Broken patella is quite a severe injury, my guess is we won't see TVR ready for action until playoff time or a week before the season ends. The salary cap means nothing by that point.

Adding Erixon is another backend depth move by Bowman to keep his total number of defenceman that can play if absolutely needed up at 9 or 10. We are only 35% thru the regular season.
- RickJ

Erixon will surprise you, he has great offensive upside, can skate and is not brain dumb like Rundblad. No comparison should be made at all except they are swedes.

Erixon will surprise you, he has great offensive upside, can skate and is not brain dumb like Rundblad. No comparison should be made at all except they are swedes.
- flyerdude17

Everyone is saying Erixson is a swede, but he was born in the US. My question is he Swedish or American and does have a accent?

Everyone is saying Erixson is a swede, but he was born in the US. My question is he Swedish or American and does have a accent?
- Maggie

I think he has duel citizen due to his dad being a Swede

Yes, he does have a slight swedish accent too

What does everyone think about Bickell and a 3rd to ARZ for Vermette?

What does everyone think about Bickell and a 3rd to ARZ for Vermette?
- FourFeathers773

Overpay, not sure they need Vermette either

TVR is LTIR, take his salary out of that 2.2 and thats likely accurate
- FourFeathers773

If/when TVR comes back, his contract will be prorated for the number of days that he will be on the roster. Since he's likely back after the deadline, his LTIR situation should not contribute at all to a cap addition at deadline time.

Solid win on some tired legs last night...

Saad really stepped it up last night. Thought the Erixon kid played a solid game and seemed to fit right in.

Minni up next tomorrow night.

Thought Raanta looked good again last night. I've been a fan of Darling's play as well. We'll see who gets sent down by the weekend...
- DK002

Wont see that for another ten games.

What does everyone think about Bickell and a 3rd to ARZ for Vermette?
- FourFeathers773

Hawk killer. I always liked Vermette, but it goes back to the Brouwer situation again, if we move bickell for another mid size forward, who steps in and is that big presence? same question when people were asking brouwer to be moved.

If/when TVR comes back, his contract will be prorated for the number of days that he will be on the roster. Since he's likely back after the deadline, his LTIR situation should not contribute at all to a cap addition at deadline time.
- Sandus

TVR will almost certainly return after the date the cap is no longer relevant. No issue and no strange math.

Edit - the cap is not relevant at playoff time (the middle of April). If he's ready before then, the LTIR exception goes away and their total AAV's on that date needs to be under the number. So, a player needs to go down or out if TVR comes back. I don't believe there can be "banking" of cap space while the player is on LTIR. A trade is different (the team can use unused cap space accumulated during the season).

What does everyone think about Bickell and a 3rd to ARZ for Vermette?
- FourFeathers773

Looking at it from an AZ POV, I can't seem them taking on two more years at $4 mil each year for a power forward that doesn't always play like a power forward. While they gain a third round, the new owners might not like taking on that additional salary.

They do have $31 mil in cap space next year......so maybe they would. But if I'm a new owner, and I want to make a major splash with the fans, I keep all of my cap space and selectively go after the big name FAs in the offseason and roleplayers to fill out my roster. I can probably/maybe find a similar PF type player with Bickell's production for less than $4mil.

Hawks lose a playoff performer (I know, I know) and...upgrade? Is it an upgrade? I live Vermette too, but would it make any kind of positive difference for the Hawks? I haven't seen him play recently. I watch quite a bit of hockey on Center Ice but haven't voluntarily turned on a Coyotes game...and won't until Jan. 20.

Looking at it from an AZ POV, I can't seem them taking on two more years at $4 mil each year for a power forward that doesn't always play like a power forward. While they gain a third round, the new owners might not like taking on that additional salary.

They do have $31 mil in cap space next year......so maybe they would. But if I'm a new owner, and I want to make a major splash with the fans, I keep all of my cap space and selectively go after the big name FAs in the offseason and roleplayers to fill out my roster. I can probably/maybe find a similar PF type player with Bickell's production for less than $4mil.

Hawks lose a playoff performer (I know, I know) and...upgrade? Is it an upgrade? I live Vermette too, but would it make any kind of positive difference for the Hawks? I haven't seen him play recently. I watch quite a bit of hockey on Center Ice but haven't voluntarily turned on a Coyotes game...and won't until Jan. 20.
- MNHawk

Excellent defensive forward, good 2C option, very good on faceoffs

Hawk killer. I always liked Vermette, but it goes back to the Brouwer situation again, if we move bickell for another mid size forward, who steps in and is that big presence? same question when people were asking brouwer to be moved.
- nickmo2699

I think that was Q!

