Agreed.

It's all about the money.
- RickJ

I think in this case it's that plus performance and what else you think you can get to go along with who you choose to keep. Remember JJ's blogs this past summer (and thereafter) regarding willingness of Oduya to sign on for a more cap friendly next contract and how Kruger is viewed by the coaches as bringing a lot to the table.

Very Briefly - San Jose and Edmonton are the only places that really desperately need some kind of reliable goalie.

Also, the Hawks are in the playoffs right now, they have an opportunity to put the team that paced the league for most of the year away in 5 games, and have looked good enough the last 2 games to continue to make things interesting.

Could care less which goalie or roster player was here or isn't going to be here as long as they are winning and providing a high level of entertainment. The games so far have been brilliant to watch on TV or listen to on the radio. Time to enjoy playoff hockey. We can obsess about the other crap after they pick up a big silver chalice or get bounced.

Very Briefly - San Jose and Edmonton are the only places that really desperately need some kind of reliable goalie.

Also, the Hawks are in the playoffs right now, they have an opportunity to put the team that paced the league for most of the year away in 5 games, and have looked good enough the last 2 games to continue to make things interesting.

Could care less which goalie or roster player was here or isn't going to be here as long as they are winning and providing a high level of entertainment. The games so far have been brilliant to watch on TV or listen to on the radio. Time to enjoy playoff hockey. We can obsess about the other crap after they pick up a big silver chalice or get bounced.
- fattybeef

Agreed on both.

I think in this case it's that plus performance and what else you think you can get to go along with who you choose to keep. Remember JJ's blogs this past summer (and thereafter) regarding willingness of Oduya to sign on for a more cap friendly next contract and how Kruger is viewed by the coaches as bringing a lot to the table.
- Marlowe

I said it's about the money because if Oduya wants $ and term they can't afford to pay he will be gone, if its reasonable I think he stays. I expect Kruger to definitely be back unless a team throws Stan an offer just too good to pass up.

Cro - looks like it could become tough decision for the Hawks.

pud alert! From the other team's 'blogger', posted inside a half-hour ago.

Oh, and one more key… feed off the crowd at Bridgestone Arena tonight. Another sellout in Smashville (without “help” from a certain bandwagon) will greet the Preds and Smashville is ready to bring the noise.

Guy just can't help himself. Pity. Fans deserve better.

That's reasonable look at it. Some other thoughts:

If it were me, I would delete TVR from the list because he has to make the team all over again and he is very risky proposition to stay healthy. I would also
delete Versteeg, Bowman should want to dump him wherever he can.

Love the guy but Shaw may be another guy who is on thin ice based on salary alone.

Has to be a place for one of Kyle Baun or Hartman.

Doubtful there is a $2M Dman signed as a free agent in the offseason, not much any good on the market and they will do whatever they can from within first.

Why would Cumiskey resign if he thinks he can make another NHL roster?
- RickJ

I'm right there with you on TvR. His injuries over the past year may have set him back development-wise. That's in addition to what you pointed out - the question of staying healthy in general.

I don't know what Hartman picked up in his short stay in Chicago, but it appears to me that his game/development jumped a notch after he returned to Rockford. He's one of the better, more noticeable players on the ice right now. I figure he has to be in the argument somewhere for next season.

To a lesser extent, Matt Carey could push for a 4th line grinder role next season. There's not a high ceiling on him, but he has spotted up and down the line-up in Rockford this season, and has participated on the PK and PP at times. He gives his all every shift, and finishes his checks with some force. He does get caught skating with his head down more often than not, which could be a problem. He could be an option if the organization would want to leave someone like Ross, or Hartman in Rockford for further development.

As for Baun, he could push ahead of McNeill for a job this fall. Or perhaps both of them push someone else for a roster spot?

Another kid I like in Rockford right now is Kero. He could be one to watch in training camp in September.

Caution, Unrelated!

What's your goal? My goal? is to get the right person at the Blackhawks to realize that all of these 8:30 starts are punishing their own fan base, particularly the kids, and hope that that person makes a stink about it with the NHL. Seriously. You want the next generation of fans to be able to stay up to watch games like this. This is really pissing me off.
- DirkGraham

You need to get the right person at NBC to realize it. It's all about the TV.


