Wiz food for thought via the internet:
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico believes the Canadiens are more likely to shop the 2023 first-rounder they received from the Florida Panthers as that pick drops in the draft order.

This has little to do with the possibility of us moving up from #19, but it does illustrate that teams with two first rounders will at least entertain the ida of tarde downs.


The free agent market isn't great, so I would expect the 'hawks will do their best to get a sniper and net front presence type guy.

I really don't think DeBrincat is looking to sign a short deal (let alone a discount) since this will be his big shot at a big payday.

It is ironic that a couple days after lottery, and already the topic of Blackhawk Cap woes is being bantered about.

Maybe Frankie Nazar takes more time and stay two more years (to make up for that hip surgery first year.

Ryan Greene can take his time and have fun playing with all the 2023 Draft freshman awhile longer.

A they really need is to establish two wings with Bebard, not solve the Ukraine-Russian conflict.
All the rest will sort out (giving naysayers to criticize why they let so & so go.)

I am not advocating spending a lot of UFA cash now but Joh Andersons $5.5 mil deal that extends to the end of 2027 looks like contract Mointeal will have to shed if they really are signing DuBois.

I am not overpaying but maybe a hard tough winger isn't a bad way to start the Bedard era.
- wiz1901

I would rather just sign Domi 3 x $5 mil. then trade for Anderson, who is consistently injured. I would also kick the tires on tyler Bertuzzi, and see what his ask is.

Use this summer and cap space to take on bad contracts and add more picks.

Is Auston Matthews a free agent next summer (24)?
- frafra

The same Auston Matthews who hasn’t shown he can perform in the playoffs yet is rumoured to be looking for a $15M a season contract? No thanks.

Could care less about the leadership group as much as keeping Bedard on the right path as he matures.

When times get tough, and they will....who's he going to bounce things off of? Tyler Johnson? Seth Jones? Connor Murphy? Who in that room can even begin to help this kid reach his potential and pass along those lessons quicker than going trial by error?

How many on this board will lose their damn minds if he ends up with say.....60 points next year playing with a herd of fringe players? He's going need talent here. Way early....but I am in 100% of the camp of signing Kane to 2 years to help this kid develop and take some of the heat off of him with the press, etc....as well.
- SteveRain

First of all, how much time is he going to miss to fix his LBI? if he needs surgery, he won't even be around the team until way past the start of the season. Who knows if he even is able to come back. i remember Seabrook was going in to have his hips cleaned up, and he played 2 exhibitions and said enough.

Then the Hawks should not have signed Hossa? They were a rebuilding team at that time? the 3 cups was not worth the cap issues in subsequent years? i bet the players will say differently.
- LAHawk

100% and I am sure Bedard will get some ungodly amount after his ELC is up. 19/88 got north of 6 aav.....so this will be well above 8 aav if not 10 aav if this kid goes on a tear which we all hope he does.

They have PLENTY of cap room. The only other LT deal is Seth Jones. They have room to afford a top tier UFA and build from within.

I just want as many picks as possible so they have extra assets to move should a defensive or goalie or F prospect in house not be on the hopeful trajectory to deal away. They will need to find their Versteegs, Sharps and Ladds..........

Then the Hawks should not have signed Hossa? They were a rebuilding team at that time? the 3 cups was not worth the cap issues in subsequent years? i bet the players will say differently.
- LAHawk

No they were a player away, that is totally different

You guys really struggle with this

Then the Hawks should not have signed Hossa? They were a rebuilding team at that time? the 3 cups was not worth the cap issues in subsequent years? i bet the players will say differently.
- LAHawk

Matthews isn’t Hossa, his defensive work is just OK and he hasn’t proven he can play his best hockey when it matters. Hard pass.

Powerenforcer, conflicting conspiracy theory??

https://youtu.be/lkmFpHUyRuU

The same Auston Matthews who hasn’t shown he can perform in the playoffs yet is rumoured to be looking for a $15M a season contract? No thanks.
- paulr

Think it's fair to point out he gets whipped a little harder by the great canadian media being an AMerican vs others. So 5 g, 6 A in 9 games isn't good? Led the team in playoff scoring last year as well........IS leafs media all over Tavares ass? They should be.....could easily question that guys effectiveness as a captain when they are all celebrating 1 round win like they just won the cup......and now are burried 3-0...... Does Marner and Nylander get it as well? What about Reilly given how crap their team D is every playoff year.

We'll see how all the big talk hardballers here play it in 2.5 years: I'll start with 8x$15M full NMC.

Matthews isn’t Hossa, his defensive work is just OK and he hasn’t proven he can play his best hockey when it matters. Hard pass.
- paulr

Last 2 postseasons he has......and the one before that he scored more than everyone's favorite Marner.



Think you need to look up Matthews playoffs stats Paulie. He has produced.....

No they were a player away, that is totally different

You guys really struggle with this
- BetweenTheDots

They also signed Huet, Campbell the year before to BIG Money deals. Hossa sought them out as well....lets not forget that aspect to this.

No they were a player away, that is totally different

You guys really struggle with this
- BetweenTheDots

I don't struggle, i just disagree that you can build a team waiting for your homegrown draft choices to hopefully all pan out, and in the exact positions/type of players that you need at the time.

you wouldn't have traded for Fiala or Meier, i would. I can say you struggle with how I believe the next chapter should be built.

