So, we hope Saad performs so he gets us something...not sure he does. And if the number one draft kid was more than a fantasy, Saad leaves this summer, or Saader is terrific all best shortened year and then the line up is so thick that you don't wanna thin the forward pool for the playoff..just put ballin'
- wiz1901

Good question. Say the Hawks are lucky to get the #1 pick and take Lafreniere. Who then in the forward ranks is expendable?

There is the perspective that the Hawks needs more players like Saad, not less. I agree with Tyler, Saad is likely the closest on the team to playing like Hossa. Toews, too.

If it comes down to retaining only two of Saad, Kubalik, and Strome, I definitely keep Kubalik then see what you can get for Saad or Strome in a trade.

Having Lafreniere makes trading one of them more palatable.

Happy 4th of July everyone. Tyler you laid out a well thought out scenario of options.

Regarding the buyouts why buyout Smith? If I'm allowed 2 buyouts and looking at Chicago's depth and spaces needed to open up I'm buying out seabrook before anyone else.

Seabrook has 5 more years left on his contract at 6.8 million on a veteran who has just recently underwent multiple surgeries?

My next option would be de haan I like him but getting reinjured on that same shoulder makes him a huge risk.

Maatta has some value to trade imo , whereas de Haans injuries make him less desirable to move.


Saad I would move this offzeason just to gain a pick and young prospect . This way chicago can slowly rebuild in this stagnant salary cap time and lessen the risk of cap problems.

Good question. Say the Hawks are lucky to get the #1 pick and take Lafreniere. Who then in the forward ranks is expendable?

There is the perspective that the Hawks needs more players like Saad, not less. I agree with Tyler, Saad is likely the closest on the team to playing like Hossa. Toews, too.

If it comes down to retaining only two of Saad, Kubalik, and Strome, I definitely keep Kubalik then see what you can get for Saad or Strome in a trade.

Having Lafreniere makes trading one of them more palatable.
- AEL_Fox

After watching the past cup runs with saad on the team and comparing his play now Imo saad leaves you earning to see more from him and believing that it will come.


Strome I'm on the fence , chicago has always seemed to lack enough quality down the middle and strome imo can fit into Chicago's role in either a solid 2c or a 3c.

I've noticed
- I Am The Breadman

Hahaha...

Happy 4th of July everyone. Tyler you laid out a well thought out scenario of options.

Regarding the buyouts why buyout Smith? If I'm allowed 2 buyouts and looking at Chicago's depth and spaces needed to open up I'm buying out seabrook before anyone else.

Seabrook has 5 more years left on his contract at 6.8 million on a veteran who has just recently underwent multiple surgeries?

My next option would be de haan I like him but getting reinjured on that same shoulder makes him a huge risk.

Maatta has some value to trade imo , whereas de Haans injuries make him less desirable to move.


Saad I would move this offzeason just to gain a pick and young prospect . This way chicago can slowly rebuild in this stagnant salary cap time and lessen the risk of cap problems.
- Taylorst1

Buying out Seabrook gives minimal cap savings until 2024. Won’t happen

Good question. Say the Hawks are lucky to get the #1 pick and take Lafreniere. Who then in the forward ranks is expendable?

There is the perspective that the Hawks needs more players like Saad, not less. I agree with Tyler, Saad is likely the closest on the team to playing like Hossa. Toews, too.

If it comes down to retaining only two of Saad, Kubalik, and Strome, I definitely keep Kubalik then see what you can get for Saad or Strome in a trade.

Having Lafreniere makes trading one of them more palatable.
- AEL_Fox

If the Hawks are fortunate enough to get Lafreniere, I think it makes re-signing all three of Saad, Kubalik and Strome more important than getting rid of one of them because Lafreniere can step in and contribute on day one which facilitates the TKK window to win another Cup. In other words - with Lafreniere and Mitchell added to the roster, maybe the Hawks would be good enough to take a legit run at the Cup.

The hope is that there is a sweet spot where the young players improve enough before the older players fade and it's probably not more than one or two years with the first possible being 2020/21. The Hawks will know by the TDL if they have enough to challenge and if they don't - trade Saad then - but if they do, Saad will play a big role so I'd rather have him in that situation to be able to have that option.

Course, if he demands multiple years at $6M+ - than no.

Buying out Seabrook gives minimal cap savings until 2024. Won’t happen
- LAHawk

Your basing that scenario on the nhl not giving each team 2 buyouts that won't count towards the cap ? If I understood your point? My point is based on the nhl coming to reality that keeping the salary cap flat for 2 to 3 years with no relief is unsustainable.

*yawn*
- Elbows15

Sleepy, old timer?

You've yawned twice today

Your basing that scenario on the nhl not giving each team 2 buyouts that won't count towards the cap ? If I understood your point? My point is based on the nhl coming to reality that keeping the salary cap flat for 2 to 3 years with no relief is unsustainable.
- Taylorst1

From all accounts have not heard anything yet about compliance buyouts. So only way is he plays or trade his contract to a team can use him on LTRI.

I dunno.
Reverse that...
if the Hawks could be buyers this season knowing now that they are part of the play-off would THEY PAY THAT????

I guess I look at the six teams that I think were high functioning before the close and am not sure they pay that much, but I am trying to objective about Saad after where he "fit" or didn't the entire year in Chicago.
If StanBo tells me he want that as pay off, I ask why Saad didn't pay a more prominent role on their roster?

