Murphy is only $3.8. Dubas isn't going to get a top 4 defenseman any cheaper. Joel Edmonson who has been nothing but a #5/6 defenseman just got 4 years $3.5 million with a NTC from Montreal. They traded Kapanen for the first to free up money and use the first to get a defenseman. If Kerfoot and or Johanson was included we would have to give up more.
- LAHawk

I would strongly consider your trade proposal of Murphy for Leaf's 15th overall pick, and would love it even more if the Hawks didn't have to take back a contract.

Having two 1st rounders would be sweet given how deep the opening round is.

Could they package the 15th and 17th to move up? Sure but I'd prefer to just stay put with two 1st round picks.

I would strongly consider your trade proposal of Murphy for Leaf's 15th overall pick, and would love it even more if the Hawks didn't have to take back a contract.

Having two 1st rounders would be sweet given how deep the opening round is.

Could they package the 15th and 17th to move up? Sure but I'd prefer to just stay put with two 1st round picks.
- Theo Fox

Sounds great but I believe Murphy has more value than that return.

Murphy is only $3.8. Dubas isn't going to get a top 4 defenseman any cheaper. Joel Edmonson who has been nothing but a #5/6 defenseman just got 4 years $3.5 million with a NTC from Montreal. They traded Kapanen for the first to free up money and use the first to get a defenseman. If Kerfoot and or Johanson was included we would have to give up more.
- LAHawk

Murphy has a lot of value, especially with his cap hit. Like Saad, if Hawks were to trade him, Stan better be blown away with the offer(s). Some may disagree, but in my opinion Murphy has the most value of our current defensemen, and that includes 2020 Keith.

Sounds great but I believe Murphy has more value than that return.
- Elbows15

If the Leafs can add another pick or prospect, sign me up even more! Just ideally not a contract in return but that's what Dubas may want to do.

Sounds great but I believe Murphy has more value than that return.
- Elbows15

I know it's FWD vs D-man, but the Kapanen trade is probably a good starting point. I would argue that D-man is a bit more valuable, but who knows.

To Pitt:
Pontus Aberg
Kasperi Kapanen
Jesper Lindgren

To Tor:
David Warofsky
Evan Rodrigues
Filip Hallander
1st rd pick (#15)

Johnsson and #15 for Murphy and Sikura?

I know it's FWD vs D-man, but the Kapanen trade is probably a good starting point. I would argue that D-man is a bit more valuable, but who knows.

To Pitt:
Pontus Aberg
Kasperi Kapanen
Jesper Lindgren

To Tor:
David Warofsky
Evan Rodrigues
Filip Hallander
1st rd pick (#15)

Johnsson and #15 for Murphy and Sikura?
- Chunk

Why are the Hawks adding anything for that return? Johnsson is a .5PPG guy so okay. 15 and him seems fair. The Hawks don't need to add anything. I would rather the big Russian tho.

Murphy has a lot of value, especially with his cap hit. Like Saad, if Hawks were to trade him, Stan better be blown away with the offer(s). Some may disagree, but in my opinion Murphy has the most value of our current defensemen, and that includes 2020 Keith.
- Angotti

I agree, but the question is, is Stan really retooling (which makes Murphy valuable to the Hawks), or going to accelerate the rebuilding (in which case the #1 draft choice is more valuable, and you accelerate Bovquist, Mitchell's timeline. They still have Seabrook as #6, KK and Da Haan can play the offside if needed, and it gives them flexibility to not have to give away or buy out Matta if no good deal can be made, AND sign Strome, Kubalik. and Crow (if he accepts one year at $3.5).

If the Leafs can add another pick or prospect, sign me up even more! Just ideally not a contract in return but that's what Dubas may want to do.
- Theo Fox

If they add Mikhelivich(sp), I would do it all day long. I like Murphy, too. I would rather they move Maatta and/or de Haan, tho.

Dcat will have a bounce back year 25 to 30 goals next year. In his first three years is averaging about 30 goals per i ll take that.
- Scott1977

at 6 mil per? He brings almost nothing else to the ice. I don't care if he tries hard either. He isn't going to help this team win a cup.

I'd take 20-25g two way forward over him all day.

Why are the Hawks adding anything for that return? Johnsson is a .5PPG guy so okay. 15 and him seems fair. The Hawks don't need to add anything. I would rather the big Russian tho.
- Elbows15

big Russian? Malkin to the Hawks? E8

And then bundle #17 & #15 to OTT for #5! Where is Stan!?
- Rota's Rooter

Would we end up trading Murphy for a goalie who doesn't play for 2 years and would Ottawa make that trade?

