Ahhh, beg to differ. There is very little cap space now or next year for sure.

Next year, if no changes, Hawks have nine forwards signed for $36.370MM (so need four more), four D signed for $17.464MM, (need three more), and two goalies in CC and Delia for $7MM combined.

This assumes losing Kunitz, Kruger and Ward, with Forsling, KooKoo, Dahlstrom, Perlini, Kampf and Sikura as RFAs. If they all are kept and only get the minimum 10% bump, that's $6MM to keep them all.

That's almost $61MM with a need to sign five more players, or $67MM if you re-up the RFAs, AND reserve enough room to extend ADB and Strome.

Biggest questions are:

What are ADB and Strome worth to extend?

$5-6MM each at least I think, so there goes $10-12MM of your space with no one new added.

What will the upper limit be next year and the year after?

Bettman hints at $82MM for next year, who knows about the following, so if we just work with $82MM as next year's limit, and all of the pending RFA's get signed at minimum deals, that's $15MM in space BEFORE re-signing ADB and Strome.

What are they honestly going to upgrade via free agency with only $4MM in cap space when top six/top 4 guys START at $6MM each?
- Return of the Roar

I've been trying to say this but you have laid it out so everyone can see it.
Well put very Informative.
We are not going to be signing mega year long term contracts for FA. we will get a couple vets on cheap short term contracts at best. We don't have any high cap contracts we can get rid of. Strome and Da Cat have to be the priorty

Stan hasn't woke up yet from his mid day nap!
- BGKarras

Which is fine. My only hope for the TDL was Bowman to do no harm.

This just in:

Stanbo trades his Sleep Number & a Bob's Pillow for a Tempur-Pedic - and a set of sheets to be named later. Stan was heard screaming down the hallway - Oh are naps glorious!

From NHL Radio on Sirius, Stan is close to signing this guy.

https://www.flashscore.co...hagerberg-anton/tQy54HD7/
- scottak

Another teenage d-man ... cuz we're short on teenage d-men ... I guess. At least he's a lefty.

And year after next lose Crawford's $6 Mil.
- LAHawk

Yes, but they’ll need to sign someone else, or hope one of the guys in the system now makes it. Stiil not sure they’ve bot an NHL #1 in the system, other than CC.

Strome and Debrincat will be RFA's not UFA
- PatShart

Yes, after NEXT season. Eligible for an extension this summer that goes into effect the following season (20/21).

Another teenage d-man ... cuz we're short on teenage d-men ... I guess. At least he's a lefty.
- EbonyRaptor

Sorry, that was a red font. Check out the team he’s playing for.

Well the point I was trying to make is that the math really means they don't have any cap space to work with at all. On paper, they have "space" next year, but they have to withhold at least enough to reup ADB and Strome.

So absent any salary dump deals, they basically have $2-4MM in space to acquire anyone via trade or FA over the next two years
- Return of the Roar

Pretty much the point I've been making, no?

Brian Lawton
Lou L & the Islanders will land Stone

Prospects galore & cap space to burn

Yes, after NEXT season. Eligible for an extension this summer that goes into effect the following season (20/21).
- mohel

So no need to worry or be concerned they will lose them or need to trade everyone to sign them to max deals.

Yes, but they’ll need to sign someone else, or hope one of the guys in the system now makes it. Stiil not sure they’ve bot an NHL #1 in the system, other than CC.
- scottak

Not saying he will ever be a stud goalie, but why is everyone writing off Forsberg? He is having a good season in Rockford, .921 save %, wasn't exactly put into the best of situations last year.

So no need to worry or be concerned they will lose them or need to trade everyone to sign them to max deals.
- PatShart

Who said that? Different issue. Have you noticed that the bridge deal from the high end guys (like the Cat) have largely disappeared lately? Cat's gonna get PAID, probably this summer. Strome will do well, too, but maybe not as well and maybe not this summer.

Tell me, what high end free agent are you pining to sign this off-season that will help the Hawks be Cup contenders next year?

TT is still soft

Schmaltz flipped for Strome, out of all 3 he's going to probably be the best out of the bunch so yea it worked out pretty good for the Hawks
- BetweenTheDots

It wasn't an either/or with Teuvo and Schmaltz - we should have had both of them so after the Schmaltz/Strome trade we would have Strome and Teuvo on the team.

As for being soft - so what? He's still putting up top-6 points.

