Yep and certain guys were paid like they were the only reason they won those cups. For sure, guys like 88, 19, 7 were integral parts of those teams and certainly deserved larger salaries than the 3rd liners, but the relationship between actual on ice value and off ice perceived value was out of whack and it's why the Hawks have the team they have. Signing some of those guys was also PR, the Hawks marketing machine has tied the franchise to several faces. I would have been completely fine trading any single player(s) if their contract demands meant the sustainability of the Hawks success was compromised. That option was likely never considered from Blackhawks, Inc. Thus guys were signed to outrageous salaries, complete with these ridiculous NTCs. Max Salary + Leverage is ridiculous. If Bowman was going to give max salary then he needed to hold a couple of cards (in the form of NTC/NMC) in case he had to actually manage the team out of cap hell. It's like Bowman went to buy a car with a sticker of 20K and negotiated the removal of a car stereo and didn't get a price reduction. When you give up something, you should get something, something I guess Bowman never learned.
- kwolf68

If the Hawks, or any team, doesn't pay their stars the big bucks and include other clauses those players will sign elsewhere. Maybe when Joki is due for a big UFA payday the Hawks try your theory and see if he signs with the Hawks? If he refuses and signs elsewhere are you going to pat Stan on the back? Me thinks not!

ROCKFORD REPORT — HAWKS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Blackhawks prospect Adam Boqvist not suffering concussion-like symptoms after hit, per report
The 2018 first-round draft pick was knocked into the glass last week and kept out of Saturday’s game.

https://www.secondcityhoc...s-ohl-london-knights-2018

I'd hate for Stan to take the best available player regardless of position.
- paulr

That's why I said maybe a center, as it depends on what's best available, but I still think they go with a forward...

That's why I said maybe a center, as it depends on what's best available, but I still think they go with a forward...
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Could be...might possibly depend where they pick. IMO, if the Hawks pick near the top, they will go best available and maybe choose a bit more positionally if they aren't.

Thats an interesting name. Don't think he is getting much playing time in Calgary right now.
- RickJ

Frolik,,,,,,please, just say no.

Not to say he is a bad player, but honestly speaking, he is another bottom 6 player. Yeah, he can kill penalties, and score around 15 goals, but the Hawks have enough guys like Sikura, Highmore, Edjsell, Johnson and others who if they are not going to add a true top 6 talent, need to see what they bring and if they can be regulars. IMO Frolik at $4.3 mil is just not a difference maker. Ask yourself why he is only averaging 12 minutes of ice time for Calgary.

It worked for Vegas I guess? Lots of depth with no real stars who outworked every team on a game by game basis. Not sustainable and I don't think ever done before, and proobably won't be again. That or every planet aligned for Vegas last season .... maybe Stan can work with NASA to align the planets?
- paulr

I think that while Vegas didn't have stars per se, what they had was not just depth, but a higher talent level of their "floor". The expansion draft was set up and allowed them to pick a few "fringe" top 6 players, and a whole bunch of 3rd line players. So while they had no stars, their bottom 6 and especially bottom 3, was better than other teams lower lines. Mix that with an outstanding work ethic and it turned out successful.

You will notice that "effort" teams usually have a hard time maintaining that pace of play over multiple seasons.

Rutta to DET for Kronwall, who is in the last year of his contract paying $4.75M.

Frolik,,,,,,please, just say no.

Not to say he is a bad player, but honestly speaking, he is another bottom 6 player. Yeah, he can kill penalties, and score around 15 goals, but the Hawks have enough guys like Sikura, Highmore, Edjsell, Johnson and others who if they are not going to add a true top 6 talent, need to see what they bring and if they can be regulars. IMO Frolik at $4.3 mil is just not a difference maker. Ask yourself why he is only averaging 12 minutes of ice time for Calgary.
- TheTrob

I'm fairly sure I didn't advocate acquiring Frolik, just said it was an interesting name.

But since you classify him as just another bottom 6 forward, where does that leave Brandon Saad? Probably in the same category I'm guessing.

ROCKFORD REPORT — HAWKS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Blackhawks prospect Adam Boqvist not suffering concussion-like symptoms after hit, per report
The 2018 first-round draft pick was knocked into the glass last week and kept out of Saturday’s game.

https://www.secondcityhoc...s-ohl-london-knights-2018
- glennjpawlak22

Big sigh of relief.

