To me, this proves how much of a no win situation Bowman is in with some of this fanbase.
- HawksHype

You are correct

27 and 28 will soon be the top pairing on D.
- z1990z

That was once said about Olson and Lalonde. How did that turn out?

Dude, go blow the Bowman trumpet some place else. I think you're in the VAST minority on this board.
- Murph76

Majority doesn't always mean you're correct, it can mean you're in the company of fools. I have picked apart and ripped Bowman many times, I do not support everything he does, so let's get that straight. But you want Bowman to let WALK, our 2C who is 22 years old and has, and will, continue to improve. I'm not defending Bowman's potential actions, I'm trying to understand your idiotic ones.

If he has a better season this year I guess I'm cool with it, but WAIT and see how he does...no need to jump the gun!
- Murph76

Might be a need to jump - AdB is right behind him by a year.

Does Bowman gamble that Schmaltz will accept a smaller contract next summer than now (and that the cap goes up by $5MM again) or does he wait until next summer to resign Schmaltz after he puts up better numbers this coming season - and perhaps locks out AdB or requires other unwanted moves?

That was once said about Olson and Lalonde. How did that turn out?
- Beaver-Warrior

Trying to find a positive spin today.

IF Schmaltz is going to get $6mil, then Debrincat will get the same I'd bet. So there's about $10 mil in additional salary (relative to their ELC cap hits) within the next 2 years. There goes all the cap room!

JJ


Source this AM: Hawks kicking the tires/discussing C/W Oscar Lindberg, VGK and W/C Sam Gagner, VAN

To me, this proves how much of a no win situation Bowman is in with some of this fanbase.
- HawksHype

Look it up, I've been saying all decade that SB has the toughest job in town. In between a non hockey man boss and the fans all the time with a salary cap to deal with.

JJ


Source this AM: Hawks kicking the tires/discussing C/W Oscar Lindberg, VGK and W/C Sam Gagner, VAN
- mrpaulish

Lindberg is a speedy and tenacious 3rd liner

Gagner is a small and slow perimeter finesse player

Majority doesn't always mean you're correct, it can mean you're in the company of fools. I have picked apart and ripped Bowman many times, I do not support everything he does, so let's get that straight. But you want Bowman to let WALK, our 2C who is 22 years old and has, and will, continue to improve. I'm not defending Bowman's potential actions, I'm trying to understand your idiotic ones.
- HawksHype

Oh I see, I'm an idiot for not giving a OK 2nd line center 6/6 with 1 season in the NHL under his belt? And how do you know he'll improve? Let's get that straight first and foremost. And if "being in the company of fools" aligns me with the Bowman is tanking this club mentality, I'm beyond ok with that buddy.

IF Schmaltz is going to get $6mil, then Debrincat will get the same I'd bet. So there's about $10 mil in additional salary (relative to their ELC cap hits) within the next 2 years. There goes all the cap room!
- EnzoD

Enzo for the WIN!

If the Hawks move AA, Do you think they could get Boone Jenner to sign an offer sheet for $4M? He only had 32 points in 74 games last year, so I feel $4M AAV would be about right. It would only cost a 2nd round pick if Columbus doesn't match it.

Lindberg is a speedy and tenacious 3rd liner

Gagner is a small and slow perimeter finesse player
- EnzoD

I wanted Lindberg last summer. Not sure what Hawks could part with....young D????....that would entice VGK. Anisimov doesn't seem to fit the mold with the speed forechecking game of the Knights.

If he has a better season this year I guess I'm cool with it, but WAIT and see how he does...no need to jump the gun!
- Murph76

Waiting too long is a gamble...see Bickel, Brian. Hawks waited instead of signing him to the 1.5-2 million he was asking, he had a big playoff run and the ask jumped to 4 million per, which at that time he would have easily gotten.

With Schmaltz you run the same risk, if you gamble to sign him after next season and he continues to improve, the ask goes from $6 to $7.5 or more. $6x6 means you overpay him the first yeAr or two of that deal, with the hope that continued improvement as he moves into his prime means he will be underpaid for the last few years.

Waiting too long is a gamble
- TheTrob

...see Bickel, Brian. Hawks waited instead of signing him to the 1.5-2 million he was asking, he had a big playoff run and the ask jumped to 4 million per, which at that time he would have easily gotten.

With Schmaltz you run the same risk, if you gamble to sign him after next season and he continues to improve, the ask goes from $6 to $7.5 or more. $6x6 means you overpay him the first yeAr or two of that deal, with the hope that continued improvement as he moves into his prime means he will be underpaid for the last few years.

As is jumping the gun, see Capt. Serious + Seabrook. Too much for too long and we regress into cap hell once more.

If Bowman gives Schmaltz 6 Mil/per for 6 years (36Mil total) he is officially the worst GM in the league. This will be his first NHL contract, no way in hell he deserves that kind of $...but this is Bowman we're talking about.
- Murph76

Um how can you say he is the worst GM when he would be giving out a fair value contract based on games plays x production of similar players with typical uptick for rise in contracts?

Look at one of his closest compares, Landeskog. Landeskog had the exact same PPG in about 20 less games, got $5.57m x 6 years, signed one year in advance of his ELC running out, and after a down sophomore season with injury issues. If they had waited another season, after he put up 65 points, it would have been at least over a million more. That was 5 seasons ago, so with year-over-year of general increases in player contracts, $6x6m or more is pretty much market value for Schmaltz.

