Wonder if Schmaltz knows there's a lot of chatter on HockeyBuzz about his next contract.

For reals, love the dialogue. I see some good points being brought up. I personally don't have an opinion at this point on what the terms should be.
- AEL_Fox

Score is 8-2.... this is what happens when Kane wears a letter!

Would rather see a long term deal for Schmaltz/Debrincat at $5mil with 7/8 yr term. Both those guys have high end offensize skill, but they have physical limitations and have yet to prove anything when playing in meaningful stretch-run or playoff games.

Anyone care to breakdown how their contracts might impact the Hawks salary cap in 2019/20? I've got think adding $10mil + with Cat and Schmaltz puts the Hawks right back into Cap Hell...unless they can move Hossa's $5.5mil
- EnzoD

Your point is taken - but I think AdB isn't due for a new deal until 2020-21.

Look - I'm one who keeps saying that all of the Hawks' young players - INCLUDING Schmaltz and AdB - have yet to prove themselves as Cup-contending contributors - but that seems to be the market for those that have "accomplished" what Schmaltz has so far (as little and incomplete as that may seem).

Really, you can't think of anyone in the league who is making 6 mil per season that you'd want more than Schmaltz? I'll start with Tyler Seguin for one 26...makes 5.75 Mil, plays center and RW, and puts up over 70 points per season...that's the kind of guy you give over 6 to for term. And before anyone says hes due a raise, give him one! But like I said, he's a solid proven investment!!!!
- Murph76

Really, you just don't get it.

I can name plenty of $6mil players I would LOVE to have, the problem is finding a team to trade you one and/or being able to sign one term for that amount.

Seguin signed his deal 6 years ago. A "guy like him" who is putting up over 70 pts. per season is not signing for $5.75, nor is a team trading him with that kind of value. Tavares put up similar numbers, maybe slightly better, and just got $11mil per.

Again, who is this $6mil player signed for the next 6 years that they can acquire.

I don't understand how giving a player pretty fair market value for his age, games played, and production when compared to other similar players is something outrageous. I hope the deal is similar to what Drouin got but anything in the Saad/Barkov/Landeskog range is market value for Schmaltz.
- L_B_R

Because stats lie and people think Bowman is just paying an extra $2M for no reason.

Would rather see a long term deal for Schmaltz/Debrincat at $5mil with 7/8 yr term. Both those guys have high end offensize skill, but they have physical limitations and have yet to prove anything when playing in meaningful stretch-run or playoff games.

Anyone care to breakdown how their contracts might impact the Hawks salary cap in 2019/20? I've got think adding $10mil + with Cat and Schmaltz puts the Hawks right back into Cap Hell...unless they can move Hossa's $5.5mil
- EnzoD

Debrincat isn't a RFA until 2020-21. Schmaltz is the only notable guy that will for sure be on the roster next year in need of a raise in 2019-20.

Others that will need new contracts but no idea what they might get: Sikura, Forsling, and a bunch of Rockford prospects.

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.
- EnzoD

Yep - and in his experience at the dot... most recently he's around 52-53%.

So there is that as well.

JULY 3: New York Islanders acquire forward Matt Martin from Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Eamon McAdam. | Martin traded to Islanders by Maple Leafs

Other teams' GMs are working during StanBo's nappy time.

Repectfully disagree here BTD...

Bowman added nicely around an extremely deep core (that was already in place) to help the Hawks secure two more Cups and he should be commended for that ...but his moves for the last several offseasons speak volumes and its not pretty.

This is the same guy who prioritized signing Rundblad after the 15 cup instead of getting the 4D he needed. The same guy that was fleeced on the Leddy and Sharp trades. The same guy that handed Danault to the Habs for hot garbage.

Then take a look at last summer - making moves for the sake of making them and how did that work out?

As far as the cap - every team has the same amount to spend. Blaming the cap is a reach especially for the capologist that Stan supposedly is. You need to be smarter and yet he hands that deal to #7.

Folks are wanting AA moved, but then who goes to the net? And how many #6 defensemen do you need? It'll be interesting to see what Bowman does here?
We'll see what happens.
- DK002

I agree, i don't like the Rundblad move, i also didn't like other moves like Danault, the 2 2nd rounders for Kimmo, just to name few, don't care for Leddy but that's just me, but when i look back that Hossa signing was HUGE, just my opinion and without him i feel as though we win no cups. As he was dismantling the team he kept all the right pieces, i thought nice to win a SC but it sucks we only get to keep 9 players, i think? Half the team was gone, but to his credit...

