And do you think that if Crosby were a free agent he wouldn't be getting a bigger contract? Not everyone's contract is up at the same time. If Crosby, Toews, Kane, Stamkos, and Ovechkin were all free right now, they would all be at or above 10.5. You can't look at contracts in a vacuum.

The best players are going to be paid the most. Be happy we have so many good ones. Would you rather be Carolina or Vancouver and have a bunch of cap space?

Boston, Chicago, LA, Pitt,what do they all have in common? Cups and cap problems. I'll take it all day long.
- Chunk

That´s right! Cap Space can´t play..

Be surprised to see Stan sit on his hands like he did last year, waiting too long for the right deal before having to give away Sharp, with Johns. Still of the opinion we'll see at least one big name moved before free agency. If he sits tight and word leaks as to what they could have had at the draft as opposed to what they had to settle on for the second year in a row, it won't look good...which is something I'm sure the FO is aware of. Still think Shaw goes to Calgary for Ferland and a pick. Also think the Flames are the team to watch on Crawford, as they circle back around...while Stan holds firm.

Reminds me of Old Charles Comiskey telling Big Ed Walsh no raise until you win 30. Next season he's at 29 with one start left and Kid Gleason(?) wouldn't let him make his last start or two to win the 30th, no raise. I might be off a bit but that's the story.

Wife used to complain about players making so much money so I had her watch Eight Men Out with me. Now she understands............
- Mr Ricochet

It was Cicotte, the knuckleballer.

He is talking at the time, not moving forward.

At the time Malkin and OV were the highest cap hits at $9.5 mil
- hawkeytalkman

You can't disregard future salaries while saying Kane and Toews are comparable to OV and Malkin because those were also signed before the Kane and Toews contracts were.

They are the highest paid players in the NHL by $1mllion each. More than Sidney Crosby who has averaged nearly 100 points/season over his career. How exactly could they have gotten any more as UFAs? They got paid at TOP dollar, like every Stan Bowman signing with the exception of Niklas Hjallmarsson.
- EnzoD

On their own going to separate teams at that time before the cap was know ,they would have received close to 12 mil each .And to a man everyone would be condemning Stan for destroying the team . Hindsight is wonderful thing ..

Im with EnzoD here. Bowman gambled early on a rising cap instead of playing a little hardball and he got cornholed

Do you really think any team would have offered more than $10.5 each, one million more than the highest league cap hit at the time with the knowledge the cap was stagnating and the canadian dollar falling?

Listen, I know Bowman was trying to be proactive and ahead of the curve, but he bit it hard here. I am eternally grateful for the 3 cups they gave us and I know there is a marketing value here too in keeping them, but he gambles here and it came up snake eyes.

Brisson licked his chops and leverages the relationship of TWO clients with 3 cups on the same team and basically had the nuclear option of shop one, shop both. Bowman got scared and lost the mans game. period
- hawkeytalkman

Well that's the rub isn't it? Unless you're saying Stan should have known but both his Finance degree with a minor in Currency Futures as well as his crytal ball failed him.

Not sure I get your comment. In hindsight yes, these contracts hurt right now but I don't think there was common knowledge through the entire league sans Stan that the Cap was goiing to stagnate these past two years.

And yes, I do think there were teams that would have offered either of these guys, coming off their second Cup win at ages 25 and 26 more than $10.5M.

On their own going to separate teams at that time before the cap was know ,they would have received close to 12 mil each .And to a man everyone would be condemning Stan for destroying the team . Hindsight is wonderful thing ..
- oldduffman

Be surprised to see Stan sit on his hands like he did last year, waiting too long for the right deal before having to give away Sharp, with Johns. Still of the opinion we'll see at least one big name moved before free agency. If he sits tight and word leaks as to what they could have had at the draft as apposed to what they had to settle on for the second year in a row, it won't look good...which is something I'm sure the FO is aware of. Still think Shaw goes to Calgary for Ferland and a pick. Also think the Flames are the team to watch on Crawford, as they circle back around...while Stan holds firm.
- walter34

Any chance Seabrook may be the Cap relief trade??? I think of how Edmonton REALLY needs an impact D-man, and Seabrook would be great for them. With Nurse, Yakopov, RNH, Driesidel, etc as possible trade chips...and the #4 pick....maybe Stan can work something there.....

