https://theathletic.com/4...30/blackhawks-salary-cap/

A good article about contracts Hawks could take (along with another asset).

https://theathletic.com/4543514/2023/05/30/blackhawks-salary-cap/

A good article about contracts Hawks could take (along with another asset).
- -Doh-

If we're looking at a player who can actually contribute on the ice and not just towards the salary cap then Conor Garland would be the best option. I know KD doesn't want to take on a long term contract, but I think 3 year at < $5 million is quite manageable. I still don't see the Hawks gaining assets to take on Garland, but he may be available for a deep discount.

If that Nylander rumor has any legs to it, I have to think the Hawks would be one of a few teams to be interested. Especially if Shanahan is desperate to get something done. I wouldn't mind the "other" Nylander for a year. I would doubt that Jones would be one going back though.
- Chunk

Pass. Nylander The Lesser has proven he is an AHL lifer. Hawks have plenty of those in the system already.

Always forward. Never Back.

Pass. Nylander The Lesser has proven he is an AHL lifer. Hawks have plenty of those in the system already.

Always forward. Never Back.
- Rota's Rooter

Sorry, poor wording. I meant William, not Alex. "Other" as in not the former Blackhawks legend.

Sorry, poor wording. I meant William, not Alex. "Other" as in not the former Blackhawks legend.
- Chunk

AKA "The right Nylander"

Sorry, missed the +, I know reading is fundamental

- vabeachbear

All good here, I figured that you did. It will be interesting to see what happens in late June, early July and see what strategy KD uses. He has to get to the cap floor and he needs to give Bedard someone to play with, while giving some defensive prospects some ice time as well.

This is the same reasoning that Sabres fans used with Risto. We know how well that has worked out for the Sabres.

You can put the blame elsewhere but at the end of the day. Jones has been on the leaderboard for the green jacket the last two seasons for reason. He sucks in his own zone.
- Elbows15

Yes, if you lead a bad team in ice time, then you will be on the leaderboard for the green jacket, that goes hand in hand. Look, I wish SB wouldn’t have made that move, but in my book, S Jones is a decent all around defenseman that happens to be overpaid, he would be an asset to the Leafs over what they currently have on their backend.

A year from now IF. IF IF. Two or more kids are playing well on our defense, I would love to get rid of S Jones contract. Despite his big long term haul we really kind of need him until enough of our kids show up and we are convinced that they are the real deal. Sure Korchinski Allen DeMeastro
And Kaiser sound good now but they have to prove it Not merely a few highlights of great promise but need more developmental time

I detest surrendering a first round choice and not thrilled to depart with a second round raft pick as well. If we could trade S Jones to Montreal plus the second round in 2024 or 2025. I.would think about taking Drouin.

Crazy. Maybe but to unload Jones contract even if we pay some of it…..eventually Bedard will get the crazy money from Rocky but please not Jones too
- jhawk59

I see no reason to trade Jones at any time. We're a long way from cap hell even with a second Bedard contract.

ere is Daily Faceoff’s latest Top 50, with projections for every player, courtesy of AFP Analytics:

