Theo Fox: Free Agency: RFA QOs A look at the Blackhawks qualifying offers to their own restricted free agents and Adam Gaudette's new contract.

Plus, thoughts on an intentional slowing down of the youth movement in order to optimize results in the long term.

1st

Congrats to the Hammer on his retirement, definitely one of my favorite Hawks in recent years. We don’t have 3 cups without a true warrior like him.

Only ones I’m a little surprised about that didn’t get a QO was Suter and Kampf. And Zadorov who did.

Like you said Theo, doesn’t mean that they still can’t be signed to stay or for trade bait.

Big tip of the cap to Niklas Hjalmarsson for his wonderful NHL career. He left it all out there as a 'Hawk. A warrior's warrior. A Blackhawk.
With him, Keith, Seabrook and Oduya - a true fearsome foursome. I would argue this top 4 is as good as it ever got in the NHL.
We were blessed to have been able to see it!

And I could not agree more with Theo's strategy of letting the young ones incubate and percolate in the AHL to be more ready and able to successfully be NHL players.

The hard cap and expansions have played havoc with this tried and true method of success.

I don't get it.

Alex DeBrincat spent one year in Erie after being drafted then went straight to the NHL.
Jokiharju spent one year in Portland then went straight to the NHL.
Adam Boqvist spent one year in London, then 15 games in the NHL then was called up.
Quinn Hughes played a year in the NCAA's then had a 5 game audition before becoming a starter.

What determines whether or not a player is ready to be in the NHL? What evidence is there that having these guys play a full year in the AHL would make them notably better than what they've ultimately been? There are numerous examples on both sides with great successes and great failures.

How long did McNeil have in the AHL? Beach? Skille? If a player shows that they have the ability to play in the NHL, play them there. The AHL hits just as hard (if not harder since guys are trying to prove they belong in the NHL).

Patrick Kane was never a big guy and he went directly to the NHL. Why? He showed that he had the ability to play there.

Paul Stastny and WIN is $3.75M on a one-year deal.

Can somebody tell me why Bowman would not give Suter a qualifying offer ? He's a talented young player. What's going on with that ??

Because he only scores against Detroit?

Can somebody tell me why Bowman would not give Suter a qualifying offer ? He's a talented young player. What's going on with that ??
- Vladdie_Kon1

If I understand it correct, Suter has arbitration rights. Stan likely does not want to pay him what he is looking for (or at least has been asking for in negotiations), and expects that if it goes to arbitration he will have to pay more than he wants. Suter is a nice player (similar to Kahun, but with a bit better offensive instincts and ability). I don't think you need to break the bank to retain him though.

Also, Stan apparently is getting rid of any and all young prospects and picks right now, so there is that...

If I understand it correct, Suter has arbitration rights. Stan likely does not want to pay him what he is looking for (or at least has been asking for in negotiations), and expects that if it goes to arbitration he will have to pay more than he wants. Suter is a nice player (similar to Kahun, but with a bit better offensive instincts and ability). I don't think you need to break the bank to retain him though.

Also, Stan apparently is getting rid of any and all young prospects and picks right now, so there is that...
- Chunk

True, and if you pay Suter $3 mil., how much do you have to pay Hagel?

If I understand it correct, Suter has arbitration rights. Stan likely does not want to pay him what he is looking for (or at least has been asking for in negotiations), and expects that if it goes to arbitration he will have to pay more than he wants. Suter is a nice player (similar to Kahun, but with a bit better offensive instincts and ability). I don't think you need to break the bank to retain him though.

Also, Stan apparently is getting rid of any and all young prospects and picks right now, so there is that...
- Chunk

Interesting.... thanks for the info. He definitely lit up the Wings in some of the regular season games. I hope Yzerman gives Bowman a call to see what the asking price would be.

how much is kampf goign to get in ARB worse case scenario 1.5? he had 1 goal and 12 pts in 56 games? Same with Suter. 2.5? I understand teams are concerned about comps from 2-3 years ago and not the flat cap. Suter is a 3rd line player and kampf is 4th

If I understand it correct, Suter has arbitration rights. Stan likely does not want to pay him what he is looking for (or at least has been asking for in negotiations), and expects that if it goes to arbitration he will have to pay more than he wants. Suter is a nice player (similar to Kahun, but with a bit better offensive instincts and ability). I don't think you need to break the bank to retain him though.

Also, Stan apparently is getting rid of any and all young prospects and picks right now, so there is that...
- Chunk

Stan has no walk away rights if Suter was awarded less than a $3.5M deal. So why take that chance? He can still negotiate with Suter up until tomorrow morning.

