I don't think the Hawks will roll with piles of rookies on their opening day roster. I also think this team thinks of Smith as a guy who may be a rookie, but will not play like one. While they could have went with other players in the final when Hossa went down they went with Smith. I think he is your most sure fire fit on this roster for the Rockford guys. The other guys will have to flat out win a spot on this roster..... Krugman can and will play the 2C if no one steps up. I don't know if I have a huge problem with that if he improves at the dot or Sharp takes the draws.

I think Crawford needs to look at Chris Osgood and decide - do I want to be the Chris Osgood of Detroit or the Chris Osgood of the St. Louis Blues. Yes he could make more money away from Chicago, but to what extent does money trump success?

Have to think he and Peckham will be in the minors mostly. And/or Brookbank will be dealt soon. A deep defense just got a lot deeper.
- John Jaeckel

Kostka was a top pairing defenseman on a playoff team. I am pretty sure he didn't sign to play in the minors.

Kostka was a top pairing defenseman on a playoff team. I am pretty sure he didn't sign to play in the minors.
- paulr

That might be where he ends up.

JJ, I don't know if you were taking a shot at me in the goalie discussion, but I never said the Hawks should pay Crawford > $4.5M. When someone mentioned Crawford should only get a 10% bump over his current $2.66M, or "No more than $3M", or whatever, that's when I chimed in.

Looking at some of his peers that signed "post-reduction" deals this summer, namely Mike Smith ($5.66M), Jimmy Howard ($5.292M), and Tuukka Rask ($7M), it's hard for me to fathom that Crawford is worth (and will get) barely half those figures, unless maybe his agent is Barney Fife.

Where you and I agree is that if his salary does take a significant jump, it won't be here.

Edit: I agree with your take on "The Rockford Four"; I'm wary of really even more than one of those forwards making the jump this year, for the reasons you've stated.

I'm basically on board with all of Stan's moves this summer (hated to see Bolland and Frolik go, but understand why), except the Khabibulin signing. They could have gotten Khudobin for half that, and made it much easier on themselves to bring in a Morrow, LaRose, or Raymond-type player.
- MartiniMan

No shot at you. But you cant use those salaries as metrics when the Hawks won't. All 3 are also marginally to fairly better goalies, too.

Kostka was a top pairing defenseman on a playoff team. I am pretty sure he didn't sign to play in the minors.
- paulr

Could be right

I think Crawford needs to look at Chris Osgood and decide - do I want to be the Chris Osgood of Detroit or the Chris Osgood of the St. Louis Blues. Yes he could make more money away from Chicago, but to what extent does money trump success?
- powerenforcer

This is certain to be the Hawks' negotiating position

No shot at you. But you cant use those salaries as metrics when the Hawks won't. All 3 are also marginally to fairly better goalies, too.
- John Jaeckel

The Hawks won't use those 3 goalies as metrics but Crawford and his agent sure will. That's why he'll likely get a big pay raise elsewhere. I'd prefer to have Crawford stay for as little as possible, but I don't begrudge Crawford looking for a big payday, he deserves as much as Bickell did.

I don't think the Hawks will roll with piles of rookies on their opening day roster. I also think this team thinks of Smith as a guy who may be a rookie, but will not play like one. While they could have went with other players in the final when Hossa went down they went with Smith. I think he is your most sure fire fit on this roster for the Rockford guys. The other guys will have to flat out win a spot on this roster..... Krugman can and will play the 2C if no one steps up. I don't know if I have a huge problem with that if he improves at the dot or Sharp takes the draws.
- droe411

Agree with you and will add that Hayes also has the shortcoming of lacking a physical game. His turning radius when going the opposite direction almost requires and Olympic rink

I think stan hopes that danault or mcneil have a great camp and make the team if not both of them

Pirri better be working his a$$ off this offseason to gain strength because I cant imagine a better opportunity for success then centering a line with sharp and hossa

Kostka was a top pairing defenseman on a playoff team. I am pretty sure he didn't sign to play in the minors.
- paulr

From Mike Augello's Toronto blog:

Defenseman Mike Kostka, who unexpectedly made the Maple Leafs during the lockout shortened 2013 season has signed a one year deal with the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Black Hawks.

The 27 year old Kostka played for the AHL Toronto Marlies during the lockout, scoring six goals and 28 assists in 34 games and made the Leafs mostly due to the absence of young defenseman Jake Gardiner

The Etobicoke, ON, native played significant minutes in his first stint in the NHL, paired mostly with team captain Dion Phaneuf and registered eight assists in 35 regular-season games and played one game in the first round loss to the Boston Bruins before suffering a fractured finger.

The Leafs indicated that re-signing Kostka was not in the team’s plans before the onset of free agency in early July, likely due to the depth of young defensemen in the Leafs system, including 2012 top pick Morgan Rielly and 2010 draft choice Petter Granberg.

