That is why I think Bettman is going to try and at least get a playoff, and a cup winner, look at teams like Tampa Bay, they are going to have to rip that team apart to be able to field a team next year if the cap stays at $81.5. I am sure the ownership is pushing for a playoffs knowing next years team will be significantly different than the one ending this year.

Boston is the best cap managed team in the league IMO, they just sign Halak to back up Rask again for $2.25, which is 500K less than he made this year.

I bet Arizona sure wish they didn"t have Hossa's LTIR on the books for one more year, they aren't going to be able to afford Taylor Hall.
- LAHawk

LA, not to nitpick but Halak’s AAV is $3.5 due to bonuses. So if Halak is making $3.5 in 20/21, what will Crawford get?

LA, not to nitpick but Halak’s AAV is $3.5 due to bonuses. So if Halak is making $3.5 in 20/21, what will Crawford get?
- Angotti

Probably like Halak a lower base ($3 mil.?) and bonuses that could put him at $5 mil.?). I didn't know about the bonuses so thanks for that.

Very random hockey backstory behind the Blues new win song in 2018-2019

https://www.mobituaries.c...-a-singer-life-of-a-song/

How do we capture that magic for the Hawks with a new song (those of you who want Chelsea replaced)?

Very random hockey backstory behind the Blues new goal song in 2018-2019

https://www.mobituaries.c...-a-singer-life-of-a-song/

How do we capture that magic for the Hawks with a new song (those of you who want Chelsea replaced)?
- pdx2ord

Probably as apropos as anything...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrapQ4d0Y

LA, not to nitpick but Halak’s AAV is $3.5 due to bonuses. So if Halak is making $3.5 in 20/21, what will Crawford get?
- Angotti

$4.5 - $5 million I'd day.

Very random hockey backstory behind the Blues new goal song in 2018-2019

https://www.mobituaries.c...-a-singer-life-of-a-song/

How do we capture that magic for the Hawks with a new song (those of you who want Chelsea replaced)?
- pdx2ord

It isn't their goal song. I think they play it after a win only.

How? they have $79 million in contracts including Hossa with 16 players signed. If Hall even takes a discounted $7.5 million, you are already at $86.5 million, lets say $81.5 million if you put Hossa on LTIR before the season, So you are short 6 players with no money left to spend, and no LTIR benefits. I don't think (unless you are Ottawa) that can take on LTIR contracts, but that still leaves about $5-$6 million to shed. Think anyone is going to take Kessel's contract (NMC)?, Jammer (NMC), Goligoski (NTC)?.
- LAHawk

I don't know what Phoenix could do..This scenario had to be played in the mind of their GM when they traded for Hall. I had assumed that Phoenix had someone to not re+sign, maybe someone else to just release.....teams will try to get creative if they have to. I had not reviewed their situation but when they are known to take on contracts like Hossa or players retired but still with salary cap hits........ I figured they weren't in deep crap.

The economic impact of the Corona is going to hit hard teams whom are up against or over the cap. So there is this problem too

.And we might find out the cap amount is not going up, but the same or even down. Maybe teams will be looking to unload descent players on the cheap or even releasing them (although they might take a lesser cap hit by releasing a player).

Compliance buyouts is whispered but there is word lately that this may not even come to pass. I believe Bettman will do something to alleviate some of the hardships. What he does is not really something I am going to guess about. Maybe you have more insight into the fiscal problems many teams appear to be facing.

Teams are probably waiting to find out what playoff revenue or compliance buyouts is forthcoming

$4.5 - $5 million I'd day.
- DarthKane

It could be $650k if cap goes down. Same for Strome.

- Ogilthorpe2

An it's being ruined by a virus named after a Mexican beer!

$4.5 - $5 million I'd day.
- DarthKane

You’re probably right. Next up is what Kubalik and Strome sign for, that will determine path forward for Hawks.

