Continued disgraceful decisions by this organization. Seriously 2.5 M ??? That's ridiculous.

I can't wait to hear the Bowman Babble on how lucky they are to get a Stanley Cup winning goalie. Wow.
- Hawkytalk

Cap went way up to 80 mil.

Going to be big contracts given out.

Don't knock it until you see what some very average players get in FA this year.

Plus its only a one year deal. Wins 2x the games he loses, 2.70 GAA.

Every year.

If the Hawks can’t score more than three a night most nights they have much bigger problems.
- Return of the Roar

They do have many problems, if it turns out that Ward is the back up, at 2.5 mil, it won't be their biggest problem.

Would be perfectly happy with this outcome.

The LAST thing I would want is for StanBo to lose his mind in what could be his last chance as GM of the team and decide to overspend on a mediocre FA class and strap the team even more moving forward.

If the kids replace the open slots (Hayden, Sikura, etc.) and the team makes it to the playoffs, that means those kids made important contributions to the team and are worth building around moving forward, or it means that Kane, Toews, Saad, Keith, etc. found their games which is the only way this team has any hopes of contending.

It also means Ward/Forsberg (who everyone already has no faith in seemingly around here) did a fine enough job holding up the fort to get us into the post season.

If this team's overhaul comes via free agency, I'll be pretty upset. If it's done via the trade route (preferably, and the route I think StanBo takes considering how out-of-left-field his trades have been), I think the team will be in better shape than people think.
- TommyHawk

It will be interesting to see it from this perspective.

You have to say, he drafted what they thought were better players, with higher upside, but ones who would help the team much longer down the road. He certainly could've drafted Wahlstrom and possibly Wilde with those first two picks and gotten a quicker return.

If he lays low and doesn't go too crazy in FA, could he have assurances that his job is safe and the coaches is in jeopardy

or is the rebuild underway and they just aren't saying it

No inside information here, but you have to think that Ward is the happy median that addresses both inexperienced backups and the fact that for all the happy talk about how wonderful CC is recovering, the reality is he is a big question mark. Ward bouncing back to competitive form in that event is not a bad insurance policy for one year at 2.5M.

Trade for Anderson (retained) please. We can also take in Hossa, that's how we are.

No inside information here, but you have to think that Ward is the happy median that addresses both inexperienced backups and the fact that for all the happy talk about how wonderful CC is recovering, the reality is he is a big question mark. Ward bouncing back to competitive form in that event is not a bad insurance policy for one year at 2.5M.
- jrsamu

It’s a 1 year deal at a reasonable cap hit. I got no issues with it - especially given that right now there’s no context since the rest of the moves are unknown. Context matters.

Cam Ward at that cap hit and for one year is not a bad move if TEAM defensive is upgraded significantly. This means another top 4 D man, a center who can win a draw, and an improved penalty kill scheme(the '17-18 Hawks didn't get into the top 10 in Pk).

It's important to look at these things holistically.

Cam Ward at that cap hit and for one year is not a bad move if TEAM defensive is upgraded significantly. This means another top 4 D man, a center who can win a draw, and an improved penalty kill scheme(the '17-18 Hawks didn't get into the top 10 in Pk).

It's important to look at these things holistically.
- Bjm84

Chicken and egg, perhaps, but -

How much better would Forsberg have been last year if those things had been in place last season?

It’s a 1 year deal at a reasonable cap hit. I got no issues with it - especially given that right now there’s no context since the rest of the moves are unknown. Context matters.
- Marlowe

Yes it does.

I have a blog coning out soon. Just waiting on one of my contacts to respond. Lots of stuff going on.

Certainly one of the slower and more boring trade seasons...
- Hank3Henshaw

Soon they be followed by a free agent signing period that usually lasts all of a day and a half. Think we will know what next seasons team will look like by Tuesday morning.

Soon they be followed by a free agent signing period that usually lasts all of a day and a half. Think we will know what next seasons team will look like by Tuesday morning.
- Spec41971

Hate to say it but pretty much the same.

What I'm curious about is, do the Hawks sign JVR, then trade Saad to Carolina for Faulk and an additional player? Or Saad for a top 4 dman

Yes it does.

I have a blog coning out soon. Just waiting on one of my contacts to respond. Lots of stuff going on.
- Justin Lowe

Can’t wait to see what you got!

How’s this for context - Ward, JVR, Beagle, one (or 2) of DeHaan or Faulk or Moore, trade Hossa contract and potentially Murphy / Anisimov. Ward at 1 yr $2.5M instead of Hutton/Mrazek at 3 years 3-4M?

