What are your thoughts on the Malkin to Chicago rumours?
- Bhawks2

I'm not trying to answer for JJ, but the Malkin to CHI rumor just doesn't fit.

I'm not trying to answer for JJ, but the Malkin to CHI rumor just doesn't fit.
- EKB13

Agreed. It's nonsense. Malkin's going nowhere.

Terrific article JJ.

As much as I love Shaw the overachiever, the cost to retain him may grease the skids for his departure. Can't overpay in $ and term for a player like #65.

And I have never doubted the rumour about moving Cro out of financial necessity. The hard part to swallow is that he likely has been the unacknowledged team MVP over the past 3-4 regular seasons and playoffs. Just so very hard to replace.

Right now Stanbo is probably drinking Canadian Club straight out of his empty bleach bottle. But he probably also realizes the time may be now to make this team younger and bigger.
- RickJ

Rick, acknowledging that a core piece and probably a lesser one will have to go to become compliant this is my problem with moving Crawford.

For the last THREE years in a row the Hawk possession and shot differential numbers have gone down. They are getting worse each year at 5 on 5 and that is with all the core players on board for the most part, only losing Saad/Sharp/Oduya last year.

With that easy to see and undisputed trend in mind it would seem the last of the core you want to lose is the last line of defense, Crawford. Now remember as those shot differential/possession numbers have declined over the last 3 years Crawford has the 4th best save percentage in the sport.

Take Crow out of the equation in the face of declining shot differential/possession numbers and you might see a real problem.

Indeed move Crow if needed and that's the consensus amongst management as far as cost/production/return=value analysis but do so knowing how the numbers have been trending.

Is this the best "less worse" option?

I offer you good old trade proposal in HFB´s fashion.

To Chi: Cam Talbot, Nail Yakupov, Anton Lander and 32nd pick oa in this years draft

To Edm: Corey Crawford, Andrew Shaw and Mark McNeill


Panik-Toews-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Yakupov
Motte-Kruger-Hossa
Desjardins-Lander-Hartman
Lundberg

Keith-Hjalmarsson
TvR-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Kempny
Svedberg

Talbot/Darling

Edit: in projected 73 million capworld this lineup would leave around 3 million capspace to go with

Say the same thing enough times and people begin to believe you.

One critical distinction here regarding Crawford is that none of the sources referred to by our esteemed author, who I have great respect for BTW, has admitted to anything regarding Crawford being actively shopped this summer. Merely that inquiries have come.

And for good reason. Our often disrespected, underrated and overlooked goalie wearing number 50 has developed into one of the best "when it matters" goalies in the NHL. That should give a team on the brink of big decisions great pause.

If "less worse" is the new mantra, the question that must be asked is what scenario makes the Hawks least worse.

Status quo with Shaw or Ladd plus some Rockford guys and a directive to Q and the staff to coach rookies up instead of just flip linemates around a shorted bench?

Darling and a second goalie of unquestionably questionable ability and MAYBE a couple million in extra cap space to add (what) for this year only.....? Then next year another Panarin bonus, and a new contract for Darling of HIS making being a UFA (assuming he can play like a true #1) which if the cap remains static STILL prohibits Panarin from being re-signed unless yet another NMC player is launched in a pure swap of one elite talent for another, gaining them nothing.

Seems clear to me, but what do I know.

Meanwhile, I will be hoping that at the very least, CC has the stones to put his foot down to a trade, if for no other reason than to stake a claim to what he has earned and invested in a team that invested in him.

But I have some degree of faith that HOCKEY minds will prevail, and the first option is the route they will follow.

Agreed. It's nonsense. Malkin's going nowhere.
- acmidd28

I could see Malkin possibly going somewhere, but not Chicago.

Hildebrand and Johansson

Considering that cap wise, the Hawks are only slightly better off than they were (netting the Bickell gain and the overage loss) and a small cap increase - and cap increases for Kruger, Anisimov, Seabrook - and Shaw not signed, TT gone, and last year's holes still unfilled:

Is there any internal discussion about perhaps looking at a partial rebuild, recognizing that next season at least (and maybe more) will not produce a true contender?

