five years etc.. Who knows what the outcome will be then.

Sure is that this team will be relevant in hockey many years from now. They might not be favourite to win the cup but they sure will be worth to watch and cheer for.

You can say I´m a koolaider, but I´m not the only one!

I hope that SB doesn't overlook the fact that Oduya is considering a cap friendly deal (2yrs at 1.4mil please?) and that he and hammer have chemistry to the point that HAMMER COULDN'T SPEAK and they still got the job done, and did it well.

It's not that Oduya by himself isn't a viable option to be shopped. It's the situation that makes him a better choice to keep around. He's a great compliment to Hjammer - who is amazing already.
- ZenlarTheRed

I don't know what you think Oduya and cap friendly equate to but I would estimate it at 2 years at about $3.5M per. He certainly isn't going to take a pay cut. If he was even considering that, Donald Fehr would fly to Chicago and have him admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.

>Courtesy of XM hockey today:
>Beyond roster changes around the league, this season will be tougher to predict than most
>It will be the first regular season in 3 years that is a true regular season
>2 years ago -- lockout -- last year Olympics
>Olympics gave younger, non-Olympian NHLers a break from the mental grind of the 82 game season -- no such break this year
>Schedule sets up for some young players to be more inconsistent than anticipated if they have not played a full AHL season prior to this NHL year

I don't know what you think Oduya and cap friendly equate to but I would estimate it at 2 years at about $3.5M per. He certainly isn't going to take a pay cut. If he was even considering that, Donald Fehr would fly to Chicago and have him admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation.
- RickJ