Toews - Get him a sniper scorer for his RW. JVR? Neal? E.Kane? Grabner? Peron. Then let them play with Saad all year. My guess is that Saad and Toews games improve dramatically.
- -Doh-

I really like it better when they have a playmaker with Toews/Saad. I think that is why Saad - Toews - Kane were doing well or why Schmaltz - Toews - Panik was effective.

I agreed with you and raised a counter-point. Also, your team has the ugliest jerseys in pro sports. Who decided to go Mustard Yellow EVERYTHING!
- EnzoD

If this off season turns into trolls attacking the BHawks, I will spend my time reading the Preds page. It's going to be easier reading 2 contributors cry in their cheerios about what should have been.

So much focus on Toews and his (over blown) decline but the fact is that you could replace current Toews with "In his Prime Toews" or Sidney Crosby or whomever you want and this team would still have bigger issues and wouldn't be a legit contender. Once they put a legit top 6 winger with Toews/Saad and reworked the PP, Johnny had what? 12 points in his final 10 games before being injured.

This team needs to fix the Defense and Goaltending as the biggest priority by far. A season where they gave up 3.10 goals per game. That is with Crawford for nearly half a season, but once he was out that ballooned up to 3.42 goals against per game.

They need to find a way to tighten that up to the 2.5 to 2.75 range if they want to be a legitimate contender. Teams that defend well and win tight hockey games usually win the cup. It is really more concerning to me that most of the Hawks lines fail to contain the opposing team and they just bleed goals.

I really like it better when they have a playmaker with Toews/Saad. I think that is why Saad - Toews - Kane were doing well or why Schmaltz - Toews - Panik was effective.
- breadbag

I'm with you, I'd like to see schmaltz on his right wing with Saad to start the year. Most of schmaltz's take aways were in the offensive zone. Maybe he could partially fill the role Hossa had on that right wing before

Blackhawks Cap Situation for 2018-19:
Total Spend: $68.55

Forward: $41.18
Kane- $10.5
Toews- 10.5
Saad- 6
Hossa- 5.27
Anisimov- 4.55
Schmaltz- .92
Sikura- .92
Debrincat- .77
Kampf- .92
Edjsell- .83

Defense: $20.62
Seabrook- 6.87
Keith- 5.53
Murphy- 3.8
Ruutta- 2.3
Hillman- .92
Gustafsson- 1.2

Goalie: $6.75
Crawford- 6
Forsberg- .75

The cap is speculated to be right around $80M for next year. Leaving the Hawks with $11.45 to use on 5 more skaters to fill out a lineup (23 man limit).

Each player could be signed for an average of $2.29, which isn't too bad considering that half our forwards are making less than half of that this upcoming season.

The problem is, there are some RFAs to sign: Duclair, Hinostroza, Hayden, and Jurco. I don't know how much RFAs usually get qualified for. None of these players are so valuable that they'll be offer sheeted. Stan has shown a penchant for overpaying RFAs (Gustafsson, Ruutta).


If the Hawks can move Hossa's contract, which they must do if he's not coming back, that opens up $5.27 to use this offseason. Keep in mind that Hossa's cap hit counts on day one of NHL play, he can't be moved to LTIR until day two. The Hawks essentially have to eat his money until the season starts if they don't dump his contract. Instead of $11.45 in cap space they would have $17+ in space, the most they've had since signing Hossa.

Think of what we could do with $17M, keep in mind that after the 2018-19 season we have to sign Schmaltz, Sikura, and a handful of other prospects that could show up decently in 2018-19.


And this is why Marian Hossa's contract absolutely must be moved if he's not coming back (Please come back, you can have my skin).

Why did Jurco only play 29 games this season?

Why did Jurco only play 29 games this season?
- Feds91Stammer

Bowman was trying to keep him from reaching his performance bonuses because of the cap hell we are in. That, and we need to keep him under 5 goals so that we can sign him for a contract under 2.5M.

Bowman was trying to keep him from reaching his performance bonuses because of the cap hell we are in. That, and we need to keep him under 5 goals so that we can sign him for a contract under 2.5M.
- Dieselhead

7M X 7

Why did Jurco only play 29 games this season?
- Feds91Stammer

No reason....do you want him for a first round pick?

TRANSACTIONS:
The #IceHogs have agreed to terms with F Henrik Samuelsson on a 2-year AHL contract (through this year and 2018-19).#IceHogs have also agreed to terms with F Radovan Bondra on a 1-year AHL contract extension through 2018-19.

➡️https://t.co/8Dm1oJpsbs pic.twitter.com/6USdXteWBU

— x - Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 11, 2018

Re: Kempny - he has all the physical and technical tools. Obviously needed time to adjust to the smaller ice. I don't get giving Osterle minutes (and he is abhorrent) but not Kempny. That is one of those weird Q things that I guess is a weird Q thing. Murphy is another guy with all the physical tools they should be doing better with.

