I’m of the opinion that none of those players have to be moved.

I get why folks would want AA moved, but at the end of the day for $4M you could do a lot worse for your 3C. Not to mention, him and Saad (as well as Kahun) were terrific together and did a great job driving possession. If Sikura takes that next step this season as we are hoping he does that could be quite a formidable third line.

Not sure why people want Murphy moved when at the end of the day he’s likely our most consistent defensive d-man. I actually am really intrigued of Maatta/Murphy being our shutdown d-pair. Not gonna do much offensively, but you can count on them to do their thing in the defensive zone in the way that Oduya/Hammer did.

Saad is only going to be moved for a top-four d-man, but I don’t see one readily available. If Faulk is still on the team’s radar I’ll puke. Saad has a lot of value to us as a depth scorer. One of those situations where it doesn’t make sense to sell low on him, and we aren’t in a position to need that cap flexibility by moving his salary.

I’d like to see us round our roster out with trades (taking advantage of other teams’ cap situations). Bring in a Tanev in FA, and roll the team out. We’re closer than many think.
- TommyHawk

Well thought out....I was just saying if they are going to go after a top 6 or a top 4 D man, it's going to take a decent player and 1 the Hawks may be willing to move.

I’d be surprised if Anisimov was on the team when the season starts. I don’t have any issues with AA, he’s better than most think, but I expect he’ll be dealt for a couple mid-round picks.

I wonder if Gus would accept a Ghostibehere type deal, just with less term.

I expect Stan knows he’s on the hot seat, another lost season and his job is in jeopardy. He’ll be smart but he needs to be aggressive.
- DarthKane

100% agreed.

I am not advocating they trade anyone, but to get you have to give, unless the hawks are going to jump into the arena of fiscal irresponsibility with other GMs.

I like Gus's offensive upside. Can he be functional in his own end? That's the question for Bowman and again....what will he want next year?

I’m not sure about you guys (that watched the presser)...


... but I think I just witnessed who Toews will be passing the baton to.

Goosebumps.

I may be in the minority with this, but I would prefer for Seabrook to stay and the Hawks find a way for him to play effectively.
- DarthKane

I am ok whether he stays or goes if the deal makes sense.

But I am hopeful that if he stays he is past the nagging injuries (abdominal injury). Last year he supposedly worked hard in the summer to get into great shape only to be injured in training camp (or before training camp that was diagnosed just before camp started). So if he trained hard during the summer, and then had to layoff for a couple of weeks, the injury maybe set him back and he never fully recovered. Abdominal injuries can linger and need time to fully recover. My guess is that he will train hard this summer and be healthier and look better this season.

LeBrun:

Blackhawks plans

My sense is the Blackhawks don’t plan on a lot of UFA action early this week but that could change later in the week. A source suggested the Hawks are more focused on trades early this week. And I think part of that is that the term it’s going to take to sign most UFAs on the market isn’t terribly appealing to a Chicago team that has a good cap situation. A year from now, the Hawks don’t want to be in a position to have to shed assets just to sign their RFAs. So for now it’s about trades where there are players out there with shorter terms left on their contracts. But obviously, if that doesn’t work out, the UFA market will also come into play.

--

Who has two thumbs that has been saying the Hawks are focusing more on trades than UFAs for weeks now?! "THIS GUY" ... oh damn... you can't see me pointing at myself.

If Crawford is healthy I’d bring him back, but I’d go one year at a time. It wouldn’t be as cheap as people think, likely $4-$5 million.
- DarthKane

Crow is 34. If he has a stellar year and plays 55+ games I think the Hawks or some other team will pay him $6mil or more on a short term deal. He will probably have to choose between larger $ and shorter term or smaller $ and longer term (and by longer term I mean 2 or 3 years).

Well thought out....I was just saying if they are going to go after a top 6 or a top 4 D man, it's going to take a decent player and 1 the Hawks may be willing to move.
- SteveRain

It also depends which Blackhawks team you believe? The one that had 2 long losing streaks close together, or the one toward the end of the season that was on a 100 point pace.

