If there is anything to like about losing Shawzie, it is there are more than nine interesting prospects available to the Blackhawks who will be picking ninth overall tomorrow.

Forwards LW Carl Grundstrom, C Pascal Faberge, C Cliff Pu, LW Cam Morrison, LW Boris Katchouk, RW Rasmus Asplund RW Wade Allison, C Will Bitten C RW Nathan Bastian speedy Brandon Gignac, and midgets Alex DeBrincat & Vitali Abramov.
Defenders Markus Niemelainen, Libor Hajek, Kale Clague, Ryan Lindgren, Sam Girard, Filip Hronek, and Josh Mahura
a couple goalies in Filip Gustavsson and Carter Hart
That’s a list of 22 players and the first two Montreal picks common the first 20 slots.

Tough gig being a 'Hawks fan.
But not near as tough as the guys who have to deal with the salary cap.
Here's hoping they get it done.

Edit: due to recapture penalties, I don't see Hossa moving....and that will prove to be a very good thing.

Welcome back Kris Versteeg hawk fans.
- Newgod77

It perplexes me why he said what he did. In an effort to look 'less desperate' than the circumstances, he proclaims they're fine. All 29 other teams know the truth.

More higher tier salary needs to go to give the 'Hawks a chance to seriously compete. Period. Short of an earth-shattering move of 2, 19 or 88, which I put at next to zero possibility this summer, the next highest cap hits in order are 7, 50 and 15, not including 81 with the recapture rules.

All of us can put forth very good points defending why the 'Hawks should not trade xxxxxxx. The hard truth is if there are no more salaries moved, we will not see the 'Hawks playing next May, let alone next June.

Sure, getting a Matt Martin for $1.5-$1.8M AAV is a nice FA signing and can in effect replace Shaw for half the price, that is only one move. With more needed.

I am terrible at forecasting these moves. But from a pure finance side, something I am much more comfortable with, right now, the 'Hawks have to move $10M+ from their committed cap to make room for players --- more players --- to fill all these holes.

Hey Wiz,

It's probably not likely, but is there anybody in round 2 that could play immediately that the Hawks might be targeting. I know that doesn't happen often, Brandon Saad probably being the closest I can remember to someone that fits that bill. Who should we keep an eye on?

Hey Wiz,

It's probably not likely, but is there anybody in round 2 that could play immediately that the Hawks might be targeting. I know that doesn't happen often, Brandon Saad probably being the closest I can remember to someone that fits that bill. Who should we keep an eye on?
- spudrock512

Like i said yesterday, LW Boris Katchouk is a Shaw type player, relentless on the puck, fights it out in the crease area. yeah there he is if he is there at the 9th pick today.

If there is anything to like about losing Shawzie, it is there are more than nine interesting prospects available to the Blackhawks who will be picking ninth overall tomorrow.

Forwards LW Carl Grundstrom, C Pascal Faberge, C Cliff Pu, LW Cam Morrison, LW Boris Katchouk, RW Rasmus Asplund RW Wade Allison, C Will Bitten C RW Nathan Bastian speedy Brandon Gignac, and midgets Alex DeBrincat & Vitali Abramov.
Defenders Markus Niemelainen, Libor Hajek, Kale Clague, Ryan Lindgren, Sam Girard, Filip Hronek, and Josh Mahura
a couple goalies in Filip Gustavsson and Carter Hart
That’s a list of 22 players and the first two Montreal picks common the first 20 slots.
- wiz1901

If you were given one pick to select any of these guys who would you take?

JJ, on " “we” are a team offering internships for inexperienced players in roles they regardless might never be able to completely fulfill..."

There has to be something said about how Tom Kuhnackl, Conor Sheary, and Bryan Rust...


I have to think they have a interested vet who comes for peanuts at a chance to win now.

I see Weise and Fleishmann's names still sit on the website roster.

Mashinter (unsigned) Desi (800,000), Rasmussen (575,000)
and some already have Martin Lundberg (692,500) penciled in and I know Baun can stand in front (625,000)

and there are always the 2017 draft pick picks to fill the roster at the tarde deadline...

If the Red Wings are able to trade Datsyuk's contract after he retires to play in the KHL, could the Hawks trade Hossa's contract to avoid the recapture penalty?

Edit: assuming he retires before the end of his contract.
- tvetter

Datsyuk has a flat salary in this three year deal. So Detroit did not get any benefit of cap lower than any salary. So there's that.

For Hoss, unless there is an amendment to the CBA, the 'Hawks are stuck with a minimum $3.675M recapture penalty. Plus there is another huge hole to fill.

I for one believe Hoss has a some tread left on those tires. Properly used --- and here we go again with making the right cap moves to fill out a good roster --- Hossa has a minimum three more years. He is an outstanding athlete, and great 200' player.

JJ, we all know SB ,McD and company are not stupid nor will they settle for a cusp team roster especially filled with college kids and beer leaguers, called clearing the deck ,maybe alittle re toolin the core,they are not coming home empty handed from FA plus McD is all about cannonballs into the deep end. Jonathen Toews is gonna get his LWand it won't be some ankle bender makin under 2mill a year.

Someone wake stan up. First trade of the day is done. Pysyk and picks to panthers for kulikov and picks

Stan has plenty of work to do. McNeill and Garrett Ross need a QO or does he trade them off for more picks or as part of a bigger package. Either way that doesn't help with salary cap matters.

