22.875 of space

Need 2 goalies

RFAs as of TODAY you would think they'd have interest in resigning
-Kubalik
-Dach
-Kalynuk
-Kurashev

RFAs/UFAs as of today you would think they'd kick to the curb
-DeHaan
-Strome
-Carpenter

UNDECIDED
-Nylander
-C Jones
-Gaudette

Think a LOT of this has to do with the development of Mitchell and Beaudin down in the "A" and IF the organization feels they are ready to step in. If so, C Jones and/or Kalynuk could be gone IF they have better years and are deemed too expensive based on what they have to sign Kubalik or Dach for.

IDeally they need to find a home for Connolly. People want to female dog about Seth Jones trade, the acquisition of Connolly and that prolonged cap hit makes ZERO sense.

- SteveRain

Actually it does if Borgstrom is a keeper and Stillman is better than Carlson. When the trade was made S. Jones was not in the picture.

No idea....

1. I think Bowman had a very good summer in the short term to "win now"..if a few things hit...this team will make the playoffs and they have enough horses and a goalie with skins on the wall, to be a very TOUGH out in a 7 game series.

2. I think it's VERY fair to question his ability to work with a salary cap, his hard on that his hockey ops department has for their hell bent tunnel vision of going after 1st round picks who have flamed out in other organizations, and his organization's inability to properly develop younger players.....either they are rushed or they never sniff the potential.....For every DeBrincat as of late the long list of 1sts that are no longer here exceed the hits. Out of the 24 guys listed on the hawks cap friendly roster......4 were drafted by the Hawks......4.

I think he's been excellent at signing European UFAs and his wisely walked from a few when the price tag was out of his budget...Suter, Niemi, and Panarin.
- SteveRain

How many were traded the last 10 years?

Connolly another 1st round pick, Bowman and/or his hockey ops department fell in love with at some point and took another flier on.

This pattern is getting old and rarely works out well for the Hawks.

Bowman must have the "another man's trash is another man's treasure" framed in his office at 1901 w madison..........
- SteveRain

Stan did not trade for Connolly he traded for Borgstrom and Stillman.

Wonder if this is going to end up being league-wide?

PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST

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Connolly another 1st round pick, Bowman and/or his hockey ops department fell in love with at some point and took another flier on.

This pattern is getting old and rarely works out well for the Hawks.

Bowman must have the "another man's trash is another man's treasure" framed in his office at 1901 w madison..........
- SteveRain

Connolly is a 29 year old "former first rounder". I highly doubt that is the reason that Stan took him on. Most signs point to the idea that he made that deal to help FLA with some cap space they needed to move and to acquire Borgstrom.

Also from the Sens blogger here:
The last name that keeps coming up in Sens discussions for a suitable RW with little term left on their contract, is Brett Connelly of the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been long rumoured to be moved this summer as the Hawks have to sign a few young players next summer coming off their ELC’s like Kirby Dach, among others and Chicago will need some cap relief to get those deals done. Connelly has 2 years left with a 3.5 million AAV at 29 years of age, he would fit in nicely for a short term fix until Ottawa develops some of their youth on the right side. Again, draft picks is what many of these teams will want in return as they don’t want to take on any contracts with this flat cap for a few years.

No idea....

1. I think Bowman had a very good summer in the short term to "win now"..if a few things hit...this team will make the playoffs and they have enough horses and a goalie with skins on the wall, to be a very TOUGH out in a 7 game series.

2. I think it's VERY fair to question his ability to work with a salary cap, his hard on that his hockey ops department has for their hell bent tunnel vision of going after 1st round picks who have flamed out in other organizations, and his organization's inability to properly develop younger players.....either they are rushed or they never sniff the potential.....For every DeBrincat as of late the long list of 1sts that are no longer here exceed the hits. Out of the 24 guys listed on the hawks cap friendly roster......4 were drafted by the Hawks......4.

I think he's been excellent at signing European UFAs and his wisely walked from a few when the price tag was out of his budget...Suter, Niemi, and Panarin.
- SteveRain

This is true for a lot of teams in the league. They have a few guys they drafted that turned out really well, a few that are middling, and a bunch that never made it or are complete disappointments.

