It would have to be a massive overpayment for me to accept that.

Backes is not effective at all anymore and the Hawks are going to have cap issues next year.

So if the Hawks took his ineffective $6M on for next year (replacing a very effective Saad) the players coming back better be super cheap and ready to play.

I would start with Urho Vaakanainen and Jason Studnicka. Both are just about to graduate to the NHL.
- Tyler Cameron

I think if SAAD and smith went for backes and 1st and there 2 best prospects I might do it.

BREAKING:

@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing Ondrej Kase being traded to Boston

---

Looks like Saad won't be going to BOS. Well, highly unlikely now.

IMHO, I believe that Lehner has the Blackhawks against the ropes. With the spin machine of McD needing something to pitch fans, Lehner’s play, our bad season and his fan status ... it makes Lehner almost a sure thing to stay in Chicago.
- gifman

Agreed IF Lehner wants to be here, and there are conflicting reports on that

BREAKING:

@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing Ondrej Kase being traded to Boston

---

Looks like Saad won't be going to BOS. Well, highly unlikely now.
- Tyler Cameron

Sounds like for David Backes and a 1st rounder.

Woah. That's a first I think in Chicago for RL.

Something is really bothering him. Maybe the Hawks have let him know that they will be looking to trade him by Monday.

--

@ByScottPowers
Robin Lehner declined to be interviewed after the Blackhawks morning skate.
- Tyler Cameron

One of two things. He was just told of an impending trade attempt or....
His team called him out for his BS post game pressers and told him to simmer down. Its a team game 40. Maybe JC pulled him aside and said enough.

Adding to the fun... CC gets the start tonight.

Woah. That's a first I think in Chicago for RL.

Something is really bothering him. Maybe the Hawks have let him know that they will be looking to trade him by Monday.

--

@ByScottPowers
Robin Lehner declined to be interviewed after the Blackhawks morning skate.
- Tyler Cameron

He hasn't been himself in several weeks. He likely knew the Hawks would not be able to give him what he was asking for. It's unfortunate, he earned it but the hawks don't have the cap. The team would love to have him but just isn't going to workout mathematically. I'm sure its heartbreaking for him.

Correct, we do not. If it nets a 1st lets do it. We have the cap room.
- z1990z

I begrudgingly agree with you it's just The thought of that douchebag Backes in a Hawks sweater makes me want to puke.

I begrudgingly agree with you it's just The thought of that douchebag Backes in a Hawks sweater makes me want to puke.
- BGKarras

I am with you. I cannot stand that guy. Sounds like it wont matter now.

I am with you. I cannot stand that guy. Sounds like it wont matter now.
- z1990z

Lol Yeah you just beat me to add an edit in my previous post. We dodged a bullet there. But Stan should be working the phones Sell baby!!!

It would have to be a massive overpayment for me to accept that.

Backes is not effective at all anymore and the Hawks are going to have cap issues next year.

So if the Hawks took his ineffective $6M on for next year (replacing a very effective Saad) the players coming back better be super cheap and ready to play.


I would start with Urho Vaakanainen and Jason Studnicka. Both are just about to graduate to the NHL.
- Tyler Cameron

Bjork and vaakanainen 1st for saad if hawks take backes contract then fredic and 2nd have to be added. Hawks could then buy out backes contract in the offseason and bury him in rock ford for the remaining of this season.

Sounds like for David Backes and a 1st rounder.
- Tyler Cameron

Backes, Axel Andersson and a 1st

BREAKING:

@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing Ondrej Kase being traded to Boston

---

Looks like Saad won't be going to BOS. Well, highly unlikely now.
- Tyler Cameron

Its about what I expected in a Saad deal, but a bit less since Kase isn't as highly regarded as Saad.

Kase for Backes, 1st Rd pick, Axel Andersson

Stan, you're totally blowing this TDL.

Bjork and vaakanainen 1st for saad if hawks take backes contract then fredic and 2nd have to be added. Hawks could then buy out backes contract in the offseason and bury him in rock ford for the remaining of this season.
- Scott1977

You could also ask for McAvoy and Pastrnak too to make it fair for the Hawks.

But apparently the Bruins have now found a much more reasonable trade partner.

Stan, you're totally blowing this TDL.
- mohel

He likes his team and his HC....

Stan, you're totally blowing this TDL.
- mohel

When you asked me what being 'too cute' meant. This is it. If he ends up making no deals because he's WAITING for the perfect opportunity, that is my definition of being too cute. And moreover, a bad business decision.

This type of high risk, high reward strategy is likely indicative of where he feels his job security is at. He seems to be unsure of whether it is best to not make a move or hold out for something splashy. These are all my gut feelings, but this tells me he feels the pressure.

Huge fail if Gus isn't traded. If you aren't bringing him back, get something in return for him.

I also cannot imagine the logic in telling Lehner they are looking to trade him then, even as leverage for signing him to a deal. What a mess.

It would have to be a massive overpayment for me to accept that.

Backes is not effective at all anymore and the Hawks are going to have cap issues next year.

So if the Hawks took his ineffective $6M on for next year (replacing a very effective Saad) the players coming back better be super cheap and ready to play.

I would start with Urho Vaakanainen and Jason Studnicka. Both are just about to graduate to the NHL.
- Tyler Cameron

I am talking massive overpayment, not just Backes per se but any bad contract. In Backes' case I'd hope the Hawks would just buy him out. I wouldn't want to see him play in Chicago. I'd like to see SB get creative in restocking the team, this is one way.