Rutta to DET for Kronwall, who is in the last year of his contract paying $4.75M.
- scottak

Please no. Why would we want Kronwall - he hasn't been good in years and he costs twice as much as Rutta who also has an expiring contract after this season.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...thriving-shutdown-centre/

#FireBowman

@ByScottPowers
4m4 minutes ago
More
The Blackhawks have signed forward Brandon Hagel to a three-year entry-level deal. He has 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 games with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL this season. He'll remain in the WHL.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canadiens-phillip-danault-thriving-shutdown-centre/

#FireBowman
- Dieselhead

bowmans most famous exploding cigar...

@ByScottPowers
4m4 minutes ago
More
The Blackhawks have signed forward Brandon Hagel to a three-year entry-level deal. He has 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 games with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL this season. He'll remain in the WHL.
- Justin Lowe

Random and awesome signing.

An original 6th rounder from BUF in 2016 but became a free agent.

He's 3rd in the league in scorer and is 6'1 / 174 lbs. He's a LW.

Don't know much more about the 20-year old Alberta native, but his signing puts the Hawks to 48/50 contracts.

I'm fairly sure I didn't advocate acquiring Frolik, just said it was an interesting name.

But since you classify him as just another bottom 6 forward, where does that leave Brandon Saad? Probably in the same category I'm guessing.
- RickJ

Wasn't placing it on you, just using your quote.

I don't put Saad in the same category as Frolik. Frolik for his career averages 14 goals and around 34 points, with career highs of 21G and 45pts (both in his 1st season) or around .45/game. Saad averages around 23 goals and 45+ pts with career highs of 31G and 53pts or around .6/game. Saad is also 5 years younger than Frolik. Granted Saad make $1.7 mil more than Frolik. I think Saad still has top 6 talent, size and speed. I don't think Frolik was ever there. He was an effective role player and could fill in Top 6 for short bits and not kill you, but realistically he was/is a 3rd line player.

Random and awesome signing.

An original 6th rounder from BUF in 2016 but became a free agent.

He's 3rd in the league in scorer and is 6'1 / 174 lbs. He's a LW.

Don't know much more about the 20-year old Alberta native, but his signing puts the Hawks to 48/50 contracts.
- Justin Lowe

BUF had signed him or he is from Buffalo area?

BUF had signed him or he is from Buffalo area?
- glennjpawlak22

Sorry - BUF was the team that drafted him. He's from Alberta.

Profile here: https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/161843/brandon-hagel

Please no. Why would we want Kronwall - he hasn't been good in years and he costs twice as much as Rutta who also has an expiring contract after this season.
- EbonyRaptor

Better than Rutta, Davidson & Manning. Will throw a check and clear the crease. Can slot in as a 6-7 when Murphy and Forsling come back.

And it's a salary delta of only $2M, Hawks have plenty of CAP space this season, and you can cut him loose after this season.

It also lets all the other young defenseman spend the full season in Rockford.

Random and awesome signing.

An original 6th rounder from BUF in 2016 but became a free agent.

He's 3rd in the league in scorer and is 6'1 / 174 lbs. He's a LW.

Don't know much more about the 20-year old Alberta native, but his signing puts the Hawks to 48/50 contracts.
- Justin Lowe

OMG I can barely contain myself, such brilliance WTG Stan’s the man.

Rutta to DET for Kronwall, who is in the last year of his contract paying $4.75M.
- scottak

lol throwing bad money after worse.

Murphy is a RHD annnnnnd Mitchell will probably end up with the team at the end of the year as another RHD. And Bovqist is a RHD. Kind of crowded over there...

bowmans most famous exploding cigar...


- bogiedoc

I thought it was Fidel after Operation Mongoose.

Random and awesome signing.

An original 6th rounder from BUF in 2016 but became a free agent.

He's 3rd in the league in scorer and is 6'1 / 174 lbs. He's a LW.

Don't know much more about the 20-year old Alberta native, but his signing puts the Hawks to 48/50 contracts.
- Justin Lowe

How did he become a FA?

The first article on this page has hockey content, in case anyone wants to contest its applicability to the board:

https://forward.com/fast-...-breaking-news-headline-3

How did he become a FA?
- StLBravesFan

They lost his rights in June when they opted not to sign him.

Rutta to DET for Kronwall, who is in the last year of his contract paying $4.75M.
- scottak

No! Why?