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

I can almost believe Stan's spin but reports that Q has bought into the youth movement make me laugh out loud. If they get Vesey, great. If Schmaltz can play 3RW, super. I imagine we'll see some of the others rotate in throughout the year but I have a hard time believing there will be any more than 2 rookie forwards still playing by the time the playoffs roll around.

Wasn't he an UFA this summer? He had his chance to go elsewhere but chose to re-up with the Blackhawks. He must think he's getting a good enough chance.
- matt_ahrens

He was an RFA

Hey AFL, PlayStation vue does offer nbcsn in the lowest tired for 29.99 a month. This helps for national games and playoffs, but you do need a PlayStation account as well that run 49.99 a year. If you live where csn Chicago is local it only 10.00 per month more or 39.99 month and you will get most of the games.
- ShamRockShark

Thanks for the sharing this option, but no longer have a PlayStation anymore (sold it before I moved away from Chicago a few years ago). I live in the San Francisco Bay Area now. Appreciate the help, though.

According to Custance, Thomas Di Pauli won't sign with the Caps before 8/15 and will become a UFA. I saw him play a few years ago, and he seemed to have a Shaw-like attitude towards his game. Anyone have eyes on him for his last two years at Norte Dame?

Thanks for the sharing this option, but no longer have a PlayStation anymore (sold it before I moved away from Chicago a few years ago). I live in the San Francisco Bay Area now. Appreciate the help, though.
- AEL_Fox

You may have already tried, but did you call Comcast to ask for a lower rate? I say that because it seems every cable company now has a "retention department" to negotiate a better deal for long-term customers who are fed up with subsidizing the company's new customers' "$49.95 per month for 12 months" deals. Have some friends who have had success doing that with Comcast, and I just did it with RCN - cut $100 off my monthly while doubling my wifi speed.

Looking for some advice from anyone able to share:

I'm thinking about canceling my Comcast cable due to increasing monthly costs. I have the Roku and will keep that. What do any of you recommend for ways to catch NHL regular season games as well as playoff games?

I used to have NHL Center Ice for a few years, then got NHL Game Center Live before not doing either this past season since so many Hawks games were on national TV. Don't know much about NHL.tv or other methods to watch games so any advice you all have would be super!

Thanks in advance!
- AEL_Fox

I think you can get Kodi on Roku. If not, get an Amazon FireStick and download the Kodi app on that. The add-on interfaces are a little wonky and you need reliable broadband but from there everything (including NHL games) you could want to watch is free. A lot of it in HD. Download Exodus, Castaway, NHL Streams add-ons for hockey.

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

Well how about that. Didn't JJ have this awhile back, long before Myers, Kuc, Powers, and Boob Mckenzie and Dreger?? Great work JJ!!

Looking for some advice from anyone able to share:

I'm thinking about canceling my Comcast cable due to increasing monthly costs. I have the Roku and will keep that. What do any of you recommend for ways to catch NHL regular season games as well as playoff games?

I used to have NHL Center Ice for a few years, then got NHL Game Center Live before not doing either this past season since so many Hawks games were on national TV. Don't know much about NHL.tv or other methods to watch games so any advice you all have would be super!

Thanks in advance!
- AEL_Fox

Typically I call to tell them I'm canceling my service and go with someone else, every time they have offered me a package better than the one I had at a cheaper price, it stinks I have to do this every 2 years but it's well worth it.

You may have already tried, but did you call Comcast to ask for a lower rate? I say that because it seems every cable company now has a "retention department" to negotiate a better deal for long-term customers who are fed up with subsidizing the company's new customers' "$49.95 per month for 12 months" deals. Have some friends who have had success doing that with Comcast, and I just did it with RCN - cut $100 off my monthly while doubling my wifi speed.
- pdx2ord

You beat me to it, I guess I should of kept reading, well done

Well how about that. Didn't JJ have this awhile back, long before Myers, Kuc, Powers, and Boob Mckenzie and Dreger?? Great work JJ!!
- bonecrusher27

I believe, as always, you are correct, Crush. Thx buddy.

I can almost believe Stan's spin but reports that Q has bought into the youth movement make me laugh out loud. If they get Vesey, great. If Schmaltz can play 3RW, super. I imagine we'll see some of the others rotate in throughout the year but I have a hard time believing there will be any more than 2 rookie forwards still playing by the time the playoffs roll around.
- matt_ahrens

That, my friend, is the spin in overdrive.

