With all the Saad and Kruger leaving talk via RFA, question for all.

What makes everyone think Saad or Kruger would leave? Here's a scenario:

I'm not sure of the timing of it all, but what if StanBo tells them both that he will give them the deals somewhere in the neighborhood they are looking but can't at the start of RFA because players need to be moved.

The draft is June 26-27, UFA starts July 1. I don't know when RFA starts, but it's conceivable that if it's after the draft, cap room can be create by shipping guys out at the draft.
- DMCsPulledHammy

I highly doubt Stan leaves Saad unsigned by July 1. I would expect most of the salary cap purge to be finished before the draft as Stan will be looking for picks in return.

Another one year deal for Richards then? I like Desjardins too, just have a lot of young guys ready for 4th line mins in Rockford. Keeping Desjardins would keep a veteran down on the 4th line to help anchor the noobs. One year deal for him as well? Could see them moving Nordy this offseason to give him a chance elsewhere.

Saad/Toews/Kane
TT/Richards/Hossa
Panarin/Kruger/Shaw
Baun/Danault/Desjardins

Hartman 13th forward?
- Assman22

This is next year's lineup

This is next year's lineup
- DMChi2010

I don't hate it honestly. Gotta reload. No enforcer at all though, just a few scrappy small guys. Even when they lost Buff, they still had Bicks/Bollig. Need an enforcer in regular season if you ask me. If Baun doesn't pan out, they still have Hartman and Nordy in AHL. Same for Danault with McNeill.

Will be interesting to see who the 6th d-man is next year with Johns being 4 or 5 pending Oduya's scenario. Also will be interesting to see how Q handles all these young pups.

He didn't shun Hjalmarsson, Kruger, Shaw, Saad, TT, or TVR.
- Ogilthorpe2

Although not here anymore, you have to put Leddy in that group as well.

I don't hate it honestly. Gotta reload. No enforcer at all though, just a few scrappy small guys. Even when they lost Buff, they still had Bicks/Bollig. Need an enforcer in regular season if you ask me. If Baun doesn't pan out, they still have Hartman and Nordy in AHL. Same for Danault with McNeill.

Will be interesting to see who the 6th d-man is next year with Johns being 4 or 5 pending Oduya's scenario. Also will be interesting to see how Q handles all these young pups.
- Assman22

I don't hate it either. If every line has some combo of a slick stickhandler (Kane, TT, Panarin), some grit (Shaw, Desjardins, Baun/Hartman), and a decent two-way center, then look out! Of course, the top scoring line will be biased toward the skills rather than the checking, but the four forward lines will give opposing coaches fits.

The key moving forward is to keep being an attractive destination for UFAs like Richards who come to play for cheap and just win. Then, we need to draft big guys with speed and manage the cap a little bit better... Yeah, Crow and Bicks were going to get paid, but how about bridge deals when possible. If they deliver, then eat the big bucks later. Biggest cap adjustments coming up are having space for Seabrook next year, assuming Oduya takes 4 years @ $4M/year. Hopefully TVR and Johns don't have as many injuries moving forward as they did this year!

This is next year's lineup
- DMChi2010

Just spitballing here, but how about:

Saad toews kane
Panarin TT hossa
danault kruger sharp
dejardins shaw Hartman
Baun McNeil

seabs keith
hammr TVR
oduya johns

raanta
darling


Jonathan Toews 10,500,000
Patrick Kane 10,500,000
Patrick Sharp 5,900,000
Marian Hossa 5,275,000
Andrew Shaw 2,000,000
Marcus Kruger 1,800,000
Brandon Saad 4,500,000
Andrew Desjardins 1,000,000
Brent Seabrook 5,800,000
Duncan Keith 5,538,462
Niklas Hjalmarsson 4,100,000
Johnny Oduya 3,800,000
Antti Raanta 750,000
Scott Darling 587,500
Trevor van Riemsdyk 925,000
Kyle Baun 925,000
Teuvo Teravainen 894,167
Ryan Hartman 894,167
Mark McNeill 863,333
Phillip Danault 863,333
Stephen Johns 800,000
Artemi Panarin 750,000

comes out to 69 mill, leaving room for a decent depth dman. Have to jettison CC, Versteeg and Bickell (maybe lose some depth or prospects to get rid of the trash) but we get to keep Saad, Oduya and Sharp.

