John Jaeckel: Prospects: Those Playing, Those Of An NHL Season

JJ,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the Red Wings prospects in Grand Rapids and/or Juniors and which, if any, stand out to you. Not sure if you've had a chance to really look at them.

I was at the Rockford/Griffins game last night. I did notice Rockford is a fairly big team with good size. The Wings have had very few 1st rounders the last 12 years (I can only think of like 3). So they keep having to fish for overlooked mid-level and low-level players or take a chance on a somebody who may have been projected to be a 1st rounder but fell into the 2nd or 3rd round due to injury (I heard this was the case with Tvrdon & Pulkinen). I do think the Wings' front office have done a good job considering how late they usually have to make their picks. I think this is the best Griffins team we've had in GR in about 5 years.

I've noticed that Bollig is a big, tough player... any chance the Hawks will pull him up to add some muscle ? Not sure where he's at in his development. The Wings could use a player like that.

Are we sure the "core" is as good as we think it is? And even if so, how long can the Hawks wait for the depth you talk about to be NHL Reay?

We said all last year year - they have 4 top-6 forwards, who, I don't think, have shown much in the last two play-offs.

Kane/Toews have 3 years left on their contracts - if the Hawks are still not addressing their needs by the time they become FAs, and depending on the CBA's effect on FAs, will they stick around?

Hossa - maybe a 40% chance he begins sliding; Sharp is over 30. Keith - the Keith of 3 years ago or the Keith of the last two?

The sooner SB and company complete a true SC contender the better.

I am glad, tho, that Simpson's GAA is under 9.00 - you just hate it when they give up a goal an inning.

I love your coverage of the Hawks but I have to disagree with you. Paradis has no shot at the NHL. His skating sucks and has cement hands. The only thing he has going is his compete level. Shaw,Pirri,Morin,Saad,Smith,Bollig, Kruger and possibly Beach, are good enough forwards for the NHL. Jimmy Hayes is the biggest disappointment for me. He has Bickell disease. As big as he is and as well as he skated he should be killing people and creating space for his linemates. Flick nope.

Look at the Hawk roster; it is and has been top heavy, very strong in the top 6 and top defensive pairing, but weak in terms of reliable, quality depth and physicality.

Enter Brandon Bollig, Andrew Shaw, Marcus Kruger, Philippe Paradis, Ryan Stanton, Klas Dahlbeck, Ben Smith, Mark McNeill, Philip Danault and possibly Joakim Nordstrom (currently playing in the Swedish Elite Men’s League for AIK) and Rob Flick. All of these players appear to have NHL ability in some areas, and enough to play somewhere on the bottom half of the roster in checking, defensive or two-way roles. It can also be argued that Danault, Kruger and Shaw could be second line players in the NHL.

Paradis, Flick and Bollig could be a competent 4th line in the NHL very soon, meting out a lot of hits and keeping other teams’ troublemakers honest.
- John Jaeckel

As much as we all would love them to find a solid 2C, I really like what they have coming. Come 13-14, a bottom six along the lines of:
Shaw/Kruger/Danault
Bollig/Flick/Smith
would be a step up IMO from where they've been the last few years. This would hopefully result in more ice time for the lower lines, as they would be trusted more by the coaching staff than some of the stiffs (Johnson, Pisani, Scott, etc) they have suited up recently.

Cutting down the minutes of Toews, Kane, Hossa and Sharp would probably result in similar production to what we've seen in the past, but leave them a better chance of being healthy come spring. As long as Q is still the coach here, he will overuse hit top players unless he is given a bottom half of the roster with which he is comfortable.

I love your coverage of the Hawks but I have to disagree with you. Paradis has no shot at the NHL. His skating sucks and has cement hands. The only thing he has going is his compete level. Shaw,Pirri,Morin,Saad,Smith,Bollig, Kruger and possibly Beach, are good enough forwards for the NHL. Jimmy Hayes is the biggest disappointment for me. He has Bickell disease. As big as he is and as well as he skated he should be killing people and creating space for his linemates. Flick nope.
- lemieux26

Dunno, Paradis does what you want from a 4th liner, same with Flick. Skating questions are valid. Though some who have watched Flick more than I say his skating is good enough.

