Burakovsky is rumored to want out of the Capitals. He is an RFA after this season. Caps are near the top of the salary cap. Could the Hawks use him (assuming they can sign him to an extension)? Could he play RW with Toews and Saad? Would the Caps want AA (with Hawks retaining $1.55 mil so the salaries match)? What would you have to add to the package (remember Burakovsky is not signed beyond this year and AA has 2 more years)? AA and a conditional 4th round pick if he signs an extension? AA and Sikura?

Would Seabs and Keith agree to be exposed to the expansion draft?
- Mr Ricochet

if they both don't agree to wave they will be dead to me.

Would Seabs and Keith agree to be exposed to the expansion draft?
- Mr Ricochet

I would think they would, but I hope they don't ask Keith. It would be great to protect all our relevant talent, and leave Seattle with no one to choose besides Seabrook and a few bottom 6 players.

ETA: if the choice was between Seabrook and Keith, I think it would be a no brainer Sea would choose Keith. Lower cap hit, much lower salary, and fewer years.

connor and Joki have to be 2 of the 3 or they will be taken. I'm hoping we have one more better d then we have on the roster then anybody else.

This seems like the most logical conclusion. Put the best defender in the minor leagues to play Koekkek. Now, they just need to keep Delia out of net.
- RedRevenge

Joki IS better than both of those players. I wouldn’t view this as anything more than a temporary move so that others get playing time before getting moved. Yes, you can argued that Dahlstrom or Forslimg should have been sent down, but they aren’t going to trade Joki. Other teams now get to see all the mediocre dmen we have to be thrown into a larger deal play against NHL competition.

Yes, the rules are the same. As I read it both this and next yr are the parameters used to determine eligibility as it relates to the expansion draft. But if Joki plays 40 NHL games next yr he's eligible.
- Mr Ricochet

So sending him to Rockford before he plays his 40th game is not related to the expansion draft - correct?

While I'm surprised at Joki getting sent down, it make sense for several different reasons.

For one, he needs to build confidence in his game getting 20+ minutes growing his game night in and night out. Not exactly sure why he's bounced around a bit in the Hawks lineup since JC took over (woulda thought developing him would be a priority), but at least playing in Rockford he will be able to play Top 2 minutes against men to develop his game further.

Two, it gives Stan and Co. some more time to shop the guys in Chicago to find the deal that he likes.

Three, whether we like it or not (and I'm sure guys in the locker room do NOT) it helps with the tank. He's probably our second or third (depending on how you feel about Murphy) best Defender right now, and not having him up means more playing time for Gus (YAY!), Double K, Dahlstrom, and Forsling to see what ya have in any of them

Great point, but with the great success Vegas has had I'd think the league would press hard to keep the existing expansion draft rules.
- Mr Ricochet

Yes, but we don't know how the CBA might affect our roster. Just something to keep in mind since it is an unknown.

So sending him to Rockford before he plays his 40th game is not related to the expansion draft - correct?
- EbonyRaptor

Correct. It won't have any impact on that. This is still his first year in the NHL, doesn't matter if he plays 40 games or not.

Burakovsky is rumored to want out of the Capitals. He is an RFA after this season. Caps are near the top of the salary cap. Could the Hawks use him (assuming they can sign him to an extension)? Could he play RW with Toews and Saad? Would the Caps want AA (with Hawks retaining $1.55 mil so the salaries match)? What would you have to add to the package (remember Burakovsky is not signed beyond this year and AA has 2 more years)? AA and a conditional 4th round pick if he signs an extension? AA and Sikura?
- -Doh-

Don't see why the Caps would want AA. They got Backstrom, Kuznetsov, and Eller up the middle right now. Eller is pretty much in the same mold as AA as well. Plus they have a cap crunch up coming with both Backstrom and Holby scheduled to be FAs at the end of next year.

Now, if they wanna make a buy low move for Burakovsky like Hayden and a 4th for him I'd be for it but idk how much of a fit I see between both teams.

if they both don't agree to wave they will be dead to me.
- kmw4631

Not sure I would go that far but it seems reasonable that SEA wouldn't take either Keith or Seabs so it would also seem reasonable that they would help the team out by agreeing to waive their NMC's to help the team.

