We've seen time after time after time AFTER TIME teams achieve post season success with relatively average/unknown goalies. Why? Because they roll 4 lines and 3 solid D pairings. Its that SIMPLE

So, if moving Crawford allows this team to establish solid 4 line forward depth and 3 solid D pairings, then it must be done.

If keeping Crawford around is stopping us from being able to afford the roster depth we need, then he must be moved.

We can't afford a 6mil goalie going forward. No way around it. This has been my opinion for over a year now. Time to move on from CC, and find the next plug in at goalie(whether its Darling or someone else for cheap). If they are playing behind a deep and dangerous defense 1-6, as well as a deep and dangerous group of forwards, I'm telling you it won't matter(not having Crawford). We'll be fine.

And lets be honest Crawford is very good but he's not some special all-time great goalie. He got outplayed by Elliot ffs, or else maybe we win that 1st round series last year.

Hartman, Schmaltz, Fosling, Fortin, Debrincat...

Only trade one of these guys if you can get a top 6 forward that you can keep for at least 3years.

The two they SHOULD hold onto are Fortin and Hartman

We've seen time after time after time AFTER TIME teams achieve post season success with relatively average/unknown goalies. Why? Because they roll 4 lines and 3 solid D pairings. Its that SIMPLE

So, if moving Crawford allows this team to establish solid 4 line forward depth and 3 solid D pairings, then it must be done.

If keeping Crawford around is stopping us from being able to afford the roster depth we need, then he must be moved.

We can't afford a 6mil goalie going forward. No way around it. This has been my opinion for over a year now. Time to move on from CC, and find the next plug in at goalie(whether its Darling or someone else for cheap). If they are playing behind a deep and dangerous defense 1-6, as well as a deep and dangerous group of forwards, I'm telling you it won't matter(not having Crawford). We'll be fine.
- SimpleJack

So, show us how moving CC gives you four lines and three solid D pairings with maaaaaaaybe a $1.5MM swing in net cap space after signing two new goalies.

You save more money by teaching Kero to win faceoffs and launching Kruger for some picks.

So, show us how moving CC gives you four lines and three solid D pairings with maaaaaaaybe a $1.5MM swing in net cap space after signing two new goalies.
- Return of the Roar

IMO we just need one new goalie. Cheap backup for Darling. Can save 4+ mil easily.

We already have defensive depth, we need forward depth. And if we can afford a couple depth forwards instead of a goalie for 6mil then I'm all for it. I'd be all for it right now actually, but that's probably not going to happen. We'll have to wait until the summer. And obviously this summer there will be other things to consider, and more moves must be made to establish the depth at forward and defense other than just trading Crawford. But Crawford will be the most obvious choice, with the biggest cap hit, that we can get rid of to help the cause.

IMO we just need one new goalie. Cheap backup for Darling. Can save 4+ mil easily.

We already have defensive depth, we need forward depth. And if we can afford a couple depth forwards instead of a goalie for 6mil then I'm all for it. I'd be all for it right now actually, but that's probably not going to happen. We'll have to wait until the summer. And obviously this summer there will be other things to consider, and more moves must be made to establish the depth at forward and defense other than just trading Crawford. But Crawford will be the most obvious choice, with the biggest cap hit, that we can get rid of to help the cause.
- SimpleJack

League minimum is $560K. That is what 33 makes now. You honestly believe he or any other goalie will take a starting role at a salary low enough to save $4MM in cap?? To save $4MM the new starter would have to make $2MM a year. You sir are dreaming.

League minimum is $560K. That is what 33 makes now. You honestly believe he or any other goalie will take a starting role at a salary low enough to save $4MM in cap?? To save $4MM the new starter would have to make $2MM a year. You sir are dreaming.
- Return of the Roar

Sorry i wasn't specific, i meant NOW if we were to make a swap at goalie we could save that amount.

Sorry i wasn't specific, i meant NOW if we were to make a swap at goalie we could save that amount.
- SimpleJack

OK - look at the market for goalies. No one is buying. Any team who needs one can wait until the summer.