Bickell's skating >>>> Hayes' skating, FWIW. Hayes has gotten better since last year, but I just don't see the production or improvement to say he can be a productive NHL player on a good team.

Not sure I agree with you on Pirri (especially) or Morin yet.

JJ,

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the Red Wings prospects in Grand Rapids and/or Juniors and which, if any, stand out to you. Not sure if you've had a chance to really look at them.

I was at the Rockford/Griffins game last night. I did notice Rockford is a fairly big team with good size. The Wings have had very few 1st rounders the last 12 years (I can only think of like 3). So they keep having to fish for overlooked mid-level and low-level players or take a chance on a somebody who may have been projected to be a 1st rounder but fell into the 2nd or 3rd round due to injury (I heard this was the case with Tvrdon & Pulkinen). I do think the Wings' front office have done a good job considering how late they usually have to make their picks. I think this is the best Griffins team we've had in GR in about 5 years.

I've noticed that Bollig is a big, tough player... any chance the Hawks will pull him up to add some muscle ? Not sure where he's at in his development. The Wings could use a player like that.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Tatar was good last night, eh?

I have heard good things about Pulkinen. Tvrdon, I have heard has some skating issues that could hold him back as he progresses in competition. Brendan Smith looks like he will be a nice player. Sheahan, too. Jurco has some potential upside.

But here's the deal, Holland has not "hit" on anyone like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen in some time. The Wings, to varying degrees, with the retirements of Lidstrom, Rafalski and Stevie Y, the aging of Datsyuk, Franzen and Zetterberg, are looking to rpelace significant once in a lifetime, once in ageneration, once a decade type playersas you point out—with years of later picks.

There was a time when the Wings clearly scouted Europe better than everyone else, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Gotta be honest, and I am not a Wing "hater" (really respect the organization), I think the Wings are looking at a really rough next season and maybe a slow decline for a few years.

They still have a great coach and a few great players (when they're healthy anymore) but the holes are getting big enough to drive a truck through. A new CBA with a reduced cap is not going to help them either. yeah, they wil have some cap room, but I also think the days of sweetheart FA deals to play for a Cup in Detroit are now officially over. They've lost that mojo. Hey, you can argue that the Hawks, much younger and with a more recent Cup, might have the same problem to a degree.

On at the top of the hour with Chris Block.

Actually doing some hockey [email protected]

Hoping for a hockey-filled new year!

Tatar was good last night, eh?

I have heard good things about Pulkinen. Tvrdon, I have heard has some skating issues that could hold him back as he progresses in competition. Brendan Smith looks like he will be a nice player. Sheahan, too. Jurco has some potential upside.

But here's the deal, Holland has not "hit" on anyone like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen in some time. The Wings, to varying degrees, with the retirements of Lidstrom, Rafalski and Stevie Y, the aging of Datsyuk, Franzen and Zetterberg, are looking to rpelace significant once in a lifetime, once in ageneration, once a decade type playersas you point out—with years of later picks.

There was a time when the Wings clearly scouted Europe better than everyone else, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Gotta be honest, and I am not a Wing "hater" (really respect the organization), I think the Wings are looking at a really rough next season and maybe a slow decline for a few years.

