Hawks have approx. 14 million cap tied up in Shaw , Smith , Seabrook that's unbelievable.
This has (among other things) doomed the Hawks for contention for a lottery pick for a few years. I know a lot of people get upset when Bowman gets knocked but man hey has made a lot of bad moves .
How many players can a team buy out ?
Those 3 are impossible to move plus I don't think Maata or DE Haan could be moved without retaining salaries.
- HamiltonHawk

Last summer was Stan rolling the dice in a big way to improve the defense from previous seasons by bringing in veteran D's in deHaan and Maatta and some responsible PK types like Smith and Carpenter. By doing this, along with bringing back Shaw for some grit, he was hoping to make the playoffs to satisfy the fan base (and probably McD). When Lehner fell in his lap, he even had cap space to sign him for a year in an effort to boost the goal tending and not rely entirely on Crawford.

Unfortunately, this is the result of his summer of 2019 moves....

Shaw - 1/2 the season on LTIR, and a 3.9M cap hit for 2 more years. Even if he plays next season, he is one hit away from another LTIR stint.

deHaan - ditto except for a 2 x 4.5M cap hit

Maata - maybe a decent 5-6D but overpriced at 2 x 4M and is not a fit to the "system".

Smith - over the hill and another injury in waiting, but Stan got about 1.3M in cap relief last year and this upcoming year by trading Anisimov. Ironically, if Smith is bought out, his cap hit for each of the next 2 years is about 1.1M so the end result of the trade would be little cap savings this year and a 1.1M additional cap hit next year.

Carpenter - just a guy and cheap at 1M.

Lehner - Stan flipped him for a second and a journeyman goalie Subban who may or may not be the backup. The second round pick may yield a mid 6 forward, or a 2nd-3rd pair defenseman in 3 to 5 years.

IMO, the jury is still out on the Joki for Nylander trade. Hawks had defensive depth in the system and lacked (and still do) top 6 forwards in the system. I can see why Stan made the trade.

Long story short, in hindsight, Stan should have begun the rebuilding last year.
Now he's hampered by the players brought in last year who he can't move out. All he can do is tinker along the edges which is most likely going to result with basically the same team coming back and them missing the playoffs again.

You know considering Bowman making moves and trying to make the defense better last year, bringing Lehner and Shaw in didn't work out either, standing back and considering the state of everything i say (frank) it Hawks just eat this 1 year, maybe 2, maybe they'll be able to unload, de Haan and Maatta at the trade deadline.

Perhaps somewhat off topic as far as the subject of this blog, but I just want to ask Theo and all hockeybuzz readers how they feel about attending an NHL game

I do not know if there will be an inoculation by the start of the next hockey season. I do know it takes a long period of time for society to get an innoculation just due to the huge population and getting accurate information to people. During the flu season the flu is more likely to get and people certainly will be very concerned about whether they have the flu or covid19.

So I would guess even staggered seating is too great a risk for many people who will not risk getting sick by being inside a closed stadium

But still people persist in gathering. Even some churches have services with staggered seating

In fact my niece is a college cheerleader for Iowa State and there are no fans.in the stands for the #23 rated team season opener today

And BTW Iowa State has a Qb rated sure fire #1 round draft choice in next year's NFL draft
His name is Purdy. He has a brother very talented is a freshman at Florida State with a goofy first name.

Anyway I tossed that football in because many readers here are closely monitoring the QB Bears competition
Could be the Bears are looking to draft a zQB next season. Perhaps a difference maker

Unfortunately I see good but no big difference makers for the Blackhawks in this draft.

It would be a treat to attend a hockey game next season but I will instead play it the safest way by either listen or watch a feed of the game

Available cap space is being quickly eaten up.

Stan - don’t get caught watching the paint dry....
- StLBravesFan

As far as Corey goes just leave the $3.5 on the table and if he wants to pick his family up and move for an extra 500k so be it.

- DarthKane

LOL. Been waiting for that one. Got the one with Stan eating potato chips?

- DarthKane

My favorite time is #3, some of my best work

As far as Corey goes just leave the $3.5 on the table and if he wants to pick his family up and move for an extra 500k so be it.
- BetweenTheDots

Agreed. The offer is fair. The temptation to sign elsewhere is greedy because they [many players including Crawford] have been making a lot of money their career. But no animosity if he leaves; it is his choice. I guess that he stays. But he may wait to the last moment to sign. He wants his options to study after Bowman.has made some decisions. That is risky because Bowman hand is forced. So Crawford decision and when is a matter of timeliness.