So far if you look at the Central, the Peg is currently weaker (no Trouba), Nashville is currently weaker (no Subban), no one else in the division has improved (I do not believe Byram is the next Bobby Orr).

I’d be surprised if Anisimov was on the team when the season starts. I don’t have any issues with AA, he’s better than most think, but I expect he’ll be dealt for a couple mid-round picks.

I wonder if Gus would accept a Ghostibehere type deal, just with less term.

I expect Stan knows he’s on the hot seat, another lost season and his job is in jeopardy. He’ll be smart but he needs to be aggressive.
- DarthKane

I think this is an area where McD’s lack of hockey expertise/knowledge gets exposed. He’s going to give Stan a lot of rope and opportunity to turn this around, even if things head south for another season or two - because if he has to fire him he’s then on his own... and accountable.

I’m not sure about you guys (that watched the presser)...


... but I think I just witnessed who Toews will be passing the baton to.

Goosebumps.
- TommyHawk

It would be an unbelievably fortunate series of events for the Hawks to have vaulted from the 12th spot to the 3rd spot in the draft and then to have selected their 1C for the future.

Embarrassment of riches - like the Packers going from Favre to Rogers (and I am not a Packers fan).

Fingers crossed.

The #Flyers re-signed 23 y/o LD Travis Sanheim 2 yr $3.25M Cap Hit Deal. Will be RFA on expiry 2 years from UFA. Just finished his ELC.

9G 35P, on ice 50% 5v5 GF, 52% xGF, 50% Corsi, scored 1.1 P/60.

Rep'd by @Craig_Oster @TheHockeyAgency

Anyone else think we might actually see some offer sheets this year (not necessarily from the Blackhawks)?

Anyone else think we might actually see some offer sheets this year (not necessarily from the Blackhawks)?
- walleyeb1

Yes. Wednesday is the day teams can approach RFAs. It will happen.

LeBrun:

Blackhawks plans

My sense is the Blackhawks don’t plan on a lot of UFA action early this week but that could change later in the week. A source suggested the Hawks are more focused on trades early this week. And I think part of that is that the term it’s going to take to sign most UFAs on the market isn’t terribly appealing to a Chicago team that has a good cap situation. A year from now, the Hawks don’t want to be in a position to have to shed assets just to sign their RFAs. So for now it’s about trades where there are players out there with shorter terms left on their contracts. But obviously, if that doesn’t work out, the UFA market will also come into play.

--

Who has two thumbs that has been saying the Hawks are focusing more on trades than UFAs for weeks now?! "THIS GUY" ... oh damn... you can't see me pointing at myself.


- Tyler Cameron

I could see them talking to some of the low hanging fruit players like Brandon Tanev. While others are over spending on the big name players.

Do you think they would have still got Dach at 10?
- SoftServe

Nope.

It also depends which Blackhawks team you believe? The one that had 2 long losing streaks close together, or the one toward the end of the season that was on a 100 point pace.

So far if you look at the Central, the Peg is currently weaker (no Trouba), Nashville is currently weaker (no Subban), no one else in the division has improved (I do not believe Byram is the next Bobby Orr).
- LAHawk

But the Hawks haven't improved either, and all those teams were playoff teams.

STL just won the cup DAL had a deep run, COL has lots of money to spend and just gained valuable playoff experience as well

Got my team posted on cap friendly. A couple of trades, no big free agent signings, Dach at 3LW for a year, and 7.6M in cap space going into next year.

Tyler, what's first prize?

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/1253441
- boilermaker100

Nice. Everyone else start sending your teams over.

You can PM me your team as well if you would like.

Final prize is pride... ha.

Anyone else think we might actually see some offer sheets this year (not necessarily from the Blackhawks)?
- walleyeb1

I like the idea for the lower cost guys.