They still have a great coach and a few great players (when they're healthy anymore) but the holes are getting big enough to drive a truck through. A new CBA with a reduced cap is not going to help them either. yeah, they wil have some cap room, but I also think the days of sweetheart FA deals to play for a Cup in Detroit are now officially over. They've lost that mojo. Hey, you can argue that the Hawks, much younger and with a more recent Cup, might have the same problem to a degree.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah... Tatar is on a torrid pace this year. He's been fun to watch in GR over the last few years. The top line of Nyquist, Tatar, and Joakim Andersson is one of the best lines in the AHL. They're ready for the NHL. Brendan Smith would definitely be in Detroit full-time if the NHL was playing right now. This is good... because the Wings need an infusion of talented youth in Detroit. Their rookie goaltender Mrazek (who you saw play yesterday) has had a huge impact for the Griffins. They haven't had a goalie this good in Grand Rapids in a long time. He's 11-3 since becoming a Griffin. We'll see if he's NHL material down the road.

I do agree with your assessment that Holland hasn't hit on a superstar player in a while with his low round draft picks. Much harder to do now that other NHL clubs scout Europe thoroughly. I do think their European Head of Scouting (Hakan Andersson is still arguably the best in the NHL though).

The Wings star players (their core) are now aging (mid-thirties) so that is definitely a major concern for any Wing's fan. Having a major fire sale or a massive rebuild is NOT Holland's style and that is not how the Wing's organization has built the franchise (so it probably won't happen). But you make a good point... how is Holland & Co. going to fill some very big holes as their star players retire with many years worth of low round draft picks ?? Not an easy thing to do. The price of the organization's continued success over the last 13 years does come with a price with the lower round picks. And yes... the sweetheart deals of enticing free agents to a Cup contending team in Detroit are over.

I think Holland & Co. will keep doing what they have always done very successfully... keep drafting good players and developing them and transitioning those prospects to Detroit. Granted... the Wings probably won't be legit Cup contenders anytime soon. But I do think they will at least stay competitive and probably make the playoffs the next several years. And the reason I think that is because I think collectively they have the best bunch of prospects in their farm system since the early 90's which works in their favor. Don't get me wrong though... getting to the NHL for any prospect is a crap shoot at best.... (outside of a top 10 overall pick). Last I checked... "Hockey's Future.com had the Hawks and Wings prospects ranked #10 & #11 respectively out of 30 NHL farm systems. I do think the Hawks can still be Cup Contenders with their talented nucleus for the next couple of years... but If they don't upgrade their goaltending I don't think they can win the cup.

Yeah... Tatar is on a torrid pace this year. He's been fun to watch in GR over the last few years. The top line of Nyquist, Tatar, and Joakim Andersson is one of the best lines in the AHL. They're ready for the NHL. Brendan Smith would definitely be in Detroit full-time if the NHL was playing right now. This is good... because the Wings need an infusion of talented youth in Detroit. Their rookie goaltender Mrazek (who you saw play yesterday) has had a huge impact for the Griffins. They haven't had a goalie this good in Grand Rapids in a long time. He's 11-3 since becoming a Griffin. We'll see if he's NHL material down the road.

I do agree with your assessment that Holland hasn't hit on a superstar player in a while with his low round draft picks. Much harder to do now that other NHL clubs scout Europe thoroughly. I do think their European Head of Scouting (Hakan Andersson is still arguably the best in the NHL though).

The Wings star players (their core) are now aging (mid-thirties) so that is definitely a major concern for any Wing's fan. Having a major fire sale or a massive rebuild is NOT Holland's style and that is not how the Wing's organization has built the franchise (so it probably won't happen). But you make a good point... how is Holland & Co. going to fill some very big holes as their star players retire with many years worth of low round draft picks ?? Not an easy thing to do. The price of the organization's continued success over the last 13 years does come with a price with the lower round picks. And yes... the sweetheart deals of enticing free agents to a Cup contending team in Detroit are over.