I'm curious about Marcus Johansson after the Caps acquired Lars Eller. Could they move AA somewhere and acquire the younger Johansson and sign him?
- RickJ

I too wondered why they acquired Eller, a solid 3C. I did notice Johansson played a lot of 3rd line wing last year where IIRC he was always a 3C. Maybe they plan a 3rd line of Johansson-Eller-Wilson?

Richards is a UFA, Johansson (3.7 hit last year) is an RFA, Chimera a UFA. Maybe Eller replaces one or two of these players who won't be resigned.

But yes as is they have Backstrom-Kuznetsov, Eller, Johansson, Winnick who can all play center.

HAWKS Lost in 7 nail biting games ,to a ST.L team I did not think was really better the them .They very well could have gotten by Dal and SJ would have been tough but not unbeatable .Pitt well maybe not they were on a mission . So yes they were a contender with all their warts .Very sad to see Shaw go he was a true warrior ,but 2 2nd RD picks was nice pick up for player we could not afford .And Shaw more then deserves a raise .

5 picks in the next two rounds are huge for the future of this team .With a flat cap for the foreseeable future young players are and will be the way .Look what Pitt did with young players and a no name defense. Coach Q may have to become more of a teaching coach and run a few more practices.

If you were given one pick to select any of these guys who would you take?
- RickJ

Laberge for scoring,
Morrison on potential at forward
the giant Finn Niemeläinen on potential at Dee
Kale Clague I had going in the first a Tyson Barrie clone

Grundstrom is a nast Swede with greta upside

and then there is Boris Katchouk

the best players available in MY order are Pascal Laberge and Boris Katchouk and then defender Niemeläinen and big Nathan Bastien

Two relative off the board picks to start the 2nd round

Hawks likely looking at a 1st round talent fall to them

Laberge for scoring,
Morrison on potential at forward
the giant Finn Niemeläinen on potential at Dee
Kale Clague I had going in the first a Tyson Barrie clone

Grundstrom is a nast Swede with greta upside

and then there is Boris Katchouk

the best players available in MY order are Pascal Laberge and Boris Katchouk and then defender Niemeläinen and big Nathan Bastien
- wiz1901

Wiz, your opinion on Libor Hajek?

Like i said yesterday, LW Boris Katchouk is a Shaw type player, relentless on the puck, fights it out in the crease area. yeah there he is if he is there at the 9th pick today.
- wiz1901

getting close

Forgive me for not knowing this, I had been away from hockeybuzz for the playoffs, but did something happen to mexicohawk?

JJ, like reading your blog, but disagree on this one. How would you construct your team and use your assets?

To me for asset allocation at $70M with some flexibility you would like to construct something like this:
1st Line: $15M (Toews/Hossa = 16M)
2nd Line: $15M (Anisamov, Kane, Panarin = 18M with bonus)
3rd Line: $8M
4th Line: $4M (Kruger/Desi = 3M)

1st Pair: $10M (Keith, hammer = 10M)
2nd Pair: $8M (Seabs= 7M)
3rd Pair: $3M

Goalie: $7M (Crawford/Darling = 7M)

The only way to rectify, is the players you pay have to perform at that level since there is little flexibility with the big contracts.

The answer is, Toews/Hossa have to drive the 1st Line and shouldn't need above average 1LW as you suggest. In the same manor, Seabs has to carry the 2nd pair.

Neither of those happened last year and you seen the results.

One of the top 5 forwards should really be 3rd Line and driving play there to balance out salary. The other 4 Forwards need to be carrying play as pairs on the top 2 lines with an average 3rd linemates. Seabs needs to be carrying the 2nd pair at 7M a year with an average partner since he is making #1 D money.

Unless you get rid of one of Kane, Toews, Hossa, Seabrook you are going to be somewhat out of balance and have to fill in on the cheap. The price of 3 cups I guess.

Kulikov to Sabres

Hearing this AM Kruger could still be moved.

If the Red Wings are able to trade Datsyuk's contract after he retires to play in the KHL, could the Hawks trade Hossa's contract to avoid the recapture penalty?

Edit: assuming he retires before the end of his contract.
- tvetter

Hawks pay the recapture penalty even if Hossa gets traded.

JJ, on " “we” are a team offering internships for inexperienced players in roles they regardless might never be able to completely fulfill..."

There has to be something said about how Tom Kuhnackl, Conor Sheary, and Bryan Rust...


I have to think they have a interested vet who comes for peanuts at a chance to win now.

I see Weise and Fleishmann's names still sit on the website roster.

Mashinter (unsigned) Desi (800,000), Rasmussen (575,000)
and some already have Martin Lundberg (692,500) penciled in and I know Baun can stand in front (625,000)

and there are always the 2017 draft pick picks to fill the roster at the tarde deadline...
- wiz1901

Filling in with vets at or near league minimum is more appealing to me. And more importantly to Q.

From Hedger

According to source, $4.5m/yr figure for #Blackhawks to keep Shaw is inaccurate. Hearing he wanted term and around $3.2m AAV cap hit.

Hearing this AM Kruger could still be moved.
- John Jaeckel

hmmm having three 2nd round picks might help help that trade...