On the other hand, if Oduya and Kruger are going to be signed at some point we are quite literally getting closer by the hour to that happening.
- BreakoutHockey

To keep Oduya at $4M and Kruger at $2.5M, we have to move $10M… that's Sharp/Crawford and Bickell, assuming no salary comes back.

1) If we retain even $1M on Bickell (who also has a NTC…), then we have to move Versteeg and fill the spot with an ELC. I assume Versteeg will be moved, just to squeeze that extra $1.275M in savings out.

2) If they hand the reins to Darling, then moving Crawford, Bickell w/ $1M retained, and Versteeg get the Hawks to be cap-compliant.

3) If a cheaper NHL goalie comes back in the Crawford deal, they still have to move Sharp and Bickell…

Any way you slice it, keeping Oduya and Kruger will cost the Hawks a lot, given the probable returns on all the other trades… I would bet that Kruger takes precedence over Oduya given Oduya's age… Perhaps feelers have been put out on Ehrhoff, Schlemko, etc. in the event they can't keep Oduya.

Three of the last 4 Stanley Cup Champions (excluding the 2013 Hawks) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that all you need to do is make the playoffs. If the Hawks keep Kruger and let go of Oduya, getting to the trade deadline and just being in the playoff picture has to be the goal, given what will be a weaker defense. Then maybe someone else gets moved at the trade deadline for a true #4D, even if that D-man is a rental… This could be Sharp, if he's still here (and has recovered some sort of scoring form), or it could be Crawford if Darling is given more of a look in the first half of the season and proves to be a true #1…

Bowman has made some great moves in tough situations (especially the Saad situation), but he's got to realize he must start selling much higher.

It's his right. He doesn't need to care about if it is a good hockey trade or not.
- nurk

THIS^^^^^^

He bargained for this right and in all likelihood gave up something to get it (took less $$ or agreed to term)

It's his right. He doesn't need to care about if it is a good hockey trade or not.
- nurk

It's also completely in your rights to be an outspoken racist...doesnt mean it is the RIGHT thing to do...

It's also completely in your rights to be an outspoken racist...doesnt mean it is the RIGHT thing to do...
- EnzoD

I think these are 2 completely different things.

THIS^^^^^^

He bargained for this right and in all likelihood gave up something to get it (took less $$ or agreed to term)
- Marlowe

. That said it appears he is working with the Hawks in going off list.

It's also completely in your rights to be an outspoken racist...doesnt mean it is the RIGHT thing to do...
- EnzoD

OK help me understand that analogy.

If Versteeg has a NMC or NTC, it wouldn't have anything to do with Stan Bowman. Versteeg is currently playing under a contract signed in Florida by Dale Tallon.
- BreakoutHockey

True, but he's also the guy who's handed them out to CC and Bickell. For an allegedly sharp financial guy, he certainly is his own worst enemy with regards to contact flexibility for non stars.

If Florida is a team he listed as 1 of his 10, then how can he veto it? Can players put conditions on their 10 team list? Is that allowed in the CBA? Maybe it's time for another lockout!

True, but he's also the guy who's handed them out to CC and Bickell.
- howiehandles

They weren't handed out they were negotiated for. In the cap world agents increase the value of their client's contracts by negotiating term as well as security in the form of having a say to where they are moved. It's common practice with all NHL players who are in demand. And both Bickell and CC were in demand when they signed their contracts.

If there is no cap relief by next Monday - things will start getting tense in a hurry

OK help me understand that analogy.
- paulr

Just because something is within your "legal rights", that does not make it the "morally right" thing to do. Freedom of Speech allows outspoken racism, just like a NMC allows Sharp to veto a trade to Florida. I just dont think it's fair to the Blackhawks. Sharp, who obviously knows he is being traded, is making this situation worse with JJ's reported demands. Whether it is requesting an 'A' on his jersey or who knows what. Unless it is a truly dogpoop team like AZ, or a Division-Rival, I dont see how Sharp can want this saga to continue dragging on...and make the situation worse for the team that gave him his true NHL opportunity and made him a Star....

To keep Oduya at $4M and Kruger at $2.5M, we have to move $10M… that's Sharp/Crawford and Bickell, assuming no salary comes back.