Daily Faceoff’s Top 50 Pending Free Agents
Rank Player Pos Age Team Cap Hit GP G PTS AFP Projection
1 Damon Severson RD 28 NJD $4.17M 81 7 33 6 x $6.1m
2 Tyler Bertuzzi LW 28 BOS $4.75M 50 8 30 6 x $5.25m
3 Dmitry Orlov LD 31 BOS $5.1M 66 7 36 5 x $6.25m
4 J.T. Compher C 28 COL $3.5M 82 17 52 5 x $5.3m
5 Michael Bunting LW 27 TOR $950K 82 23 49 5 x $5.25m
6 Ryan Graves LD 28 NJD $3.17M 78 8 26 5 x $5.1m
7 Alex Killorn RW 33 TBL $4.45M 82 27 64 4 x $5.25m
8 Patrick Kane RW 34 NYR $10.5M 73 21 57 3 x $5.75m
9 Ryan O’Reilly C 32 TOR $7.5M 53 16 30 3 x $5.5m
10 Vladislav Gavrikov LD 27 LAK $2.8M 72 6 19 5 x $4.9m
11 Tristan Jarry G 28 PIT $3.5M 47 2.9 .909 4 x $4.8m
12 Jordan Staal C 34 CAR $6M 81 17 34 2 x $3.2m
13 Vladimir Tarasenko RW 31 NYR $7.5M 69 18 50 3 x $5m
14 Max Pacioretty LW 34 CAR $7M 5 3 3 1 x $1.5m
15 Max Domi C/LW 28 DAL $3M 80 20 56 5 x $4.75m
16 Ivan Barbashev LW 27 VGK $2.25M 82 16 45 4 x $4.2m
17 Scott Mayfield RD 30 NYI $1.45M 82 6 24 3 x $3.75m
18 Frederik Andersen G 33 CAR $4.5M 34 2.48 .903 2 x $4m
19 Evgenii Dadonov RW 34 DAL $5M 73 7 33 1 x $1.9m
20 Connor Brown RW 29 WSH $3.6M 4 0 0 4 x $3.3m
21 Carson Soucy LD 28 SEA $2.75M 78 3 16 3 x $2.5m
22 Radko Gudas RD 33 FLA $2.5M 72 2 17 3 x $3.3m
23 Erik Haula C/LW 32 NJD $2.38M 80 14 41 3 x $3.5m
24 Matt Dumba RD 28 MIN $6M 79 4 14 3 x $4.4m
25 Adin Hill G 27 VGK $2.18M 27 2.50 .915 2 x $3.3m
26 Joonas Korpisalo G 29 LAK $1.3M 39 2.87 .914 2 x $2.6m
27 Semyon Varlamov G 35 NYI $5M 23 2.70 .913 2 x $2.75m
28 Alex Kerfoot LW/RW 28 TOR $3.5M 82 10 32 4 x $3.5m
29 Shayne Gostisbehere LD 30 CAR $4.5M 75 13 41 4 x $4.8m
30 Luke Schenn RD 33 TOR $850K 70 4 22 1 x $1.6m
31 Garnet Hathaway RW 31 BOS $1.5M 84 13 22 4 x $2m
32 Jason Zucker LW 31 PIT $5.5M 78 27 48 5 x $5.4m
33 John Klingberg RD 30 MIN $7M 67 10 33 3 x $4.6m
34 James van Riemsdyk LW/RW 34 PHI $7M 61 12 29 1 x $1.8m
35 Gustav Nyquist LW 33 MIN $5.5M 51 11 27 2 x $3.2m
36 Pierre Engvall RW 27 NYI $2.25M 76 17 30 4 x $4.1m
37 David Kampf C 28 TOR $1.5M 82 7 27 2 x $1.8m
38 Connor Clifton RD 27 BOS $1M 78 5 23 2 x $1.75m
39 Evan Rodrigues C 29 COL $2M 69 16 39 3 x $3.7m
40 Tomas Tatar LW 32 NJD $4.5M 82 20 48 3 x $3.3m
41 Ian Cole LD 34 TBL $3M 78 3 17 2 x $2.75m
42 Nick Foligno C/LW 35 BOS $3.8M 60 10 26 1 x $1.2m
43 Jesper Fast RW 31 CAR $2M 80 10 29 2 x $2.3m
44 Nick Bjugstad C 30 EDM $900K 78 17 29 2 x $2.3m
45 Erik Gustafsson LD 31 TOR $800K 70 7 42 3 x $3.4m
46 Justin Holl RD 31 TOR $2M 80 2 18 3 x $3m
47 Sean Monahan C 28 MTL $6.38M 25 6 17 1 x $2m
48 Jonathan Drouin C/LW 28 MTL $5.5M 58 2 29 1 x $2m
49 Teddy Blueger C 28 VGK $2.2M 63 4 16 2 x $1.1m
50 Corey Perry RW 38 TBL $1M 81 12 25 1 x $850k

ere is Daily Faceoff’s latest Top 50, with projections for every player, courtesy of AFP Analytics:

