Agreed, and do I take on a $6 million per year (for another 5 years) goalie when I have 1-2 guys in my pipeline who could be in the NHL in 2 years?
- John Jaeckel

I assume Saad is looking for $5m on a longer term deal.

Bowman needs to move out about $15m in cap without taking back much more than $3 to $4m in entry level deals.

Delicate stuff. I think he needs to move a big to pull it off and avoid the Pittsburgh trap.

True, Rick. I think there might be some valid questions around Bickell's deal, maybe Sharp's, maybe Crawford's. Maybe.

But in essence, you're correct.

Where I think a lot of people are missing the boat is assuming other teams will step up and take these contracts off the Hawks hands. A lot of teams won't be able to for the same reasons the Hawks (might) have to try to get rid of them.
- John Jaeckel

This I totally agree with. I could see a team with cap space and on the doorstep of Cup contention taking Sharp with one year left on his deal, basically for peanuts in return. Even though a team like Edmonton for example needs a goalie badly, I don't see anybody offering up much for Crawford when they know the Hawks have to move him. Bickell will yield nothing in return. Look what happened in the Leddy situation or did Bowman outsmart himself waiting?

Forced turnover maybe, but not necessarily a bad thing long term.

I assume Saad is looking for $5m on a longer term deal.

Bowman needs to move out about $15m in cap without taking back much more than $3 to $4m in entry level deals.

Delicate stuff. I think he needs to move a big to pull it off and avoid the Pittsburgh trap.
- spatso

Would Saad be in a better situation to take a smaller, 1 year deal this offseason with the hopes that the cap rises the following season, and could get a better deal then?

Agreed, and do I take on a $6 million per year (for another 5 years) goalie when I have 1-2 guys in my pipeline who could be in the NHL in 2 years?
- John Jaeckel

True, most teams can't/won't take on CC and his $6 mil for another 5 years but quite a few would be willing to take on Sharp & his $5.9 mil for a year...

That's why i see Sharp (and possibly Bickell, depending on where the Cap number falls) going this off season instead of CC.

has anyone else received their playoff ticket invoice yet? My dad received his and

I was looking at some of our old ticket stubs and 10 years ago we were paying $12.00 for each regular season game and now its almost $70.00. Success does come with a price.

Curious...who would you trade & for whom?
- dsav123

My guess is that Sharp and Bickell will be two that will be traded. They will be traded for prospects/picks and will free up around 10 million in cap space. Kruger will be re-signed only if it is a cap friendly deal, otherwise he may be sent packing too.

Top 6 will be Hossa, Toews, Kane, Saad, Steeger, and TT.

Look for the bottom 6 to be Smith, Shaw, Nordstrom, McNeill, Danault, and a couple free agents brought in towards the minimum salary (Kruger could be part of the group too, if he signs for cheap).

Defensive wise I see Roszival and Oduya leaving (unless Oduya gets his act together and signs a cap friendly deal). Leaving our defense with Seabrook, Keith, Jammer, TVR, Rundblad, Dahlbeck, Erixon, and maybe a free agent brought in towards the minimum.

If the cap does not go up from $69 million, you are looking at something close to this roster (with the RFAs signed to reasonable deals, which depends a lot on Saad’s contract, and Bickell/Shaw/Kruger’s RFA rights traded out). Oduya, Rozsival, Richards and Carcillo are thanked for their service and allowed to walk. Add in a rumored cap increase of $3 million and some flexibility comes back to the roster. Also, IF Bowman trades Sharp or Crawford after this year, things can also change.

Forwards
1) Saad/Toews/Hossa
2) Kane/Teravainen/Sharp
3) Versteeg/Smith/Nordstrom
4) Ross/Danault/McNeil
Carcillo (or someone else as the 13th forward/cheap/physical plug in…Mashinter maybe?)

