Indeed he is from Saskatchewan. Do you know Terry Woroniak? Cuz I think everyone in Saskatchewan knows each other.
- John Jaeckel

we don't know everyone but know someone who does! he's actually a woman' i work with neighbour. six degress of seperation is 1 degree here! specially when it comes to hockey.

Agreed 100% but I just don't see any large money coming this way unless they deal multiple large contracts back and get low money/prospects/picks.

I also think 8.5 is way low.....NHLPA needs those higher to slide in 2nd and 3rd tier guys. yeah long term means you give up dollars, but there are a LOT of eyes on those numbers from GMs to the players when that announcement comes out in early July.

You may see a lot of guys approach this year like 2010, knowing that IF they are still here in October it may be their last chance to win a cup in Chicago with the same group of guys.

I'll also be curiosu to see if any idiot beat writer does their homework and starts to realize just what faces this team in the next 12-13 months.
- SteveRain

8.5 is way low?????? Corey Perry is 8.5. So is Ryan Getzlaf….. I understand post season success counts and Toews is everything……. But Patrick kane is a one way player. Granted, the most exciting player I have ever seen, but I'm not breaking the bank for him.

With no 3rd or 4th line. Let us know how that turns out.
- Tanuki

...and no head coach as of yet. If I'm Kesler and can decide where I want to go, that's another important thing I'd would be weighing into my decision.

- UnnamedSource

Which pretty much leads us back to Frans Nielsen.

I feel like these retained salary proposals are akin to Ogi mentioning Lalonde's rights in every trade. I want to think it's a joke, but then I worry if they are actually serious.

They either go this offseason or next. Get a center to play with Kane, and fill the D with some Rock kids.
- powerenforcer

I'm not picking on you but I'm going to use your statement as an example...


Everyone.....know your team!

The Hawks team is built around defense......more or less defense creates offense. The whole transition game is built around the hawks d men getting the puck out their own end and up the ice.....if they get rid of Oduya and Leddy to get the great 2C everyone wants and plug those holes with rookies....the transition game is non existent....and therefore makes no difference who their 2C is......

8.5 is way low?????? Corey Perry is 8.5. So is Ryan Getzlaf….. I understand post season success counts and Toews is everything……. But Patrick kane is a one way player. Granted, the most exciting player I have ever seen, but I'm not breaking the bank for him.
- yahoodi

I wouldn't call $8.5 way low, but i would put it on the low end of the spectrum. I believe Toews and Kane will get Corsby/Ovechkin money. Somewhere between $8.5 to $9.5 million per for a cap hit.

Appears bowman sr has more input then I thought on player decisions. I'm sure he has connections. Is Purcell the guy in Tampa that can't be named??

Hawks want to get tougher not softer, while Spezza has a tonne of skill hes lacking in both grit and heart.
- SaskHawkFan

Ok, have you not seen Spezza play? That is just a fallacious statement.

Yes he floats in the D zone. Yes he forechecks kinda lackadaisically sometimes. However he is phenomenal down low and a monster within 10 feet of the goal.

Tough when he wants to be? Maybe but the points he puts up don't happen magically.

I think Snap it Upstairs has the number....8 years for 75 million.

70 million for 8 could be the low point, but that would be a steal for Bowman.

70-75 for 8 is the range...closer to 75 if I had a gun held to my head.
- SteveRain

From what I hear it will be between 8.75 & 9.25...take it for what it's worth.

Cap will be 70-71 this year.

May go up 6 million tops for the 2015-16 year. No higher.

So 77 is best case scenario. Probably closer to 76.

With that said, cap hell part deux is real. Wonder why the beat writers haveint addressed this?

I bet at the Hawks convention depending upon how LARGE those 19/88 AAVs turned out, you will hear a TON of hype for some prospects to start to get the masses excited.....
- SteveRain

This is not known. There have been several 10% cap increases in the past. Cap hell after 2010 was many important players - if there's a trade forced by the cap next summer it will be nowhere near as vast as 2010. Equating the two in not correct, imo, and is why the media hasn't talked about it.

we don't know everyone but know someone who does! he's actually a woman' i work with neighbour. six degress of seperation is 1 degree here! specially when it comes to hockey.
- SaskHawkFan

I've been to NWT, BC, ON, Manitoba, Quebec.

