I'll pass on Percy. Very skeptical of him.

A team like the Maple Leafs, who were obviously tanking last season and gave plenty of opportunities to their kids, opted to not give him one. If he is considered an "important part" of Toronto's future, then he would have been given more of a chance than three meaningless games around the All-Star break.

He's not exactly a catalyst offensively either. Think he's more of a future #5-#7 d-man.

I'd take your #30, your 2017 1st round pick, and Sparks though. Or something of that sort.
- TommyHawk

I don’t disagree much on Percy. That’s the price I’m willing to pay.

No chance we give up the 2017 1st for a 31 year old.

Much like bickell, maybe there is a better trade partner out there for you guys then.

Al, speaking of Campbell, do you have any insight as to whether the Hawks FO would really want him back? In an article Jesse Rogers did after the trade, Campbell seemed to take some parting shots:

“I think we are going in the right direction,” Campbell said. “
- jmarducci[Tallon] brought in a lot of quality guys. The locker room is a lot of fun just like it was in Chicago with him [in charge]. You’re not walking on eggshells around here. It's go play hockey and work hard. I think that’s what he expects, and have a lot fun. I think that’s the best thing about Dale. You can say what you want to say and express your opinion. You’re not walking around intimidated by anybody or scared to go out there and do anything. It's just a fun atmosphere.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/c...usting-to-life-in-florida

Just wondering if a reunion is still possible?..

I think there were some raw feelings...Campbell is a good guy and did a lot of charitable work in the city, but those were desperate times. I think he was upset initially and for whatever reason fans here never took to Campbell. Opening night in 2010 when he was introduced you could hear some boos.

In the end I think he felt it was best to leave and go to a place like Florida with Tallon, who always liked him as a player.

I have no clue if he would want to come back.

But if not him, a veteran who is going to take a discount fits what the Hawks need.

I miss Soupy. When he still had a house here and was on the Panthers. He used to roll into the DePaul Rey Meyer Fitness Center in the morning randomly in the offseason and pedal a stationary bike for 30 mins stretch a bit and leave. That man has some serious bright red hair.


**Here I mean Chicago whoops
- bhawks2241

Not a big man and like Carrot Top.

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)

I don’t disagree much on Percy. That’s the price I’m willing to pay.

No chance wegive up the 2017 1st for a 31 year old.

Much like bickell, maybe there is a better trade partner out there for you guys then.
- Tumbleweed

You might not, but maybe if another prospect like Svedberg is going back to Toronto, Lou and Shanny might...

I think there were some raw feelings...Campbell is a good guy and did a lot of charitable work in the city, but those were desperate times. I think he was upset initially and for whatever reason fans here never took to Campbell. Opening night in 2010 when he was introduced you could hear some boos.

In the end I think he felt it was best to leave and go to a place like Florida with Tallon, who always liked him as a player.

I have no clue if he would want to come back.

But if not him, a veteran who is going to take a discount fits what the Hawks need.
- Al

Just imgaine if Soup and Brouwer both ended up back here. The 2010 reunion tour.

Just curious:

Who in the forum thnks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

If they send a Hartman, Gustaffson, Svedberg, ect I think it can be done.

Just curious:

Who in the forum thnks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

It won't happen... we do not have another 86 with whom to part.

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

Depends on the return (IMO)... If we want no salary retained then the package coming back is likely a lot less shiny

There is a bit of a difference though, in that Crow is an elite goalie that immediately makes most teams in this league better and realistically is not "overpaid" in comparison to other quality net minders of his pedigree... Bickell will do nothing in the NHL ever again that was a PURE salary dump... Nobody was calling on Bickell but teams are calling on Crow

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

Difference is:

Crawford has value. A sufficient amount of it.



Bickell on the other hand? ......

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

Oh I definately think thats possible..but would they have to eat 1-2 million per to get a deal done

Difference is:

Crawford has value. A sufficient amount of it.



Bickell on the other hand? ......
- TommyHawk

So spit ballin here... Say CC to the Leafs for JVR. Shaw gets moved at the draft and with the extra money we land Brouwer.

Your top 3 LW's would be Panarin, JVR and Brouwer. That would do..

JVR 19 88
72 15 81
Brouwer 22 14

Difference is:

Crawford has value. A sufficient amount of it.



Bickell on the other hand? ......
- TommyHawk

Bingo!!! I was just about to say the same thing. To get rid of Bickell's contact we had to send something of value (TT) because Bickell had negative vaule, that is the only reason TT got us a 2nd and and 3rd. Crow has a lot of value on his own. We might not get 100% off the books, but I don't think we would need to take back a huge salary just to make it happen. If we are talking draft pick value though. The more we take back, the high the draft pick is. I am thinking if we take a low 1st rounder though and that is it and the team making that trade has plenty of cap room - it could easily happen.

Just imgaine if Soup and Brouwer both ended up back here. The 2010 reunion tour.
- z1990z

Blues are in a tough spot with Brouwer especially...Those guys are like Lucic part of a small club....20 goal scorers with 200 hits. They usually get paid. But the Blues will be all in on Schwartz first and foremost.

So spit ballin here... Say CC to the Leafs for JVR. Shaw gets moved at the draft and with the extra money we land Brouwer.

Your top 3 LW's would be Panarin, JVR and Brouwer. That would do..

JVR 19 88
72 15 81
Brouwer 22 14
- z1990z

If the Hawks included a D-prospect like Pokka/Gustaffson/Svedberg, I think the JVR trade would be more likely. JVR is their top trade piece, and he has a very low cap hit for a 1LW. We can dream though...

