For those bringing up Daley, I recall that he asked out of Chicago. Not sure you want that kind of guy in the room, coach Q mistreatment or not.

I've always considered Shaw part of the core. So if you have to keep one, is it Kruger or Shaw? Krugs got his new payday, but that doesn't imply Chicago has to write the check. I'd keep Shaw at this point if one had to go.

What about d-men who would improve the bottom pair and have worn the welcome on their current teams. Someone like Boston might part with Seidenberg and maybe even pay half his salary if they get a few picks or a reasonable prospect in return. Would Seids at a cap hit of say 2.5 work for Chi? He's still a viable 4D and would eventually settle in as an upgrade on your bottom pair. Kind of rich for what he'd bring but it depends what other choices you have. Russell would be worse in my opinion and prohibitively expensive anyway. Or a guy like Scandella in Minny, if they need the money for Dumba.

As a fan of salary management theories, what happens to the Hawks roster next year?

According to General Fanager, the Hawks salaries next year total: $65,858,460 The current cap is 71.4 million, leaving just $5,541,540 to fill in for 9 expiring contracts (3 are RFAs).

You pretty much have to assume Panarin hits most of his bonuses again and will add a minimum of $2 million to his hit, lowering that cap space to around $3.5 million.

Shaw's current contract is $2M, I believe a mandatory 10% qualifying offer is a must, but realistically he's a $3M player at a minimum. Re-signing him will kill the remainder of cap space, still leaving 8 other spots to fill.

Chances are the cap will go up, I think early talk was $3M, but that is still a slim amount to fill the roster.

How does the front office handle this? If the past is any sign, it's a front office that can do well in re-tooling.
- stashu

I imagine their first order of business will be either buy out Bickell or and hate this package Shaw with Bickell to Arizona

People keep saying it will be a long off season of rest for our big guns. It won't be for many of them unless they do not play in that crap hockey tourney this summer.
- bhawks2241

That tournament isn't until the last weeks in September, I think - they would probably start training camp for it about the same time as regular camp for the Hawks, maybe a week or so earlier.

They still should get over 4 months of summer recoupment in.

JJ/Al

Do either of you think Stan is the right person to be the GM going forward? For all of his warts, Tallon is a hockey guy and could judge talent. I think the hawks thought they could make up for Stan not being a real hockey guy by surrounding him with so many top notch hockey people but given what he has done in the last year, my confidence in him is nil. It almost feels like the Savard to Q change, I think we need someone else for this next leg of the journey. I just dont trust Stan to make the right decisions. He was fine when he rarely needed to pull the trigger, and could add pieces here and there, but this year was his first real chance to shine and he failed miserably.
- pierregruska

My personal belief is the Hawk FO is too crowded, too "procedural," too many cooks in the kitchen for ANYONE to make the best moves in most situations. I suspect Bowman was hamstrung to a large extent by that dynamic except on the Saad deal when the team, and the rest of the FO, had NO CHOICE, but to take the deal.

I can think of at least a couple of guys they could get rid of, without naming names. And maybe one to two more who need to be kept on a shorter leash. If they don't trust Stanley to do the job, get someone else and give him the room to operate.

I imagine their first order of business will be either buy out Bickell or and hate this package Shaw with Bickell to Arizona
- BetweenTheDots

I hate losing Shaw, but I think the writing is on the wall. Move TT as well and I'm sold. Sign a cheap Campbell and hey, hey!

This season the team was more like 2012 than 2011. The team wasn't a complete mess like 2011, but more of a team with a couple holes that didn't get it done.

Overall, this series was winnable by the Hawks. They played well enough that they could have won it. You can have a championship quality team and not win a championship. The Blues are a solid team and had a lot more to prove.

Let's be honest, Q didn't have his best series as a coach, putting some questionable line ups on the ice. It took too long to find enough lines that could roll, but once they finally spread out the scoring on 3 lines, the Hawks were tough to handle.

