Hawks are building some breathing room from the cap hell of the last few years. They have a $3.5m cap carry-over this year that goes away after this year. At some point, they will solve the Hossa situation through a trade. That's $8.7m of room. Add another bit of annual cap growth, and they likely have $10m to spend next summer. And there are no players currently looking at significant raises in the next two years.
- Cmonalready

Wow. Quite different than the last 2-3 years. Now, Stan has to make sure NOT to throw a 7-8 million long term (5-6-7 yr deal) deal at some smuck that we will regret by year 2 !!!

The following stat is a rookie without a defined role that went down to the AHL and back. Very interested to see Schmaltz' approach this year after getting a good taste of what the NHL is all about: http://www.dobberhockey.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Among all forwards with at least 700 minutes of five-on-five ice time, it was Ryan Getzlaf at the top of the leaderboard in primary assists per 60 minutes. In second place was Connor McDavid. Just behind McDavid was Chicago forward Nick Schmaltz. Seriously.
- Mr Ricochet

was also 3rd on the team in total points per 60 5X5 behind PAN and KANE. I think he will have a big jump this year. I think Hartman might have a hard time putting up better numbers then last year.

Looking at free agents, here is all i can see for faceoff guys/bottom pairing d that stan may invite on a pto:

Defense:
Kindl
Franson
Jokipakka
Wideman
Weber


Center:
McClement
Mitchell

Not too exciting but anyone functuinal in that group?
- ikeane

You really, really do not want him.

The entire reason Canes went out to get Kruger was because of how utterly useless McClement has been.

Looking at free agents, here is all i can see for faceoff guys/bottom pairing d that stan may invite on a pto:

Defense:
Kindl
Franson
Jokipakka
Wideman
Weber


Center:
McClement
Mitchell

Not too exciting but anyone functuinal in that group?
- ikeane

None of these guys are game breakers, they could be depth options on PTOs at most. But that's to be expected with the players that haven't signed by late August. For a depth d-man Weber might not be too bad, I could see him or Wideman getting a PTO.

The following stat is a rookie without a defined role that went down to the AHL and back. Very interested to see Schmaltz' approach this year after getting a good taste of what the NHL is all about: http://www.dobberhockey.c...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Among all forwards with at least 700 minutes of five-on-five ice time, it was Ryan Getzlaf at the top of the leaderboard in primary assists per 60 minutes. In second place was Connor McDavid. Just behind McDavid was Chicago forward Nick Schmaltz. Seriously.
- Mr Ricochet

I'm a little surprised by this, but not "YUGELY." The kid has obvious gifts.

And it is possible I am wrong—but in this instance, I don't think so—you can't just plop him down anywhere on the ice and expect him to deliver optimally. A lot of it has to do with playing him with at least one "finisher" and at least one space creator, and ideally, play him at center or his more natural wing position, right wing.

Which relative to the rest of the roster, is tougher in terms of using him versus someone else.

Hawks are building some breathing room from the cap hell of the last few years. They have a $3.5m cap carry-over this year that goes away after this year. At some point, they will solve the Hossa situation through a trade. That's $8.7m of room. Add another bit of annual cap growth, and they likely have $10m to spend next summer. And there are no players currently looking at significant raises in the next two years.
- Cmonalready

Hmm there are players likely looking for raises in the next two years, though. Maybe not significant, but they could build up. Just off the top of my head, there's Hartman, Schmaltz, Kempny, Forsling, Jurco, and/or Hayden - depending on how their years ago. With a lot of his comparables getting $5.3-5.8m, Trouba is going to eat over half that supposed $10m, but that amount hinges on them being able to move Hossa completely (which will take a high sweetener because the Hawks will be back to being hard pressed to move him and other teams will know it).

None of it really matters since the Hawks don't have the assets to get someone like Trouba from a divisional rival. I'd loooooove Trouba on the Hawks, but it's just wishful thinking on many levels.

I'm a little surprised by this, but not "YUGELY." The kid has obvious gifts.

And it is possible I am wrong—but in this instance, I don't think so—you can't just plop him down anywhere on the ice and expect him to deliver optimally. A lot of it has to do with playing him with at least one "finisher" and at least one space creator, and ideally, play him at center or his more natural wing position, right wing.