I think Holland & Co. will keep doing what they have always done very successfully... keep drafting good players and developing them and transitioning those prospects to Detroit. Granted... the Wings probably won't be legit Cup contenders anytime soon. But I do think they will at least stay competitive and probably make the playoffs the next several years. And the reason I think that is because I think collectively they have the best bunch of prospects in their farm system since the early 90's which works in their favor. Don't get me wrong though... getting to the NHL for any prospect is a crap shoot at best.... (outside of a top 10 overall pick). Last I checked... "Hockey's Future.com had the Hawks and Wings prospects ranked #10 & #11 respectively out of 30 NHL farm systems. I do think the Hawks can still be Cup Contenders with their talented nucleus for the next couple of years... but If they don't upgrade their goaltending I don't think they can win the cup.
- Vladdie_Kon1

With all due respect to the folks at Hockey Futures...To say a Hawks strength is at the center position is misleading. To make an evaluation on depth requires more than counting players who have played the position because quite a few will end up on the wing in the NHL.

They aren't deep at center in Rockford...arguably the best natural center who played there last year, Pirri, couldn't get a sniff in Chgo last season despite many injuries at the pivot.

As John has pointed out there appears to be NHL players developing in Rockford but many are of the 3rd and 4th line variety.

As far as the future goes, the more recent draft classes appear to be the ones to get excited about although once again there might not be more than a couple of top six forwards in the bunch...

The defensive propsects are ok...Although they all need more seasoning.

Goal tending is a concern especially if Hutton can't prove to be consistent and Crawford doesn't improve.

Bowman will have to find a goal tender or two from outside the Organization.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

With all due respect to the folks at Hockey Futures...To say a Hawks strength is at the center position is misleading. To make an evaluation on depth requires more than counting players who have played the position because quite a few will end up on the wing in the NHL.

They aren't deep at center in Rockford...arguably the best natural center who played there last year, Pirri, couldn't get a sniff in Chgo last season despite many injuries at the pivot.

As John has pointed out there appears to be NHL players developing in Rockford but many are of the 3rd and 4th line variety.

As far as the future goes, the more recent draft classes appear to be the ones to get excited about although once again there might not be more than a couple of top six forwards in the bunch...

The defensive propsects are ok...Although they all need more seasoning.

Goal tending is a concern especially if Hutton can't prove to be consistent and Crawford doesn't improve.

Bowman will have to find a goal tender or two from outside the Organization.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

yep, yep ,yep, yep, Al , i do agree with your last statement! do I dare even say "the magic words", once this thing is settled and "the active trade market begins .
Let's see, we have a plether of prospects, and some "bad money. I am sure there are a couple of teams out there that have "an experienced top end goalie they would probably entertain the thought of moving if the "right " deal came along for both sides, yes/ no. I have 1 in mind. now remember we have Zero goalies in the system at this point who could potentially win us a cup! , especially Carter (Brian LaHair) Hutton. you catch the comparison, right? so which means " with the high end team we have, we just need the goalie to come in and not be the team captian, or the face of the franchise! just stop the puck!! give us at least 5 years of solid goaltending and leave the other B>S> to 19,88, 10,81 ect!, while we draft & properly develope a long term goalie! or do you in your heart feel Corey Crawford could be "the Guy" with this team close to winning another cup AL?

Third viewing of the LW Danault and RW McNeill complementing wrecking ball checking centre Boone Jenner in the Canada vs. Russia game.
(Brett Ritchie also saw time shiffted into McNeill's RW too..)

McNeill & Danault are also the first team penalty-killers.
(including that almost goal by McNeill on the Pk where he hit the crossbar...)

They spend almost every shift against Buffalo's Mikhail Grigorenko, undrafted Anton Slepyshev & Tampa's Nikita Kucherov.

They check the poop out of them, take the play away from them with THEIR chances, run the cycle and take SO many minutes off the Russian possession time that limited the Russian scoring lines attack zone minutes.

I really wished for a rematch just so we can see if Russian tries to get their line off and away from playing them heads up.

Chiming in on JJs point:
As fans, we would love to continue to drink koolaid I try and see that we drafted a bigtime scorer every pick every year, but it really is outstanding when you do not have to project at how if guys have the understanding and followthrough on the ice.

These two kids playin on wing, and play it BEYOND the elite level at junior. the centre position is where they started so it is an easy transition to move over.