I understand the frustration, especially when i watch them play now, but if i owned this team, i wouldn't fire him right now

Really, you just don't get it.

I can name plenty of $6mil players I would LOVE to have, the problem is finding a team to trade you one and/or being able to sign one term for that amount.

Seguin signed his deal 6 years ago. A "guy like him" who is putting up over 70 pts. per season is not signing for $5.75, nor is a team trading him with that kind of value. Tavares put up similar numbers, maybe slightly better, and just got $11mil per.

Again, who is this $6mil player signed for the next 6 years that they can acquire.
- TheTrob

Oh I get it alright, I’m just sick of Stan betting and losing...hence wanting proven/established players for long term deals. Tell me that’s hard to understand?

A few things that may have flown under the radar due to the Ward, Kunitz, Manning, and Boqvist signings is the fact that the veteran leadership group that helped lead the Hogs to the Calder Cup semifinals are no longer on the team (or likely won't be):

Kero (traded to Canucks)
DiDomenico (signed in Europe)
Clendening (signed by Jackets)
Franson (TBA but good as gone)
Bouma (TBA but good as gone)

Do the Hawks need to get more veteran leadership in Rockford to replace what left this summer? Not necessarily. Svedberg is the longest tenured Hog while Martinsen, Johnson, Dahlstrom, and Norell have at least 2 years of AHL experience (not all in Rockford in Martinsen's case). Svedberg and Martinsen wore an A in Rockford, and Johnson has leadership qualities. However, Svedberg is running out of lives and either needs to relish in being a career minor leaguer or head back to Europe to play pro there, and Martinsen may be on the Hawks 4th line or be the 13th forward.

Also, all of the rookies now have a year under their belt so some of them could step up to be clubhouse leaders, i.e. Highmore, Raddysh, T Sikura.

On a related note, Chaput was snagged by the Habs so scratch him off the list of a veteran presence. He didn't have any time to unpack his bags, but he probably expected that since he was not qualified.

Pass on Gagner. I'd much rather have Erik Haula, knowing it will cost more to boot, its worth it.

Anisimov + Nicolas Beaudin or Douh Mitchell for Erik Haula
- Bjm84

We could have re-united Kane and Gagner when Gagner was younger and cheaper, but we did not. Why would we do that now? I do not believe that posted rumour at all.
EDIT: Unless Seabrook is going the other way.

JULY 3: New York Islanders acquire forward Matt Martin from Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Eamon McAdam. | Martin traded to Islanders by Maple Leafs

Other teams' GMs are working during StanBo's nappy time.
- Rota's Rooter

So you want Bowman to wake up and trade for crappy toys that cost too much?

Oh I get it alright, I’m just sick of Stan betting and losing...hence wanting proven/established players for long term deals. Tell me that’s hard to understand?
- Murph76

It is because that's not how hockey works....

A few things that may have flown under the radar due to the Ward, Kunitz, Manning, and Boqvist signings is the fact that the veteran leadership group that helped lead the Hogs to the Calder Cup semifinals are no longer on the team (or likely won't be):

Kero (traded to Canucks)
DiDomenico (signed in Europe)
Clendening (signed by Jackets)
Franson (TBA but good as gone)
Bouma (TBA but good as gone)

Do the Hawks need to get more veteran leadership in Rockford to replace what left this summer? Not necessarily. Svedberg is the longest tenured Hog while Martinsen, Johnson, Dahlstrom, and Norell have at least 2 years of AHL experience (not all in Rockford in Martinsen's case). Sverberg and Martinsen wore an A in Rockford, and Johnson has leadership qualities.

Also, all of the rookies now have a year under their belt so some of them could step up to be clubhouse leaders, i.e. Highmore, Raddysh, T Sikura.

On a related note, Chaput was snagged by the Habs so scratch him off the list of a veteran presence. He didn't have any time to unpack his bags, but he probably expected that since he was not qualified.
- AEL_Fox

What they have in Rockford currently is going to be very close to how they look at the start of the season.

They Hawks as an organization do not have much for flexibility with movement considering they are at 48/50 contracts.