Would the HAWKS think of trading down ,maybe with OTT something like the 9th pick and Delia for Ott 21 pick ,NYI I think and their 2nd round pick and Filip Gustavsson .HAWKS could maybe grab Justin Barron very good defenseman who has fallen due to blood clots then have two picks in 2nd round . Gustavsson looks like a very good prospect in net ,originally drafted by Pittsburgh who have had some luck with young goalies . Just thinking the HAWKS really need to build up their goalie depth .
And if Askarov is available at 9th I forget it and take him .I do understand the risk with a goalie and Russian at that point in a draft . Sometimes you just have to roll the dice ,

Would the HAWKS think of trading down ,maybe with OTT something like the 9th pick and Delia for Ott 21 pick ,NYI I think and their 2nd round pick and Filip Gustavsson .HAWKS could maybe grab Justin Barron very good defenseman who has fallen due to blood clots then have two picks in 2nd round . Gustavsson looks like a very good prospect in net ,originally drafted by Pittsburgh who have had some luck with young goalies . Just thinking the HAWKS really need to build up their goalie depth .
And if Askarov is available at 9th I forget it and take him .I do understand the risk with a goalie and Russian at that point in a draft . Sometimes you just have to roll the dice ,
- oldduffman

I wouldn't do that, the gap between the quality of prospect between 9 and 21 is too much. Gustavsson isn't worth it.

I wouldn't do that, the gap between the quality of prospect between 9 and 21 is too much. Gustavsson isn't worth it.
- DarthKane

Fair enough ,it is real drop .Gustavsson really was tearing it up late in the season before it was canceled .And I remember him being very good in the WJC . I don't know if Barron would be available at 21 either ,think he could be real steal at 21 .It would be a very agonizing wait to see who was left

the reality is until we got out of Seabs contract I do not see us as a serious cup contender. cant have your 6/7 d making 7 mil per year and pay everybody else. single most important thing for the hawks would be a compliance buyout. it allows them to pay a few guys and not have to buy out Smith matta dehaan shaw and prob lets you extend SAAD for 4 more years. boquist and Dach will both need new deals when SEABS will have 2 years left and kane and teows will have 1 left.

if Dehaan and shaw do not come back and Matta and seabs are bottom pairing guys that would be 8.5 mil on LTIR and 11 mil in bottom pairing.

I haven't read all the responses, but in case nobody mentioned this, some of these contracts have relatively favorable buyout costs:

Maatta: https://www.capfriendly.c...r/olli-maatta1/2020-06-15
'
Zach Smith: https://www.capfriendly.c...tor/zack-smith/2020-06-15

Shaw: https://www.capfriendly.c...or/andrew-shaw/2020-06-15

Saad: https://www.capfriendly.c...or/andrew-shaw/2020-06-15

De Haan: https://www.capfriendly.c...calvin-de-haan/2020-06-15

Not saying buy them all out, but worst case, it's not the end of the world if they can't be moved. And yes, Seabrook's buyout is expensive, I checked that, too. I'd like to think that Stan knew these potential outs when he traded for all these contracts.

Would the HAWKS think of trading down ,maybe with OTT something like the 9th pick and Delia for Ott 21 pick ,NYI I think and their 2nd round pick and Filip Gustavsson .HAWKS could maybe grab Justin Barron very good defenseman who has fallen due to blood clots then have two picks in 2nd round . Gustavsson looks like a very good prospect in net ,originally drafted by Pittsburgh who have had some luck with young goalies . Just thinking the HAWKS really need to build up their goalie depth .
And if Askarov is available at 9th I forget it and take him .I do understand the risk with a goalie and Russian at that point in a draft . Sometimes you just have to roll the dice ,
- oldduffman

Like your idea but I wouldn't trade our current pick to bump down, especially that far. Keep our current pick and find other ways to acquire another 1st rounder if possible and that makes sense.

Fair enough ,it is real drop .Gustavsson really was tearing it up late in the season before it was canceled .And I remember him being very good in the WJC . I don't know if Barron would be available at 21 either ,think he could be real steal at 21 .It would be a very agonizing wait to see who was left
- oldduffman

There are some good prospects in the latter part of the 1st round.