They are NOT ready for Blackhawk prime time, even as checkers.

But when they are READY they will be ready for the part that so many young draftees spend years in pro adjusting to: being solid in the own end, and on the attack they will continue to develop that cycle and their attack skills, never having to brain clogged with understanding defense, which means the advance on instinct, and more offense prowess comes as they work.

They two kids make me very excited, because that means two more guys who bring it, and that means more chances for anyone who has scoring skills to prosper along with either as linemates or as teammates.

yep, yep ,yep, yep, Al , i do agree with your last statement! do I dare even say "the magic words", once this thing is settled and "the active trade market begins .
Let's see, we have a plether of prospects, and some "bad money. I am sure there are a couple of teams out there that have "an experienced top end goalie they would probably entertain the thought of moving if the "right " deal came along for both sides, yes/ no. I have 1 in mind. now remember we have Zero goalies in the system at this point who could potentially win us a cup! , especially Carter (Brian LaHair) Hutton. you catch the comparison, right? so which means " with the high end team we have, we just need the goalie to come in and not be the team captian, or the face of the franchise! just stop the puck!! give us at least 5 years of solid goaltending and leave the other B>S> to 19,88, 10,81 ect!, while we draft & properly develope a long term goalie! or do you in your heart feel Corey Crawford could be "the Guy" with this team close to winning another cup AL?
- wonthecup10

I'm not ready to give up on Crawford yet, but his leash will be shorter than ever, in a 48 game schedule eveything will be high intensity.

Especially so because Q. knows if the team sputters or doesn't win more than 1 playoff round he could be looking at an early exit from Chgo.

Minny has loaded up so unless they are not in the hunt for a playoff spot they won't think of dealing Backstrom. But if they disappoint, he is in the last season of his hefty contract.

The way it looks now, if things get started at least 20 of 30 teams will make the playoffs....So it will likely be more difficult to trade at the deadline.

From what I have heard recently there could be some good trade action before things get started. In many ways that makes the most sense.

Are we sure the "core" is as good as we think it is? And even if so, how long can the Hawks wait for the depth you talk about to be NHL Reay?

We said all last year year - they have 4 top-6 forwards, who, I don't think, have shown much in the last two play-offs.
Kane/Toews have 3 years left on their contracts -, will they stick around?

Hossa - maybe a 40% chance he begins sliding;
- StLBravesFan

I think before contracts end, they will do the standard: conversations to test whether if Toews and Kane want to stay and get a deal in play beforehand.
If not they trade them.

I think you need to think more immediate and not try and go off into the 2-3 projections (something as a fanatic fan I did for most of my years wearing that Indianhead on my heart like we do...), it serves little purpose.

The Hawks have had training staff skating Hossa everyday for months now, with the hopes he CAN be diagnosed as fit and ready.

Toews admitted he was not completely healed from his fifth concussion when he played in the playoffs. His choice to not go somewhere in Europe to play wanst so much a choice as a recommendation.

You think the reason that they were so readily willing to throw a ridiculous 10 million at Parise was to just say we tried?

If this shorten schedule starts the 19th, three losses can devastate a team in the standings.
So your concern about core and depth are well taken.
They couldn't just "fill" if the top guys are out, but it sure is comforting that there is such a thick group of possible replacements, even if we view them as a 3-4 building plan.
Vladdie_Kon1:
I really don't think Detroit can look at the group they have with the same comfort.
Tomas Tatar ready for the NHL?
You think he will get to shoot the puck 200 plus times to score 20 goals for the wings? I just don't see it. I don't care about goal totals, unless I think the AHL player can play NHL three zone hockey and imo tatar cannot.
The Czech goaler Mrazek (loved him in junior for his battling prowess) is really quick, but since you are regularvI am sure you know what part of the net he has much trouble stopping puck entrance in.
Joakim Andersson is that typical Swedish factory prototype centre who does all well and actually does have some scoring game. upside.
Frk the shot looks a bit more rounded at World Junior, but a concussion away from the shelf.

