Watching how Blues is playing against the Predators, I realize how terrible, noncompetitive we were against them.. And coach Q were seriously outcoached and made zero adjustments.....

Or he would have had to trade them like he did Saad.
Nice post Darth.
- 6628

Good point about Saad, the one time Stan does what people want him to do when a player demands too much and he gets criticized for it non-stop. I would rather have Saad over Anisimov, but I don't have any real complaints about AA's game. But when you trade a big name talent for cap reasons you rarely get equal value (or close to equal value) in return.

Good point about Saad, the one time Stan does what people want him to do when a player demands too much and he gets criticized for it non-stop. I would rather have Saad over Anisimov, but I don't have any real complaints about AA's game. But when you trade a big name talent for cap reasons you rarely get equal value (or close to equal value) in return.
- DarthKane

If Dano fulfilled his Top 6 W Evaluation that Stan put on him, it would've been a solid move. Butttt he didn't do it's yet another net loss in talent

Good point about Saad, the one time Stan does what people want him to do when a player demands too much and he gets criticized for it non-stop. I would rather have Saad over Anisimov, but I don't have any real complaints about AA's game. But when you trade a big name talent for cap reasons you rarely get equal value (or close to equal value) in return.
- DarthKane

Usually the team that gets the best player wins the trade. Cap space is never the best player. And, winning trades is nice, but the point is to win Cups and that takes building a solid roster. Paying two players $21m per year and filling out half of the roster with players making under $1m has not proven to work in the cap era. That strategy needs a tweak this year, IMHO. I doubt they're ready to trade either 19 or 88 but they could and should break up the rest of the core to bring in more guys who are a higher quality than most of the under $1m guys.

If Dano fulfilled his Top 6 W Evaluation that Stan put on him, it would've been a solid move. Butttt he didn't do it's yet another net loss in talent
- EnzoD

Good point, it might have been a completely different trade if Dano had worked out.

Edit: Panik was an indirect bi-product of the Saad trade. That still doesn't make it a win for Stan, just lessens the sting a bit.

Good point, it might have been a completely different trade if Dano had worked out.

Edit: Panik was an indirect bi-product of the Saad trade. That still doesn't make it a win for Stan, just lessens the sting a bit.
- DarthKane

I'd love to still have Saad but the fact that Panik has been a good addition and was a bi product of that trade makes it a push for me.

Sucks. The series in the East have been so much more entertainng.
- mrpaulish

Is Anaheim/Edmonton past your bedtime? That entire 2nd period the other night was a highlight reel.

They aren't making the SCF if he's not playing...
- SimpleJack

Yeah, I could see the Rags eventually taking advantage of this and going to the Final. Hopefully to get swept by Nashville.

Good point about Saad, the one time Stan does what people want him to do when a player demands too much and he gets criticized for it non-stop. I would rather have Saad over Anisimov, but I don't have any real complaints about AA's game.
- DarthKane

His faceoff struggles are a real problem.

I'd love to still have Saad but the fact that Panik has been a good addition and was a bi product of that trade makes it a push for me.
- HawkintheD

Panik: 22 G, 22 A, +14

Saad: 24 G, 29 A, +23

Pretty respectable considering what was expected of Panik.

Panik: 22 G, 22 A, +14

Saad: 24 G, 29 A, +23

Pretty respectable considering what was expected of Panik.
- RollingPuck

Not jumping on your back, but this is what is wrong with studying stats, it doesn't show the entire picture. Saad makes Toews (and therefore the entire line, and line-up) better overall. So yes, Panik vs. Saad points wise is comparable, but there is a big hole missing.

Stan needs add young big and speed players to are lineup the only 2 assets he hawks have, now that it looks like Crawford is staying are panrin and hammer. What trades stan makes if any need to be value for value trades that benefit both teams. My friends and I have been trying to come with some trades that would make sense but are fair trades: panrin to either ny islanders form hammonic and a prospect or to parnin motte and a 2018 1st to wash for burskoy wislon and bowey and 3rd. Another was hammer to phily for hagg morin and 2018 1st seeing that hammer has nice friendly contract and is still young make him very attractive, now I understand this is playing armchair gm between myself and friends. Any thoughts or tweeks or other possible trades would love to hear them.

Watching how Blues is playing against the Predators, I realize how terrible, noncompetitive we were against them.. And coach Q were seriously outcoached and made zero adjustments.....
- shidler

Watching that same game made me realize the contrast between regular season and playoff hockey. From officiating to the nastiness displayed by the players, this doesn't remotely resemble what we were watching a couple of months ago.
I also realize that the currently comprised Hawk group is not capable of playing that kind of hockey. I hope that the Hawks brass is watching closely.

JJ (and others)-

Any thoughts of seeing any "non-hockey" trades or departures? Were there the infamous "chemistry issues" behind the scenes that aided the first round exit.

I'm hopeful that the Hawks do a major shakeup before sliding into greater mediocrity.

