Welcome to the writing side and thank you, CtHawksM! Please post more if you're comfortable!

Astute post on AAV versus actual salaries. I'll admit, this is something I'm learning more about so I appreciate you and others that have started to talk about this. Definitely useful in this era of pandemic-impacted finances.
- Theo Fox

Thanks for the welcome... It will sure be interesting to see which of the kids the org is bringing in will become elite talents and if the re-build leads to a return of being a contending team like we've been so luck to enjoy the past 10 years or so. My guess is we're a good 2-3 years from being serious playoff ready (which is not necessarily Cup contending.) Can be a fun ride of you have the right perspective!

Teravainen has packed on muscle and gotten much stronger since joining the Canes so I'm not too worried about Boqvist at this stage. If Teravainen can do it, so can Boqvist.

It's a matter of putting on weight and muscle the right way. Dach stated as such after the Hawks got eliminated. Do it inappropriately and it hinders your play on the ice.
- Theo Fox

I feel that the current off season, while short in duration, as well the next off season (following next season) being a presumably longer period- of - time, should be enough time for Boqvist to add enough muscle so that he is not a easily knocked back.

I am NOT gonna say POOR Pietrangelo, but visiting Las Vegas?????

He may have blown his chances to play for a winner unless Taylor Hall's $ in Colorado go to him...

didn't these guy know the owners didn't sell seats?

Cody Eakin signed with the Sabres, 2 years @ $2.25 million per year.

Jesper Fast signs in Carolina, 3 years $2 million AAV.

Me waiting for Stan to bring back Kahun...

Me waiting for Stan to bring back Kahun...


- DarthKane

Same here. Bring the other Dominik (Simon) in too

Agreed. Today T&K are each making $7M (on an annualized pre-Covid basis), which illustrates we paid a high price in their star power performing years (which seems more than fair for 3 Cups), and that it's not a bad actual salary value in today's market for what they bring to the table. Not that they are not complaining about what they currently make (that I've ever heard or read), but in addition to their taxes, I understand that escrow holds approx 10% for season end balancing and re-distribution.
- CtHawksMan

I think the escrow has been closer to 15%-17% recently -and is going to be much higher for last year, next year, the the year after. The players are going to owe a ton - which will be paid back over several years.

AFAIK, the 50/50 split remains in place, with dramatically reduced revenues for a while.

I think the escrow has been closer to 15%-17% recently -and is going to be much higher for last year, next year, the the year after. The players are going to owe a ton - which will be paid back over several years.

AFAIK, the 50/50 split remains in place, with dramatically reduced revenues for a while.
- StLBravesFan

The new tv deal next year or the year after will help things. Plus getting fans whenever that will happen will revenues influx to teams but will be a couple of lean years but better for hockey long term growth of the game.

@ByScottPowers
Crawford said there wasn't much negotiation after the initial offer. He expected more back and forth from the Blackhawks.

And from The Athletic article



Seems like it was Bowman tossing a 17-year veteran a bone as a sign of respect (in his opinion) rather than just being up front that they had a plan to move on to the youth. Or, maybe the Smith situation is what changed it as some have claimed, but that seems really suspect as a reason.

Several players (and maybe this is normal) have gone public in recent years about bad faith negotiating (or lack thereof) from StanBo - Saad, Panarin, Jokiharju, Crow, Lehner, etc. Maybe it's no big deal and common, but will FA players stop trusting him and look elsewhere?
- pdx2ord

Key to any negotiation, if you take a position, you better be ready to walk away.

To assume in the this climate that they'll go back and forth is a little crazy in my opinion.

Most GMs hands are tied.

To call that bad faith negotiating is BS also.

Its time to move on, Cups were great but its over. Its not a charity, its a business and quite honestly all the guys you mention above, I wouldn't have signed for what they got.

If Stan paid them what they got (not that he could've anyway), he'd be getting killed here the same he does (and deserves) for Seabs contract.

Krug to ST.L ?

Me waiting for Stan to bring back Kahun...


- DarthKane

Your wasting your time it's not gonna happen.

Krug to ST.L ?
- oldduffman

7 years at 6.5 a season, happened late last night.

Key to any negotiation, if you take a position, you better be ready to walk away.

To assume in the this climate that they'll go back and forth is a little crazy in my opinion.

Most GMs hands are tied.

To call that bad faith negotiating is BS also.

Its time to move on, Cups were great but its over. Its not a charity, its a business and quite honestly all the guys you mention above, I wouldn't have signed for what they got.

