Also part of the reason trading Seabrook would be a mistake IMO
- maria_wyeth

It might be a mistake. Problem is we have to resign Panarin next year and we need help upfront too. Somewhere on the roster the front office will need to gamble. Question is where and what's the risk/reward. That's why they get paid a lot to do it.

It might be a mistake. Problem is we have to resign Panarin next year and we need help upfront too. Somewhere on the roster the front office will need to gamble. Question is where and what's the risk/reward. That's why they get paid a lot to do it.
- bhawks2241

FWIW, I do recall a couple blogs ago that someone (maybe JJ??) said that Scotty Bowman is of the belief that defensemen are more important than the goaltender and that you can win with an average to above average goalie if you have great defense. Just have a feeling that the Hawks would send Crawford packing before Seabrook. I could be wrong and I don't doubt any trade scenario now since the reportings of the marginal cap increase. And your last sentence is spot on.

FWIW, I do recall a couple blogs ago that someone (maybe JJ??) said that Scotty Bowman is of the belief that defensemen are more important than the goaltender and that you can win with an average to above average goalie if you have great defense. Just have a feeling that the Hawks would send Crawford packing before Seabrook. I could be wrong and I don't doubt any trade scenario now since the reportings of the marginal cap increase. And your last sentence is spot on.
- 93Joe

I think the stagnant cap is really putting a wrench in their plans. They originally projected what after the lockout? 4-5 mil per year growth? Cap will probably be 6-8 mil lower than post lockout predictions. Maybe more? Crow and Toews and Kanes contracts look so much better if the caps that much higher. NHLPA can't be happy about what's going on with the cap.

FWIW, I do recall a couple blogs ago that someone (maybe JJ??) said that Scotty Bowman is of the belief that defensemen are more important than the goaltender and that you can win with an average to above average goalie if you have great defense. Just have a feeling that the Hawks would send Crawford packing before Seabrook. I could be wrong and I don't doubt any trade scenario now since the reportings of the marginal cap increase. And your last sentence is spot on.
- 93Joe

I think Seabrook's intangibles point that direction too. Especially if chemistry is a problem with so many new faces and Seabrook is the team leader after Toews (and on occasion, leader for Toews too )

The cap is certainly a female dog.

This is the part with Keith that just doesn't register: his value is so high that anything "good" that comes back is going to carry a hefty price tag.

I'll preface with the thought that this is highly unlikely: Everyone thinks AA is staying because of #72. What if AA AND 72 are traded for a physical #1LW, cheap faceoff centerman, and serviceable #4D? Throw Bickell to level out salaries....would you do it???
- phantasmo

Now that could be a consideration depending on what the return of a 1LW would be--

I have asked about that.

In 2015 when they won the cup, Keith was seeing his son regularly. Now that the divorce is underway, the ex has been screwing with his visitation - and that has been killing him - and it showed in his play - he was definitely distracted.

Not to mention that she is trying to bleed him dry - playing the victim - and he is not completely innocent in all this.

He is from Western Canada - from a small town. People that know him claim that there is something "a little off" about him. But I think it speaks more to where he was raised. People from that part of Canada are not known as "normal" - but I think that's because large parts of that side of the country are very rural.
- dahawks8819

Every teammate thinks he's off, too. Doesn't he sing like crazy in the shower?

I think the stagnant cap is really putting a wrench in their plans. They originally projected what after the lockout? 4-5 mil per year growth? Cap will probably be 6-8 mil lower than post lockout predictions. Maybe more? Crow and Toews and Kanes contracts look so much better if the caps that much higher. NHLPA can't be happy about what's going on with the cap.
- bhawks2241

NHLPA negotiated and agreed to this BS accounting system. The escalator clause is a problem. Established players with big/long term contracts may vote no. It is explained somewhat here.

http://www.sbnation.com/n...ojection-escalator-escrow

Every teammate thinks he's off, too. Doesn't he sing like crazy in the shower?
- DMChi2010