When I hear rumors that Leafs signing kapanen for 3.5 million, I wonder....why not offer sheet 4.2 million. I think at that level you only give up a 2nd. Seems like a no-brainer.

Yes, leafs would match...but then Offer Johannson...also rumored at 3.2 or so. Offer him 4 million. Leafs can't match them all.

Those cost guys to me are the REAL chance to poach some decent players.

There's belief Marner wants 10 million AAV

That's insane. Any team that offsheets him and gives us all those picks for this kid is crazy. Hes NOT a generational talent. Hell he's not even 1 of the 2 best players on his team...…
- SteveRain

Marner is the Leafs best player. The last two seasons the Bruins didn't have the Bergeron line out checking Matthews, they were out checking Marner. Not only does Marner put up good scoring numbers but he's also the best Leaf penalty killer and he's on the ice for the last minutes of any close game regardless if the Leafs need a goal or are protecting one.

I like the idea for the lower cost guys.

When I hear rumors that Leafs signing kapanen for 3.5 million, I wonder....why not offer sheet 4.2 million. I think at that level you only give up a 2nd. Seems like a no-brainer.

Yes, leafs would match...but then Offer Johannson...also rumored at 3.2 or so. Offer him 4 million. Leafs can't match them all.

Those cost guys to me are the REAL chance to poach some decent players.
- hawk35

$1,395,053 or below: None

$1,395,054-$2,113,716: 3rd

$2,113,717-$4,227,437: 2nd

$4,227,438-$6,341,152: 1st, 3rd

$6,341,153-$8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

$8,454,872-$10,568,589:
2 1sts , 2nd, 3rd

Over
$10,568,590+: 4 1sts

Would you play Marner 10-11 AAV for 6-7 years?
- SteveRain

Marner should get what matthews gets.

There's belief Marner wants 10 million AAV

That's insane. Any team that offsheets him and gives us all those picks for this kid is crazy. Hes NOT a generational talent. Hell he's not even 1 of the 2 best players on his team...…
- SteveRain

Rainman, I think you're in a pretty small minority with that last part.

VP of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley says that Dach sat at the #Blackhawks draft table on Day 2 and was giving off-the-cuff scouting reports on the picks. Says it speaks to his incredible hockey knowledge.

— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) June 24, 2019

LeBrun:

Blackhawks plans

My sense is the Blackhawks don’t plan on a lot of UFA action early this week but that could change later in the week. A source suggested the Hawks are more focused on trades early this week. And I think part of that is that the term it’s going to take to sign most UFAs on the market isn’t terribly appealing to a Chicago team that has a good cap situation. A year from now, the Hawks don’t want to be in a position to have to shed assets just to sign their RFAs. So for now it’s about trades where there are players out there with shorter terms left on their contracts. But obviously, if that doesn’t work out, the UFA market will also come into play.

--

Who has two thumbs that has been saying the Hawks are focusing more on trades than UFAs for weeks now?! "THIS GUY" ... oh damn... you can't see me pointing at myself.


- Tyler Cameron

Agreed. It seems like Stan is striving to find a balance between making the playoffs next season and building a team that will be successful in the long term.

There are people who would argue to the contrary.
- DarthKane

I'm with you fellas.

$1,395,053 or below: None

$1,395,054-$2,113,716: 3rd

$2,113,717-$4,227,437: 2nd

$4,227,438-$6,341,152: 1st, 3rd

$6,341,153-$8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

$8,454,872-$10,568,589:
2 1sts , 2nd, 3rd

Over
$10,568,590+: 4 1sts
- walleyeb1

Ya. Exactly. So, those guys offered less than 4.2 million. Just a 2nd. Geez, who wouldn't want Kapanen for a 2nd rounder.
Thats why I think GMs have unspoken rule to not go after these guys. It make sense to offer as many of these guys as possible. Either you get a good player for a 2nd....or you put a "hurt" on an opponant. What is the downside???...except you pizz off other GMs????