Daily Faceoff’s Top 50 Pending Free Agents
Rank Player Pos Age Team Cap Hit GP G PTS AFP Projection
1 Damon Severson RD 28 NJD $4.17M 81 7 33 6 x $6.1m
2 Tyler Bertuzzi LW 28 BOS $4.75M 50 8 30 6 x $5.25m
3 Dmitry Orlov LD 31 BOS $5.1M 66 7 36 5 x $6.25m
4 J.T. Compher C 28 COL $3.5M 82 17 52 5 x $5.3m
5 Michael Bunting LW 27 TOR $950K 82 23 49 5 x $5.25m
6 Ryan Graves LD 28 NJD $3.17M 78 8 26 5 x $5.1m
7 Alex Killorn RW 33 TBL $4.45M 82 27 64 4 x $5.25m
8 Patrick Kane RW 34 NYR $10.5M 73 21 57 3 x $5.75m
9 Ryan O’Reilly C 32 TOR $7.5M 53 16 30 3 x $5.5m
10 Vladislav Gavrikov LD 27 LAK $2.8M 72 6 19 5 x $4.9m
11 Tristan Jarry G 28 PIT $3.5M 47 2.9 .909 4 x $4.8m
12 Jordan Staal C 34 CAR $6M 81 17 34 2 x $3.2m
13 Vladimir Tarasenko RW 31 NYR $7.5M 69 18 50 3 x $5m
14 Max Pacioretty LW 34 CAR $7M 5 3 3 1 x $1.5m
15 Max Domi C/LW 28 DAL $3M 80 20 56 5 x $4.75m
16 Ivan Barbashev LW 27 VGK $2.25M 82 16 45 4 x $4.2m
17 Scott Mayfield RD 30 NYI $1.45M 82 6 24 3 x $3.75m
18 Frederik Andersen G 33 CAR $4.5M 34 2.48 .903 2 x $4m
19 Evgenii Dadonov RW 34 DAL $5M 73 7 33 1 x $1.9m
20 Connor Brown RW 29 WSH $3.6M 4 0 0 4 x $3.3m
21 Carson Soucy LD 28 SEA $2.75M 78 3 16 3 x $2.5m
22 Radko Gudas RD 33 FLA $2.5M 72 2 17 3 x $3.3m
23 Erik Haula C/LW 32 NJD $2.38M 80 14 41 3 x $3.5m
24 Matt Dumba RD 28 MIN $6M 79 4 14 3 x $4.4m
25 Adin Hill G 27 VGK $2.18M 27 2.50 .915 2 x $3.3m
26 Joonas Korpisalo G 29 LAK $1.3M 39 2.87 .914 2 x $2.6m
27 Semyon Varlamov G 35 NYI $5M 23 2.70 .913 2 x $2.75m
28 Alex Kerfoot LW/RW 28 TOR $3.5M 82 10 32 4 x $3.5m
29 Shayne Gostisbehere LD 30 CAR $4.5M 75 13 41 4 x $4.8m
30 Luke Schenn RD 33 TOR $850K 70 4 22 1 x $1.6m
31 Garnet Hathaway RW 31 BOS $1.5M 84 13 22 4 x $2m
32 Jason Zucker LW 31 PIT $5.5M 78 27 48 5 x $5.4m
33 John Klingberg RD 30 MIN $7M 67 10 33 3 x $4.6m
34 James van Riemsdyk LW/RW 34 PHI $7M 61 12 29 1 x $1.8m
35 Gustav Nyquist LW 33 MIN $5.5M 51 11 27 2 x $3.2m
36 Pierre Engvall RW 27 NYI $2.25M 76 17 30 4 x $4.1m
37 David Kampf C 28 TOR $1.5M 82 7 27 2 x $1.8m
38 Connor Clifton RD 27 BOS $1M 78 5 23 2 x $1.75m
39 Evan Rodrigues C 29 COL $2M 69 16 39 3 x $3.7m
40 Tomas Tatar LW 32 NJD $4.5M 82 20 48 3 x $3.3m
41 Ian Cole LD 34 TBL $3M 78 3 17 2 x $2.75m
42 Nick Foligno C/LW 35 BOS $3.8M 60 10 26 1 x $1.2m
43 Jesper Fast RW 31 CAR $2M 80 10 29 2 x $2.3m
44 Nick Bjugstad C 30 EDM $900K 78 17 29 2 x $2.3m
45 Erik Gustafsson LD 31 TOR $800K 70 7 42 3 x $3.4m
46 Justin Holl RD 31 TOR $2M 80 2 18 3 x $3m
47 Sean Monahan C 28 MTL $6.38M 25 6 17 1 x $2m
48 Jonathan Drouin C/LW 28 MTL $5.5M 58 2 29 1 x $2m
49 Teddy Blueger C 28 VGK $2.2M 63 4 16 2 x $1.1m
50 Corey Perry RW 38 TBL $1M 81 12 25 1 x $850k
- LAHawk

