4 and 2 would have "hockey trade" value- realistically, 7 does not. I shudder to think of what kind of "sweeteners" from the Hawks or bad contracts coming back it would take to get someone to take on 7 years of Seabrook's contract.
- Davewn

If the Hawks had to retain 1 million each year for the duration of the contract wouldn't be a horrible thing if a nice young piece was coming back in the deal. I guy like Seabrook is exactly what a team like the Oilers need. Just ask Toews back in the Detroit series in 2013 on how much of a leader Seabrook really is. In order for a team like Edmonton to take the next step they may need to do a bold trade like Seabrook even though he has a heavy contract.

These teams are all playing like they really want to win!!!

And the Cro haters still think Holtby is better, much like Bishop and other Regular Season Queens...
- riozzo

I still don't get all the Crawford hate or the "Crawford is overpaid" agenda. Over the past 5 years there haven't been too many goalies who have enjoyed more combined success in the regular and post seasons.

I'd worry more about moving Keith because of the potential recapture penalty.
- walleyeb1

Trading Keith makes no sense unless the other GM is willing to drastically overpay. Keith is still a top pairing defenseman and carries an incredibly reasonable cap hit. Keith still has a lot of good hockey left in him.

I still don't get all the Crawford hate or the "Crawford is overpaid" agenda. Over the past 5 years there haven't been too many goalies who have enjoyed more combined success in the regular and post seasons.
- DarthKane

He flipped the switch after that awful Phoenix series in 2012.

I think he was inconsistent after December this season - including in the tournament - but I'm just as glad that he'll be here next year.

Goalies and closers - all of the sudden the slider flattens out for a while - then it comes back.

He flipped the switch after that awful Phoenix series in 2012.

I think he was inconsistent after December this season - including in the tournament - but I'm just as glad that he'll be here next year.

Goalies and closers - all of the sudden the slider flattens out for a while - then it comes back.
- StLBravesFan

Not saying Crawford is perfect, but his overall body of work has been impressive.

$6 million is about the average price for a proven #1 goalie. Crawford is a proven #1 goalie so he is fairly paid.

Can the team win a Cup with Crawford? We know they can, it has happened twice before.

That leaves us with a fairly paid legit #1 goalie who can win a Cup. Sounds good to me.

He flipped the switch after that awful Phoenix series in 2012.

I think he was inconsistent after December this season - including in the tournament - but I'm just as glad that he'll be here next year.

Goalies and closers - all of the sudden the slider flattens out for a while - then it comes back.
- StLBravesFan

Tough to complain about much of his play since but some still do. I was in the camp that wouldn't have minded retaining Darling and trading Crawford, but the Hawks are still left with a top five goalie...which is pretty much what he was before the appendectomy and was working his way back.

Tough to complain about much of his play since but some still do. I was in the camp that wouldn't have minded retaining Darling and trading Crawford, but the Hawks are still left with a top five goalie...which is pretty much what he was before the appendectomy and was working his way back.
- HawkintheD

I wouldn't have complained if Crawford was a cap casualty and Darling was the number 1, if he re-signed for no more than $3 million. But the market value for Darling was higher so he was dealt.

Crawford is my #1 choice but Darling would have been a solid consolation prize.

I wouldn't have complained if Crawford was a cap casualty and Darling was the number 1, if he re-signed for no more than $3 million. But the market value for Darling was higher so he was dealt.

Crawford is my #1 choice but Darling would have been a solid consolation prize.
- DarthKane

Exactly. Can't blame him for taking his turn at a big payday and I think he'll continue to prove he was ready to take the reins for a team...CAR in this case.

Totally agree though. No Cap considerations...ride Crow til you can't.

If the Hawks had to retain 1 million each year for the duration of the contract wouldn't be a horrible thing if a nice young piece was coming back in the deal. I guy like Seabrook is exactly what a team like the Oilers need. Just ask Toews back in the Detroit series in 2013 on how much of a leader Seabrook really is. In order for a team like Edmonton to take the next step they may need to do a bold trade like Seabrook even though he has a heavy contract.
- scott.jackson

Chiarelli has lived through his own self-inflicted Cap Hell with similar contracts he's doled out in Boston- I'd be shocked if he'd bite, especially with all the young talent he'll have to get signed in the near future.

