On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

John, your pretty much the bible when it comes to this stuff, I'll stand by what I said last nite regarding Chicago newspaper Hawk coverage.
Stuff should start to happen, Kane or Neal would be just what type they are looking for. Someone that plays like they got a fish hook stuck in their arse!

JJ,

Would be beyond stoked to have Boyle
- Hank3Henshaw

I would love him as well, however he is the opposite of where StanBo has been going - young and fast. Boyle is Older and real slow.

I think they need to make another move this week, to open up flexibility for free agency. I want to see them go into free agency not looking for a big splash, but for some player (or two) not finding a good landing spot who could be had for under $2m. The Brad Richards, Soup Campbell type signings.

On my Twitter this AM:

Heard again last night (late) that the Hawks are making a hard push for Evander Kane. They want the speed and skill on Kane's left flank and they want some intimidation there as well. This is a name/situation I would watch.

James Neal is also a possibility, maybe others
- John Jaeckel

While I'm in the camp of people that haven't liked Evander Kane's antics/attitude off the ice, he is the type of player they could use. I commented earlier how the Hawks could use someone that puts a lot of pucks on net. Evander Kane was 12th in the NHL for shots on goal this last season.

I would love him as well, however he is the opposite of where StanBo has been going - young and fast. Boyle is Older and real slow.
- riozzo

True, but he'd be nasty on a lower line--like the third.

While I'm in the camp of people that haven't liked Evander Kane's antics/attitude off the ice, he is the type of player they could use. I commented earlier how the Hawks could use someone that puts a lot of pucks on net. Evander Kane was 12th in the NHL for shots on goal this last season.
- breadbag

My challenge is he takes a ton of penalties. Every penalty takes PKane off the ice.

Still have the feeling Kane would be a good fit with the Hawks , has all the things JJ indicated that the Hawks are looking for off season. Young , fast tough. And only has a year left on contract so he knows he can't mess up.

Galchenyuk needs to be signed and will we back in the same cap hell in a year or so when Shmaltz, Hartman, Kempeny need new contracts. Hawks need cap space not only for this year but for a few years down the road or we will be losing players again and this time it will be young developing players.
That's why we have to fill spots with players with 1 year lft on contracts or players with cheaper contracts Calvert, Merrill (LV)
- HamiltonHawk

Evander Kane has a CAP HIT OF $5.25M for the last year of his contract. Maybe the Hawks get Anisimov to waive his NMC in order to play out the last 4 years of his $4.55M contract in the beautiful city of Buffalo. And maybe Buffalo retains 50% salary, so that there is some cap savings this year.

But I ask everyone to weigh in: what's the LONG TERM plan? E. Kane will want MORE money the following year, so we're back in cap hell. Or he's a bust, and now the Hawks have traded away their cost-controlled, defensibly reliable center who also potted a few shorties on the PK his first year here.

Whether you like the Saad + Forsberg for Panarin deal or the Murphy + Dauphin for Hjalmarrson deal, there is no doubt the team got younger, faster, and obtained cost certainty two years down the road. And I really think "down the road" is the hope. Sure, they Hawks won the "President's Trophy of the West," with a bunch of rookies. The hope is that the rookies make big improvements, Toews and Keith return to form, and the Hawks can be competitive IN THE PLAYOFFS over the next few years before Keith and Seabs are totally done.

What's the LONG TERM plan to get Toews and Kane another cup or cups?

Evander Kane has a CAP HIT OF $5.25M for the last year of his contract. Maybe the Hawks get Anisimov to waive his NMC in order to play out the last 4 years of his $4.55M contract in the beautiful city of Buffalo. And maybe Buffalo retains 50% salary, so that there is some cap savings this year.

But I ask everyone to weigh in: what's the LONG TERM plan? E. Kane will want MORE money the following year, so we're back in cap hell. Or he's a bust, and now the Hawks have traded away their cost-controlled, defensibly reliable center who also potted a few shorties on the PK his first year here.

Whether you like the Saad + Forsberg for Panarin deal or the Murphy + Dauphin for Hjalmarrson deal, there is no doubt the team got younger, faster, and obtained cost certainty two years down the road. And I really think "down the road" is the hope. Sure, they Hawks won the "President's Trophy of the West," with a bunch of rookies. The hope is that the rookies make big improvements, Toews and Keith return to form, and the Hawks can be competitive IN THE PLAYOFFS over the next few years before Keith and Seabs are totally done.

What's the LONG TERM plan to get Toews and Kane another cup or cups?
- DMChi2010

Agreed on EKane. Buffalo has their own cap problems, and a bit of a logjam at center depth.
They have a couple bad contracts (moulson, bogosian, Ennius) and don't want to add more $4M guys who could slow down in a hurry.
With O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart, and Girgensons all being capable centers they don't really need AA.