You also have to take a look at the respective situations. When the Hawks were killing it, they had more drafted players contributing at a high level. As that moves on and you pay the "core" you have no choice but to move on from some of those drafted players and sign cheaper replacements. If you are a consistently successful team, the draft picks you are making are all at the end of rounds which theoretically yields less of a chance at success and even worse odds at drafting a true difference maker.

Wonder if this is going to end up being league-wide?

PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST

All guests entering the United Center, including fans at Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks games, are required to present proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to gain access to the arena.
- biskit67

Likely. Enforcement is going to be interesting. I've spoken to 6 people who've gone to shows/concerts out here that require them, and none of them have even been asked for docs, let alone show proof.

Now this is all in Orange County which beats to its own drum a bit, but I'd be interested to see how it is truly being handled.

Stan did not trade for Connolly he traded for Borgstrom and Stillman.
- rpeters01

actually he did trade for Connolly....

Likely. Enforcement is going to be interesting. I've spoken to 6 people who've gone to shows/concerts out here that require them, and none of them have even been asked for docs, let alone show proof.

Now this is all in Orange County which beats to its own drum a bit, but I'd be interested to see how it is truly being handled.
- Chunk

Supposedly the US open tennis had lines so long people missed the matches that they had tickets for.

Best way to watch Hawks games this year? ESPN+ or DirecTV Center Ice? 68 years old with a newly installed defibrillator, and having difficulty sorting through the shyte. Any help or advice along these lines would be greatly appreciated, gentlemen. Naturally, want to watch as many Hawks games as I can. Live in central Indiana. I'm out of market so I could see most Hawks games on DirecTV. Then ESPN+ and a 7 year contract enter the scene. Are ESPN and DirecTV essentially the same? Thanks in advance, guys/gals. Not adjusting well to getting older, as you can see. Ha!

The Blackhawks do have some cap restraints coming. I was thinking since 21 million will be coming off the books after 2 years, why couldn't they sign say any RFA to a one year contract then have them sign one long term deal for example, Kubs signs a 1 year deal at 4 mill, then a 4 or 5 year deal for $6 mil per? I think the Leafs did something like that with Nylander but paid him more the 1 year then less over the so many years
- BetweenTheDots

Next year, the 22/23 season, will be tough, cap wise, assuming they sign Kubalik. I did some ciphering and things may open up in 23/24.

Per cap friendly 6 players signed for 23/24 at 25.75.

Cat owed a new contract 9.5M
Kane still in top form re-ups for 9.5M
Kubalik signed next off season for 5.5M
Dach signs a bridge contract next off season for 3.5M
Two goalies, sum combination of Lankinen, cheap vet or Soderblom 5M
Kalunuk signs next off season for 2.5M
Reichel, Entwistle, Hardman already on the books for a combined 2.5M
Mitchell, Beaudin, Kurashev, Borgstrom re-up along the way for a combined 10M

That's 2G, 7D and 11F at 73.78M. Assume cap is up to 83.5 by that time (1M per year for next 2 years) leaves 9.72M. for 3 players.

What about Toews you ask? Does he retire after his contract expires? Does he have anything left in the tank after his illness? One year 35+ contract for 6M? If retires use the 6M for a free agent forward?

That leaves 3.72M for 2 spare forwards like a Barratt, Altybarmakyan or a cheap vet. Maybe Gaudette or Nylander still around if they can be re-signed on the cheap,

Top 6 of Kane, Cat, Kubalik, Dach, Reichel, Borgstrom/Toews/free agent

Bottom 6 includes Hagel, Kurashev, Entwistle, Johnson, Hardman

D consists of Jones, Murphy, McCabe, Stillman, Kalunuk, Mitchell, Beaudin

Next year, the 22/23 season, will be tough, cap wise, assuming they sign Kubalik. I did some ciphering and things may open up in 23/24.

Per cap friendly 6 players signed for 23/24 at 25.75.