If Stan paid them what they got (not that he could've anyway), he'd be getting killed here the same he does (and deserves) for Seabs contract.
- vabeachbear

Exactly.

I don't know whether or not this was part of Stan's thinking, but there's a psychological aspect to moving on from something that was cherished and the best way to do it is to turn your back, move on and don't look back, at least not until you're sufficiently far enough away where it's no longer possible to hold on.

This psychological break up affects the players and the fans. There's been a couple things done already toward that end with the dismissal of Q and McD, as well as bringing in a new coach without any strings or allegiances to the players who have been here through the glory days. Benching Seabrook was just such a move to indicate this is a new day and there are no sacred cows whose feeling have to be protected.

The message is loud and clear to 2/7/19/88 that the team is taking a new direction and they can either be happy to be a part of it or the team will try to accommodate your ride out of town.

I hope Rocky and Stan have the fortitude to stick to their guns and drive us into the new direction.

Is the plan to sign Strome to his new deal after they are able to LTIR Smith and Shaw?

Exactly.

I don't know whether or not this was part of Stan's thinking, but there's a psychological aspect to moving on from something that was cherished and the best way to do it is to turn your back, move on and don't look back, at least not until you're sufficiently far enough away where it's no longer possible to hold on.

This psychological break up affects the players and the fans. There's been a couple things done already toward that end with the dismissal of Q and McD, as well as bringing in a new coach without any strings or allegiances to the players who have been here through the glory days. Benching Seabrook was just such a move to indicate this is a new day and there are no sacred cows whose feeling have to be protected.

The message is loud and clear to 2/7/19/88 that the team is taking a new direction and they can either be happy to be a part of it or the team will try to accommodate your ride out of town.

I hope Rocky and Stan have the fortitude to stick to their guns and drive us into the new direction.
- EbonyRaptor

Totally agree with you guys, these are not normal circumstances, sounds like Stan had a take it or leave it offer, Crow was expecting a counter offer, Stan made his offer. I wish Crow well, he was one of my favorites, but at the end of the day I root for the team, players come and go.

Same here. Bring the other Dominik (Simon) in too
- ikeane

I say you can wait until the cows come home all the way to Jan 1 and there will be no Kahun sighting near Chicago. Unfortunately!

7 years at 6.5 a season, happened late last night.
- ChicagoHope

Ok thanks making life a little tougher in the Central

Is the plan to sign Strome to his new deal after they are able to LTIR Smith and Shaw?
- 333inthe3rd

I doubt it we wouldn’t be anywhere near the cap. Maybe Rocky said hey I’m not made of money. It doesn’t just grow on trees.

Is the plan to sign Strome to his new deal after they are able to LTIR Smith and Shaw?
- 333inthe3rd

I don't see why they would need to wait. They have $6.6M available, and that includes Shaw, Smith and Seabs. There are reports that Seabs and Shaw plan on playing, that means signing Strome (2.5 AAV) still leaves us with a little over $4M, and we would have 12F, 6D, 2G. Suter would most likely be the 13th forward, and my guess is Seeler is AHL bound, and Mitchell, Kalynuk, Beaudin and Carlsson battle it out for the last 2 dmen positions. End result, still $2M under the cap before moving Smith to LTIR.

Embrace the youth movement. None of us knows how good these goalies can be. Take a chance and you could have the position filled for 2 years for cheap.
- Elbows15

We don’t?

Subban has had a chance in 2 different organizations, and screwed the pooch with both.

Delia flashed a half dozen good games 2 years ago, then he reverted to his mean, which was poor.

Lankinen has been living off 1 good international competition. He ended up behind Delia in Rockford last year.

And neither Delia nor Lankinen was able to supplant Subban on the playoff roster.

I hope I’m proven wrong, but remember, hope is not a strategy.

Your wasting your time it's not gonna happen.
- BGKarras

Yes it will.

Without any trades or FA signings, which team(s) in the Central are the Blackhawks better than?

Another 6th or 7th finish next season?

So, who is next year’s top draft choice, so we can begin hoping for the lottery balls.

Very excited to be following Edmonton’s improvement strategy.

Rumor with legs that Saad is being traded to the Avs with Zadorov as one of the pieces coming back.

@FriedgeHNIC

Sounds like something coming down with CHI/COL....not sure of all parts, but Saad/Zadorov believed to be involved.

@ryan_s_clark

Nikita Zadorov's agent has just tweeted his client has been traded to the Blackhawks with the idea Brandon Saad will be the returning piece for the #Avs.

Friedman reporting that Saad was traded to COL and Zadarov is going to CHI.