Disagree all you want, its the other way around for this defence-first team. Duncs runs all over the ice cuz Seabs is sound defencively. Hammer and JO help keep DK's TOI from looking like Suter's and Seabs stay-home ability affords DK the chance to move the puck even more.
- blackhawk24

Really not what I see. That left side of the ice for the Hawks has been a black hole and a lot of that has been all #2. 7 is no the best at 2v1.

If they think they can sign him for 25 over 4 years then they probably should and deal with breaking in kids next year in the bottom pairings. If he commands over 7 then I don't think that makes sense. Anything over 4 years I think is excessive.

Otherwise, he gets the most stuff back for the salary involved.

The team won't be "dismantled" - assuming they can "dump" Sharp and Bickell, that saves something over $8MM net - Roszival (if not resigned) gets you another $1MM net - so losing one top-6 forward, one bottom-6 forward, and one third-pairing defenseman saves them about $9MM. With any luck, that could be enough.

The trick may be to get Sharp to waive his NTC or whatever he has, and you might not get much back for Sharp and Bickell, but you still have the guts of a competitive team there (if maybe not a Cup-competing team for the year or two it would take to bring the youngsters up to NHL speed, including TvR).

Of course, if the Looney drops to US$.75, all bets are off.

The Toews and Kane contracts will never be "bargains" - they will be workable within three years.
- StLBravesFan

You or someone else might be able to answer this...

Given the talk about next season's cap possible not increasing by much or not at all, what are the chances of a salary rollback happening? Much like what was done after the '04-'05 lockout when player salaries were rolled back 24%.

Is that a possibility within the language of the current CBA or not?

Really not what I see. That left side of the ice for the Hawks has been a black hole and a lot of that has been all #2. 7 is no the best at 2v1.

If they think they can sign him for 25 over 4 years then they probably should and deal with breaking in kids next year in the bottom pairings. If he commands over 7 then I don't think that makes sense. Anything over 4 years I think is excessive.

Otherwise, he gets the most stuff back for the salary involved.
- fattybeef

Huh?

This is what worries me. In the beginning of these contracts the team will decimated because of the cap and then in the latter phase the 2 players will be less effective.
- 67hawks

The team will be hurt, but not decimated if a de ent percentage of the youngsters develop into NHL contributors.

In 3 years, Toews and Kane will be 29.

The team will be hurt, but not decimated if a de ent percentage of the youngsters develop into NHL contributors.

In 3 years, Toews and Kane will be 29.
- StLBravesFan

More importantly. If Q plays them.

You or someone else might be able to answer this...

Given the talk about next season's cap possible not increasing by much or not at all, what are the chances of a salary rollback happening? Much like what was done after the '04-'05 lockout when player salaries were rolled back 24%.

Is that a possibility within the language of the current CBA or not?
- EKolb13

There is approximately ZERO CHANCE IN HELL that the NHLPA would agree to a salary rollback of any kind. ZERO. Nor should they.

You or someone else might be able to answer this...

Given the talk about next season's cap possible not increasing by much or not at all, what are the chances of a salary rollback happening? Much like what was done after the '04-'05 lockout when player salaries were rolled back 24%.

Is that a possibility within the language of the current CBA or not?
- EKolb13

I do t know - the rollback happened when the cap first came in, right? Some very high salaries before that (wasn't Iginla over $10MM back then?) had to be rolled back otherwise the whole system would collapse.

I would thin now - just a diminished cap.

I do t know - the rollback happened when the cap first came in, right? Some very high salaries before that (wasn't Iginla over $10MM back then?) had to be rolled back otherwise the whole system would collapse.

I would thin now - just a diminished cap.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, the "rollback" happened when the salary cap first came into existence.

I was just curious if there was some agreement/provision to rollback salaries in the current CBA. I have my doubts that the NHLPA would ever agree to something like that within the current CBA. Given that the League was able to get a rollback on salaries during the last lockout, I figured that maybe something like that might have a slim chance of existing.

The team will be hurt, but not decimated if a decent percentage of the youngsters develop into NHL contributors.

In 3 years, Toews and Kane will be 29.
- StLBravesFan

They also won't be the highest paid guys in the game, maybe not even top-5.

As to the question of the blog, yeah the 'Hawks are the best team in the NHL right now. Any other team in the conversation is a team the 'Hawks just beat. Unless you really want to bet on the Pens.

Who knows what happened in Ottawa. I always thought MacLean did more with less.

Who knows what happened in Ottawa. I always thought MacLean did more with less.
- John Jaeckel

Maybe he expected Karlsson to play defense.

Maybe he expected Karlsson to play defense.
- Elbows15

haha

Who knows what happened in Ottawa. I always thought MacLean did more with less.
- John Jaeckel

Just checked out the Jared Crozier Sens blog. He says the players claimed he changed after he won the top coach award 2 years ago. Interesting read.

BTW, that bum Crawford is pulling down the team's save %

Maybe he expected Karlsson to play defense.
- Elbows15

Well, game against Vancouver:

When Karlsson was on the ice:

Sens had 52 Shot Attempts; Van had 17.

Karlsson had 23 shot attempts himself.

If you control the puck like that, you have less need for defense.

Well, game against Vancouver:

When Karlsson was on the ice:

Sens had 52 Shot Attempts; Van had 17.