What are people's thoughts on whether they keep KaneGB line intact? Putting Kane up with Toews would help Toews by giving him someone who can finish, and perhaps separating Kane and Panarin means Panarin doesn't crack top ten and make his bonuses again?

Hossa with AA and Panarin makes that line stronger defensively... I thought Hossa looked nice with Kruger as well, but if we need more offense from Kruger we might run into the same Hossa problem - IMO Kruger's offensive skills are more as a set-up guy, and then we still have the problem with needing someone on that line that can finish.

On the bright side, I believe that Hossa (and probably Seabrook) will benefit the most from the extra rest, so perhaps the Hossa we see next year is a little more like the playoff Hossa we saw

A major factor leading to the current cap stagnation is the value of the Cdn$.

When Kane and Toews signed their deals in July, 2014 (IIRC), the Looney was worth US$ .91 - oil was over US$ 100 per barrel - and the league (and, to be fair, almost all economists) didn't see either falling dramatically.

Except for Seabrook, all of the $5MM+ contracts were signed before the Looney fell off of the cliff - Keith, Hossa, Sharp, Crawford, Bickell.

Had the Cdn$ stayed at the earlier level, the cap would be approaching $80MM by now.

Al says that an important factor is that US revenues - ticket sales, merchandise - haven't grown as much as expected, too.
- StLBravesFan

Sounds like a terrible never-ending cycle. Small market teams can't grow their fanbase, league has to subsidize them, they still aren't bringing in revenue despite the notion that the cap would allegedly help those teams improve their on-ice product and thus grow their market. Big market teams start losing revenue as their teams get worse and worse because of the cap. The cap leads to loss of revenue, loss of revenue is part of the reason the cap is stagnant.
yeesh

Coupled with the growing gap between the few players who will have huge contracts and the rest of the league that can't get mid-tier deals anymore, I think those posters predicting that the next work stoppage will be a bad one are likely correct

Difference is:

Crawford has value. A sufficient amount of it.



Bickell on the other hand? ......
- TommyHawk

Thing is, the reason I think the leafs should be interested in Crawford is that I think you guys will have to trade him at a discount relative to how good he is. Or keep him.

What I see is there are 30 protection spots for goalies in the league and more than 30 goalies that will warrant protection for the expansion draft. Not necessarily your problem directly, but that’s the market you’re trading into.

It’s a game of musical chairs coming … and more than one team will be left standing.

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

It worked only because they packaged Bickell with a 21 yr old with skill and a $900k cap hit....Otherwise never.

You might not, but maybe if another prospect like Svedberg is going back to Toronto, Lou and Shanny might...
- EnzoD

i'd go and kick lou in his old saggy balls if he did that

Just curious:

Who in the forum thinks the Blackhawsk could sent the 6 mil contract of Crawford to another team and they hawks dont take a penny back?

(I mean it worked with Bickell's 4 mil b/c of TT)
- wiz1901

I don't, but a shiny new established left wing at @$5 mil per even Hall at$6 mil per would look great on line 1 but then we are pretty much in the same position, I like Darling but one thing is certain our defense is going to have to play better and hopefully the experience the young guys got with the addition of Kempny this will happen

It worked only because they packaged Bickell with a 21 yr old with skill and a $900k cap hit....Otherwise never.
- Al

Gustaffson/Svedberg/Pokka/Hartman w/ Crow wouldn't get his full cap hit off the books in your opinion?

i'd go and kick lou is old saggy balls if he did that
- Tumbleweed

but he's 6'8" and....well, he's 6'8"!!

No idea on cap implications but I'm a fan. Speed, some skill, accepts a roll, can play up and down the lineup a bit and is willing.
- Mr Ricochet

700k last year

What are people's thoughts on whether they keep KaneGB line intact? Putting Kane up with Toews would help Toews by giving him someone who can finish, and perhaps separating Kane and Panarin means Panarin doesn't crack top ten and make his bonuses again?

Hossa with AA and Panarin makes that line stronger defensively... I thought Hossa looked nice with Kruger as well, but if we need more offense from Kruger we might run into the same Hossa problem - IMO Kruger's offensive skills are more as a set-up guy, and then we still have the problem with needing someone on that line that can finish.

On the bright side, I believe that Hossa (and probably Seabrook) will benefit the most from the extra rest, so perhaps the Hossa we see next year is a little more like the playoff Hossa we saw



Sounds like a terrible never-ending cycle. Small market teams can't grow their fanbase, league has to subsidize them, they still aren't bringing in revenue despite the notion that the cap would allegedly help those teams improve their on-ice product and thus grow their market. Big market teams start losing revenue as their teams get worse and worse because of the cap. The cap leads to loss of revenue, loss of revenue is part of the reason the cap is stagnant.
yeesh

Coupled with the growing gap between the few players who will have huge contracts and the rest of the league that can't get mid-tier deals anymore, I think those posters predicting that the next work stoppage will be a bad one are likely correct
- maria_wyeth

It's a bad cycle but it won't be never ending because it can't last forever.
In theory both economies/$$ should not be in the tank at once. When the US economy went off a cliff the Canadian $$ rose as did oil prices as did their economy and so did the Cap by a good amount. Now their dollar has been soft, oil down a lot but the US economy hasn't provided the same boost. So much for theory.

but he's 6'8" and....well, he's 6'8"!!
- EnzoD

benning starts the bidding at a 2nd and 4th.