Which relative to the rest of the roster, is tougher in terms of using him versus someone else.
- John Jaeckel

Agree, that's how building it should be done with all the lines. Might take them a bit to see which position is a fit for Schmaltz, and of course there's the blender. But I think you're right on in the quote that's bolded.

I'm a little surprised by this, but not "YUGELY." The kid has obvious gifts.

And it is possible I am wrong—but in this instance, I don't think so—you can't just plop him down anywhere on the ice and expect him to deliver optimally. A lot of it has to do with playing him with at least one "finisher" and at least one space creator, and ideally, play him at center or his more natural wing position, right wing.

Which relative to the rest of the roster, is tougher in terms of using him versus someone else.
- John Jaeckel

Schmaltz has the makings of a playmaker, so he can work with shooter-shooter, shooter-balanced, or shooter-playmaker. A space creator can both be a shooter or balanced type, btw. AA-Kane on paper could work as would Sharp-Hartman. The latter is preferred, but it's hard to imagine Q will start both Schmaltz/Sharp away from Kane unless someone else has an outstanding camp and/or they acquire someone.

Schmaltz has the makings of a playmaker, so he can work with shooter-shooter, shooter-balanced, or shooter-playmaker. A space creator can both be a shooter or balanced type, btw. AA-Kane on paper could work as would Sharp-Hartman. The latter is preferred, but it's hard to imagine Q will start both Schmaltz/Sharp away from Kane unless someone else has an outstanding camp and/or they acquire someone.
- L_B_R

Barring any trades I am hoping for a Sharp-Schmaltz-Hartman 3rd line. Hopefully somebody else can step up and play LW with AA and PK.

Schmaltz has only played 61 games, but he did finish the season strong. Schmaltz may not be ready to go up against other centres like Getzlaf, but not many kids with 61 games under their belt are. This season I am looking to see Schmaltz continue his improvement, I don't expect him to instantly emerge as a top 6 threat (but I do have my fingers crossed).

Why do people say Nick natural wing is RW? He shots R which most of the time would mean he is a Natural LW. Others the shot R are HINO, HAYDEN, HARTMAN,SHARP, WINGELS. which mostly play LW.

Barring any trades I am hoping for a Sharp-Schmaltz-Hartman 3rd line. Hopefully somebody else can step up and play LW with AA and PK.

Schmaltz has only played 61 games, but he did finish the season strong. Schmaltz may not be ready to go up against other centres like Getzlaf, but not many kids with 61 games under their belt are. This season I am looking to see Schmaltz continue his improvement, I don't expect him to instantly emerge as a top 6 threat (but I do have my fingers crossed).
- DarthKane

If he plays the way he did after being called up and pulls the trigger a bit more, he will be fine. He produced offense like a top 6 player but just didn't find a way to impact the scoresheet on the PP. I could see him playing on Toews RW (Panik isn't a lock) or could even bump AA down to 3C with Panarin gone. He played on line 1 and 2 but also generated good chances when he was on line 4 immediately after being recalled from the AHL.

Barring any trades I am hoping for a Sharp-Schmaltz-Hartman 3rd line. Hopefully somebody else can step up and play LW with AA and PK.

Schmaltz has only played 61 games, but he did finish the season strong. Schmaltz may not be ready to go up against other centres like Getzlaf, but not many kids with 61 games under their belt are. This season I am looking to see Schmaltz continue his improvement, I don't expect him to instantly emerge as a top 6 threat (but I do have my fingers crossed).
- DarthKane

If Schmaltz was 3C, he likely wouldn't see much of Getzlaf anyway - he'd be facing Toews/Kane depending on home/away situation. Same with Kesler. Think of how little Shaw saw any top line centers on the way to the cup in 2013 or even Vermette in 2015.

Hmm there are players likely looking for raises in the next two years, though. Maybe not significant, but they could build up. Just off the top of my head, there's Hartman, Schmaltz, Kempny, Forsling, Jurco, and/or Hayden - depending on how their years ago. With a lot of his comparables getting $5.3-5.8m, Trouba is going to eat over half that supposed $10m, but that amount hinges on them being able to move Hossa completely (which will take a high sweetener because the Hawks will be back to being hard pressed to move him and other teams will know it).

