Let me offer a different perspective: None of this matters.

If 19 and 2 get healthy, as has been trending the past week or two at least for 19... the Hawks would gain 1-2 top-10 players for free, and unless our memory consists only of the last 12 months, we know not to bet against this core if healthy. If they're not, its first round and out.

There are no deals out there for Stan worth making. Sit this year out if we have to, and wait till guys develop or we get help from the KHL or asking prices go down, whichever the case may be...

Let me offer a different perspective: None of this matters.

If 19 and 2 get healthy, as has been trending the past week or two at least for 19... the Hawks would gain 1-2 top-10 players for free, and unless our memory consists only of the last 12 months, we know not to bet against this core if healthy. If they're not, its first round and out.

There are no deals out there for Stan worth making. Sit this year out if we have to, and wait till guys develop or we get help from the KHL or asking prices go down, whichever the case may be...
- busmaster

Nice line of thinking, but if they don't get healthy, none of it likely matters. I DO think Toews is fine now. keith? Ehhhh, not so sure.

But, I also don't think those guys at 100% are enough. They must do something to get consistent scoring on a line other than AK72.

And . . .

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST . . .

Remember this name this summer: Justin Kloos.
- John Jaeckel

already 23 or 24 years old. relatively small...175 or 180. You think he has enough to crack a Top 6 at the NHL level???

If the Hawks add a Legit Top 6 Forward that can mesh with 19+81, the Hawks have as good a shot at the Cup as anyone. Also, bumping Campbell to pair 3 might help the Hawks Cup chances. 51 has been soft as cotton defensively for most of the season....

already 23 or 24 years old. relatively small...175 or 180. You think he has enough to crack a Top 6 at the NHL level???
- hawk35

I know next to nothing about him. I'm not making a suggestion. I'm relating that he is on the Hawks' radar.

And 23 or 24 makes him older anymore mature than some of the kids the Hawks are giving NHL minutes to this year. Dunno, maybe they sign him before the playoffs even.

He's a lot bigger than Hinostroza!

If the Hawks add a Legit Top 6 Forward that can mesh with 19+81, the Hawks have as good a shot at the Cup as anyone. Also, bumping Campbell to pair 3 might help the Hawks Cup chances. 51 has been soft as cotton defensively for most of the season....
- EnzoD

Depending on the cost in terms of what they have to trade, yes. Which is why they are obviously going to explore it hard right up to 3/1 if necessary.

The big difference right now is that pucks aren't just going in for AA and Hossa. The two guys that were hot earlier in the year and scored on an abnormally high number of shots, those guys aren't scoring so much now. How many games were won because Hossa or AA came up with a big and timely goal?

Last 12 games (30 days)

Kane 12 points
Toews 10 points
Kero 7 points
Hartman 7 points
Keith 7 points
Panik 7 Points
Hossa 7 Points
AA 5 Points
Panarin 5 Points
Hino 4 Points
Hjalmarsson 4 Points
Seabrook 4 Points


Panarin got the 2 year contract and since then...not getting many good looks to score. AA was so hot early in the season, it was only a matter of time that he would revert to scoring like a good 3C (which offensively he is).

Kane/Toews may be paid like guys who should carry the whole team, but they won't. Never did and never will. Gotta get the other top guns going.

As the cap starts to affect more teams, one thing I hope the league does to help out the ability to trade higher-priced players is raise the cap floor. Does anyone know if the floor is set based on a % of the ceiling, or is this something the league can negotiate over the summer? I would think that most owners would go for this.
- powerenforcer

I see your point but I don't think they will raise the floor....What they should do is eliminate the floor and let the market take over, but they won't do that either. The present system doesn't work unless there is a vast wasteland out there for teams to puke players. The poster boy lately in Arizona.

To your point, something has to give soon because the cap could stay flat or go down for quite awhile. Besides the reason everyone points to ie. currency valuation...The NHL didn't make as much as they should have on the last TV deal and merchandising sales haven't caught fire either.