Nyqvist a solid player and NHL ready but I am not sure he is a top line guy or even ever a second line guy.

Granted, the kid World junior canada on dee Xavier Ouellet is so much better than when he played junior. He really can place the puck from the point and actually seems to have taken steps to becoem a much more complete defensive player, beacsue before now he look ordinary.
There are many IFs in wing system...and when you have larger quanity of guys even when they are Ifs like that hawks do, you have more chances that they succeed and prosper...

The way it looks now, if things get started at least 20 of 30 teams will make the playoffs....
- Al

Al, I must have missed the additional teams in post season...

Is that a permanent thing that is being added for when the league adds the two new teams, or what?

I'm not ready to give up on Crawford yet, but his leash will be shorter than ever, in a 48 game schedule eveything will be high intensity.

Especially so because Q. knows if the team sputters or doesn't win more than 1 playoff round he could be looking at an early exit from Chgo.

Minny has loaded up so unless they are not in the hunt for a playoff spot they won't think of dealing Backstrom. But if they disappoint, he is in the last season of his hefty contract.

The way it looks now, if things get started at least 20 of 30 teams will make the playoffs....So it will likely be more difficult to trade at the deadline.

From what I have heard recently there could be some good trade action before things get started. In many ways that makes the most sense.
- Al

i was thinking potentially about ryan miller ( and no not for kane either), but i don't know AL what the sabres have as far as goalies in their system. i am also gonna keep a close eye on roberto luongo's status also. would that be something if he came here & won us a cup with the team we have! i am in the minority AL but that guy is also a top 5 goalie in the league just in the wrong situation in vancouver as far as not just being a G.D. goalie minus all the other crap! but i do like ryan miller alot!

Vladdie_Kon1 says ...

"Last I checked... "Hockey's Future.com had the Hawks and Wings prospects ranked #10 & #11 respectively out of 30 NHL farm systems. I do think the Hawks can still be Cup Contenders with their talented nucleus for the next couple of years... but If they don't upgrade their goaltending I don't think they can win the cup.

I used to work as the Blackhawk editor there. (before the purge and grab back of the site by the original brothers and the business partners when they saw that the site ads could now be a profitable venture over love of hockey.)

I wouldn't put much stock in their assessments evaluations or predictions.

Now the fans on the their boards?

Many are excellent evaluators and can lend more insight to many young prospects than the editors.

Many of the editors were hired based on journalist prowess, and not hockey watching skills. Use this as your litmus test: Go back read the evaluations they have written on guys that have suddenly filled in on major league with success...you will see so much misinformation or vague cliches and not a single solid attribute on how he, say, handles carrying, or working the cycle, or even if he is a average, or superb passer.
I love to read what they write when draft picks are chosen, and then finish junior, start up the ladder and they typecast the kid with the original evaluation, never commenting on growth, back steps, giant leaps. Goofs like me find that good comedic reading.

Tell you what: I would never say Corey Crawford is better than Jimmy Howard, but tell you what I think Jimmy Howard will be even less productive without Lidstrom, because he really is not that good either.

Boy, Happy New Year BILLY BOY Wiz...you sound like a bitter old twit, not just an old twit!

Al, I must have missed the additional teams in post season...

Is that a permanent thing that is being added for when the league adds the two new teams, or what?
- wiz1901

Nothing etched in stone yet but the same story has been going around for a bit.

Tonight on Twitter after the meeting it was brought up again that there would be at least 4 teams added.

I get the reasons why although I don't like it...

I still haven't completely bought into the change to East and West Conferences.

I would be against more teams added unless it was a part of some sort of re-allignement.

i was thinking potentially about ryan miller ( and no not for kane either), but i don't know AL what the sabres have as far as goalies in their system. i am also gonna keep a close eye on roberto luongo's status also. would that be something if he came here & won us a cup with the team we have! i am in the minority AL but that guy is also a top 5 goalie in the league just in the wrong situation in vancouver as far as not just being a G.D. goalie minus all the other crap! but i do like ryan miller alot!
- wonthecup10

Unless he really wants out I don't see MIller being dealt. Finally they have a new owner that will spend....

