I was looking forward to your review of Waffle House. Did you get chunked, dunked, smothered, covered, and topped?
- hockey nut 28

Haha, thx Disco Stu.

My wife spent an hour in the bathroom afterward. There's your review. Me? Jarvik Digestive Tract. All good and ready for more!

Vesey's agent told Scott Powers that the Blackhawks are on his short list.
- golfbard

This is good news. I have heard, as reported and surmised here, that they have used Toews and Hossa as the lure. And Vesey has responded positively. I still believe the Hawks are a longer shot than say the Bruins or Toronto. But not surprised they are in the mix.

He falls into the category of other guys like Holland we talked about. 1) Is it really worth using a roster spot on Fleischmann rather than giving a rookie a shot to develop? I don't think so. 2) I have no issue inviting Fleischmann to training camp on a PTO. But that's as far as I'd go.
- DarthKane

1) If ANY Hawk rookie is a better player this year than Tomas Fleischmann would be (warts and all), then that is a bright shiny penny to hold on to. Meaning: "development" usually means fits and starts, mistakes, adjustments. Which is why four a Cup contending team, prospect development is much better done in the AHL.

The assumption that any of these kids comes in and just rolls at a top NHL level within 25-30 games (or more) is kind of naive and at best wishful thinking. Worse still, when you have 2-3 of them, you are probably not going to contend. I know, I know: "Pittsburgh did it." Go back and check the ages of those guys and the amounts of pro experience (AHL, etc) they had versus the guys the Hawks are talking about.

I have been told—and I believe—Stanley's public spin of a youth movement is a bit of a smokescreen.

Stanley has become an expert (like his father) at the art of public denial to gain leverage and not be backed into a corner.

The Hawks ARE trying to figure out ways to fill gaps with experience, or in the case of Vesey, a kid with a higher pedigree and 2-3 years on Motte and Schmaltz.

2) I think you may see 2-3 vet forwards brought in on PTOs, possibly including MeatMan

1) If ANY Hawk rookie is a better player this year than Tomas Fleischmann would be (warts and all), then that is a bright shiny penny to hold on to. Meaning: "development" usually means fits and starts, mistakes, adjustments. Which is why four a Cup contending team, prospect development is much better done in the AHL.

The assumption that any of these kids comes in and just rolls at a top NHL level within 25-30 games (or more) is kind of naive and at best wishful thinking. Worse still, when you have 2-3 of them, you are probably not going to contend. I know, I know: "Pittsburgh did it." Go back and check the ages of those guys and the amounts of pro experience (AHL, etc) they had versus the guys the Hawks are talking about.

I have been told—and I believe—Stanley's public spin of a youth movement is a bit of a smokescreen.

Stanley has become an expert (like his father) at the art of public denial to gain leverage and not be backed into a corner.

The Hawks ARE trying to figure out ways to fill gaps with experience, or in the case of Vesey, a kid with a higher pedigree and 2-3 years on Motte and Schmaltz.

2) I think you may see 2-3 vet forwards brought in on PTOs, possibly including MeatMan
- John Jaeckel

He just needs to learn not to back himself into a corner.

Rundblad's cap hit was only $100k because he was buried, so termination doesn't save the Hawks much.
- L_B_R

Saves me from ripping my hair out every time he was on the ice.

Let me preface this by saying "I KNOW IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN", but.... could Toews and Kane and the Blackhawks "mutually agree to terminate their contract" (ala the Runblad deal) and then immediately resign for say $9 mil per year. Since they already played one year under the contract couldn't they actually sign for a new contract for an additional year.

Like I said..... not gonna happen. But both sides could side could sight unexpected developments regarding the Canadian dollar and salary cap.

Hawks could be quite a different team with $3 million more in cap space each year for the next several years.

Kane and Toews would greatly increase their chances of winning a cup.

Panarin would become much more affordable under the cap.

Just saying......

From Let's Go Hawks -The Blackhawks are on Jimmy Vesey’s shortlist.

