Ever think that maybe Blake got more than he anticipated for Muzzin and then made the deal?
- paulr

Agreed. Kings got a great return.

Thanks for reminding me of that. Toews is more than a salary and cap hit in the annals of Blackhawk hockey history. As is Duncan Keith and some of the other players fans now want to dump as hockey trash.
- RickJ

Do you think in the cap world there is room for loyalty? As much as the core did, and I think Toews was my favorite player, their value now is in what assets they can get back for the Hawks. The Hawks will not be a contender with Toews, Kane, Keith etc in the Indian head. I think if you can find a deal that makes sense ie: solid blue chip prospects and high draft picks Bowman has to seriously consider it. It's a sad situation that the CBA didn't have cap reduction concessions for long time players of the same team so guys like Kane and Toews etch could retire as Blackhawks. The problem, and you''re seeing it already is the fanbase will turn on these guys when they are no longer able to play to the same level and as the team gets worse and worse.

Kings got a great return. Really was hoping for a 1st and grundstrom for Keith. Sucks!
- Assman22

Grunstrom looks duplicative to me, would think Caggiula, Highmore is the same, maybe even Nilsson

Kings got a great return. Really was hoping for a 1st and grundstrom for Keith. Sucks!
- Assman22

I'd bet money Keith won't be traded unless he asks to be moved. If he is though I doubt you get a first for him, he's been so bad for the last two and a half years. I guess his play could improve on a better team, but good luck making that pitch in a trade proposal.

Agreed. Kings got a great return.
- Assman22

I actually didn't say or think that, I have no idea if it's a good deal except that both teams pulled it off. Only Blake knows what Muzzin's value is and seeing as he made the deal one would assume he felt it was a good one.

Especially considering the deadline is still a month away... I would of insisted on Kapanen if I was Blake
- obie

Cause you know for sure he didn’t 🙄.

TOR wasn’t/isn’t giving up anyone significant on their current roster now, that would be stupid

I am undoubtedly sure almost everyone out there will ask if I am out of my effin mind. I say the Hawks should find a way to send Toews to his hometown of Winnipeg along with Seabrook and eat some of his salary for Ehlers and a couple of draft picks. Johnny has had a bounce back season but there is no denying he is not worth 10.5 MM, Seabrook is alike a car with 300,000 miles on it, it may start up and drive around the block but it is leaking oil and other fluids everywhere. This opens up a bit of cap space and gives us a young left winger. I understand we may need to eat some of Tazer's contract as well to fit everything under the cap but it is worth a shot...can't be worse than where we are now.
- Chisoxhawk

The Jets need about $20M to resign Trouba, Connor and Laine this summer. Taking Ehlers back takes care of 6M. Even if 4M retained on Seabs contract Jets will be adding Toews 10.5M and Seabs 2.875 = 13+M, a net gain of 7M cap dollars to Winnipeg. They can't afford it. Ain't going to happen.

Brown, Kovalchuk, Kopitar, Phaneuf, Doughty-even Nate Thompson has one. Muzzin was one of the few vets without one
- Davewn

Brown Kopitar and Doughty aren’t going anywhere anyways. Dion and Thompson has those clauses prior to coming over to the kings. Kovi, well he wants a cup and I’m sure doesn’t want yo be apart of the now rebuild I’d say he waives his clause if he wants out. Yes I’m sure there will be cap retaining if traded

Brown Kopitar and Doughty aren’t going anywhere anyways. Dion and Thompson has those clauses prior to coming over to the kings. Kovi, well he wants a cup and I’m sure doesn’t want yo be apart of the now rebuild I’d say he waives his clause if he wants out. Yes I’m sure there will be cap retaining if traded
- KINGS67

Do you think they will trade Taffoli? What was the purpose of the Pearson trade?

Armchair GMs are the best. Apply for Blake's job I'm sure the salary is a little more than you make.
- paulr

I still don't understand the rush to make the trade? Apply nah, i enjoy where im at in life even if its minus 22 degrees outside.

Justin do you really think Bowman has the stones to pull off a big trade say move keith or saad i personally do not. To me he will continue to tinker around the edges but won't come to realization that this team is at least 3 years away from becoming a contender again. Need to start turning over the core, keith saad AA and either one of young d man needs to be dangle for help up front whether thats mitchell boqvist or joki needs to bring back scoring player. Also i think the whole organization needs a big shakeup.

To EDM: Patrick Kane
To CHI: 2019 1st, 2020 1st, 2020 2nd(no protection for either pick), and any/all of EDM's random prospects
- Njuice

No

Over the next 3 weeks Winnipeg, Tampa, Nashville, Vegas, Boston, Calgary, Pittsburgh and maybe a couple of others will be out looking to patch a hole or add depth to their lineup. I expect overpayments to be common. Hawks should be able to unload some unwanted baggage or capitalize on having so many defenceman in their stable.

Murphy, Saad, Keith, Ward, AA and who knows else might become very attractive as we get closer to midnight.
- RickJ

Whatever moves bowman makes he needs a homerun on all of them or hawks are back to square on.

Do you think in the cap world there is room for loyalty? As much as the core did, and I think Toews was my favorite player, their value now is in what assets they can get back for the Hawks. The Hawks will not be a contender with Toews, Kane, Keith etc in the Indian head. I think if you can find a deal that makes sense ie: solid blue chip prospects and high draft picks Bowman has to seriously consider it. It's a sad situation that the CBA didn't have cap reduction concessions for long time players of the same team so guys like Kane and Toews etch could retire as Blackhawks. The problem, and you''re seeing it already is the fanbase will turn on these guys when they are no longer able to play to the same level and as the team gets worse and worse.
- paulr

There is little to no loyalty in anything anymore. Even bus drivers in Burlington stay home in the cold rather than pickup riders who buy bus passes. No refunds coming from the transit company.