Good points and personally if I was Raanta I would ask some serious questions about my future with this team. If I am going to be jockied around like this I would suggest look at trading me to say the Oilers or a team in need. If not he will have to hang in there and say goodbye when he becomes a free agent one day.
I love it when Raanta is in goal and I would trade Crawford and hand it over.
- flyerdude17

I don't see how trading him to the Oilers will help you. Or him.

TVR will almost certainly return after the date the cap is no longer relevant. No issue and no strange math.

Edit - the cap is not relevant at playoff time (the middle of April). If he's ready before then, the LTIR exception goes away and their total AAV's on that date needs to be under the number. So, a player needs to go down or out if TVR comes back. I don't believe there can be "banking" of cap space while the player is on LTIR. A trade is different (the team can use unused cap space accumulated during the season).
- mohel

Haven't we had this discussion before?

Excellent defensive forward, good 2C option, very good on faceoffs
- FourFeathers773

Yes, not really, yes.

But the Hawks are stronger at C this year than last (mostly due to Richards and what feels like some improvement in the dot from Shaw).

He's not a bad player, just doesn't seem like a glaring need, and Bickell, as much as he gets dumped on around here, I think, has some perceived value around the league.

Yes, not really, yes.

But the Hawks are stronger at C this year than last (mostly due to Richards and what feels like some improvement in the dot from Shaw).

He's not a bad player, just doesn't seem like a glaring need, and Bickell, as much as he gets dumped on around here, I think, has some perceived value around the league.
- John Jaeckel

Its not a feel JJ. The numbers bear it out. Shaw has improved at the dot. Currently at 50%. Some of it due to facing bottom 6 centers since being dropped down the line up but he also fared well against the likes of LA and ANA.

Its not a feel JJ. The numbers bear it out. Shaw has improved at the dot. Currently at 50%. Some of it due to facing bottom 6 centers since being dropped down the line up but he also fared well against the likes of LA and ANA.
- Elbows15

Thx Elbows, I was too lazy to go look it up. Game to game he seems to have improved over last year. Plus they have Benny taking some draws too. Center feels somewhat stronger this year than last.

Thx Elbows, I was too lazy to go look it up. Game to game he seems to have improved over last year. Plus they have Benny taking some draws too. Center feels somewhat stronger this year than last.
- John Jaeckel

Amazing what a having a threat at 2C can do. Its making other teams have to make a hard choice, Who do you play your best pairing against?

Amazing what a having a threat at 2C can do. Its making other teams have to make a hard choice, Who do you play your best pairing against?
- Elbows15

It's all about match ups. Which is why Hjalmarsson on the other hand is such a HUGE bargain at $4.1 mil per.

John Jaeckel: Hawks Dial It Up In Third
- John Jaeckel

If Raanta can get us a 3rd I'd say ship him off... Otherwise Darling goes to the Rock and provides us some insurance.

Its not a feel JJ. The numbers bear it out. Shaw has improved at the dot. Currently at 50%. Some of it due to facing bottom 6 centers since being dropped down the line up but he also fared well against the likes of LA and ANA.
- Elbows15

for the year - 5 Hawks with more than 200 draws:

Kruger - 57.9%
Toews - 56.4%
Shaw - 49.8%
Smith - 49.6%
Richards - 47.7%

If Raanta can get us a 3rd I'd say ship him off... Otherwise Darling goes to the Rock and provides us some insurance.
- busmaster

Maybe in the summer, but there's no point in trading any goalie at this point. It appears we have 3 quality goalies, I wouldn't be in a rush to reduce that to 2.

for the year - 5 Hawks with more than 200 draws:

Kruger - 57.9%
Toews - 56.4%
Shaw - 49.8%
Smith - 49.6%
Richards - 47.7%
- StLBravesFan

And as a team i think they're like 51.6%(?)

The big difference to me is Richards somewhat solidifies the 2C job (a better fit than Zus or Kruger), everyone else settles into their roles better. Perreault has clearly helped guys like Kruger and Shaw.

And I'll take 47.7% from Richards.

Maybe in the summer, but there's no point in trading any goalie at this point. It appears we have 3 quality goalies, I wouldn't be in a rush to reduce that to 2.
- DarthKane

I agree.

Amy Sue from Chicago are you reading this?