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 fan!
- Sn1362

Also, a polite no thank you

Also, a polite no thank you
- Return of the Roar

Why not? Bernier for 1 year and a #1LW controlled for at 4.2 mil for the next 2 yrs. No problem signing The Breadman next year and a number 1 draft pick. I would do the trade in a second. Polka will never play here and we will need the cap space.

Why not? Bernier for 1 year and a #1LW controlled for at 4.2 mil for the next 2 yrs. No problem signing The Breadman next year and a number 1 draft pick. I would do the trade in a second.
- Sn1362

Bernier was done over a year ago. Montreal scenario for us but worse.

Meanwhile Shaw, Matt Martin, Ladd, Schlemko, etc...all interesting names here.
- DK002

I wanna add something on Martin. This guy is a good skater, maybe a + skater, has lead the league by far in hits for years (6?), has excellent size and probably most importantly he relishes the 4th line grit/grind/hit em role. .....I'd also add his hit totals are much higher at home than on the road so his hit numbers are inflated, but he's still a hit machine by any measure.

But I don't think he's a Q kinda guy. Q, and the Hawks, prefer the poke/stick check over playing the body as they believe, as does Sullivan of the Pens, that most times you take yourself out of the play when you body check.

But I'm a fan of Martin and have always been.

Bernier was done over a year ago. Montreal scenario for us but worse.
- Return of the Roar

You are only taking him for the one year deal. Darling would be the guy!

Outstanding article and board conversation. Well done, Chicago.

Why not? Bernier for 1 year and a #1LW controlled for at 4.2 mil for the next 2 yrs. No problem signing The Breadman next year and a number 1 draft pick. I would do the trade in a second.
- Sn1362

Bernier and JVR are bothing making 4 mill a year. Money wise that could be a problem unless Toronto was to retain some salary. In the grand scheme, a trade like that it not bad. Bernier is an ehhhhh netminder, but he could spell Darling. JVR would be the target there. A big LW with nice hands. As I said... this is a crap spot to be in.

You are only taking him for the one year deal. Darling would be the guy!
- Sn1362

And if he is the guy, Darlings next deal plus Panarin's bonuses put us right back to now with a static cap and still no room to sign Panarin.

Bernier was done over a year ago. Montreal scenario for us but worse.
- Return of the Roar

Compare MTL's Forwards with CHI's? And all they have on D is Subban.

And Crawford is no Price

You are only taking him for the one year deal. Darling would be the guy! Then we have some cap space.
- Sn1362

And if he is the guy, Darlings next deal plus Panarin's bonuses put us right back t now with a static capmand no room to sign Panarin.
- Return of the Roar

And if Darling wants 6mil, you let him go and don't make the mistake of overpaying for a goalie.

And if Darling wants 6mil, you let him go and don't make the mistake of overpaying for a goalie.
- PatShart

And gong into expansion you have no goalie and everyone else protecting the best ones.

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

If cap is at $74 million, and Crawford still with team....it means we have 8 million to sign 6 players to get to a 22 man roster...or sign 7 players to get to a 23 man roster.

And if he is the guy, Darlings next deal plus Panarin's bonuses put us right back to now with a static cap and still no room to sign Panarin.
- Return of the Roar

Darling will not get 4mil a year maybe 2.5- 3 os there is 1mil and as you know any cap space helps.

Darling will not get 4mil a year maybe 2.5- 3 os there is 1mil and as you know any cap space helps.
- Sn1362

If Darling gets 3, Panarin gets his 2.5 bonus, and cap is static, no room for Panarins contract.

And gong into expansion you have no goalie and everyone else protecting the best ones.
- Return of the Roar

I wasn't aware they couldn't sign Darling to an extension during the year

I wasn't aware they couldn't sign Darling to an extension during the year
- PatShart

They can, but Darling is a UFA after this season. He is going to seek the highest bidder.

Bernier and JVR are bothing making 4 mill a year. Money wise that could be a problem unless Toronto was to retain some salary. In the grand scheme, a trade like that it not bad. Bernier is an ehhhhh netminder, but he could spell Darling. JVR would be the target there. A big LW with nice hands. As I said... this is a crap spot to be in.
- z1990z

I do not think they would have to take on any money. CC at 6.5, polka at $950,000 and shaw will get at least 3 - 3.5 Toronto will be getting more salary than the Hawks.