Well according to Panarin he at least sang the Russian hit “A glass of vodka on the table” after the season and Panarin wanted to record him doing it

NHLPA negotiated and agreed to this BS accounting system. The escalator clause is a problem. Established players with big/long term contracts may vote no. It is explained somewhat here.

http://www.sbnation.com/n...ojection-escalator-escrow
- bogiedoc

I have no sources anywhere - whether for facts or for inuendo leading to sleazy speculation - but I've been asking for a while now - with the escrow taking now 16% of Toews and Hossa's $10.5MM - that's $1.68MM each, more if the 16% applies to the actual cash they receive - at some point, players with contracts for the next year are going to refuse to approve the escalator.

Everyone has been poo-pooing it, and it hasn't happened yet, but it may be time.

But again - this is just logic - I have no sources, even those telling me I can't say anything.

I have no sources anywhere - whether for facts or for inuendo leading to sleazy speculation - but I've been asking for a while now - with the escrow taking now 16% of Toews and Hossa's $10.5MM - that's $1.68MM each, more if the 16% applies to the actual cash they receive - at some point, players with contracts for the next year are going to refuse to approve the escalator.

Everyone has been poo-pooing it, and it hasn't happened yet, but it may be time.

But again - this is just logic - I have no sources, even those telling me I can't say anything.
- StLBravesFan

And that is why you have daley lowering expectations back to a flat cap. I don't know NHLPA voting rules but are there enough "toews and hossa" across the league (say an avg of 4-5 per team) to carry the day and say no mas...I don't know.

93joe. Scotty Bowman believes you can win a Cup with excellent defense and decent goaltending. He is not a big believer in paying goalies megabucks.

I bumped into him at the Buffalo airport in 2009 and we chatted while waiting for our flight. At the time, he told me it was a huge mistake to sign Huet. He said the Hawks should have just ridden Khabibulin until the end of his contract then found a goalie after that, but he bemoaned all the money the Team had spent on goaltending.

He also was very critical of Brian Campbell. He said Campbell runs all over the ice out of position and leaves the other 4 guys on the ice standing still because they don't know what he is going to do or where they are going to be. I knew right then and there, Campbell would not be long for the Hawks.

Having said all that, I think Stan will be all ears 3 weeks from tonight at the draft.
Crawford would be a sell high situation. Hawks have no 1st or 2nd rounder. Carolina and Toronto have a boatload of picks. Carolina has a really rice core of 4 young defensemen, so they don't necessarily need a handful of draft picks in 2016, instead they might want a more reliable goalie than UFA Ward. Toronto has a really nice stable of young players but lacks a backstopper. They certainly can afford Crawford and after the Kessel, Winnick and other trades have lots of picks that might interest Stan.

I have asked about that.

In 2015 when they won the cup, Keith was seeing his son regularly. Now that the divorce is underway, the ex has been screwing with his visitation - and that has been killing him - and it showed in his play - he was definitely distracted.

Not to mention that she is trying to bleed him dry - playing the victim - and he is not completely innocent in all this.

He is from Western Canada - from a small town. People that know him claim that there is something "a little off" about him. But I think it speaks more to where he was raised. People from that part of Canada are not known as "normal" - but I think that's because large parts of that side of the country are very rural.
- dahawks8819

''

Funny. . .it's long been my contention as a native West Coaster that we have a greater than average share of odd ducks in our population (and higher per capita serial killer population than the rest of the country) because of:

1) Genealogy - the pioneers, free spirits, and criminals continually moving West until they hit the ocean in order to keep ahead of "civilized" society's norms and its law and order structure.

2) The weather (NW specifically) can cause anyone to go a bit stir crazy

Although the latter led to the NW having the best beer and coffee around, so we'll take it.

''

Funny. . .it's long been my contention as a native West Coaster that we have a greater than average share of odd ducks in our population (and higher per capita serial killer population than the rest of the country) because of:

1) Genealogy - the pioneers, free spirits, and criminals continually moving West until they hit the ocean in order to keep ahead of "civilized" society's norms and its law and order structure.