Agreed. The offer is fair. The temptation to sign elsewhere is greedy because they have been making a lot of money their career. But no animosity if he leaves; it is his choice. I guess that he stays. But he may wsitvyo the last moment to sign. He wants his options to study after Bowman.has made some decisions. That is risky because Bowman hand is forced. So Crawford decision and when is a mattervof timeliness.
- jhawk59

No, not really. Stan at some time has to make moves. If Crow waits, and then the money is gone, then it is on Crow. Mtl has their backup, so what is Crow's real option? Que Steve Miller "take the money (offer) and run".

As far as Corey goes just leave the $3.5 on the table and if he wants to pick his family up and move for an extra 500k so be it.
- BetweenTheDots

Instead of waiting to sign Crawford, Stan could, I suppose, start dealing with the Kubalik, Strome and 4K camps, and make some other moves such as buying out Smith and/or Maatta, or trading away some salary with the aim of reserving about 3M for a #1 goalie.

He knows he'll have Deila, Subban or Lankinen as the #2 goalie for about 1M. When UFA starts on October 9, 2 to 3M would get you a Talbot, Elliott, Dell or Domingue type. Too bad Cam Ward retired.

Instead of waiting to sign Crawford, Stan could, I suppose, start dealing with the Kubalik, Strome and 4K camps, and make some other moves such as buying out Smith and/or Maatta, or trading away some salary with the aim of reserving about 3M for a #1 goalie.

He knows he'll have Deila, Subban or Lankinen as the #2 goalie for about 1M. When UFA starts on October 9, 2 to 3M would get you a Talbot, Elliott, Dell or Domingue type. Too bad Cam Ward retired.
- boilermaker100

Might be able to get Ward out of retirement for $3m. Nevermind, he'll never forget the defense Hawks played in front of him.

Might be able to get Ward out of retirement for $3m. Nevermind, he'll never forget the defense Hawks played in front of him.
- rpeters01

He would have his old teammate deHaan from his Carolina days in front of him though.

He would have his old teammate deHaan from his Carolina days in front of him though.
- boilermaker100

Until deHahn is hurt again. Then more of Seabrook and or a prospect

Instead of waiting to sign Crawford, Stan could, I suppose, start dealing with the Kubalik, Strome and 4K camps, and make some other moves such as buying out Smith and/or Maatta, or trading away some salary with the aim of reserving about 3M for a #1 goalie.

He knows he'll have Deila, Subban or Lankinen as the #2 goalie for about 1M. When UFA starts on October 9, 2 to 3M would get you a Talbot, Elliott, Dell or Domingue type. Too bad Cam Ward retired.
- boilermaker100

Can teams allow their players to negotiate with other teams prior to free agency?

No, not really. Stan at some time has to make moves. If Crow waits, and then the money is gone, then it is on Crow. Mtl has their backup, so what is Crow's real option? Que Steve Miller "take the money (offer) and run".
- powerenforcer

That's the risk, you have the offer out but that'll be extra money until it's not, so there are no guarantees for CCs camp either, it's what happened to Lehner in NY

I don't see any team helping other teams with cap hits for a few years. That's just stupid. I'm sure the Yotes are pissed they took Hossa.
- rpeters01

Minnesota and Montreal have done it already.

[quote=tvetter]

No. Free agency starts on October 9 and upcoming UFA players can negotiate only with their current teams (e.g. Crawfird with the Hawks) until then.

Are the SCF taking place in Toronto?

Are the SCF taking place in Toronto?
- tvetter

The current conference finals and the SCF are in Edmonton.

Last summer was Stan rolling the dice in a big way to improve the defense from previous seasons by bringing in veteran D's in deHaan and Maatta and some responsible PK types like Smith and Carpenter. By doing this, along with bringing back Shaw for some grit, he was hoping to make the playoffs to satisfy the fan base (and probably McD). When Lehner fell in his lap, he even had cap space to sign him for a year in an effort to boost the goal tending and not rely entirely on Crawford.

Unfortunately, this is the result of his summer of 2019 moves....

Shaw - 1/2 the season on LTIR, and a 3.9M cap hit for 2 more years. Even if he plays next season, he is one hit away from another LTIR stint.

deHaan - ditto except for a 2 x 4.5M cap hit

Maata - maybe a decent 5-6D but overpriced at 2 x 4M and is not a fit to the "system".