Fleischmann was awful, Weise was alright, and Ladd played very well.

This team could have gone deep. This 1st round match up was of quality of two teams that should be playing in a conference final, rather than round 1. A good team had to lose.

For those bringing up Daley, I recall that he asked out of Chicago. Not sure you want that kind of guy in the room, coach Q mistreatment or not.

I've always considered Shaw part of the core. So if you have to keep one, is it Kruger or Shaw? Krugs got his new payday, but that doesn't imply Chicago has to write the check. I'd keep Shaw at this point if one had to go.
- ItHossaGood

well said. 100% agreed. Daley saw he wasn't a fit because he wasn't getting top 4 minutes and look....he hasn't been a shut down D man for Pittsburgh. He's getting torched and even more so when Washington exposes him.

Shaw is a guy you can't replace. He gets his role, his versatility is there, and for everyone who loves them some Koo-ga, in a must win game on the road, who does Q bench with 5 minutes to go? Koo-ga and slides Shaw in at center.

Teuvo got benched at times during the 2nd and 3rd and really, this has to end. That kid is so damn small his one armed half @ss attempts on the forecheck dont' do squat and I feared the kid may seriously get hurt during this series. That chapter needs to be closed and move on.....

Where was Toews leadership and clutchness?

7 games, This series should have been over in 5. Probably the time to start looking for trades. Must have lost the room or something
- TheGame316

I am not a Hawks fan but really dude ? I would take this guy any day of the week, and I guarantee every single coach, g.m. in this league would agree with me. This guy is a beast a hell of a player,leader and even more important.....person.

I am not a Hawks fan but really dude ? I would take this guy any day of the week, and I guarantee every single coach, g.m. in this league would agree with me. This guy is a beast a hell of a player,leader and even more important.....person.
- wrister

this.

Is Motte ready for a bottom 6 role? Looks like he is smaller in stature but built pretty solidly. Maybe a Fabbri type?

Hawks site has him at 5'9" 192lbs.

The summer will be interesting and a decision needs to be made with TT.
Because if he can't get strong enough to play center on the 2nd or 3rd line, then he
becomes Bowman's biggest trade chip. I think the 2nd line is the best fit....AA can play 3rd line.

But can TT matchup against big centers in the West??
His future here is not to play alongside grinders...
- Al

Think if TT gets traded to the East he could excel!

John Jaeckel: So 'It' Ends
- John Jaeckel

The Hawks are a very impressive team, there's no doubt. But somehow I think this might be the end of their run. Building and maintaining this type of excellence in the salary Cap era is almost impossible.

We can see the gap between the stars and the support players getting bigger each year. Essentially playing without a 5/6 D pairing runs its toll on the others. When was the last time you guys had a truly reliable 2C who could take some of the heat off Toews (I'm sorry, but Anisimov is NOT that guy)? The farm system has been picked over to prop up the NHL roster, and continuously picking in the late 20's (or not at all) has slowed the replenishment. But this is what happens with teams who are legitimate contenders, so there's no fault for this.

Your core is obviously still amazing, so the Hawks will still be contenders. But I think there were cracks this year for maybe the first time during this team's run. The Cap gets to every team eventually, it's the nature of winning...it's expensive.

Great work this year JJ, BTW. Starting all the way last June you had a LOT of news to report and analyze and you did a phenomenal job.

Is Motte ready for a bottom 6 role? Looks like he is smaller in stature but built pretty solidly. Maybe a Fabbri type?
- bhawks2241

the optimist in me says yes, but the practical side acknowledges that Hawks PR office overhypes its prospects and makes us feel they're something they're not quite yet

My personal belief is the Hawk FO is too crowded, too "procedural," too many cooks in the kitchen for ANYONE to make the best moves in most situations. I suspect Bowman was hamstrung to a large extent by that dynamic except on the Saad deal when the team, and the rest of the FO, had NO CHOICE, but to take the deal.

