That's what she...forget it
- BlazinMike

Just got an email about relocating my season tix. Wonder how renewals are going?

The only logic I can think of with this is that they're going to flip Ruutta and or Gustafson at the draft because now they have some (not much) term.

Only problem with this thinking is that most GMs probably look at those deals and say 'yeah I could've had him at less AAV, why on earth did you give him x?'

Stan likely made them less valuable by giving them these deals, unless one of them really sticks out the last handful of games.
- ObeseOprah

Seriously. Wasn't Gustafson an RFA? Just tender him and I'm sure he would be happy.

Just got an email about relocating my season tix. Wonder how renewals are going?
- TJYTJY

To better seats? Are you going to want to have a better vantage point to what may be a lottery team next season?

What 5 players can you sign for $1 million each in the offseason that are going to contribute anything worthwhile?
- BINGO!

I'm not saying they sign 5 $1m guys. When I do my roster math, I build my "set" group of guys, just as you did. Then I assign $1m placeholder for every slot short of a 23 man roster. That fills the roster. Then the left over money to the cap can be used to upgrade those placeholder slots.

So, for instance, using your $69m and 19 players, I put myself at $73m and 23 players. Then there's $7m left under a $80m cap to upgrade those slots. A for instance:
Use $4m to upgrade one of those slots to a shiny new $5m free agent 1st pair D. Use $3m to upgrade one of those slots to a $4m 2C/3C. Then all you have left is two slots at $1m each, which are Wingels/Bouma/Hayden/Hinostroza/Sikura guys.

Z3 I challenge you to produce any links or any proof that show that Toews despises Panarin as you posted yesterday. I'm REALLY Looking forward to reading your response links.

I'm not saying they sign 5 $1m guys. When I do my roster math, I build my "set" group of guys, just as you did. Then I assign $1m placeholder for every slot short of a 23 man roster. That fills the roster. Then the left over money to the cap can be used to upgrade those placeholder slots.

So, for instance, using your $69m and 19 players, I put myself at $73m and 23 players. Then there's $7m left under a $80m cap to upgrade those slots. A for instance:
Use $4m to upgrade one of those slots to a shiny new $5m free agent 1st pair D. Use $3m to upgrade one of those slots to a $4m 2C/3C. Then all you have left is two slots at $1m each, which are Wingels/Bouma/Hayden/Hinostroza/Sikura guys.
- Cmonalready

And using my way of looking at the math, you can see why I don't like the Rutta signing at $2.25m.

The choice for upgrading was $8.25m of "upgrade" $$ and a Rockford D guy, or $7m upgrade $$ and Rutta. Put another way, would you rather have Rutta and a new $4m 2C, or some other Rockford D and a $5.25m 2C? I choose Rockford D guy and $5.25m.

I'm not saying they sign 5 $1m guys. When I do my roster math, I build my "set" group of guys, just as you did. Then I assign $1m placeholder for every slot short of a 23 man roster. That fills the roster. Then the left over money to the cap can be used to upgrade those placeholder slots.

So, for instance, using your $69m and 19 players, I put myself at $73m and 23 players. Then there's $7m left under a $80m cap to upgrade those slots. A for instance:
Use $4m to upgrade one of those slots to a shiny new $5m free agent 1st pair D. Use $3m to upgrade one of those slots to a $4m 2C/3C. Then all you have left is two slots at $1m each, which are Wingels/Bouma/Hayden/Hinostroza/Sikura guys.
- Cmonalready

What is the Salary Cap expected to be next season? With the preemptive signings of 6/7Dmen in Gustafson and Rutta, I'm expecting another #Tank season in 18/19.

What is the Salary Cap expected to be next season? With the preemptive signings of 6/7Dmen in Gustafson and Rutta, I'm expecting another #Tank season in 18/19.
- EnzoD

80M or so

The Gus signing I would be fine with if it was for $150 Less. IE you can bury all of it if need be. The Rutta signing I would have like another year on. Look at what UFA D men are out there this year and factor in the big jump in Cap space IE tons of spending. He will be 28 at the start of the season is a RD (+10%) and was on pace for 11 goals and 36 points in a full season. I think Rutta is better then Gus, by quite a bit. No need for both. Was Gus going to be RFA or UFA at the end of the year? I thought I read he had to basically play every game to stay a RFA? I assume this is from keeping guys in the AHL and not playing at a later age but keep Restricting there movement?