Maybe identify a long-term core that would be viable going out several years, moving other currently perceived core out (CC, Seabrook....) who wouldn't likely be part of a 2018-19 and later push, returning quality picks and prospects, and sacrificing a year or two to rebuild around Toews, Kane, Panerin, Schmaltz, Motte, Darling, etc.?

I know Wirtz loves the $2MM+ per game haul from the tournament, but it seems that this team could easily become the Milwaukee Bucks, who specially with no major cap increases in sight.

Rick, acknowledging that a core piece and probably a lesser one will have to go to become compliant this is my problem with moving Crawford.

For the last THREE years in a row the Hawk possession and shot differential numbers have gone down. They are getting worse each year at 5 on 5 and that is with all the core players on board for the most part, only losing Saad/Sharp/Oduya last year.

With that easy to see and undisputed trend in mind it would seem the last of the core you want to lose is the last line of defense, Crawford. Now remember as those shot differential/possession numbers have declined over the last 3 years Crawford has the 4th best save percentage in the sport.

Take Crow out of the equation in the face of declining shot differential/possession numbers and you might see a real problem.

Indeed move Crow if needed and that's the consensus amongst management as far as cost/production/return=value analysis but do so knowing how the numbers have been trending.

Is this the best "less worse" option?
- Mr Ricochet

Perfect example - the Montreal Canadiens.

Everybody knew the team generally stunk but Carey Price masked the problem and made them 'less worse'. Without him - sunk like a stone and they finished about where their talent said they should.

Hildebrand and Johansson
- DarthKane

Gallagher and Shean.

I offer you good old trade proposal in HFB´s fashion.

To Chi: Cam Talbot, Nail Yakupov, Anton Lander and 32nd pick oa in this years draft

To Edm: Corey Crawford, Andrew Shaw and Mark McNeill


Panik-Toews-Kane
Panarin-Anisimov-Yakupov
Motte-Kruger-Hossa
Desjardins-Lander-Hartman
Lundberg

Keith-Hjalmarsson
TvR-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Kempny
Svedberg

Talbot/Darling
- MjulQvist

Zero doubt the Oilers need D as a #1 priority but said from the end of the season that if I were them my #1 target would be Shaw. That group has off the charts talent but need a heart and soul guy who can produce on the ice and has won cups to show them how to be pros (both on and off the ice) and what it takes to win in the NHL.

He's a perfect fit in EDM and I've thought so from the end of the season.

Perfect example - the Montreal Canadiens.

Everybody knew the team generally stunk but Carey Price masked the problem and made them 'less worse'. Without him - sunk like a stone and they finished about where their talent said they should.
- RickJ

Excellent analogy and a possible preview of what it could look like in CHI without Crow? Of course arguing the other side the Hawks are tons better throughout and are no one trick pony. Or that Darling is better than Tokorski, Condon or Scrivens.

Can't any of the cap bonuses count against last years cap (if any space was there)?

And the Hawks will be fine once they acquire Malkin. Eklund will have the last laugh.

Excellent analogy and a possible preview of what it could look like in CHI without Crow? Of course arguing the other side the Hawks are tons better throughout and are no one trick pony. Or that Darling is better than Tokorski, Condon or Scrivens.
- Mr Ricochet

As it stands, the Hawks dont have the proper lineup to run their possession game and are not big enough to play dump and chase. Its a true catch 22 on what to do right now. Maybe a year of experience helps the younger D (Gus) take that next step, but we still need another top 6 LW and prolly another D. I just dont know how you do that without moving another chunk-O-salary. Or do we stay as is and hope the extra rest they got is the key!?!

John Jaeckel: News, Rumor, and Opinion
- John Jaeckel

Great blog, JJ. A lot of food for thought.