Peter Donatelli, one of Vesey’s agents, told Scott Powers of The Athleticthat the Blackhawks will get a meeting with his 23-year-old client when he ultimately becomes an unrestricted free agent on August 14.

The former property of the Nashville Predators will have plenty of suitors after his services, but at the moment the Blackhawks are joined by the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs as the only confirmed teams that will be granted an audience.

“Chicago will be a team we want to talk to on Aug. 15,” Donatelli said Monday. “Chicago will be on the list, but it shouldn’t be read as they’re ahead of anyone else.”

Hawks GM Stan Bowman has twice seen Vesey play in the Foxboro Pro League out in Massachusetts where the left winger keeps busy playing against NHL, pro and college talent to keep busy.

Do you think the Hawks will come out winners in the sweepstakes?

From Let's Go Hawks -The Blackhawks are on Jimmy Vesey’s shortlist.

Peter Donatelli, one of Vesey’s agents, told Scott Powers of The Athleticthat the Blackhawks will get a meeting with his 23-year-old client when he ultimately becomes an unrestricted free agent on August 14.

The former property of the Nashville Predators will have plenty of suitors after his services, but at the moment the Blackhawks are joined by the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs as the only confirmed teams that will be granted an audience.

“Chicago will be a team we want to talk to on Aug. 15,” Donatelli said Monday. “Chicago will be on the list, but it shouldn’t be read as they’re ahead of anyone else.”

Hawks GM Stan Bowman has twice seen Vesey play in the Foxboro Pro League out in Massachusetts where the left winger keeps busy playing against NHL, pro and college talent to keep busy.

Do you think the Hawks will come out winners in the sweepstakes?
- Sundevil

1 depends on his relationship with his father
2 if Boston says he earns his entire bonus by just playing 10 games or any team offers that will probably be hard to beat

2) I think you may see 2-3 vet forwards brought in on PTOs, possibly including MeatMan
- John Jaeckel

JJ, I have been thinking this all along. Do you know why Tootoo was signed (albeit for a minimal amount of $) instead of brought in on PTO? I feel like Flash, Tootoo and other vets (whose names we will see in camp) are fairly similar in terms of having NHL pedigree and substantial tread taken off the tires.

per my previous post

Objections / Implications in terminating the Toews/Kane contracts.

They probably would be retroactively penalized in some fashion because they were each paid $13.8 mil last year. It would be seen as circumventing the cap.

Another option - Could they revise the contract now adding a year at $1 mil for that year. That would bring the cap hit down to $9.444 mil (from $10.5 mil)

per my previous post

Objections / Implications in terminating the Toews/Kane contracts.

They probably would be retroactively penalized in some fashion because they were each paid $13.8 mil last year. It would be seen as circumventing the cap.

Another option - Could they revise the contract now adding a year at $1 mil for that year. That would bring the cap hit down to $9.444 mil (from $10.5 mil)
- -Doh-

I believe it says somewhere in the CBA contracts cannot be renegotiated or terminated aka NFL

I believe it says somewhere in the CBA contracts cannot be renegotiated or terminated aka NFL
- BetweenTheDots

Not to pick on you personally, but 2 questions
1) How did Rundblad and the Blackhawks get to terminate the contract?
2) Does renegotiate while still under contract violate the CBA? If their contracts are terminated, then they technically are not renegotiated, correct?

Not to pick on you personally, but 2 questions
1) How did Rundblad and the Blackhawks get to terminate the contract?
2) Does renegotiate while still under contract violate the CBA? If their contracts are terminated, then they technically are not renegotiated, correct?
- powerenforcer

I believe it can only be done in the final year of their contract

Not to pick on you personally, but 2 questions
1) How did Rundblad and the Blackhawks get to terminate the contract?
2) Does renegotiate while still under contract violate the CBA? If their contracts are terminated, then they technically are not renegotiated, correct?
- powerenforcer

Discuss a new contract can only happen if the player is in their final year of an existing contact

I believe it can only be done in the final year of their contract
- BetweenTheDots

Thanks - makes sense then.

