From what I believe MexicoHawk mentioned in a different blog that a Stars offer of picks & prospects was turned down at the draft by Bowman. He really (frank)ed this one up big time.
- Dannyboy

I was really trying to give StanBo the benefit of the doubt… but JJ said in a blog after the draft that StanBo shot himself in the foot… I think that was correct. If the Hawks really wanted to move Sharp, Bickell, and Versteeg ($12M) to retain Oduya, Kruger, and Saad (at $11M total), then yes, StanBo shot himself in the foot…

I think the calculation is different, though, partly because of the price of oil globally. Someone else (sorry for not crediting you) posted the falling of the Canadian dollar… I think the cap is going down next year which is BAD news for the top teams but good news for league parity, perhaps.

The calculation really is cost certainty now for younger players, just as JJ mentioned around the time of the Saad trade. Hence, the $.4M savings between Daley and Oduya. The trust is there that Daley, like Oduya, will benefit from the Hawks system and be a much more effective pivot on the anemic power play.

Sharp ($6M), Saad ($6M) and Richards ($3M, possibly 4) are replaced by Anisimov, Dano, and Teuvo/Panarin for $5.1M.

Whoever said at the end of the last blog that Bickell may be here is correct… Perhaps the trade speculation makes him angry and he gets something going. I don't know… Someone else also said that we should consider the overall talent level from this past year to next year. It was something like:

Sharp-Toews-Hossa vs. Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Richards-Kane vs. Dano-Anisimov-Kane
Versteeg-Vermette-Teravainen vs. Bickell-Kruger-Teravainen
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw vs. Desjardins-Tikhonov-Garbutt

The forward lines assume Versteeg and Shaw are dealt and Bickell remains… Nevertheless, in talent alone, it's still pretty good for the Hawks.

Defense:

Keith-Seabrook vs. Keith-Seabrook
Hammer-Oduya vs. Hammer-Daley
TVR-Roszival vs. TVR-Rundblad

The key here is that we need to find a replacement for Roszival… Rundblad is not going to cut it.

Given what I've said about the cap, I say deal Crawford now… don't wait until the cap goes down and he is an albatross…

Should of moved Oduya out of the division. Could come back to bit you in the ass given how close all the teams are.
- Gerk

He was a free agent. How could the Hawks have "moved" him?

Rosy was playing fairly decent at 38 years old. That is SEVEN years from now for Seabs. Seabrook is a way better player than Rosy. He'll drop off, but it won't be terrible and even if the Hawks are paying Seabrook 7 million in 7 years the cap will have gone up and we will probably have flushed some other overpaid guys by then. Stan has all that time to work his magic....keep 2, 7, 4, 88, 81, and 19 and I think things will be fine. I have NO issue paying Seabs top dollar...he already gets top dollar and has been absolute MONEY for this team. In short, that boy EARNED his paycheck. An extension for him would make this summer of suck a hell of a lot less salty.
- kwolf68

Try to envision yourself in 5 years if Seabrook isn't capable of being in the lineup any more. What names would you be calling Bowman for not having the foresight in this signing? Now I will do the same if Seabrook is still playing well after 4 years but the Hawks were unable to sign him. Now consider Bowman's dilemma!

Should of moved Oduya out of the division. Could come back to bit you in the ass given how close all the teams are.
- Gerk

Why? You're speaking about the guy as he's an elite/top-of-the-line defensive player. The guy the Hawks got back is just as capable.

Top 15 (in last years salary) remaining/unsigned UFA defenseman.

Player Position Shoots Team Age Cap Hit
Sergei Gonchar D Left MTL 40 $5,000,000
Lubomir Visnovsky D Left NYI 38 $4,750,000
Andrej Meszaros D Left BUF 29 $4,125,000
Christian Ehrhoff D Left PIT 32 $4,000,000
Eric Brewer D Left TOR 35 $3,875,000
Bryan Allen D Left MTL 34 $3,500,000
Cody Franson D Right NSH 27 $3,300,000
Jan Hejda D Left COL 36 $3,250,000
Bryce Salvador D Left NJD 38 $3,166,666
Marek Zidlicky D Right DET 37 $3,000,000
Jordan Leopold D Left MIN 34 $2,250,000
Ryan Wilson D Left COL 27 $2,250,000
Michal Rozsival D Right CHI 36 $2,200,000
John Erskine D Left WSH 34 $1,962,500
Mike Weaver D Right MTL 36 $1,750,000

That's why I would do it... and also why Kesler's is a greater risk. How many physical centers can keep it up into their late 30s? Kesler is supposedly a workout beast so he may be the exception to the rule.
- tredbrta

Yep. I also don't like Kesler's "character". He is disrespectful, makes excuses, whines, dives, doesn't credit the other team, plays head games .... when he's clearly good enough on his own talent to be a great player. In short, he's a schlub and Seabrook is a foundation talent that ALL other players can model their game on and off the ice on. Kesler you only want to model how he plays on the ice (most of the time), but all the other non-sense diminishes his value in my eyes.

