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In all likelihood, Monday night was Patrick Sharp's last in a Blackhawk sweater.
And I guess, before I dive too deep into the rest of this blog, it's fitting to salute a player who has been an absolute warrior in the Indianhead: scoring huge goals, many short-handed, playing wing and center and defense on the power play, serving as an assistant captain, playing a lot bigger than his 190-195 pounds.
But don't feel sorry for Sharp. He boards a 737 for Montreal or Miami or Columbus or Calgary with a fat bank account, 3 Stanley Cup rings and enough memories for many lifetimes.
Bryan Bickell is probably gone, but his destination and the means by which the Hawks will cut him loose is a bit more foggy.
Johnny Oduya, although I had once heard he would tay in Chicago for a hometown discount, is now also likely to depart. His price tag, on what could be his last contract, is now justifiably quite high.
It's all dollars and sense for the Stanley Cup Champs, with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane consuming $21 million of a likely $71 million cap next year.
The team's top priority, today, is to get restricted freee agent Brandon Saad into a new deal as soon as possible. Both parties want a deal done. The Hawks hold most of the cards. Second would be Marcus Kruger, also a restricted free agent.
Brad Richards is likely to return, I am hearing, and is willing to do a deal that works for the Hawks' cap. And why not? Richards is penciled in then as Kane's center again next year, a role he flourished in this past season. And he doesn't need a fat payday after his last deal.
Antoine Vermette's price tag will likely be too rich for the Hawks' blood, though I have heard nothing specific.
Andrew Desjardins could be back, depending on his salary requirements.
Corey Crawford has been proclaimed "untouchable" by GM Stan Bowman. But I heard from a very strong srouce back in February that the Hawks were having preliminary conversations with other teams about moving Crawford before the draft. There was interest from those teams then and there likely is now. It's just that Crawford's performance in the playoffs raised the price. I am hearing that Crawford is not, in fact, untouchable. But the price for his services to another team is now a high first round pick and a quality young player or prospect.
Why deal Crawford at all?
It's the money. Not only do the Hawks have to now chump up a King's Ransom for Kane and Toews, but they are absolutely committed to re-signing Saad this summer and Brent Seabrook before next summer.
You will, therefore, see an influx of new faces on the Hawks next season. The question is, who will they be?
The temptation is to assume a number of AHL players and recently signed Euro and college free agents will jump right in, but that's probably not going to be the case in the end.
Yes, Stephen Johns and Philip Danault are two likely matriculations from Rockford. You can slot Johns into Michal Rozsival's #5, right-handed defenseman slot and not miss a beat. In fact, Johns will likely be an upgrade by January 2016.
Danault will fit at center or wing on the lower lines, kill penalties and grow into a 4th line center role.
After that, it's anyone's guess.
What does the club get back for Sharp (if anything much at all)?
If Crawford were to be dealt, what might the more substantial return be there?
All anyone outside Russia and a limited number of NHL scouts knows about Artemi Panarin is that he is very fast, can finish, and hangs out with Vladimir Tarasenko.
Where/who is the left side puck rushing defenseman needed to replace Oduya?
It's certainly not a bleak picture for the newly-minted champs, but it is a cloudy picture, full of many possibilities and permutations.
More to be revealed, definitely.
All for now,
JJ