Kane & Toews sign 8 year deal!
- Irish 14

Jerk

The dream that was never that realistic in the first place is now dead.
- buffalofan19

Good.

Now they can focus on getting someone else.

The dream that was never that realistic in the first place is now dead.
- buffalofan19

Mr. Negative!

You know, he does have a point, sure, but those divisions do make sense, based on geography. It makes as much sense for Syracuse to be in the same division with Rochester as it does for the Crunch to be where they will be next year.

Most of the league is based in the Northeast, though, and you gotta split em up somehow.

Harrington's an a$$. That's the problem with a one-newspaper town, he thinks his sh!t don't stink. They all do, really.
- grand-magus

Too much whining from him....that type is for bloggers, not journalists.

Jerk


- stashu

To slow!

Too much whining from him....that type is for bloggers, not journalists.
- stashu

Exactly right.

He's the Schopp of newsprint.

The dream that was never that realistic in the first place is now dead.
- buffalofan19

They're going to have to get creative next year.

You know, he does have a point, sure, but those divisions do make sense, based on geography. It makes as much sense for Syracuse to be in the same division with Rochester as it does for the Crunch to be where they will be next year.

Most of the league is based in the Northeast, though, and you gotta split em up somehow.

Harrington's an a$$. That's the problem with a one-newspaper town, he thinks his sh!t don't stink. They all do, really.
- grand-magus

I know one thing. I would hate to be a travel manager for just about any AHL team.

Too much whining from him....that type is for bloggers, not journalists.
- stashu

I will say this. The traditional print industry has taken a hit because of blogs. I think they feel they're being more interactive this way. They would be wrong, but I get the sense that is the line of thinking.

They're going to have to get creative next year.
- Sabresfan-365

Chicago's proven they can figure it out. They're going to lose some good players. However, the key is drafting and re-acquiring depth. If you operate under the assumption that you're going to retain your "good" players for only a few years, and draft accordingly, you can manage more than adequately.

Good.

Now they can focus on getting someone else.
- grand-magus

I'll wait to hear to details on movement.

They're going to have to get creative next year.
- Sabresfan-365

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590 2m

After Toews and Kane signings, the Blackhawks will have $65.8 committed on their cap to 15 players for 2015-16. Wow.

Not sure I buy the "coveted" aspect, but nice article by Hoppe out:

As a versatile, smooth-skating forward willing to fight any heavyweight, Cody McCormick had plenty of options as free agency opened. Veterans of the 31-year-old’s ilk are coveted, especially with the NHL evolving into a four-line league.

But instead of shopping his services, McCormick told Pat Morris, his agent, to contact one team, the Sabres. He wanted to return to Buffalo, his home.

“There was a couple teams, they said they were interested and that,” McCormick said. “But we pretty much said for Buffalo, if we can do this, we won’t talk to another team.”


Why was Buffalo his No. 1 choice?

“It’s home to us,” said McCormick, who has a wife, Alyssa, and two young daughters, Aubrey and Ava. “It’s where we want our girls to grow up. It was perfect.”
- stashu

i thought we overpaid him, but his last contract was a 3 year with a 1.2 average. he wont hurt you, and murray gave him 2 million of the 4.5 total contract this year, which helps with the floor.

Both making 10.5 holy (frank)

Hawks just made their own grave ..

they are so (frank)ed

Both making 10.5 holy (frank)
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Wait til the signing bonuses are posted...it's gonna be a sick number I imagine.

Chicago's proven they can figure it out. They're going to lose some good players. However, the key is drafting and re-acquiring depth. If you operate under the assumption that you're going to retain your "good" players for only a few years, and draft accordingly, you can manage more than adequately.
- buffalofan19

Short term though, the cap hits basically mean that any improvements to the team are going to have to come from within. As stashu just posted, they've got close to 66 mil committed to 15 players for 15-16.

I suspect that for the next few years (i mean once their extensions kick in) they could wind up looking like the Hawks from a few years back, the version that had the one and done's in the playoffs.

Hawks just made their own grave ..

they are so (frank)ed
- GERBE!!!75PTS

I'm sure they will figure it out .

I'm sure they will figure it out .
- cabin

That's crazy money they will have to have AHL players for life ..

did they forget there is a cap

I'm sure they will figure it out .
- cabin

Plus the cap will continue to go up. It could be less of a hindrence depending on where the cap ends up.

Unless the cap goes up by A LOT the Hawks are gonna be in big trouble.

Short term though, the cap hits basically mean that any improvements to the team are going to have to come from within. As stashu just posted, they've got close to 66 mil committed to 15 players for 15-16.

I suspect that for the next few years (i mean once their extensions kick in) they could wind up looking like the Hawks from a few years back, the version that had the one and done's in the playoffs.
- Sabresfan-365

Yes. They probably will. The age of the dynasty is gone. The fact is they already have gone through this song and dance once before, and ended up with another cup out of it. The key is to identify as early as possible who you are most likely going to retain, and who you are most likely going to lose as a casualty. That would mean probably looking to trade (though for a hefty price) the likes of a Brandon Saad sooner rather than later.

The dream that was never that realistic in the first place is now dead.
- buffalofan19

Agreed

Short term though, the cap hits basically mean that any improvements to the team are going to have to come from within. As stashu just posted, they've got close to 66 mil committed to 15 players for 15-16.

I suspect that for the next few years (i mean once their extensions kick in) they could wind up looking like the Hawks from a few years back, the version that had the one and done's in the playoffs.
- Sabresfan-365

its gotta be tough when you have two guys making that much. they must be expecting the cap to go up, like a lot.

For the Sabres' sake, I'm glad this happened now, and as early as possible. That way, they don't have to sit around and hope things break down between Kane and the Blackhawks.