Just spitballing here, but how about:

Saad toews kane
Panarin TT hossa
danault kruger sharp
dejardins shaw Hartman
Baun McNeil

seabs keith
hammr TVR
oduya johns

raanta
darling


Jonathan Toews 10,500,000
Patrick Kane 10,500,000
Patrick Sharp 5,900,000
Marian Hossa 5,275,000
Andrew Shaw 2,000,000
Marcus Kruger 1,800,000
Brandon Saad 4,500,000
Andrew Desjardins 1,000,000
Brent Seabrook 5,800,000
Duncan Keith 5,538,462
Niklas Hjalmarsson 4,100,000
Johnny Oduya 3,800,000
Antti Raanta 750,000
Scott Darling 587,500
Trevor van Riemsdyk 925,000
Kyle Baun 925,000
Teuvo Teravainen 894,167
Ryan Hartman 894,167
Mark McNeill 863,333
Phillip Danault 863,333
Stephen Johns 800,000
Artemi Panarin 750,000

comes out to 69 mill, leaving room for a decent depth dman. Have to jettison CC, Versteeg and Bickell (maybe lose some depth or prospects to get rid of the trash) but we get to keep Saad, Oduya and Sharp.
- busmaster

I think dumping Bickell is a growing task that is getting taller

Im not sure how easy this will be. I know a lot of people assume he is gone, but we still need a dance partner

The job is his until there is an implosion of some sorts. Historically he hasn't done well after "cores" have aged but with this group, as long as the right pieces stay healthy and they can carry water replacement player wise then he should have a job for the next 3-4 years and hopefully another Cup or two. Aside from the game three gaffe, which he seems to do every year, I think he has done all the right things this year and done a good job spotting defenders where he can and riding his horses where appropriate.

There are some things to knit pick about but at the end of the season the guy wins more than he loses and the players seem to like him so I'd expect him to be around. Though he sometimes does things that defy all logic and reason, they could do a lot worse.
- fattybeef

19, 88, 81, 16, 65, 20, 86, 2, 7, 4, 27.

Any coach can beat .500 with that and the remnants of Wiz' last beer league team. Q can do better than most. People can argue about what parts of the bench are replaceable. But the part that's probably toughest to adequately replace is behind it.

Just spitballing here, but how about:

Saad toews kane
Panarin TT hossa
danault kruger sharp
dejardins shaw Hartman
Baun McNeil

seabs keith
hammr TVR
oduya johns

raanta
darling


Jonathan Toews 10,500,000
Patrick Kane 10,500,000
Patrick Sharp 5,900,000
Marian Hossa 5,275,000
Andrew Shaw 2,000,000
Marcus Kruger 1,800,000
Brandon Saad 4,500,000
Andrew Desjardins 1,000,000
Brent Seabrook 5,800,000
Duncan Keith 5,538,462
Niklas Hjalmarsson 4,100,000
Johnny Oduya 3,800,000
Antti Raanta 750,000
Scott Darling 587,500
Trevor van Riemsdyk 925,000
Kyle Baun 925,000
Teuvo Teravainen 894,167
Ryan Hartman 894,167
Mark McNeill 863,333
Phillip Danault 863,333
Stephen Johns 800,000
Artemi Panarin 750,000

comes out to 69 mill, leaving room for a decent depth dman. Have to jettison CC, Versteeg and Bickell (maybe lose some depth or prospects to get rid of the trash) but we get to keep Saad, Oduya and Sharp.
- busmaster

But Kruger at 2.5 and Oduya at 4.1... That gets close to 70, so it would have to be Richards on the cheap or someone like him.

Q certainly has had an impact on Kane, but I would argue that Kane's enhanced focus on being a great all-around player comes more from Johnny T and his work ethic/leadership ability rubbing off on everyone around him.
- EnzoD

I remember Kane being benched for missing checking assignments, for being out of position, for turnovers or for lazy penalties. Kane learned to play a complete game because it was demanded of him by the coach. Sure Toews, Hossa et all probably helped Kane as well but Q fostered an environment where everyone had to play a two way game. Pirri, J Hayes, Morin et all weren't able to play the game demanded of them and were cut loose, I don't see an issue with that.

But Kruger at 2.5 and Oduya at 4.1... That gets close to 70, so it would have to be Richards on the cheap or someone like him.
- DMChi2010

I think we need to go into the season presuming TT is our 2C based on his playoff performance.

