Maybe SB's contingency plan involves sending Bickell and Versteeg to Rockford at the start of the season. Sure, they might be claimed off waivers and there would be no return, but it would be a way to free up around $6.5 mil of cap space if absolutely needed.

I still think there has to be a market for Versteeg. He's cheap and serviceable. Played well in the SCF. Gotta be worth a middle round pick anyway.

Stan didn't give Versteeg his contract but I agree that Bicks and Crows deals were generous. I remember reading that Bickels camp came to Stan prior to the season ending with a request of about 2.5m for 4 years and the FO balked. Bicks went on to have a great playoff and Stan was obligated to give him the larger contract based on his recent preformance. Do I have that right.
- Lido_Shuffle

Yes. I don't know exact numbers but Bickell camp wanted a deal and Stan elected to wait. Then overpaid.

My error...just realized Bickell has a NMC so no minors or waivers. Does Versteeg have a NMC as well?

My error...just realized Bickell has a NMC so no minors or waivers. Does Versteeg have a NMC as well?
- DoubleMinor

Versteeg does not have NMC.

My error...just realized Bickell has a NMC so no minors or waivers. Does Versteeg have a NMC as well?
- DoubleMinor

Stashing players in the AHL saves only $950K off their Cap hit which would be about the same cost as a rookie replacing the stashed player - so it essentially doesn't do anything to help the cap situation. In the case of Bickell, if he were sent to Rockford, $3.050M would still count against the Cap ($4M - 950K), and the player that would be called up from Rockford to take Bickell's place (let's say McNeill) would cost around $900K. So sending Bickell to Rockford solves nothing.

Yes. I don't know exact numbers but Bickell camp wanted a deal and Stan elected to wait. Then overpaid.
- gmurban

SB gets roasted by some for waiting to extend Bickell, then has to pay more salary following BB's playoff performance. Now, many are criticizing the quick extension of Anisomov. Maybe SB learned from previous experience and wanted to sign AA at a reasonable price before his probable uptick in performance playing with Kane and Co.?

+1 - If Fla was never on his list, then I totally understand his position.
- powerenforcer

If Florida was on his list, then he would have no further say in the matter, and the trade would have happened.

Maybe SB's contingency plan involves sending Bickell and Versteeg to Rockford at the start of the season. Sure, they might be claimed off waivers and there would be no return, but it would be a way to free up around $6.5 mil of cap space if absolutely needed.

I still think there has to be a market for Versteeg. He's cheap and serviceable. Played well in the SCF. Gotta be worth a middle round pick anyway.
- DoubleMinor

That was the old CBA...teams would send overpaid, underachievers to the AHL or Europe.

Trade, LTIR, buyout or retirement only options I can think of today...

...unless a player has a 2-way contract, but those players would be marginal and of little consequence, and doesn't apply to Versteeg or Bicks.

Stashing players in the AHL saves only $950K off their Cap hit which would be about the same cost as a rookie replacing the stashed player - so it essentially doesn't do anything to help the cap situation. In the case of Bickell, if he were sent to Rockford, $3.050M would still count against the Cap ($4M - 950K), and the player that would be called up from Rockford to take Bickell's place (let's say McNeill) would cost around $900K. So sending Bickell to Rockford solves nothing.
- EbonyRaptor

Didn't realize that. Thanks.

So there goes the security blanket I was holding onto in my head. Kindly allow me to join the rest of you in the handwringing line now.

All kidding aside, I was reassured by the Saad situation. SB demonstrated that if things went south, he had a contingency plan in place that he could enact swiftly as an insurance plan. That showed preparation. Gotta believe he is prepared for all sorts of scenarios here. Think back to the immovable contract of Brian Campbell and the heavy anchor that was Cristibal Huet. The Hawks navigated those hurdles when it seemed bleak. Let's remember we just won the Stanley Cup and now the bill is coming due is all. There will be some pain, but that's life under the current CBA. The good news is that this front office has shown a remarkable ability to change on the fly and remain a top contender. I'm willing to let this all play out first before believing the sky is falling.

If Florida was on his list, then he would have no further say in the matter, and the trade would have happened.
- Dunconn_Smythe

Been on this merry-go-round for awhile tonight...

...not sure why it's hard for some guys to comprehend the limited NTC/NMC

I don't doubt for a minute that Stan is really trying, but from what I've gathered - whatever the sticking point is with Florida could have been discovered much sooner with a little forethought instead of the 11th hour a week into free agency and the time spent negotiating with Florida in a losing case could have been better spent elsewhere.

Such as some dialogue like this that could have taken place before the draft:

Stan: Hey Sharpie, we may try to trade you to Florida, would you waive your NTC for that?

Sharp: Yes I would waive to go to Florida providing I get "X".

Stan: Hi Dale, would you be interested in a trade for Sharp?

Dale: Sure, depending on the details.

Stan: Sharp will waive his NTC but he requires "X", is that acceptable?

Dale: I'll get back to you after getting ownership approval.

Dale: Hi Stan, I checked with ownership and they will not approve "X" so I guess there's no point in further discussion regarding Sharp.

Stan: Thanks Dale. I'm glad we got this figured out before the draft so I'm not sitting there on July 7th with most of the potential trading partners already having moved on from trade discussions for Sharp.

Ya think it would have been that difficult to do something like that?
- EbonyRaptor

They are not ordering a pizza they are trying to trade 12 million dollars worth of contract. That is more than most business's annual revenue. Trading a contract of this size is like a corporte merger its not as easy as a phone conversation.

They are not ordering a pizza they are trying to trade 12 million dollars worth of contract. That is more than most business's annual revenue. Trading a contract of this size is like a corporate merger its not as easy as a phone conversation.
- mvp0207

Precisely...