I was really trying to give StanBo the benefit of the doubt… but JJ said in a blog after the draft that StanBo shot himself in the foot… I think that was correct. If the Hawks really wanted to move Sharp, Bickell, and Versteeg ($12M) to retain Oduya, Kruger, and Saad (at $11M total), then yes, StanBo shot himself in the foot…

I think the calculation is different, though, partly because of the price of oil globally. Someone else (sorry for not crediting you) posted the falling of the Canadian dollar… I think the cap is going down next year which is BAD news for the top teams but good news for league parity, perhaps.

The calculation really is cost certainty now for younger players, just as JJ mentioned around the time of the Saad trade. Hence, the $.4M savings between Daley and Oduya. The trust is there that Daley, like Oduya, will benefit from the Hawks system and be a much more effective pivot on the anemic power play.

Sharp ($6M), Saad ($6M) and Richards ($3M, possibly 4) are replaced by Anisimov, Dano, and Teuvo/Panarin for $5.1M.

Whoever said at the end of the last blog that Bickell may be here is correct… Perhaps the trade speculation makes him angry and he gets something going. I don't know… Someone else also said that we should consider the overall talent level from this past year to next year. It was something like:

Sharp-Toews-Hossa vs. Panarin-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Richards-Kane vs. Dano-Anisimov-Kane
Versteeg-Vermette-Teravainen vs. Bickell-Kruger-Teravainen
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw vs. Desjardins-Tikhonov-Garbutt

The forward lines assume Versteeg and Shaw are dealt and Bickell remains… Nevertheless, in talent alone, it's still pretty good for the Hawks.

Defense:

Keith-Seabrook vs. Keith-Seabrook
Hammer-Oduya vs. Hammer-Daley
TVR-Roszival vs. TVR-Rundblad

The key here is that we need to find a replacement for Roszival… Rundblad is not going to cut it.

Given what I've said about the cap, I say deal Crawford now… don't wait until the cap goes down and he is an albatross…
- DMChi2010

You're right!

Stan Bowman wanted to keep Kruger, Oduya AND Saad and get rid of Sharp, Versteeg and Bickell - just like THAT. VERY easy to accomplish! He failed at doing that, right?

This off season the hawks are being taken to the cleaners until at least one big fish gets moved for little if no return.

If hawks get rid of a big contract with zero dollars back then they risk losing less. For example, trade Crawford and his salary for a second and third round pick, then you free up dollars to sign Kruger and extend Seabrook instead of taking salary back in trades. If you take salary back you might lose Kruger, and either Crawford or Seabrook...

Try to envision yourself in 5 years if Seabrook isn't capable of being in the lineup any more. What names would you be calling Bowman for not having the foresight in this signing? Now I will do the same if Seabrook is still playing well after 4 years but the Hawks were unable to sign him. Now consider Bowman's dilemma!
- paulr

Rosy was capable of being in the lineup at 38, Seabrook will be at 36. Not a concern.

it can't be denied that Nill made a couple of really nice moves here



Nill didn't out maneuver Bowman he out maneuvered the Likes of Bergervin in Montreal
- Colbyboy

THIS!!!! hahahaha

From a “homers” perspective:
On paper right now, compare our current team on paper to last years. Are we better, equal, or worse off?

Key additions: Anisimov, Dano, Daley
Key subtractions: Saad, Sharp, Oduya, Richards
Meaningless additions: Garbutt, Morin, Tropp
Meaningless subtractions: Vermette, Timonen, Rozsival
Key in-house promotions: Panarin, Teravainen, van Riemsdyk, possibly Tikhonov

Explanation: Saad hurts. Sharp, as important as he has been, is in decline. Daley for Oduya is basically a wash. Anisimov replaces the Richards of last year, and each year that goes by the scale tilts more in our favor as Richards would not have been able to sustain the contribution as long as Anisimov will. Vermette was a 3 month spare part that came up big in the playoffs, but will not be missed long term, as we didn’t even have him long enough to be considered an integral part of the team. Timonen and Rozival end of career anyway, replacing them with van Riemsdyk and whomever is the 6 d-man (Erhoff?) will be an upgrade. Teravainen is listed as a key promotion because he only played half a season last year. Having Tevo for a full year, along with Panarin and Dano, should be an offensive upgrade, despite losing #20. Anything Tikhonov can offer is bonus. Garbutt plays a bigger role of Shaw is dealt, otherwise he is “meh”

Sentimentally, it seems like a bigger wound losing some of the players mentioned, than it really is. On paper, taking emotion out of the equation, the Blackhawks are at the very least EQUAL to last year’s team. The on ice performance will have to ultimately determine how this plays out.

