Projecting in hindsight is a wasted exercise IMO, especially about salaries. The Pens have by far the best 2 centermen in the league and just as important an owner who knows talent and its value and keeps them because they are the key to winning year after year. They fill around Crosby and Malkin with forwards of a modest cost to the cap. Even Phil Kessel came at a bargain because the Leafs ate half his salary. All they gave up was a 3rd liner, Kapanen to get him. Once they were done with Phil, he got a plane ticket to Arizona.

And further to that, their last Cup was won with 'overpaid' Kris Letang out for the season injured. When the time comes, Lemieux will instruct Jim Rutherford to dump him too. It won't be a decision related to Crosby or Malkin's wages, who are both "worth it", in fact underpaid.
- RickJ

"The Pens have by far the best 2 centermen in the league" . By far? I don't think so. McDavid?

"The Pens have by far the best 2 centermen in the league" . By far? I don't think so. McDavid?
- -Doh-

I think he meant centerman duos

"The Pens have by far the best 2 centermen in the league" . By far? I don't think so. McDavid?
- -Doh-

I stand by what I said earlier, Crosby is still the best player in the league when winning when it counts is the criteria. Which after all is all that really matters.

But if you believe McDavid and Draisatll or Tavares and Mathews are better than Crosby and Malkin you certainly are entitled to your opinion.

I started writing a long post about your original comment, that Stan should be fired for his off-season.. I will sum up my thoughts, I think he had a sneaky good off-season. I don't think there was one move that he could of made to make this team a Stanley Cup contender this year, which by your definition means he failed. Whether the Hawks make the playoffs this year or not, the team is better.
- LAHawk

It is tiresome noticing the flak Bowman received. He has made some mistakes and Q was a thorn in his side. Last off season you are 100% correct saying he had a successful sneaky good body of work. Furthermore as kids flyer in o er the next few seasons we shall see that he has drafted well from past few drafts. All critcism seemingly overlooks that Bowman has been chilling away in an effort for a rebuild on the fly while trying to remain competitive. Can we give him credit for some success? Colliton may yet turn out to be a descent coach. Bowman is working with the handicap of the bad overpay to Seabrook. I put zero regard for a Twitter or any fan poll. I pay attention to some of the bloggers here and I agree with most everything you input

Jamie Benn $9.5 mil for 8 years in 2016 age 30 (no cups)
Kopitar $10 mil for 8 years in 2016 age 31
Subban $9 mil for 8 years in 2014 age 30 (no cups)
Toews $10.5 mil for 8 years 2014 age 31
Kane $10.5 mil for 8 years 2014 age 30
Malkin $9.5 mil for 8 years in 2013 age 32
Crosby $8.7 mil for 12 years in 2012 age 31
Ovechkin $9.5 mil for 13 years signed in 2008 age 33 (no cups at the time)

Now 22 players with cap hit $9 mil plus.
- -Doh-

Didn't remember Ovie signed his deal first. It was good on Crosby to take less to help his team out long term.

LOL what? The Hawks got lucky to SWEEP that team?

Game 1? 40+ shots each team- SOGs fairly even, Sharks had 5 powerplays to Hawks ZERO
Game 2? Both teams SOG in 20s, Hawks with a PP advantage this game
Game 3? Both teams high SOG, Sharks enjoy decided PP advantage 6-2
Game 4? Hawks sweep out the pretenders, allowing only 18 shots on goal.

Niemi played good in this series, but don't pretend it was some sort of fluky win by the Hawks. The Hawks were the better team, clearly.
- kwolf68

Second that. The 2010 team was just flat out good. Joe Thorton still doesn't know what happened that series. Bolland still probably haunts his dreams.

Projecting in hindsight is a wasted exercise IMO, especially about salaries. The Pens have by far the best 2 centermen in the league and just as important an owner who knows talent and its value and keeps them because they are the key to winning year after year. They fill around Crosby and Malkin with forwards of a modest cost to the cap. Even Phil Kessel came at a bargain because the Leafs ate half his salary. All they gave up was a 3rd liner, Kapanen to get him. Once they were done with Phil, he got a plane ticket to Arizona.

