@MarkLazerus
4m
Defenseman Adam Boqvist had dinner with just the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Senators. He said he's still 2-3 years away from the NHL. He also sounds *exactly* like Marcus Kruger.

I have ben saying, why doesn't the PA demand the floor to go up by 5 million. Why is it almost 21 million off the ceiling? You wonder why the Yotes have failed for all these years, playing on the cheap. If the ceiling and floor are closer to the same, them higher contract players beome easieer to trade. It's so logical that the NHL can't see it.
- powerenforcer

This is actually the opposite of what would happen. If the top and floor are closer together the teams lose salary flexibility. Every trade would then need to be match of salary going in each direction. Trading would become even more rare. All raising the floor would do is increase the salary of the lower level players.

These trades cannot be looked at in a vacuum.

Moving Hossa's contract goes well beyond the trade itself, but could give the Hawks a shot a "re-tooling" this team for success as soon as this upcoming year.

For example purposes:

Hossa stays = Hawks sign Ian Cole + Scott Upshall

Hossa is moved with no/limited salary coming back = Hawks sign Calvin de Haan, Paul Stastny and Tommy Wingels.


If you can move Hossa, the Hawks would have more flexibility to off UFA(s) more term because they wouldn't have to dance around the Hossa LTIR situation.
- Justin Lowe

Statsny's injury history and being the wrong side of 30 is a concern. 2 years and 8 total with some games played bonuses would be ok here I think.

Biggest benefit of him is that Q knows him from his Colorado days and thought very highly of him so he would probably slot right in. He is also just a good overall player that would help Schmaltz take on more while also being able to take some responsibility from Toews.

That’s the flaw in your argument. It’s the nhl and they don’t seem to apply logic to their processes.

I agree totally with you in your argument. Salary cap should have a very, very narrow band between floor and ceiling.

I can’t stand and don’t follow soccer whatsoever, and only recently learned about relegation after becoming friends with a guy at work from England. I am all for financial relegation; if the teams can sustain themselves, shut them down and compress the league. There are a few teams in markets where they don’t belong and too many marginally skilled players in the league.

I haven’t thought this through, but I like the idea of teams being able to buy unused cap space from teams below the ceiling. Maybe the league calculates aggregate unused cap space and allows teams to buy or bid on using this unused space to supplement their cap limit by 5 or 10%. Purchase price goes to charity or to fund medical or retirement for older players, fund research for something or even to invest in the sport’s growth. Let a team stay over the cap limit as long as the contract(s) signed with the excess cap space stays with the team. Player gets traded, retires or signs a new contract, they lose the excess. Or maybe allow a team to use the excess only to resign higher contracts for players they drafted and developed so they don’t lose them to a team that just hpaaens to have the cap space available.
- Spec41971

There is a need, I think, for some sort of wide spread between cap and floor to allow teams to legitimately go through complete rebuilds (as opposed to the Arizonas that just want to hold down expenses) - going young on ELCs for several years to hopefully develop into contenders. If the have to hit a higher floor, they may need to bring on some useless vets instead of young prospects.

I like the idea of relegation - but it won’t happen in an economy where even the worst run teams are worth hundreds of millions of dollars - how are you going to get owners to forfeit that dear an asset?

I also have thought about the idea of selling unused cap space - not sure where the “sales price” goes - can’t go to the selling teams, of course - although I think something like that happens in the NBA with the luxury tax - maybe to the players to somehow mitigate the escrow situation....

@MarkLazerus
4m
Defenseman Adam Boqvist had dinner with just the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Senators. He said he's still 2-3 years away from the NHL. He also sounds *exactly* like Marcus Kruger.
- pdx2ord

Why would the Detroit Red Wings, closer to the Dead or dread-full Wings than Red Wings, see much difference in Boqvist than local home boy Hughes

Why would the Detroit Red Wings, closer to the Dead or dread-full Wings than Red Wings, see much difference in Boqvist than local home boy Hughes
- jhawk59

Maybe they want to know more about Boqvist?

Why would the Detroit Red Wings, closer to the Dead or dread-full Wings than Red Wings, see much difference in Boqvist than local home boy Hughes
- jhawk59

Contingency planning, never hurts to talk to a player and see where their heads at. Actually I find it more interesting that all three teams are meeting with him at the same time!

I say Dobson and Bouchard are front runners for the HAWKS to chose ,but if they are gone at 8 maybe take Merkley .It is right up Stan ally to go outside the box ,and this kid has talent . He and Debrincat on the PP in the future could be magic ,even coach Q up could not F--k that up ,well maybe not ..

Maybe they want to know more about Boqvist?
- MjulQvist

ouch

I say Dobson and Bouchard are front runners for the HAWKS to chose ,but if they are gone at 8 maybe take Merkley .It is right up Stan ally to go outside the box ,and this kid has talent . He and Debrincat on the PP in the future could be magic ,even coach Q up could not F--k that up ,well maybe not ..
- oldduffman

Merkley has otherworldly skill and skating. Watch the videos from the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. He was still 16. There is an interview with him after Canada won Tournament too - he seems very intelligent and poised. Any “attitude” problem may have much to do with the Sarnia Sting being a very poor team. Some team is going to be very smart and ignore or minimize the “attitude” problem. For heaven’s sake he was 16, is 17.