I want to go to Saskatchewan and catch a 45 inch pike. Or several. Before I die.

Yeah, let's get rid of Bollig so we are literally the softest team in the NHL with maybe 2 people who throw decent hits. So f****** sick of hearing people ripping on Bollig, he a fine 4th line forward on any team in my oppinion (as was agreed by MANY people on this board).
- Murph76

how'd that work out in the playoffs? Bollig is a joke I'd rather have any 4th liner from NYR or LA

Yeah...these trades are asinine....

Hey lets trade Bolig and Rundblad for Stamkos!!!!!


- SteveRain

It would have to be Stamkos +

Ok, have you not seen Spezza play? That is just a fallacious statement.

Yes he floats in the D zone. Yes he forechecks kinda lackadaisically sometimes. However he is phenomenal down low and a monster within 10 feet of the goal.

Tough when he wants to be? Maybe but the points he puts up don't happen magically.
- fattybeef

Yes i have seen him play, nhl centre ice allows me to watch games all over. have been watching him for years, big guy that plays small. im sure im not the only one that thinks that.

Yes i have seen him play, nhl centre ice allows me to watch games all over. have been watching him for years, big guy that plays small. im sure im not the only one that thinks that.
- SaskHawkFan

you are not

...and no head coach as of yet. If I'm Kesler and can decide where I want to go, that's another important thing I'd would be weighing into my decision.
- EKolb13

Except he can't force a trade, only where he goes if the team wants to trade him. Maybe the team is content to keep him unless they are knocked out by an offer by a team on his list?

I've been to NWT, BC, ON, Manitoba, Quebec.

I want to go to Saskatchewan and catch a 45 inch pike. Or several. Before I die.
- John Jaeckel

only a 45 inch? thats a minnow up north here! Well come for a week in the summer and fish and then in the winter we have 4 WHL teams within 3 hours of each other lots of good hockey to watch.

8.5 is way low?????? Corey Perry is 8.5. So is Ryan Getzlaf….. I understand post season success counts and Toews is everything……. But Patrick kane is a one way player. Granted, the most exciting player I have ever seen, but I'm not breaking the bank for him.
- yahoodi

I think the number is 70-75 million IF Bowman can get his max term deal.

19/88 have no comparables. Multiple cup winners, both won Conn Smythe, and honestly both have equal value in the playoffs. Both are CLUTCH. You can't let either walk. Bowman knows it. Brisson knows it. You know it. I know it. The drunk cougar in the aisle knows it.

8.75-9.375 is my guess.

If it's less then 8.75 19/88 took discounts, and should be showered with many thanks. Bowman as well.

If it's higher then 9.375 then Bowman got destroyed, and all hell will break loose next summer.

well Im sure he will wind up on a team that will be competing against us directly for a cup...i.e. Boston, Minnesota, St Louis San Jose......hes certainly not going to a doormat team thats for sure.

Lets try to stay rationale here...

Looking at the Hawks books....

1. We all read what Bowman said. he likes to view things 2-3 years out.
2. He said 19/88 is #1 priority and looking at the Hawks books you can see why.
3. So at the draft, IF he makes a major MOVE that tells you the 19/88 deals are done and are just a formality.

So for the sake of argument, lets pencil in 19/88 at 8.5 each. I think that's WAY low, but whatever. Every where I have read the cap will be 70-71 million based on final HRR numbers. Longer cup final goes, closer it creeps to 71. Lets say 71.

So as of today....you are at 66.429. You have 4.5 worth of space to sign Raanta, Smith, Morin. That's just THIS year. Say they magically make that work....but have little room left.