The Hawks won't use those 3 goalies as metrics but Crawford and his agent sure will. That's why he'll likely get a big pay raise elsewhere. I'd prefer to have Crawford stay for as little as possible, but I don't begrudge Crawford looking for a big payday, he deserves as much as Bickell did.
- DarthKane

I don't think the hawks FO will miss Crawford if he wants over 4 mil. They will show him the door. Yes he played well last year but he in my opinion is still a average at best goalie who will give up one soft goal every game.

Would also lie to know the scouting reort on the two guys the hawks just picked up
JJ or Wiz do you have anything?

No shot at you. But you cant use those salaries as metrics when the Hawks won't. All 3 are also marginally to fairly better goalies, too.
- John Jaeckel

Never said the Hawks would, only his agent should, if he's acting in his client's best interests. And I agree, the others are better, but that doesn't mean their fair market value is such that they should make 70-100%+ more than him, either.

I think you're bang on with Crawford. He is a decent goalie; but with that defence you really don't need an all-star goalie. Save the $ to keep the D intact and the team will do very well.
- mlindsay

Meh. He will likely start for Team Canada at the Olympics. What happened to all of those great goalies from Quebec?

No shot at you. But you cant use those salaries as metrics when the Hawks won't. All 3 are also marginally to fairly better goalies, too.
- John Jaeckel

Won't the salary cap jump back up by the time Crawford's contract is up?

I don't think the hawks FO will miss Crawford if he wants over 4 mil. They will show him the door. Yes he played well last year but he in my opinion is still a average at best goalie who will give up one soft goal every game.

Would also lie to know the scouting reort on the two guys the hawks just picked up
JJ or Wiz do you have anything?
- molly2522

Next year Crawford will find himself with a 2 year deal for more money than he's getting now. He won't find himself in Chicago though. I fully expect he will then find himself as a backup goalie 6 months into that new contract. Without a solid D in front of him he has far too many weaknesses to remain a starter.

Had the hawks needed an absolute rock solid goalie he wouldn't be here.

Meh. He will likely start for Team Canada at the Olympics. What happened to all of those great goalies from Quebec?
- faustus1500

Canada doesn'y produce elite goalies anymore, because they are all taught to be mindless shotblockers. The way goaltending is taught here I wouldn't want my son to play the position because it wouldn't maximize his athletic ability. Francois Allaire, who counts Crawford as a student, has ruined a generation of goalies in Canada, there are lots of decent shotblockers, but none who can put a team on his back like the Finnish and American goalies.

Relying on unproven players is the Bowman way: it worked last year, don't know about next year.

Although not all rookies, the following players (all young) had not won a play-off series until last year: Saad (rookie), Shaw (2nd year), Kruger (2nd year), Leddy (2nd year), Crawford (3rd year).

Again, don't know if it can happen again, but this is the "Bowman Way" to solve cap problems.

Less than 2 months to camp; about two months to first exhibition game (I refuse to glorify them by calling them pre-season games, even tho ticket prices are full fare), about 70 days to first game. Hope they can all heal and be ready....
- StLBravesFan

I understand the apprehension of some regarding young unproven players. However, show me one team that does not or will not rely on them next year?

In a perfect world, be nice to have same roster every year, just not real though. Most teams realize that it is better to go with younger guys, who will work hard and anxious to fit into team and its structure, then to add an old depth guy, who will accept playing a lesser role. Crazy dynamic. Just something to think about.

If there are no further deals does anyone think there's a chance Brookbank gets moved to the 4th line / 13th forward and one of Kostka, Peckham and Stanton takes the 7D spot?

Meh. He will likely start for Team Canada at the Olympics. What happened to all of those great goalies from Quebec?
- faustus1500

No way Crawford starts IMO. Luongo is good, don't get why people think he isn't. Much more proven than Crawford and won the gold medal for Babcock and Yzerman in 2010. Also a good season from any of Cam Ward, Carey Price, Mike Smith vaults them ahead of Crawford

If there are no further deals does anyone think there's a chance Brookbank gets moved to the 4th line / 13th forward and one of Kostka, Peckham and Stanton takes the 7D spot?
- DarthKane

I floated this idea in a thread last week. It's a possibility that the Hawks carry 8 defenseman and do this.

I floated this idea in a thread last week. It's a possibility that the Hawks carry 8 defenseman and do this.
- EKolb13

It's always about you isn't it.

Great minds think alike, it some of the young guys aren't ready I could see this happening. Although I'd prefer to see Brookbank dealt than play forward regularly.

If there are no further deals does anyone think there's a chance Brookbank gets moved to the 4th line / 13th forward and one of Kostka, Peckham and Stanton takes the 7D spot?
- DarthKane

No. None.

It's always about you isn't it.

Great minds think alike, it some of the young guys aren't ready I could see this happening. Although I'd prefer to see Brookbank dealt than play forward regularly.
- DarthKane

I'll settle for great minds think alike, just as long as you remember that it is all about me.

If there are no further deals does anyone think there's a chance Brookbank gets moved to the 4th line / 13th forward and one of Kostka, Peckham and Stanton takes the 7D spot?
- DarthKane

Fingers crossed!

I'll settle for great minds think alike, just as long as you remember that it is all about me.


- EKolb13

I have a feeling you'll never let me forget.