And further to that, their last Cup was won with 'overpaid' Kris Letang out for the season injured. When the time comes, Lemieux will instruct Jim Rutherford to dump him too. It won't be a decision related to Crosby or Malkin's wages, who are both "worth it", in fact underpaid.
- RickJ

There comes a point where a player isn't worth whatever people like you say they are worth, because their salary hinders their team's ability to win: see Mc David, Toews/Kane.

I think he meant centerman duos
- LAHawk

Mikita and P. Esposito, but nobody will ever top 2013, Toews and Handzus!

Just a quick question to see people’s opinions.

If StanBo does any trades before deadline... would you rather get “prospects” back, who might be 1-2 years down the development curve.... or load up on draft picks in 2020 and 2021 draft?

Obviously the “prospects” are subjective to scouting.... but more of a general question. Do you want closer to NHL ready prospects to try and make a run in 2-3 years with T&K or more picks in a deep (?) 2020 draft and add maybe another year of development to the timeline.

I guess the trade off is, prospects may be closer to NHL ready.... but you didn’t draft them...and maybe StanBo feels more comfortable drafting “his own” players?

Anyway, I thought I would see what people would prefer more....prospects or the draft picks.

Just a quick question to see people’s opinions.

If StanBo does any trades before deadline... would you rather get “prospects” back, who might be 1-2 years down the development curve.... or load up on draft picks in 2020 and 2021 draft?

Obviously the “prospects” are subjective to scouting.... but more of a general question. Do you want closer to NHL ready prospects to try and make a run in 2-3 years with T&K or more picks in a deep (?) 2020 draft and add maybe another year of development to the timeline.

I guess the trade off is, prospects may be closer to NHL ready.... but you didn’t draft them...and maybe StanBo feels more comfortable drafting “his own” players?

Anyway, I thought I would see what people would prefer more....prospects or the draft picks.
- DrewDawg

I would like them to go after prospects that are closer to the NHL, as I want to see them go for the cup one more time while under T & K's current contracts, and any draft picks will most likely be 2 to 3 years away at least, and there is no guarantee with any draft pick.

Just a quick question to see people’s opinions.

If StanBo does any trades before deadline... would you rather get “prospects” back, who might be 1-2 years down the development curve.... or load up on draft picks in 2020 and 2021 draft?

Obviously the “prospects” are subjective to scouting.... but more of a general question. Do you want closer to NHL ready prospects to try and make a run in 2-3 years with T&K or more picks in a deep (?) 2020 draft and add maybe another year of development to the timeline.

I guess the trade off is, prospects may be closer to NHL ready.... but you didn’t draft them...and maybe StanBo feels more comfortable drafting “his own” players?

Anyway, I thought I would see what people would prefer more....prospects or the draft picks.
- DrewDawg

I think you have to weigh who the prospect is versus what the draft pick is. For example if the Hawks were on the other side of the deal and the team we are trading with wanted Beaudin. If the option were a draft pick or a prospect you would have to weigh that prospect versus that draft pick. Lets say it is a 2nd round pick. Within the draft pick you would have to make a judgement if that draft pick would be early or late in the round. If it is a prospect you have to make a judgement if he is a future top 6 forward or top 4 paring defender. All things being equal I think a prospect that is ready to make the jump to the NHL from the AHL or Europe and can be a top 6 forward or top 4 pairing defender is generally less risky than trading for a draft pick that you are not sure how early or late in the round it will be and even then they might be a few years away.

I meant they caught lightening in a bottle with a hot goalie not the team play.
- rpeters01

For a guy that clearly knows everything about everything you'd think you'd learn to spell lightning and Seabrook correctly.

so funny, people just say "buy out this guy", "trade out that guy", like its that easy? when was the last time SB did something like that? contracts comes off the books via LTIR or it expires. trades normally has contract coming back. Remember Saad's trade? Panarin? Anisimov? I would be definitely surprise if SB trades a contract without another contract coming back or actually buy a contract out. history will show you that SB will most likely retain and give a contract to a player (possibly Gus) when he shouldn't.

Kubalik, Strome and Caggs are all RFA, Kubalik has one good year (so far) and you throw a 4m x 3yrs new contract? Strome has been injury plaqued this year and was only good last year and hes worth 5-6m? thats crazy. how is he without Dcat? if Caggs asks for more than 1.5, let him sit out the season, same with Koko.
- squishy24

Hossa, Bickell.

