Well, the media has this drama going on. He has done nothing but meet with 8 teams after the FA deadline, which is exactly what you'd expect. The media has been going nuts over his "list" or whatever.
- JRoenick97

Which media - us fanatics in a couple of Eastern cities who don't have real lives and a bunch of twitter bombers.

I doubt any media on the West Coast, or Dallas, or Colorado or....have any interest in this process.

Is there any possible chance we could land Vesey AND Hudler?
- MichaeLionheart

I hope so .......and....... Let SB worry about the $$$ , do track your brain trying to figure it out.

I hope so .......and....... Let SB worry about the $$$ , do not rack your brain trying to figure it out.
- wonthecup10

Which media - us fanatics in a couple of Eastern cities who don't have real lives and a bunch of twitter bombers.

I doubt any media on the West Coast, or Dallas, or Colorado or....have any interest in this process.
- StLBravesFan

Mostly that, but ESPN and the hockey mags have gotten in on it. I follow a lot of hockey sites so I see it all over.

What's Hudler's list?
- stan-ley-cups

A list of Phone #' s starting withJonathen Toews, " hey Johnny,mind if I play on your LW this year?.........click.

Chris Kuc just tweeted --
Source: #Blackhawks are "just waiting" like everyone else for Jimmy Vesey to make his decision.
- Marlowe

The Hawks don't have to wait. They should just step away from him now. I'm not buying the hype and think about the pressure he will have to deal with once he does sign. Forget it.

No $$$$$
- mrpaulish

It's possible to land both Vesey and Hudler. Vesey will only coung $925,000 and will replace a guy making around $600,000....so you are only adding $325,000 to the cap. I think we are 2.5 under the cap. So you still have 2.1 to add Hudler. So say you sign Hudler to a 2.5 million per year (one year deal) deal...you again would be taking a guy sitting at $600,000 and removing him. So you would still be $200,000 under the cap if you added them at those cost. That said...I am not sure what the going rate is for Hudler.

Maaaaaa the meat loaf.
- bhawks2241

Love that movie and that scene. Best scene is dinner scene with Vince Vaughn getting HJ under the table. Classic facial expressions.

It's possible to land both Vesey and Hudler. Vesey will only coung $925,000 and will replace a guy making around $600,000....so you are only adding $325,000 to the cap. I think we are 2.5 under the cap. So you still have 2.1 to add Hudler. So say you sign Hudler to a 2.5 million per year (one year deal) deal...you again would be taking a guy sitting at $600,000 and removing him. So you would still be $200,000 under the cap if you added them at those cost. That said...I am not sure what the going rate is for Hudler.
- onehundredlevel

No room for injury replacements that way. Maybe someone is dealt. Still too many questions

No room for injury replacements that way. Maybe someone is dealt. Still too many questions
- ikeane

Oh...I agree with you. But someone asked if it is possible and it is financially. But to your point you are very correct.

Agreed..but it's the only significant hockey story in the news at the moment.

So be it...
- ArlingtonRob

In other hockey news:

@Sean_Leahy
KHL gives Damir Ryspayev lifetime ban following preseason brawl

It's possible to land both Vesey and Hudler. Vesey will only coung $925,000 and will replace a guy making around $600,000....so you are only adding $325,000 to the cap. I think we are 2.5 under the cap. So you still have 2.1 to add Hudler. So say you sign Hudler to a 2.5 million per year (one year deal) deal...you again would be taking a guy sitting at $600,000 and removing him. So you would still be $200,000 under the cap if you added them at those cost. That said...I am not sure what the going rate is for Hudler.
- onehundredlevel

There is a limit to the amount of potential bonuses a team can be committed to. Not earned bonuses mind you but potential bonuses. The limit is 7.5% above the cap ceiling. So with a $73 million cap all salary and potential bonuses must add up to less than $78.475 million.

Bonuses - not all but these are the larger ones.
Panarin = $2.575 million
Campbell = $750k
Kempney = $437,500
Schmaltz = $350k
Hinostroza = $257,500

All of those have to be added in and stay less than the $78.475 million.

Add Vesey = $2.575 million (if it equals Panarin) + the $925k for his AAV and there isn't any room left for Hudler.

In other hockey news:

@Sean_Leahy
KHL gives Damir Ryspayev lifetime ban following preseason brawl
- JRoenick97

Does he play LW?

This...ALL of this!!!!!! The fact that guys who can light it up in Rockford (McNeil comes to mind, but is just one example) aren't even given a shot most of the time with the Hawks is very concerning.
- Murph76

If McNeil was good enough, he would have been given a shot. He isn't.

That's a very simplistic, wide-eyed idea of what probably happened. Haha.