Unless Shaw is willing to take less than $3M per year, I just don't see how they are going to be able to sign him, unless they move other salary. Shaw has cut down on the cementhead penalties, he's a "heart and soul" guy, does a lot of dirty work they don't get from other players, and is not easily replaced.

Still, as JJ has said repeatedly, math. Not sure how they can give Shaw $3M+ and still fill out the roster in a reasonable fashion. So, if it comes down to Shaw must go, or Crawford (or Seabrook) must go, I have to say goodbye to #65. That would be a bad thing, but this is life in a hard-cap world.

Rick, acknowledging that a core piece and probably a lesser one will have to go to become compliant this is my problem with moving Crawford.

For the last THREE years in a row the Hawk possession and shot differential numbers have gone down. They are getting worse each year at 5 on 5 and that is with all the core players on board for the most part, only losing Saad/Sharp/Oduya last year.

With that easy to see and undisputed trend in mind it would seem the last of the core you want to lose is the last line of defense, Crawford. Now remember as those shot differential/possession numbers have declined over the last 3 years Crawford has the 4th best save percentage in the sport.

Take Crow out of the equation in the face of declining shot differential/possession numbers and you might see a real problem.

Indeed move Crow if needed and that's the consensus amongst management as far as cost/production/return=value analysis but do so knowing how the numbers have been trending.

Is this the best "less worse" option?
- Mr Ricochet

It's interesting you bring this up, since as you say, Saad, Sharp, and Oduya were still there in 2014 (WCF) and 2015 (Cup). Is this just a product of some aging players all throughout the lineup? Or is something else going on in that other teams have tactically adjusted to our system? You could see how players past their prime could affect this, but what do you do?

Nice blog JJ


Move Crow and trade for Halak.... Boom

Nice blog JJ


Move Crow and trade for Halak.... Boom
- Ur Not Me

Ahhhhhh, no thanks.

Chad Johnson on the Hawks for 3M would win 40+.

Say the same thing enough times and people begin to believe you.

One critical distinction here regarding Crawford is that none of the sources referred to by our esteemed author, who I have great respect for BTW, has admitted to anything regarding Crawford being actively shopped this summer. Merely that inquiries have come.

And for good reason. Our often disrespected, underrated and overlooked goalie wearing number 50 has developed into one of the best "when it matters" goalies in the NHL. That should give a team on the brink of big decisions great pause.

If "less worse" is the new mantra, the question that must be asked is what scenario makes the Hawks least worse.

Status quo with Shaw or Ladd plus some Rockford guys and a directive to Q and the staff to coach rookies up instead of just flip linemates around a shorted bench?

Darling and a second goalie of unquestionably questionable ability and MAYBE a couple million in extra cap space to add (what) for this year only.....? Then next year another Panarin bonus, and a new contract for Darling of HIS making being a UFA (assuming he can play like a true #1) which if the cap remains static STILL prohibits Panarin from being re-signed unless yet another NMC player is launched in a pure swap of one elite talent for another, gaining them nothing.

Seems clear to me, but what do I know.

Meanwhile, I will be hoping that at the very least, CC has the stones to put his foot down to a trade, if for no other reason than to stake a claim to what he has earned and invested in a team that invested in him.

But I have some degree of faith that HOCKEY minds will prevail, and the first option is the route they will follow.
- Return of the Roar

What does your salary cap-compliant lineup look like with Corey Crawford still in the fold?

Ahhhhhh, no thanks.
- Return of the Roar

U will take it & like it....

What does your salary cap-compliant lineup look like with Corey Crawford still in the fold?
- tgentry1084

Kind of need to know the cap number first.

Ahhhhhh, no thanks.
- Return of the Roar

Agreed.

Well organized thoughts, JJ.

It will be a tough pill to swallow if they choose to deal CC, but honestly, it might solve more problems than it creates. Not saying the problem it creates is trivial, but that has to be one of the scenarios they are thinking hard about.

CC, Shaw, and Pollka to Toronto for Bernier, JVR, and Torontos 1st round pick next year. The draft is in Chicago. Also thanks again JJ for all you do for us fans!