I didn't see it last night so I watched the link. Hartman saw him coming and knew exactly what he was doing. He could have spun around to avoid contact or would have spun as a result of the contact. He didn't project his elbow but held it firm as you can see in the video.
Agree Krueger ran right into it. But I think it's another one of those concussions that could have been avoided if Hartman had any respect for an opponent, especially a fomer teammate. I call horse sh!t on Hartman.
- 6628

yessir..it was a textbook "accidentally on purpose" set up for forearm shiver/elbow to the chops on little guy Marcus. IDC if Hartman is a former teammate, but just like Evander Kane possibly ending Crow's career...NO pushback, not even a crosscheck, slash, or clean body check on Hartman or Evander Kane. SOFT! That was a vicious elbow to the face and Kruger was leaking BAD. Any pictures of Kruger today??

If his contract expired at the end of this year like Kruger then fine, but another 3 years after this season at $3.85 million (with a modified NTC) is too rich for a 30 point (at best) forward.
- DarthKane

OK, so its about the cost...How much do you ask BUF to retain? I'm thinking they are in a something is better than nothing situation as they have no cap room for call ups.

Is three years at net $2MM per reasonable? Worth exploring if the guy actually wants to play, and can get past some due diligence.

I believe they are from the Chicago Heights area, their family owns a Funeral Home.
- riozzo

The Panozzo brothers were from the Roseland area, I lived in the West Pullman area but we hung around in Roseland a lot.

This is where the new rules interpretations make it sticky. Hartman is off the boards, so if Kruger comes from behind, Hartman goes face first into the boards, Krugs gets 5 & a game misconduct, and a meeting with the DOPS.

Hartman had his elbow in an unnatural position, pointing skyward. A normal stickhandling position has both elbows pointing down, toward the ice. Then he moves backward to ward off the check, and leads with his elbow. Hartman deserved at least a minor. I thought a major was warranted.
- scottak

Sorry. If your hand is on your stick, and your stick is on the ice, your elbows do not point down. The only time your elbow points down is when your stick is in the air. Go grip a stick with your top hand where it should be and the blade on the ice. Depending on stick length, your elbow will be up, the only time it will be down is if your raise the blade in the air (where Hartmans is clearly not).
The play begins with Hartmans back to the play. It's Krugers responsibility to not hit him in the numbers. Kruger comes at him in a with arms wide, leading with his head/chest as if to wrap him up, clearly a non-standard checking position.

Sorry. If your hand is on your stick, and your stick is on the ice, your elbows do not point down. The only time your elbow points down is when your stick is in the air. Go grip a stick with your top hand where it should be and the blade on the ice. Depending on stick length, your elbow will be up, the only time it will be down is if your raise the blade in the air (where Hartmans is clearly not).
The play begins with Hartmans back to the play. It's Krugers responsibility to not hit him in the numbers. Kruger comes at him in a with arms wide, leading with his head/chest as if to wrap him up, clearly a non-standard checking position.
- TheTrob

It's a subjective call in the intent of Hartman. Knowing the player, and watching the replay both in real time and slow-mo, it is my opinion that Hartman knew exactly what he was doing with his shoulder/elbow directed upward at Kruger's face. Hope krugs is OK. I rag on Kruger alot (due to Bowman yet again overpaying) but he is an undersized guy that battle's, plays without fear, and lays it on the line. hopefully he is OK

I didn't see it last night so I watched the link. Hartman saw him coming and knew exactly what he was doing. He could have spun around to avoid contact or would have spun as a result of the contact. He didn't project his elbow but held it firm as you can see in the video.
Agree Krueger ran right into it. But I think it's another one of those concussions that could have been avoided if Hartman had any respect for an opponent, especially a fomer teammate. I call horse sh!t on Hartman.
- 6628

Yup. Hartman saw him coming and braced, but it is still Kruger that initiates the contact. I think he was spinning around to the left and his momentum was moving that way, which is why when Kruger contacted him he didn't spin the other way as normal.

I think Hartman plays on the borderline a lot, kinda like Shaw and others, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Very poor form from Kruger, and to be honest, Kruger puts himself in positions and takes a whole bunch of hits like these, just usually not dead on the button like this one.

A big fat "NO" on Berglund. Hawks can make better use of that $3.85M over the next few years.

OK, so its about the cost...How much do you ask BUF to retain? I'm thinking they are in a something is better than nothing situation as they have no cap room for call ups.

Is three years at net $2MM per reasonable? Worth exploring if the guy actually wants to play, and can get past some due diligence.
- Return of the Roar

No, he would be taking the roster spot now and in the future of a young guy. I would rather have the young guys play or go to the UFA market for a more effective option. There's nothing that makes the guy a "must have".

Elliotte Friedman

@FriedgeHNIC

14m

Berglund on unconditional waivers for purposes of termination

Does Stan put in a claim?
- ikeane

This is a really bizarre situation, how does he just walk away from all that money, three more seasons left on his contract after this one!

This is a really bizarre situation, how does he just walk away from all that money, three more seasons left on his contract after this one!
- walleyeb1

Sounds like some of this is largely a result of a major screwup by his agent:

https://www.diebytheblade...atrik-berglund-suspension

Yup. Hartman saw him coming and braced, but it is still Kruger that initiates the contact. I think he was spinning around to the left and his momentum was moving that way, which is why when Kruger contacted him he didn't spin the other way as normal.

I think Hartman plays on the borderline a lot, kinda like Shaw and others, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Very poor form from Kruger, and to be honest, Kruger puts himself in positions and takes a whole bunch of hits like these, just usually not dead on the button like this one.
- TheTrob

Look at their feet right before impact. Hartman's left skate is turned as if to turn to the left, his right foot is pointed to push off that way, his hands and elbow are in normal position on his stick that was on the ice, his head is looking down for the puck.