I gotta cut against the grain here. I think Rutta and Gus will be well paid and well slotted as 5, 6 or 7 D on the roster and I think Rutta could still develop to 4.
That means Keith, Seabs and Murphy have to perform at top 4 level.
These things can happen, given good health and Rutta and Murphy continuing in development. Rutta in adjusting to North American ice and Murphy developing his skating.
BUT, they still need a legit top 4 guy, before Rutta's continued development, that's the tough nut to crack.
An inch may as well be a mile in the NHL.

I gotta cut against the grain here. I think Rutta and Gus will be well paid and well slotted as 5, 6 or 7 D on the roster and I think Rutta could still develop to 4.
That means Keith, Seabs and Murphy have to perform at top 4 level.
These things can happen, given good health and Rutta and Murphy continuing in development. Rutta in adjusting to North American ice and Murphy developing his skating.
BUT, they still need a legit top 4 guy, before Rutta's continued development, that's the tough nut to crack.
An inch may as well be a mile in the NHL.
- 35Tony0

I think Rutta and Forsling were the Hawks best defensive pair for about a third of the season before they hit a wall, due to injuries for Rutta and Forsling being a young kid. I expect that pairing to be revisited next season, because they formed a nice chemistry.

Wow really surprised both Gus and Rutta got resigned especially Rutta's cap hit. Makes me really believe Bowman will be back and he really believes what he's saying when he says he likes this team. He's probably banking on the fact that after a year together that some magic gelling with occur with a new coach? Idk this is getting harder and harder to be optimistic about this team going forward unless he makes a move outta no where that can shift the balance on this team

I surrender trying to understand either our head coach or GM.

No. He's talked at length about wanting to drive this team via analytics. There's an awful lot of money to spend this offseason, and a real big % of it is going to be thrown at John Tavares.
- BINGO!

Highly doubt Tavares wants to play in Carolina no matter how much they through at him.

QUICK TAKE RE: on Rutta signing.

I don't think we will see: Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Gustafsson, Rutta, Oesterle, Forsling as the 7 defencemen in October. I still think there are moves to make.

However, I'm really surprised Stan's eagerness to sign Gustafsson and Rutta. These are guys that you could have waited on, make them sweat it out in the off-season a bit because I can almost guarantee they would not be signing for $1.2M and $2.25M respectively.

This is telling me that Bowman has been given the confidence to move forward and "tweak" this team back to greatness. Not sure what the means for Quenneville, but the #1 ranked coach by the NHLPA might on his way out and I wouldn't be surprised if it was on his own accord. His contract aside... he could find a spot for equal or more money the next day.

I'm still confident that moves are coming and a "de Haan", a "J. Moore" or a trade for a potential top-4 D can be brought because this Hawks team cannot honestly go into next year with the same defence and expect a different outcome, especially if they are not sure on the status of Corey Crawford as he can mask a lot of deficiencies in their own end.
- Justin Lowe

You are absolutely correct. I see one defensrman brought in, as you say. How....wait and see.

The overall objective is to draft and develop. These guys left now whom each one represents a slightly different strength and weaknesses, but each is an offensive dman . Which is the cheap contracts they want, the style they want and to some extent these guys are expected to improve.

If there is anything else at done, perhaps to cover for Seabrook if he falls apart (he could also be about the same next season, then gets a compliance buyout after the collective bargaining agreement iis signed)...they want a cheap physical guy.

Highly doubt Tavares wants to play in Carolina no matter how much they through at him.
- scott.jackson

Hard to say. Certainly a better group than what's in Long Island, and much more stable, but it's definitely not 1st choice on anyone's list.

QUICK TAKE RE: on Rutta signing.

1) I don't think we will see: Keith, Seabrook, Murphy, Gustafsson, Rutta, Oesterle, Forsling as the 7 defencemen in October. I still think there are moves to make.

However, 2) I'm really surprised Stan's eagerness to sign Gustafsson and Rutta. These are guys that you could have waited on, make them sweat it out in the off-season a bit because I can almost guarantee they would not be signing for $1.2M and $2.25M respectively.

This is telling me that Bowman has been given the confidence to move forward and "tweak" this team back to greatness. Not sure what the means for Quenneville, but the #1 ranked coach by the NHLPA might on his way out and I wouldn't be surprised if it was on his own accord. His contract aside... he could find a spot for equal or more money the next day.

4) I'm still confident that moves are coming and a "de Haan", a "J. Moore" or a trade for a potential top-4 D can be brought because this Hawks team cannot honestly go into next year with the same defence and expect a different outcome, especially if they are not sure on the status of Corey Crawford as he can mask a lot of deficiencies in their own end.
- Justin Lowe

1) I sure hope not
2) Stan fighting the last war - he turned over 4 of the top 6 last year and this year has been a mess. He must think worst case scenario, by brining the same guys back next year, it won't be worse than this year.
3) if the plan for next year is tweaking - or major tweaking - but short of a rebuild, it would make more sense to bring Q back for another go. The "core" are still the best players on the team and I doubt they are going anywhere between now and the start of next season.
4) Amen to that.

