So the Hawks are in Florida tonight....Tampa Bay tomorrow night....

I doubt any deal of a rostered player is announced before Saturday....unless the trade partners are TB or the Panthers...the logistics might not work

I do think a player in the A and pick deal could be announced....

No one has been a bigger critic of StanBo than I, but he is in somewhat of a no win situation. He had to sign #19 and #88 to the deals he did. After winning the cup and the impact #29 had, there would have been an outcry if he didn't get a new deal. You can argue #50's extension but at the time, locking him up looked like the right move.
Now you can argue the amounts, but not knowing what the player was using as leverage is something only StanBo and the agent know.
- DMCsPulledHammy

It was and it still is. Starting goalies go for around $6 million per year. Crawford has been one of our best players since signing that deal and he's been worth it. People want a $3-$4 million goalie? Take a look at Pavelec, that's what you'll get at that price.

About leverage - I agree. None of us are present for contract negotiations, which makes it easy to say that Stan should have signed Crawford for $4 million or Toews for $9 million. That's what we all want, but it's not realistic. Who amongst us are master negotiators or at the very least negotiate contracts for a living? It's not as easy as it seems and there's always give and take.

Good point Al...will be listening to today.

I agree, i don't think mortgaging the future would be the way to go. But according to most rumors, the pieces going are Raanta & Danualt/Hartman with a couple of picks.

Not what i would call mortgaging the future...AND they will rebuild a lot of that future with the returns for any combo of Sharp/Bickell/CC/Shaw this off season...
- dsav123

Not to be a jerk, but please spell out for me what that means.

Bergenheim and Tlusty went very cheap and both would have helped this team with no commitment going forward. That was a miss IMO.

Vermette - who knows what the cost is but for sure Maloney is shooting for a home run. The Hawks won't likely be the team to give him that regardless.
- RickJ

From about 6 weeks ago and for many reasons Vermette was the top tick of rentals...Cost will be high.

It was and it still is. Starting goalies go for around $6 million per year. Crawford has been one of our best players since signing that deal and he's been worth it. People want a $3-$million goalie? Take a look at Pavelec, that's what you'll get at that price.

About leverage - I agree. None of us are present for contract negotiations, which makes it easy to say that Stan should have signed Crawford for $4 million or Toews for $9 million. That's what we all want, but it's not realistic. Who amongst us are master negotiators or at the very least negotiate contracts for a living? It's not as easy as it seems and there's always give and take.
- DarthKane

Well, you might be surprised who would argue with you on that. To be continued . . . later.

Good article. I realize that it's a tough decision to make but that's why he makes the big bucks.

I didn't feel like we could compete for a Cup without adding defense even before Kane went down and now I'm sure of it.

So the truest thing you ever said was that we either need to be buyers or sellers. Either we are willing to pay the iron price and try to win it all this year or we need to sell off enough to fix next years cap mess and maybe help ourselves going forward.

There is no in between.

Good article. I realize that it's a tough decision to make but that's why he makes the big bucks.

I didn't feel like we could compete for a Cup without adding defense even before Kane went down and now I'm sure of it.

So the truest thing you ever said was that we either need to be buyers or sellers. Either we are willing to pay the iron price and try to win it all this year or we need to sell off enough to fix next years cap mess and maybe help ourselves going forward.

There is no in between.
- kissthecup22

This

Great article JJ. Perfect Piece.

I for one, still fail to see Bowman doing anything. He gets cold feet when he has to bid against other teams and making trades.

My guess is they add one Dman which causes all of us to shrug our shoulders at because he's nothing more than a spot starter on the 3rd pairing and Bowman says he is happy with the makeup of the team. Same broken record.

Until he proves otherwise....

Good article. I realize that it's a tough decision to make but that's why he makes the big bucks.

I didn't feel like we could compete for a Cup without adding defense even before Kane went down and now I'm sure of it.