EDIT: John Dietz at the Daily Herolkd is thinking similarly, except for Ward : https://www.dailyherald.c...0180628/sports/180629083/

a guy that looks to save .905 of his shot will put us back in the lottery. So at that point aren't we better trying to find someone that might be better or might cost less? I starting to feel like bringing Bowman and Q back was a mistake. this team needs to be blow up and start again. Good teams have goalies that save .920 of there shots not .905. Who was the last team that made the playoffs or won a round with that bad of goaltending. I would rather have Darling 50% then Ward. At least we know Darling can do it.

Congratulations to Michal Kempny:

OFFICIAL! Kemps is ALL OURS!

Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Michal Kempny to a four-year contract. Average annual value of $2.5 million.

https://twitter.com/capit.../1012689065119027202?s=21

a guy that looks to save .905 of his shot will put us back in the lottery. So at that point aren't we better trying to find someone that might be better or might cost less? I starting to feel like bringing Bowman and Q back was a mistake. this team needs to be blow up and start again. Good teams have goalies that save .920 of there shots not .905. Who was the last team that made the playoffs or won a round with that bad of goaltending. I would rather have Darling 50% then Ward. At least we know Darling can do it.
- kmw4631

Or is it the other way around do goalies on good teams save @ a higher percentage than goalies on bad teams?

Congratulations to Michal Kempny:

OFFICIAL! Kemps is ALL OURS!

Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Michal Kempny to a four-year contract. Average annual value of $2.5 million.

https://twitter.com/capit.../1012689065119027202?s=21
- walleyeb1

Sounds affordable for a 5-6 defenseman with upside into top 4 minutes.

Niemi won a cup before too but he was still a bad goalie the last few years. Ward's cup came in his rookie season and he's not been close to replicating that playoff's run of luck.
- L_B_R

The Hawks also had an absolutely insane goal differential that year. Plus the 25.1 SA\G was best in the league by a margin. Next closest was 27. And their PK was top 5.

Don't need a great goalie when only seeing 25 shots. However, when seeing over 30 (33 last year) it presents more of a problem.

Cam Ward discussion
Lets move on
The move doesn't make or break the season or the team going forward.

Cam Ward discussion
Lets move on
The move doesn't make or break the season or the team going forward.
- Colbyboy

It doesn't but I haven' had sufficient time to complain about it. Damn!

Cam Ward discussion
Lets move on
The move doesn't make or break the season or the team going forward.
- Colbyboy

What I'm curious about is, do the Hawks sign JVR, then trade Saad to Carolina for Faulk and an additional player? Or Saad for a top 4 dman
- BetweenTheDots

No, been discussed. With lax F/A market, JVR will be too costly for the Hawks. Saad for Faulk is also not happening, don't care what stuff is coming from the blogosphere.

I agree. Could be a nice add.

Call me crazy, but I think Ward signing has more to do with CC starting on IR then anything else....all 2012-13 (if there hadn't been a strike) for Hossa.
- SteveRain

Rick,
Your friend, wiz, told me last hockey season that Cole was not suiting up as a healthy scratch because he was too slow playing at speed, making quick decisions and a play. I realize this was an abrupt change from bring a contribution to their Cup after [Penguins] had traded for him.

I know that Chicago will need to replace some .uscke on defence IF either Seabrook and or Murphy leaves.

Now on the one hand you have wiz saying the new age way of mobile quick stick fast attacking dman - which keeps feet moving and can penetrate the opponents zone, trumps all concerns.

That being said, I still personally like to have close to the ideal balance of offensive dman and the stereotype mean checking net protector type dman on each pair. While I understand and can see where wiz is coming from - and I can agree more emphasis on the think, react play at speed dman is the way to go, still there has to be my preference two willing physical checking dmen among a blueline crew

What is your thoughts on the offensive dman make up of the team's defense. Might your answer be tainted by the type of talent assemblage among the forwards?

It's a personal preference, at least I am guessing so, to what extreme each NHL coach chooses to deploy. You have remarked in old blogs how you are situated in hockey hotbed, hearing the Canadian media analyze everything. So how do you like to see a blueline crew be constructed? Or if your ideal set up is different than what Chicago could do? Long term we might have the talent to be the daring offensive attakers although they right now we just have to determine whom exactly will play D here under both (both ?,) The watchful eyes of Q and Samuelson. OMG how is that going to work?

Cam Ward discussion
Lets move on
The move doesn't make or break the season or the team going forward.
- Colbyboy

That $2.5MM could have been better used to get the team closer to being a Cup contender - not next year, but in two or three years.

Signing Ward not does NOT get them closer to being a Cup contender this coming season - whether Crawford is Crawford or not - and does nothing for the future.

Wasting Rocky's money (no real concern of mine) but also possibly wasting cap space that could have been better used.

Justin, you should think about bringing in a psychologist for this upcoming season, hell, if you can get one before Sunday, it'd be a good idea.

Lots of posters are having severe breakdowns in here.