I'm hearing Buffalo will make a strong push for Fowler.

That how BUF manages picks? Throw 'em a dart board? Wow. Unless the kids' agent has already started playing mind games.
- blackhawk24

I don't blame Buffalo for trying, I think they had half the picks in the third round anyway.

I'm hearing Buffalo will make a strong push for Fowler.
- Al

They seem to be making an honest push to field a competitive team quite quickly...maybe they should try and trade for Crawford....

They seem to be making an honest push to field a competitive team quite quickly...maybe they should try and trade for Crawford....
- ChicagoDave

Like the suggestion near the bottom of the previous page...?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 29s30 seconds ago
AAV for Andersen's five-year deal in TOR should be in the low to mid $5M range, that is $5.5M or a little less than that.



or.. 6m for a 2-time Stanley Cup winning goalie....
- ChicagoDave

The Crawford hit is more than fair this year and will be a steal in a year or two.

Like the suggestion near the bottom of the previous page...?
- blackhawk24

yes....now where is that dart board!

The Crawford hit is more than fair this year and will be a steal in a year or two.
- Mr Ricochet

The average cap hit for a starting goalie is between $5.5 - $6.0 million. I'm still surprised by people who think Crawford should make $4 million.

Michael Grosso ‏@RumorBreak 1m1 minute ago
Wow, looks like Vesey still wants to become a UFA on August 15 per his agent.
- DarthKane

Still don't think Hawks have a chance they won't be able to give any big bonuses. Look what Bread Man's bonuses did. I'm sure Vesey manager will ask for something similar. Not that he will reach them but the Hawks couldn't chance it.

So you're on the side of trading AA, correct? How is that not similar to CC's situation? And it's $1.45M less cap hit.
- blackhawk24

Depends on who replaces AA....if you replace AA with ELC of Schmaltz it's a significant savings and as much or more than dealing Crawford after next year as well.

But I would rather take the risk in dealing AA rather than Crawford...Crawford has been better every season since winning his first Cup, with this defense now I want the best goalie.

I like Allen. But for whatever reason he has never put it together when playoffs start. (at every level) So that worries me as it has now become a history rather than a blip. He might just not have it between the ears when the pressure hits.

I am not really an Elliott guy. He is great in spurts. He can look equally bad in spurts. Even with all of his success here, I wouldn't be upset to see him go this off-season. I don't think his value will ever be as high as it is now. And I don't see him as the long term starter for the Blues.

We actually have several good goaltending prospects that are getting close. I personally would like to see the Blues trade both Elliott and Allen, and bring in someone that could be a longer term solution than Elliott. I would love for the Blues to bring back Bishop for example, and have Nilsson or one of their prospects as the backup.

I think both of our goalies would get some interest if the Blues were really thinking of moving either with Elliott's success in this years playoffs and the fact that he has a friendly cap hit, as well as Allen with his potential and a nice cap hit as well.
- carcus

Trade em both??? You guys are getting a taste of what cap hell is like, you'll probably lose two top 6ish guys in BackAss and Brouwer. Allen at 2.3 and an RFA next year looking at a bridge deal he will allow you to keep a Steen type down the road, no?

The average cap hit for a starting goalie is between $5.5 - $6.0 million. I'm still surprised by people who think Crawford should make $4 million.
- DarthKane

But for $4.1MM we could have this guy and a whopping $1.9MM in cap space for one year to make our forward group unstoppable (red font)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pXGm3GtrOuo

Eerily reminiscent of this guy:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Viz46U8G7_8

Looking more and more like status quo plus kids and maybe Shaw. Not necessarily a bad thing.
- Return of the Roar

Agree I don't see any big moves happening, what we have kids, and and perhaps some tryout free agents who will play for less then $900,000 a year

Which is what I keep saying trading Crawford kicks the can down the road but the savings isn't going to be close to his full cap hit...Not close.
- Al

Al, nobody who follows the sport doesn't understand Crow's ability, cup wins and his value at his hit the question is is it possible that a choice has to be made between an existing core player (Crow?) and a Panarin and if so which is easier replaced.

If Andersen signing for 5.5 mil per shows Crow's hit is a value (he's tied for 7th amongst ALL goalies) then they haven't done their homework.

Question still stands can Panarin be a core piece without moving an existing core player?

and anyone who thinks Anderson is close to a 6 million dollar Crawford is delusional and look what he just got paid...so as I said repeated even if they had a replacement starter they get them about 5.5 mil too.

so for a savngs $500,000 - 750,000 dollars, the fans on this board wanted to replace Crawford...sheesh!


- wiz1901Andersson got that and we know how great he is...

But no, Wiz!

Crawford is NOT WANTED in this goalie market! There's so many talented net-minders on the market, that Crawford and his HEFTY $6.0 mil cap hit is just too much of a burden for teams!

Teams would be MUCH better off going after other goalies that have what it takes to take them far in the playoffs! Not a 31-year-old dinosaur named Corey Crawford! Not to mention, no one wants to HELP the Chicago Blackhawks ! ! !

