Ummm Rick there’s a whole bunch of folks east of you and west of me who believe Matthews is that guy.
- paulr

I have no idea who those folks are. Would they be fans of a team on a 54 year Cup losing streak?

But I do know that if Ken Holland called Brendan Shanahan and offered him McDavid in return for Mathews, #34 would be on the next one way Westjet flight to Edmonton.

And if Shanahan turned that offer down and those folks found out about it, they would set Scotiabank arena ablaze with Shanahan locked inside the penalty box with no phone or fire extinguisher.

I have no idea who those folks are. Would they be fans of a team on a 54 year Cup losing streak?

But I do know that if Ken Holland called Brendan Shanahan and offered him McDavid in return for Mathews, #34 would be on the next one way Westjet flight to Edmonton.

And if Shanahan turned that offer down and those folks found out about it, they would set Scotiabank arena ablaze with Shanahan locked inside the penalty box with no phone or fire extinguisher.
- RickJ

But ... but .... but in 1993 the Leafs coulda, shoulda, woulda won if Fraser wasn’t such a lousy ref.

I can’t see Shanahan or his boy Beevis, I mean Dubas turning that deal down.

Speaking of a franchise that is brutal.

That's why i never could understand why Bowman gets so little credit, on how he was handcuffed with the new contracts, trading away half the (frank)ing team and building around those star players again. If we had a gm that didn't know what he was doing, no way we sniff 2 more Cups.
- BetweenTheDots

Kane and Toews were playing for $6M each in '13 & '15. Had it been $10.5 no cups in either of those years.

Kane and Toews were playing for $6M each in '13 & '15. Had it been $10.5 no cups in either of those years.
- rpeters01

Kane and Toews ate up to 21% of the cap, sure McDavid and Draisaitl make up 25% of the cap a whopping 4% more but one is the best player in the NHL the other scores over 100 points in an 82 game season, so you're telling me that 4% difference gave the Blackhawks so much more flexibility?

Kane and Toews ate up to 21% of the cap, sure McDavid and Draisaitl make up 25% of the cap a whopping 4% more but one is the best player in the NHL the other scores over 100 points in an 82 game season, so you're telling me that 4% difference gave the Blackhawks so much more flexibility?
- BetweenTheDots

I would argue they would have been higher than 25% had they not done the bridge deals.

Eichel was out due to injury. Skinner was sat for 3 games.
- Elbows15

I misunderstood the article I read. Eichel contradicted the report of when he got injured, not whether or not he actually was.

I would argue they would have been higher than 25% had they not done the bridge deals.
- rpeters01

Don't know but if I'm a small market team and i have a star player or players, i sacrifice more upfront for years, especially if he's the best player in the league, Kane or Toews were never considered THE best player in the league. It really comes down to a team that really can't draft, build, sign the right FAs.

Don't know but if I'm a small market team and i have a star player or players, i sacrifice more upfront for years, especially if he's the best player in the league, Kane or Toews were never considered THE best player in the league. It really comes down to a team that really can't draft, build, sign the right FAs.
- BetweenTheDots

My point was I agree Stan should get credit but they don't sniff two more Cups without the bridge deals. I just ran a quick calc and 88/19 are at 26% in 2021.

My point was I agree Stan should get credit but they don't sniff two more Cups without the bridge deals. I just ran a quick calc and 88/19 are at 26% in 2021.
- rpeters01

I guess that $3 million dollars made all the difference in the world

I guess that $3 million dollars made all the difference in the world
- BetweenTheDots

The Hawks were right against the cap in 13 and 15. If Toews and Kane each made $4M more, the $8M worth of players that would have needed to go would have made them a lesser team.

The Hawks were right against the cap in 13 and 15. If Toews and Kane each made $4M more, the $8M worth of players that would have needed to go would have made them a lesser team.
- mohel

We were bleeding players every year due to the cap as it was. As Elvis would say "thank you very much!"

The Hawks were right against the cap in 13 and 15. If Toews and Kane each made $4M more, the $8M worth of players that would have needed to go would have made them a lesser team.
- mohel

Salary cap about 60 million
Kane and Toews about 12.6 mill
25% of 60 mil is 15 million
It's actually around 26% the 2 Oilers total that's why i said $3 mil

Or is math like science for some of you

Salary cap about 60 million
Kane and Toews about 12.6 mill
25% of 60 mil is 15 million

Or is math like science for some of you
- BetweenTheDots

Geez, is it that hard to picture Kane and Toews at $10M without the bridge deals? If you can't do that there is nothing to discuss. In '15 they were so tight to the cap people in the league accused Stan of cheating by keeping Kane on IR to do the Vermette deal. Maybe that was '13, either way it doesn't matter.

Salary cap about 60 million
Kane and Toews about 12.6 mill
25% of 60 mil is 15 million
It's actually around 26% the 2 Oilers total that's why i said $3 mil

Or is math like science for some of you
- BetweenTheDots

Gibberish.

Salary cap about 60 million
Kane and Toews about 12.6 mill
25% of 60 mil is 15 million
It's actually around 26% the 2 Oilers total that's why i said $3 mil

Or is math like science for some of you
- BetweenTheDots

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.
- Chunk

Yes - there were lots of "economic gymnastics" being played by Stan besides lucking into Vermette by way of Kane's broken clavical. He got cost friendly deals from Krueger and Roszival and still had to jettison Bolland after '13. I know there were other things he did I'm not remembering just to stay compliant. Not to be an ass but I think it's closer to $8M without the bridges.

2013 cap: $70.2
2015 cap: $69

*it dropped to 64.3 in 2014 with the new CBA.

Kane and Toews contracts didn't kick in until after the 2015 cup.

So in 2013 they were 17.8% of the cap, 2015 they were 18.2%

The argument is that if 88/19 didn't take bridge deals they wouldn't have the cups in 13, 15. They Hawks needed every drop of the cap in each year to win the cup. depending on how you extrapolate their contracts without a bridge they take somewhere between 3-6M more out of the cap than what they actually did. Without that cash, they don't get guys like Richards (FA), Handzus (acquired for a pick), retained Bickell, and likely a number of other moves.
- Chunk

Yep. Not really a tough one to grasp, imo.

New blog! A look at how certain factors may be impacting the development timelines for Blackhawks prospects and whether a select few (Reichel, Slaggert, Vlasic, Kaiser, Commesso) can make a quantum leap.

http://bit.ly/3q2nRPC

I understand a change of scenery may help Strome get better?
- paulr

Not sure how he gets more foot speed just getting traded, but if that's what it takes, then ok.