So the truest thing you ever said was that we either need to be buyers or sellers. Either we are willing to pay the iron price and try to win it all this year or we need to sell off enough to fix next years cap mess and maybe help ourselves going forward.

There is no in between.
- kissthecup22

Right, if they stand pat, they will be over a barrel again this summer. No leverage, and nothing to show for this season, which could be their last shot for a while.

Not to be a jerk, but please spell out for me what that means.
- John Jaeckel

it's clear that some people want to give up a lot to get some rentals this year...and i was commenting on Al's post discussing whether it was wise for SB to give up a lot to get some rentals (mortgaging the future, giving up on future talent to win now...not my term but not the first one to use it either).

anyway, i was saying that Raanta & Danualt/Hartman and 2 picks (which has been pointed out as pieces that would likely be moved in trades for Vermette and Petry) is not too much...i.e.; not "mortgaging the future"

Great article JJ. Perfect Piece.

I for one, still fail to see Bowman doing anything. He gets cold feet when he has to bid against other teams and making trades.

My guess is they add one Dman which causes all of us to shrug our shoulders at because he's nothing more than a spot starter on the 3rd pairing and Bowman says he is happy with the makeup of the team. Same broken record.

Until he proves otherwise....
- CaptainInsano

Agree with you cap but this year feels like HE HAS to make serious deals to stay aflot and try to.win.

McDonough needs to wall paper Rocky's office with this.

Bowman has done zip in 5 years.

I live in LA. Every night I sit at Staples and watch Carter I just cringe.

And I live in LA. Every night I watch Kesler in a Ducks uni I just cringe.

And I will hit 8 Hawks games this year. Every night I watch Richards in a Hawks uni I just throw up.... but I do it very very very slowly.

It's a tough call but I would give up on this year. I realize the next couple of years won't be pretty, but I would work to make them better as opposed to this year. There's no assurance that a tweak this team's roster was going to get them over the hump and now without Kaner, I just can't see it.

A trade like the rumored Sharp/Bickell/Hartman for Huberdeau/Petrovic/Upshall would fall into the "improve the future" category. Whatever your disappointment in Sharp and Bickell, for this year, that trade makes the team worse but in the future, could bode well for the Hawks. I wouldn't have made that trade a week ago, but I do now.

Right, if they stand pat, they will be over a barrel again this summer. No leverage, and nothing to show for this season, which could be their last shot for a while.
- John Jaeckel

Cant believe they was a HOSSAtron... season.


I think he will get it done because who else would trade for Vermette and Petry right now ?

The problem is that I'm not convinced that the Blackhawks current roster - Kane + Vermette + Petry = a net improvement over the roster before Kane's injury. If that means that the Blackhawks aren't really a Cup contender this year, it seems like a waste to part with picks/prospects to chase an illusion - regardless of the less-than-certain nature of drafting and prospect development.

it's clear that some people want to give up a lot to get some rentals this year...and i was commenting on Al's post discussing whether it was wise for SB to give up a lot to get some rentals (mortgaging the future, giving up on future talent to win now...not my term but not the first one to use it either).

anyway, i was saying that Raanta & Danualt/Hartman and 2 picks (which has been pointed out as pieces that would likely be moved in trades for Vermette and Petry) is not too much...i.e.; not "mortgaging the future"
- dsav123

Ok, thx, I would agree

Because here's the deal, they might like Vermette and Petry for beyond this year, and would have first negotiating rights on extensions.

Ok, thx, I would agree

Because here's the deal, they might like Vermette and Petry for beyond this year, and would have first negotiating rights on extensions.
- John Jaeckel

Are GMs allowed to speak with players they covet during a negotiating process? For example Stan asks AZ GM to speak with Vermette because he only wants to trade for him IF Vermette is willing to explore an extension?

It's a tough call but I would give up on this year. I realize the next couple of years won't be pretty, but I would work to make them better as opposed to this year. There's no assurance that a tweak this team's roster was going to get them over the hump and now without Kaner, I just can't see it.