Think it's fair to point out he gets whipped a little harder by the great canadian media being an AMerican vs others. So 5 g, 6 A in 9 games isn't good? Led the team in playoff scoring last year as well........IS leafs media all over Tavares ass? They should be.....could easily question that guys effectiveness as a captain when they are all celebrating 1 round win like they just won the cup......and now are burried 3-0...... Does Marner and Nylander get it as well? What about Reilly given how crap their team D is every playoff year.
- SteveRain

I could care less what the media say. I see for myself how he plays. He commands a big game player salary but he, in 7 years, hasn’t shown he’s a big game player. Tell me why you think he’s better than I see? And I agree with the rest of the Leaf lineup, Tavares was a mistake signing. Nylander is as soft as his Dad and brother. Reilly is an OK defenseman, nothing more. And until this year I thought Marner, like Mathew’s was special, but both are great regular season players who have both proven they can’t elevate their game when it matters.

No they were a player away, that is totally different

You guys really struggle with this
- BetweenTheDots

They let Havlat go and signed Hossa. It was a big fans question what they were going to do with Havlat.

Last 2 postseasons he has......and the one before that he scored more than everyone's favorite Marner.



Think you need to look up Matthews playoffs stats Paulie. He has produced.....
- SteveRain

You take his personal stats, I also look at his ability to raise the game of those around him. He’s like Phil Kessel, a complimentary player, not one who drives a team

We'll see how all the big talk hardballers here play it in 2.5 years: I'll start with 8x$15M full NMC.
- rpeters01

All relative to where the cap is trending......right?

If the cap is at 90 million Would be a close percentage to what Kane and Toews EACH ate up in their last deal....north of 15%

What are the odds that Matthews goes back to Arizona for his next contract? Whether or not the Hawks would be interested, that's my first guess as to where he ends up. Especially if the $15 mill per year rumor is true, because who else has that kind of cap space available besides Chicago and Buffalo?

All relative to where the cap is trending......right?

If the cap is at 90 million Would be a close percentage to what Kane and Toews EACH ate up in their last deal....north of 15%
- SteveRain

Assuming a generational talent his agent has more to do with it than the cap.

What are the odds that Matthews goes back to Arizona for his next contract? Whether or not the Hawks would be interested, that's my first guess as to where he ends up. Especially if the $15 mill per year rumor is true, because who else has that kind of cap space available besides Chicago and Buffalo?
- 333inthe3rd

I wouldn't touch him at that price. 6x$12M would be my max.

I wouldn't touch him at that price. 6x$12M would be my max.
- rpeters01

At the right salary Matthews would be a good signing but $15M a season is beyond ridiculous.

At the right salary Matthews would be a good signing but $15M a season is beyond ridiculous.
- paulr

No player is worth $15m/year including McDavid. Not with these relatively flat cap annual increases.

I could care less what the media say. I see for myself how he plays. He commands a big game player salary but he, in 7 years, hasn’t shown he’s a big game player. Tell me why you think he’s better than I see? And I agree with the rest of the Leaf lineup, Tavares was a mistake signing. Nylander is as soft as his Dad and brother. Reilly is an OK defenseman, nothing more. And until this year I thought Marner, like Mathew’s was special, but both are great regular season players who have both proven they can’t elevate their game when it matters.
- paulr

IMO


1. The Canadian media would rather piss all over him than Marner or Tavares. Id take Matthews over BOTH and not think back.

2. He has 5 GWG in 48 games....the other 2 (16/88) have 4 combined. How is that not raising his game?

3. The issue the leafs have is they don't have the complete player. THey don't have the Toews or hossa to balance him out....same exact problem the Oilers have with McDavid. So people will nit pick his game.....like they do Kane. Oh he doesn't back check or do this.....I get it and it's valid at some time, but do they blast the hell out of these other guys when they aren't scoring in the playoff time? No...because they "do all the other things"

44 points in 48 career playoff games and 22 goals is 2 less than what Marner and Nylander have combined!!! The anger should 100% be on Marner. He has 9. 9 goals in 48 games. ANd he's getting 700K less than Matthews. That's by far a joke and how overpaid is he? Sure Marner plays better D, but for 10.9 you better score.

I'll be shocked if Matthews resigns up there. If they don't somehow beat Florida 4 straight games, and don't trade 34 16 88 or 91 at least 1 of them.......Dubas and that clown Shanahan are dumber than I thought....and that's saying a ton because I think both are by far the most overrated executives in the game and if they weren't in Toronto they'd be long gone.

Great you beat a beat up, depleted Lightning team in 6......throw yourselves a party....oh wait you did. Nice leadership. Happy to be there. hawks were all business when they beat Calgary in 2009.

At the right salary Matthews would be a good signing but $15M a season is beyond ridiculous.
- paulr

if the cap is 90 million 15 aav is very close to what stars are getting today....salaries aren't going backwards.

No player is worth $15m/year including McDavid. Not with these relatively flat cap annual increases.
- jfkst1

All Bobby Hull wanted from old man Wirtz was $250k and he couldn't get it.

They let Havlat go and signed Hossa. It was a big fans question what they were going to do with Havlat.
- rpeters01

I posted it here long ago and don't have time to go digging....but the story goes Hossa sought out the Hawks in Montreal during the draft after seeing them up close with Detroit.

Exactly why the NHL world was FLOORED when they signed him and that's why we saw the true side of Marty when his idiot agent Walsh had no clue it was coming.