Defense
1) Keith/Seabrook
2) Hjarlarsson/Dahlbeck
3) Rundblad/TVR
Erixon or another player like Johns up from Rockford

Goalies
Crawford/Raanta

Spot on here...personally I still don't like what they did to Dale. Dale played here, worked the booth here and wanted to win as bad as anyone. But he wasn't a yes man. I still would have liked to have seen what Dale would have done with this team after they won the cup in 2010.

No question McD is a marketing whiz...but in all his time with the Cubs did they win...? Nothing happens without the talent on the ice. Reconnecting with Pat Foley and the old guard no brainers as well as putting the home games finally on TV. Hiring a bunch of young guns to run the offices, and to ramp up and connect to the young fan base...same.

Bowman didn't get a whole lot from the cap purge and completely whiffed on the bonus' in certainly players contracts that cost them. We can also talk about the RFA qualifiers the season before the cup - Stan was/is the capologist and everyone laid that on Dale.

I'm still waiting for Stan to put his imprint on the team...no question he has brought in some nice complimentary parts to fill in around key players. But last spring after they fell short I thought he should have done more to try to retool the team in particular on defense. He addressed the center depth issue by adding Richards.

But the Hawks still look small down the middle and still could use a veteran physical dman to move people out of the front of the net. So we'll see what Stan has up his sleeve here going to the TDL.

Meanwhile with the big deals for T/K coming this summer as well as the cap purge we'll see where Stan really stacks up. Some of the core is certainly gone and he'll have to make some moves to reshape the roster. It certainly will be interesting especially if JJ's comments about the Bowman regime trying to 'win' every trade are still there.
- DK002

Totally agree

Look, Bowman has made some nice moves that gave us a second cup, he didnt fall into a cup win by accident. I just dont think he should be given as much credit for the second because in large part, much wasnt really brought in by Bowman that wasnt already in the system when he took over, except for Handzus, Oduya, Frolik, thats about it, and kudos to him for those guys.

However, ANY general manager in the league would kill to have Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hjalmarsson and figure out a few guys to pick off the trade heap to help get these guys another cup

Frolik, Handzus, and Oduya are definitely contributors to the 2nd cup, they arent brandon bollig out there. However, you can make the case that those guys are near dime a dozen guys to go out and get (Toews and co ARE NOT). Frolik was a speedster that was good on the PK that didnt contribute much on the scoresheet. Oduya was a nice no.4 PMD, but he was relatively easy to acquire and there are comparable guys out there that could probably had for this same price tag or cheaper. Handzus was a big body center who was a smart veteran, but again, those really arent hard to find either.

Im just saying, i think what was acquired to win the 2nd cup could have been interchangeable with a number of guys. For instance, lets say Bowman didnt get Handzus by the TDL in 2013 and went out and got someone like Brouwer (just for instance) to address more physicality and protection/space for the skill guys, could they have won the cup with him instead, i would bet yes, but maybe not.

I think the leery thing is Bowman and Co. are just TOO TIMID to make anything beyond a boyscout safe trade. Dont want to compare him to Lombardi because he is on the opposite end of the spectrum but man, when he sees the window to win a cup and address a need for this year, he goes for the throat and the result was two cups for them (Richards/Carter and Gaborik). I think too often the gamble you play with "we like our team" mantra is your basically sitting around waiting until the playoff to see the true weakness of your team when its too late and the big boy hockey is being played. Case in points: Handzus was out of gas last year and finished, he was virtually useless down the playoff stretch outside of eating some pucks. That was something everyone was hoping Bowman was going to address (another useful center) and we got the "we like our team) and was the main reason we lost the LAK by a tick IMO

I just want to see him go out and try to actively improve this team in a critical area that shows its a serious move to go for it. This doesnt mean a huge trade by any means. But if it comes to a decision, just for instance, or trading a good prospect or current roster player for an immediate upgrade somewhere, do it

If the cap does not go up from $69 million, you are looking at something close to this roster (with the RFAs signed to reasonable deals, which depends a lot on Saad’s contract, and Bickell/Shaw/Kruger’s RFA rights traded out). Oduya, Rozsival, Richards and Carcillo are thanked for their service and allowed to walk. Add in a rumored cap increase of $3 million and some flexibility comes back to the roster. Also, IF Bowman trades Sharp or Crawford after this year, things can also change.

