If they put Bickell on waivers and someone claims him then the Hawks wold beoff the hook for his salary right ?


Just a hypathetical thought .....

Not sure if its been talked about already, but i heard something about the NHL possibly pulling their players out of the olympics due to the threat of terrorist activity over in Sochi.
- BlazinMike

I think they said they are comfortable with the situation now. If something changes between now and then, I think they said they would reassess the situation and go from there.

In the middle of a season in which both teams probably make the playoffs, Chicago and Vancouver fans are spending the day arguing why their team is more likely to...lose tonight. Man slumps really are something.

Professor Chaos is getting a swirly right now from Cartman
- John Jaeckel

He does have the power to have all powers...

So, the much talked about prospects suck?
- Elbows15

Won't call Smith and Pirri prospects but they haven't replaced Bolly and Frolik.

Couple that in with other guys struggling at times, both offence and defence, and you get the "dog-days of winter".

You?
- Elbows15

I think they said they are comfortable with the situation now. If something changes between now and then, I think they said they would reassess the situation and go from there.
- fattybeef

It would have to be a major change, given their TV partner (NBC) is the Olympics broadcaster - and they wouldn't want an NHL-empty tournament.

Also, all of the Russians would probably go anyways.

And - what would happen to the three-week break? They couldn't change the schedule.

There will be NHL players in the tournament.

So, the much talked about prospects suck?
- Elbows15

It is not that they all suck, they all fall into one of these categories (1) not ready to play in the NHL yet (2) not ready to play in the AHL yet (3) are ready but their skill set is being provided in better capacity by a better player now or (4) yeah, maybe they suck.

I bet most are in 1-3.

Unless Bickell turns it around, Pirri sticks at 2C, and the rest of the team (except for line #4, Hossa, Sharp and Keith) complete a successful expedition to relocate their stones, the ONLY way things get better to win this season is a roster for roster deal involving salaries above $3MM per player involved.

Stan has never made a big player deal. I'm not counting on one this year, or next, or any in the foreseeable future.

In the middle of a season in which both teams probably make the playoffs, Chicago and Vancouver fans are spending the day arguing why their team is more likely to...lose tonight. Man slumps really are something.
- Walky

So true. We dont want the win! Just take it please!

I'm a big Frolik fan, but given the situation I take Versteeg over Frolik 100% of the time.
- DarthKane

Not me....Fro over Steeger ALL DAY .

Still agree with JJ that Ladd would be a great tonic to help this team. But the Jets as we saw the other evening are starting to play better with a new coach - wonder how long before that wears off? And you're going to have to give to get. There's no way the Jets would take Bickell w/o TT - a kid they could build around.

Meanwhile the GM spent the summer handing out big paper and NMCs like candy. Not to mention another bad goalie signing. Turco now Khabby. I'm sure Stan would have loved to have Razor back this year, but it wasn't to be. And now with a tight budget he's got to see what he can get at the dollar store.

The 6th dman? 3 players - none of which can seem to get it done and you have an extra dman taking a spot that badly needs to have a forward in it instead which in turn means we regularly get Brookbank on the wing...yikes.

Another interesting night in Van this evening. Will the Canucks wake them up? Or will the streak continue?

In the middle of a season in which both teams probably make the playoffs, Chicago and Vancouver fans are spending the day arguing why their team is more likely to...lose tonight. Man slumps really are something.
- Walky

Yes tonights game has a very weird feel to it

Still agree with JJ that Ladd would be a great tonic to help this team. But the Jets as we saw the other evening are starting to play better with a new coach - wonder how long before that wears off? And you're going to have to give to get. There's no way the Jets would take Bickell w/o TT - a kid they could build around.

Meanwhile the GM spent the summer handing out big paper and NMCs like candy. Not to mention another bad goalie signing. Turco now Khabby. I'm sure Stan would have loved to have Razor back this year, but it wasn't to be. And now with a tight budget he's got to see what he can get at the dollar store.

The 6th dman? 3 players - none of which can seem to get it done and you have an extra dman taking a spot that badly needs to have a forward in it instead which in turn means we regularly get Brookbank on the wing...yikes.

Another interesting night in Van this evening. Will the Canucks wake them up? Or will the streak continue?
- DK002

Stan's got to leave himself and the fans a lot more leeway cap-wise. Not my job, don't have the answers, but we've got under $500K leeway according to capgeek....not even enough for a mani/pedi for Sharpie

If they put Bickell on waivers and someone claims him then the Hawks wold beoff the hook for his salary right ?


Just a hypathetical thought .....
- mrpaulish

Correct, but nobody would claim him.

Stan's got to leave himself and the fans a lot more leeway cap-wise. Not my job, don't have the answers, but we've got under $500K leeway according to capgeek....not even enough for a mani/pedi for Sharpie

- philco28

We say that now but: what would we have wanted him to do last summer, after the big Cup win?