2) The weather (NW specifically) can cause anyone to go a bit stir crazy

Although the latter led to the NW having the best beer and coffee around, so we'll take it.
- pdx2ord

Western Canada is a tad bit different than the Western U.S.

93joe. Scotty Bowman believes you can win a Cup with excellent defense and decent goaltending. He is not a big believer in paying goalies megabucks.

I bumped into him at the Buffalo airport in 2009 and we chatted while waiting for our flight. At the time, he told me it was a huge mistake to sign Huet. He said the Hawks should have just ridden Khabibulin until the end of his contract then found a goalie after that, but he bemoaned all the money the Team had spent on goaltending.

He also was very critical of Brian Campbell. He said Campbell runs all over the ice out of position and leaves the other 4 guys on the ice standing still because they don't know what he is going to do or where they are going to be. I knew right then and there, Campbell would not be long for the Hawks.


Having said all that, I think Stan will be all ears 3 weeks from tonight at the draft.
Crawford would be a sell high situation. Hawks have no 1st or 2nd rounder. Carolina and Toronto have a boatload of picks. Carolina has a really rice core of 4 young defensemen, so they don't necessarily need a handful of draft picks in 2016, instead they might want a more reliable goalie than UFA Ward. Toronto has a really nice stable of young players but lacks a backstopper. They certainly can afford Crawford and after the Kessel, Winnick and other trades have lots of picks that might interest Stan.
- Omahawk

Leafs have that Sparks kid. I think he's going to be a solid NHL goalie. And not just because he's from here.

Western Canada is a tad bit different than the Western U.S.

- dahawks8819

Keith is for sure an odd duck.

''

Funny. . .it's long been my contention as a native West Coaster that we have a greater than average share of odd ducks in our population (and higher per capita serial killer population than the rest of the country) because of:

1) Genealogy - the pioneers, free spirits, and criminals continually moving West until they hit the ocean in order to keep ahead of "civilized" society's norms and its law and order structure.
2) The weather (NW specifically) can cause anyone to go a bit stir crazy

Although the latter led to the NW having the best beer and coffee around, so we'll take it.
- pdx2ord

After roughly 14 years of living in Cascadia, I don't think I can live in a place that doesn't rain eight to nine months a year.

93joe. Scotty Bowman believes you can win a Cup with excellent defense and decent goaltending. He is not a big believer in paying goalies megabucks.

I bumped into him at the Buffalo airport in 2009 and we chatted while waiting for our flight. At the time, he told me it was a huge mistake to sign Huet. He said the Hawks should have just ridden Khabibulin until the end of his contract then found a goalie after that, but he bemoaned all the money the Team had spent on goaltending.

He also was very critical of Brian Campbell. He said Campbell runs all over the ice out of position and leaves the other 4 guys on the ice standing still because they don't know what he is going to do or where they are going to be. I knew right then and there, Campbell would not be long for the Hawks.

Having said all that, I think Stan will be all ears 3 weeks from tonight at the draft.
Crawford would be a sell high situation. Hawks have no 1st or 2nd rounder. Carolina and Toronto have a boatload of picks. Carolina has a really rice core of 4 young defensemen, so they don't necessarily need a handful of draft picks in 2016, instead they might want a more reliable goalie than UFA Ward. Toronto has a really nice stable of young players but lacks a backstopper. They certainly can afford Crawford and after the Kessel, Winnick and other trades have lots of picks that might interest Stan.
- Omahawk

Interesting post, thanks for it......... As for Huet remember this signing was before cap hell was really a huge concern (reality) and Tallon paid too much IIRC trying to win a cup. Add Huet never had started 50 games, a legit minimum #1 workload, but showed nice SPG's over a few years and had a great playoffs with WSH the year before. .....My problem with Huet is it was apparent he had lost it in his head and was still run out to lose games. They did cut the cord ad got rid of their mistake.