Forwards
1) Saad/Toews/Hossa
2) Kane/Teravainen/Sharp
3) Versteeg/Smith/Nordstrom
4) Ross/Danault/McNeil
Carcillo (or someone else as the 13th forward/cheap/physical plug in…Mashinter maybe?)

Defense
1) Keith/Seabrook
2) Hjarlarsson/Dahlbeck
3) Rundblad/TVR
Erixon or another player like Johns up from Rockford

Goalies
Crawford/Raanta
- MNHawk

That defense is one injury away from being a major trainwreck. Just saying.

I assume Saad is looking for $5m on a longer term deal.

Bowman needs to move out about $15m in cap without taking back much more than $3 to $4m in entry level deals.

Delicate stuff. I think he needs to move a big to pull it off and avoid the Pittsburgh trap.
- spatso

Sorry but SB does not need to move $15 mil in cap space, a lot of it will happen organically...

$6.6 mil will be coming off the books when UFA's Richards, Roszival & Oduya are not resigned.
$1.5 to $2.0 mil more will be gone in the form of one of Shaw/Smith/Kruger.
Add Sharps $5.9 mil and that a total of $14.25 mil right there...and Saad will get something around $4 mil, not $5...

If my math is correct that means a Cap number of about $63.4 representing 10 forwards, 5 Dmen & 2 goalies.

That leaves anywhere from $4.6 - $8.3 mil left for 3 forwards & 2 Dmen.

$1.75 mil for a veteran 4th liner/PK'er, $1.8 mil for 2 guys from Rockford (Denault & McNeill) to balance out the forwards and $1.6 mil for 2 Rockford Dmen (Johns & someone).

If Cap number is around $72 that leaves room to spare for acquiring a solid 3rd pair vet Dman and/or keeping all 3 of Shaw/Smith/Kruger.

Not really that delicate...very doable.

No, sir - you may have questioned them, but that was in your mind.
- StLBravesFan

Good morning,

It's all hearsay in regards to what trades Bowman has or hasn't turned down. Kesler for Teuvo, rostered player(s) and a pick or close to that is FOR sure one that has had legs and died. He sniffed around on Nash. He inquired on Carter. He has to because he is a GM and that's what GMs do. You have assets not friends in regards to players. Your job is to better your team any chance you get.

Bowman has had discussions if you read the legit insiders but how far those have gone is another thing and what that team was asking for back isn't always clear. Fact is when a trade doesn't happen you can draw your own conclusions. Bowman really hasn't had to force a trade the past 3 years (including this year) because the roster, as John has pointed out, is pretty stacked. Some to his doing, some to Smith or Tallon.

As far as Bowman being passive....I would agree. Why? I think he has a comfort level based on his roster. he has arguably the best core in the NHL. His role players seem to fill roles like a well oiled machine. For the guys he's jettisoned off of Blackhawk island, he's filled with a cheaper version. Now, the one thing I will say is that he's not filling in size for size. Ladd, Brouwer, Buff, Eager....have been replaced by smaller versions. It worked in 2013, but failed in 2011, 2012, and 2014.

Even his own father flat out admitted the Hawks lost last spring because of lack of SIZE Down the middle. Go google the article, believe ESPN wrote it. So what did he do this year? He swapped out Handzus for Richards, which size wise is a push.....Kopitar/Carter/Stoll will still run on a train on Shaw or Kruger.

The biggest thing I hope for is....is an addition of a large bodied winger who can bang and play a complete 200 ft game spring time. is that an internal solution? Don't know. But that has to happen.....