The Hawks should absolutely be concerned about the cap and I don't think it's as easy as you make it out to be to guarantee a player you'll trade him wherever he wants to go. There's so many factors that go into a trade, that it's nearly impossible to guarantee that.
- Hank3Henshaw

If the team he wants to go to wants him, and a trade cant't be worked out, couldn't that team just offer sheet him? The Hawks would then be compensated according to what he signs for.

There is a limit to the amount of potential bonuses a team can be committed to. Not earned bonuses mind you but potential bonuses. The limit is 7.5% above the cap ceiling. So with a $73 million cap all salary and potential bonuses must add up to less than $78.475 million.

Bonuses - not all but these are the larger ones.
Panarin = $2.575 million
Campbell = $750k
Kempney = $437,500
Schmaltz = $350k
Hinostroza = $257,500

All of those have to be added in and stay less than the $78.475 million.

Add Vesey = $2.575 million (if it equals Panarin) + the $925k for his AAV and there isn't any room left for Hudler.
- Quicky72

Well...thanks. I guess that makes sense if the thought process is that Hudler is waiting for Vesey to sign before he signs. For example, if Vesey does not sign with Hawks and then Hudler can (in relation to being under the salary cap). I guess my only question is why would Hudler risk waiting on the Hawks? If Vesey signs with Hawks, and under your numbers above Hudler can't, where would Hudler then end up? Seems risky.

If the team he wants to go to wants him, and a trade cant't be worked out, couldn't that team just offer sheet him? The Hawks would then be compensated according to what he signs for.
- stanleyhawk

think you may have found the loophole

think you may have found the loophole
- vabeachbear

The loophole works.... but only if that team has their own picks that are required by the offer sheet.

Mind blowing tweet, remind me to follow that guy!
- stashu

It the first tweet regarding hockey by him in months.

I am going to go out on a plank again...and say Jimmy Vesey has skills to be a a nhl player who can put the puck in the net.

Can we gauge the way his first season shakes out, especially away from the puck, probably not, but there is little risk if he does score a few times.

I watched some Chicago Comcast sportsbozo start questioning Vesey (is no Saad) and his defense zone abilities compared to Saad, and never saw Vesey play a game.

(He plrobably never saw Saad in his own end either...)

How abouit we get chosen first before every immature hockey mind in Chicago gives their opinion.

It was as if he didn't understand the idea that success under the Cap means decisions you don't like and sometimes must make.

Jimmy Vesey makes the Blackhawks more successful in the chances of improving and managing the Cap.

Everyone's clear on that, right?

Now he is demanding special teams play as well?

Vesey is excited about the opportunity to hear what other teams have to say, sources say, but it will likely come down to which organization gives him the best opportunity to succeed in a top-six role, including special teams

Well...thanks. I guess that makes sense if the thought process is that Hudler is waiting for Vesey to sign before he signs. For example, if Vesey does not sign with Hawks and then Hudler can (in relation to being under the salary cap). I guess my only question is why would Hudler risk waiting on the Hawks? If Vesey signs with Hawks, and under your numbers above Hudler can't, where would Hudler then end up? Seems risky.
- onehundredlevel

I was wondering the same thing. Unless the teams Hudler is interested in are the same teams waiting on Vesey. So Vesey is the first domino with news of a Hudler signing with a different team an hour later.

Well...thanks. I guess that makes sense if the thought process is that Hudler is waiting for Vesey to sign before he signs. For example, if Vesey does not sign with Hawks and then Hudler can (in relation to being under the salary cap). I guess my only question is why would Hudler risk waiting on the Hawks? If Vesey signs with Hawks, and under your numbers above Hudler can't, where would Hudler then end up? Seems risky.
- onehundredlevel

Hudler is likely not waiting on the Hawks, but other teams that strike out Vesey too.

Edit: just to add, Hudler's value likely increases after Vesey signs, because teams looking for more help will have one less option.

Now he is demanding special teams play as well?
- a2zhawks

It's just silly, man. Like I said, he's talking to teams about minutes, second contracts and special teams...while having zero experience in the league.

How does that work?

The Hawks don't have to wait. They should just step away from him now. I'm not buying the hype and think about the pressure he will have to deal with once he does sign. Forget it.


- gifman

The Hawks aren't taking much of a risk. If he is a flop, than big deal, he is making 925k and won't earn his bonuses. It may even take a year or two for this kid to get up to speed, but he sounds like a good prospect, so why not try to sign him. Some scouts think he could be a 70-80 point guy in his career, so why not take the small risk? Right now, the Hawks have very little on LW, so anyone that is at least a 3rd liner or better is a great add.