Kruger, probably seeing his numbers, has both feet splayed wide in a hockey stop, but his path puts his head right in the path of Hartman's elbow. If Kruger is standing tall, or initiating a shoulder check, not going in arms wide, he takes the elbow off any other part except his head.

No, he would be taking the roster spot now and in the future of a young guy. I would rather have the young guys play or go to the UFA market for a more effective option. There's nothing that makes the guy a "must have".
- DarthKane

Agree. Someone else mentioned this a few blogs ago but there is something to be said about making sure any trade and free agency acquisitions don't block promising prospects from making the team at the appropriate time.

As there is much debate about this past summer's signings of Kunitz, Manning, and Ward, they were all at most 2 years because of the mindset that their services are only needed for 1-2 seasons in hopes of prospects filling their roles in due time.

If the Hawks are going to lock up a new player long term (i.e. Panarin, Stone, Karlsson as examples), that player needs to be elite level or on the cusp of it.

This is a really bizarre situation, how does he just walk away from all that money, three more seasons left on his contract after this one!
- walleyeb1

Because a lot of guys are not all about just money. He's a guy that has already made $25mil or so in his career, which by no means needs to be over. He can re-sign elsewhere and/or go back to Sweden.

This is a really bizarre situation, how does he just walk away from all that money, three more seasons left on his contract after this one!
- walleyeb1

How does that not effect the cap though? Sounds like a way to circumvent the cap. Why couldn't Hossa been bought out?

The Panozzo brothers were from the Roseland area, I lived in the West Pullman area but we hung around in Roseland a lot.
- walleyeb1

I must have bad info, off by 100 blocks...

Luke Johnson recalled to take Kruger's spot

How does that not effect the cap though? Sounds like a way to circumvent the cap. Why couldn't Hossa been bought out?
- powerenforcer

It's up to the player. If you void the contract you are due no more money. Hossa is still collecting a salary. There is probably language in the CBA that prevents contracts from being voided while on IR or something along those lines to prevent circumnavigation.

How does that not effect the cap though? Sounds like a way to circumvent the cap. Why couldn't Hossa been bought out?
- powerenforcer

His contract isn’t being bought out it’s being terminated because he failed to report.

It's up to the player. If you void the contract you are due no more money. Hossa is still collecting a salary. There is probably language in the CBA that prevents contracts from being voided while on IR or something along those lines to prevent circumnavigation.
- TheTrob

So what you are saying (just trying to understand this) is since a player cannot be put on LTIR until the second day of the season, if said player agrees to void the contract on the first day, it would not be considered a retirement, hence no recapture penalty?

Trade CC for Hossa now, and then next season day 1 Hossa voids the contract. FU Bettman - you are a joke. Take your recapture penalty and shove it up your a$$.

This is a really bizarre situation, how does he just walk away from all that money, three more seasons left on his contract after this one!
- walleyeb1

I wonder if he could make anywhere close to that going back to Sweden? He started his career there.

So what you are saying (just trying to understand this) is since a player cannot be put on LTIR until the second day of the season, if said player agrees to void the contract on the first day, it would not be considered a retirement, hence no recapture penalty?

Trade CC for Hossa now, and then next season day 1 Hossa voids the contract. FU Bettman - you are a joke. Take your recapture penalty and shove it up your a$$.
- powerenforcer

Sorry PE, there is language in the CBA that prevents you from doing anything that obviously is only to circumvent the cap. He would also have to have done something that would be grounds for termination of the contract.

If Berglund is becoming a total UFA, which it sounds like he might be with a full contract termination, it couldn't hurt to add him IF he's cheaper than $3MM a year.

If things went perfectly, it would play out like this:
-Hawks add Berglund on a one year deal for $2 Million
-Berglund centers the 2nd/3rd line and puts up decent numbers
-Hawks trade Berglund at the deadline for anything they can get

Yup. Hartman saw him coming and braced, but it is still Kruger that initiates the contact. I think he was spinning around to the left and his momentum was moving that way, which is why when Kruger contacted him he didn't spin the other way as normal.

I think Hartman plays on the borderline a lot, kinda like Shaw and others, but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Very poor form from Kruger, and to be honest, Kruger puts himself in positions and takes a whole bunch of hits like these, just usually not dead on the button like this one.
- TheTrob

I think we both make good points, But I'll say this with confidence: Hartman doesn't pull that poop with most of the rest of the league. He saw bambi coming and let him stick himself knowing there was no price to pay. He could use a good ass kickin.

I asked on the last thread what would a buyout cost for Seabrook vs Lucic. It ends up if we made that trade, and bought out Lucic next season, we would save about $9M, and 2 years. I think I would be for that. Plus, Lucic wouldn't be in as important a role, so it would hurt us less to have him on the ice vs Seabs. I love Seabrook, and would hate to see him go, but he is just not good right now.
- tvetter

That's been my argument for a Lucic/Seabrook trade all along. Lucic is the lesser of two evils. A 4th liner getting 6 minutes of ice a game is less of a liability than a 3rd pair D getting 12.

I think we both make good points, But I'll say this with confidence: Hartman doesn't pull that poop with most of the rest of the league. He saw bambi coming and let him stick himself knowing there was no price to pay. He could use a good ass kickin.
- 6628

Count me in the "that move was dirty AF" column. I hope Kruger recovers. Recovers quickly enough to get into a corner battle with him next time we play them. If you know what I mean.

I have Hartman pegged as a passive/aggressive mental case who was poison in the 'Hawk dressing room when he played here.