Arguably Stan's worst moves were overpaying Kane and Toews, hindsight is always 2020 with the cap and he certainly would have been fired by now had they gone elsewhere and overpaying Seebrook. Everything else "you shoot you make or miss," just like every other GM.
- rpeters01

Kane is arguably the third best player in the league right now. Though to say he's overpaid.

For a guy that clearly knows everything about everything you'd think you'd learn to spell lightning and Seabrook correctly.
- GPHawksfan

You sound like my wife... I can never remember which way Seabrook is spelled. As for lightning I defer to the millennial excuse of spell check. Not that I am anywhere near a millennial.

These are Brisson's top 10 clients salary wise,and year contract sign..You can say except for MacKinnon, they are all overpays

John Tavares $11,000,000 $77,000,000 (2018)
Chicago Blackhawks logo Patrick Kane $10,500,000 $84,000,000 (2015)
Chicago Blackhawks logo Jonathan Toews $10,500,000 $84,000,000 (2015)
Los Angeles Kings logo Anze Kopitar $10,000,000 $80,000,000 (2016)
Pittsburgh Penguins logo Sidney Crosby $8,700,000 $104,400,000 (2013)
Philadelphia Flyers logo Claude Giroux $8,275,000 $66,200,000 (2014)
Nashville Predators logo Matt Duchene $8,000,000 $56,000,000 (2019)
Anaheim Ducks logo Cam Fowler $6,500,000 $52,000,000 (2018)
Colorado Avalanche logo Nathan MacKinnon $6,300,000 $44,100,000 (2016)
Colorado Avalanche logo Erik Johnson $6,000,000 $42,000,000 (2016)
Buffalo Sabres logo Kyle Okposo $6,000,000 $42,000,000 (2016)

Notice although Crosby's AAV is less than Kane and Toews, the total dollar amount of his contract is greater because it was signed under the old rules, 12 years. Crosby will be 37 when this contract is over. There is a significant recaupture penalty (like Keith) if he decides to retire early.
- LAHawk

Nathan MacKinnon is on the same bridge deal Toews and Kane signed. His next one will be huge

Nathan MacKinnon is on the same bridge deal Toews and Kane signed. His next one will be huge
- fattybeef

He's already said he's going to take less to keep the team competing and I dont see any reason why he wouldn't...unless of course the NHLPA gets involved and tells him to STFU and take every last cent that the Avs have which I'm sure they will

Nathan MacKinnon is on the same bridge deal Toews and Kane signed. His next one will be huge
- fattybeef

Curious how many of those deals the teams would do over in hindsight?

You sound like my wife... I can never remember which way Seabrook is spelled. As for lightning I defer to the millennial excuse of spell check. Not that I am anywhere near a millennial.
- rpeters01

OK, Boomer....

OK, Boomer....
- StLBravesFan

Yup that's me.

Kane is arguably the third best player in the league right now. Though to say he's overpaid.
- fattybeef

Kane may be the 3rd best offensive player. But overall not in the top 10.

Yea right.

The Hogs have called up D-man Jack Ramsey from Indy. Ramsey was one of the last picks in the 2014 draft. Played 4 years at University of Minnesota. Not likely to be a difference maker but could be okay AHL depth.

Forward converted rearguard Jake Ryczek is a similar D prospect. Minor league contract to start in Indy but likely tops out as AHL depth.

Northeastern captain and senior Ryan Shea is having a monster season on the Huskies blueline. I think he could push for an ELC and be on the Hogs roster next fall. Otherwise, he would go the same route as Ramsey and Ryczek.

I guess the trade off is, prospects may be closer to NHL ready.... but you didn’t draft them...and maybe StanBo feels more comfortable drafting “his own” players?

Anyway, I thought I would see what people would prefer more....prospects or the draft picks.
- DrewDawg

Undoubtedly there are many prospects drafted by other teams that Stan would have taken if they had been available when the Hawks made their picks.

Didn't remember Ovie signed his deal first. It was good on Crosby to take less to help his team out long term.
- Savetheembers33

How do you think Crosby took less? It was just spread out over 4 extra years.