Insurance against Darling wanting a payday the organization can't afford. With Darling being a UFA after next year, the Hawk FO has no leverage. But they may have just created an EXCELLENT trade chip. 33
- Return of the Roar

Rid Darling to keep Shaw? Maybe a package of Darling and TT for top 6 LW? Seems like it's about to get interesting.

@JayZawakski670

From what I'm told, I wouldn't count on Nick Schmaltz signing with the Hawks this year. Looking more and more like he's headed back to ND.
- DarthKane

Which tells me that he isn't NHL-ready. If he's not NHL-ready the NCAA might be better for him to build confidence and really dominate. On the other hand, playing against grown men in Rockford has its benefits as well. Hopefully he can make the team and contribute in the top six in 17/18.

Oh and for everyone questioning 19/88 deals....

Well....

88 is the best player in hockey right now. yes, I'd take him over 87 or that kid in Edmonton everyone wants to anoint as Gretzky. Kane's game is on a huge upswing and this SHOULD have been back to back Art Ross and probably Hart's if not for his injury last February.

19 is the best overall forward in the game in all areas combined. Period. A complete player.

So when Stamkos gets 11-12 million and 2-3 years from now 19/88 are in the top 10 in paid deals, think we can all agree they are a STEAL at that moment.
- SteveRain

First off you are correct about Kane and can't really argue the Toews evaluation either.

Tweeted the other day...When was the last time the best player on a team missed the entire playoffs due to injury yet his team won the Cup?

The question was in reference to Stamkos....But in reality Stamkos went from the best player on the Lightning to somewhere between #4-#6....

What this has set-up is the Leafs will get their guy for huge money and it could be very similar to the Phil Kessel signing. Really good player but one that has never led a team to a Cup.

Funny how history could repeat itself in Toronto and whether TB wins the Cup this year or not they are in great shape....Because they have their build around player in Hedman, while Kucherov is their best forward and they are only 25 and 22 respectively.

Which tells me that he isn't NHL-ready. If he's not NHL-ready the NCAA might be better for him to build confidence and really dominate. On the other hand, playing against grown men in Rockford has its benefits as well. Hopefully he can make the team and contribute in the top six in 17/18.
- EnzoD

If Schmaltz isn't playing for UND he'd likely be playing for Rockford. So one more year developing in a familiar environment is not a bad thing.

My personal Bickell buyout counter stands at 22 days.
- blackhawk24

I doubt he gets bought out..I think it cost them more in cap over 2 years than bury him in rck again for a year

I doubt he gets bought out..I think it cost them more in cap over 2 years than bury him in rck again for a year
- bogiedoc

That's likely the only option. I'd hate to think what it would cost to trade Bickell.

Bolts...

...opportunity blown.

That's Furley, where's Roper?

That's likely the only option. I'd hate to think what it would cost to trade Bickell.
- DarthKane

I still think Bickel will be traded ,1 year is a lot easier to swallow for a rebuild team . May cost us a prospect or two . Just my 2 cents ..

Bolts...

...opportunity blown.
- ArlingtonRob

I know

I want a Tampa San Jose final

I doubt he gets bought out..I think it cost them more in cap over 2 years than bury him in rck again for a year
- bogiedoc

That is not true.

If they buy him out by I believe June 15, the cost against the cap will be 1 million this year, and 1.5 million next year.

So they would be saving 3 million on this years cap, and not much carrying over next year.

It would be in their best interests to do it and get it over with. No one is trading for him - unless the Hawks take back equally bad contracts - which would defeat the purpose of trading him in the first place.

The picture of Kempný with the #6 jersey posted here, that was taken by his sister Žaneta (who does wedding photography on the side).

Czech and Slovak language is very similar, but I think it is easier for a Slovak to understand Czech than viceversa. That is because there are much more Slovaks living & working in Czech Republic and for a fairly long time, Czech TV dubbed Slovakian shows (while it wasn't the case for Slovak TV). However, Kempný spent a few years playing youth hockey in Slovakia (Skalica), so he should understand Slovak very well, much better than a common Czech of his age (who was born 3 yrs before the Czechoslovakia broke up into two separate countries).

The Johansson contract is interesting, it is one-way and he will be UFA next year, right? I am not really sure what is the endgame there.