None of it really matters since the Hawks don't have the assets to get someone like Trouba from a divisional rival. I'd loooooove Trouba on the Hawks, but it's just wishful thinking on many levels.
- L_B_R

Is that right? Or can't the Hawks free up most, or All of Hossa's Cap hit by keeping him and putting him on IR all season. Does he really have to be traded in order to get the Cap space? Why does he NEED to be traded?....Can somebody clearly explain difference???

Is that right? Or can't the Hawks free up most, or All of Hossa's Cap hit by keeping him and putting him on IR all season. Does he really have to be traded in order to get the Cap space? Why does he NEED to be traded?....Can somebody clearly explain difference???
- hawk35

When on LTIR the cap hit doesn't really get removed, but the team can spend over the cap depending on how close they are to the cap.

Cap Friendly has some details. https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq

Basic Formula Example
The league upper limit is $69M. A team has an averaged club salary of $68M and a player with a cap hit of $5M becomes injured and the team places him on LTIR. The team is now permitted to spend up to a new limit of $73M:
Cap hit of LTIR player is $5M
Amount of cap space available to team = $69M - $68M = $1M
Amount team can exceed the cap = $5M - $1M = $4M
New limit = $69M + $4M = $73M
To add to this example, if the team were to recall a player from the AHL, with a cap hit of $950k, the teams would instead be permitted to spend up to a new limit of $73.95M:
Cap hit of LTIR player is $5M
Amount of cap space available to team = $69M - $68.95M = $0.05M
Amount team can exceed the cap = $5M - $0.05M = $4.95M
New limit = $69M + $4.95M = $73.95M
For this reason, when a player is activated onto LTIR, one day recalls are relatively common as they can be used to maximize the cap relief from an LTIR player.

Is that right? Or can't the Hawks free up most, or All of Hossa's Cap hit by keeping him and putting him on IR all season. Does he really have to be traded in order to get the Cap space? Why does he NEED to be traded?....Can somebody clearly explain difference???
- hawk35

For this year, they'll place him on LTIR after the season starts and it will allow them to go over the cap by most of his cap hit. The cap hit is still there, the team can just now go over the limit. Next year is where it would get confusing about the LTIR process, and I've read different takes on what the Hawks can do, but I'm still not sure which is correct.

One take is that once Hossa is on LTIR this year, they don't have to place him on it again in the year to come, he just kind of stays. This doesn't sound right but the CBA often doesn't so who knows. They can put him on LTIR in the summer before season starts, but only if they have all the overage space accounted for - this leaves no wiggle room in-season really. Or they can do exactly what they're doing this year, wait for the season to start. The latter just means they have to plan a lot for next year and it would be hard to have a big, long term pickup this year (so like Trouba).

Trading him is the only for sure way to remove his cap hit completely.

Please stop yourselves, Nick Schmaltz critics. Yes he needs to improve and grow his game, but you have to remember that he has not even played a ful season yet. He is certainly quality playmaker, so teaming him up with the right people on a line is important. I hear so many people saying how Quenville needs to be patient with the young guys ...... well there you go. Patience but we do need to see more out of him

Why do people say Nick natural wing is RW? He shots R which most of the time would mean he is a Natural LW. Others the shot R are HINO, HAYDEN, HARTMAN,SHARP, WINGELS. which mostly play LW.
- kmw4631

Left wing: Traditionally a left-handed shot, but the NHL is seeing more right-handers playing this position now, a practice picked up from the Europeans. A right-hander has a better angle to shoot from when he’s coming in on his wing. Like the right wing, he needs to be able to dig out the puck from the corners and battle in front of the net.

For this year, they'll place him on LTIR after the season starts and it will allow them to go over the cap by most of his cap hit. The cap hit is still there, the team can just now go over the limit. Next year is where it would get confusing about the LTIR process, and I've read different takes on what the Hawks can do, but I'm still not sure which is correct.