Anyway - the margin for error is pretty small in the NHL especially with the way talent is spread around and though the Hawks seem far away they are really one top pairing defender and maybe two veteran NHL forwards short.

They make the right moves there and they'll be back in it (assuming Crow is back). If they do nothing then it'l be another weird year.

I'd like to see them
1. move Hossa's money
2. package one or both of schmaltz, and\or sikura for a top four defender
3. give tavares 10 million over 8 years
4. sign fillpula for 2 years at 3 or 3.5 per to round out the bottom lines.

They can move AA. Whatever. I'd be happy with a low pick as a straight salary dump there provided they sign Tavares.

Either way they will need to be ruthless with some of their assets in order to get what they need and I don't think they have the willingness to take that kind of gamble. Unless they win the lottery I'd expect the status quo.

Just spitballing what the lineup might be next season.

kieth faulk
moore seabrook
gusterson rutta

saad towes dcat
smaltz AA kane
? Pague/dezingel ?
Martinsin Beagle hayden

Crawford
Hunthison

I like the trade of hossa duclair or hino and jurco to Ottawa for pague or dezingel and 4th

Trade Nashville 1st and forsling to Carolina for faulk if he has fallen out of favor
sign moore 3 years at 3.5 million per year do not include a nmt
sign beagle 2 years 2.5 million per year
sign hunthison 2 years 2.5million per year

sikura should be in Rockford developing and the panel can fill in the blanks on the 3rd line.
Any other ideas or trade proposals are welcome like I said just spit balling take this with a grain of salt.

Blackhawks Cap Situation for 2018-19:
Total Spend: $68.55

Forward: $41.18
Kane- $10.5
Toews- 10.5
Saad- 6
Hossa- 5.27
Anisimov- 4.55
Schmaltz- .92
Sikura- .92
Debrincat- .77
Kampf- .92
Edjsell- .83

Defense: $20.62
Seabrook- 6.87
Keith- 5.53
Murphy- 3.8
Ruutta- 2.3
Hillman- .92
Gustafsson- 1.2

Goalie: $6.75
Crawford- 6
Forsberg- .75

The cap is speculated to be right around $80M for next year. Leaving the Hawks with $11.45 to use on 5 more skaters to fill out a lineup (23 man limit).

Each player could be signed for an average of $2.29, which isn't too bad considering that half our forwards are making less than half of that this upcoming season.

The problem is, there are some RFAs to sign: Duclair, Hinostroza, Hayden, and Jurco. I don't know how much RFAs usually get qualified for. None of these players are so valuable that they'll be offer sheeted. Stan has shown a penchant for overpaying RFAs (Gustafsson, Ruutta).


If the Hawks can move Hossa's contract, which they must do if he's not coming back, that opens up $5.27 to use this offseason. Keep in mind that Hossa's cap hit counts on day one of NHL play, he can't be moved to LTIR until day two. The Hawks essentially have to eat his money until the season starts if they don't dump his contract. Instead of $11.45 in cap space they would have $17+ in space, the most they've had since signing Hossa.

Think of what we could do with $17M, keep in mind that after the 2018-19 season we have to sign Schmaltz, Sikura, and a handful of other prospects that could show up decently in 2018-19.


And this is why Marian Hossa's contract absolutely must be moved if he's not coming back (Please come back, you can have my skin).
- ObeseOprah

Is it definitively true Hossa's cap hit must be counted on Day 1 this year after having to do that last year? Or can his long-term injury/physically unable to play due to life threatening treatment situation be considered ongoing within the rules?

Just spitballing what the lineup might be next season.

kieth faulk
moore seabrook
gusterson rutta

saad towes dcat
smaltz AA kane
? Pague/dezingel ?
Martinsin Beagle hayden

Crawford
Hunthison

I like the trade of hossa duclair or hino and jurco to Ottawa for pague or dezingel and 4th

Trade Nashville 1st and forsling to Carolina for faulk if he has fallen out of favor
sign moore 3 years at 3.5 million per year do not include a nmt
sign beagle 2 years 2.5 million per year
sign hunthison 2 years 2.5million per year

sikura should be in Rockford developing and the panel can fill in the blanks on the 3rd line.
Any other ideas or trade proposals are welcome like I said just spit balling take this with a grain of salt.
- Scott1977

Dude, your spelling of names is out there. Lol.

TRANSACTIONS:
The #IceHogs have agreed to terms with F Henrik Samuelsson on a 2-year AHL contract (through this year and 2018-19).#IceHogs have also agreed to terms with F Radovan Bondra on a 1-year AHL contract extension through 2018-19.

➡️https://t.co/8Dm1oJpsbs pic.twitter.com/6USdXteWBU

— x - Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 11, 2018

- DarthKane

Does that confirm that Dad is back?

Does that confirm that Dad is back?
- glennjpawlak22

I think Q said he's not expecting any changes to his staff.

You don't see 2 year AHL deals that often.