Did you think Crawford could in the summer of 2010? Because the Hawks sure as hell didn't when they signed immortal Marty Turco.

Take this year's cap number maybe add 1 million to it, and factor in bonuses due to panarin, panarin's pay increase, bonuses due to Campbell, Kempny, and others and then put together a roster.

they have more organizational depth in goal then at D and Seabrook will stay if it came down to him vs CC. The organization doesn't trust 50 100%, and when idiots like Bernstein are being spoon fed that spin job stuff in January, tells you what's coming.

McDonough is always controlling the message he wants sent out.
- SteveRain

Actually the Hawks were very high on Crawford, and Turco was a cheap safety net. KIM-
The Hawks could have signed Niemi for the exact contract SJ offered him, the reason they move in another direction is because Waite and Bowman were sold on on Crawford.

May happen.
- John Jaeckel

It may happen but if Bowman can sign Darling to a decent contract he also becomes more valuable as a trade chip because there is cost certainty for the acquiring team.

What I am sensing is that if Crawford gets traded, he'd likely net draft picks only and likely a 2nd rounder (iffy to get a 1st rounder). So my question is if we were able to trade Brouwer for a late 1st rounder (which I believe turned into Danault), one would think Crawford could net an early 1st rounder.

IMHO, Crawford's resume at this point in his career is >> than Brouwer's resume at that point of his career. Is it Crawford's high salary that downgrades his stock?

I see your point but I don't think they will raise the floor....What they should do is eliminate the floor and let the market take over, but they won't do that either. The present system doesn't work unless there is a vast wasteland out there for teams to puke players. The poster boy lately in Arizona.

To your point, something has to give soon because the cap could stay flat or go down for quite awhile. Besides the reason everyone points to ie. currency valuation...The NHL didn't make as much as they should have on the last TV deal and merchandising sales haven't caught fire either.
- Al

Thank you for saying this........well done. Been trying to hammer this home.

The cap is geared and rigged towards the middle group. Your Nashville's etc and honeslty your top teams are being penalized for it. There is no luxury cap to enable teams to go over, which may be in the next CBA, and it's not win for the NHLPA or the large market teams. With a cap about to be stagnant, top teams will lose players, and players hitting UFA will not maximize earnings because their will be little competition on the open market with mid to lower teams hovering around the cap floor due to inhouse budgets.

Honestly.....what they should do is retract some teams but that will never happen as NHLPA loses jobs, Bettman has egg on his face etc.

As far as the TV deal, realistically where can they go? I highly doubt ESPN gives them espn main network with NBA, MLB, and NCAAB or NCAAF on most nights, so they get banished to ESPN2 and what ratings would they get on ESPN2 that they aren't getting on NBCSN? Same holds true for ABC on Sundays.

I think owners like Wirtz have to push for the luxury tax....keep it reasonable say 10% above cap is all you can go and pay X amount to the kitty, but otherwise this league is truly screwed.

There are 3 young players that others would be interested in and imo and there are only 3 valuable trade chips...

Schmaltz, Motte and Forsling....This time around I'm thinking StanBo won't trade any of them. With the flat cap they will need affordable effective players next year more than any time since the summer of 2010.

It may happen but if Bowman can sign Darling to a decent contract he also becomes more valuable as a trade chip because there is cost certainty for the acquiring team.
- Al

Great point, and I did consider that.

There's more to what I've heard about this going back a couple of years though that tells me it is more straightforward than that.

Actually the Hawks were very high on Crawford, and Turco was a cheap safety net. KIM-
The Hawks could have signed Niemi for the exact contract SJ offered him, the reason they move in another direction is because Waite and Bowman were sold on on Crawford.
- Al

I was told it was Niemi or Hammer and once they matched the offer sheet they waited out Niemi in arb and walked from the deal.

Crawford showed in glimpses in 2008 he could do the job and obviously got screwed by Niemi's deal to not make the team.

Point is, hasn't Darling done AT LEAST all that and more to prove he's ideally in a better spot to take on #1 job then where Crawford was in 2010?