As far as Toronto I think they are in the 2nd year of a disciplined 4-5 year plan. Sure Crawford would make this team, last in points in the whole league last year, better but seems they have a plan and are willing to stick through the growing pains of a rebuild and some would even say prefer drafting top 5 for a couple more years as they rebuild and a Crawford would hurt that.

Most don't realize the Canes were 5th in shots against only 3/10 of a shot from league leader NSH but 29th in save percentage, CAL was 30th. They were also 26th in goals for per game.... They play a disciplined defensive game, can't score and their goalies, Lack/Ward, stink. A goalie like Crawford would bring this club close to making the playoffs.

As far as Campbell running around I think this was Daley's undoing, and I'm a fan of Daley as a #4. Some will note things like gap control, turnovers or bad decisions but I think Q just couldn't handle the uncertainty of a 20 minute Dman not staying in the system as much as he wanted.

93joe. Scotty Bowman believes you can win a Cup with excellent defense and decent goaltending. He is not a big believer in paying goalies megabucks.

I bumped into him at the Buffalo airport in 2009 and we chatted while waiting for our flight. At the time, he told me it was a huge mistake to sign Huet. He said the Hawks should have just ridden Khabibulin until the end of his contract then found a goalie after that, but he bemoaned all the money the Team had spent on goaltending.

He also was very critical of Brian Campbell. He said Campbell runs all over the ice out of position and leaves the other 4 guys on the ice standing still because they don't know what he is going to do or where they are going to be. I knew right then and there, Campbell would not be long for the Hawks.

Having said all that, I think Stan will be all ears 3 weeks from tonight at the draft.
Crawford would be a sell high situation. Hawks have no 1st or 2nd rounder. Carolina and Toronto have a boatload of picks. Carolina has a really rice core of 4 young defensemen, so they don't necessarily need a handful of draft picks in 2016, instead they might want a more reliable goalie than UFA Ward. Toronto has a really nice stable of young players but lacks a backstopper. They certainly can afford Crawford and after the Kessel, Winnick and other trades have lots of picks that might interest Stan.
- Omahawk

Great insight Omahawk. Interesting to hear from the best coach of all time. I'd also have to lump maybe Calgary in that list of teams. For Crawford, I don't think he can sell that high, although that would be ideal. Does another Sharp trade happen if he holds out too long for a 1st for example? Bowman would probably have to add a sweetener to get an above average return. Hopefully they do land maybe a cheaper goalie or a #4/5 defender or a good LW.

Great insight Omahawk. Interesting to hear from the best coach of all time. I'd also have to lump maybe Calgary in that list of teams. For Crawford, I don't think he can sell that high, although that would be ideal. Does another Sharp trade happen if he holds out too long for a 1st for example? Bowman would probably have to add a sweetener to get an above average return. Hopefully they do land maybe a cheaper goalie or a #4/5 defender or a good LW.
- 93Joe

With what looks like to be a saturated trade market, Stan has to identify value quickly in a trade and make the move. We need depth in several areas. The bigger question is CC. If he truly is the player the Hawks are looking to move, what teams would he be willing to waive for in regards to a trade? Since he is a Montreal kid, would a move to a Canadian team be something he would do? Will he only waive to go to a legit playoff team?

93joe. Scotty Bowman believes you can win a Cup with excellent defense and decent goaltending. He is not a big believer in paying goalies megabucks.

I bumped into him at the Buffalo airport in 2009 and we chatted while waiting for our flight. At the time, he told me it was a huge mistake to sign Huet. He said the Hawks should have just ridden Khabibulin until the end of his contract then found a goalie after that, but he bemoaned all the money the Team had spent on goaltending.

He also was very critical of Brian Campbell. He said Campbell runs all over the ice out of position and leaves the other 4 guys on the ice standing still because they don't know what he is going to do or where they are going to be. I knew right then and there, Campbell would not be long for the Hawks.