Smith - over the hill and another injury in waiting, but Stan got about 1.3M in cap relief last year and this upcoming year by trading Anisimov. Ironically, if Smith is bought out, his cap hit for each of the next 2 years is about 1.1M so the end result of the trade would be little cap savings this year and a 1.1M additional cap hit next year.

Carpenter - just a guy and cheap at 1M.

Lehner - Stan flipped him for a second and a journeyman goalie Subban who may or may not be the backup. The second round pick may yield a mid 6 forward, or a 2nd-3rd pair defenseman in 3 to 5 years.

IMO, the jury is still out on the Joki for Nylander trade. Hawks had defensive depth in the system and lacked (and still do) top 6 forwards in the system. I can see why Stan made the trade.

Long story short, in hindsight, Stan should have begun the rebuilding last year.
Now he's hampered by the players brought in last year who he can't move out. All he can do is tinker along the edges which is most likely going to result with basically the same team coming back and them missing the playoffs again.
- boilermaker100

You alluded to Lehner falling in their laps last summer and so did de Haan. IIRC, the original goal last offseason wasn't to sign both Maatta and de Haan.

Maybe others remember the backstory but for whatever reason (injury concern?) Carolina was willing to part ways with de Haan and he became immediately available shortly after Bowman signed Maatta.

As far as what was given up, the Hawks didn't lose much in Forsling and Forsberg. The other player Chicago got (Aleksi Saarela) is no longer in the system.

Saarela was an ingrate anyway and is essentially Morin/Skille 2.0 as far as being a lazy one-dimensional winger.

Thankfully the Hawks have the better Saarela in the system in younger brother Antti. Excellent skater, solid defensively, and competes hard. Could be a future 4th line grinder and PK speclalist.

You alluded to Lehner falling in their laps last summer and so did de Haan. IIRC, the original goal last offseason wasn't to sign both Maatta and de Haan.

Maybe others remember the backstory but for whatever reason (injury concern?) Carolina was willing to part ways with de Haan and he became immediately available shortly after Bowman signed Maatta.

As far as what was given up, the Hawks didn't lose much in Forsling and Forsberg. The other player Chicago got (Aleksi Saarela) is no longer in the system.

Saarela was an ingrate anyway and is essentially Morin/Skille 2.0 as far as being a lazy one-dimensional winger.

Thankfully the Hawks have the better Saarela in the system in younger brother Antti. Excellent skater, solid defensively, and competes hard. Could be a future 4th line grinder and PK speclalist.
- Theo Fox

Theo, Carolina probably needed the cap space to sign Aho who was coming up on being a RFA. 4.5M going out in salary and essentially nothing in return. If Stan knew that Carolina needed cap space why didn't he pursue deHaan earlier instead of Maatta?

Theo, Carolina probably needed the cap space to sign Aho who was coming up on being a RFA. 4.5M going out in salary and essentially nothing in return. If Stan knew that Carolina needed cap space why didn't he pursue deHaan earlier instead of Maatta?
- boilermaker100

Good point. The depth of the Carolina blueline may have also played a factor where de Haan became expendable.

The Habs have acquired Joel Edmundson from the Canes for a 2020 5th round pick.

May be a good indicator for the trade market for some of the Hawks defenders. Possibly talk to teams with excess draft picks like Montreal, Ottawa. Toronto, L.A., Deroit, and NY Rangers (each have 10 or more).

@theTonyFerrari

The Canadiens are using their collection of draft capital to bolster the lineup.

The Habs have acquired Joel Edmundson from the Canes for a 2020 5th round pick.

May be a good indicator for the trade market for some of the Hawks defenders. Possibly talk to teams with excess draft picks like Montreal, Ottawa. Toronto, L.A., Deroit, and NY Rangers (each have 10 or more).

@theTonyFerrari

The Canadiens are using their collection of draft capital to bolster the lineup.
- Theo Fox

Thinking they could get a prospect added since the Hawks dmen have term. Not a quality one but a prospect.

The Habs have acquired Joel Edmundson from the Canes for a 2020 5th round pick.

May be a good indicator for the trade market for some of the Hawks defenders. Possibly talk to teams with excess draft picks like Montreal, Ottawa. Toronto, L.A., Deroit, and NY Rangers (each have 10 or more).

@theTonyFerrari

The Canadiens are using their collection of draft capital to bolster the lineup.
- Theo Fox

To be accurate Habs acquired his signing rights. He's an UF A. No guarantee Montreal will sign him.