...although the speed with which the Hawks and BJ's put together the Saad deal was impressive. Alot of moving parts there...

Been on this merry-go-round for awhile tonight...

...not sure why it's hard for some guys to comprehend the limited NTC/NMC
- ArlingtonRob

Yeah, but he is a jerk if he doesn't do what is the best for Chicago.......

Yeah, but he is a jerk if he doesn't do what is the best for Chicago.......
- carcus

He will...as I said earlier, if he F's with the Hawks and causes chaos into the fall, the toxic environment created would make returning to the Hawks this fall...

...unbearable for everyone.

Do you recall any player ever doing that? ...I can't.

Do you know that Fla was/is not on his list? I'm under the assumption that Fla is (because I have no proof that Fla isn't). Under that assumption, he should not be putting demands on the deal.
- powerenforcer

WHAT? So your logic is since we can't assume it's not on the list than we must assume it is?

I think its safe to say we can't assume either one but the evidence suggests its most likely not.

Sharp to Ottawa for that old guy who always pisses in the sink after the 1st period.



Seriously... the biggest PO for me is that this Sharp drama is holding up the contracts for JO and MK. Kudos to them if they are sticking this out waiting for the cap space. The word is out that Sharp needs to be moved. Sharp needs to get with Bowman and work it out and make it happen. Stan also needs to lower the bar (alot) to move this along. Yes he wanted 1st round picks and such... didnt happen. So now take whats there and move the salary.

He knows hes gonna be traded. Ask the wife.. A, B, or C? Done. Stan, C will work. Nobody really knows what the hang up is here. Sharp? Stan? Both? Yes Sharp has the vaunted cant touch this clause, but the team and everyone else knows he has to be moved. Somewhere that monkey is in the wrench... yank it out and finish this up.. Stan! Sharp! That old guy who pisses in sinks!

Sharp to Ottawa for that old guy who always pisses in the sink after the 1st period.



Seriously... the biggest PO for me is that this Sharp drama is holding up the contracts for JO and MK. Kudos to them if they are sticking this out waiting for the cap space. The word is out that Sharp needs to be moved. Sharp needs to get with Bowman and work it out and make it happen. Stan also needs to lower the bar (alot) to move this along. Yes he wanted 1st round picks and such... didnt happen. So now take whats there and move the salary.

He knows hes gonna be traded. Ask the wife.. A, B, or C? Done. Stan, C will work. Nobody really knows what the hang up is here. Sharp? Stan? Both? Yes Sharp has the vaunted cant touch this clause, but the team and everyone else knows he has to be moved. Somewhere that monkey is in the wrench... yank it out and finish this up.. Stan! Sharp! That old guy who pisses in sinks!
- z1990z

Ahhh, you make it sound so....simple.

But apparently it's not...so many of us fans agonize over this melodrama, looking for any shred of information that will reveal the conclusion.

I can only imagine what the real back story is, but we'll likely never know any details even after the dust settles and camp opens later this summer.

Ahhh, you make it sound so....simple.

But apparently it's not...so many of us fans agonize over this melodrama, looking for any shred of information that will reveal the conclusion.

I can only imagine what the real back story is, but we'll likely never know any details even after the dust settles and camp opens later this summer.
- ArlingtonRob

Im there.. Just totally surprised we are where we are with this. I thought for sure Sharp would be gone before the draft was over. At this point I had to throw some comedy at it...

If detroit was seriously kicking the tires on sharp stan would have to be a magician but would love to see if he could pry mantha from the wings

I agree with most in that i am shocked Sharp hasnt left by now. I thought verteeg may be gone, and with his nmc i am not surprised in the least that #29 hasnt been moved. I really thought JO would chase the money and someone like the ducks would OS Kruger. This is a forrest gump box o chocolates summer

If detroit was seriously kicking the tires on sharp stan would have to be a magician but would love to see if he could pry mantha from the wings

I agree with most in that i am shocked Sharp hasnt left by now. I thought verteeg may be gone, and with his nmc i am not surprised in the least that #29 hasnt been moved. I really thought JO would chase the money and someone like the ducks would OS Kruger. This is a forrest gump box o chocolates summer
- ikeane

Trust me you don't want Mantha. Rozi can outskate him, while he's in a cast.

Trust me you don't want Mantha. Rozi can outskate him, while he's in a cast.
- paulr

Detroit HB blog this morning on how overhyped Mantha is/was:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...of-hype-machine/216/69855

I hate the notion that because Sharp has such a short list the Hawks need to look at moving Crawford

So any truth to these Edmonton Chicago talks on Seabrook? Bob is the media guy for the oilers, so he doesnt bull poop around.
- FiretheGM

Highly, highly doubtful. but not out of the realm of possibility as far as a long-term conversation.

Haven't read here in a while. Wow! From photons and waves of possibility to depressed mass self-medication! Feels like I stumbled into the (pre-ban) Oilers thread by mistake. Now Seabs to Alberta for peanuts? I guess this makes some kinda crazy sense. If the universe is indeed curved, then cap hell and standings hell have to meet at some point, and substance is revealed (and traded) mostly for emptiness.

Different stories going around..Brian Hedger tweeted this afternoon his source said Sharp hasn't turned a trade down to Florida and he also said the Hawks haven't talked to Florida in 2/3 weeks.

Sharp can be traded to teams not on his list with his approval.
- Al

And I heard form a third independent source this morning (from FL, covers the Panthers) there was/is something to this.

With all due respect, Brian Hedger has no more credibility in shooting something down than I do in going out with a story. In fact, if he's getting his info from a team pr hack . . .