As does as a veteran D man to sure up that bottom pair. Q has now been forced to balance out that pairs because Oduya has been dreadful a lot this year, and the bottom pair has been bad more often then good. he's hiding the weaknesses at this point, but that wont' last come playoff time when each shift is so important....and matchups rule the roost.

Sorry but SB does not need to move $15 mil in cap space, a lot of it will happen organically...

$6.6 mil will be coming off the books when UFA's Richards, Roszival & Oduya are not resigned.
$1.5 to $2.0 mil more will be gone in the form of one of Shaw/Smith/Kruger.
Add Sharps $5.9 mil and that a total of $14.25 mil right there...and Saad will get something around $4 mil, not $5...

If my math is correct that means a Cap number of about $63.4 representing 10 forwards, 5 Dmen & 2 goalies.

That leaves anywhere from $4.6 - $8.3 mil left for 3 forwards & 2 Dmen.

$1.75 mil for a veteran 4th liner/PK'er, $1.8 mil for 2 guys from Rockford (Denault & McNeill) to balance out the forwards and $1.6 mil for 2 Rockford Dmen (Johns & someone).

If Cap number is around $72 that leaves room to spare for acquiring a solid 3rd pair vet Dman and/or keeping all 3 of Shaw/Smith/Kruger.

Not really that delicate...very doable.
- dsav123

Bickell should be gone this offseason no matter what. He just is a sludge all regular season. If he has a bad postseason, you have to move him, just dump him for whatever you can get. If he has a good postseason, great, it just ups his value

Bickell doesnt do a whole lot that we cant find for much cheaper. A big guy who hits and is somewhat capable around the net

Totally agree

Look, Bowman has made some nice moves that gave us a second cup, he didnt fall into a cup win by accident. I just dont think he should be given as much credit for the second because in large part, much wasnt really brought in by Bowman that wasnt already in the system when he took over, except for Handzus, Oduya, Frolik, thats about it, and kudos to him for those guys.

However, ANY general manager in the league would kill to have Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hjalmarsson and figure out a few guys to pick off the trade heap to help get these guys another cup

Frolik, Handzus, and Oduya are definitely contributors to the 2nd cup, they arent brandon bollig out there. However, you can make the case that those guys are near dime a dozen guys to go out and get (Toews and co ARE NOT). Frolik was a speedster that was good on the PK that didnt contribute much on the scoresheet. Oduya was a nice no.4 PMD, but he was relatively easy to acquire and there are comparable guys out there that could probably had for this same price tag or cheaper. Handzus was a big body center who was a smart veteran, but again, those really arent hard to find either.

Im just saying, i think what was acquired to win the 2nd cup could have been interchangeable with a number of guys. For instance, lets say Bowman didnt get Handzus by the TDL in 2013 and went out and got someone like Brouwer (just for instance) to address more physicality and protection/space for the skill guys, could they have won the cup with him instead, i would bet yes, but maybe not.

I think the leery thing is Bowman and Co. are just TOO TIMID to make anything beyond a boyscout safe trade. Dont want to compare him to Lombardi because he is on the opposite end of the spectrum but man, when he sees the window to win a cup and address a need for this year, he goes for the throat and the result was two cups for them (Richards/Carter and Gaborik). I think too often the gamble you play with "we like our team" mantra is your basically sitting around waiting until the playoff to see the true weakness of your team when its too late and the big boy hockey is being played. Case in points: Handzus was out of gas last year and finished, he was virtually useless down the playoff stretch outside of eating some pucks. That was something everyone was hoping Bowman was going to address (another useful center) and we got the "we like our team) and was the main reason we lost the LAK by a tick IMO

I just want to see him go out and try to actively improve this team in a critical area that shows its a serious move to go for it. This doesnt mean a huge trade by any means. But if it comes to a decision, just for instance, or trading a good prospect or current roster player for an immediate upgrade somewhere, do it
- FourFeathers773

I don't see one word in here about the salary cap and what it precludes Bowman from doing now to improve the team. Or any names that are being offered to Bowman now to improve the team.