Then you go into the summer with no goalie signed??

I like that there keeping hartman but he's got to play more with a edge. I'm not talking misconducts and wreckless penalties but he should lead the team in hits and drop the mitts at least twice by now.
Excited about Latta possibly being called up he's a great 4th liner who knows his role la is loaded with 4th line bangers making more si it was hard for him to make the big club but he played great in Washington.
Any trade that gets kruger and his horrible contract out of here is a good move. Rasmussen is cheaper and has less miles

So this its says the Hawks can add 3.1m in salary

https://www.capfriendly.com/

This site says the Hawks have 2m in cap space

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/cap/

This one has the Hawks with 900K in cap space

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/CHI?year=2017

And this one has the Blackhawks -500k !

http://leftwinglock.com/s...y-cap/salary.php?teamID=6



WTF is going on , who is the resident cap geek in this room now ? All I want to know is how much AAV can the hawks add on 2/28 ?

I really think that Bowman is caught between a rock and a hard place.If he makes a big trade and we don't do well,people say that he blew it and gave up assets.If he doesn't do anything,and we bail in the first round,then he should of did something.Its a real crap shoot.For me,I would stand pat and keep our young guys and let them grow as a team and for the future.

I really think that Bowman is caught between a rock and a hard place.If he makes a big trade and we don't do well,people say that he blew it and gave up assets.If he doesn't do anything,and we bail in the first round,then he should of did something.Its a real crap shoot.For me,I would stand pat and keep our young guys and let them grow as a team and for the future.
- Tatoo

You MUST be young Tatoo. I am guessing 25 or younger. Had you lived through the 70's, 80's 90's and first decade of the 2000's you would know. The future is NEVER more imp[ortant than winning NOW. IF you have a Cup shot. Do what you can to grab it. If you fall short, I for one will not question Stan one bit. Last year I didnt like the additions even when they happened.....yet, I give him credit for going for it!!!

Simply. Play to win, worry about the future when the window is closed. Period!

3 Cups in 7 years....Hell, I went through 40 Cup-less years as a fan hoping for just ONE!!!!

You MUST be young Tatoo. I am guessing 25 or younger. Had you lived through the 70's, 80's 90's and first decade of the 2000's you would know. The future is NEVER more imp
- hawk35[ortant than winning NOW. IF you have a Cup shot. Do what you can to grab it. If you fall short, I for one will not question Stan one bit. Last year I didnt like the additions even when they happened.....yet, I give him credit for going for it!!!

Simply. Play to win, worry about the future when the window is closed. Period!

3 Cups in 7 years....Hell, I went through 40 Cup-less years as a fan hoping for just ONE!!!!

RETIRE STEVE LARMERS #28 ! ! ! ! ! !

RETIRE STEVE LARMERS #28 ! ! ! ! ! !
- mrpaulish

Damn straight!!!!!

Savard - Larmer......late 80's. If not for that Gretzky guy and the Oiler Dynasty. Could of had a Cup or two then. A great Hawk team!

So this its says the Hawks can add 3.1m in salary

https://www.capfriendly.com/

This site says the Hawks have 2m in cap space

http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/cap/

This one has the Hawks with 900K in cap space

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/CHI?year=2017

And this one has the Blackhawks -500k !

http://leftwinglock.com/s...y-cap/salary.php?teamID=6



WTF is going on , who is the resident cap geek in this room now ? All I want to know is how much AAV can the hawks add on 2/28 ?
- mrpaulish

Heard this on the ticket in Dallas last night. Hawks sit at around 3 mil in space. Not sure if it is much further north of that!

Adam McQuaid from Boston

OK - look at the market for goalies. No one is buying. Any team who needs one can wait until the summer.

Then you go into the summer with no goalie signed??
- Return of the Roar

Stan could sign Darling for next year in-season before shipping out Crawford so that's one signed for next season.