Having said all that, I think Stan will be all ears 3 weeks from tonight at the draft.
Crawford would be a sell high situation. Hawks have no 1st or 2nd rounder. Carolina and Toronto have a boatload of picks. Carolina has a really rice core of 4 young defensemen, so they don't necessarily need a handful of draft picks in 2016, instead they might want a more reliable goalie than UFA Ward. Toronto has a really nice stable of young players but lacks a backstopper. They certainly can afford Crawford and after the Kessel, Winnick and other trades have lots of picks that might interest Stan.
- Omahawk

Fleury and a 1st/2nd for craw would be a steal. Sign reimer if they can and split the starts between darling and reimer. Pipe dream though i think. Maybe they can package craw and bicks for skinner and fleury with a 2nd but it sounds like smaller forwards may not be what the hawks are looking for. Excited to see what stan does but i was last offseason too.

And this type of scenario is exactly why the great coach Viktor Tikhonov kept his Russian National Team locked up 50 weeks a year somewhere to concentrate on hockey, 24/7.

He wasn't going to allow exposure to women wreck his team. Q has been very lax in this area.

- RickJ

All that work. All those rules. And he pulled Tretiak for Myshkin.

Have to start by saying I like many wanted the Hawks to go for repeat this year. But imagine if SB thought after the cup last year because of the cap he would have to go a different route and get younger n rebuild with prospects. Chicago let's Saad sign with Columbus. Chicago compensation would have been Columbus first 3 picks this year including the third overall. Then make no trade with Montreal keep Daineault n draft pick 3rd? .No Ladd trade so we have our first this year. I think JJ said Sharp could have been traded for two seconds n we would have Johns.
We wouldnt have AA but Columbus would have been tight against the cap and I think we still could have pulled off something to get him. I know we had to try n repeat but just thinking

Haydn Fleury is a very interesting name as we head toward the draft. He has been passed by Jacob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Noah Hanifan in Carolina.

He seems to have had a good year with Red Deer but will have to spend at least a year in the AHL, working his way up to crack the Canes lineup.

Off topic, I exchanged messages with Matt Larkin from the Hockey News this past week. I asked him if Stan felt forced to move Andrew Shaw at the draft, what the Hawks could expect in return. He replied, late 1st rounder.

I realize he is a writer and not a hockey executive, but I'm sure he knows more than I do. Worth keeping in mind as Stan tries to negotiate the Cap. Larkin also said he has never seen an early June like this. Incredibly busy with trade chatter.

Should be really really interesting each day once the Pens/sharks series is over.

Haydn Fleury is a very interesting name as we head toward the draft. He has been passed by Jacob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Noah Hanifan in Carolina.

He seems to have had a good year with Red Deer but will have to spend at least a year in the AHL, working his way up to crack the Canes lineup.

Off topic, I exchanged messages with Matt Larkin from the Hockey News this past week. I asked him if Stan felt forced to move Andrew Shaw at the draft, what the Hawks could expect in return. He replied, late 1st rounder.

I realize he is a writer and not a hockey executive, but I'm sure he knows more than I do. Worth keeping in mind as Stan tries to negotiate the Cap. Larkin also said he has never seen an early June like this. Incredibly busy with trade chatter.

Should be really really interesting each day once the Pens/sharks series is over.
- Omahawk

Draft picks are still just a coin flip. Maybe they work out, maybe not. If Shaw somehow gets traded, I would prefer a low cost solid D or W on the return. That was thing with Saad and his trade. Yes we could have had multiple 1st rounders come back, but in AA you obtained a known talent. A big C with a good 2 way game.

Draft picks are still just a coin flip. Maybe they work out, maybe not. If Shaw somehow gets traded, I would prefer a low cost solid D or W on the return. That was thing with Saad and his trade. Yes we could have had multiple 1st rounders come back, but in AA you obtained a known talent. A big C with a good 2 way game.
- z1990z

If Shaw has to be dealt (I still believe he's staying) the trade that makes sense to me would be sending him to Edmonton for Patrick Maroon.

Maroon is a similar type player (not as good though) and have a cap hit of $1.5 million for the next 2 seasons.