I wouldn't have complained if Crawford was a cap casualty and Darling was the number 1, if he re-signed for no more than $3 million. But the market value for Darling was higher so he was dealt.

Crawford is my #1 choice but Darling would have been a solid consolation prize.
- DarthKane

This.

Chiarelli has lived through his own self-inflicted Cap Hell with similar contracts he's doled out in Boston- I'd be shocked if he'd bite, especially with all the young talent he'll have to get signed in the near future.
- Davewn

Chiarelli has to worry about re-signing Draisaitl and McDavid. He won't take on any big contracts that put these signings in jeopardy.

Something tells me we're gonna regret this trade
- fvineze

But Corey Crawford is the hero of the revolution.... he's a bona fide shoe in hall of famer!!!!

Why would regret trading Darling?!?!?!?!

But Corey Crawford is the hero of the revolution.... he's a bona fide shoe in hall of famer!!!!

Why would regret trading Darling?!?!?!?!
- bigfly46

Corey is only PAID like a Hall of Famer. The only way Corey gets into the Hall of Fame is by walking up and buying a ticket. One thing that is absolutely freakin' hilarious about the Crawford apologists is they now feel enough time has past to admit he was clearly ATROCIOUS in that horrible Phoenix Series. These same apologists would not admit it when it happened. Oh and here's a shout-out to Eddie O who was so clueless back then he stated Crawford played great - out of town hockey people asked if he was high. To which he replied "high on hair products fellas". While I'm at it to NOT hear Mike Kitchen ever again say we gotta get the puck deep or some other mind numbing hockeyism will be a welcome relief.

Corey is only PAID like a Hall of Famer. The only way Corey gets into the Hall of Fame is by walking up and buying a ticket. One thing that is absolutely freakin' hilarious about the Crawford apologists is they now feel enough time has past to admit he was clearly ATROCIOUS in that horrible Phoenix Series. These same apologists would not admit it when it happened. Oh and here's a shout-out to Eddie O who was so clueless back then he stated Crawford played great - out of town hockey people asked if he was high. To which he replied "high on hair products fellas". While I'm at it to NOT hear Mike Kitchen ever again say we gotta get the puck deep or some other mind numbing hockeyism will be a welcome relief.
- Z3Hawk

As I've said before if you want to free up 6M tell Crawford he either agrees to a trade or he spends the year in street-clothes. Of course this would require cojones which Bowwoman may not have

As I've said before if you want to free up 6M tell Crawford he either agrees to a trade or he spends the year in street-clothes. Of course this would require cojones which Bowwoman may not have
- Z3Hawk[/quote

Total sarcasm on my point... I'm not a Crawford apologist.... not even close.... couldn't agree with you more

Chiarelli has to worry about re-signing Draisaitl and McDavid. He won't take on any big contracts that put these signings in jeopardy.
- DarthKane

But .....
Should Chiarelli sign one or both of them, then he may consider how much $$$ remains in the vault earmarked for Seabrook. Which may or may not appease Bowman. This would be the sensible direction to plot a course of action given Chiarelli's experience with salary cap in Boston.

There is no telling right now how many other teams would tell Bowman the exact $$$ Chicago would need to retain. However, a really serious suitor might bite if both Seabrook and Kruger were changing their address.

Look at the teams who remain and whom were eliminated. Why do they surrender as many shots and too many glorious scoring opportunities. Does Seabrook and Kruger added to their mix produce the proper chemistry to suppress their current defensive shortcoming? It is palatable but is any offer good enough for Stan to swallow hard and accept?

Chiarelli has to worry about re-signing Draisaitl and McDavid. He won't take on any big contracts that put these signings in jeopardy.
- DarthKane

You need to have that strong been there done that defensemen to lead the Oilers backend and that doesn't come cheap. IMHO if Chiarelli wants to win a cup or with the talent on the front end like Edmonton, Cups then you need to shore up the backend. In this day and age you need to build from the net out and Talbot seems to have made a turn in the right direction to be a legit number 1 goalie. They have 4 great lines up front, but the backend needs some work. McDavid will command the maximum on his new deal in a year, but Draisaitl hasn't played himself into a monster deal. To win the cup you need to pay the piper not quite like Bowman has, but it comes with a cost and you need to be willing to gamble on a guy or two.