They will be solid again but will need those younger players to step up even more in terms of leading this team. They will be relying heavily on guys like Luke Johnson, Dahlstrom, Schroeder, Highmore, Tyler Sikura and Colin Delia.

Also, guys like Kahun and Nilsson could play a big role on this year's team with their experience.

EDIT: you are correct though... that's a lot of veteran presence that the team has lost.
I know the Hawks (and Colliton) were loving having those guys down there to help their young guys along. I wouldn't be surprised as the season went along that some vets were acquired.

So you want Bowman to wake up and trade for crappy toys that cost too much?
- L_B_R

You know at this point I’m really not sure I want him to do anything.

Because stats lie and people think Bowman is just paying an extra $2M for no reason.
- HawksHype

Oh, you were mimicking irrationality before, sorry! It was just too good an impression tbh.

So you want Bowman to wake up and trade for crappy toys that cost too much?
- L_B_R

Oh gosh no. I want no part of Martin.

What they have in Rockford currently is going to be very close to how they look at the start of the season.

They Hawks as an organization do not have much for flexibility with movement considering they are at 48/50 contracts.

They will be solid again but will need those younger players to step up even more in terms of leading this team. They will be relying heavily on guys like Luke Johnson, Dahlstrom, Schroeder, Highmore, Tyler Sikura and Colin Delia.

Also, guys like Kahun and Nilsson could play a big role on this year's team with their experience.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for the perspective on the Rockford outlook. I am confident the current group will step up and build upon this past season with or without the veteran leaders who are now gone.

Forgot about Schroeder. He is a veteran that could provide some leadership and experience.

And good call with Kahun and Nilsson. Maybe not necessarily wearing a letter but they could rely on their on-ice performances to do the talking and simply lead by example given their years of pro experience back in Europe.

Oh gosh no. I want no part of Martin.
- Rota's Rooter

Oh okay lol. I'm missing everyone's sarcasm today. 5 day weekend starts in like an hour for me so maybe I should just call it a day on here.

Yep - and in his experience at the dot... most recently he's around 52-53%.

So there is that as well.
- Justin Lowe

The lineup, without any trades***lindberg** that has the best chance to win IMO.

Saad-Toews-Kane
Debrincat-Anisimov-Schmaltz
Hinostroza-Lindberg***-Kunitz
Martinsen-Kampf/Johnson/Other?-Hayden

Forwards look pretty decent if Lindberg can lock down 3C. Q can swap Kunitz/Hayden depending on how they’re playing. Top line will score a goal a game and 2nd line is a nice balance of passing, finishing, and dirty work from Artem.

The defense group however.....that’s still ugly. LOL

so with the emphasis on leadership and won cups (Ward and Kunitz), does Stan sign Orpik (gag)?

It is because that's not how hockey works....
- HawksHype

Seriously get over yourself! I know how hockey works as I’ve been watching since 88’. Wanting and established player over taking a gamble for a long term/dollar amount on a rookie isn’t unreasonable, nor am I the first person to have this thought in the NHL. We all have opinions on this board, I rarely if ever agree with yours. It is what it is, let’s just be civil and not post about each other’s. Deal?

JULY 3: New York Islanders acquire forward Matt Martin from Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Eamon McAdam. | Martin traded to Islanders by Maple Leafs

Other teams' GMs are working during StanBo's nappy time.
- Rota's Rooter

I still cant believe Stan didnt even entertain signing Lebron, either. Hes a joke.

The lineup, without any trades***lindberg** that has the best chance to win IMO.

Saad-Toews-Kane
Debrincat-Anisimov-Schmaltz
Hinostroza-Lindberg***-Kunitz
Martinsen-Kampf/Johnson/Other?-Hayden

Forwards look pretty decent if Lindberg can lock down 3C. Q can swap Kunitz/Hayden depending on how they’re playing. Top line will score a goal a game and 2nd line is a nice balance of passing, finishing, and dirty work from Artem.

The defense group however.....that’s still ugly. LOL
- EnzoD

Or (if Lindberg is traded for without giving up AA)
Saad-Toews-Hino
Debrincat-AA-Kane
Schmaltz-Lindberg- Hayden
Kunitz-Kampf-Sikura(if he has a good camp)

I still cant believe Stan didnt even entertain signing Lebron, either. Hes a joke.
- PatShart

Lebron could clear the crease and screen the goalie on the PowerPlay and be a physical force on the ice...if only he could ice skate..

#FireStanley