If you were Q and you had to pick one, who would you pick?
- hpk90

Although I don't totally agree with the premise that we can't get Shaw signed.

There's a number of interesting scenarios at capfriendly, here's one I found:

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/135137

What's funny to me when people talk about Crosby's contract in comparison to Kane and Toews cap hits is the fact that Crosby apparently took less knowing full well they would have a better chance of winning and adding complimentary players if he took a little less. Toews and Kane both took equal contracts to become the highest paid players in the NHL. Now since then we have heard rumblings of both Kane requesting the Hawks pursue Ryan Kesler because he was a guy Kane wanted to play with and now rumblings from JJ about Toews and Kane both requesting a guy like Lucic. Well that's interesting they both think they can be the highest paid players in the league and still request specific types of guys they want their team to acquire that would fit their idea of ideal teammates/linemates. You can't really have your cake and eat it too. They both had to know that by taking those massive contracts they were limiting what could be done to bring in role players or guys they want to play with specifically.

Just goes to show how much of a character guy Crosby is in taking that discount as he easily could have demanded and been paid more money, he understood the financial implications and you have to wonder if the Pens would have been able to raise the cup like they just did had Crosby been paid more money....

Anyways I'm not here to bash Kane and Toews for getting paid, that's well earned money. I just think it seems like a certain degree of entitlement is implied in asking for your team to bring in certain players knowing full well your team has no money to pay anybody because both guys wanted their pay day. Interesting to think about anyways how much easier life might be for Stan Bowman if he was able to get those guys to agree to a little bit less... Thoughts?

All valid points John. A couple negatives are potential suspensions, injury history, maybe taking a late penalty in a crucial game. The trade market is a lot bigger for guys like Ladd, Lucic, Brouwer, maybe McGinn. These guys have a bit more size and durability.

Speaking of McGinn have the Hawks had any interest JJ? His previous salary is $3M. Maybe a raise to $3.5-3.75 for 2-3 years wouldn't be a bad deal for the Hawks. Considering there are a couple contracts moved.
- 93Joe

Would really like the Hawks to 'kick the tires' on McGinn--

Just off the top of my head, Matt Cullen had better "fancy stats"-possession, shot generation and supppression- and blew him away in point production (16G, 16A) for $850,000 last year. You sure about that?
- EnzoD

Malker Karlsson for the Sharks too. Blows Krugs away in all the fancy stats (Even Kruger's last year stats) and has a 1.65m AAV. he's RFA this season and I doubt he gets 3m.

Although I don't totally agree with the premise that we can't get Shaw signed.

There's a number of interesting scenarios at capfriendly, here's one I found:

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/135137
- walleyeb1

haha i assume you added rundblad getting traded on there?

C) Neither at that price
- PatShart

Totally agree!!

Good read JJ.

So much to digest here....

Last year, I was adamant about the Hawks "unwillingness" to trade Crow despite reports to the contrary. He "acted the fool" and showed immaturity and it began to grind on Hawks brass so I had heard. But having no other viable options meant that the Hawks were willing to live with him and his contract. Not to mention that he had arguably his best season as a pro. But as I commented on a previous blog, facts are facts, the Hawks are in deep cap trouble and moving a guy like Crawford may be the Hawks best and only option.

On Malkin. If the Hawks were to sign him, just think of that Russian line of Breadman, Malkin, Anisimov. Holy God. Throw in Kane for an occasional play at wing with Malkin taking the draws. Yikes!! But there's that darn salary cap. Malkin at 9.5 until 21-22. Or in simpler terms, 40% of your salary cap would be devoted to Kane, Toews, and Malkin. That's just unacceptable. Rumors swirl all the time. So it is possible that this is just smoke where there's no fire. But can the Hawks brass really be thinking about something so ridiculous?

On Kruger. Krugs had offers on the table last year but he waited for the Hawks and showed loyalty. End result was a nice contract extension for his patience and trust in the organization. I happen to know personally that he loves Chicago and wants to stay. His girlfriend is a student here and he really doesn't want to play a season where she's here and he's somewhere else. But the larger picture here is the scratch my back I scratch yours that happened. This kind of loyalty and commitment to an important cog shows how top class the Hawks front office can be. An important facet when trying to sign free agents. But more than that, Kruger is too important to the Hawks. He's a great defensive zone centerman, a great PK guy, and just a hard nose gritty bottom six forward. Maybe even an elite bottom six forward. Trading him away not only weakens what was an already weak PK, but also weakens your 3-4 lines and depletes you at center further. Wasn't Danault expendable because you had Kruger? Now you wanna trade both away? I'm with JJ. I'm not buying it. If the Hawks were to do that, it would be a major misstep on many levels.