When they were flirting with a chance to make playoffs at end of 2008, believe CC had a shutout vs Anaheim and another strong showing in March that year when he was spelling Lalime.

Thank you for saying this........well done. Been trying to hammer this home.

The cap is geared and rigged towards the middle group. Your Nashville's etc and honeslty your top teams are being penalized for it. There is no luxury cap to enable teams to go over, which may be in the next CBA, and it's not win for the NHLPA or the large market teams. With a cap about to be stagnant, top teams will lose players, and players hitting UFA will not maximize earnings because their will be little competition on the open market with mid to lower teams hovering around the cap floor due to inhouse budgets.

Honestly.....what they should do is retract some teams but that will never happen as NHLPA loses jobs, Bettman has egg on his face etc.

As far as the TV deal, realistically where can they go? I highly doubt ESPN gives them espn main network with NBA, MLB, and NCAAB or NCAAF on most nights, so they get banished to ESPN2 and what ratings would they get on ESPN2 that they aren't getting on NBCSN? Same holds true for ABC on Sundays.

I think owners like Wirtz have to push for the luxury tax....keep it reasonable say 10% above cap is all you can go and pay X amount to the kitty, but otherwise this league is truly screwed.
- SteveRain

That is assuming that owners like Wirtz actually want a luxury tax and to spend more and more. At the end of the day, the league is doing what it can to try to get the NHL to grow (slowly) in new markets. That is clearly the strategy they are going for and it is painful when clubs struggle, but they are playing the long game. Takes time to lay those roots down.

It may happen but if Bowman can sign Darling to a decent contract he also becomes more valuable as a trade chip because there is cost certainty for the acquiring team.
- Al

Have been saying this for a couple weeks, Darling is very valuable as a trade chip, especially if he is signed @ around $3.5M.

But if you were his agent would you recommend signing or going UFA?

There are 3 young players that others would be interested in and imo and there are only 3 valuable trade chips...

Schmaltz, Motte and Forsling....This time around I'm thinking StanBo won't trade any of them. With the flat cap they will need affordable effective players next year more than any time since the summer of 2010.
- Al

Unless they see Schmaltz and Motte as a top 6 left wing good enough to hold the job on what should be a Cup competitive team, the question becomes:

Where do they play? Where do they add value in the right roles?

Both are top 6 "style" players. Neither is displacing the top 6 centers, right wings, or one of the left wings on the Hawks for at least two years. And no, I don't see Hossa deteriorating that much or either of them getting that much better in that time as a right wing, especially not Motte, who IS a natural left wing.

if I could get Matt Duchene for either or both of them, I would do it in a heartbeat, because then your top 6 is set (and better) for two years. If I could get Tatar for one of them and some other asset(s), same.

While Griess may be the best comp for Darling out there, lets work with a $3.5-4MM number as the most likely.

Know that the NHL average AAV for all teams for backups is $1.3MM, largely getting what you pay for with very few exceptions. Niemi being an upside outlier at $4.5MM, and Murray the downside outlier at $620,000.

At best.......save $1.5MM with an undeniable downgrade in the potential new tandem. Hard to argue that CC + 33 would not be better than 33 + unknown entity. Be careful what you wish for.

While the NHL telegraphs static cap, that does not assume the NHLPA escalator. At 5%, that is $3.5MM.

That is assuming that owners like Wirtz actually want a luxury tax and to spend more and more. At the end of the day, the league is doing what it can to try to get the NHL to grow (slowly) in new markets. That is clearly the strategy they are going for and it is painful when clubs struggle, but they are playing the long game. Takes time to lay those roots down.
- breadbag

Ya the grass seed they are using in Arizona and Miami just won't germinate.

Have been saying this for a couple weeks, Darling is very valuable as a trade chip, especially if he is signed @ around $3.5M.

But if you were his agent would you recommend signing or going UFA?
- RickJ

UFA.

Do the math, run the odds. The average NHL team has more money to spend than the Hawks do, especially is said team sees Darling as a #1.

The sign and trade scenario has validity, I guess, assuming the Hawks could get around a possibly prohibitive tagging room issue, but don't you think his agent is likely wise to that?