I can think of at least a couple of guys they could get rid of, without naming names. And maybe one to two more who need to be kept on a shorter leash. If they don't trust Stanley to do the job, get someone else and give him the room to operate.
- John Jaeckel

This is very disturbing.

It's one thing to give people voices. You absolutely need different perspectives in an organization. But you also need somebody who's going to be responsible for making the decision in the end -- and you need to trust that person to do so.

This might explain why the Hawks' moves since July 1 have seemed wonky or unfocused.

I am still finding it hard to believe that Bowman traded a quality prospect in Danault for two rental forwards that the head coach never really trusted. People are not on the same page here.

Is Motte ready for a bottom 6 role? Looks like he is smaller in stature but built pretty solidly. Maybe a Fabbri type?

Hawks site has him at 5'9" 192lbs.
- bhawks2241

I'm sure Motte will get a look early in the season, but who knows if he'll stick yet.

Think if TT gets traded to the East he could excel!
- TyCamScore

TT for Severson.

This is very disturbing.

It's one thing to give people voices. You absolutely need different perspectives in an organization. But you also need somebody who's going to be responsible for making the decision in the end -- and you need to trust that person to do so.

This might explain why the Hawks' moves since July 1 have seemed wonky or unfocused.

I am still finding it hard to believe that Bowman traded a quality prospect in Danault for two rental forwards that the head coach never really trusted. People are not on the same page here.
- darklighter

Two rental forwards who spent much time in the press box. The little bit those two players gave the Hawks, Ryan Hartmann could have ably provided and would have allowed the Hawks to keep resources or better yet possibly trade for a D-man. The Chicago Blackhawks did not deserve to win this year because the players AND General Manager AND coach dropped the ball.

This season the team was more like 2012 than 2011. The team wasn't a complete mess like 2011, but more of a team with a couple holes that didn't get it done.

Overall, this series was winnable by the Hawks. They played well enough that they could have won it. You can have a championship quality team and not win a championship. The Blues are a solid team and had a lot more to prove.

Let's be honest, Q didn't have his best series as a coach, putting some questionable line ups on the ice. It took too long to find enough lines that could roll, but once they finally spread out the scoring on 3 lines, the Hawks were tough to handle.

Fleischmann was awful, Weise was alright, and Ladd played very well.

This team could have gone deep. This 1st round match up was of quality of two teams that should be playing in a conference final, rather than round 1. A good team had to lose.
- breadbag

I get what you are saying but the quality of opponents in the central isn't ending any time soon. The east is a damn joke. I'm sorry. Was anyone really scared of a FLorida team that probably over achieved> The Islanders beat them with their back up goalie. Washington may be for real but until AO knocks off Canada's prized piece, I'm not sold.

Minnesota gave Dallas all they could handle without Parise or Vanek. And for all the Duck love, there is scrappy Nashville pushing them to their mental weak point.....

hate me for saying it but I hope STL wins. It will force you to get better and focus on what's important....Too many times this organization floats through the season and then the playoffs trying to flip the switch. They may have done so again starting in game 5, but the roster wasn't loaded enough to go blow for blow with STL.

And when your stars in a game 7, 19/2 have their worst game, tough to win. Kane had some spurts and Seabrook even after being destroyed cleanly by brouwer was OK, you aren't winning without star power......I felt 50/14/81 were their best players.

If Hossa retires early, does the team get penalized for his declining contract structure? If so, does that carry forward to a new team if he's traded?
- Jackman

Yes, but it depends on how much Cap benefit there was to his cheater contract while with each team.

This is very disturbing.

It's one thing to give people voices. You absolutely need different perspectives in an organization. But you also need somebody who's going to be responsible for making the decision in the end -- and you need to trust that person to do so.

This might explain why the Hawks' moves since July 1 have seemed wonky or unfocused.