I want Sidney Crosby in a Hawks uniform tonight, but so far the Pens have totally refused Bowman's offer of Brad Richards and Rozsival back in trade for him. And even if they did, there is still a cap problem.

Fans need to get realistic, there isn't one GM in the league that doesn't want to improve his team but there has to be willing trade partners with assets they can trade who have contracts that can be exchanged without throwing the salary scale out of whack.

I don't see one word in here about the salary cap and what it precludes Bowman from doing now to improve the team. Or any names that are being offered to Bowman now to improve the team.

I want Sidney Crosby in a Hawks uniform tonight, but so far the Pens have totally refused Bowman's offer of Brad Richards and Rozsival back in trade for him. And even if they did, there is still a cap problem.

Fans need to get realistic, there isn't one GM in the league that doesn't want to improve his team but there has to be willing trade partners with assets they can trade who have contracts that can be exchanged without throwing the salary scale out of whack.
- RickJ

Ok, for example, I think getting someone like Sekera would be a perfect move right now for Bowman and he could easily be fit under the cap (his current cap his is 2.75, retained salary could work here paired with sending guys down to give him roster space) but the problem is the price Bowman would be willing to part with to get him

I assume Saad is looking for $5m on a longer term deal.

Bowman needs to move out about $15m in cap without taking back much more than $3 to $4m in entry level deals.

Delicate stuff. I think he needs to move a big to pull it off and avoid the Pittsburgh trap.
- spatso

After this season Shrp , Bickell , and probably Seabrook will be moved for the 15m in cap space to operate and retain Saad , extend others.

Its going to hurt to see Seabrook go but the cap is what it is.

I'm not a Bowman hater, but I think the wool on the cap fiasco of 2010 has finally been pulled back for some of you. Bowman was just as responsible for that disaster as tallon was, as it was his job to balance out the cap.

Now....is history about to repeat itself this summer? Looks that way and if so, will there be the witch hunt in the press from the puppets or will those guys be instructed to quiet down? I bet the latter.

All signs are pointing to a modest cap increase but NOT enough to offset the raises due to 19/88, and the RFAs looming on this team....so again ,like 2010 there will be guys Bowman will be forced to deal, and some could be VERY important cogs in the wheel now. Will he go 1 large contract or multiple smaller ones?

Point is.....it's becoming more and more clear that Stan isn't great at cap management per the contracts John pointed out he has signed players to, the 2010 fiasco, and now this one coming........He had zero organizational depth for a large winger or goaltender and had NO choice but to pay 50/29. What also is rumored is if 29 went to the Hawks during his contract year and wanted to sign at LESS and Bowman backed away....how stupid does he look when he has to send a PROVEN NHL asset packing and replacing him with a hopeful AHL asset?

Yeah, there are prospects, but prospects are prospects. Some will hit, others won't and not everyone that the Hawks want to hype is going to be worth a damn. So that's why I cringe every time everyone starts raving about organizational depth. Looks great on paper, but on a NHL ice surface.....

Ok, for example, I think getting someone like Sekera would be a perfect move right now for Bowman and he could easily be fit under the cap (his current cap his is 2.75, retained salary could work here paired with sending guys down to give him roster space) but the problem is the price Bowman would be willing to part with to get him
- FourFeathers773

Bowman isn't the only GM that would be interested in Sekera as a rental. Right now, Ron Francis probably would ask for a top draft pick or a good roster player. He's not going to sell low a month from the trade deadline when he knows there will be many more phone calls and offers for his player.

And I will remind you (and others) about this business of 'going for it' and the Pittsburgh Penguins example - Ray Shero made numerous trades from his depth of draft picks and young defenceman when he went after Jerome Iginla, Brendan Morrow, Douglas Murray and others. The results were zip/bupkus and now they have a roster of high priced talent at one end and fringe AHL'ers filling in around them at the other end.