Yes please...

Corey Pronman's Top-38 prospects and their tiers:

Tier 1: Bubble Generational and Elite NHL Player
(1) Connor Bedard

Tier 2: Elite NHL Player
(2) Adam Fantilli
(3) Matvei Michkov

Tier 3: NHL All-Star
(4) Leo Carlsson
(5) William Smith

Tier 4: Top of the Lineup Player
(6) David Reinbacher
(7) Nate Danielson
(8) Dalibor Dvorsky
(9) Daniil But
(10) Dmitriy Simashev

Tier 5: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player
(11) Ryan Leonard
(12) Gabriel Perreault
(13) Samuel Honzek
(14) Matthew Wood
(15) Tom Willander
(16) Brayden Yager
(17) Zach Benson
(18) David Edstrom
(19) Oliver Moore
(20) Colby Barlow

Tier 6: Middle of the Lineup Player
(21) Quentin Musty
(22) Axel Sandin Pellikka
(23) Charlie Stramel
(24) Eduard Sale
(25) Tanner Molendyk
(26) Oliver Bonk
(27) Calum Ritchie
(28) Otto Stenberg
(29) Gavin Brindley
(30) Mikhail Gulyayev
(31) Lukas Dragicevic
(32) Danny Nelson
(33) Anton Wahlberg
(34) Maxim Strbak
(35) Ethan Gauthier
(36) Bradley Nadeau
(37) Oscar Fisker Molgaard
(38) Michael Hrabel

Corey Pronman's Top-38 prospects and their tiers:

Tier 1: Bubble Generational and Elite NHL Player
(1) Connor Bedard

Tier 2: Elite NHL Player
(2) Adam Fantilli
(3) Matvei Michkov

Tier 3: NHL All-Star
(4) Leo Carlsson
(5) William Smith

Tier 4: Top of the Lineup Player
(6) David Reinbacher
(7) Nate Danielson
(8) Dalibor Dvorsky
(9) Daniil But
(10) Dmitry Simashev

Tier 5: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player
(11) Ryan Leonard
(12) Gabriel Perreault
(13) Samuel Honzek
(14) Matthew Wood
(15) Tom Willander
(16) Brayden Yager
(17) Zach Benson
(18) David Edstrom
(19) Oliver Moore
(20) Colby Barlow

Tier 6: Middle of the Lineup Player
(21) Quentin Musty
(22) Axel Sandin Pellikka
(23) Charlie Stramel
(24) Eduard Sale
(25) Tanner Molendyk
(26) Oliver Bonk
(27) Calum Ritchie
(28) Otto Stenberg
(29) Gavin Brindley
(30) Mikhail Gulyayev
(31) Lukas Dragicevic
(32) Danny Nelson
(33) Anton Wahlberg
(34) Maxim Strbak
(35) Ethan Gauthier
(36) Bradley Nadeau
(37) Oscar Fisker Molgaard
(38) Michael Hrabel
- TommyHawk

I saw this on the Athletic too and was going to post it. You beat me to it TH. Nice work.

Looks like one the many Tier 5 - Bubble Top and Middle Lineup prospects will be available at 19 and a Middle Lineup prospect will be available at 35. KD could still stand pat and get 3 decent players at 1, 19, and 35. Maybe he will package a couple of the remaining 2nds to move up inside 40 and nab another.

Also, quite a few differences of opinions between Pronman and Wiz' rankings.
https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2023

Either way, the KD did a good job of accumulating all those picks for this year's deep draft.