Corey is only PAID like a Hall of Famer. The only way Corey gets into the Hall of Fame is by walking up and buying a ticket. One thing that is absolutely freakin' hilarious about the Crawford apologists is they now feel enough time has past to admit he was clearly ATROCIOUS in that horrible Phoenix Series. These same apologists would not admit it when it happened. Oh and here's a shout-out to Eddie O who was so clueless back then he stated Crawford played great - out of town hockey people asked if he was high. To which he replied "high on hair products fellas". While I'm at it to NOT hear Mike Kitchen ever again say we gotta get the puck deep or some other mind numbing hockeyism will be a welcome relief.
- Z3Hawk

Calssic! You'd think there'd be red font all over this but sadly it's not the case.

Still going back to 2012 to make a case about Crow not being a great goalie? Whatever. Who's apologizing? He wasn't good in that series; but if you can't acknowledge his play since or that he has most certainly earned and played up to that contract, I'm not sure what to tell you.

Haha I saw that!

Looking forward to watching that Bears/Titans game. I think Cutty will do a good job in booth. I'm more optimistic than most about this team. I think we're getting closer than many realize.
- TommyHawk

I think you should give up the crack, really bad habit.........

I think you should give up the crack, really bad habit.........
- vabeachbear

Yeah, not to sure what he's seeing. Hope he's right but what playmakers were added on either side of the ball? Even if Trubisky ends up being a franchise qb, I think they need a couple more drafts (at least) to actually compete.

Trading Keith makes no sense unless the other GM is willing to drastically overpay. Keith is still a top pairing defenseman and carries an incredibly reasonable cap hit. Keith still has a lot of good hockey left in him.
- DarthKane

Totally agree with you....but...that's why it's the perfect time to move him. Finally get some other GM to overpay for one of the best dmen in the game. Think of how great of a replacement he would be for a guy like Phaneuf, or the value he would bring to Edmonton. But......the key is the OVERPAY.

Corey is only PAID like a Hall of Famer. The only way Corey gets into the Hall of Fame is by walking up and buying a ticket. One thing that is absolutely freakin' hilarious about the Crawford apologists is they now feel enough time has past to admit he was clearly ATROCIOUS in that horrible Phoenix Series. These same apologists would not admit it when it happened. Oh and here's a shout-out to Eddie O who was so clueless back then he stated Crawford played great - out of town hockey people asked if he was high. To which he replied "high on hair products fellas". While I'm at it to NOT hear Mike Kitchen ever again say we gotta get the puck deep or some other mind numbing hockeyism will be a welcome relief.
- Z3Hawk

I am sure you would say Lundqvist is a first ballot, yet he threw up a dazzling .867 last year, a .902 a few years earlier and a .908 before that leading his teams to playoff spankings.

Patrick Roy had back to back sub .900 playoffs - does he suck?

My point is goalies will have a down series - just a fact. The better goalies will save a game in a series when the other EIGHTEEN players can't do crap. Cro does that.

Would you take Devnick with an all world D in front of him over Cro who has a 3 wheeled shopping cart on one side and one of the three blind mice on the other...

Point is Cro is very good goalie. Best in the league - nope, better than given credit for - YES.

Really? It's not that far in the rearview...not like 1985, the Bears and a young Sage hitting the clubs in his patachute pants and Member's Only jacket.
- HawkintheD

No poop, eh? Did some guys just forget the 'Hawks had the longest drought on June 8, 2010? For me, I still use the 3-in-6. Like Doc said almost 2 years ago, ".....they have waited at long time for this to be at home. For the third time in six years, the Chicago Blackhawks are Stanley Cup Champions!"

Yeah, they got pounded out of the playoffs. Yeah, the junior city is happy. Fine. But big picture, if they don't win it all, they're just another team not picking last in the draft.

Yeah, the last 2 seasons have been rough. And sure there are big hurdles. But if some of the rumblings being thrown around are true, we should see a notable '17-'18 improvement.

Something tells me we're gonna regret this trade
- fvineze

Except the part where it wasn't really a trade - Darling was a UFA who went to the highest bidder that would give him a starting job. Since CC is refusing to be traded, the Hawks had zero leverage to make any other outcome happen.

Best to get something for losing him than nothing at all.