Cat owed a new contract 9.5M
Kane still in top form re-ups for 9.5M
Kubalik signed next off season for 5.5M
Dach signs a bridge contract next off season for 3.5M
Two goalies, sum combination of Lankinen, cheap vet or Soderblom 5M
Kalunuk signs next off season for 2.5M
Reichel, Entwistle, Hardman already on the books for a combined 2.5M
Mitchell, Beaudin, Kurashev, Borgstrom re-up along the way for a combined 10M

That's 2G, 7D and 11F at 73.78M. Assume cap is up to 83.5 by that time (1M per year for next 2 years) leaves 9.72M. for 3 players.

What about Toews you ask? Does he retire after his contract expires? Does he have anything left in the tank after his illness? One year 35+ contract for 6M? If retires use the 6M for a free agent forward?

That leaves 3.72M for 2 spare forwards like a Barratt, Altybarmakyan or a cheap vet. Maybe Gaudette or Nylander still around if they can be re-signed on the cheap,

Top 6 of Kane, Cat, Kubalik, Dach, Reichel, Borgstrom/Toews/free agent

Bottom 6 includes Hagel, Kurashev, Entwistle, Johnson, Hardman

D consists of Jones, Murphy, McCabe, Stillman, Kalunuk, Mitchell, Beaudin
- boilermaker100

I certainly hope they don't throw 9.5 million at Kane with him hitting 35 at the start of his next contract. Sure if he comes out here with back to back 40 goal seasons or something, but with him past his peak, I hope no more than 8 million AVV for a couple years.

actually he did trade for Connolly....
- SteveRain

He ate Connolly to get Borgstrom for nothing go back and look at the trade.

actually he did trade for Connolly....
- SteveRain

From my understanding of the Panthers trade is that Connolly was the "bad contract" that the Hawks needed to take on in order to acquire Borgstrom and Stillman. I imagine they coveted Borgstrom more but also didn't see Stillman as a throw in either.

To put it another way, I feel that the Hawks wouldn't have traded for Connolly straight up just to acquire him. But they think enough of him to take him back in the trade that did happen AND play him regularly in the bottom 6.

Yet, Connolly is and will be actively shopped to get rid of his contract. Until he's gone, I personally don't mind him on the 4th line.

This is true for a lot of teams in the league. They have a few guys they drafted that turned out really well, a few that are middling, and a bunch that never made it or are complete disappointments.

You also have to take a look at the respective situations. When the Hawks were killing it, they had more drafted players contributing at a high level. As that moves on and you pay the "core" you have no choice but to move on from some of those drafted players and sign cheaper replacements. If you are a consistently successful team, the draft picks you are making are all at the end of rounds which theoretically yields less of a chance at success and even worse odds at drafting a true difference maker.
- Chunk

The other aspect to consider is that many of the former 1st and even 2nd rounders who are with the Hawks now or have been in recent years could be a demonstration of other teams not developing their picks either.

As you said, it's not just the Blackhawks.

Your other point about being a contender for so long and not having ideal draft slots as a result is sound, too.

News from Buffalo. Casey Middelstadt signs for 3 years at 2.5M. 155 career games, 27G, 34A = 61 total points

Dach - 82 career games 10G, 23A = 33 points. Depending on the year he has, I'm thinking Dach's extension will be at least 3M for 3 years.
- boilermaker100

Don't be surprised if Dach helps Stan out next year and plays on a one year qualifier. Stan paid him millions extra by bringing him up right away and starting his ELC contract early. Otherwise he's a Junior the first year and playing for AHL money the second.

I certainly hope they don't throw 9.5 million at Kane with him hitting 35 at the start of his next contract. Sure if he comes out here with back to back 40 goal seasons or something, but with him past his peak, I hope no more than 8 million AVV for a couple years.
- breadbag

Kane at 9.5M same as Ovechkin's new contract. If 88 still a one PPG player in two years, that might be in the ball park. Even at 9.5 my previous post concerning cap in 23/24 seems to work. If 8M even better. 22/23 season may be trickier.