Any chance Seabrook may be the Cap relief trade??? I think of how Edmonton REALLY needs an impact D-man, and Seabrook would be great for them. With Nurse, Yakopov, RNH, Driesidel, etc as possible trade chips...and the #4 pick....maybe Stan can work something there.....
- hawk35

I would hate to see him go (Seabrook) we have no one in our system or on our currant roster to replace him. Seabs is a beast and has come up BIG in games when it mattered the most especially in the playoffs. Not to mention his leadership on and off the ice...DAMN salary Cap..

Well that's the rub isn't it? Unless you're saying Stan should have known but both his Finance degree with a minor in Currency Futures as well as his crystal ball failed him.

Not sure I get your comment. In hindsight yes, these contracts hurt right now but I don't think there was common knowledge through the entire league sans Stan that the Cap was goiing to stagnate these past two years.

And yes, I do think there were teams that would have offered either of these guys, coming off their second Cup win at ages 25 and 26 more than $10.5M.
- HawkintheD

Mornin' D...I think Stan should have looked at this before he resigned Runny...

On their own going to separate teams at that time before the cap was know ,they would have received close to 12 mil each .And to a man everyone would be condemning Stan for destroying the team . Hindsight is wonderful thing ..
- oldduffman

Putting this on Kane n Toews is silly, Hawks have actuallybeen fortunate. people forget that they were able to to sneak in Hossa n Keith contracts under old system. People keep saying how great a contract Keith's is but forget how front loaded it was I think he and Hossa were making 10 or 12 million in salery the first few years of their contracts. Imagine the shape we would be in if they were not aloud to front load contracts back then.

I would hate to see him go (Seabrook) we have no one in our system or on our currant roster to replace him. Seabs is a beast and has come up BIG in games when it mattered the most especially in the playoffs. Not to mention his leadership on and off the ice...DAMN salary Cap..
- BGKarras

I, too, would hate to see him go. But, your point on his "Big game" ability and Leadership is EXACTLY why I think the Oilers would be willing to part with a decent package to get such a stud. 2 young roster players, a prospect and a pick....and I think Stan would have to consider it.

....any thoughts JJ????

I, too, would hate to see him go. But, your point on his "Big game" ability and Leadership is EXACTLY why I think the Oilers would be willing to part with a decent package to get such a stud. 2 young roster players, a prospect and a pick....and I think Stan would have to consider it.

....any thoughts JJ????
- hawk35

Obviously I'm not JJ, but I have thoughts:

I have said that Seabrook should be the guy to go if we need to trim cap (or CC,) but the problem the Hawks would have is very transparent: It would create a huge hole on defense. And by huge, its HUGE.

The Hawks would have to get Nurse back and something in order to make the deal worth it. Again, if you move Seebs, its for cap purposes. I think we tend to forget just how valuable a guy like Seabrook is on ANY NHL club. Is he a little high in his AAV? I think so, but it isnt a ton. Its just rough when you have 2 guys making 10.5 mil, it can look like another rough one to stare at.

IMO, the deal that Hawks did that wasnt too smart in their situation was signing AA for that deal. I think they paid high on him. I have watched AA a lot over the years being from NY, and while I see last season he had what I feel was a career season, I am very confident if you have the 2 wingers that he was between, we can find some cheaper options who can put up 45 points and still play a two way game.

I hate saying who I would like to have in return for players, because we as fans always rate higher than the true value (or we try to be fair,) and in turn it becomes a bash fest. But, I will say that I hope StanBo can figure out a solid deal that relieves some cap, but also keeps us among the tops within the league/division.

Good morning Hawks fans! I am excited but nervous to see what moves stand makes today. I am going to guess he'll make at least two.

Good morning Hawks fans! I am excited but nervous to see what moves stand makes today. I am going to guess he'll make at least two.
- ikeane

Ditto


What time does this party start ?

Ditto


What time does this party start ?
- mrpaulish

I think the draft starts with Round 1 at 7pm EST. The rest of the draft is tomorrow. As for when the "hot stove" ("ice rink?") starts, that's anyone's guess.

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