Why are the Hawks adding anything for that return? Johnsson is a .5PPG guy so okay. 15 and him seems fair. The Hawks don't need to add anything. I would rather the big Russian tho.
- Elbows15

I just thought I'd make everyone happy getting Sikura out...

One less guy to argue about.

at 6 mil per? He brings almost nothing else to the ice. I don't care if he tries hard either. He isn't going to help this team win a cup.

I'd take 20-25g two way forward over him all day.
- bhawks2241

Yes, this!

If they add Mikhelivich(sp), I would do it all day long. I like Murphy, too. I would rather they move Maatta and/or de Haan, tho.
- Elbows15

I doubt Matta or Da Haan would get you a #1, let alone #15.

at 6 mil per? He brings almost nothing else to the ice. I don't care if he tries hard either. He isn't going to help this team win a cup.

I'd take 20-25g two way forward over him all day.
- bhawks2241

Something else, that contract jumps to $8 the last year. When he gets 23 goals next year and has 13 goals in the middle of the second year, the whole board will be screaming to dump him because of the third year of the contract and we will never resign him.

I doubt Matta or Da Haan would get you a #1, let alone #15.
- LAHawk

Why not? Remember last off season when many wanted Gus traded and thought he was worth a 1st?

I just thought I'd make everyone happy getting Sikura out...

One less guy to argue about.
- Chunk

Sikura makes 750K. He may have salaried himself into a spot this season

Sikura makes 750K. He may have salaried himself into a spot this season
- Elbows15

Whatever team that is will suck.

Why not? Remember last off season when many wanted Gus traded and thought he was worth a 1st?
- boilermaker100

Another Stan fail

Sikura makes 750K. He may have salaried himself into a spot this season
- Elbows15

Just can't win...

I doubt Matta or Da Haan would get you a #1, let alone #15.
- LAHawk

Yeah, didn't mean to suggest they would return anything more than a 3rd or 4th rounder at best. I was working off the premise of making the Hawks' defense more mobile.

Ideally, I would love to see 3 guys on defense never suit up for the Hawks ever again.

Why not? Remember last off season when many wanted Gus traded and thought he was worth a 1st?
- boilermaker100

Maata, deHaan and Keith together don't get #15.

Yeah, didn't mean to suggest they would return anything more than a 3rd or 4th rounder at best. I would working off the premise of making the Hawks' defense more mobile.

Ideally, I would love to see 3 guys on defense never suit up for the Hawks ever again.
- Elbows15

Call the Canucks up. Seabs, Sikura, and a 2nd for Eriksson, then buy Eriksson out:

Buyout Breakdown

YEAR BUYOUT CAP HIT
2020-21 $5,666,667
2021-22 $3,666,667
2022-23 $666,667
2023-24 $666,667

Better than Seabs:

2020-21 $6,583,333
2021-22 $3,583,333
2022-23 $6,583,333
2023-24 $5,083,333
2024-25 $708,333
2025-26 $708,333
2026-27 $708,333
2027-28 $708,333

Now, back to reality. LOL

Something else, that contract jumps to $8 the last year. When he gets 23 goals next year and has 13 goals in the middle of the second year, the whole board will be screaming to dump him because of the third year of the contract and we will never resign him.
- rpeters01

Actually, it jumps to $9MM - but who cares - that’s Rocky’s money.

The cap hit is $6.4MM each year.

He made quite good improvements to his overall game last season. He’s 23 in December - three seasons - I think we need to stop giving up on his career before we see what new improvements come from this off-season, what adjustments he makes for next season....If he can get to be a consistent 30-goaler with an improving all-around game, he justifies the contract.

at 6 mil per? He brings almost nothing else to the ice. I don't care if he tries hard either. He isn't going to help this team win a cup.

I'd take 20-25g two way forward over him all day.
- bhawks2241

Most 30+ goal scorers are $5.5M+. The really low cost guys are on ELC's and the lower priced guys got their contracts a few years ago.

A 20-25g 2-way forward is Saad... who costs $6M. Most here were lamenting that he doesn't/can't score enough.

You need to have a balance of players. You need elite skill/speed, 200' players, grinders, snipers and PP/PK specialists. You can't just have a team full of Saad's. For one, you can't afford it under the cap. For two, you likely aren't going to score enough.