It wasn't an either/or with Teuvo and Schmaltz - we should have had both of them so after the Schmaltz/Strome trade we would have Strome and Teuvo on the team.

As for being soft - so what? He's still putting up top-6 points.
- EbonyRaptor

There's a reason TT was in that trade just like Schmaltz, similar soft ass players, I'm glad he's gone

This just in:

Stanbo trades his Sleep Number & a Bob's Pillow for a Tempur-Pedic - and a set of sheets to be named later. Stan was heard screaming down the hallway - Oh are naps glorious!
- riozzo

With the Tempur-Pedic, I hope those sheets are those cooling ones. My Tempur-Pedic sleeps so hot...

Who said that? Different issue. Have you noticed that the bridge deal from the high end guys (like the Cat) have largely disappeared lately? Cat's gonna get PAID, probably this summer. Strome will do well, too, but maybe not as well and maybe not this summer.

Tell me, what high end free agent are you pining to sign this off-season that will help the Hawks be Cup contenders next year?
- mohel

Cup contenders? Probably none to vault them to that category

If I were to spend big on any single it would be Karlsson because they need a #1 dman now. Would slot Keith then to a more suited/very good #2 and give Boqvist and Joki time to develop under him. Then in about 4yrs...when EK declines a bit, one of the younger ones will be ready to step up

Murphy and his 4+mil is nothing more than #5-6 dman and should be moved

Ive noticed some bridge deals arent there - but that can be because of bad GM decisions

How many RFA's have gone and signed offer sheets with other clubs for more money? Hows that non-bridge deal look for Nylander?

Strome and Cat will still be on their ELC deals next season - any extension goes into effect the next season. Recalculate.

And I said they have cap space this season and next, but would be in cap hell if they overpay some UFA who is about to be bad. Said that is would make it hard to resign the kids to their extensions. Seems you agree, no?
- mohel

Hawks definitely do have some breathing room to play with. Stan probably not going to go too crazy, but the crunch isn't there like it used to be. Next year the cap likely in that 82-83 million dollar range and likely over 85 the year after, based on the typical increases in revenue. Hawks are dropping some overpaid salary this year and likely to ditch AA at some point. Next season, I think Crawford will be off the books or back for a lower salary. He won't command 6 million again. If push comes to shove, the Hawks would not have trouble dealing Saad if it means freeing up money for Strome or DeBrincat.

Hawks definitely do have some breathing room to play with. Stan probably not going to go too crazy, but the crunch isn't there like it used to be. Next year the cap likely in that 82-83 million dollar range and likely over 85 the year after, based on the typical increases in revenue. Hawks are dropping some overpaid salary this year and likely to ditch AA at some point. Next season, I think Crawford will be off the books or back for a lower salary. He won't command 6 million again. If push comes to shove, the Hawks would not have trouble dealing Saad if it means freeing up money for Strome or DeBrincat.
- breadbag

So in 2021 they MAY have enough to sign one impactful FA.

Awesome.

Another Columbus trade. I'll be rooting for them this playoffs.

Hawks definitely do have some breathing room to play with. Stan probably not going to go too crazy, but the crunch isn't there like it used to be. Next year the cap likely in that 82-83 million dollar range and likely over 85 the year after, based on the typical increases in revenue. Hawks are dropping some overpaid salary this year and likely to ditch AA at some point. Next season, I think Crawford will be off the books or back for a lower salary. He won't command 6 million again. If push comes to shove, the Hawks would not have trouble dealing Saad if it means freeing up money for Strome or DeBrincat.
- breadbag

I agree there's room this year and next. Not sure about after that, but I'd hate to see them get right back into cap hell at that point.

Columbus just picked up Adam McQuaid

Does Columbus have any draft choices left this year?

TT is still soft

Schmaltz flipped for Strome, out of all 3 he's going to probably be the best out of the bunch so yea it worked out pretty good for the Hawks
- BetweenTheDots

No, he isn't. He isn't a banger by any means but he plays much differently these days.

Columbus just picked up Adam McQuaid
- EbonyRaptor

Damn Columbus is going for it

So in 2021 they MAY have enough to sign one impactful FA.

Awesome.
- Return of the Roar

Who is the impactful UFA you think they should sign this offseason? How much, and what term will you do? Will that get it done? When it handcuffs them on the back end of that deal, will you promise to come here and support Stan's decision?