Toews is one of the greediest players in the nhl. I lost all respect for him as a person during the lockout. I even traded him from my fantasy over his comments and I still do not like Chicago because of him. I know I am a minority but I like Kane way better.
- flyerdude17

So Toews is greedy, but Kane isn't, despite having the same exact contract? What comments? Are you sure you aren't imagining this?

I heard repeatedly that Toews, Kane and Saad would take home town discount contracts, but it never happened.
If both leaders of the team showed the way first and signed for say 9 mil apiece,
Saad would have probably stayed for 5.
- StargateSG1

Don't forget that the NHL Players' Association wanted the Toews and Kane contracts to be at their max. These were the first superstar contracts that came up after the new CBA. I see Stammer at $11-12M AAV. And of course, there is the trickle down effect, in theory. If Toews and Kane are getting their superstar money, then the stars starting getting $8M AAV contracts, and the almost-stars get $6M AAV contracts. In theory…

I think the Canadian dollar plunging scared the crap out of most GM's this year… Justin Williams making LESS money than in his previous contract as a 33-year-old UFA????!!!! Granted, he didn't have a great year, but that's probably due to the overall implosion of the LA Kings than his own doing. And with Saad and O'Reilly being paid, the new onus seems to be on really good players who perhaps have the potential to be superstars.

So again, in theory, things look good, but it doesn't always work out as planned. If the players had a crystal ball, I bet Toews and Kane would have done $9.75 AAV… still makes them the highest paid players, but that extra $1.5M would help the Hawks right now. And even if you can get Crawford last year for $5 or $5.5M… A bunch of $.5M savings on newer contracts will add up for the legitimate contenders moving forward in terms of their ability to keep together a core of players.

callahan, filppula, coburn and carle are really the only annoying pieces on the roster right now. coburn, prospal, ohlund, gagner all come off the books next season so there will be room for stammer and kucherov. replacing coburn and carle with koekkoek and deangelo we will be set.
- boltsfan48

Callahan is 5 more years at around $6M? Filppula is 3 more years at $5M? Coburn one more year… Carle is 3 more years at > $5M? Bishop is 2 more years at almost $6M??

If Stammer gets $11.5M, think of Coburn's money being transferred to Stamkos and an ELC defenseman after his contract is up next year. Then there's Killorn and Kucherov to re-up, too… That's when you deal Bishop (if Vasilevsky pans out) to put that money toward these two, especially Kucherov, obviously. But the year after with Johnson, Palat, and Hedman…Hedman will be UFA… YIKES!!

If Koekkoek and Deangelo make progress, I think you kind of have to try to deal Carle sooner than later. Maybe even deal Killorn a year after signing him or dump Callahan… that contract may be the albatross if it already isn't it…

Just popping in. Miss me?

re: cap issues -

Keep Stamkos Hedman Filpulla Stralman Garrison and all three Triplets.

Buyout or trade : Callahan, Killorn, and Carle.

Just my two cents : actual worth may vary.

Back to the shadows....

people. This is team will be a cup contender for at least 6-8 years. They can sign stamkos and continue to win. Why? They have been horrible for years and have stock piled their system with legit talent. So as players become to expensive for the cap they can be moved out and replaced with elc contracts. They only thing I would do is try to get rid of of carle and Coburn. Those two are train wrecks. Im glad we no longer have them.

people. This is team will be a cup contender for at least 6-8 years. They can sign stamkos and continue to win. Why? They have been horrible for years and have stock piled their system with legit talent. So as players become to expensive for the cap they can be moved out and replaced with elc contracts. They only thing I would do is try to get rid of of carle and Coburn. Those two are train wrecks. Im glad we no longer have them.
- jmdodgeser4

Yes and no. That stockpiled talent is the NHL now, and those guys are going to need/want big contracts in a few years. Still some very promising talent coming up, though. But that's sort of the point of the piece.

Just popping in. Miss me?

re: cap issues -

Keep Stamkos Hedman Filpulla Stralman Garrison and all three Triplets.

Buyout or trade : Callahan, Killorn, and Carle.

Just my two cents : actual worth may vary.

Back to the shadows....
- GalacticStone

I don't disagree with much here except maybe Garrison and Filppula.

Yes and no. That stockpiled talent is the NHL now, and those guys are going to need/want big contracts in a few years. Still some very promising talent coming up, though. But that's sort of the point of the piece.
- Michael_Stuart

Right now we have one forward in are farm system that might become a top six forward Adam Erne. Also only one top 4 defenseman I see koekkoek. Maybe Anthony deanglo might crack the top 4. Pretty much all other guys are question marks?

Right now we have one forward in are farm system that might become a top six forward Adam Erne. Also only one top 4 defenseman I see koekkoek. Maybe Anthony deanglo might crack the top 4. Pretty much all other guys are question marks?
- todd1a

I think DeAngelo's ceiling is significantly higher than Koekkoek's, but that's just me.

I think DeAngelo's ceiling is significantly higher than Koekkoek's, but that's just me.
- Michael_Stuart

DeAngelo is a major offensive threat, but Koekkoek is a more all-around a threat. I like DeAngelo for his skill, but I'm more of a fan of meat and potatoes kind of players. Guys like Alex Killorn, Anton Stralman, Slater Koekkoek, Matthew Spencer, Cedric Paquette and Ryan Callahan.