NEXT year.....cap has been said to jump another 6 million. So call it 77 million. When you add in 19/88 new deal...You have 67.283 locked up for 12 guys. Or you could say an additional 4 million bringing you up 71+ million for 15 guys (remember you got Raanta, Smith, Morin all under 14-15 cap for 4 million)

You then have all of 5+ million to sign......Kruger, Saad, Leddy, and Nordstrom. You are also letting Oduya, Rozsival walk...so you need to replace 2 more D men.

So again....how the hell do you add ALL these big salaries with not only trading a Sharp, but also a LEDDY and Oduya.

The internal debate right now may just very well be Oduya vs Leddy because after next year you can't keep both unless you trade another DECENT $$ Forward on top of Sharp.

So before we get all crazy with adding Stamkos OR Spezza or god knows who else....look at these numbers and make it work first......I just dont' see it happening UNLESS they trade TWO 4+ million CAP hit guys.

I also think Toews and Kane will cost an additional 1 million each...so as that number goes up...another current roster guy leaves.

Maybe Sharp realized that this spring, like Versteeg.Ladd/Buff all did I 2010 and it threw him off mentally. God only knows....but this cap thing is NOT good for the hawks, not unless some very cheap guys like Johns, TT, etc ALL slide in and contribute MIGHTLY.
- SteveRain

Could trade Sharp and Seabrook

Except he can't force a trade, only where he goes if the team wants to trade him. Maybe the team is content to keep him unless they are knocked out by an offer by a team on his list?
- mohel

Good point.

Still not sure though why people are in such a hurry to trade Patrick Sharp. He's a perennial 35-goal threat and not only contributes on the PP but he is strong on the puck, wins wall battles, is fast, and still has some years left.

I have no problem with the 'Hawks team as is, but if anyone is moved it should start with Leddy. Leddy is blocked by four d-men better than he is and a young d-man who can push the puck and provide some offense is a desired player in this league, especially for teams with lack of defense.

How about a Chicago/Phoenix deal involving Leddy/Hanzal? Hanzal is exactly what the Blackhawks need. He's about to enter his prime at 27, has EXCELLENT size at 6'6" and 230 lbs and he can hit. Play him in between Saad and Kane and let's see just how special he really is.

Of course, I highly doubt Phoenix wants to part with Hanzal, but if the rumors are true that they are indeed shopping Yandle, they will still need another good, young offensive d-man after OEL.

A Leddy/Hayes/2nd for Hanzal/4th works for me.
- TommyHawk

This is not known. There have been several 10% cap increases in the past. Cap hell after 2010 was many important players - if there's a trade forced by the cap next summer it will be nowhere near as vast as 2010. Equating the two in not correct, imo, and is why the media hasn't talked about it.
- mohel

I'm going by articles I have read by guys in the know who have been dead nuts on the cap numbers in the past. He said 6 million increase next year. Even at 10%, they are still up against a wall.

We'll see what happens after July 1, but I think more then just Sharp OR Oduya will be going. I think it will be 2, maybe even 3.

Tampa Bay centers I would enjoy to see are Johnson, Killorn, and Thompson. I don't think the Hawks need a Nate Thompson type player. He has skill and is responsible two ways but not exactly a perfect ideal fit, especially since Shaw, Kruger, Nordstrom and maybe one other Rockford guy can hold down centering the bottom two lines. Tyler Johnson is a Calder Trophy guy and had a good year. Killorn also had a pretty descent year. I think if the Hawks are moving from Kesler they should make a descent offer for Spezza. Sharp, prospect and mid round for Spezza with Ottawa splitting the difference on the salary and a conditional pick. Make the condition something like 3rd Round pick, drops to a 5th if he resigns with the hawks, 1st round if he doesn't. Obviously Bowman and Murray can fight over that but lets start there. If Oduya gets moved, move him to Florida with Kevin Hayes and the Hawks first with another Rockford guy for Florida's first and take Aaron Ekblad. Kid is an absolute monster. 53 points last season and second player ever to be granted exceptional status in the OHL.

well Im sure he will wind up on a team that will be competing against us directly for a cup...i.e. Boston, Minnesota, St Louis San Jose......hes certainly not going to a doormat team thats for sure.
- imissroenick

Hi. Who?