Oh I see, I'm an idiot for not giving a OK 2nd line center 6/6 with 1 season in the NHL under his belt? And how do you know he'll improve? Let's get that straight first and foremost. And if "being in the company of fools" aligns me with the Bowman is tanking this club mentality, I'm beyond ok with that buddy.
- Murph76

OK center?

3rd in team goals
3rd in team assists
T2nd in team points
3rd in team PPG

I'm not saying he's a stud here. I think he will improve because he has improved from year 1, and continued to show improvements closing out the season. He needs to improve FO's DRASTICALLY. I don't think $6M is that big of a stretch, considering contracts other teams are handing out and where he would rank among those in his contract amount. A 6 year deal for a 22 year old is much different than a 6 year for a 28 year old. His stock is continuing to rise, whereas an older player plateauing and potentially decreasing. This isn't the same situation as a Seabrook. He can still carry a trade value need be, especially if he does improve and the cap continues to go up. If the Hawks have a rebuild, he could potentially be a valuable trade asset. Ideally, he signs a 2/$4 bridge deal. But then after 2 years, maybe he's an $8M player we can't afford.

JJ


Source this AM: Hawks kicking the tires/discussing C/W Oscar Lindberg, VGK and W/C Sam Gagner, VAN
- mrpaulish

Gagner would be another player that they don't need at all. If they bring him I'll lost all my trust with this front office.

Lindberg is a speedy and tenacious 3rd liner

Gagner is a small and slow perimeter finesse player
- EnzoD

Lindberg fell out of favour come the playoffs. He would be an ok pick up at $1.7M for next year but at 11 points (9 goals and 2 assists) over 63 games they better not overpay.

I do like his speed and size (6'1 / 20 lbs) though and if they buy low, maybe the change of scenery could work out for him.

As is jumping the gun, see Capt. Serious + Seabrook. Too much for too long and we regress into cap hell once more.
- Murph76

If they hadn't signed Toews when they did, there was a high possibility either Toews was traded before or during 2015 season and thus cup #3 doesn't happen or Toews is kept but he walks after the season with nothing in return. The actual outcome is better than either of those, come on.

Look around the league right now - Doughty 11 x 8 at soon to be age 29, Tavares 11 x 7 at soon to be age 28, and Karlsson wanted a 11 x 7/8 at soon to be 29 just shows that GMs have to pay and give term to your superstars.

Um how can you say he is the worst GM when he would be giving out a fair value contract based on games plays x production of similar players with typical uptick for rise in contracts?

Look at one of his closest compares, Landeskog. Landeskog had the exact same PPG in about 20 less games, got $5.57m x 6 years, signed one year in advance of his ELC running out, and after a down sophomore season with injury issues. If they had waited another season, after he put up 65 points, it would have been at least over a million more. That was 5 seasons ago, so with year-over-year of general increases in player contracts, $6x6m or more is pretty much market value for Schmaltz.
- L_B_R

Um, for example, Nicklas Backstrom only makes 6.7 per. You're saying Schmaltz is worth only 700K less than a guy like that?

Lindberg fell out of favour come the playoffs. He would be an ok pick up at $1.7M for next year but at 11 points (9 goals and 2 assists) over 63 games they better not overpay.

I do like his speed and size (6'1 / 20 lbs) though and if they buy low, maybe the change of scenery could work out for him.
- Justin Lowe

IIRC, he had a really good year for NYR which is why McPhee snagged him in the Expansion Draft. He could bring some speed and responsibility to the bottom 6 and hopefully limit the PK minutes of guys like Saad + Toews.

As is jumping the gun, see Capt. Serious + Seabrook. Too much for too long and we regress into cap hell once more.
- Murph76

You have to look at the situations.

Toews/Seabs: you're not letting these two walk or get traded on a contract after the cups they brought you. And if the cap continued to climb as was thought, these two contracts would never really be on the radar as horrible contracts. Now, based on what happened, I can agree it is a huge overpay, but hindsight is 20/20.

Schmaltz: you are paying for a young player to join the core. He is part of the rebuild, and the players we need funneling into the team. He's a player you have to build around in the future.

Players and team are in different stages when comparing the two.

Oh I see, I'm an idiot for not giving a OK 2nd line center 6/6 with 1 season in the NHL under his belt? And how do you know he'll improve? Let's get that straight first and foremost. And if "being in the company of fools" aligns me with the Bowman is tanking this club mentality, I'm beyond ok with that buddy.
- Murph76

I think it was Vic Raschi, Yankee pitcher in the 40s and 50s - had a good year and wanted more of a raise than the front office was willing to give him: "You haven't yet won 20 games in a season".

He signed for what they wanted, went out and won 20 games. Small raise: "How do we know you can do it again?"

At some point you have to either poop or get off the pot - especially with no reserve clause (like Raschi was under) - assume he will improve over his last year and give him the 6X6, or don't and then pay the piper when he does improve.

Either way - Bowman will be toast here.

I wanted Lindberg last summer. Not sure what Hawks could part with....young D????....that would entice VGK. Anisimov doesn't seem to fit the mold with the speed forechecking game of the Knights.
- phantasmo

Remember there is the "Future consideration" thing hanging around. Maybe some top shelf beverage? Q can pick it up from Binny's himself.