On Shaw. I don't get what the lovefest is with this guy. Look, he's a gritty heart and soul type of player. He's the knat buzzing around your head that is just annoying with some offensive ability. I get it. It's Shawzy. We love him. He's the little engine that could. A blue collar guy for a blue collar city. But he's undersized and plays recklessly. The hitting and disregard for his body is going to pile up. He's already shown the knack for getting banged up. He's also shown the ability to lose his cool and take some dumb penalties. Is he really worth losing Crow or Krugs over? He feels too much like Bickell to me. A guy ready to cash in but for more money than he's worth. Some team out there will pay him 3-4 million for his grittiness. It should not be the Hawks. Trade him away and get some draft picks. What's to say Ryan Hartman can't come in and fill his role at a younger age and cheaper cap hit?

The Hawks need to start becoming fiscally responsible. I understand wanting to reward guys who have been through thick and thin with this organization. I understand the Hawks wanting to stick with "the core" and reward guys who helped bring three cups to Chicago. But at some point the organization needs to wake up. If you can trade Seabs, pull the trigger. Try to get a younger defenseman or two. If you can trade Crow while his value is high, make it happen. Get a good D man in return and use the remaining money to sign Soupy. The guys you need locked up are, minus Panarin. All remaining money should be used to fill needs in all other locations. But overpaying for players just out of loyalty is just not smart. I said it before, winning equals championships and championships equals more money. If you cant fill needs in free agency, then you need to fill needs through prospects. That requires Q to start playing younger guys and sticking with them even when the going gets tough. It means trading away a Kruger and keeping a Danault because even if he might be a downgrade, he would be cheaper and that extra money can be used to upgrade in other areas.

The fan in me has faith in this organization. So many times it seemed like they were crazy and then suddenly bam!! Parade time. But this is the thinnest the roster has been since 2008 and it seems like it's only going to get thinner. As I said before, I hope there will be some levity with this organization when it comes to contracts and players. There is a special core here. A little tweaking and some contract magic and the Hawks are a legit cup contender again. I just hope that the need to go for it now isn't so great that it ends up mortgaging the future for years to come.

Would really like the Hawks to 'kick the tires' on McGinn--
- jb3333

He was playing really well in both Buffalo and Anaheim. Went on a good point streak playing with Getzlaf. A two way guy who stands up for his teammates, goes to the net, decent shot. 27 years old, so he is still young. I think he would be worth the investment... Certainly cheaper than Ladd/Lucic. Another LW who can slide up from L1-L3.

Not to mention their numbers are very similar, and Seabrook was a turnover machine with a terrible Corsi relative(-4).
- Hawks_49

Yandle gets a lot more sheltered minutes, 49. I like Yandle but he's not the complete Dman Seabs is.

I see the "Beat Up Seabs" world tour is in effect. You damn well better be careful what you wish for.

I see the "Beat Up Seabs" world tour is in effect. You damn well better be careful what you wish for.
- kwolf68

What's funny to me when people talk about Crosby's contract in comparison to Kane and Toews cap hits is the fact that Crosby apparently took less knowing full well they would have a better chance of winning and adding complimentary players if he took a little less. Toews and Kane both took equal contracts to become the highest paid players in the NHL. Now since then we have heard rumblings of both Kane requesting the Hawks pursue Ryan Kesler because he was a guy Kane wanted to play with and now rumblings from JJ about Toews and Kane both requesting a guy like Lucic. Well that's interesting they both think they can be the highest paid players in the league and still request specific types of guys they want their team to acquire that would fit their idea of ideal teammates/linemates. You can't really have your cake and eat it too. They both had to know that by taking those massive contracts they were limiting what could be done to bring in role players or guys they want to play with specifically.

Just goes to show how much of a character guy Crosby is in taking that discount as he easily could have demanded and been paid more money, he understood the financial implications and you have to wonder if the Pens would have been able to raise the cup like they just did had Crosby been paid more money....

