RE: Sharp. First clue he is being dealt was his house was the Cup's first stop. He gone, and it is FLA or TO. Beggars can't be choosers from the Hawks' end, so you worry less about return and more about the salary dump. They will get what they get given that Sharp has some leverage on his destination.

RE: Crawford......if he has to go (if $71MM cap not happening he must), Niemi is the only UFA out there I would sign, and that would not be a bad thing. Darling is not quite ready, and a vet would be preferable. Not sure when the NMC kicks in, but if it is a factor, he will be much more difficult to move. Would you go to EDM???

Eichel: “entitled and kind of a jack a--.”

Reminds me of Kane a bit... I'll take it.

It would be disappointing. But, even if you have to eat $1.5mil, that other $2.5mil can be used for a Desi or Richie or, hell, 2 or 3 rooks that will probably be up next year.

Also, rumblings of the Hawks being a front-runner for Reilly if he doesn't sign with the Jackets which doesn't look likely. And the Hawks are desperate for a lefty on the blue line.
- 1mbecker

How many years would that buy-out penalty of $1.5M be on the Hawks books - 4?

I'll also add this............and I expect to get some heat from it.

Crawford's F bomb again yesterday after being told to keep it clean, can't help matters. Guy beats to his own drum, but given that and his "accident" at a concert earlier this year........starts to develop a pattern. Those are off ice concerns and with a president who is VERY imagine conscience.........something to think about.

On the ice, Crawford has NO doubt PROVED what an asset he his. However, can this organization justify keeping him and dealing an additional 1-2 guys on top of Bickell and Sharp IF the cap comes in lower then anticipated? Especially if they believe in Darling and Raanta? There lies the debate that no doubt will be going on inside 1901 w Madison. Especially since 50s stock will NEVER be higher then it is RIGHT now.

If the Hawks have to buyout Bickell they are in tall cotton...As in screwsville.
- Al

Screwsville.

Just what I'm hearing. I think Niemi's camp has approached the Hawks as a place he'd like to be. I am told the Hawks would look hard at it if they move Crawford.
- John Jaeckel

Maybe with Niemi but unlikely IMO.

Why would they have stockpiled Darling, Raanta, Nilsson and the Russian kid from the KHL and then listen on Niemi unless he is willing to play for about $1.5M?

Why would Toronto want Sharp?
- jfkst1

Babcock has a lot of experience with him for one, and would have to have a positive impression. Babcock also doesn't have a lot of "his" kind of guys in that dressing room right now.

A veteran who can role model the way Babcock wants to play, his system, his ethic? Patrick Sharp. Absolutely. And I think Sharp would waive to go there.

Eichel: “entitled and kind of a jack a--.”

Reminds me of Kane a bit... I'll take it.
- jochfr

Agreed. Most of them all are cocky and punks when they are drafted. I'm sure Eichel will be very good.

At what point does an Oiler fan give up? My lord. How many top picks do you need before you reload? RNH, Yakupov, Hall, and now McDavid?

I'm looking for it now but I thought I read this morning the Hawks would take a $1.5mil hit if they bought him out.
- 1mbecker

Yes $1.5 mill for 4 more years!

Bickell will be a Flame...

If the Hawks have to buyout Bickell they are in tall cotton...As in screwsville.
- Al

Agreed. I don't see that happening. If anything Bowman will throw a sweetener in there to seal that deal. His price may be too high, but that's his own fault for signing that clown to that asinine contract and being pushed into a corner in the summer of 2013.

Maybe with Niemi but unlikely IMO.

Why would they have stockpiled Darling, Raanta, Nilsson and the Russian kid from the KHL and then listen on Niemi unless he is willing to play for about $1.5M?
- RickJ

Need depth in the system at that spot. It ensures competition, and keeps salary for that position lower over time.

Niemi will not get a big contract to return.

If you mean salary back like Karl Alzner

That would be too good to be true

John Jaeckel: Rumors Now Flying
- John Jaeckel

Eichel may be an ass, but he will be our ass



beats having john scott and pat kaleta on our team

Maybe with Niemi but unlikely IMO.

