It's not me I'm a woman hahha
- pred_26

Then wax the beard, buy some rogaine, and mix some antibiotics with your meth/midol shake tonight.

I see now what you're about. You were rejected by a Hawks fan on a road trip to Nashville. Can't get over being left out in a corn field when he sobered up.

Perhaps some sort of anti-depressant as a chaser to the shake?

Couple of things...

1) Stamkos also plays most of his games in Florida, where there is no state income tax. That helps TB on the bottom line.

2) TBL is NOT the Chicago Blackhawks and never will be.

3) Seabrook has ALWAYS been overshadowed by Keith. And I think he's fine with it, but the Blackhawks are rewarding him for the lean years as well as the 3 in 6 years.

4) I still believe Rocky, and by extension, the entire Blackhawk organization is trying to make up for his father's cheapness.

5) Can we stop accusing Stan of not being able to negotiate? We aren't in the room. We don't know what happened.

6) This team's core will be remembered alongside the Blackhawk greats, Mikita, Hull, etc. They deserve to be rewarded for it. They didn't just win 3 in 6, they elevated a moribund ORIGINAL SIX franchise from the netherworld to a team that is expected to compete for the Cup EVERY YEAR. Even when I watched this team in teh late 80's early 90's I always had a feeling it was a fleeting moment.

7) Contracts change in value over time. Some become worse value and some become better value. Hossa's REAL money is good value, but the recapture is bad value. Hammer and Crawford's contracts are good value...now.
- CanOCorn

This is something he obviously did with Krueger and Seabs... Maybe Kane and Toews too... and it really is no way to create long term success. Your second bolded point could be why though and, in that respect, it might make some sense. I think Stan has done mostly good but second guessing is what fans do. He can be called out on questionable decisions just like Q.

But we DO care if they ever win again - that's why we continue to watch and hope that the offseason brings some kind of improvement for the team, and why some are so obsessed with the NTCs/NMVs/Terms/Cap Hits.

Maybe there were deals to be had, with terms less onerous to the team, that would have satisfied the player/agent/dad/whoever - seems possible - but we don't know.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks - I agree that I care as well (winning sure is fun). I just appreciate what these guys have accomplished (count my blessings as a fan) - everything else is gravy for this particular golden era.

Then wax the beard, buy some rogaine, and mix some antibiotics with your meth/midol shake tonight.

I see now what you're about. You were rejected by a Hawks fan on a road trip to Nashville. Can't get over being left out in a corn field when he sobered up.

Perhaps some sort of anti-depressant as a chaser to the shake?
- tredbrta

Haters gonna hate

Seabs signed a 5 year deal for 30Mil that ran from 26-30. He was a RFA at the time and had one 1 Cup and He was paid like a top 10 D man. When was he underpaid?

So if you should only get paid for rings then why is tom Brady not in the top 10 of highest paid QB's. If Seabrook should be paid as a Norris Trophy type player with Rings then Brady should be making 30 million not 20. NE is the only dynasty in hard cap sports and the players, owners and GM's understand there is a give and take that comes with that. So what you are saying is SEABS got paid for his rings and he could clearly care less if he got anymore.
- kmw4631

One, Brady makes a TON of money outside of football. And his wife doesn't do to badly either. More revenue streams make it easier to take less salary.

Two, if you want to go there, Michael Jordan made $36M/year for what 2 or 3 years? I know they were one year deals, but I don't remember how many there were. That was under a cap as well (granted it was a soft cap, I believe).

The Blackhawks are an international brand now more than ever because of this team. And the faces (or core) of the team are Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook and Hossa. If you want to include Crawford and Hammer, you can. Do you see the pattern there?
These are the players with the biggest salaries and/or recapture penalties.

In a pure hockey sense, everyone complaining about length of term and amount of money are absolutely right. With a hard cap, it's incredibly had to maintain levels of success. BUT, it isn't purely hockey. It's merchandise sales, it's international recognition, it's being an Original Six franchise, it's the overall recognition of the NHL. There was a resurgence in interest in the NHL since the Blackhawks started winning. I can only speculate on why. A little PR here, a little East Coast bias sickness there.

My point is, at this stage of some of these players careers, there's more to it than just on-ice results. You don't have to agree with it and you certainly don't have to like it, but this is where we are. It has absolutely hamstrung the team, but they still won 50 games and made it fun to watch even if they went out like a bunch of, well, you know how they went out.