Bowman never should have signed Kane to the Money he has. Not because he isn't worth it, but because you just can't have 2 10 million dollar players and stay competitive for the cup. Imagine if Kane wasn't on the team (and the return that would have come) but Sharp, Oduya, Tuevo, Saad etc. would still be. The Hawks would have another cup.
- Falon

The Penguins have 2 10mil players just about..
- Ehstripes

No. The math is so tight that you need to recognize there's a big difference between Toews/Kane and Cindy/Malkin. $2.8m difference. That's huge!

To understand the magnitude of the difference, look at it this way:
Toews, Kane and say Hartman add to $21.9m.
For the same $21.9m, Pitt can skate Crosby ($8.7m), Malkin $9.5m) and Ladd ($4.4m last contract). I come up a bit short of affording Ladd, but you get the point.

The extra $1m for each of Kane and Toews, the extra $750k for Seabs, $500-750k for Craw, that I wish they hadn't gotten, affords a VERY good player on the roster.

I could see Malkin possibly going somewhere, but not Chicago.
- EKB13

I wonder if he would go to a team like Colorado IF they trade Duchene or Barrie. Malkin and MacKinnon as 1 and 2. There he could be "The Guy."

They can, but Darling is a UFA after this season. He is going to seek the highest bidder.
- Return of the Roar

So he goes from a guy that isn't good enough to be a full time goalie on the Hawks - to 6mil a year?

When I read take a run at signing Vesey I don't think it's (1) a realistic possibility, and (2) the timing would (again) put Stan in the bad position of trying to finalize the roster after all the majority of player movement has been completed. If I'm not mistaken, Vesey can't sign a contract until August 15th (unless it's with the team that holds his rights - Nashville) so Stan would have to put Plan-B on hold until he knows Vesey's decision in mid-August. If Vesey signs with Boston, as expected, then Stan has limited options to acquire another player. If, on the other hand, Stan re-signs Ladd or acquires another LW, then the incentive to play immediately is gone for Vesey so it's a catch-22 for Stan.

Go ahead and take a run at him, but don't pin the off season plans on him.

If Darling gets 3, Panarin gets his 2.5 bonus, and cap is static, no room for Panarins contract.
- Return of the Roar

So what you are saying no matter what they will have to get rid of Panarin? The only other option I see is Hossas Back gets really bad next year!

TGIF! A question for the masses:

What valued piece that JJ has shared whispers of movement (Crawford, Shaw, player X) is the most easily replaceable?

IMO, Shaw does a lot of things well (forecheck, hitting, antagonizing, possession game in ozone, net front presence). However, I think if, as JJ alluded to, Stan is doing his homework, I think a lot of those things could be replaced in the open market. There is just no one in the Hawks' system, other than maybe Hartman, who is a cheaper replacement.

I go back to JJ's assertion a few blogs ago: we the Hawks overvalue some of our "sacred cows" but don't think clearly about how other players in the league provide value. Different position and role, but look at Matt Cullen. That was a 1yr wonder for Pittsburgh. Vet who wanted to be on a team with high top-end talent and fill a role. I think there could be a guy floating (don't ask me for a name) that would love to play a small but important role on the '16-'17 Hawks at a cost that is $2M or more less than Shaw will command in the open market.

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!?!
- z1990z

Yo ZZ, (is the ZZ for that lil ole band from Texas?) you bring up another thing I've wondered about for 4-5 years now. What is the best way to build a club to win long term? In this cap world can you have a system built on skill and speed as it would seem skill speed players are expensive. Or do you build it with bigger/grinder/physical/possession types in a trap system with a top 5 goalie? That type would seem cheaper to me.

At first look I would say the big player trap system (LA Kings/Bruins?) But the speed/skill system has won more cups (Hawks-Pens).

I have no answers only questions. I guess a numbers freak could run NASA type data and come up with a plausible answer based on that data but it would seem to the eye the trap system/less skilled system would be cheaper but the simpleton data shows the Hawks/Pens system has won more cups.