Personally I am not the biggest Miller fan..

As far as Luongo...Who I feel could be better outside of Canada, I still can't see Gillis making a deal with the Hawks.

The market for goal tenders in the last few years has gone the way of NFL running backs...south.

Most GM's and especially someone like Bowman will be reluctant to commit big money to that position.

I tweeted this earlier....If the cap goes to $60 mill quickly the Hawks will have over half that amount tied up in six players....2,7,10, 19, 81 and 88...close to $35 million.

So all the talk about others being hurt by the decline is true but the Hawks have some big decsions to make as well.

Paying a goal keeper $4 mill+ probably isn't in the cards.

Although I don't fully agree, I think the Hawk philosophy on goaltending going into this season (knock wood) is to make "the house" as impenetrable as possible and give their (current) goalies as much a chance to succeed as possible. Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Rozsival and now Brookbank block a lot of shots.

The three guys acquired since March, Oduya, Rozsival and Brookbank, averaged about 115 blocks last season.

As Al points out, especially with a reduction in the cap, it's just not terribly likely the team will take on a goalie contract of any size.

Unless he really wants out I don't see MIller being dealt. Finally they have a new owner that will spend....

Personally I am not the biggest Miller fan..

As far as Luongo...Who I feel could be better outside of Canada, I still can't see Gillis making a deal with the Hawks.

The market for goal tenders in the last few years has gone the way of NFL running backs...south.

Most GM's and especially someone like Bowman will be reluctant to commit big money to that position.

I tweeted this earlier....If the cap goes to $60 mill quickly the Hawks will have over half that amount tied up in six players....2,7,10, 19, 81 and 88...close to $35 million.

So all the talk about others being hurt by the decline is true but the Hawks have some big decsions to make as well.

Paying a goal keeper $4 mill+ probably isn't in the cards.
- Al

EDIT - Inadvertantly posted this in the previous blog's message board -


My question is this - and forgive me, as I haven't followed a lot of the "Make whole" narrative over the past several months -

If there is a rollback to $60M next season, are existing contracts rolled back by a percentage. ie.e a reduction of each contract value from somewhere between 7-12% as was discussed earlier? I know this was the original intent of many of the owners, i.e. to reclaim some of the cash already committed by contracts signed under the expired CBA. I know that the NHLPA was hard-nosed about the make-whole scenario as well, but I haven't followed very closely about where that issue stands now after the last couple of proposals.

It seems that a $60M cap would be polarizing with some the owners if they are making whole all existing contracts. Teams like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and the NY Rangers will have a difficult time putting completel rosters together without being exceptionally top heavy or moving siginificant pieces. Even the Penguins have a about 52.5M committed to 15 players for the 13-14 season.

With the exception small market or over-extened teams,I would expect that a $60M cap with a make-whole arrangement would be to the detriment of both sides.

Shalunov appeared to have been have been benched for much of the last half of Russia's o/t win over Switzerland. BOO because i really like this kid.

Although I don't fully agree, I think the Hawk philosophy on goaltending going into this season (knock wood) is to make "the house" as impenetrable as possible and give their (current) goalies as much a chance to succeed as possible. Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Rozsival and now Brookbank block a lot of shots.

The three guys acquired since March, Oduya, Rozsival and Brookbank, averaged about 115 blocks last season.

As Al points out, especially with a reduction in the cap, it's just not terribly likely the team will take on a goalie contract of any size.
- John Jaeckel

Or add significantly without subtraction...

Shalunov appeared to have been have been benched for much of the last half of Russia's o/t win over Switzerland. BOO because i really like this kid.
- philco28

Think he was hurt - listened tot he game and sounded like he took a pretty serious tumble into the boards early in the first.