1) If we retain even $1M on Bickell (who also has a NTC…), then we have to move Versteeg and fill the spot with an ELC. I assume Versteeg will be moved, just to squeeze that extra $1.275M in savings out.

2) If they hand the reins to Darling, then moving Crawford, Bickell w/ $1M retained, and Versteeg get the Hawks to be cap-compliant.

3) If a cheaper NHL goalie comes back in the Crawford deal, they still have to move Sharp and Bickell…

Any way you slice it, keeping Oduya and Kruger will cost the Hawks a lot, given the probable returns on all the other trades… I would bet that Kruger takes precedence over Oduya given Oduya's age… Perhaps feelers have been put out on Ehrhoff, Schlemko, etc. in the event they can't keep Oduya.

Three of the last 4 Stanley Cup Champions (excluding the 2013 Hawks) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that all you need to do is make the playoffs. If the Hawks keep Kruger and let go of Oduya, getting to the trade deadline and just being in the playoff picture has to be the goal, given what will be a weaker defense. Then maybe someone else gets moved at the trade deadline for a true #4D, even if that D-man is a rental… This could be Sharp, if he's still here (and has recovered some sort of scoring form), or it could be Crawford if Darling is given more of a look in the first half of the season and proves to be a true #1…

Bowman has made some great moves in tough situations (especially the Saad situation), but he's got to realize he must start selling much higher.
- DMChi2010

a bit off topic but that's an interesting comment and development in the league. i believe that the elite teams are starting to think this way. it maybe bit LA in the ass last year but they already had 2 Cups under their belt. but i remember reading this blog at times last year and you guys were furious with a perceived lack of effort from the Hawks. and i bet you were 100% right, and that the Hawks really do coast through the season. they could probably win 60 games if they wanted to. but who cares? they lay off the pedal for 82 and then crank it up in April, when all of the other teams that went all out for 82 games are starting to wear down. i think you'll see Tampa take a similar approach next year too. regular season standings don't really tell the truth anymore.

They weren't handed out they were negotiated for. In the cap world agents increase the value of their client's contracts by negotiating term as well as security in the form of having a say to where they are moved. It's common practice with all NHL players who are in demand. And both Bickell and CC were in demand when they signed their contracts.
- paulr

I'm aware of leverage. NHL contacts are no different than salary negotiations for common schmucks too, or any other negotiation. A cap, a company/department budgement, not much difference.

Stan still agreed to it. Certainly makes his job that much harder with them.

He's portrayed as some shrewd negotiator, but that Bickell contract is already an albatross, awarded based on one good post season.

They weren't handed out they were negotiated for. In the cap world agents increase the value of their client's contracts by negotiating term as well as security in the form of having a say to where they are moved. It's common practice with all NHL players who are in demand. And both Bickell and CC were in demand when they signed their contracts.
- paulr

YES! Both sides got benefit from the BARGAINED FOR term. Stan and the player both get $$ and/or term that they wouldn't get without the NMC/NTC.

I love the anger towards Sharp for not wanting to play in Florida, unless he believes he'll win. This guy just spent the past 10 season of his life playing on top teams winning 3 cups, as an Alternate Captain. There's a reason he has a trade clause, and there's a reason he felt he should exercise it. Unfortunately, I don't think it's a wise career move to accept anything that comes up so you can help your former team get under the salary cap

Just because something is within your "legal rights", that does not make it the "morally right" thing to do. Freedom of Speech allows outspoken racism, just like a NMC allows Sharp to veto a trade to Florida. I just dont think it's fair to the Blackhawks. Sharp, who obviously knows he is being traded, is making this situation worse with JJ's reported demands. Whether it is requesting an 'A' on his jersey or who knows what. Unless it is a truly dogpoop team like AZ, or a Division-Rival, I dont see how Sharp can want this saga to continue dragging on...and make the situation worse for the team that gave him his true NHL opportunity and made him a Star....
- EnzoD

WOW!!!! So his agent negotiated his contract to include a NMC and he should rescind that contractual agreement because it isn't fair to the team that drew the agreement up?

WOW!!!