If we're looking at a player who can actually contribute on the ice and not just towards the salary cap then Conor Garland would be the best option. I know KD doesn't want to take on a long term contract, but I think 3 year at < $5 million is quite manageable. I still don't see the Hawks gaining assets to take on Garland, but he may be available for a deep discount.
- DarthKane

Even if its considerations i doubt KD does it, he definitely is the opposite style of player the Blackhawks are looking for

Corey Pronman's Top-38 prospects and their tiers:

Tier 1: Bubble Generational and Elite NHL Player
(1) Connor Bedard

Tier 2: Elite NHL Player
(2) Adam Fantilli
(3) Matvei Michkov

Tier 3: NHL All-Star
(4) Leo Carlsson
(5) William Smith

Tier 4: Top of the Lineup Player
(6) David Reinbacher
(7) Nate Danielson
(8) Dalibor Dvorsky
(9) Daniil But
(10) Dmitriy Simashev

Tier 5: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player
(11) Ryan Leonard
(12) Gabriel Perreault
(13) Samuel Honzek
(14) Matthew Wood
(15) Tom Willander
(16) Brayden Yager
(17) Zach Benson
(18) David Edstrom
(19) Oliver Moore
(20) Colby Barlow

Tier 6: Middle of the Lineup Player
(21) Quentin Musty
(22) Axel Sandin Pellikka
(23) Charlie Stramel
(24) Eduard Sale
(25) Tanner Molendyk
(26) Oliver Bonk
(27) Calum Ritchie
(28) Otto Stenberg
(29) Gavin Brindley
(30) Mikhail Gulyayev
(31) Lukas Dragicevic
(32) Danny Nelson
(33) Anton Wahlberg
(34) Maxim Strbak
(35) Ethan Gauthier
(36) Bradley Nadeau
(37) Oscar Fisker Molgaard
(38) Michael Hrabel
- TommyHawk

Wow. Leonard and Benson fell quite a bit over the past few weeks.

The Vegas odds presently has The Golden Knights -135 as favorite against the Florida Panthers 150 underdog.

Any thoughts agree/disagree?

Yes please...
- TommyHawk

Where is AA ?

The Vegas odds presently has The Golden Knights -135 as favorite against the Florida Panthers 150 underdog.

Any thoughts agree/disagree?
- jhawk59

And BTW do we already know or suspect what uniform number is Bedard going to wear?

Novel idea if he choose #22 representing the next center after Makita

Where is AA ?
- rpeters01

Just missed on another breakaway opportunity as I type this response

And BTW do we already know or suspect what uniform number is Bedard going to wear?

Novel idea if he choose #22 representing the next center after Makita
- jhawk59

Expecting 98…

Just missed on another breakaway opportunity as I type this response
- TommyHawk

The second AA to skate for Chicago in recent years

If wood drops to 19th that would a steal imo. Doubt it happens, but would like the hawks select a couple of big power forwards. Whether it's in the 1st or 2nd round.

And BTW do we already know or suspect what uniform number is Bedard going to wear?

Novel idea if he choose #22 representing the next center after Makita
- jhawk59

98

Yes, if you lead a bad team in ice time, then you will be on the leaderboard for the green jacket, that goes hand in hand. Look, I wish SB wouldn’t have made that move, but in my book, S Jones is a decent all around defenseman that happens to be overpaid, he would be an asset to the Leafs over what they currently have on their backend.
- Angotti

I am gonna call bullpoop. He is terrible in his own zone. He is piss poor at denying entries which is where good defense starts.

Just because they don't need his cap space is no reason to keep him. The sooner he is gone the better before he infest all the young players with his cooties.

Yes please...
- TommyHawk

no, just no.

there are two guys worth signing on the ones you picked.

I don't believe KD is going more than 3 years max if he signs any FA.

Monahan hasn't been healthy is 5 seasons.

I am gonna call bullpoop. He is terrible in his own zone. He is piss poor at denying entries which is where good defense starts.

Just because they don't need his cap space is no reason to keep him. The sooner he is gone the better before he infest all the young players with his cooties.
- Elbows15

I think you're confused it sure seems like your talking about Murphy.