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

Seems like the Hawks PK has gotten progressively less aggressive year after year.

This is something he obviously did with Krueger and Seabs... Maybe Kane and Toews too... and it really is no way to create long term success. Your second bolded point could be why though and, in that respect, it might make some sense. I think Stan has done mostly good but second guessing is what fans do. He can be called out on questionable decisions just like Q.
- tredbrta

Granted, their salaries have hamstringed the cap, but how bout protecting his 10.5 investments? As angry and as frustrated I am with his lack of scoring, the abuse 19 took in back to back playoffs is very bothersome. What was the primary reason Lucic was signed for the money he was in EDM? To protect McDavid! He is a deterrent. They have had plenty of opportunities to sign low budget guys that are making a difference in that type of role on other teams. I don't blame Stan for what he has done; but instead what he has NOT done!

Hawks should sign Seth Appert as Kitch's replacement

It's not me I'm a woman hahha
- pred_26

It all makes sense now. All of this time trolling the hawks board, probably a stay-at-home-mom.

Haters gonna hate
- pred_26

Hey, you're the trollette. Go back to the Preds board and meditate in silence or troll your actual opponent. The playoffs will end in the next round for your half rate franchise so use your time wisely. I will return the favor this off season when you lose one of those RFAs.

Seems like the Hawks PK has gotten progressively less aggressive year after year.
- darklighter

That goes for their play overall and it's because they're getting older and they've won the cup three times. Just my opinion but I think some have lost the fire in the belly. I'm beginning to think some of the core realize the amount of effort it takes to win the cup and just aren't interested in putting forth that type of effort.

Seabs signed a 5 year deal for 30Mil that ran from 26-30. He was a RFA at the time and had one 1 Cup and He was paid like a top 10 D man. When was he underpaid?
- kmw4631

That confused me as well. I guess they argued he would see higher offers as a UFA which may be possible... Could Stan have played hard ball and saved some $$ or traded Seabs and used the savings to replace him and improve the team?

Hey, you're the trollette. Go back to the Preds board and meditate in silence or troll your actual opponent. The playoffs will end in the next round for your half rate franchise so use your time wisely. I will return the favor this off season when you lose one of those RFAs.
- tredbrta

Frances - Lighten up

IF you are bringing up high endorsements then it should go the other way. Teows and Kane get way more endorsement money playing for blackhawks (original 6 and Chicago) then they would in probably in any other city (about the same in a few). They you could argue they should take less to play here.

Wives or family money should have no effect on what is a fair contract for a professional sports player.

it was not a hard cap they could have paid Jordan 50 mil a year and it would have been legal. Jordans impact on the NBA $$ and Sports $$ in general he is probably # 1 all time in all sports.

Also one thing that may happen is SEABS does not look at top 30 D men in league in there 30's. He says if T and K are paid 10.5 then I'm worth 6.9. If I was his agent that is probably the best argument I could come up with. IE overpaying on one team may filter down to the whole team. Why should one guy give a bit of home town discount if no one else is.

JJ - Help us with a new topic...

Granted, their salaries have hamstringed the cap, but how bout protecting his 10.5 investments? As angry and as frustrated I am with his lack of scoring, the abuse 19 took in back to back playoffs is very bothersome. What was the primary reason Lucic was signed for the money he was in EDM? To protect McDavid! He is a deterrent. They have had plenty of opportunities to sign low budget guys that are making a difference in that type of role on other teams. I don't blame Stan for what he has done; but instead what he has NOT done!
- nickmo2699

And the Oilers have Maroon and Kassian along with some tough d men too. That is the direction the game seems to be moving back to. Maybe less fighting but still a significant physical element is needed. Tootoo was certainly better at the role than Mashinter. Hayden looks like he can hit and Panik and Hartman have it. It just evaporated in round 1. They were totally unprepared and looked on the ice - as a team - like Bruce Boudreau looked in game 7 of the 2015 WCF. Blame deserved at every level.

I have a question. Doesn't the coach hire his own staff? So, isn't kitchen an extension of Q? Therefore, anyone who is hired to take kitchens place will have to learn what Q wants, no? So, if you blame the coaching staff, don't you fire Q?

ANYONE?