Barron is one of them at D. Stay-at-home defender who skates well. Schneider and O'Rourke would be worth a look, too, as far as defensively wired D-men.

At forward in the teens are Mercer, Zary, and Bourque. Mercer could go early like 10th or 11th. I really like Mercer's ability to drive to the net, make plays in tight spaces, shoot from anywhere, and elevate his teammates.

Then in the 20s are actually a few Russian wingers in Ponomaryov and Amirov who stand out with their dynamism, endless motors, offensive skill, and attention to defense.

There are some good prospects in the latter part of the 1st round.

Barron is one of them at D. Stay-at-home defender who skates well. Schneider and O'Rourke would be worth a look, too, as far as defensively wired D-men.

At forward in the teens are Mercer, Zary, and Bourque. Mercer could go early like 10th or 11th. I really like Mercer's ability to drive to the net, make plays in tight spaces, shoot from anywhere, and elevate his teammates.

Then in the 20s are actually a few Russian wingers in Ponomaryov and Amirov who stand out with their dynamism, endless motors, offensive skill, and attention to defense.
- AEL_Fox

Yes it would be advantages to grab another pick in the 1st .I believe most teams are thinking the same ,so the cost would be high . May have to move Saad for one in the teens and Strome for one in the twenty .Lot of nice players to pick from . Thanks for the INFO

Yes it would be advantages to grab another pick in the 1st .I believe most teams are thinking the same ,so the cost would be high . May have to move Saad for one in the teens and Strome for one in the twenty .Lot of nice players to pick from . Thanks for the INFO
- oldduffman

You bet, duffman.

Yeah, getting an additional 1st rounder will be tough and would likely cost one of our better roster players or top prospects.

Then again, the Hawks were able to trade Hartman for Ejdsell, 1st (Beaudin), and 4th (Kurashev) so nothing is out of the realm of possibility.

Okay, so Saad trade, I have no idea what I was thinking adding a third. Maybe Saad and a third for Compher and another young prospect, but honestly, all I wanted to do was add a young asset at a lower price that could slide in anywhere in the line-up. I'm sorry but if the best place for Saad is on our 3rd line at 6mil per, idk if that is ideal.

Okay, so Saad trade, I have no idea what I was thinking adding a third. Maybe Saad and a third for Compher and another young prospect, but honestly, all I wanted to do was add a young asset at a lower price that could slide in anywhere in the line-up. I'm sorry but if the best place for Saad is on our 3rd line at 6mil per, idk if that is ideal.
- nickmo2699

It's not Saad's $6 that's the problem. It's other contracts on the team. Good teams will have $6m guys on the third line or they are about to pay big increases.

You’re probably right. Next up is what Kubalik and Strome sign for, that will determine path forward for Hawks.
- Angotti

What is the league minimum?

What is the league minimum?
- DarthKane

7x7 with a NMC..

Okay, so Saad trade, I have no idea what I was thinking adding a third. Maybe Saad and a third for Compher and another young prospect, but honestly, all I wanted to do was add a young asset at a lower price that could slide in anywhere in the line-up. I'm sorry but if the best place for Saad is on our 3rd line at 6mil per, idk if that is ideal.
- nickmo2699

Saad is worth his current salary and, IMO, is a top 6 forward on nearly every NHL team. I believe Ogi or someone else said the same thing, too.

Even when Saad does play 3rd line, it is likely (or should be) because there is more of a Line 2A and Line 2B (i.e. great forward depth) rather than a stark difference in talent level between Lines 2 and 3.

With the present roster, Saad should be playing top 6:

Saad - Toews - Kubalik
Nylander - Dach - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Shaw

Questions loom with health (Shaw), contract status (Kubalik and Strome), and each line's capacity to play defense.

What is the league minimum?
- DarthKane

Not what they’re signing for. Lol