I think Rutta and Forsling were the Hawks best defensive pair for about a third of the season before they hit a wall, due to injuries for Rutta and Forsling being a young kid. I expect that pairing to be revisited next season, because they formed a nice chemistry.
- Hawks_49

This.
Plus there might be something to the coaching change.
Can you imagine the dialogue below

Stan: Joel, you are under contract and Rocky is supporting my fecision to allow you to tell us if you want to coach another year or do some scouting while still paid undrr your contract.

Joel: what else is there to this, Stan, because last year you told me how Ulfie was coming in to teach new style and that i had to play kids because no one else would be brought in to replace them

Stan: i don't have a clue if Stan dsys Ulfie gets a more free reign how the dmen play. But i do suggest that Stan wants to get zjoel to know that he [Bowman] feels a different teaching head coach would be a good nee head coach
And thank you, you have been a great coach. You probably do better coaching with a derper veteran laced roster..if you really want to coach the type of team we willhave, think carefully because we do not want to have you quit part way through season.

This.
Plus there might be something to the coaching change.
Can you imagine the dialogue below

Stan: Joel, you are under contract and Rocky is supporting my fecision to allow you to tell us if you want to coach another year or do some scouting while still paid undrr your contract.

Joel: what else is there to this, Stan, because last year you told me how Ulfie was coming in to teach new style and that i had to play kids because no one else would be brought in to replace them

Stan: i don't have a clue if Stan dsys Ulfie gets a more free reign how the dmen play. But i do suggest that Stan wants to get zjoel to know that he
- jhawk59[Bowman] feels a different teaching head coach would be a good nee head coach
And thank you, you have been a great coach. You probably do better coaching with a derper veteran laced roster..if you really want to coach the type of team we willhave, think carefully because we do not want to have you quit part way through season.

When did Stan grow so much testicular fortitude?

Gusererson rutta suck neither can play defense in their own zone some offense upside i'll give them that. Forsling under sized and also sucks in own zone but a lot more potential than the other two. So bowman just wasted 3.5 million roughly in cap space for two ahl defenders guess the hawks won't be getting that center power forward big wingers and backup goalie we need for next year. Now blame is squarely on mcdumbass and wirtz for letting continue be gm of the hawks. Wow enjoy the 3 cups because as long as blowman is in charge we won't see another on poor talent evaluater poor drafting lets just say he poor at everything and giving rutta and gus these extension and amount of money is just a prime example. I said it before he indirectly dismantle a dynasty over the last 10 years and continues do to do. Take the pen and phone away and put stan in the corner already senior bowman!!!

People were going nuts about Kruger making $3m, but want to keep Anisimov at $4m? I would take whatever picks I could get for him, and take the cap space. I'm also in the camp that he is not a center, and Schamltz has overtaken him.
- Antz96

Been a center for most of his career. Good for 20 goals no matter where he plays. Kills penalties and scores on the power play.

Veteran who plays good fundamental hockey. Him at 4.25 is fair money for his value.

Gusererson rutta suck neither can play defense in their own zone some offense upside i'll give them that. Forsling under sized and also sucks in own zone but a lot more potential than the other two. So bowman just wasted 3.5 million roughly in cap space for two ahl defenders guess the hawks won't be getting that center power forward big wingers and backup goalie we need for next year. Now blame is squarely on mcdumbass and wirtz for letting continue be gm of the hawks. Wow enjoy the 3 cups because as long as blowman is in charge we won't see another on poor talent evaluater poor drafting lets just say he poor at everything and giving rutta and gus these extension and amount of money is just a prime example. I said it before he indirectly dismantle a dynasty over the last 10 years and continues do to do. Take the pen and phone away and put stan in the corner already senior bowman!!!
- Scott1977

Totally....sucks big time.

Let's say Bowman has been given the OK to do whatever he thinks is best. The two he signed have little if any leverage. What have they done to warrant the numbers they received? I get Gus can be buried with little impact on the cap, but this looks like signing guys for the sake of signing them.
- Chunk

I now assume Ulf will be back and maybe he told Stan to bring them back because he likes their potential. It money just doesn't make sense.

Z3 I challenge you to produce any links or any proof that show that Toews despises Panarin as you posted yesterday. I'm REALLY Looking forward to reading your response links.
- Savoy

You should just become a Blue jacket fan and stop getting so upset about the trade.