Best way to watch Hawks games this year? ESPN+ or DirecTV Center Ice? 68 years old with a newly installed defibrillator, and having difficulty sorting through the shyte. Any help or advice along these lines would be greatly appreciated, gentlemen. Naturally, want to watch as many Hawks games as I can. Live in central Indiana. I'm out of market so I could see most Hawks games on DirecTV. Then ESPN+ and a 7 year contract enter the scene. Are ESPN and DirecTV essentially the same? Thanks in advance, guys/gals. Not adjusting well to getting older, as you can see. Ha!
- gabriel

I've been a direct TV center ice subscriber for years. I checked their web site for info on this upcoming season but haven't seen anything. 1st installment payment usually comes with September bill so I'll see soon if they will still carry center ice. If I remember the details of the new TV contract. ESPN + had exclusive rights to xx games per week, so even if direct TV center ice is still available they could not carry those games.

Wonder if this is going to end up being league-wide?

PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST

All guests entering the United Center, including fans at Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks games, are required to present proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to gain access to the arena.
- biskit67

So if a game is on a Sunday night and you are tested negative on Friday and have the proof, what happens if you become infected Saturday or Sunday morning unbeknownst to you?

Kane at 9.5M same as Ovechkin's new contract. If 88 still a one PPG player in two years, that might be in the ball park. Even at 9.5 my previous post concerning cap in 23/24 seems to work. If 8M even better. 22/23 season may be trickier.
- boilermaker100

I'm just hoping we don't go crazy paying Kane for past performance. Ovie got 9.5 which was still high IMO, but he is also a goal scoring force. Assists are important, but Ovie has 730 goals and 1320 career points so far to Kane's 404 and 1088. If Kane gets the same money I hope it's over much shorter term, or same term less money.

So if a game is on a Sunday night and you are tested negative on Friday and have the proof, what happens if you become infected Saturday or Sunday morning unbeknownst to you?
- boilermaker100

As far as I know, its at least a few days after you get exposed that you are contagious to others. It is why , when most ask for negative COVID tests, that they require the test to be taken no more than 3 days before.

I'm just hoping we don't go crazy paying Kane for past performance. Ovie got 9.5 which was still high IMO, but he is also a goal scoring force. Assists are important, but Ovie has 730 goals and 1320 career points so far to Kane's 404 and 1088. If Kane gets the same money I hope it's over much shorter term, or same term less money.
- breadbag

We have 2 full years for Stan to determine what to pay/term Kane's worth. Things change fast, just look at what happened with the Cubs core this year. I am not stressing on Kane's next contract, nor am I stressing about next year's supposed cap hell. If Toronto, Vegas, Tampa seem to figure it out year after year (just as the Hawks did during the glory years), the Hawks will work it out IF there is a problem next year. I know this is the slow season, but I would concentrate on the Hawk's problems this year. If the Hawks are not in playoff contention this year, you might see a whole new front office/coaching staff, and Kane being sold off to the highest bidder, not worrying what his next contract will be.

We have 2 full years for Stan to determine what to pay/term Kane's worth. Things change fast, just look at what happened with the Cubs core this year. I am not stressing on Kane's next contract, nor am I stressing about next year's supposed cap hell. If Toronto, Vegas, Tampa seem to figure it out year after year (just as the Hawks did during the glory years), the Hawks will work it out IF there is a problem next year. I know this is the slow season, but I would concentrate on the Hawk's problems this year. If the Hawks are not in playoff contention this year, you might see a whole new front office/coaching staff, and Kane being sold off to the highest bidder, not worrying what his next contract will be.
- LAHawk

The ledge was starting to fill up again.
I think Stan would get one more year with Torts and the new coaching staff. Wait two years the genius in Seattle will be available.

Sabres are close to re-signing Jokiharju to a 3-year renewal worth $2.5M AAV.

They still need to re-sign Dahlin. Mittelstadt already signed earlier today.

Sabres are close to re-signing Jokiharju to a 3-year renewal worth $2.5M AAV.

They still need to re-sign Dahlin. Mittelstadt already signed earlier today.
- Theo Fox

Not exactly the second coming of the great Nick Leddy.