ETA - JJ beat me too it. Need to learn to catch all the way up before posting.

NEW BLOG IS UP!!!

Really shouldn't venture in stuff you don't know. Btw, are you putting that condition on the goalie you would be starting over him
- vabeachbear

Well, I'm no school educated professional if that's what you mean. But I've seen a number of guys F up and that would include me when I was much younger.

Darling has come a long way in a short time and it's great to see. And I would guess he has a better perspective than guys his age having been down so far and then back up. But on the way back up he has had a lot more success than not. All I'm saying is let's see how he handles getting roughed up before they send Crawford packing. Next year the defense is probably going to be younger and perhaps less consistent. If his stats slide some that would not be a surprise playing behind a rebuilding team. I'd bet he handles it just fine, but if I'm Stan Bowman I'd prefer to have more to go on when I pull the trigger getting rid of Crawford.

I'd say. Saad gets 3M on his own I would think. There's talk that Tarasenko will be looking for 6-7M, I think 3-4M for Saad who's a better 2-way player would be reasonable.

I had my own excel chart using Capgeek numbers... so here's a scenario. Not pretty:

LW C RW
Versteeg $2,200,000 Toews $10,500,000 Kane $10,500,000
Saad $4,000,000 Teravainen $894,167 Hossa $5,275,000
Danault $863,333 Shaw $2,000,000 McNeill $863,333
Ross $636,667 Kruger $2,000,000 Nordstrom $750,000
VET FWD $550,000



D D
Seabrook $5,800,000 Keith $5,538,462
Hammer $4,100,000 TVR $925,000
Johns $800,000 VET D-MAN $2,000,000
Cumiskey $700,000



G
Crawford $6,000,000
Darling $585,000


* keep in mind the guys needed resigned are guestimations.
- TyCamScore

This is my view:

If they want to have a top heavy team either Crow or Sharp will get moved with Bickell and we will have our 3rd-4th/ 5-7 d-men lines full of league min/Icehogs.

-This option gives the Hawks more flexibility, in the trade market, if they make both Crawford and Sharp available and probably will get a higher return, for one of them, because they won't be hand-cuffed to trading just one guy for whatever is offered.

If they want more balance, across all lines, I could see Sharp and Crow traded, with Bickell. That gives the Hawks some flexibility signing a serviceable d-man and/or center.

Al I don't get this considering what defensemen were available ...and I've continued to bring this up. Bowman has known since the Kings series the defense needed upgrading /retooling and all he did was salary dump Leddy at the very last moment instead of adding/moving guys at the draft or over the summer. And then at the deadline brings in KT instead of Michalek/Sekera/Petry...

Meanwhile your top 4 are playing heavy minutes in the first round. What are the odds we have another double overtime game tomorrow night?


Keith 46 minutes last night...
Oduya and Hammer both over 37...
Seabs 33 and Rosy 30. And we've just gotten through Game 4...
- DK002

I have no clue and I have said for awhile I would love to know the intel involved on acquiring KT versus others.

You're missing the point. While Darling has been great, a comparison would be Turco as long as we're looking in that mirror...sure there are hits and misses.

Personally I like both trades for Desjardins and Vermette (who seems to be really coming around and found his game).

But it still doesn't excuse the fact that Bowman completely whiffed on getting relief for his top 4 with a quality lower end dman that will eat minutes especially here in the playoffs when he's had a year to do something about it.
- DK002

Don't think he whiffed as much as Q refused to play them... Stanton, Leddy,
Dahlbeck...

This is my view:

If they want to have a top heavy team either Crow or Sharp will get moved with Bickell and we will have our 3rd-4th/ 5-7 d-men lines full of league min/Icehogs.

-This option gives the Hawks more flexibility, in the trade market, if they make both Crawford and Sharp available and probably will get a higher return, for one of them, because they won't be hand-cuffed to trading just one guy for whatever is offered.

If they want more balance, across all lines, I could see Sharp and Crow traded, with Bickell. That gives the Hawks some flexibility signing a serviceable d-man and/or center.
- BearsnHawks

As frustrating as Bickell has been, he's Buff lite, and the next ten games will prove my point that he's invaluable in the playoffs, and perrenially so if anyone's forgotten.