Just because something is within your "legal rights", that does not make it the "morally right" thing to do. Freedom of Speech allows outspoken racism, just like a NMC allows Sharp to veto a trade to Florida. I just dont think it's fair to the Blackhawks. Sharp, who obviously knows he is being traded, is making this situation worse with JJ's reported demands. Whether it is requesting an 'A' on his jersey or who knows what. Unless it is a truly dogpoop team like AZ, or a Division-Rival, I dont see how Sharp can want this saga to continue dragging on...and make the situation worse for the team that gave him his true NHL opportunity and made him a Star....
- EnzoD

He doesn't owe the Hawks anything. In fact, the Hawks "owe" him the contract he signed. It's stupid to believe Sharp should just take anything to help the Hawks.

Just because something is within your "legal rights", that does not make it the "morally right" thing to do. Freedom of Speech allows outspoken racism, just like a NMC allows Sharp to veto a trade to Florida. I just dont think it's fair to the Blackhawks. Sharp, who obviously knows he is being traded, is making this situation worse with JJ's reported demands. Whether it is requesting an 'A' on his jersey or who knows what. Unless it is a truly dogpoop team like AZ, or a Division-Rival, I dont see how Sharp can want this saga to continue dragging on...and make the situation worse for the team that gave him his true NHL opportunity and made him a Star....
- EnzoD

actually it does not

Questions below are given premise that not all 3 (sharp, bickell, versteeg) can be moved and cap space is not there.

Do you keep Kruger or Oduya (I would keep Kruger) or let both of them go?

Also, if Hawks want to keep both Oduya and Kruger, what is the next top salary that you would shed to do so?

Mine:
Seabrook - Hate typing that. Only one more year before he's UFA. With the raise he's probably getting next year, can Hawks even afford to sign him then. Might as well get something nice for him. I think many teams would jump on him.

well it sounds like it because JJ was talking about him having to waive. and if he prefers a winning team up north, looking more at teams like NYR, NYI, Washington, maybe Boston, Montreal, Pittsburgh. not sure about cap space for a lot of those teams...
- DoubleDown

This seems to be the deal

actually it does not
- DoubleDown

You can say whatever you want to say as long as it is not threatening. AGAIN, I understand completely that it is within Sharp's rights to veto any trade. He earned it. YES, acknowledged. It is my OPINION, that it is not the way he should be going about the situation. If the Hawks and Sharp were ending their relationship on bad terms, sure, use that NMC for the entire summer. This is not that type of situation. This is a Salary-Cap induced roster change that has been expected for months and now has been dragged out for weeks. Just get this thing done.

This seems to be the deal
- John Jaeckel

I don't blame him for not waiving. He owes his soon to be former company nothing. It's a business decison, for both the team and player. Just need to resolve this sooner rather than later, and hopefully they can snag something of value, besides cap space, from this transaction.

You can say whatever you want to say as long as it is not threatening. AGAIN, I understand completely that it is within Sharp's rights to veto any trade. He earned it. YES, acknowledged. It is my OPINION, that it is not the way he should be going about the situation. If the Hawks and Sharp were ending their relationship on bad terms, sure, use that NMC for the entire summer. This is not that type of situation. This is a Salary-Cap induced roster change that has been expected for months and now has been dragged out for weeks. Just get this thing done.
- EnzoD

So if your boss called you into his office today and said "hey we appreciate everything you have done here but we have an opportunity for you to work in our Afghanistan office" you would just take it right because they gave you the original opportunity and you owe it to your company to do whatever they say?

My source was apparently wrong for yesterday Sharp deal with Mtl.

Don't know if it is due to his NTC.

He actually said to me that Mtl has made a firm offer for Sharp and it was condtitionnal to something that should've went down yesterday.

Don't know if it is medical exams or another deal with a team that Sharp would or would not waive to go to.

My guess is Mtl's offer is not that good and SB tries to convince Sharp to waive for another team with better offer.

No, there is no proof that steel girders are made of billions of electrons, but you push the up button in the elevator every morning don't you?

- John Jaeckel

Stick to the hockey rumors, science/engineering analogies aren't your strength.

Not trolling - I actually read your content regularly because I think you are one of the better writers on here.