I have a question. Doesn't the coach hire his own staff? So, isn't kitchen an extension of Q? Therefore, anyone who is hired to take kitchens place will have to learn what Q wants, no? So, if you blame the coaching staff, don't you fire Q?

ANYONE?
- hocktock

Sounds like that is what happened with Kitch and Dineen. However, McD made a point in his last interview to say that Q would not have sole authority to hire Kitch's replacement, which, I'm sure just adds to Q's supposed anger.

One, Brady makes a TON of money outside of football. And his wife doesn't do to badly either. More revenue streams make it easier to take less salary.

Two, if you want to go there, Michael Jordan made $36M/year for what 2 or 3 years? I know they were one year deals, but I don't remember how many there were. That was under a cap as well (granted it was a soft cap, I believe).

The Blackhawks are an international brand now more than ever because of this team. And the faces (or core) of the team are Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook and Hossa. If you want to include Crawford and Hammer, you can. Do you see the pattern there?
These are the players with the biggest salaries and/or recapture penalties.

In a pure hockey sense, everyone complaining about length of term and amount of money are absolutely right. With a hard cap, it's incredibly had to maintain levels of success. BUT, it isn't purely hockey. It's merchandise sales, it's international recognition, it's being an Original Six franchise, it's the overall recognition of the NHL. There was a resurgence in interest in the NHL since the Blackhawks started winning. I can only speculate on why. A little PR here, a little East Coast bias sickness there.

My point is, at this stage of some of these players careers, there's more to it than just on-ice results. You don't have to agree with it and you certainly don't have to like it, but this is where we are. It has absolutely hamstrung the team, but they still won 50 games and made it fun to watch even if they went out like a bunch of, well, you know how they went out.
- CanOCorn

Merchandising, merchandising, merchandising!
Spaceballs-The T-shirt, Spaceballs-The Flame Thrower!!!

And the Oilers have Maroon and Kassian along with some tough d men too. That is the direction the game seems to be moving back to. Maybe less fighting but still a significant physical element is needed. Tootoo was certainly better at the role than Mashinter. Hayden looks like he can hit and Panik and Hartman have it. It just evaporated in round 1. They were totally unprepared and looked on the ice - as a team - like Bruce Boudreau looked in game 7 of the 2015 WCF. Blame deserved at every level.
- tredbrta

Since approximately forever, intimidation has been a huge part of the NHL game. 80 years ago Conn Smythe said 'if you can't lick 'em in the alley you can't beat them on the ice'.

The Hawks thought they could get away with playing the no body check, no fighting, no nasty game. Just like the Habs tried in the '60s until they decided they needed Policeman John Ferguson to look after all of their tiny French Canadian ballerinas who wanted to play the no hit, skill game.

So were they ever shocked when they found out that not only could the Preds outskate and outplay them but also use Austin Watson and Harry Z and a few others to pound and intimidate them. No push back because there was nobody on the roster to push back. No push back, no winning - plain and simple.

Learn by your mistakes Stanbo - find some guys that can play the game physically when the game calls for it.

Sounds like that is what happened with Kitch and Dineen. However, McD made a point in his last interview to say that Q would not have sole authority to hire Kitch's replacement, which, I'm sure just adds to Q's supposed anger.
- pdx2ord

So, how does the team move on as a team when you cause bad blood? This is unproductive in my mind. Whomever replaces kitch will have to do Q's bidding or Q's not the HEAD coach.

Yup.

Hey, you're the trollette. Go back to the Preds board and meditate in silence or troll your actual opponent. The playoffs will end in the next round for your half rate franchise so use your time wisely. I will return the favor this off season when you lose one of those RFAs.
- tredbrta

Next year are you kidding? Next yr we won't even make it to the play off Ms next year. I have to say this, at least you guys are not blaming the refs. I was responding to a post around pg 34, nothing recent nor was I trying to cause any issues. Haha

So, how does the team move on as a team when you cause bad blood? This is unproductive in my mind. Whomever replaces kitch will have to do Q's bidding or Q's not the HEAD coach.

Yup.
- hocktock

At some point the bigger people in the room will ahve to take Obi-wan's advise, "Luke, let it go"

Next year are you kidding? Next yr we won't even make it to the play off Ms next year. I have to say this, at least you guys are not blaming the refs. I was responding to a post around pg 34, nothing recent nor was I trying to cause any issues. Haha
- pred_26

You guys are the real deal this post season -- enjoy it.