Two entirely different type of players, Hillman is more of a physical, hard hitting defensive minded shutdown player. Where Mitchell is more offensive minded and yes he has more potential.
- walleyeb1

Mitchell may have more potential but we sorely lack Hillman types in our lineup. We have a tendency to draft the offensive minded types.

Mitchell may have more potential but we sorely lack Hillman types in our lineup. We have a tendency to draft the offensive minded types.
- 67hawks

Powers did a write up on him:

https://twitter.com/bysco...s/973606709909475328?s=21

Powers did a write up on him:

https://twitter.com/bysco...s/973606709909475328?s=21
- walleyeb1

Best two paragraphs I've ever read...

Anyone got the rest?

Best two paragraphs I've ever read...

Anyone got the rest?
- ObeseOprah

Have to pay to read. Posting here would be copyright infringement.

Oh and its good.

Agreed. Three years ago Toews would have commanded more than Tavares on the open market. It would s not even close today.
- Spec41971

Tavares is two years younger, so we'll see how he is doing on the back side of 29

True to an extent... But he wasn't worth that contract when he signed it, either.
- BINGO!

I don't know - he already had 2 Cups on way to 3rd. Next year, you've got Price earning as much as Kane/Toews and he can't seem to play a full season. McDavid, while admittedly a generational talent, is getting $2M more and is not carrying his team anywhere close to promised land this year. Eichel, who is on a bottom dweller and has won nothing yet is getting $10M.

I get that you want to reward potential v. past performance, but no way StanBo and Co didn't think Jonny was going to have a few years of his prime left. No way to predict that.

Hindsight always 20/20

Best two paragraphs I've ever read...

Anyone got the rest?
- ObeseOprah

Personally find my subscription to The Athletic to be worth every penny. And, includes all teams and multiple cities.

It is dependent upon where your primary residence is. Some states may require that a portion of any income produced in their state be subject to income tax, but I'm not to sure about that.

For instance, I travel for work, but I don't have to pay state income tax on money that I make while working in other states (that specific state's income tax). However, I owe Illinois income tax on all of my income since my primary residence is in Illinois.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I seem to recall that all of this was worked out between the various leagues and the various states - to tax the income where is was earned (where the games were played).

I seem to recall that all of this was worked out between the various leagues and the various states - to tax the income where is was earned (where the games were played).
- StLBravesFan

You are correct. So the FL athletes only save on state tax for home games, games in TX, NV. And Add WA once Seattle is up and running.

So between IL and FL, the delta on a 10.0M player is about 250,000. (5% of 50% of wages)

I don't know - he already had 2 Cups on way to 3rd. Next year, you've got Price earning as much as Kane/Toews and he can't seem to play a full season. McDavid, while admittedly a generational talent, is getting $2M more and is not carrying his team anywhere close to promised land this year. Eichel, who is on a bottom dweller and has won nothing yet is getting $10M.

I get that you want to reward potential v. past performance, but no way StanBo and Co didn't think Jonny was going to have a few years of his prime left. No way to predict that.

Hindsight always 20/20
- pdx2ord

Don't evaluate players on team results.

Is Blake Hillman a grandson of one of the Hillman brothers who both played for the Hawks in the early 60's.? By the the way, those two clowns played like crap.

Don't evaluate players on team results.
- BINGO!

OK we'll take the Calder nomination runner up, the Selke, and the Conn Smythe in isolation.

Fair to say as Captain, he gets/got a lot of credit (earned or not) for the Cups whether logical or not.

You are correct. So the FL athletes only save on state tax for home games, games in TX, NV. And Add WA once Seattle is up and running.

So between IL and FL, the delta on a 10.0M player is about 250,000. (5% of 50% of wages)
- riozzo

Which used to be deductible on their federal taxes.

USED to be.

USED TO BE.

Justin I agree hawks go into next year with the same d core then they tanking and won't make the playoffs even with a healthy Crawford. Did some looking at pending free agent defense man this coming offseason that might make sense for the hawks to look at:

Dehann(ufa)
Trouba(rfa)
Ceci (rfa)
Murry(ryan)(rfa)
Cole(ufa)
Petrovic(ufa)
Moore(ufa)
Holden(ufa)
Manning(ufa)
Santini(rfa)
Hagg(rfa)

I think dehann and cole probably would cost too much and term just my opinion, in my best guess Moore, Manning, and or Holden for ufa's and Ceci, Hagg, and or murry for rfa which a trade would have to happen to aquire said d man. Plus if they do move AA then better get back a young center or d man with top 3 potential. Hawks also need to get harder to play against so maybe try and get matt martin from Toronto would help sign back wingles that's a good start. Thoughts?

Which used to be deductible on their federal taxes.

USED to be.

USED TO BE.
- StLBravesFan

Correct, and still does not really move the needle much

not sure about that he got 8 years with TB the max he could get else where was 7; and the teams that could afford him at the time were not very good: detroit in decline and toronto in rebuild...and florida tax break upped the worth to between 9 and 10. Plus they structured it with 90% counted as bonus

i don't think stevie "sacrificed" all that much...
- bogiedoc

why do you say that? just based on cap space of other teams? I remember people being surprised that he signed for so little at the time; but that was after the salary cap expectation curve shifted downward. Agree on the FL tax break. That really isn't fair. They should calculate each teams' cap net of taxes to even it out.

