Would you be willing to pay Saad $6 million per year for 5-6 years?
- DarthKane

4 year max. The point was some think he is gonna to get a sizable raise.

The question what is the replacement cost? The Hawks currently have no one that brings what Saad does to a team.

I actually think you get Saad for a bit less. Prolly closer to 5.5M

Disclaimer: silly question ahead.

Anything to the story Ek has on the front page re: Hawks being one of the teams in the hunt for a Finnish d-man that has been playing in the KHL? (forgot his name already) Don't know details but unless the guy is a superstar in the making, ala Panarin, don't see the fit for the Hawks with their current d-man roster situation.
- EbonyRaptor

You can never have too many good players. Especially where the only cost is money.

When I suggested a hypothetical trade based solely upon the Blackhawks fortune to land the 5th selection in the 2020 Entry Draft, the question to fill in the blanks is going to be determined by what Chicago is willing and able to part with but moreover what renumeration would honestly interest a team holding the #4 pick.

Wiz has said that there is no way a top four drafting team trades down. I respect wiz tremendously and do.not expect such a trade actually happens.

I will add this caveat though that Ottawa could move down.one or two spots with them trading the second of their top picks. And whomever drafts at #4 ....to move down one spot..... sure I realize it is a buyers market.and a heavy price tag would be affixed.

So just because for once I want to dream since we would be so close to Drysdale selection spot in the draft....

If YOU were in the shoes of the other GM and you pass on adding a ready or close to ready for NHL talent like Drysdale - a kid whom may not come along with all his skill and demeanor for maybe a couple or more drafts - certainly not likely for your team to be in position to draft a Drysdale type down the road - just what package do you accept

I had suggested Saad for two reasons. His salary cap hit after this season per his role is definitely too high before the Corona era and surely since the Corona will greatly impact revenue and salary cap numbers

Also you have to give to get. All teams desire big fast wing position players bursting down ice who just happen to be responsible, defensive players.too.

We have some of the Saad qualities in young players like Hagel, Entwhistle, Highmore even Fortin. They need to play and keep developing. Give them an opportunity and they will be like hungry wolves looking for an opportunity. Whether they ever meet or exceed Saad level is unknown. But you have depth in numbers whom could replace Saad.

I do not know how much you have to give to land the draft spot for Drysdale. I included a #2 2020. Being respectful of wiz opinion, I will not consider what else as sweeteners makes this trade possible. My suggestion was only a starting point, a what if.

Furthermore I had broached this exchange of picks a couple or so months ago and wiz shot it down. But oh so sweet if only Drysdale/Boquist/Mitchell led the defense. I even dreamed that Carlsson and Moberg and either Beaudin or Kyrs round out that blueline. Fantasy I suppose if Strat o matic or Face Off board games still exist and you could have a computer play the games
- jhawk59

The players you mentioned as possible Saad replacements are nowhere near the player Saad is, Now will they ever be. You can' think of Saad as a 3rd line talent. He isn't. He is top 6 all day and on just about every team in the league.

Who knows what the cap situation and associated salary levels will be in the upcoming post Covid era. Maybe $6M now equates to $4M in a year or two.
- boilermaker100

Without a solution for paying fans in the seatsa, and new TV contracts at current values or higher levels I see only a deflationary cycle for the NHL. That means a significantly lower salary cap and possibly dogs like Florida, Arizona, Jersey, Ottawa filing for bankruptcy or just folding.
Negotiations on a new CBA are going to be tough for both sides.

Who knows what the cap situation and associated salary levels will be in the upcoming post Covid era. Maybe $6M now equates to $4M in a year or two.
- boilermaker100

Quite possible.

Without a solution for paying fans in the seatsa, and new TV contracts at current values or higher levels I see only a deflationary cycle for the NHL. That means a significantly lower salary cap and possibly dogs like Florida, Arizona, Jersey, Ottawa filing for bankruptcy or just folding.
Negotiations on a new CBA are going to be tough for both sides.
- RickJ

Many businesses will go belly up soon. A couple of examples are Independent restaurants and clothing retailers (because of people working from home which may become the new norm), And a lot of strip malls and office buildings will suffer because of that. I'm sure there are numerous other examples. Pro sports franchises may not be exempt from the fallout.

