John Jaeckel: News, Rumor, and Opinion

Nice write up JJ. Really lookinh for things to move into warp speed as soon as the cap # is official.

Really hope there is a way to keep Ladd. I know, I know ....

"My information, and my opinion, is the team sees the holes and they know full well where they stand relative to the elite teams right now."

They've won 2 out of the last 4 Cups. They got bounced by a solid Blues team. They're still elite, if they find the right mix of complimentary/ bottom six players there's no reason they can't win again next year

This next week should be REALLY busy across the NHL... maybe as busy as a normal trade deadline or July 1 week.

If Crawford is moved, what's the goalie situation going to be moving forward?

Bowman never should have signed Kane to the Money he has. Not because he isn't worth it, but because you just can't have 2 10 million dollar players and stay competitive for the cup. Imagine if Kane wasn't on the team (and the return that would have come) but Sharp, Oduya, Tuevo, Saad etc. would still be. The Hawks would have another cup.

Bowman never should have signed Kane to the Money he has. Not because he isn't worth it, but because you just can't have 2 10 million dollar players and stay competitive for the cup. Imagine if Kane wasn't on the team (and the return that would have come) but Sharp, Oduya, Tuevo, Saad etc. would still be. The Hawks would have another cup.
- Falon

The Penguins have 2 10mil players just about...

A few posters in the previous blog, good posters who supported their opinions/scenarios, advocated trading Seabrook over Crawford. I just don't see it. That's the #2 defenseman and valued leader. The more important thing is there is no replacement whatsoever in the farm. So who do you target in a trade for Seabs? Just seems highly unlikely IMO.

Mornin' John great work as always.

Is this team close or not. They sure looked tired this spring, but still came within a goal of beating the Blues. Whether or not they could have gotten farther remains to be seen.

You mention Stan made some nice moves at the TDL the problem is he failed miserably in regard to getting a #4 for his rear guard. A problem he knew about since the parade last summer. I still wonder where the Hawks end up if they had enough on the back end. But there's no question 5 v 5 numbers tell a different story.

And now we see the additional overages Scuds/TT/Rosy/and of course the Breadman.

Meanwhile Shaw, Matt Martin, Ladd, Schlemko, etc...all interesting names here.
But a couple of guys are going to have to go from the current squad to make anything work. I still hate the Saad trade. Just a huge mistake IMHO who they haven't replaced.

Ladd seemed to fit in once he returned with Toews and the Hossa Krugs Ladd line was quite good in the series against the Blues. But age and cap hit for a deal for Ladd? At the same time he checks a ton of boxes and I'd love to see him here.

Should be very interesting here moving forward as to what they do.

Thanks John, great stuff. Personally I can't see them signing Ladd at Crawfords expense. Also can't see them giving Shaw more than either 3 mill over 4 years or 3.5 over 3. Love the kid but he's a bottom 6 and with the need on D for that #4/5 guy and/or maybe a top winger, it doesn't make much sense. Still think Crawford is the big ticket item this coming week.

Thanks for the update.

Couldn't agree more someone has to go. There will be an uproar here when (notice I didn't say if) CC gets move, hell, I'll probably be one of them because I won't like the return.

But its really simple cap wise, someone's gotta go. When you take that statement as fact, because it is, ask yourself who you would move. Look at the list;

Toews
Kane
Keith
Seabrook
Hammer
Hossa
Panarin
AA
CC

You have to pick one, and you really can't pick Hossa. Some will argue you should move Seabrook or AA first.

My opinion, no way on Seabrook, if the captain in the heart of the team Seabs is the soul the "room" would take a monster hit without him. AA I guess would be debatable.

I think you have to ask yourself; Which is easier to replace at a lower number a Goalie or 2C. History lesson, how long did it take them to get AA?

I think they are going to have to get rid of both CC and let Shaw walk if he's above 3 mil. I don't like it, as I haven't liked it almost every previous summer, but its just a factor of money and nothing else. Everyone has grown to love CC, its just he is the best and most logical solution to an unavoidable problem.

What's the price of Hossa? Do you think you'd accept Lazar + Borowiecki for Hossa?

What's the price of Hossa? Do you think you'd accept Lazar + Borowiecki for Hossa?
- riceroni

You have to go read the recapture penalty clause, (which I don't have and can't recite), but what I do know about it is Hossa is untradeable for this teams cap situation.

What's the price of Hossa? Do you think you'd accept Lazar + Borowiecki for Hossa?
- riceroni

Of course Chicago would but Hossa has a no movement clause

You have to go read the recapture penalty clause, (which I don't have and can't recite), but what I do know about it is Hossa is untradeable for this teams cap situation.
- vabeachbear

btw, used to love rice a roni as a kid, they still make that stuff?

You have to go read the recapture penalty clause, (which I don't have and can't recite), but what I do know about it is Hossa is untradeable for this teams cap situation.
- vabeachbear

New plan, no they wouldn't

btw, used to love rice a roni as a kid, they still make that stuff?
- vabeachbear

It was my childhood nickname because my French teacher couldn't pronounce my name correctly and it's close to rice in French. I still buy Uncle Ben's if we're in a bind and want the 2min microwave stuff to go with our meal...