I say Dobson and Bouchard are front runners for the HAWKS to chose ,but if they are gone at 8 maybe take Merkley .It is right up Stan ally to go outside the box ,and this kid has talent . He and Debrincat on the PP in the future could be magic ,even coach Q up could not F--k that up ,well maybe not ..
- oldduffman

I kinda like a slightly out of the box pick, Jesperi Kotkaniemi!

Statsny's injury history and being the wrong side of 30 is a concern. 2 years and 8 total with some games played bonuses would be ok here I think.

Biggest benefit of him is that Q knows him from his Colorado days and thought very highly of him so he would probably slot right in. He is also just a good overall player that would help Schmaltz take on more while also being able to take some responsibility from Toews.
- fattybeef

Stay completely away from Stastny. He signed an enormous contract with St. Louis and really didn’t deliver much and was not impactful over many years.

@MarkLazerus
4m
Defenseman Adam Boqvist had dinner with just the Blackhawks, Red Wings and Senators. He said he's still 2-3 years away from the NHL. He also sounds *exactly* like Marcus Kruger.
- pdx2ord

Boqvist views himself 2 or 3 years away from the NHL? Need someone closer - pass.

Stay completely away from Stastny. He signed an enormous contract with St. Louis and really didn’t deliver much and was not impactful over many years.
- Z3Hawk

I agree. He looks done to me.

I don’t see it but what do I know!

The Chicago Blackhawks are interested in acquiring the New York Islanders superstar, John Tavares. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman says the Blackhawks are entered into the Tavares sweepstakes.

Friedman said:

They're not going to tolerate being that bad again, they're going to try something. I think they'll make a run at John Tavares too. I do, I think they'll ask, is there any way we can get him here?

Boqvist views himself 2 or 3 years away from the NHL? Need someone closer - pass.
- Z3Hawk

To what end - I am more pessimistic about this team’s short term (2 or 3 years out) prospects tha many.

I think they need to take the center / defenseman with the highest potential upside, even if he’s 2 or 3 years away from The Show. The organization is not currently awash in top-line/top-pair talent, proven or potentially.

Doubtful he'll be available, but:


@MarkLazerus

Defenseman Quinn Hughes sat next to Patrick Kane in the Team USA locker room at Worlds. Also played some with Connor Murphy, and got to know Alex DeBrincat. "He’s a pretty good ping-pong player." Says Blackhawks would be "a great fit for me."

Video with a bit more

https://www.nhl.com/black...es/t-298273022/c-60524003

Short kid

How we get Tavares

http://sportsmockery.com/...-question-for-blackhawks/

Was this discussed yet? Obviously would take more, but an interesting starting point!

@jaeckel
Per source: "Hawks have discussed moving #27 overall pick to CAR for J Faulk. Probably one of many such discussions going on."


Trade Hossa/Ansimov's contracts, sign Tavares, Trade for Faulk, sign Ian Cole to a one year deal, bring back Tommy Wingles and call it an off season.

How we get Tavares

http://sportsmockery.com/...-question-for-blackhawks/
- SoftServe

Do you really think Q will be happy with Tavares and his career negative +/- number? Will he fit into Q's system?

I don’t see it but what do I know!

The Chicago Blackhawks are interested in acquiring the New York Islanders superstar, John Tavares. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman says the Blackhawks are entered into the Tavares sweepstakes.

Friedman said:

They're not going to tolerate being that bad again, they're going to try something. I think they'll make a run at John Tavares too. I do, I think they'll ask, is there any way we can get him here?
- walleyeb1

Cant see how we can afford Tavares.

Cant see how we can afford Tavares.
- z1990z

Still need a top 6 RW Hino is not that where is the pushback and toughest that will play a key role in the playoffs. Would of the panel trade for Matt Martin from Toronto?

Maybe a forth line of martin Martinsin hayden also bring back wingles or a player like him still a net clearing d man.

Saad Towes Dcat

Smaltz Taveras Kane

Duclair ? Hayden/Wingles/hino

Matt martin if we trade for him Martinsin Hayden/wingles

Keith Faulk
Murphy Seabrook
Cole Gus

Crawford
Hutton or some other veteran backup

I dreaming I know but time will tell what happens.

Still need a top 6 RW Hino is not that where is the pushback and toughest that will play a key role in the playoffs. Would of the panel trade for Matt Martin from Toronto?

Maybe a forth line of martin Martinsin hayden also bring back wingles or a player like him still a net clearing d man.

Saad Towes Dcat

Smaltz Taveras Kane

Duclair ? Hayden/Wingles/hino

Matt martin if we trade for him Martinsin Hayden/wingles

Keith Faulk
Murphy Seabrook
Cole Gus

Crawford
Hutton or some other veteran backup

I dreaming I know but time will tell what happens.
- Scott1977

Saad Toews Cat
Schmaltz Tavares Kane

2018 NHL Combine results: Top 10 at each drill!

Who’s Liam Fowdy?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ine-results-top-10-drill/

2018 NHL Combine results: Top 10 at each drill!

Who’s Liam Fowdy?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ine-results-top-10-drill/
- walleyeb1

I don't know, but he creates a lot of electricity.

I'm starting to get excited about next year.

Go Hocks
Go Stan