TRANSACTIONS:
The #IceHogs have agreed to terms with F Henrik Samuelsson on a 2-year AHL contract (through this year and 2018-19).#IceHogs have also agreed to terms with F Radovan Bondra on a 1-year AHL contract extension through 2018-19.

➡️https://t.co/8Dm1oJpsbs pic.twitter.com/6USdXteWBU

— x - Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) April 11, 2018

- DarthKane

BONDRA!!!!!

Yea baby!

I think Q said he's not expecting any changes to his staff.

You don't see 2 year AHL deals that often.
- DarthKane

Ulfie sent Luca Brasi to negotiate that deal with StanBo. Here is how it went down according to Henrik:

"My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse... Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains, or his signature would be on the contract". Stan gave him 2 years....

Just spitballing what the lineup might be next season.

kieth faulk
moore seabrook
gusterson rutta

saad towes dcat
smaltz AA kane
? Pague/dezingel ?
Martinsin Beagle hayden

Crawford
Hunthison

I like the trade of hossa duclair or hino and jurco to Ottawa for pague or dezingel and 4th

Trade Nashville 1st and forsling to Carolina for faulk if he has fallen out of favor
sign moore 3 years at 3.5 million per year do not include a nmt
sign beagle 2 years 2.5 million per year
sign hunthison 2 years 2.5million per year

sikura should be in Rockford developing and the panel can fill in the blanks on the 3rd line.
Any other ideas or trade proposals are welcome like I said just spit balling take this with a grain of salt.
- Scott1977

Gusterson, Hunthison, Pague.....man oh man, seriously, take a minute and do a little spell check.

Also its TOEWS and KEITH, it's really not that hard.

BONDRA!!!!!

Yea baby!
- hocktock

Hopefully he can stay healthy this year.

Q will never change his stripes ,his ego is over the moon .He needs to be reign in or better yet let go .Heard today on Sports Net playoff show that Scotty Bowman said with a good PP you could win the cup every year(see pitt) . I can't believe the Bowman"s have sat and watch coach Q inept PP for years ,and not made a move .Tells me that Stan and dad are not making the big decisions in this organization anymore
- oldduffman

You are nothing but an excuse parade for Bowman. Because the team stinks, Bowmans must not be making any decisions anymore. Ridiculous. Q and Bowman get another shot, probably deservingly so.

The bottom line is BOTH have sucked for a few years now. The good GM moves and good coaching moves only apply to when the Hawks were good. Bowman with a "great move" to get Vermette or Oduya. Q with a great move to put this line combination into place or goalie move in 2015, etc....I think BOTH were to some degree a product of a superstar core group of players....a core that is now fewer and not as good.

Both Bowman and Q have been absolute trainwrecks for a couple years now and the team isn't capable of covering for them anymore. Next year, rebound or bust, period...or both are shown the door.

Dude, your spelling of names is out there. Lol.
- GPHawksfan

Yea i know oh well i m at least i m in the ballpark ha ha

Not sure a repeat of the same players will change anything next year. Looking at another long season boys and girls.

Toews and Seabs lackluster performance can no longer be ignored. At what point does Management move on from these players? That 17 million needs to be spent elsewhere if the team wants to improve. Plain and simple.

As well You would think being dead last would warrant change but no it appears last place is good enough to justify another year with Q and Bowman....how bad does it have to get before the FO does something significant.....One more last place, two more last place, empty seats, what?....something has to give!

You are nothing but an excuse parade for Bowman. Because the team stinks, Bowmans must not be making any decisions anymore. Ridiculous. Q and Bowman get another shot, probably deservingly so.

The bottom line is BOTH have sucked for a few years now. The good GM moves and good coaching moves only apply to when the Hawks were good. Bowman with a "great move" to get Vermette or Oduya. Q with a great move to put this line combination into place or goalie move in 2015, etc....I think BOTH were to some degree a product of a superstar core group of players....a core that is now fewer and not as good.

Both Bowman and Q have been absolute trainwrecks for a couple years now and the team isn't capable of covering for them anymore. Next year, rebound or bust, period...or both are shown the door.
- kwolf68

Fully agree, but doubt a new GM can fix this trainwreck, maybe before Seabrook/Runblad/Kruger contracts was signed this mess was still fixable. Think we need to ride it out for a few years till contracts expire and enough top draft picks collected. Sometimes disease spreads too far for it to be easily cured and I think we are no at this point.

Not sure a repeat of the same players will change anything next year. Looking at another long season boys and girls.

Toews and Seabs lackluster performance can no longer be ignored. At what point does Management move on from these players? That 17 million needs to be spent elsewhere if the team wants to improve. Plain and simple.

As well You would think being dead last would warrant change but no it appears last place is good enough to justify another year with Q and Bowman....how bad does it have to get before the FO does something significant.....One more last place, two more last place, empty seats, what?....something has to give!
- Hawkster

How do you propose they move both those contracts Mr broken record?