Why would they have stockpiled Darling, Raanta, Nilsson and the Russian kid from the KHL and then listen on Niemi unless he is willing to play for about $1.5M?
- RickJ

Has Nilsson re-upped with his KHL club yet?

Babcock has a lot of experience with him for one, and would have to have a positive impression. Babcock also doesn't have a lot of "his" kind of guys in that dressing room right now.

A veteran who can role model the way Babcock wants to play, his system, his ethic? Patrick Sharp. Absolutely. And I think Sharp would waive to go there.
- John Jaeckel

Will be interesting to see what they do with their $8 mill and $7 mill cap hits this summer...

Yes $1.5 mill for 4 more years!
- Al

actual cap hit in the 1st 2 years would only be $1M

2nd 2 years @ $1.5M

As I understand it, we already used up our buyouts. Buying out Bickell does not give us much cap relief. There may be some relief I think but not the full $4M - not sure how much if any. Any one know for sure?
- FourOrr

Yes, the Hawks have used their two "amnesty" buy outs afforded when the new CBA was settled. Those two don't count against the cap. The Hawks (and any other team) can execute a normal contract buyout - with a portion of the contract counting against the team's cap for a pro-rated number of years.

I think the hit with Bickell's buy out would be $1.5 for the next 4 years? I'll have to look that up.

Saw the NHL Network thing following Eichel, McDavid, Noah, etc going into the Hawks and Lightning dressing rooms during the finals and meeting some players. I'm neutral on Eichel as far as demeanor (at least from that piece). And confidence can sometimes be mistaken as arrogance etc.

I'm sure the vets of any team will put him in his place.

Agreed. I don't see that happening. If anything Bowman will throw a sweetener in there to seal that deal. His price may be too high, but that's his own fault for signing that clown to that asinine contract and being pushed into a corner in the summer of 2013.
- SteveRain

Situation where they couldn't afford to let Bickell go back then as they have repeatedly failed to develop his type....

Cap not increasing as much is a big issue and now the fact they have 2 players they have to dump and both are coming off poor seasons doesn't help the return.

GM's hate to buy anyone out...Bickell as bad as he was still led the playoffs in hits...He can be moved.

Yes, the Hawks have used their two "amnesty" buy out afforded when the new CBA was settled. Those two don't count against the cap. The Hawks (and any other team) can execute a normal contract buyout - with a portion of the contract counting against the team's cap for a pro-rated number of years.
- Chief4Feathers

Amnesty buyouts had to be used last summer. It was use them or lose them, if I'm not mistaken.

Babcock has a lot of experience with him for one, and would have to have a positive impression. Babcock also doesn't have a lot of "his" kind of guys in that dressing room right now.

A veteran who can role model the way Babcock wants to play, his system, his ethic? Patrick Sharp. Absolutely. And I think Sharp would waive to go there.
- John Jaeckel

i guess, but i hope not.

i would hope the leafs could find a ufa or a bigger bargain salary cap cast off to play that role.

if it did go down, and salary was going back, not sure what players on the toronto roster would fit in chicago.

Babcock has a lot of experience with him for one, and would have to have a positive impression. Babcock also doesn't have a lot of "his" kind of guys in that dressing room right now.

A veteran who can role model the way Babcock wants to play, his system, his ethic? Patrick Sharp. Absolutely. And I think Sharp would waive to go there.
- John Jaeckel

Not to mention another original six team. If Toronto acquired Sharp, I could see him being named captain day 1.

actual cap hit in the 1st 2 years would only be $1M

2nd 2 years @ $1.5M
- Tumbleweed

Okay becasue salary changes as I didn't look closely...

But still a lot dough to carry for a cap limit team.

i guess, but i hope not.

i would hope the leafs could find a ufa or a bigger bargain salary cap cast off to play that role.

if it did go down, and salary was going back, not sure what players on the toronto roster would fit in chicago.
- Tumbleweed

Any thoughts on Kadri relative to Leafs management and Babcock? It seemed as an outsider that he was falling out of favor and maybe having some issues.