Without a solution for paying fans in the seatsa, and new TV contracts at current values or higher levels I see only a deflationary cycle for the NHL. That means a significantly lower salary cap and possibly dogs like Florida, Arizona, Jersey, Ottawa filing for bankruptcy or just folding.
Negotiations on a new CBA are going to be tough for both sides.
- RickJ

I AGREE NOT THE BEST TIME FOR THE Blues best defender to get put in take it or leave (for a crappy team) it situation.

I always thought that the Hawks and Bowman (and myself, thinking the Cap was going to astronomically rise) was never going to even attempt not to pay Toews equal to Kaner, or hold back on Seabrook, but the Cap and ecomoniy in Canada and US did the Cap in...
I think from now on all the GMs and even the players who know they CAN get big big deals will decide that they stick around with Cup winners and not get market, or they go after market elsewhere.
It was one thing when the teams like the Hawks players backed up the contracts with Cups, but now you have a league with non Cup winners like the Leafs and Jets painted into the corner with no way but good player subtractions that diminish Cup winning chances...

My point is don't dismiss a kid like Dylan Holloway who has elite lateral movement, can take a pass at top speed, and is strong on the puck, very smart and handle the puck like it is on a string.
Oh this 8 gals he scored and 9 assists trouble you in his initial college season in Wisconsin?
...but...Lucas Raymond's 4 goals and 10 points in the top Swedish league are ok to you?...

...or Alexander Holtz's 9 goals and 16 points and the taste from international competition has sold you?...

...or for that matter the German kid 7 goals and 34points as winger / centre in the German pro?...

...does that dismiss the great point totals of North American Junior players Zary in the dub, Quinn in the OHL, or Marvic Bourque in the Q ?

My entire point is all those teams in rebuilds are not focusing on simply what we have seen of these kids. They are thinking, well, we really can use ______ this facet, and ______ because we haven't seen it emerge from our past draft selections.

So don't try and get caught up in the lists, the outside hypes and even the successes they youngsters have had so far.
decide...not just look at the Central Scouting Service list and say, what name is next?
- wiz1901

I honestly didn't know that the Athletic's Scott Wheeler did an article on him until a minute ago?

He was the sleeper to not look at draft list and think these lists are the end all...

I honestly didn't know that the Athletic's Scott Wheeler did an article on him until a minute ago?

He was the sleeper to not look at draft list and think these lists are the end all...
- wiz1901

i have been mentioning Holloway for a month now. I like him a lot. Good size. Good wheels. Ton of upside. Good hands. Played in the NCAA at 17. I would be more than fine with him at 9. Good defensive instinct, too. A lot of his highlights are plays in his own zone.

I don't care about his production so much be cause he was playing 3rd line minutes at Wisc. Even then, he potted some decent numbers for young freshman.

The players you mentioned as possible Saad replacements are nowhere near the player Saad is, Now will they ever be. You can' think of Saad as a 3rd line talent. He isn't. He is top 6 all day and on just about every team in the league.
- Elbows15

Average 2nd liner. Very good 3rd liner. Capable of plugging in on a top line next to an elite Center.

i have been mentioning Holloway for a month now. I like him a lot. Good size. Good wheels. Ton of upside. Good hands. Played in the NCAA at 17. I would be more than fine with him at 9. Good defensive instinct, too. A lot of his highlights are plays in his own zone.

I don't care about his production so much be cause he was playing 3rd line minutes at Wisc. Even then, he potted some decent numbers for young freshman.
- Elbows15

I like Holloway .He as 2001 baby I don't think he was 17 in the NCAA was he . His numbers really drop this year . He was a good player for Canada in the WJC ,feisty and solid on the boards .
But as has been said on here picking 9th your looking for a top 6 center or top pairing D man .And on rare occasions a number 1 goalie . I don't believe Holloway pans out as a top 6 winger in the NHL . I take Askarov way ahead of him along with Quinn Sanderson even Lundell as he a natural center .

*NEW* blog up: https://bit.ly/2VZ99x7

Armchair GM - Part 5 featuring Nickmo2699