(BTW I just noticed, Drew MacIntyre, who spent some time in Rockford this year, signed a contract with Hamburg Freezers in Germany, but the club folded…)

I know

I want a Tampa San Jose final
- maria_wyeth

A California ice hockey team vs. a Florida ice hockey team in the Stanley Cup Championship? Climate change confirmed.

- EnzoD

LMAO

Someone needs to tell him to lose that lid before he gets here
- 6628

Saw some other stuff. He is apparently a huge Yankee fan. Ugh.

My native Czech speaking ex-girlfriend confirms this is true and used the Italian-Spanish analogy unsolicited.
- matt_ahrens

Thx Matt

TT looks similar without pads to Kruger....Never going to be big guys so they have to work hard to be strong and stay healthy.
- Al

I have seen a shot (granted a couple of years ago) of Kruger without a shirt and he was pretty scrawny. That said, he looks to have a classic hockey player's build, very strong through the hips and thighs. Kruger gets a helluva lot out of his 180-185, and that is without question. He wins a lot of pucks against much bigger guys. So I would say while they appear similar, in terms of the down low work and battles along the wall, Kruger gets a lot more out of his size.

The picture of Kempný with the #6 jersey posted here, that was taken by his sister Žaneta (who does wedding photography on the side).

Czech and Slovak language is very similar, but I think it is easier for a Slovak to understand Czech than viceversa. That is because there are much more Slovaks living & working in Czech Republic and for a fairly long time, Czech TV dubbed Slovakian shows (while it wasn't the case for Slovak TV). However, Kempný spent a few years playing youth hockey in Slovakia (Skalica), so he should understand Slovak very well, much better than a common Czech of his age (who was born 3 yrs before the Czechoslovakia broke up into two separate countries).
- stonefire

Awesome info., thanks Stonefire

Someone needs to tell him to lose that lid before he gets here
- 6628

Wasn't Spacek #6? Interesting, he may be that type of defenseman.

I like Kempny a lot, but as JJ points out there is still some TBD in his game. In the tournament games I saw his overall game is very impressive, but that was ALSO:

-not on smaller ice
-not against any type of legitimate forechecking pressure
-there was limited (to none) physicality

If he can answer those 3 points in the affirmative the Hawks have a player here. They also have a legit guy who can play the point on the powerplay, given his vision and instincts there (oh yea, not to mention the canon he has for a shot).

Certainly a low risk/high reward move.

That is not true.

If they buy him out by I believe June 15, the cost against the cap will be 1 million this year, and 1.5 million next year.

So they would be saving 3 million on this years cap, and not much carrying over next year.

It would be in their best interests to do it and get it over with. No one is trading for him - unless the Hawks take back equally bad contracts - which would defeat the purpose of trading him in the first place.
- dahawks8819

Not sure a buyout is best way to go. If you buy him out you really only save 2 mil this year (1 mil buried so cap hit only 3) and then still have the 1.5 next year. Next year cap is going to be just as tricky. Just get it over with this year and move on.

Not sure a buyout is best way to go. If you buy him out you really only save 2 mil this year (1 mil buried so cap hit only 3) and then still have the 1.5 next year. Next year cap is going to be just as tricky. Just get it over with this year and move on.
- lunchbox2111

I agree with this logic. If there is no way to move him this offseason, just cut your loses this season and say Bye-Bye. That 1.5 mil next season could pay for Kempny's performance bonuses (if he makes them).

Saw some other stuff. He is apparently a huge Yankee fan. Ugh.
- John Jaeckel

One other thing I forgot to mention about Kempný, he was also a big Blackhawks fan.

According to an interview he gave two weeks ago, he always liked the Hawks the most and Keith/Seabs are his favourite players (obviously ). He plays NHL on XBOX with his friends and said he always plays for the Blackhawks, that they are his team. It may be fake just to make himself look better now, because by the time he gave the interview, he already had to know he was gonna sign with Chicago. But I don't know, it sounded genuine.

Also, in another interview, he said he was in contact with the Hawks from the beginning of the season, that they watched him play handful of times in KHL and brought him some merchandise. It sounded like he felt appreciated that the club made the effort to get to know him.

+ He was in contact with another NHL team prior to signing with Omsk, but that went nowhere. A year in KHL really helped him IMO.

Wasn't Spacek #6? Interesting, he may be that type of defenseman.
- John Jaeckel

I think he was John, at least when he was here. Versatile guy. I liked him, and if this fng is anything like him that would help things out a bit.