That, my friend, is the spin in overdrive.
- John Jaeckel

And let me be clear, they may well end up "buying in" and going with a "youth movement," but that is the last resort. All they are doing now is managing expectations while trying to improve their bargaining position.

And let me be clear, they may well end up "buying in" and going with a "youth movement," but that is the last resort. All they are doing now is managing expectations while trying to improve their bargaining position.
- John Jaeckel

What is the timeline for training camp and the World Cup of Hockey? Do the Hawks have any "reporting" dates, as in, "if you're not in the WCH, you need to be at training camp by..."?

ELC's have to go in as a schedule or a schedule B bonus. They have limitations on what they can be. Schedule A have easier obtainable goals but is only about 200-300k in cap hit. Schedule B is what Panarin hit and those have to be Winning an NHL award/ top 10 in league in points, etc.


35+ year old contracts can have basic, easy to obtain, bonuses. I think if Campbell plays in 10 games he gets an extra $500k bonus.
- BearsnHawks

You are correct about schedule A and schedule B bonuses.
The maximum a player can make in total "Schedule A" bonuses is $850,000 (This is what Panarin got)

The maximum a player can make in total "Schedule B" bonuses is $2,000,000 (Panarin's Schedule B bonuses maxed at $1,735,000)

So, every team could offer Vesey the same amount of bonus money.

The difference is how the bonuses are met. Schedule A bonuses deal with team ratings in ice time, games played, goals, points, PPG, +/- rating, All star and All rookie honors.

Schedule B bonuses are based on league-wide metrics - Top 10 forward in goals/assists/points, top five in Hart/Selke/Richard voting, first or second team all-star,etc

This is in Exhibit 5 of the CBA - Page 326

Gary Bettman continues to show that ostrich mentality that afflicted leaders of the tobacco industry and climate change deniers - there's no link between blows to the head and CTE.

It's not reality - it's just media hype.

http://www.nytimes.com/20...link.html?ref=sports&_r=0

Thank you all who shared tips to negotiate with Comcast and advice on other viewing options for NHL games. I'll contact Comcast first to see what I can get; have tried that strategy before with Sprint and it worked so not sure why I didn't think of that strategy for the cable bill. If they won't budge (maybe customer service varies state to state), then I'll explore the options that JJ talked about.

Anyway, everyone's help is very much appreciated!

@generalfanager

Mike Hoffman (#Sens)
4 yrs @ $5.1875M cap hit per @FriedgeHNIC

generalfanager.com/players/1455

Gary Bettman continues to show that ostrich mentality that afflicted leaders of the tobacco industry and climate change deniers - there's no link between blows to the head and CTE.

It's not reality - it's just media hype.

http://www.nytimes.com/20...link.html?ref=sports&_r=0
- StLBravesFan

This is the game of lawyers in a broken legal system. The NHL is playing out its strategy to limit the $$$ impact to the owners. They will of course fight it to the end, because $$$ is what it comes down to.

Gary Bettman continues to show that ostrich mentality that afflicted leaders of the tobacco industry and climate change deniers - there's no link between blows to the head and CTE.

It's not reality - it's just media hype.

http://www.nytimes.com/20...link.html?ref=sports&_r=0
- StLBravesFan

Please don't bring "climate change" references to this hockey site.

@generalfanager

Mike Hoffman (#Sens)
4 yrs @ $5.1875M cap hit per @FriedgeHNIC

generalfanager.com/players/1455
- DarthKane

Pretty good deal for both parties. He is probably gonna be a 60-65 point guy during those 4 years.

So that is a good spot to start for the Breadman! I think he will get at least 6mil a year but they have a good comparable with Hoffman.

Please don't bring "climate change" references to this hockey site.
- EbonyRaptor

I second that

Pretty good deal for both parties. He is probably gonna be a 60-65 point guy during those 4 years.
- breadbag

That is a really good deal for OTT. Only one of those years are RFA, and he has averaged 28 goals the last 2 years and 23 5 X 5 Goals. If he was 23 I might think differently.

Please don't bring "climate change" references to this hockey site.
- EbonyRaptor

I third that.

This is the game of lawyers in a broken legal system. The NHL is playing out its strategy to limit the $$$ impact to the owners. They will of course fight it to the end, because $$$ is what it comes down to.
- breadbag

The longer you fight - when the end seems clear - the more it costs.