Justin I agree hawks go into next year with the same d core then they tanking and won't make the playoffs even with a healthy Crawford. Did some looking at pending free agent defense man this coming offseason that might make sense for the hawks to look at:

Dehann(ufa)
Trouba(rfa)
Ceci (rfa)
Murry(ryan)(rfa)
Cole(ufa)
Petrovic(ufa)
Moore(ufa)
Holden(ufa)
Manning(ufa)
Santini(rfa)
Hagg(rfa)

I think dehann and cole probably would cost too much and term just my opinion, in my best guess Moore, Manning, and or Holden for ufa's and Ceci, Hagg, and or murry for rfa which a trade would have to happen to aquire said d man. Plus if they do move AA then better get back a young center or d man with top 3 potential. Hawks also need to get harder to play against so maybe try and get matt martin from Toronto would help sign back wingles that's a good start. Thoughts?
- Scott1977

Ceci, Trouba, Santini, Murray, and Hagg are automatic no-go's. An RFA hasn't been offer sheeted AND signed in a very long time. It's simply not going to happen, especially if you're hurting for picks.

In order of how much I'd want them on the Hawks: Cole, De Haan, Moore, Holden, Manning. I've watched enough Flyers games to know Manning would be another 7th D on this team. Cole could be solid, Moore would be a good speedy option but I don't know about him in his own end. Holden is more of a bottom pair guy, and De Haan looks pretty solid from the very limited about of times I've seen him.

Is Blake Hillman a grandson of one of the Hillman brothers who both played for the Hawks in the early 60's.? By the the way, those two clowns played like crap.
- spanky

Don't know the answer to your question but when the brothers played you have to consider it was a 6 team league.

OK we'll take the Calder nomination runner up, the Selke, and the Conn Smythe in isolation.

Fair to say as Captain, he gets/got a lot of credit (earned or not) for the Cups whether logical or not.
- pdx2ord

Toews played exclusively with a Hall of Famer in Hossa and All-Stars in Sharp, Saad, Havlat, Byfuglien, Ladd. Kane was the guy carrying over the hill players in Handzus and Richards during the Cup Runs of 2013 and 2015.

Is Blake Hillman a grandson of one of the Hillman brothers who both played for the Hawks in the early 60's.? By the the way, those two clowns played like crap.
- spanky

Further to your question, I did some research because I do not remember Larry, the better one of the 2, playing for Chicago. As I thought, Wayne played for us but Larry did not. Wayne was not flashy but most defencemen in that era weren't. They played defence. He was good enough to play in the NHL when teams did not carry 6 defencemen although he did play a fair bit in the minors. His size, 6' 205lb was big for that era. In fact if Moose Vasko played today, he would never have gained the nickname.
It looks like Blake is an American whereas the Hillman brothers hailed from Kirkland Lake Canada. Probably not related.

At this point I can't use DeClair and talent in the same sentence. He's going to have to do a lot more to stick here in my opinion. Feel bad for him after getting collared over the weekend, but still...
- 6628

I can.

Duclair, Skille, Stalberg, Panik are all big guys that can skate fast but have only enough talent to be journeymen NHL players.

I think that all of the negativity is one reason that so many former contributors to this blog are just that -- FORMER contributors.
- BMWChiFan

I agree. It is not only that so many people are negative. But that they are right and everyone else who has an opposing view is wrong (and stupid).

Also they state opinion as fact. It takes away from the conversation.

Ceci, Trouba, Santini, Murray, and Hagg are automatic no-go's. An RFA hasn't been offer sheeted AND signed in a very long time. It's simply not going to happen, especially if you're hurting for picks.

In order of how much I'd want them on the Hawks: Cole, De Haan, Moore, Holden, Manning. I've watched enough Flyers games to know Manning would be another 7th D on this team. Cole could be solid, Moore would be a good speedy option but I don't know about him in his own end. Holden is more of a bottom pair guy, and De Haan looks pretty solid from the very limited about of times I've seen him.
- ObeseOprah

I wouldn't mind any of Cole, de Haan, Moore, or Holden as 4/5/6 defenders and at the right price. Bottom line, we need blueliners with experience and a solid grounding in actually defending our zone.

Isn't Manning the guy who has some ongoing vendetta with McDavid? At least you know Manning can get under a superstar's skin. But that likely means he may be too distracted to agitate and not at defending. Then again, many of our own blueliners are too busy being extra forwards at the expense of playing defense.

We'd all better hope Crow recovers, or the deficiencies on defense or at center will pale in comparison to the problems in goal.
- BMWChiFan

True

When Crow went down the first time on December 1st the Hawks were in a playoff position, 12W 9L, trending up, with GF of 79 and a GA of 67. The board was also sounding much more optimistic. Rutta, Forsling, Schmaltz, Hayden, Saad were still drawing positive comments on this site.

Taveras is going to get way more then $7mil. My guess is more like $9. Cap is going up $5mil this year roughly. Evander kane is going to get 7X7. I watched a few highlight's on darling he looked terrible. What about Hossa for Darling 50% retained?
- kmw4631

Why would Tavares take only $9M? He is going to have a payday far larger than that. Leader with incredible skills.

Just like Buffalo found no market for EKane at the Trade Deadline he is in for a surprise in Free Agency. He is not going to have teams lining up to throw money at him. Doesn’t help that recently he basically stated that his bad rep has nothing to do with his behaviour but exists because he is black. Well the Jets’ players despised him and the player that despised him the most was Big Buff, who just happens to be a very proud black man. There are people and players who are A-Holes whether they are black, white or polka-dot and I fear EKane is one. Concerns me that teams that have him don’t want to keep him.

As an aside our family still misses Big Buff wearing a Hawks’ jersey. When players needed to be moved Big Buff should not have been one of them. JR has always said the same thing.