A trade like the rumored Sharp/Bickell/Hartman for Huberdeau/Petrovic/Upshall would fall into the "improve the future" category. Whatever your disappointment in Sharp and Bickell, for this year, that trade makes the team worse but in the future, could bode well for the Hawks. I wouldn't have made that trade a week ago, but I do now.
- RomanF

Right, then be sellers in a sellers market. Agreed, if they decide they can't win this year that is the smart move.

Agree with you cap but this year feels like HE HAS to make serious deals to stay aflot and try to.win.
- mrpaulish

Mrpaulish I completely agree with you. I just don't see him as the type to make those trades. Ever. History suggests he adds minor pieces..

Honestly, I'd like to see Sharp shipped out (or Bickell).. and bring in a 2C and a quality D.. but I just can't see Bowman doing it.

A huge theme of the article, and it applies to other sports as well, particularly the NBA: Draft picks and future considerations are overvalued relative to established players. You think of a first round pick as a future star on your team, and it's hard to part with future stars on cheap contracts for veteran players who cost cap money. But the reality is, not many of those future stars are actually future stars, and you're often better off getting a good player now than gambling on an uncertain future.

Right, if they stand pat, they will be over a barrel again this summer. No leverage, and nothing to show for this season, which could be their last shot for a while.
- John Jaeckel

The counter-argument is that the Kane injury has irrevocably taken them out of true Cup contender status, regardless of the rental pieces available. If you accept that premise (which is arguable, I know) and acknowledge that next year is a "retooling" year due to Capocalypse II, I'd rather let this season play out and hoard my highest-end prospects in hopes that they will come through next season. Otherwise, you are sending your best assets out for returns that still don't make you a Cup contender this year, and you put yourself in a worse situation next season and beyond.

So the Hawks are in Florida tonight....Tampa Bay tomorrow night....

I doubt any deal of a rostered player is announced before Saturday....unless the trade partners are TB or the Panthers...the logistics might not work

I do think a player in the A and pick deal could be announced....
- ChicagoDave

Unfortunately, there isn't a ton of time for teams to be worried about logistics. They can get players from the A to FLA in no time if need. I agree, a lot of moving parts, but with little demand, Stan must act quickly (<- which, is not his forte).

Isn't that more readily accomplished around draft day though?...it just seems, that, the situation of unexpected injuries, tragedies, and future cap concerns give mngment both a reason and an excuse to not make major changes until offseason.

I wanted vermette years ago...but I agree with Al, the prospects you trade for someone like vermette are supposed to be the cheap prospects that play for us next year after vermette is gone.
- miked23

I'd like to believe that to be true and that those prospects will be called up and get significant time, but I think it's clear that it just doesn't happen within the Hawks organization. I can understand why guys like the Hayes bros, Pirri, etc. might want to go elsewhere. It's tough for guys to crack the roster, so if you can go to a team like Florida, AZ, EDM, etc., etc., you have a much better chance at getting an opportunity and certainly more reps with the big club, rather than potentially wasting away in Rockford.

I say trade for Vermette if you can. Might cost some prospects, I say go for it. Odds are, you would never see those guys in a Hawks sweater anyways, you know?

You seem to have missed my point - read further on - the second three championships (IMO) were problematic without a major move by Krause.
- StLBravesFan

Yep - I had totally missed it.

McDonough needs to wall paper Rocky's office with this.

Bowman has done zip in 5 years.

I live in LA. Every night I sit at Staples and watch Carter I just cringe.

And I live in LA. Every night I watch Kesler in a Ducks uni I just cringe.

And I will hit 8 Hawks games this year. Every night I watch Richards in a Hawks uni I just throw up.... but I do it very very very slowly.
- jjcbeme

That's a little over the edge. Kesler is a player I'd rather have, but Richards hasn't been awful. Points wise they are withing 4 of each other and Kesler has played more games. Plus, Richards is less than 50% cost.