I read on another message board that the 40-game thing is about UFA status - in that if Joki plays 40 or more games this season he will reach UFA a year earlier than if he plays less than 40 games. Correct/confirm?

I'm trying to understand why Las Vegas is given a free pass on the next expansion? Can someone explain why this is happening?


I guess with Joki,, being sent down it appears Chicago isn't making any major trades .
- Taylorst1

Yes, Vegas does not have to expose anyone, but they do not get a share of the 650M expansion fee Seattle is paying.

So sending him to Rockford before he plays his 40th game is not related to the expansion draft - correct?
- EbonyRaptor

He's played 10 games this year as a 18-19 year old, thus this year counts as his first year as far as draft exemptions work.

Burakovsky is rumored to want out of the Capitals. He is an RFA after this season. Caps are near the top of the salary cap. Could the Hawks use him (assuming they can sign him to an extension)? Could he play RW with Toews and Saad? Would the Caps want AA (with Hawks retaining $1.55 mil so the salaries match)? What would you have to add to the package (remember Burakovsky is not signed beyond this year and AA has 2 more years)? AA and a conditional 4th round pick if he signs an extension? AA and Sikura?
- -Doh-

Gust or forsling sikrua and a 4th caps up against the cap so picks and cost controlled players not AA.

Burakovsky is rumored to want out of the Capitals. He is an RFA after this season. Caps are near the top of the salary cap. Could the Hawks use him (assuming they can sign him to an extension)? Could he play RW with Toews and Saad? Would the Caps want AA (with Hawks retaining $1.55 mil so the salaries match)? What would you have to add to the package (remember Burakovsky is not signed beyond this year and AA has 2 more years)? AA and a conditional 4th round pick if he signs an extension? AA and Sikura?
- -Doh-

Sikura and a 4th should get it done

Yes, Vegas does not have to expose anyone, but they do not get a share of the 650M expansion fee Seattle is paying.
- boilermaker100

I know you're just the messenger but that just seems backwards to me. Vegas is a team like the other 30 so they should be subjected to the same player exposure rules AND get a cut of the expansion fee from Seattle. Also, by the time Seattle enters the league, Vegas will be 4 years in and they're already one of the better teams in the NHL in their first 2 seasons.

I read on another message board that the 40-game thing is about UFA status - in that if Joki plays 40 or more games this season he will reach UFA a year earlier than if he plays less than 40 games. Correct/confirm?
- EbonyRaptor

I'm no expert, but this is what TSN posted below. Seems it effects their UFA status/year, while the 10 game is to return them to juniors. The expansion may or may not be calculated the same.... guessing different to make our lives more difficult lol.

"If a player plays in his 40th game of the season, it counts as an accrued year of service counting towards the seven years required to become an unrestricted free agent. Put more in terms us laymen can understand: if your favourite team's underage junior plays in 40 games this season, the clock starts ticking on his seven-year countdown to unrestricted free agency."

While I'm surprised at Joki getting sent down, it make sense for several different reasons.

For one, he needs to build confidence in his game getting 20+ minutes growing his game night in and night out. Not exactly sure why he's bounced around a bit in the Hawks lineup since JC took over (woulda thought developing him would be a priority), but at least playing in Rockford he will be able to play Top 2 minutes against men to develop his game further.

Two, it gives Stan and Co. some more time to shop the guys in Chicago to find the deal that he likes.

Three, whether we like it or not (and I'm sure guys in the locker room do NOT) it helps with the tank. He's probably our second or third (depending on how you feel about Murphy) best Defender right now, and not having him up means more playing time for Gus (YAY!), Double K, Dahlstrom, and Forsling to see what ya have in any of them
- Savetheembers33

He was riding high with confidence after worlds logging plenty of minutes in big games, then comes back to Chicago to play 12 minutes a night. I think they're showcasing some of their "dead weight" on the blueline. Imo once a deal is made, he'll be up playing top minutes again with the Hawks.