Karlsson had 23 shot attempts himself.

If you control the puck like that, you have less need for defense.
- StLBravesFan

Ya, guessing that might have had something to do with 7 OTT power plays and Karlsson getting 08:40 in PP time. Just a hunch.

Well, game against Vancouver:

When Karlsson was on the ice:

Sens had 52 Shot Attempts; Van had 17.

Karlsson had 23 shot attempts himself.

If you control the puck like that, you have less need for defense.
- StLBravesFan

That would be a lot of shots from a defenseman, no?

It might have something to do with all the odd man breaks the Canucks had when Karlsson was on the ice.

Ya, guessing that might have had something to do with 7 OTT power plays and Karlsson getting 08:40 in PP time. Just a hunch.
- John Jaeckel

Still....

Who knows what happened in Ottawa. I always thought MacLean did more with less.
- John Jaeckel

You have to blame management there for not drafting and developing players - there were never any additions that changed anything.

You have to have NHL forwards with scoring ability and it isn't like they have drafted poorly from 2006 on but they truly haven't been able to get any drafted player who wasn't taken early to find a roster spot.

They are waiting on two of there three first rounders from 2011.

Jared Cowen is still developing.

Cody Ceci was a reach on draft day and still is.

Karlsson is an offenseman but seems to always hurt them at crucial times thinking offense only (ah first)

Curis Lazar is a nice player not there yet.

Mika Zibanejad just last week started looking like he may have a pulse.

But it only takes looking at the departures against the adds and you see their GM didn't make them all that better with Batman Turris.

And hey let's go out out early and decide that Ben Bishop is NOT our future and Robin Lehner is...and then GO OUT and re-up BOTH Goalies to fat deals for average if you had one goalie total of 6,425,000...reasonable...IF the goalies were interested in playing part time for the next three and half seasons....

MacLean was always a hardass who expected players to run through walls for him, and the message probably got stale...

You all know Patrick Sharp is in on Tuesday right?

Scott Darling starting.

You have to blame management there for not drafting and developing players - there were never any additions that changed anything.

You have to have NHL forwards with scoring ability and it isn't like they have drafted poorly from 2006 on but they truly haven't been able to get any drafted player who wasn't taken early to find a roster spot.

They are waiting on two of there three first rounders from 2011.

Jared Cowen is still developing.

Cody Ceci was a reach on draft day and still is.

Karlsson is an offenseman but seems to always hurt them at crucial times thinking offense only (ah first)

Curis Lazar is a nice player not there yet.

Mika Zibanejad just last week started looking like he may have a pulse.

But it only takes looking at the departures against the adds and you see their GM didn't make them all that better with Batman Turris.

And hey let's go out out early and decide that Ben Bishop is NOT our future and Robin Lehner is...and then GO OUT and re-up BOTH Goalies to fat deals for average if you had one goalie total of 6,425,000...reasonable...IF the goalies were interested in playing part time for the next three and half seasons....

MacLean was always a hardass who expected players to run through walls for him, and the message probably got stale...
- wiz1901

Lowest cap hit in the league - $56MM - but - Nashville and Calgary are also under $60MM and they're doing ok (so far).

You have to blame management there for not drafting and developing players - there were never any additions that changed anything.

You have to have NHL forwards with scoring ability and it isn't like they have drafted poorly from 2006 on but they truly haven't been able to get any drafted player who wasn't taken early to find a roster spot.

They are waiting on two of there three first rounders from 2011.

Jared Cowen is still developing.

Cody Ceci was a reach on draft day and still is.

Karlsson is an offenseman but seems to always hurt them at crucial times thinking offense only (ah first)

Curis Lazar is a nice player not there yet.

Mika Zibanejad just last week started looking like he may have a pulse.

But it only takes looking at the departures against the adds and you see their GM didn't make them all that better with Batman Turris.

And hey let's go out out early and decide that Ben Bishop is NOT our future and Robin Lehner is...and then GO OUT and re-up BOTH Goalies to fat deals for average if you had one goalie total of 6,425,000...reasonable...IF the goalies were interested in playing part time for the next three and half seasons....

MacLean was always a hardass who expected players to run through walls for him, and the message probably got stale...
- wiz1901

The owner Eugene Melynk talks a big game but he's really a minor leaguer. I think Bryan Murray's hands are tied most of the time.

Valid point on the goaltender signings. I was surprised they got Bobby Ryan to sign a long deal there after Spezza walked.

I think Maclean probably got sick of the nonsense there and isn't all that disappointed in getting the can tied to him. Babcock will give him a job sooner or later.

They also won't be the highest paid guys in the game, maybe not even top-5.

As to the question of the blog, yeah the 'Hawks are the best team in the NHL right now. Any other team in the conversation is a team the 'Hawks just beat. Unless you really want to bet on the Pens.
- RomanF

Look at the upcoming three FA classes

Only Stamkos for sure, and MAYBE Hedman and Kopitar will eclipse the T+K contract numbers

They will still have top 5 cap hits in three years time

You all know Patrick Sharp is in on Tuesday right?

Scott Darling starting.
- wiz1901

Where does Sharp slot into the line up, and who sits?

In addition, could Darling push the organization to trade Raanta?

Where does Sharp slot into the line up?

In addition, could Darling push the organization to trade Raanta?
- EKolb13

You misspelled CRAWFORD