Agreed on EKane. Buffalo has their own cap problems, and a bit of a logjam at center depth.
They have a couple bad contracts (moulson, bogosian, Ennius) and don't want to add more $4M guys who could slow down in a hurry.
With O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart, and Girgensons all being capable centers they don't really need AA.
- ObeseOprah

We'll take O'Reilly

ha. That is an old saying they do say.

I'm still out on E. Kane. A good friend of mine knows his "manager" (whom I've met before as well) and have heard some terrible stories that didn't go mainstream.

I'm just a huge believer in character. Skill obviously has to be there, but if everyone in Winnipeg (including form. Hawks Ladd and Buff) wanted him out ASAP, I can't see the current Hawks going to battle for this guy in the playoffs.
- TyCamScore

This whole idea feels like a slap in the face and makes me want to scream at StanBo and McD if they are seriously considering it.

What you say does not surprise me in the slightest, because what he has been publicly accused of and formally charged with is not behavior that will change, regardless of how many "character guy" leaders the Hawks still have in the room. It will, unfortunately, likely get worse.

And to the other poster - Hossa, Hammer, etc., whether vocal or not, led by example. There's more than one way to be a locker room leader and they will be missed, particularly come crunch time in key games and especially in the playoffs. That's when character will sometimes outweigh skill.

2016-2017

BUF 70 28 15 43 -17 113 3 8 0 0 5 1 260 10.8 45.08

Not too keen on his penalties, either.

Let's hope so. The last really great Russian player was Sergei Federov playing for the Winged Wheel. Was able to elevate his game and his teammates in the playoffs, something I've not seen since.

Would love for Stan to take a flyer on EKane.
Make it happen Stan!
- savvyone-1

Datsyuk

I'd pass on Kane. Spends too much time on IR

New Blog

This whole idea feels like a slap in the face and makes me want to scream at StanBo and McD if they are seriously considering it.

What you say does not surprise me in the slightest, because what he has been publicly accused of and formally charged with is not behavior that will change, regardless of how many "character guy" leaders the Hawks still have in the room. It will, unfortunately, likely get worse.

And to the other poster - Hossa, Hammer, etc., whether vocal or not, led by example. There's more than one way to be a locker room leader and they will be missed, particularly come crunch time in key games and especially in the playoffs. That's when character will sometimes outweigh skill.
- pdx2ord

Lots of people said Patrick Kane would not change either. You never can tell.

While I'm in the camp of people that haven't liked Evander Kane's antics/attitude off the ice, he is the type of player they could use. I commented earlier how the Hawks could use someone that puts a lot of pucks on net. Evander Kane was 12th in the NHL for shots on goal this last season.
- breadbag

I don't know whether or not E Kane's off-ice issues disqualify him from a Chicago tenure - and his PIMs concern me especially considering the possible state of the Blackhawks PK next year without Hossa and (probably) Kruger - but the Hawks need some bold moves to get back into the top-level of NHL teams - they need to take some chances on the E Kane's and Yakupovs and other young high-potential/low-accomplishment skaters, hoping to catch one on the up-swing.

Not saying this is going to happen or should happen, but kind of fun to think about.

Trade Kruger to Vegas for a pick.
Trade Crawford to Philly for Couturier and St. Louis's 1st round pick in 2018 which Philly owns.
Trade Anisimov and St Louis's 1st round pick to Buffalo for Kane (with them retaining 1/2 salary)
Trade Hossa and Highmore to Arizona for their 4th round picks in 2018 and 2019.
Sign Ryan Miller and Niemi at $2.5mil each for 2 years.
Sign Sharp $2 mil for one year
Sign Oduya $2 mil for 1 year
Sign Gagner $2 mil for 3 years

Saad Toews Panik
Kane Couturier Kane
Sharp Gagner Hartman
Fortin Schmaltz Hayden
Kero

Keith Murphy
Kempny Seabs
Oduya Rutta
Forsling

Niemi
Miller
- -Doh-

Beautiful!!! Well Done

Evander Kane has a CAP HIT OF $5.25M for the last year of his contract. Maybe the Hawks get Anisimov to waive his NMC in order to play out the last 4 years of his $4.55M contract in the beautiful city of Buffalo. And maybe Buffalo retains 50% salary, so that there is some cap savings this year.

But I ask everyone to weigh in: what's the LONG TERM plan? E. Kane will want MORE money the following year, so we're back in cap hell. Or he's a bust, and now the Hawks have traded away their cost-controlled, defensibly reliable center who also potted a few shorties on the PK his first year here.

Whether you like the Saad + Forsberg for Panarin deal or the Murphy + Dauphin for Hjalmarrson deal, there is no doubt the team got younger, faster, and obtained cost certainty two years down the road. And I really think "down the road" is the hope. Sure, they Hawks won the "President's Trophy of the West," with a bunch of rookies. The hope is that the rookies make big improvements, Toews and Keith return to form, and the Hawks can be competitive IN THE PLAYOFFS over the next few years before Keith and Seabs are totally done.