Richards will be Handzus 2.0 next year if he's not already.

http://www.mynhltraderumo...unrestricted-free-agents/

here is a list of the top 25 free agents this year. figuring at least 5 to 10 of them resign before the FA begins that is really slim pickings especially LF and G. Teams that don't need more prospects and have lots of picks would be happy to get Sharp at 2 year 11.5, Bickell 2 at 8 or Steeg 1 at 2.2 Crawford 5 at 30 all the guys on the list are going to want 4-6 year deals probably ranging from $4-$7 mil. and figuring Dubynk signs There will be a OK market at G as well. Nemi rated out around 25th best and Enroth was even worse. Giving either of those guys long deals or big money would be a mistake IE they will be veiwed as are not the solution.

I think dumping Bickell is a growing task that is getting taller

Im not sure how easy this will be. I know a lot of people assume he is gone, but we still need a dance partner
- FourFeathers773

You might be right about him and Versteeg as well. I would just say that aside from that roster, everyone else is fair game to be a throw-in to sweeten a deal for us to shed those salaries. That team will be super young and loaded with top-6 guys and 2, 4, 7 will be studs for at least 4-5 years.

We may not win the Cup next year but if Q stays with the roster, we should be back sooner rather than later.

I don't hate it honestly. Gotta reload. No enforcer at all though, just a few scrappy small guys. Even when they lost Buff, they still had Bicks/Bollig. Need an enforcer in regular season if you ask me. If Baun doesn't pan out, they still have Hartman and Nordy in AHL. Same for Danault with McNeill.

Will be interesting to see who the 6th d-man is next year with Johns being 4 or 5 pending Oduya's scenario. Also will be interesting to see how Q handles all these young pups.
- Assman22

In what universe is Bickell an enforcer? And you only need an enforcer on the team if you are hopping in a time machine back to 1975.

I don't hate it honestly. Gotta reload. No enforcer at all though, just a few scrappy small guys. Even when they lost Buff, they still had Bicks/Bollig. Need an enforcer in regular season if you ask me. If Baun doesn't pan out, they still have Hartman and Nordy in AHL. Same for Danault with McNeill.

Will be interesting to see who the 6th d-man is next year with Johns being 4 or 5 pending Oduya's scenario. Also will be interesting to see how Q handles all these young pups.
- Assman22

Here we go with the enforcer crap. You seriously believe this garbage? So if Carcillo had been playing every game this series it would be over already I suppose?

Agreed 100% and even more so..........Bowman tipped his hand by signing some NCAA UFAs recently and this Russian kid and those Swede defenders. Tells me he isn't sold on what is down on Rockford being able to plug all the holes.

That's not what it tells me at all. To me, this is a case of "sign the best players you can because you never know. If Panarin wants to come to Chicago, we want you here. Like Antti Raanta. I remember the questions when he signed...why would they want him when they just resigned CC? Because you can. Because depth in the farm system is a good thing.

They may become NHL regulars OR they may become trade bait for something you need immediately.

If the sport has farm systems, it's best to have depth up and down the organization. Every GM knows they are prospects until they are proven, but look at Tallon, he looks at prospects differently then StanBo. That's good. Keep taking them. Maybe we'll get someone that helps the club for years. Or maybe not.

That's not what it tells me at all. To me, this is a case of "sign the best players you can because you never know. If Panarin wants to come to Chicago, we want you here. Like Antti Raanta. I remember the questions when he signed...why would they want him when they just resigned CC? Because you can. Because depth in the farm system is a good thing.

They may become NHL regulars OR they may become trade bait for something you need immediately.

If the sport has farm systems, it's best to have depth up and down the organization. Every GM knows they are prospects until they are proven, but look at Tallon, he looks at prospects differently then StanBo. That's good. Keep taking them. Maybe we'll get someone that helps the club for years. Or maybe not.
- CanOCorn

The bolded.
Would love to have all the best players wanting to be here.
Gives Q the ability to choose the best and those not chosen can always be traded for a player with more/different abilities that Q may want/need.

Just like this year, you never know when freak things are going to happen. Who would have thought we'd have 2 D with LBI of that magnitude? TVR with the shattered kneecap and Rozsival with the shattered ankle. Freak things IMO. Load up on all the talent you can, while you can.

You might be right about him and Versteeg as well. I would just say that aside from that roster, everyone else is fair game to be a throw-in to sweeten a deal for us to shed those salaries. That team will be super young and loaded with top-6 guys and 2, 4, 7 will be studs for at least 4-5 years.

We may not win the Cup next year but if Q stays with the roster, we should be back sooner rather than later.
- busmaster

The question is how big of sweetener will needed to be thrown in for someone to take bickell?

The likely net/net is we lose a roster player and good pick/prospect just for cap space to have a slightly worse roster take the ice next year.

I would like to hope someone out there wants Bickell for a straight up low pick to take him off our hands, but im not confident that will happen.