You might be able to get Darling next year for $3m to $3.5m and sign a back up for $.5m to $1.5m and that's a savings next year of $1.5m to $3m. That probably isn't enough if they bring in a top 6 LW to go with what they have, but it would help.

You MUST be young Tatoo. I am guessing 25 or younger. Had you lived through the 70's, 80's 90's and first decade of the 2000's you would know. The future is NEVER more imp
- hawk35[ortant than winning NOW. IF you have a Cup shot. Do what you can to grab it. If you fall short, I for one will not question Stan one bit. Last year I didnt like the additions even when they happened.....yet, I give him credit for going for it!!!

Simply. Play to win, worry about the future when the window is closed. Period!

3 Cups in 7 years....Hell, I went through 40 Cup-less years as a fan hoping for just ONE!!!!

I actually liked the acquisitions that Bowman
made last year. Unfortunately, Quenneville didn't, and he stapled them to the bench or gave them limited minutes. When you get in his doghouse, it's tough getting ice time...ie...Leddy, Trevor Daley, Gus, Vermette, TT, etc. Yet, guys like Carcillo, Mashinter, Versteeg, and Handzus never or rarely felt the wrath. Very questionable coaching and decision making IMO.
I agree that the Cup window is shrinking and hope that he can acquire somebody that will be here for a few years....ie Duchene.

DeBrincat with a goal and an assist tonight bringing his season totals to 48 G and 54 A.

Adam McQuaid from Boston
- nickmo2699

I love that guy . But hes getting old isnt he ?

You MUST be young Tatoo. I am guessing 25 or younger. Had you lived through the 70's, 80's 90's and first decade of the 2000's you would know. The future is NEVER more imp
- hawk35[ortant than winning NOW. IF you have a Cup shot. Do what you can to grab it. If you fall short, I for one will not question Stan one bit. Last year I didnt like the additions even when they happened.....yet, I give him credit for going for it!!!

Simply. Play to win, worry about the future when the window is closed. Period!

3 Cups in 7 years....Hell, I went through 40 Cup-less years as a fan hoping for just ONE!!!!

Well said sir...I would think quite a few of us on this board have suffered through the long lean decades of Dollar Bill.

As far as last year's additions - Ladd was fine and was finding his groove. I keep hearing how the Ladd move was a bust - no it wasn't - he led the team in hits in the Blues series. Where Stan screwed up is inability to get a #4D. His fawning over Runny cost us.

Didn't care for the Montreal trade then and still don't. Especially when you look at Danault. Flooding the team with 3 new forwards instead of one really messed with the chemistry.

But I'm interested to see what Stan does here in the next week and a half.

As far as CC vs. Darling it's economics plain and simple. From the sound of it - they'd like to bring Darling back.

OK - look at the market for goalies. No one is buying. Any team who needs one can wait until the summer.

Then you go into the summer with no goalie signed??
- Return of the Roar

Maybe figure that out later, ya know. In other words, go all in now and bank on extending Darling and finding a cheap vet backup in the summer(even you just said teams that need goalies will be able to find them in the summer). Might seem foolish but I personally(and i understand this might not be a popular opinion) would risk a lot to assemble Cup worthy forward depth for one (potentially)final push for that 4th Cup. This might be our last chance, you never know. We've got a lot going for us, just need a few extra forwards. And I firmly believe in Darling, and think with a deep team in front of him we would be able to go on a deep run. Can't make that same deep run with only 3 lines and poor puck possession, regardless of how elite the goaltending is.

And while i understand we've improved lately with puck possession, and we've been rolling 4 lines....i still want something better, something(or someone) that pushes us over the top as far as forward depth goes. We're going to need it. More so than we need Crawford IMO.

DeBrincat with a goal and an assist tonight bringing his season totals to 48 G and 54 A.
- 4_in_7

Thats insane. How many games played?

For those who cares,I lived through the 70's and the 80's and so on.

Thats insane. How many games played?
- SimpleJack

48