Not jumping on your back, but this is what is wrong with studying stats, it doesn't show the entire picture. Saad makes Toews (and therefore the entire line, and line-up) better overall. So yes, Panik vs. Saad points wise is comparable, but there is a big hole missing.
- powerenforcer

Toews need the mirror Hillary wont use, look into it and see his challenges, and make himself better. I for one am marching down the no excuse trail. I read all of the utter hatred for the contracts that when signed were the greatest thing since sliced bread. I liken any contract talk to complaining about my wife snoring, its true, its a fact and there is not a damn thing I can do about it, so i roll over and focus on what i can change. What ever he is paid his play was way off and must improve.

Toews need the mirror Hillary wont use, look into it and see his challenges, and make himself better. I for one am marching down the no excuse trail. I read all of the utter hatred for the contracts that when signed were the greatest thing since sliced bread. I liken any contract talk to complaining about my wife snoring, its true, its a fact and there is not a damn thing I can do about it, so i roll over and focus on what i can change. What ever he is paid his play was way off and must improve.
- riozzo

I agree with what you are saying 100%, but it still doesn't diminish what Saad added to that line, and the line-up.

I agree with what you are saying 100%, but it still doesn't diminish what Saad added to that line, and the line-up.
- powerenforcer

Losing Frolik, then Saad later changed the entire nature/chemistry of the 'Hawks PK and it has not even begun to rebound. I was hoping Kero and Hartman could have started the rebound, but only Kero ever got any PK shifts.

Panik: 22 G, 22 A, +14

Saad: 24 G, 29 A, +23

Pretty respectable considering what was expected of Panik.
- RollingPuck

Good points....but I think a lot is still hanging on what happens to Panik in the off season. If we can keep Anisimov and Panik long term for the price of Saad (or close to it) then overall the deal is pretty good. I'd still rather have Saad back but I can't really complain about the deal.

Keep looking at the Hawks Salary page
When Kruger exits

•4 forwards over 1 million- everyone else under a million and Hossa is 39.
•Toews- Kane- Seabrook- close to 40% of the Cap - add Crawford and it's 46%!!!

It's an NHL Team running on AHL salaries

Beating a dead horse but how at his age did Seabs manage that deal?

Losing Frolik, then Saad later changed the entire nature/chemistry of the 'Hawks PK and it has not even begun to rebound. I was hoping Kero and Hartman could have started the rebound, but only Kero ever got any PK shifts.
- 35Tony0

This is a wound that will never heal....

This is a wound that will never heal....


- DarthKane

Heh.
The PK minutes are adding up since then on Hoss, Toews and Anisimov. And short handed goals have all but disappeared.

I haven't paid much attention to other teams cap problems but I was wondering if other teams in the NHL hand out as many NTC/NMC as Stan and the Hawks do. Is it common around the league or are the Hawks mostly the exception?

Heh.
The PK minutes are adding up since then on Hoss, Toews and Anisimov. And short handed goals have all but disappeared.
- 35Tony0

And playoff penalty shot goals

Keep looking at the Hawks Salary page
When Kruger exits

•4 forwards over 1 million- everyone else under a million and Hossa is 39.
•Toews- Kane- Seabrook- close to 40% of the Cap - add Crawford and it's 46%!!!

It's an NHL Team running on AHL salaries

Beating a dead horse but how at his age did Seabs manage that deal?
- Colbyboy

Bowman does not have it in his DNA to tell the core that is to much. Look at stamkos. TB knew he wanted to stay and was happy to have him back at a fair price. He wanted $10 and they said 8.5 he said no and went to FA and went back at 8.5. When seabs asked for 7 mil for 8 years when FA's can only give 7 years so the actually value of the contract is 8 mil over 7 years from a FA team. How many teams have that kind of money for a 31 year old? And is that a team were he would want to go. He never would have gotten that. we are talking Hedmon, Subban, Weber, type money for guys that are perennially Norris trophy winners and all those guys contracts are in there prime not past it. He has never been a top d man and now is more like top 50 and going down. there are some contracts you know might be bad at the end. (Hossa) but if they are good for 2/3 of the deal you do it to get you over the top. Seabs was overpaid and a bad deal the day he got his 1st check. he should waive for the EXP draft so we can keep TVR as a favor to Bowman and wirtz.

How many times has a GM jettisoned a top tier player rather than re-signing him to a long term deal with a NTC?

How many times has a top tier player accepted a long term deal without a NTC? Not including players in their RFA and are not eligible for NTCs.

Burns? Benn? Hedman? Stamkos? Byfuglien? Kopitar? Giordano? Kesler? Tarasenko? All have some type of NTC in their UFA years. Subban had one but it was voided after the trade to Nashville.

Voracek is the only guy I can think of that doesn't have any type of NTC.

Stan's biggest problem is that he's had to negotiate with more top tier talent than most or all other GMs. Has Stan been perfect? No, of course not. But simply saying that Stan should have signed the core to long term deals without NTC is not realistic based on the current environment. If the NTCs weren't there the core's cap hit would be even bigger.
- DarthKane

Well said!