I was told it was Niemi or Hammer and once they matched the offer sheet they waited out Niemi in arb and walked from the deal.

Crawford showed in glimpses in 2008 he could do the job and obviously got screwed by Niemi's deal to not make the team.

Point is, hasn't Darling done AT LEAST all that and more to prove he's ideally in a better spot to take on #1 job then where Crawford was in 2010?

When they were flirting with a chance to make playoffs at end of 2008, believe CC had a shutout vs Anaheim and another strong showing in March that year when he was spelling Lalime.
- SteveRain

I agree. While Darling isn't a sure thing if he becomes a #1, he is showing a lot of promise. Very similar to CC, who many were ready to give up on in 2012. I think a lot of it comes down to the goalie coaches, who don't get enough credit. I think the Hawks have to make some tough choices and while goalie is a critical position, at least Darling is looking solid. Gotta save some $$ somewhere.

While Griess may be the best comp for Darling out there, lets work with a $3.5-4MM number as the most likely.

Know that the NHL average AAV for all teams for backups is $1.3MM, largely getting what you pay for with very few exceptions. Niemi being an upside outlier at $4.5MM, and Murray the downside outlier at $620,000.

At best.......save $1.5MM with an undeniable downgrade in the potential new tandem. Hard to argue that CC + 33 would not be better than 33 + unknown entity. Be careful what you wish for.

While the NHL telegraphs static cap, that does not assume the NHLPA escalator. At 5%, that is $3.5MM.
- Return of the Roar

All that makes sense, but Panarin's new deal kicks in next year + performance bonuses for him (and I believe others) from this year that will hit next year's cap.

You can't cherry pick cap numbers. The totality of the cap picture is the Hawks can't afford $10 million committed to the G position. And Darling is going to get paid by someone.

Ya the grass seed they are using in Arizona and Miami just won't germinate.
- RickJ

They may never in some markets, but they want to get the NHL in front of more and more population. It won't grow if you don't push the boundaries and try to create new fans from the youth.

1) All due respect, you don't know that. You don't. Unless you work for the Hawks in hockey ops. For the same reason, I don't KNOW the opposite to be true.

You may not like the rumors that are out there. But your post implies that there is no possibility of a top 6 upgrade out there and therefore it is not worth discussing.

That is patently incorrect.

I have been told, by someone I KNOW is in position to know, the Hawks are exploring it. Thoroughly. And names like Duchene, van Riemsdyk (James), Tatar, Nyquist have come up.

Everything in life, and especially hockey, is negotiable to some degree. The Detroit Red Wings, just one example, are 20-20-9. They need defensive help (NHL and prospect level), they have a glut of decent forwards and three guys who you would call "scoring" left wings. Then there's the fact of credible sources saying the teams have talked. So the process will play out, whether some choose to believe it or not.

2) Bowman has said the same the last two deadlines. He says it every year. Some years it holds true, the last two, it hasn't. So what does that tell you. "Always believe the GM because they never make deliberately vague, or misdirecting statements regarding their intentions."

Mmmm. I guess if you believe that, I have a bridge I'd like to talk to you about.

As far as the National Enquirer, i don't know what they're journalistic standards are. And while blogs are admittedly sort of the Wild West of journalism (at best), in this one, I don't just make the stuff up. If I had that kind of ability, I'd be making a lot more money writing screenplays. And a lot of the stuff I impart does happen. Why? Because I vet the sources and I cross check the information as much as possible.

No offense taken. I just think the "dismissive" implication in your post is not supported by recent history.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, I honestly hope you are right and we get a top 6 guy. I am a fan after all and hope we win the cup again. I just don't see it happening.

I don't really come here much for the trade rumors...but just the knowledge that you and other knowledgeable posters make. Everyone should always attempt to learn more about the sport they follow.

This is the only Hawks blog I go to...so I obviously respect the work you put in and enjoy the stuff you write. I'm just in disagreement on a big top 6 upgrade...but hope I am wrong.