A lot of NHL teams would love to start out with a core of Toews, Kane and Keith. The problem is finding any talent even close to them to surround them with. Trading them isn't likely going to return blue chip young players for the cap reasons you mention. And I doubt Stan has the hutzpah to trade any of them. So why be loyal to him?

The real question is how long can Kane keep playing at this elite level? He is 30 (and I wont say never), but it is extremely unlikely we will ever see this kind of talent on the Hawks again.
Soft rebuild to use that last 3 years of Kane's dominance, or hard rebuild and trade away aging assets?

There is little to no loyalty in anything anymore. Even bus drivers in Burlington stay home in the cold rather than pickup riders who buy bus passes. No refunds coming from the transit company.

A lot of NHL teams would love to start out with a core of Toews, Kane and Keith. The problem is finding any talent even close to them to surround them with. Trading them isn't likely going to return blue chip young players for the cap reasons you mention. And I doubt Stan has the hutzpah to trade any of them. So why be loyal to him?
- RickJ

That's why TTC means Take The Car

Cause you know for sure he didn’t 🙄.

TOR wasn’t/isn’t giving up anyone significant on their current roster now, that would be stupid
- KINGS67

I do know for sure he didn't insist on Kapanen... ask me how I know...

Do you think they will trade Taffoli? What was the purpose of the Pearson trade?
- LAHawk

2 years for Pearson versus Hagelin as UFA, so 3.75 comes off the books. Pearson also had stalled out in LA and wasn't doing much. Additionally, the idea probably went that the Kings could flip Hagelin for a low pick at the deadline to a contender looking for depth.

Thanks for reminding me of that. Toews is more than a salary and cap hit in the annals of Blackhawk hockey history. As is Duncan Keith and some of the other players fans now want to dump as hockey trash.
- RickJ

Keeping players for sentimental reasons in a hard cap league is not the way to run a team IMHO. Soft/No Cap, heck yeah they stay.

of the high $$$ guys .
SAAD, if we can get a high end D I would consider it. He is going to be low 20's 5X5 goal scorer and those guys cost 6 mil per year. No reason to trade him for unless you get back a great return that actually makes you as good next year.
AA-I still think he is going to have more value once FA starts. He will be owed 5 mil over 2 years so for non cap teams would you rather give a solid bottom 6 F or C . 3 years 10 mil or AA for 2 at 5? If they could figure out a way to take back some salary to help cover the bonus that would help make him more valuable this year. IE look at teams that are not at the cap and tend not to be at it.
Keith. Seabs said non of the core have been asked to wave NTC which is not suprising. you generally don't ask that until you are actaullly talking about close to offer you would accept. I still move keith this year. if he would agree and you can get something back in return. this will be probably your last chance to trade him. I can't imagine we will be this bad next year and if we are competing for a PO spot you are not going to sell and he is getting worse.
SEABS-ROCKY SHOULD ASK FOR ONE THING IN THE NEW CBA. 1 COMP BUYOUT AND TAKE IT OUT OF BOWS CONTRACT.
CRAW- is done. he should walk away from the game. the would only be able to use about 2-2.5 mil of his money. The only way I have seen you can use LTIR at the start of a season is to start the year with 20 man roster and call up 2 more guys.
HAYDEN and FORSLING I would move if there are takers. with what we have at the bottom of the roster I think that we have better options. Hope a playoff team needs them and gets a little return.

I do know for sure he didn't insist on Kapanen... ask me how I know...
- obie

Keeping players for sentimental reasons in a hard cap league is not the way to run a team IMHO. Soft/No Cap, heck yeah they stay.
- Beaver-Warrior

So when do you determine that the player is not worth the salary? Is Kane? is Keith?, Probably Toews is not, but a comparable is Kopitar at $10million, and I would aruge Toews is having a better year. I will grant you Seabrooks deal is bad, but that has been talked about ad nauseum

Justin do you really think Bowman has the stones to pull off a big trade say move keith or saad i personally do not. To me he will continue to tinker around the edges but won't come to realization that this team is at least 3 years away from becoming a contender again. Need to start turning over the core, keith saad AA and either one of young d man needs to be dangle for help up front whether thats mitchell boqvist or joki needs to bring back scoring player. Also i think the whole organization needs a big shakeup.
- Scott1977

All of Stan's big trades have come during the off season.... Saad to CBJ, Panarin to CBJ/Saad back to Chicago, Hammer to ARI.

Probably see a few minor trades at the TDL (e.g. Forsling, Kruger for lower round draft choices) and some bigger trades this summer.

Stan can't go into next season with relatively the same roster as this year and hope for another career year from Kane and an another above average season from Toews.

Keeping players for sentimental reasons in a hard cap league is not the way to run a team IMHO. Soft/No Cap, heck yeah they stay.
- Beaver-Warrior

Those players aren't going anywhere. I recall a Chicago Bulls team once MJ retired the 2nd time the Bulls completely gutted the team and boy did that back fire on them. Toews and Kane bring the fans in but now that front office is under a great deal of pressure to rebuild by the time JT and PK hit the twilight of their careers.

- Only_A_Ladd

Maybe the definition of "insist" is unclear to him?