Of course Chicago would but Hossa has a no movement clause
- mattmoulson

He's still loved here in Ottawa. New management and a young team, maybe he'd consider it... Also, Ottawa wouldn't be scared of the recapture penalty and it would help Chicago as we'll eat half that.

John Jaeckel: News, Rumor, and Opinion
- John Jaeckel

Terrific article JJ.

As much as I love Shaw the overachiever, the cost to retain him may grease the skids for his departure. Can't overpay in $ and term for a player like #65.

And I have never doubted the rumour about moving Cro out of financial necessity. The hard part to swallow is that he likely has been the unacknowledged team MVP over the past 3-4 regular seasons and playoffs. Just so very hard to replace.

Right now Stanbo is probably drinking Canadian Club straight out of his empty bleach bottle. But he probably also realizes the time may be now to make this team younger and bigger.

He's still loved here in Ottawa. New management and a young team, maybe he'd consider it... Also, Ottawa wouldn't be scared of the recapture penalty and it would help Chicago as we'll eat half that.
- riceroni

Not sure the recapture allows you to do anything that offsets the hit. I believe someone posted it the other day, if he was traded it would count like 14.7 mil against their cap. League's vengence for signing him to what they determined was a legal and good contract. That's the NHL and Bettman,

Yes, if they want to restock the shelves and cut some costs, this week would be the time. I don't think Crawford, Shaw or even Seabrooks' trade value will be any higher than now. This team is aging, with a lot of miles and 3 of their best prospects sent packing. Tough decisions.

Thanks for the excellent blog, JJ! What are your thoughts on the Malkin to Chicago rumours?

IMO, CC should be moved for another goalie with a much lower cap hit and/or a first round pick.

I think the 'Hawks have to move one more big contract before they can retool the team.

I mentioned a couple blogs back that IMO it's not how much better can the Hawks get this offseason but how much "less worse". I still believe that cuz of the cap and believe it's based in reality. Look at the cap numbers and it's hard to disagree with the "less worse" theory.

Then reading JJ's blog this morning about where the Hawks fit with the elite teams, I'm paraphrasing, it got me to thinking when the "less worse" theory first came into my head that it's not exclusive to the Hawks. I'd ask/mention:

Was TB as good last year as they were when they lost to the Hawks in the Final? And they made it to the ECF losing to PITT. I say no and they're gonna lose Stamkos on top of that. They will face resigning Kucherov, Palat, Drouin, Tyler Johnson, Killorn and Hedman after this season. They will see what cap hell looks like as punishment for having so many good players. They got worse and will continue to do so.

STL went to the Conference Final and now are facing the possibility of losing Brouwer, BackAss, Shattenkirk or parts of all 3. They will get worse.

DAL just moved Goligoski's rights to AZ. Demers and Russell are UFA's. They get worse?

ANA will lose one of Fowler or Vatanin and Andersen. Theadore will replace one of the Dmen, but are they getting worse?

How bout LA. They will probably lose Lucic and if they don't they will have Hawk like zero flexibility. They gettin worse?

Good God Columbus is up against it and are looking at losing Hartnell as they have Karlsson and Seth Jones who are RFA's. Man even Columbus looks to be worse.

How bout the Rangers. They are certain to lose Yandle and a lesser starter in Boyle. Kreider is an RFA as is JT Miller. They will get worse.

Point is EVERY team who is successful will get "worse" at some point in time, this isn't exclusive to the Hawks. Just a matter of how much worse. Each and every GOOD team will have choices to make on who to let go, do they have players (cheap ones) in the system to replace lost players, can they unearth solid Euro UFA's/NCAA UFA's to replace lost good players, how many bad contracts can they shed (every team has some).

JJ you wonder where the Hawks stand? IMO their core, even when they lose the next core contract, is still as good as anyone's. Question is how much "less worse" CAN they get and how they fill holes created by becoming worse (cap compliant) will determine how much "less worse" they become as compared to how much "less worse" the other better teams get.

Boiled down to a sentence, which good/elite team gets "less worse" in the Frankenstein cap system that Bettman prays to? There is where you probabaly see your next cup winner, the one that gets "less worse" not the team that gets BETTER.............Hawks will get worse but so will most other elite teams and the ones that don't soon will get worse. Only a matter of time.

Great blog JJ. When you see four goalies in the conference final performing with a combined yearly hit of $7M and Crow is at $6.5M you have to get that off the books. If there is a first rounder in play and you clear that space to solidify your defensive zone, moving Crow is a no brainer.

If Crawford is moved, what's the goalie situation going to be moving forward?
- zazzle

Darling takes the net as #1 if CC gets shipped out. Then its the Rockord battle as to who is #2 behind Darling. Or perhaps Stan finds a cheap vet to back up Darling.

Losing CC is not ideal, but what choice is there right now. Roster has some big holes to fill and zero money to do it with. With CC off the books, it brings back a 1st rounder (hopefully) and money to start patching holes.