Anyways I'm not here to bash Kane and Toews for getting paid, that's well earned money. I just think it seems like a certain degree of entitlement is implied in asking for your team to bring in certain players knowing full well your team has no money to pay anybody because both guys wanted their pay day. Interesting to think about anyways how much easier life might be for Stan Bowman if he was able to get those guys to agree to a little bit less... Thoughts?
- Ballam

So was Crosby's good character called out in 2008-09 when he signed that deal and was the highest paid player in the NHL and got 17 years along with it?

Malkin did the same deal in 09-10 for 5 years, and then got a slight raise of 800K for 8 years.

Ovechkin did 9.5 for 13 years.

So it's hard for me to sit here and commend Crosby on his great character when he took the highest contract at the time, and got a ridiculous term on top of it....

I see the "Beat Up Seabs" world tour is in effect. You damn well better be careful what you wish for.
- kwolf68

If these teams want Seabrook... If Edmonton calls, the convo starts with Reinhart. If Calgary, it starts with Brodie. If Vancouver, it starts with Tanev. (Click - all 3 team hang up )

If I was a betting man (and I usually am).
- Quicky72

My guy!!

Love Seabs... Talk about a big money player. How many big time goals has he scored?? He is another foundation type guy for this team that simply cant be moved. I chalk up last season to tired legs from all the non stop playoff hockey this team has had. The core is all getting older. Im sure 7 along with the rest of the group will be much better come October.

I see the "Beat Up Seabs" world tour is in effect. You damn well better be careful what you wish for.
- kwolf68

yes it s....because he sucks.

It's pathetic. we've gone over why he doestn' yet it doesn't stop......

What's funny to me when people talk about Crosby's contract in comparison to Kane and Toews cap hits is the fact that Crosby apparently took less knowing full well they would have a better chance of winning and adding complimentary players if he took a little less. Toews and Kane both took equal contracts to become the highest paid players in the NHL. Now since then we have heard rumblings of both Kane requesting the Hawks pursue Ryan Kesler because he was a guy Kane wanted to play with and now rumblings from JJ about Toews and Kane both requesting a guy like Lucic. Well that's interesting they both think they can be the highest paid players in the league and still request specific types of guys they want their team to acquire that would fit their idea of ideal teammates/linemates. You can't really have your cake and eat it too. They both had to know that by taking those massive contracts they were limiting what could be done to bring in role players or guys they want to play with specifically.

Just goes to show how much of a character guy Crosby is in taking that discount as he easily could have demanded and been paid more money, he understood the financial implications and you have to wonder if the Pens would have been able to raise the cup like they just did had Crosby been paid more money....

Anyways I'm not here to bash Kane and Toews for getting paid, that's well earned money. I just think it seems like a certain degree of entitlement is implied in asking for your team to bring in certain players knowing full well your team has no money to pay anybody because both guys wanted their pay day. Interesting to think about anyways how much easier life might be for Stan Bowman if he was able to get those guys to agree to a little bit less... Thoughts?
- Ballam

Crosby signed his contract 2 years before Kane and Toews. 4 years more term and 104M vs 84M. Crosby is also paid 3M for the last 3-4 years. He didn't take less, it is just structured so that the hit is less.

No offense taken and as I said in my other posts, I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with my POV, but it is my opinion that 19/88 are overpaid. Sidney Crosby sets the bar. He has been and still is the greatest player in the world. How can anyone rationalize Toews, Kane, Stamkos or any other player making more money than Sidney Crosby? There is no logical argument for it, IMO. IDC if Stamkos gets $10.6mil/year or $15mil/year this summer, he will be overpaid too (IMO). The proof is in the pudding, and until the Hawks prove otherwise, I don't think you can win a Stanley Cup with the 2 largest Cap Hits in the NHL (and a very pricey 4-5 player supporting cast). The teams in 2010, 2013 and (to a lesser extent) 2015 all had superior team depth. The guys like Saad, Sharp, Buff, Ladd, Oduya, Frolik, ect are what made them the best team in the league each of those 3 seasons. TWT if Stan can build a winner with those two massive cap hits and a stagnant salary cap.