What's the LONG TERM plan to get Toews and Kane another cup or cups?
- DMChi2010

I think that is the most important question that needs to be answered. I get the "bring in guys who have 1 year left on their deals for this year" but what happens in 2018-2019? It's great to have cap space but what you do with it is the most important aspect. Is the hope that Hartman, Schmaltz, Kero et al take the next step to be top 9 guys on a legit cup contender? Because if it is, the coaching staff has a big job on their hands to get these guys to that level. Most successful teams in the salary cap era, regardless of sport, have home grown talent that contributes mightily. Without that, you end up buying the main pieces and then get old, slow, and bumped up against the cap.

I appreciate the info, but I'm still not understanding the rule completely.
- EnzoD

The FAQ at cap friendly has some good examples.
https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq

I think the difference between putting a player on LTIR in training camp vs regular season is, you can operate over cap in training camp.

So, if the hawks were to LTIR Hossa before the season starts, they would push their cap to $80.275 million - Ceiling + Hossa cap hit (75 + 5.275). This is under the cap+10% limit for off-season ($82.5 million)

If they wait until the regular season, they would want to be right at $75 million before LTIR.

The FAQ also hints that you can no longer "bank cap" if you exceed the upper limit via LTIR. This means they wouldn't be able to absorb another higher $$ contract at the deadline without moving equal $$ off the roster.

I'm sure that there are other rules in the CBA, that makes this issue even more confusing, which we all will be made aware of in the coming months

Beautiful!!! Well Done
- Colbyboy

with $550,000 of cap space left over.

It will be vey interesting to see how Q reacts to all of the personnel changes and how he deals with the new 'talent'. I'm assuming he isn't pleased, but his job is to coach and make it work, not dwell on players who have come and gone. On the other hand, Bowman has no choice but to try and reconfigure this squad, his job depends on it because everybody in hockey saw how the Preds exposed them.
- RickJ

Q is always interesting to me and I thought he did a really solid job last year assimilating as many rookies as he did. Wish he gave Kempny more ice time though but on the whole couldn't have hoped for more and the benefits should be more apparent this year........

Also add Kitchen being taken from Q to the equation of all the new talent he has to deal with this year. .... It just feels like such a bureaucracy with management as far as player personnel is concerned that maybe it has taken StanBow's job to possibly be in jeopardy for him to exert his authority. As you mention GM's GM, coaches coach and presidents president and one wonders if that is the case often enough with the Hawks...... I get the feeling StanBow, for whatever reason, has decided he's gonna be the chief and the coaches and everyone else concerning player personnel are gonna be the indians.

Evander Kane has a CAP HIT OF $5.25M for the last year of his contract. Maybe the Hawks get Anisimov to waive his NMC in order to play out the last 4 years of his $4.55M contract in the beautiful city of Buffalo. And maybe Buffalo retains 50% salary, so that there is some cap savings this year.

But I ask everyone to weigh in: what's the LONG TERM plan? E. Kane will want MORE money the following year, so we're back in cap hell. Or he's a bust, and now the Hawks have traded away their cost-controlled, defensibly reliable center who also potted a few shorties on the PK his first year here.

Whether you like the Saad + Forsberg for Panarin deal or the Murphy + Dauphin for Hjalmarrson deal, there is no doubt the team got younger, faster, and obtained cost certainty two years down the road. And I really think "down the road" is the hope. Sure, they Hawks won the "President's Trophy of the West," with a bunch of rookies. The hope is that the rookies make big improvements, Toews and Keith return to form, and the Hawks can be competitive IN THE PLAYOFFS over the next few years before Keith and Seabs are totally done.

What's the LONG TERM plan to get Toews and Kane another cup or cups?
- DMChi2010

This. Realistically giving up assets for E Kane would probably be a full one year rental geared toward winning the cup next year as opposed to a/the long term plan. If considerable assets were given up for him and he hit all expectations a big contract would have to be moved to ink him as he becomes a UFA in 2018/19. ... Never say never but hard to see that scenario playing out where he hits expectations, Hawks move a core salary and the Hawks sign him long term.

I guess it would boil down to the price paid to acquire him as a 1 year rental.

My challenge is he takes a ton of penalties. Every penalty takes PKane off the ice.
- riozzo

And in 8 years E Kane has never played more than 70 games. He's very much injury prone..........

Spencer Foo signs with the Flames. Most of you know already that the Hawks drafted his younger brother Parker this past weekend.

Spencer Foo signs with the Flames. Most of you know already that the Hawks drafted his younger brother Parker this past weekend.
- AEL_Fox

Everyone is in the new blog.