I am still finding it hard to believe that Bowman traded a quality prospect in Danault for two rental forwards that the head coach never really trusted. People are not on the same page here.
- darklighter

I can tell you 100% that what John says is accurate and you can look no further at the GM in Florida. it started then and hasn't stopped since......If/when it does stop it's only because the president is no longer employed at 1901 w Madison.

The Hawks are a very impressive team, there's no doubt. But somehow I think this might be the end of their run. Building and maintaining this type of excellence in the salary Cap era is almost impossible.

We can see the gap between the stars and the support players getting bigger each year. Essentially playing without a 5/6 D pairing runs its toll on the others. When was the last time you guys had a truly reliable 2C who could take some of the heat off Toews (I'm sorry, but Anisimov is NOT that guy)? The farm system has been picked over to prop up the NHL roster, and continuously picking in the late 20's (or not at all) has slowed the replenishment. But this is what happens with teams who are legitimate contenders, so there's no fault for this.

Your core is obviously still amazing, so the Hawks will still be contenders. But I think there were cracks this year for maybe the first time during this team's run. The Cap gets to every team eventually, it's the nature of winning...it's expensive.

Great work this year JJ, BTW. Starting all the way last June you had a LOT of news to report and analyze and you did a phenomenal job.
- djamon

I would have to concur with what you wrote. Anisimov is a nice center, but can't have a guy at 2C who's so poor at the dot.

The Hawks are a very impressive team, there's no doubt. But somehow I think this might be the end of their run. Building and maintaining this type of excellence in the salary Cap era is almost impossible.

We can see the gap between the stars and the support players getting bigger each year. Essentially playing without a 5/6 D pairing runs its toll on the others. When was the last time you guys had a truly reliable 2C who could take some of the heat off Toews (I'm sorry, but Anisimov is NOT that guy)? The farm system has been picked over to prop up the NHL roster, and continuously picking in the late 20's (or not at all) has slowed the replenishment. But this is what happens with teams who are legitimate contenders, so there's no fault for this.

Your core is obviously still amazing, so the Hawks will still be contenders. But I think there were cracks this year for maybe the first time during this team's run. The Cap gets to every team eventually, it's the nature of winning...it's expensive.

Great work this year JJ, BTW. Starting all the way last June you had a LOT of news to report and analyze and you did a phenomenal job.
- djamon

Can't say we've ever had a great 2C (Anisimov might be the best), but I largely agree with your points. Maybe we can make another run to the finals near the end of Kane and Toews's careers, assuming they're still playing at a high enough level (like Thornton/Marleau), and that we've drafted really well, but yeah, I think the trading Cups with LA thing is over. It would be nice to get one more down the road.

Just imagine if there was no salary cap though. Man.

My personal belief is the Hawk FO is too crowded, too "procedural," too many cooks in the kitchen for ANYONE to make the best moves in most situations. I suspect Bowman was hamstrung to a large extent by that dynamic except on the Saad deal when the team, and the rest of the FO, had NO CHOICE, but to take the deal.

I can think of at least a couple of guys they could get rid of, without naming names. And maybe one to two more who need to be kept on a shorter leash. If they don't trust Stanley to do the job, get someone else and give him the room to operate.
- John Jaeckel

Sounds kind of like a Bulls front office situation. I think one of the reasons Tallon had success was because there wasn't tons of control over what he was doing. That's the same reason he's had success in Florida-- I think they let him run it and do what he needs to do. I think the Hawks front office is probably super rigid and don't really allow for the GM to be a GM. Kind of like most baseball teams these days; the manager isn't really making the calls anymore, it's the front office running the show and the skip is just a face--forced to "go with the flow"

Hossa can't be moved unless they eat a bunch of his salary and he is still too valuable,
- Al

Hossa's actual salary starts to plummet next year, from 7.9m to 4m. And then to 1m the 3 years after that. I'm curious if he's close to hanging in up at that point.