I think streit would be a great pick up for you guys especially moving the puck and on the pp. The years left on contract is a hard pill to swallow but I think he would be a upgrade over Coburn and carle.

I think streit would be a great pick up for you guys especially moving the puck and on the pp. The years left on contract is a hard pill to swallow but I think he would be a upgrade over Coburn and carle.
- jmdodgeser4

I don't think that's an avenue Yzerman wants to go down.

I don't think that's an avenue Yzerman wants to go down.
- Michael_Stuart

Oh I agree on that. I wouldn't either. I was just throwing that out there as just a comment on those two players. If the term on the contract was 2 or 3 years I think streit would be a great grab in replace of carle or coburn

In other news, Jeff Tambellili has signed a 2-way contract. He played for Växjö Lakers who won the swedish league. He was pretty good this season but i doubt he will ever be an NHL regular.

But that defeats the purpose of the meaning of "Home town discount".
"Staying with the winner" and "Having qualified supporting personnel"
comes at the coast for leaders, who should lead by example.

Otherwise, you have the Penguins, with no depth and no prospects in the system to replace the departed.
- StargateSG1

Well.... the opposite is actually true. Their leader did take a cut in pay. I agree with the limited depth and prospects, but your leader assessment is completely off. Crosby is one of the very few players in the NHL that left money on the table to help support the team.

I got a hunch that in 2-3 years the callahan deal may look pretty tough

I got a hunch that in 2-3 years the callahan deal may look pretty tough
- eganator

I think it's harder now that it would be then. It would probably be easier to move and or buy out.

I think you try and get hedman for like 7yrs/7 mil maybe 7.5. He definitely made such a huge improvement in the playoffs this year than last (as did the whole team obviously) and made a real name for himself. I think once you get rid of carle, maybe fippula (a player who I think is very underrated in this group and I think you'd be wise to keep him) and bishop and a few other odds and ends you can maybe afford triplets/stammer AND hedman

I think it's harder now that it would be then. It would probably be easier to move and or buy out.
- Artyukhin76

Idk man you don't have to pay anyone now but when you do it'll be tough with that deal still in town.

Idk man you don't have to pay anyone now but when you do it'll be tough with that deal still in town.
- eganator

Yes, but these contracts will be gone in....
Bishop 5.95 million in two years.
Coburn 4.5 million in one year.
Garrison 4.6 million in three years.
Carle 5.5 million in three years.
Filppula 5 million in three years.
These guys that are listed are the ones that will not receive a contract offer and couple of these guys, in their final year are tradeable provided be retain a little bit of salary.

Yes, but these contracts will be gone in....
Bishop 5.95 million in two years.
Coburn 4.5 million in one year.
Garrison 4.6 million in three years.
Carle 5.5 million in three years.
Filppula 5 million in three years.
These guys that are listed are the ones that will not receive a contract offer and couple of these guys, in their final year are tradeable provided be retain a little bit of salary.
- Artyukhin76

Just in time to sign Vasilevskiy to a new deal...

Just in time to sign Vasilevskiy to a new deal...
- Sandus

He'll get a "show me" bridge deal

Drouin 4 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 6 Johnson 6 Kucherov 4
Erne 1.5 Namestnikov 2 Brown 1
Paquette 1.25 Point 1.5 Stephens .875

Hedman 7.5 Stralman 4.5
Koekkoek 3 Deangelo 3
Nesterov 2.5 Blujus 1.5
Spencer 1

Vasilevskiy 3.5
Wilcox 1

In a few years, AVV are estimates.

Drouin 4 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 6 Johnson 6 Kucherov 4
Erne 1.5 Namestnikov 2 Brown 1
Paquette 1.25 Point 1.5 Stephens .875

Hedman 7.5 Stralman 4.5
Koekkoek 3 Deangelo 3
Nesterov 2.5 Blujus 1.5
Spencer 1

Vasilevskiy 3.5
Wilcox 1

In a few years, AVV are estimates.
- Artyukhin76

My hope is the Bolts can sign Kucherov to the same deal Columbus gave Ryan Johansson 4MM x 3yrs coming off his entry deal. They are comparable. It would be a big coo for Yzerman if he can do it.

I have played around a ton with the salary cap and its going to be hard but doable to keep most of the team in tact even with Callahan's contract but it also depends on if the CAP goes up to 76MM or so when Hedman, Johnson, and Palat are do contracts.

Drouin 4 Stamkos 10 Callahan 5.8
Palat 6 Johnson 6 Kucherov 4
Erne 1.5 Namestnikov 2 Brown 1
Paquette 1.25 Point 1.5 Stephens .875

Hedman 7.5 Stralman 4.5
Koekkoek 3 Deangelo 3
Nesterov 2.5 Blujus 1.5
Spencer 1

Vasilevskiy 3.5
Wilcox 1

In a few years, AVV are estimates.
- Artyukhin76

Gotta be honest, I think your Stamkos and Hedman numbers are too low, by at least 10% each.