One take is that once Hossa is on LTIR this year, they don't have to place him on it again in the year to come, he just kind of stays. This doesn't sound right but the CBA often doesn't so who knows. They can put him on LTIR in the summer before season starts, but only if they have all the overage space accounted for - this leaves no wiggle room in-season really. Or they can do exactly what they're doing this year, wait for the season to start. The latter just means they have to plan a lot for next year and it would be hard to have a big, long term pickup this year (so like Trouba).

Trading him is the only for sure way to remove his cap hit completely.
- L_B_R

Thanks for the clarifications guys. So, it seems to me that I WOULD NOT trade a significant piece with Hossa for the little bit of extra flexibility it would create. Maybe something small, but not much. Definitely not a top prospect or #1 pick. It would seem it is better to have him moved, but not a whole lot better. So, I would not part with anything substancial. At least the way I see it.

Left wing: Traditionally a left-handed shot, but the NHL is seeing more right-handers playing this position now, a practice picked up from the Europeans. A right-hander has a better angle to shoot from when he’s coming in on his wing. Like the right wing, he needs to be able to dig out the puck from the corners and battle in front of the net.
- walleyeb1

has a better angle for a one timer. Also has a better angle to cut to the middle and shoot.

Left wing: Traditionally a left-handed shot, but the NHL is seeing more right-handers playing this position now, a practice picked up from the Europeans. A right-hander has a better angle to shoot from when he’s coming in on his wing. Like the right wing, he needs to be able to dig out the puck from the corners and battle in front of the net.
- walleyeb1

I thought D was L LD R RD which is why its hard to find and for forwards is was the opposite. Kane, Hossa are L RW, PAN was R LW.

Report: Beauchemin signs on for third stint with Ducks https://t.co/guONnE2F9P

— NBC ProHockeyTalk (@ProHockeyTalk) August 21, 2017

Left wing: Traditionally a left-handed shot, but the NHL is seeing more right-handers playing this position now, a practice picked up from the Europeans. A right-hander has a better angle to shoot from when he’s coming in on his wing. Like the right wing, he needs to be able to dig out the puck from the corners and battle in front of the net.
- walleyeb1

The Rocket (Richard) was a left handed RW who made the power move and swing back curl in close to see all of the net.
(I unfortunately only saw the Rocket after he tore his achileles.)
The fact is much of the first 60 years on the 20th Century saw the majority of the NHL players as left shooters..I have the old original six programs to prove it (when you compare position to shooting hand, as being left handed was discouraged and very few guys no matter what hand they wrote with shot left.

Yeah Euro wingers like Petr Klima started showing up and confusing things,,,

Report: Beauchemin signs on for third stint with Ducks https://t.co/guONnE2F9P

— NBC ProHockeyTalk (@ProHockeyTalk) August 21, 2017

- DarthKane

The Ducks in a nice place solid depth, abd just need the kid goalie to get a little better.

Schmaltz has the makings of a playmaker, so he can work with shooter-shooter, shooter-balanced, or shooter-playmaker. A space creator can both be a shooter or balanced type, btw. AA-Kane on paper could work as would Sharp-Hartman. The latter is preferred, but it's hard to imagine Q will start both Schmaltz/Sharp away from Kane unless someone else has an outstanding camp and/or they acquire someone.
- L_B_R

At some point, everyone can stop playing NHL 17 and put guys in their natural positions, unlike last year where we didn't have the roster to do so.

The other thing is it'll be much better for Schmaltz' development to put him where his upside is. And that's not left wing.

I'll be a little shocked if Sharp isn't playing opposite Kane in Game 1. Not YUGELY. But . . . and I'll submit Hartman is more natural on the left than Schmaltz, especially as a finisher, on the left side, not to mention the stuff that doesn't show up on the scoresheet that Kane not only needs but has expressly asked for.

has a better angle for a one timer. Also has a better angle to cut to the middle and shoot.
- 6628

Correct.

As a right hander playing RW or a lefthander playing LW, you have to shoot across your body and you have less of a 180 degree shooting arc at the net from any given place on your side of center. Playing the wing on the "off"side of your stick (ie LH playing RW) gives you more and better shooting angles anywhere your side of the center of the ice.