So, we hope Saad performs so he gets us something...not sure he does.
And if the number one draft kid was more than a fantasy, Saad leaves this summer, or Saader is terrific all best shortened year and then the line up is so thick that you don't wanna thin the forward pool for the playoff..just put ballin'
- wiz1901

That has been the price for a few years. Hawks paid that for a lesser player in Vermette

Sleepy, old timer?

You've yawned twice today
- I Am The Breadman

Boring troll is boring

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

Would who they want to protect from Seattle have any bearing?

Your basing that scenario on the nhl not giving each team 2 buyouts that won't count towards the cap ? If I understood your point? My point is based on the nhl coming to reality that keeping the salary cap flat for 2 to 3 years with no relief is unsustainable.
- Taylorst1

There won't be any CBOs

Happy 4th of July everyone. Tyler you laid out a well thought out scenario of options.

Regarding the buyouts why buyout Smith? If I'm allowed 2 buyouts and looking at Chicago's depth and spaces needed to open up I'm buying out seabrook before anyone else.

Seabrook has 5 more years left on his contract at 6.8 million on a veteran who has just recently underwent multiple surgeries?

My next option would be de haan I like him but getting reinjured on that same shoulder makes him a huge risk.

Maatta has some value to trade imo , whereas de Haans injuries make him less desirable to move.


Saad I would move this offzeason just to gain a pick and young prospect . This way chicago can slowly rebuild in this stagnant salary cap time and lessen the risk of cap problems.
- Taylorst1

Who would take $6 for a year and give no cap back? Only two teams and they can probably get somebody as good or better and give up NOTHING.

After watching the past cup runs with saad on the team and comparing his play now Imo saad leaves you earning to see more from him and believing that it will come.


Strome I'm on the fence , chicago has always seemed to lack enough quality down the middle and strome imo can fit into Chicago's role in either a solid 2c or a 3c.
- Taylorst1

Weak 2c, 3c is taken by Toews.

Boring troll is boring
- Elbows15

Aren't they always?

Who would take $6 for a year and give no cap back? Only two teams and they can probably get somebody as good or better and give up NOTHING.
- rpeters01

That's really it, isn't it.

NO team is gonna make trade unless you tae back the same amount, because a few teams WILL be licking their chops this RFA season to pull "an AHO" on a team that can't match an offer sheet, so even more important to not take on "more cargo" (salary)....

Good blog, Tyler, this seems about right for a flat cap world.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...ghts-followed/c-302586918

Had to check again about the expansion draft - looks like can protect 7F-3D-1G, or 8 total. It's always a good time for some baseless speculation, so here goes. Probably go for the 7-3-1 option.

=======================

Forwards:
Saad - UFA - not signed - no need to protect - could sign after the draft

Protect:
Toews - Kane
Nylander - Strome
Kubalik - DeBrincat
Shaw (? - NMC/NTC)

Exempt:
Dach - Hagel - and all the rest of the younger guys

Available:
Highmore - Carpenter - Kampf - Caligula - Sikura - Fortin - Quenneville

=======================

Defense:

Protect:
Keith - Seabrook - Murphy

Exempt:
Boqvist - Beaudin - Mitchell - Krys - Carlsson

Available:
de Haan - Maatta - Koekkoek - Gilbert

=======================

Goalie:

Protect:
Pick the best of the prospects here - say Delia

Available: all the others
Lankinen - Subban - Tomkins

I think Crawford will sign for one year so that he is UFA and not in the expansion draft, then might sign another short contract afterwards.

Would think Nalimov would be exempt if he is here, not sure.

==================

Looks to me like it could be set up where it is OK to just lose a player and not have to make a deal with Seattle to keep someone.

If the Hawks are fortunate enough to get Lafreniere, I think it makes re-signing all three of Saad, Kubalik and Strome more important than getting rid of one of them because Lafreniere can step in and contribute on day one which facilitates the TKK window to win another Cup. In other words - with Lafreniere and Mitchell added to the roster, maybe the Hawks would be good enough to take a legit run at the Cup.

The hope is that there is a sweet spot where the young players improve enough before the older players fade and it's probably not more than one or two years with the first possible being 2020/21. The Hawks will know by the TDL if they have enough to challenge and if they don't - trade Saad then - but if they do, Saad will play a big role so I'd rather have him in that situation to be able to have that option.

Course, if he demands multiple years at $6M+ - than no.
- EbonyRaptor

Won’t happen.

That's really it, isn't it.

NO team is gonna make trade unless you tae back the same amount, because a few teams WILL be licking their chops this RFA season to pull "an AHO" on a team that can't match an offer sheet, so even more important to not take on "more cargo" (salary)....
- wiz1901

I think the players are fools to agree to flat cap in their CBA negotiations and so what if there is a lock out now? Players will never be in a better position to negotiate a CBA. Do you really want to play in this environment?

I'm definitely not a union guy but I have never believed in salary caps. The only thing they do is artificially control supply and demand and protect owners from each other.

"Say something once, why say it again?"
- I Am The Breadman

Psycho troll, qu-est ce que c’est

Psycho troll, qu-est ce que c’est
- Angotti

You get it.

You get it.
- I Am The Breadman

Breadman, I may be old, but I know my music.

Breadman, I may be old, but I know my music.
- Angotti

And your French.

Thank you, Mr. President, for your speech with a unifying message for ALL AMERICANS on the day we celebrate the birthday of our country.

Your message of inclusion for ALL AMERICANS is most welcome in these trying times. You certainly show how much you want to be the leader of 350 million Americans, as well as a well-respected leader of the free world.

The nation will long remember your words of unity at a national monument.

With any luck, until November 3rd.