He was riding high with confidence after worlds logging plenty of minutes in big games, then comes back to Chicago to play 12 minutes a night. I think they're showcasing some of their "dead weight" on the blueline. Imo once a deal is made, he'll be up playing top minutes again with the Hawks.
- SoftServe

Ohh I agree. I didn't really go into detail, but that's what I meant. He was riding high on confidence after the Worlds but then came back and wasn't used as much and probably lost some confidence in his game. Having him play 20+ minutes every night for the next few weeks should help give him a boost so that once the Deadline passes (if they are able to move a D or two) he should get called up to finish the year here and build off it going into next year

He was riding high with confidence after worlds logging plenty of minutes in big games, then comes back to Chicago to play 12 minutes a night. I think they're showcasing some of their "dead weight" on the blueline. Imo once a deal is made, he'll be up playing top minutes again with the Hawks.
- SoftServe

I agree and believe Tyler stated the same thing.

Jokiharju needs to log minutes and go through the growing pains which I think is best off at the NHL level. He expects a lot of himself and his mates which you can see through his body language and his constantly talking. Also, he's no wilting daisy (or whatever that term is) and won't be rendered as a non factor when the going gets rough.

Another factor worth considering is that Brookbank was a defenseman who has been charged to develop the blueliners. He can't do that if Jokiharju is in Rockford while he's behind the Hawks bench now. King was a forward so there's only so much he can teach Jokiharju besides systems and general defense.

I agree and believe Tyler stated the same thing.

Jokiharju needs to log minutes and go through the growing pains which I think is best off at the NHL level. He expects a lot of himself and his mates which you can see through his body language and his constantly talking. Also, he's no wilting daisy (or whatever that term is) and won't be rendered as a non factor when the going gets rough.

Another factor worth considering is that Brookbank was a defenseman who has been charged to develop the blueliners. He can't do that if Jokiharju is in Rockford while he's behind the Hawks bench now. King was a forward so there's only so much he can teach Jokiharju besides systems and general defense.
- AEL_Fox

We are over analyzing it, Joki though he would be at the Rock this year and made Valentines reservations at Lino's. Stan is just making sure he can go.

I agree and believe Tyler stated the same thing.

Jokiharju needs to log minutes and go through the growing pains which I think is best off at the NHL level. He expects a lot of himself and his mates which you can see through his body language and his constantly talking. Also, he's no wilting daisy (or whatever that term is) and won't be rendered as a non factor when the going gets rough.

Another factor worth considering is that Brookbank was a defenseman who has been charged to develop the blueliners. He can't do that if Jokiharju is in Rockford while he's behind the Hawks bench now. King was a forward so there's only so much he can teach Jokiharju besides systems and general defense.
- AEL_Fox

Kaner is one of the most confident/cocky players in the NHL, and he praised Jokihaju on his confidence/"swagger"....that says alot about his mindset. Joki has all the physical tools to play in the NHL at a high level. I'll defer to the Rockhogs fans, but I always saw the AHL as a more GRIND/Physical/checking league....yes?

The hawks could use a guy like Calder. He regularly went into a corner with 2 or 3 opposing players and came away with the puck. And he could win a faceoff. He was never fast, but he had skills that would be welcome.
- 6628

Yes, he was awesome at that. I bought a pair of his skates from the Hawks Store on Michigan Ave. when it was Hawkquarters; and I've never seen a pair of skates with so much of that protective coating paint over the toes. Loved him as a player. Too bad we didn't have a better team during his time.

This is typical Hawk pre deadline bull crap...... And where is Stan Bowman ? Most agree he should get out in front of this and let his paying fan base know a bit what is going on.
Other teams are doing just that. Too many cooks in the kitchen here and no cook book for recipes, makes for upcoming free agents to want to continue to steer clear of here this summer.
These guys should be thinking Jack Hughes or Kappo Kaakko for starters, screw going on a run and all of a sudden finish 7 th or 8 th in the draft lotto. Then what , you get some club foot from an overseas beer league.
Bowman has got to have several multi homer games coming up in the near future otherwise he's done . Most believe he's got this spring and summer to fix it or else.
I agree with those that say Kieth and or Seabrooke will only move if they want to.
Hopefully things will start moving, a good start is getting some GM to believe Eric Gussteffson in Swedish means Paul Coffey. Get busy Stan!