Similar happened with Nashville when they went for it a couple years ago.

I don't see one word in here about the salary cap and what it precludes Bowman from doing now to improve the team. Or any names that are being offered to Bowman now to improve the team.

I want Sidney Crosby in a Hawks uniform tonight, but so far the Pens have totally refused Bowman's offer of Brad Richards and Rozsival back in trade for him. And even if they did, there is still a cap problem.

Fans need to get realistic, there isn't one GM in the league that doesn't want to improve his team but there has to be willing trade partners with assets they can trade who have contracts that can be exchanged without throwing the salary scale out of whack.
- RickJ

Agreed but the salary cap issue is strickly on Bowman. That barrier to entry is HIS own doing, not anyone elses, so while yeah.....he can't trade for this rental or that rental due to cap issues, those same cap issues are on him.

So if he is going to make a trade, EVERYONE on here needs to get realistic and realize that a decently paid rostered player would have to go back in return. So probably a depth guy....

So if we look at the roster now and who can't be traded to give this team a chance to win a cup...scratch off......19, 88, 81, 10, 2, 7, 4, 27, 50, 29 (no size otherwise), 32 (need him for future years due to low cap hit), 20, 86 (future building piece)

So that leaves....Rundblad, Rozsival (can't really trade him because you need veteran d man), Shaw, Kruger, Smith, Carcillo, Exiron, Raanta......

So again...who out of that is actually valuable? Can't see them trading Kruger. Smith? Shaw? Maybe. Raanta? Possibly. That's it.

So yeah, Bowman is over a barrel, but HE put himself in this position....that much IS clear.

That defense is one injury away from being a major trainwreck. Just saying.
- John Jaeckel

Oh, I totally agree JJ. I didn't say it was a great roster, just something folks may have to get ready to expect.

Trade Crawford's $6 mil cap hit, resign Darling at $1 Million, and have another $5 million to maybe go after Sekera/add another solid defenseman to pair with Hammer. Next year the roster is going to look VERY different. Everyone who is pining for more young kids on the roster is going to get a major dose of it next year.

Bowman isn't the only GM that would be interested in Sekera as a rental. Right now, Ron Francis probably would ask for a top draft pick or a good roster player. He's not going to sell low a month from the trade deadline when he knows there will be many more phone calls and offers for his player.

And I will remind you (and others) about this business of 'going for it' and the Pittsburgh Penguins example - Ray Shero made numerous trades from his depth of draft picks and young defenceman when he went after Jerome Iginla, Brendan Morrow, Douglas Murray and others. The results were zip/bupkus and now they have a roster of high priced talent at one end and fringe AHL'ers filling in around them at the other end.

Similar happened with Nashville when they went for it a couple years ago.
- RickJ

Agreed. The west is insanely competitive. Come playoff time you argue a legit reason that any of the 8 teams that do qualify could come out of the conference.

However, adding a veteran bottom 6 d man or bottom 6 winger shouldn't require a vast depletion of assets that would haunt this team.

You aren't in need of a top 4 d man or top 6 forward, which Pittsburgh was at that time, as was Nashville when they got Forsberg. Those trades will haunt you for years. Iginila himself was one of those when Dallas got Niuewendyk back in the mid 90s.

Bowman isn't the only GM that would be interested in Sekera as a rental. Right now, Ron Francis probably would ask for a top draft pick or a good roster player. He's not going to sell low a month from the trade deadline when he knows there will be many more phone calls and offers for his player.

And I will remind you (and others) about this business of 'going for it' and the Pittsburgh Penguins example - Ray Shero made numerous trades from his depth of draft picks and young defenceman when he went after Jerome Iginla, Brendan Morrow, Douglas Murray and others. The results were zip/bupkus and now they have a roster of high priced talent at one end and fringe AHL'ers filling in around them at the other end.