You are correct in that is how Vessey's contract would work. However a team can only go over, on bonus overages, by 7.5% of the upper limit cap. So If Vessey, Panarin, Campbell, and another young guy hit part or all of their bonuses the Hawks could get in trouble (if they go over the cap by 5.475 million) based on bonus overages they break the rule for this upcoming season (not sure what the punishment would be).

This is probably anothe reason the Hawks aren't signing anyone, as of now, and are keeping the cap space as a cussion.
- BearsnHawks

Good stuff. Thx. I didnt know that 7.5% thingy.

1 depends on his relationship with his father
2 if Boston says he earns his entire bonus by just playing 10 games or any team offers that will probably be hard to beat
- BetweenTheDots

Does anyone know the parameters for the ELC bonuses? Could someone offer a bonus as loose as described above, essentially guaranteeing a high salary? Seems like that cant be done...or we'd have heard of it a bunch of times before.

Does anyone know the parameters for the ELC bonuses? Could someone offer a bonus as loose as described above, essentially guaranteeing a high salary? Seems like that cant be done...or we'd have heard of it a bunch of times before.
- Cmonalready

Yeah when I wrote this I thought the same thing, good question

per my previous post

Objections / Implications in terminating the Toews/Kane contracts.

They probably would be retroactively penalized in some fashion because they were each paid $13.8 mil last year. It would be seen as circumventing the cap.

Another option - Could they revise the contract now adding a year at $1 mil for that year. That would bring the cap hit down to $9.444 mil (from $10.5 mil)
- -Doh-

Someone else already pointed out that contracts in NHL can't be renegotiated.
They can be renewed in last year, but the cap hits would be distinct and remain the same. For instance, if Toews contract had a year added at $1m while he was in last year, that last year cap hit would stay $10.5m, and added year cap hit would be $1m. Anisimov is the example here. He came to Hawks on the last year of a $3+m contract. Hawks immediately extended him at $4+m avg. Last year was at the $3+m cap hit, this coming year the new cap hit kicks in.

Thanks - makes sense then.
- powerenforcer

Sure at least that's what the old CBA's language was.

I also wonder when Rundblad signed his contract they had discussed this scenario and agreed to it on a hand shake if it ever came to this

Could the cap hit he had be used for Fleischmann?
- powerenforcer

At this point, unless you sign a guy for 2.5million or so, you are really just exchanging salaries on the bottom guys. For example, you sign Fleishmann to 1 million per year...but it means you are pushing Hartman or Motte or Schmaltz down to the minors. And they all make about $900,000 on the cap. So you are only, in essence, adding about $100,000 to the cap. Rundblad's new situation gives us about 100,000-150,000 more on the cap...and every little bit helps.

Fluto Shinzawa is saying any possible signing of Jimmy Vesey is tied to him getting a base salary of $925K wherever he signs, but could also have up to $2.85 million in bonuses.

If my math skills are still working the team that signs him needs $ 3.1 million available...
don't the Blackhawks have $2,398,206 ?
The question becomes if those bonus are reached, can they be carreid over an dpayed in a later season?
- wiz1901

My guess would be its the same contract as Panarin...where if he hits his bonus' then it goes on the following years cap. I would still take that risk and put him with Toews and Hossa if they can sign him.

Sure at least that's what the old CBA's language was.

I also wonder when Rundblad signed his contract they had discussed this scenario and agreed to it on a hand shake if it ever came to this
- BetweenTheDots

Great minds think alike...I had the same thought. Seems weird to rip up a $1m contract, especially for a borderline player who hasn't mad too many millions yet. Unless that was how they discussed the situation last year...

Great minds think alike...I had the same thought. Seems weird to rip up a $1m contract, especially for a borderline player who hasn't mad too many millions yet. Unless that was how they discussed the situation last year...
- Cmonalready

Now we just need Scuderi to retire (JK).

Now we just need Scuderi to retire (JK).
- onehundredlevel

Don't get me started!!!