Finally, I never said that StanBo should have traded them. I'm hoping he fought hard for a lower AAV for 19/88 and was unable to get there due to the Agent and Bettman's BS growth projections. Heck yes you pay them what you needed to get them locked up for 8 years. Doesn't change the fact that Duncan Keith and Marian Hossa are also HOF players and make 55% AAV. It is what it is, now make it work Stan.
- EnzoD

Second all of that. There was no reason to pay inflated value over Crossby contract. I have a feeling Bowman goes with these rosy cap projections and predicts all salaries go up. To me, it is similar attitude that made some people to believe at the end of 1990 decade in stocks when everyone was predicting Dow will go to 40000.
You need to have realistic scenarios and not just listen to blabbering agent. If Yzeman can do it then Stan should have done it too. Unfortunately he put team in bad position quickly and fall from grace is swift and sudden now.
He also did disservice to other GMs setting bad precedent, so other players started to ask for Toews money (Kopitar/Stamkos), otherwise they would probably be asking for Crossby/Malkin money.
The fact that there is no line to get any players off his hand for the money Stan gave them means Stan overvalued them, and made his job even worse by handing left and right NMC/NTCs. Except for #2 and #4 of course for whom he would easily find trading partners.

Amazing how some posters have elevated Danault to Kruger shut down range after 4+ years in the Rock and what, 30+ games in the NHL?

Potential is all he is until he proves otherwise.
- CanOCorn

Hence the use of the word potential in my post

yes it s....because he sucks.

It's pathetic. we've gone over why he doestn' yet it doesn't stop......
- SteveRain

It is almost purely ridiculous. The guy would slot as a top 2-3 on any team. Sure, we might get stuck with a bad contract in 3-4 years, but these are the years that the window is open. He is needed for a cup run.

Additionally, he played with Gustafsson and Svedberg (who both have potential) all season long. TVR had to play on his off side, and that is another detrimental set back.

yes it s....because he sucks.

It's pathetic. we've gone over why he doestn' yet it doesn't stop......
- SteveRain

Yea he's old, he sucks, he's overpaid. I've watched this guy since he came up, rest assured he'll come back blazing next year. I am NOT even remotely concerned about his talent, age, salary. He is truly part of the foundation of this team. Start trading players like him, then may as well go full rebuild. Simple as that....

Yea he's old, he sucks, he's overpaid. I've watched this guy since he came up, rest assured he'll come back blazing next year. I am NOT even remotely concerned about his talent, age, salary. He is truly part of the foundation of this team. Start trading players like him, then may as well go full rebuild. Simple as that....
- kwolf68

agreed.

What's funny to me when people talk about Crosby's contract in comparison to Kane and Toews cap hits is the fact that Crosby apparently took less knowing full well they would have a better chance of winning and adding complimentary players if he took a little less. Toews and Kane both took equal contracts to become the highest paid players in the NHL. Now since then we have heard rumblings of both Kane requesting the Hawks pursue Ryan Kesler because he was a guy Kane wanted to play with and now rumblings from JJ about Toews and Kane both requesting a guy like Lucic. Well that's interesting they both think they can be the highest paid players in the league and still request specific types of guys they want their team to acquire that would fit their idea of ideal teammates/linemates. You can't really have your cake and eat it too. They both had to know that by taking those massive contracts they were limiting what could be done to bring in role players or guys they want to play with specifically.

Just goes to show how much of a character guy Crosby is in taking that discount as he easily could have demanded and been paid more money, he understood the financial implications and you have to wonder if the Pens would have been able to raise the cup like they just did had Crosby been paid more money....

Anyways I'm not here to bash Kane and Toews for getting paid, that's well earned money. I just think it seems like a certain degree of entitlement is implied in asking for your team to bring in certain players knowing full well your team has no money to pay anybody because both guys wanted their pay day. Interesting to think about anyways how much easier life might be for Stan Bowman if he was able to get those guys to agree to a little bit less... Thoughts?
- Ballam

I understand the hometown discount and all, but I'm sure the Hawks were selling the idea that the Cap would go up pretty significantly when they signed their deals.

He was playing really well in both Buffalo and Anaheim. Went on a good point streak playing with Getzlaf. A two way guy who stands up for his teammates, goes to the net, decent shot. 27 years old, so he is still young. I think he would be worth the investment... Certainly cheaper than Ladd/Lucic. Another LW who can slide up from L1-L3.
- 93Joe

All for this add.

Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus

Source says Andrew Shaw is asking for at least $4.5 million AAV. Moving him might be more realistic than moving Kruger. FLA a possibility.


assuming that source is the FO, then it's bye-bye time for 65