Remember, Dustin Penner helped the Kings win a cup with some clutch goals as well, had a couple years where he really slowed down (actually looked great in ANA) and now he couldnt find a job and didnt even get a contract.

Bickell is pretty much worse right now than Penner was when he last laced them up. Not sure how many people will be fawning all over themselves to take Bickell straight up, whatever the small pricetag, when he has two years @ $4mil per left

I woud have to think it would be a pretty big sweetener thrown in, which scares me because we need to hoard all the assets we can moving foward

The question is how big of sweetener will needed to be thrown in for someone to take bickell?

The likely net/net is we lose a roster player and good pick/prospect just for cap space to have a slightly worse roster take the ice next year.

I would like to hope someone out there wants Bickell for a straight up low pick to take him off our hands, but im not confident that will happen.

Remember, Dustin Penner helped the Kings win a cup with some clutch goals as well, had a couple years where he really slowed down (actually looked great in ANA) and now he couldnt find a job and didnt even get a contract.

Bickell is pretty much worse right now than Penner was when he last laced them up. Not sure how many people will be fawning all over themselves to take Bickell straight up, whatever the small pricetag, when he has two years @ $4mil per left

I woud have to think it would be a pretty big sweetener thrown in, which scares me because we need to hoard all the assets we can moving foward
- FourFeathers773

Isn't the reason to "hoard" all these assets is so you can use them to make deals to get different assets too? What would worry me is if the cupboards were bare, but I think there is enough players in the minors and coming up to be able to use 1 or 2 to trade for other pieces.

I remember Kane being benched for missing checking assignments, for being out of position, for turnovers or for lazy penalties. Kane learned to play a complete game because it was demanded of him by the coach. Sure Toews, Hossa et all probably helped Kane as well but Q fostered an environment where everyone had to play a two way game. Pirri, J Hayes, Morin et all weren't able to play the game demanded of them and were cut loose, I don't see an issue with that.
- paulr

I dont disagree that Q has instilled a defense first/transition off of defense mentality throught the team. Beyond our to 4 D, there is a reason the Hawks have been one of the best teams at keeping the puck out of their net. However, I dont EVER recall Patrick Kane getting benched by Q for boneheaded turnovers or a lack of defensive intensity. In fact, over the years I have griped about Q allowing a longer leash for Kaner after some blatant turnovers and lack of defensive awareness/intensity.

Regardless, Kaner is a much more disciplined player and backchecks more than ever before(though the Game 5 OT goal could've used a bit more effot on the backcheck from 88)

amybody that thinks we cannot get a late round pick for bickell straight up has no idea what they are talking about. We traded Carcillo, and Scott for picks. We got a 1st for brower and a 3rd for Bollig. Bickell is overpaid but he has value. If bickell was a FA this year what we he get? 4 year deal at $15mil? I would rather have him for 2 years at 4 and give up a 3-4th. Team trying to make the playoffs will want him and if they fall out of the race they will flip him for double what they gave up.

I dont disagree that Q has instilled a defense first/transition off of defense mentality throught the team. Beyond our to 4 D, there is a reason the Hawks have been one of the best teams at keeping the puck out of their net. However, I dont EVER recall Patrick Kane getting benched by Q for boneheaded turnovers or a lack of defensive intensity. In fact, over the years I have griped about Q allowing a longer leash for Kaner after some blatant turnovers and lack of defensive awareness/intensity.

Regardless, Kaner is a much more disciplined player and backchecks more than ever before(though the Game 5 OT goal could've used a bit more effot on the backcheck from 88)
- EnzoD

He didn't know which of the 7 skaters he was to take. Cut him some slack.

He didn't know which of the 7 skaters he was to take. Cut him some slack.
- powerenforcer

watch the replay again and tell me he couldnt have tied up Belesky. watch the replay. he coasts through the neutral zone and picks up nobody. past is the past but dont let him off the hook just bc he is a star player

watch the replay again and tell me he couldnt have tied up Belesky. watch the replay. he coasts through the neutral zone and picks up nobody. past is the past but dont let him off the hook just bc he is a star player
- EnzoD

I should have used red font. It was a joke........

the fact that Kane was a #1 overall pick and though not dubbed "generational" by the media, he has a generational offensive skill set. But I base it on articles written over the years about the relationship 88 & 19 have. How they love to compete and try to outdo each other. That is what i would base it off, Captain Obvious. or should I call you Captain Rundblad?
- EnzoD

Only if you want to be nonsensical, or rather moreso