Or maybe he had a deal with Suter when he signed him last year that he would let him go FA after one year so he could look for the biggest $ contract anywhere in the league.

Can somebody tell me why Bowman would not give Suter a qualifying offer ? He's a talented young player. What's going on with that ??
- Vladdie_Kon1

Stan is inept, that’s all you need to know.

https://www.si.com/hockey...icted-free-agents-of-2021

I wonder if Damir and shalunov are a option if Kampf and suter leave along with Strome? it seemed like Damir and Suter were pretty similar.

Interesting.... thanks for the info. He definitely lit up the Wings in some of the regular season games. I hope Yzerman gives Bowman a call to see what the asking price would be.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Suter wil be a free agent Wednesday at noon. Would be surprised if his agent hasn't gotten his asking price out already.

Because he only scores against Detroit?
- LAHawk

Fairly unfair, I think.

Yeah, 5 of 14 against Detroit - but also 2 each against CBJ, Dallas, Fla, Nashville, and one against TBL.

Second (tied) most 5x5 goals on the team with 13.

I don’t know if he’s worth - or that Stan feels the Blackhawks can afford - what they fear he would be awarded in arbitration, but a very nice rookie season.

how much is kampf goign to get in ARB worse case scenario 1.5? he had 1 goal and 12 pts in 56 games? Same with Suter. 2.5? I understand teams are concerned about comps from 2-3 years ago and not the flat cap. Suter is a 3rd line player and kampf is 4th
- kmw4631

On a team with some depth yes. Unfortunately on this Hawk team last season and at this time he's in your top 6.

nick Ritchie would be a nice option in UFA for us. he has some size and hits Stan seems to want us to get bigger and harder to play against. he is going to get overpaid but as a 4th line winger he would be great. alex wenberg might be a good get as well.

Fairly unfair, I think.

Yeah, 5 of 14 against Detroit - but also 2 each against CBJ, Dallas, Fla, Nashville, and one against TBL.

Second (tied) most 5x5 goals on the team with 13.

A very nice rookie season.

I don’t know if he’s worth - or that Stan feels the Blackhawks can afford - what they fear he would be awarded in arbitration.
- StLBravesFan

Sometimes when there's a surprise in who gets protected or qualified or not it has to do with how the guy fits in the room. Not saying Suter is an issue because the public will not know, but sometimes it can be the reason when a decision doesn't make sense. On the ice I thought he fit in well and had potential to be better.

I think Hagel is a much more important signing that Suter is right at this moment for this team.

Fairly unfair, I think.

Yeah, 5 of 14 against Detroit - but also 2 each against CBJ, Dallas, Fla, Nashville, and one against TBL.

Second (tied) most 5x5 goals on the team with 13.

I don’t know if he’s worth - or that Stan feels the Blackhawks can afford - what they fear he would be awarded in arbitration, but a very nice rookie season.
St. Louis Braves Fan.

And is a disaster in his own zone. Anything more than $2 mil. is a big overpay for someone who is only one year younger than the over the hill Seth Jones

In the Colliton defensive system, if you are a forward and cannot defend, and you are not Patrick Kane, the team cannot afford to commit big dollars to you unless you are an elite scorer. Suter is an NHL player but does not fit the system. Nor does Strome. And Colliton has shown little inclination to adjust the system to his players on hand.

Fairly unfair, I think.

Yeah, 5 of 14 against Detroit - but also 2 each against CBJ, Dallas, Fla, Nashville, and one against TBL.

Second (tied) most 5x5 goals on the team with 13.

I don’t know if he’s worth - or that Stan feels the Blackhawks can afford - what they fear he would be awarded in arbitration, but a very nice rookie season.
St. Louis Braves Fan.

And is a disaster in his own zone. Anything more than $2 mil. is a big overpay for someone who is only one year younger than the over the hill Seth Jones
- LAHawk

To be fair, he came over from the big ice in Europe where there is room to operate, gets plugged in as a small center because Dach was hurt and Strome is f'n useless, and has to play against some really good players with Tampa, Carolina and Florida. He did OK but isn't a solution in the middle. At the right price, OK as a small winger on the 3rd line. He will get offers elsewhere.

I think Hagel is a much more important signing that Suter is right at this moment for this team.
- powerenforcer

If a choice had to be made between Hagel and Suter, which I doubt was the case, then Hagel is the right choice.

I don't think losing Suter is the end of the world, he can be replaced by Reichel, Borgstrom or a free agent (i.e. Ritchie). What seems odd is losing Suter for nothing. I'm sure the Hawks have know Suter's salary demands for a while now, why not deal him?