Looking more and more like status quo plus kids and maybe Shaw. Not necessarily a bad thing.
- Return of the Roar

Agreed x 1,000. Often times the cliche that the best moves are the ones not made is true.......

Management has a plan and it's more than probable it won't be revealed anytime soon, especially a week away from the draft.

But no, Wiz!

Crawford is NOT WANTED in this goalie market! There's so many talented net-minders on the market, that Crawford and his HEFTY $6.0 mil cap hit is just too much of a burden for teams!

Teams would be MUCH better off going after other goalies that have what it takes to take them far in the playoffs! Not a 31-year-old dinosaur named Corey Crawford!
- TommyHawk

Or much more likely, the team is NOT shopping him, and/or he won't waive.

I'm hearing Buffalo will make a strong push for Fowler.
- Al

How or why Edmonton doesn't is beyond me.

Or much more likely, the team is NOT shopping him, and/or he won't waive.
- Return of the Roar

Either way, should the team deem him no longer a core part of the team moving forward due to his cap hit and decide to shop him, they should settle for nothing short of a premium haul.

The fact that Freddy Andersen was able to fetch a first and second ought to have Stan and Co. licking their chops.

Anyone else wondering how the Leafs will be able to afford Stamkos now????
would have Trade AT LEAST ONE or maybe two of Bozak/Kadri/JVR with no salary coming back, AND LTIR with full relief for Robidas AND Horton.. YIKES.

Depends on who replaces AA....if you replace AA with ELC of Schmaltz it's a significant savings and as much or more than dealing Crawford after next year as well.

But I would rather take the risk in dealing AA rather than Crawford...Crawford has been better every season since winning his first Cup, with this defense now I want the best goalie.
- Al

This, not moving AA per say, has been my position from the very start. The Hawk possession game is suffering as the cap eats away the talent and the D is bound to (or is) regress. In that environment I want the best goalie I can have.

That said, IF a mid 1st rounder was/is offered for Crow I take it sign Panarin, give the job to Darling and have all hands on deck looking at goalies moving forward.

Anyone else wondering how the Leafs will be able to afford Stamkos now????
would have Trade AT LEAST ONE or maybe two of Bozak/Kadri/JVR with no salary coming back, AND LTIR with full relief for Robidas AND Horton.. YIKES.
- Trammelt

Maybe Stamkos is staying in Tampa.

Al, nobody who follows the sport doesn't understand Crow's ability, cup wins and his value at his hit the question is is it possible that a choice has to be made between an existing core player (Crow?) and a Panarin and if so which is easier replaced.

If Andersen signing for 5.5 mil per shows Crow's hit is a value (he's tied for 7th amongst ALL goalies) then they haven't done their homework.

Question still stands can Panarin be a core piece without moving an existing core player?
- Mr Ricochet

Panarin at 6 years $5.5 mill per maybe...If he goes for getting stretched out for that long ...If the cap hit is much more than that probably no.

KIM currently Panarin is a $3.5 mill hit....And right now he is not in line for Tarasenko's $7.5 million cap hit.

My point is if someone has to go I'm not choosing Crawford first...Average money for a starting goalie is $5.5 mill per....The Hawks have <$7 mill in cap space tied up for both goalies combined.

Still don't think Hawks have a chance they won't be able to give any big bonuses. Look what Bread Man's bonuses did. I'm sure Vesey manager will ask for something similar. Not that he will reach them but the Hawks couldn't chance it.
- HamiltonHawk

I'm sure Vesey will be eligible for all the same bonuses as Panarin, but he'll less likely to actually earn them. I think the changes of Vesey signing in Chicago are slim, but I would still take a chance on him.

Panarin at 6 years $5.5 mill per maybe...If he goes for getting stretched out for that long ...If the cap hit is much more than that probably no.

KIM currently Panarin is a $3.5 mill hit....And right now he is not in line for Tarasenko's $7.5 million cap hit.

My point is if someone has to go I'm not choosing Crawford first...Average money for a starting goalie is $5.5 mill per....The Hawks have <$7 mill in cap space tied up for both goalies combined.
- Al

And you don't enter the expansion draft without a quality goalie to protect. Everyone else will have their best goalies protected and the market will be barren of proven talent.

This, not moving AA per say, has been my position from the very start. The Hawk possession game is suffering as the cap eats away the talent and the D is bound to (or is) regress. In that environment I want the best goalie I can have.

That said, IF a mid 1st rounder was/is offered for Crow I take it sign Panarin, give the job to Darling and have all hands on deck looking at goalies moving forward.
- Mr Ricochet

That would be scenario to trade Crawford but to get back a mid round pick alone is not nearly enough.

The Hawks don't have to do anything extreme right now....And if they are proactive it could cost them a chance at the Cup or even making the playoffs. I don't think Bowman takes that risk until he has to....