He hasn't been himself in several weeks. He likely knew the Hawks would not be able to give him what he was asking for. It's unfortunate, he earned it but the hawks don't have the cap. The team would love to have him but just isn't going to workout mathematically. I'm sure its heartbreaking for him.
- catrisc

I think that's the hard part and why you're seeing a bit of a dip in his play. He loves it here and wants to say...but he also wants to get paid. However, I don't feel bad for him because of that. He's getting paid millions to play a game and that's a privilege to be able to do. If he wants to stay here he can make that happen unless the Hawks are being completely unreasonable (i.e. He wants 7M for 5 years and the Hawks are only willing to do 5M for like two or three years or something even more extreme).

It's unfortunate because he's a great guy and I'd love to see what he could do for this team with a capable Defense in front of him. I'd be curious to see if he does get traded to a Playoff team for the rest of the year if he would completely rule the team out or still be willing to work something out with them if they cleared more salary

I am talking massive overpayment, not just Backes per se but any bad contract. In Backes' case I'd hope the Hawks would just buy him out. I wouldn't want to see him play in Chicago. I'd like to see SB get creative in restocking the team, this is one way.
- paulr

Yes. Spot on. Hawks shouldn't be taking on any bad contracts. If they are going to move some of their better assets (Saad), then they better be getting back some big pieces and exactly what they want.

Not saying this will happen, but they really need a slam dunk trade. Like a Saad for Pick + two prospects type deal, that turn out to be quality players.

Stan, you're totally blowing this TDL.
- mohel

Duh!! He's eating potato chips and he's tangled up in Daddy's coattails, once he's untangled and the cips are done he'll get around to seeing if he can make a trade

I am talking massive overpayment, not just Backes per se but any bad contract. In Backes' case I'd hope the Hawks would just buy him out. I wouldn't want to see him play in Chicago. I'd like to see SB get creative in restocking the team, this is one way.
- paulr

I would have done it and either bought him out or just tell him he can stay home and collect his money because he's being put on LTIR. Take the prospect and draft picks to stock the farm and look at adding good young cheap pieces around Kane and Toews til their contracts run out

I would have done it and either bought him out or just tell him he can stay home and collect his money because he's being put on LTIR. Take the prospect and draft picks to stock the farm and look at adding good young cheap pieces around Kane and Toews til their contracts run out
- Savetheembers33

Hawks should only trade Brandon Saad if they get a home run in return. If they move him, they should not take on any bad contracts like David Backes (although that isn't possible now). The only thing they should be acquiring are picks and young prospects. Their intentions should be to clear out cap space and acquire strong, young talent.

If the stars aligned, this is what I would do.

The reality is this team is not good enough now to make the playoffs. With the way things look with UFAs and RFAs, if no big moves are made, they will look relatively similar again next year.

So, are they banking on the Dachs and Boqvists taking even bigger steps next year? Sure, they are but that won't be enough.

My opinion is this team needs to get faster at forward and defence. I also feel like they would benefit from a more veteran and assertive coach (but we'll save that for another day).

With that being said, it all starts now at this deadline to improve with future assets - not just picks because they won't be ready for 2, 3, 4 years - but with young talent that can be effective as soon as next year.

Here we go:

* Sign Robin Lehner - 5 years x 7.5M (that's my max on both term and $)
* Trade Crawford to CAR/COL/CAL for ready prospect / pick
* Trade Erik Gustafsson for a 2nd and 3rd rd pick (seems to be the going rate and I think that's the best deal you get)
* Trade Olli Maatta for a late rd pick

--

Then at the draft, I might entertain trading Dylan Strome if he's not willing to take a bridge deal. I'm offering him 2 years @ $3.5-$4M AAV.

Then I go with something like this:

Kuablik-Toews-X (Caggiula or young player you got a TDL)
Saad-Dach-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Nylander
Shaw-Kampf-Carpenter-Highmore

Keith-Mitchell
de Haan-Murphy
X-Boqvist/Seabrook

Lehner
Delia/Lankinen


... There's just not a lot of room to change/improve this team so those "X's" I have in there could be key pieces.

Also, you have to hope Mitchell is the real deal, Delia/Lankinen are competent enough as a backup and those young guys take a step forward.

If Nylander can't take his game to the next level by next year, I look to move him.

Also, a huge part will be the health of Shaw, Seabs and de Haan. Unfortunately, they will have to "on the roster" on day #1 of the season for cap purposes and then Stan (or someone else) would have to get creative in-season to improve this team's speed and overall skill.

I know that's long, but that's where I sit today.
- Tyler Cameron

Tyler, unfortunately that lineup is about 90% the same as this year's. Based on the last few posts maybe Lehner's days are numbered and you can substitute 50 at a few million less in goal. Also which 12 will appear next season, the 40 goal (I'll be happy with 25-30) or the 15 goal scorer? I'm not optimistic about next season. Stan's hands are tied due to the aging expensive core with NMC's, lack of cap space and the unknowns re the LTIR players.

I would have done it and either bought him out or just tell him he can stay home and collect his money because he's being put on LTIR. Take the prospect and draft picks to stock the farm and look at adding good young cheap pieces around Kane and Toews til their contracts run out
- Savetheembers33

Maybe Boston likes that Kase only costs $2.6mil. as opposed to Saad's $6mil.?