Stiff Bickell? Probably not, except perhaps he could have signed him in March for less.

Stiff Crawford? Maybe, but the contract doesn't kick in until next year anyways.

Stiff Khabibulin? Certainly, could have saved $1MM with a different choice (Labarbara then?).

Stiff Leddy, Roszival, Brookbank? Maybe, but everyone was on board with keeping the best defense in the league in place.

And - why does Capgeek show the Hawks with only $495K available space?

Can't believe what I've read these past three pages, Hawks are currently the best team in the West mired in a small slump. They are on a collision course with Anaheim ( I believe) and will probably represent the West for the Cup. Relax.

How about the idea of Q throwing out his 4th line to start the game? Will that get a similar reaction to the Calgary game last week?


- EKolb13

Was thinking the same thing...funny....

Except with our lack of toughness, may turn into a dance off!!!!

We say that now but: what would we have wanted him to do last summer, after the big Cup win?

Stiff Bickell? Probably not, except perhaps he could have signed him in March for less.

Stiff Crawford? Maybe, but the contract doesn't kick in until next year anyways.

Stiff Khabibulin? Certainly, could have saved $1MM with a different choice (Labarbara then?).

Stiff Leddy, Roszival, Brookbank? Maybe, but everyone was on board with keeping the best defense in the league in place.

And - why does Capgeek show the Hawks with only $495K available space?
- StLBravesFan

I supported the Bickell deal as fair payment for what seemed like a breakthrough playoff season. I was elated to have him stay and the dollars seemed to be fair given that he's entering his prime. But as we all know, he's been a major disappointment to this point.

Every phuck'n year it seems...our greatest rival isn't Van, Stl, Ana or anyone else. It's the bloody 'cap.'

Can't believe what I've read these past three pages, Hawks are currently the best team in the West mired in a small slump. They are on a collision course with Anaheim ( I believe) and will probably represent the West for the Cup. Relax.
- OReilly24

Anaheim is the best in the West right now, St Louis is probably 2nd best - we're tied with 77 points but they have 3 games in hand. Even San Jose could pass us if they win their games in hand. Colorado would tie us if they win their extra games.

All is not lost, but this is more than a small slump.

Was thinking the same thing...funny....

Except with our lack of toughness, may turn into a dance off!!!!
- TrueGrit

But he's done that a couple of times already in the past couple of weeks.

Anaheim is the best in the West right now, St Louis is probably 2nd best - we're tied with 77 points but they have 3 games in hand. Even San Jose could pass us if they win their games in hand. Colorado would tie us if they win their extra games.

All is not lost, but this is more than a small slump.
- DarthKane

The defensive efforts vs Bos/Ana were excellent. The last 4 games not so much even though the team did only allow Minny 2 goals.

55 games in, these guys might just be bored of regular season hockey...after last season's whirlwind 48 in the reg and magical 23 in the playoffs.

Can't believe what I've read these past three pages, Hawks are currently the best team in the West mired in a small slump. They are on a collision course with Anaheim ( I believe) and will probably represent the West for the Cup. Relax.
- OReilly24

On a bit of a south park kick today...

Ummm I don't disagree with that assessment. Now is really the ideal time to slump. It sucks to drop points, especially against weaker teams, but at least there is a break coming up that will, at a minimum, provide a change of scenery for some of the lads.

I supported the Bickell deal as fair payment for what seemed like a breakthrough playoff season. I was elated to have him stay and the dollars seemed to be fair given that he's entering his prime. But as we all know, he's been a major disappointment to this point.

Every phuck'n year it seems...our greatest rival isn't Van, Stl, Ana or anyone else. It's the bloody 'cap.'

- philco28

Waive Kostka and there's $700K prorated; waiving Brookbank cuts another $1.3M; waive Roszival and Zus and there's more money. And then what do you do with the money to improve the team?

I supported the Bickell deal as fair payment for what seemed like a breakthrough playoff season. I was elated to have him stay and the dollars seemed to be fair given that he's entering his prime. But as we all know, he's been a major disappointment to this point.

Every phuck'n year it seems...our greatest rival isn't Van, Stl, Ana or anyone else. It's the bloody 'cap.'

- philco28

It's what happens to good teams in the cap era: you don't lose your core as much as you lose your depth, which is more important in the NHL than in any other league.

Hawks will always be able to pay Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, probably Saad in there at some point; you will lose your Bollands/Froliks/Leddys/etc.

I supported the Bickell deal as fair payment for what seemed like a breakthrough playoff season. I was elated to have him stay and the dollars seemed to be fair given that he's entering his prime. But as we all know, he's been a major disappointment to this point.

Every phuck'n year it seems...our greatest rival isn't Van, Stl, Ana or anyone else. It's the bloody 'cap.'

- philco28

Waive Kostka and there's $700K prorated; waiving Brookbank cuts another $1.3M; waive Roszival and Zus and there's more money. And then what do you do with the money to improve the team?