Similar happened with Nashville when they went for it a couple years ago.
- RickJ

I agree with it backfiring sometimes.

However, looking back at the Nashville and Pittsburgh all ins, they went and got guys and tried to force them into major roles which is a crap shoot at best. Any time you go out and try to get a top line guy, you dont even know if the chemistry will be there in time for the playoffs. PIT tried this with Iginla and NSH tried this with Radulov and Kostitsyn. If there isnt an instant click its doomed to fail as there will be nothing but cross wires and miscommunication on the ice

The other examples, such as Murray, Gaustad, etc were just cases of lower level players being forced into overwhelming roles. Douglas murray isnt an NHL dman really anymore and they had him in the top 4 at one point, just idiotic. Paul Gaustad is nothing more than a 4C and they tried making him a 2c/3c at one point.


I think the safe bet for Chicago if they are willing to pony up for Sekera is he will be placed into a spot he will fit right in. In all likelihood the 3rd pair to solidify it where he can be right at home to play smart, simple hockey, but Sekera also has the ability to comfortably be slid into second pair if Oduya struggles for whatever reason.

Where some idiot will gamble with Sekera is to go out and get him and dump him on 1st pair D

Agreed. The west is insanely competitive. Come playoff time you argue a legit reason that any of the 8 teams that do qualify could come out of the conference.

However, adding a veteran bottom 6 d man or bottom 6 winger shouldn't require a vast depletion of assets that would haunt this team.

You aren't in need of a top 4 d man or top 6 forward, which Pittsburgh was at that time, as was Nashville when they got Forsberg. Those trades will haunt you for years. Iginila himself was one of those when Dallas got Niuewendyk back in the mid 90s.
- SteveRain

I'm OK with looking to add bottom of the roster depth at the deadline and spending some asset futures to acquire it . But here's what drives me nuts - they bring up Rasmussen from Rockford to take on the road trip, have 3 games in 4 nights against top competition but will not dress him in any of those games to see what he can do.

What the hell is the risk in giving him a game or 2? Is Brad Richards going to be offended and upset if they sit his lazy, slow, useless ass in the press box for a couple of games?

If they know they need something that isn't in their own system, fine go out and try to get it elsewhere. Otherwise, exhaust all your internal options first.

I'm OK with looking to add bottom of the roster depth at the deadline and spending some asset futures to acquire it . But here's what drives me nuts - they bring up Rasmussen from Rockford to take on the road trip, have 3 games in 4 nights against top competition but will not dress him in any of those games to see what he can do.

What the hell is the risk in giving him a game or 2? Is Brad Richards going to be offended and upset if they sit his lazy, slow, useless ass in the press box for a couple of games?

If they know they need something that isn't in their own system, fine go out and try to get it elsewhere. Otherwise, exhaust all your internal options first.
- RickJ

Agreed on Rasmussen, and I get you hate Richards, but.....you can't argue the fact when finally paired with a talented legit top 6 center for an entire year, Kane is flourishing. Richards has done that much at least.

I think you have to look to line 4....and figure out who to sit there to get that kid a chance to show what he can do. You can't sit 19/81/20 or 10/91/88 or 29/65/86.....86 you could, but they won't.

That's on Q. No question.

After this season Sharp , Bickell , and probably Seabrook will be moved for the 15m in cap space to operate and retain Saad , extend others.

Its going to hurt to see Seabrook go but the cap is what it is.
- mrpaulish

I can see the Hawks moving Sharp and Bickell. I can even see them moving Crawford if they think Raanta and Darling can fill in. What I don't think will happen is the Hawks moving Seabrook unless the return is outrageous.

I can see the Hawks moving Sharp and Bickell. I can even see them moving Crawford if they think Raanta and Darling can fill in. What I don't think will happen is the Hawks moving Seabrook unless the return is outrageous.
- Lido_Shuffle

Agreed. Seabrook has been their most consistent D man this year.

They will move Crawford before Seabrook.