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.
- Return of the Roar

Another variable....And if Darling does well he will be in line for a huge raise....so the can will have to get kicked down the road again. It's a tough spot no doubt, but maybe the Hawks will keep getting lucking a team is so far below the cap floor again they take on a huge contract with enough sweetener.

I will be on SiriusXM tonight at 7:35 CST.

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....
- Al

Gotta consider the fact that it's not even the draft yet. There will be plenty (at least a couple hopefully) of opportunities to move some salary. It's only the beginning of the week.

Given he Hawks cap situation, we all need to analyze trades in terms of what it frees Stan up to do.

For instance, last week's trade was Bick and TT for a 2nd, a 3rd and the room to sign Shaw.

A Craw trade would be whatever pick Stan could get back, plus room for Panarin, or Panarin and a #4D.

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?
- Mr Ricochet

It probably won't happen, but I don't think Elliott is our long term guy. So I would be good trading him this offseason while his value is about as high as it ever will be.

Allen, I have doubts he will be the guy either. If the Blues aren't high on him long term, and the fact that the expansion draft is coming up next year, I move him as well.

Move two goalies that are still valued high, and bring in one guy. That way there isn't an issue with the expansion, and I am ready for the Blues to have a starter and stop with the shared time in goal. And we have the prospects to be able to fill in as backups if we get a 60 game starter.

But we will likely just stand pat and keep both.

I will be on SiriusXM tonight at 7:35 CST.
- Al

Link us up after the show, ok?

Gotta consider the fact that it's not even the draft yet. There will be plenty (at least a couple hopefully) of opportunities to move some salary. It's only the beginning of the week.
- 93Joe

There's a lot of teams scrambling....That's probably why Bowman didn't wait long to take a chunk of the cap space available In Carolina.

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

Agreed and have taken that stance from the beginning. Also would add nothing is out of the question and I hope the Hawks explore every option no matter the names involved.

Link us up after the show, ok?
- Mr Ricochet

Sure as long as I get the audio.

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 ! ! !
- TommyHawk

JJ's sources say they have been getting calls about Crawford--- sounds like interest to me-- now if you said the Hawks won't GIVE Crawford away-- different story--

Obviously you are not a Crow fan--- dinosaur at 31-- really? Usually thats called PRIME

Andersen is elite, Crawford is not. Crawford should have been paid $3 million, everyone knows that.

Now...where is that red font button?
- DarthKane

Bracket color=red close bracket SARCASM bracket slashcolor close bracket

I will be on SiriusXM tonight at 7:35 CST.
- Al

W/ Nick Alberga and Tyler Madarasz (spelling?)

Seems like a lot of new things going on over there.

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

oh, my, what a surprise!

It was a nice try by Buffalo, but here's the thing:

Just cause Jack Eichel plays there doesn't mean you get to play on his wing because your friends...

JJ's sources say they have been getting calls about Crawford--- sounds like interest to me-- now if you said the Hawks won't GIVE Crawford away-- different story--

Obviously you are not a Crow fan--- dinosaur at 31-- really? Usually thats called PRIME
- jb3333

JJ's sources say they have been getting calls about Crawford--- sounds like interest to me-- now if you said the Hawks won't GIVE Crawford away-- different story--

Obviously you are not a Crow fan--- dinosaur at 31-- really? Usually thats called PRIME
- jb3333

He was being sarcastic.

Depends on who replaces AA....if you replace AA with ELC of Schmaltz it's a significant savings
- Al

If Schmault was ready
to be an NHL Centre
to be a top line player
to be an NHL winger

pick one of the above, until we see him in the seater on the sheet, daancing and moving his l'il feet,

He was being sarcastic.
- JRoenick97

OK-- got it -- not clear to decipher -- when you call a player a dinosaur when he is in his prime-- especially a goalie--

Anyone else wondering how the Leafs will be able to afford Stamkos now????
- Trammelt

Becasue he signing in Detroit?

In some ways but big Buf had the rap that all he wanted to do was eat nachos and drink beer. Also, a player who was dealt primarily because of the cap.

I'm not sure what his blood oxygen levels were and not comparing Buff to Keith as a fitness fanatic...But when I saw him without pads I was impressed.

Bottom line is TT is 21....Things can change and I don't think he was dealt primarily because he didn't want to train hard and went overseas for the summer. He was dealt because he didn't fit the program and his value was still perceived as very good...Good enough to have a team swallow a $4.5 salary.

This is the new NHL whereby many are realizing better to trade a year early than a year late.

If Fowler goes now that's basically the same reason-He won't be a UFA for 2 more years...
- Al

Dustin Byfuglien is a very, very good natural athlete. When he dedicates himself to training, look out. When he doesn't, look out the other way. But he is strong and athletic enough to carry an extra 25 pounds and it doesn't slow him down much.

And, yes, from his former agent, a pretty good friend of mine, he had a particular affection for cheese doodles and 12 oz. frosties.

I don't think TT was dealt primarily for the lack of conditioning reason either. And I agree the primary reason was he was going to likely slot as a RW instead of a C. I DO, however, also believe his unwillingness to engage physically left a sour taste in some coaches and teammates mouths. At some point the "he's just a kid" argument doesn't wash. You have to decide you want it, and when other guys are willingly sticking their noses in the rough areas and getting bruised and dinged, the little kid who won't starts to get on people's nerves.

OK-- got it -- not clear to decipher -- when you call a player a dinosaur when he is in his prime-- especially a goalie--
- jb3333

There were a few poster clamoring that Crawford "at his age" isn't worth the contract.

Suffice to say, haven't seen those posters around since.

If Schmault was ready
to be an NHL Centre
to be a top line player
to be an NHL winger

pick one of the above, until we see him in the seater on the sheet, daancing and moving his l'il feet,
- wiz1901

Agreed. Everyone needs to slow the you know what down on Schmaltz. He has played zero pro games, and there is a BIG difference between the pros and NCAA.

Im with Wiz when it comes to AA. I just don't see at all why Stan(after trying for so long to finally add him to the roster) would want to move him. Also consider the importance of center depth, and how it failed us in 2014 against LA. I know he's not strong on face offs but he can improve, and he was very impressive in just about every other area of the game. Regardless of if he's still on a line with both Panarin and Kane, he's still too important to our forward depth IMO.

Move Crawford, keep Shaw and Ladd(or if not Ladd bring in someone else that can play top 6LW), and build an instant Cup contender with forward depth/puck possession. No 3 line time, no matter how great the goalie is, will ever win a Cup. And if we don't move Crawford then who else? Seabrook? No chance.

Time to cycle out the starting goalie as the Bowmans always have. Bring in a cheap vet and he and Darling should hold up as long as they're playing behind a deep and balanced forward lineup/defensive core.

Also keep in mind:

Crawford just got outplayed by Elliot, he's not some great force of nature that can never be replaced. He himself came out of nowhere to win his first Cup in 2013, just like the Pens Murray did this year. Time to give Darling/whoever else that chance.

Becasue he signing in Detroit?
- wiz1901

Doesn't Detroit still have to include Datsyuk's cap hit ($7.5), even tho he will be in the KHL next year?

I thought the was discussed somewhere several weeks ago.

If so: GF says that Detroit has $60 in cap hit (including Datsyuk) with 16 signed (not including Datsyuk.

Not sure they would have cap room for Stamkos without another move.

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

Yep, Toronto writer was giving me the whole "we don't want Chicago's garbage" thing this AM. So you'll take Anaheim's, whose not as good, certainly not as proven, at $500K less per.

OK.

Where is thehockeygod anyway?

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

This is very good news for the Hawks who very much want in on Vesey.