This off season the hawks are being taken to the cleaners until at least one big fish gets moved for little if no return.

If hawks get rid of a big contract with zero dollars back then they risk losing less. For example, trade Crawford and his salary for a second and third round pick, then you free up dollars to sign Kruger and extend Seabrook instead of taking salary back in trades. If you take salary back you might lose Kruger, and either Crawford or Seabrook...
- kaptaan

Which team needs a goalie and has cap room to take 6 Mill, at this point the options are limited.

Top 15 (in last years salary) remaining/unsigned UFA defenseman.

Player Position Shoots Team Age Cap Hit
Sergei Gonchar D Left MTL 40 $5,000,000
Lubomir Visnovsky D Left NYI 38 $4,750,000
Andrej Meszaros D Left BUF 29 $4,125,000
Christian Ehrhoff D Left PIT 32 $4,000,000
Eric Brewer D Left TOR 35 $3,875,000
Bryan Allen D Left MTL 34 $3,500,000
Cody Franson D Right NSH 27 $3,300,000
Jan Hejda D Left COL 36 $3,250,000
Bryce Salvador D Left NJD 38 $3,166,666
Marek Zidlicky D Right DET 37 $3,000,000
Jordan Leopold D Left MIN 34 $2,250,000
Ryan Wilson D Left COL 27 $2,250,000
Michal Rozsival D Right CHI 36 $2,200,000
John Erskine D Left WSH 34 $1,962,500
Mike Weaver D Right MTL 36 $1,750,000
- MNHawk

Schlemko is still out there. Erhoff if cheap enough. Schlemko could be under $1m.

Rosy was capable of being in the lineup at 38, Seabrook will be at 36. Not a concern.
- kwolf68

Rozi is 36, not 38.

Yep. I also don't like Kesler's "character". He is disrespectful, makes excuses, whines, dives, doesn't credit the other team, plays head games .... when he's clearly good enough on his own talent to be a great player. In short, he's a schlub and Seabrook is a foundation talent that ALL other players can model their game on and off the ice on. Kesler you only want to model how he plays on the ice (most of the time), but all the other non-sense diminishes his value in my eyes.
- kwolf68

Kesler plays balls out for his team all the time. The guy didn't take games off or loaf around on shifts. He wants to win.

Playing head games and getting the other team off their game isn't a bad thing when he's going good.

Can't say he whines or makes excuses...

Top 15 (in last years salary) remaining/unsigned UFA defenseman.

Player Position Shoots Team Age Cap Hit
Sergei Gonchar D Left MTL 40 $5,000,000
Lubomir Visnovsky D Left NYI 38 $4,750,000
Andrej Meszaros D Left BUF 29 $4,125,000
Christian Ehrhoff D Left PIT 32 $4,000,000
Eric Brewer D Left TOR 35 $3,875,000
Bryan Allen D Left MTL 34 $3,500,000
Cody Franson D Right NSH 27 $3,300,000
Jan Hejda D Left COL 36 $3,250,000
Bryce Salvador D Left NJD 38 $3,166,666
Marek Zidlicky D Right DET 37 $3,000,000
Jordan Leopold D Left MIN 34 $2,250,000
Ryan Wilson D Left COL 27 $2,250,000
Michal Rozsival D Right CHI 36 $2,200,000
John Erskine D Left WSH 34 $1,962,500
Mike Weaver D Right MTL 36 $1,750,000
- MNHawk

WOOF

Rozi is 36, not 38.
- JRoenick97

Damn, really? Geeze. He played like he was 38. My bad.

Yep. I also don't like Kesler's "character". He is disrespectful, makes excuses, whines, dives, doesn't credit the other team, plays head games .... when he's clearly good enough on his own talent to be a great player. In short, he's a schlub and Seabrook is a foundation talent that ALL other players can model their game on and off the ice on. Kesler you only want to model how he plays on the ice (most of the time), but all the other non-sense diminishes his value in my eyes.
- kwolf68

Agreed. They should maintain their top ranking in hits and cheap shots though but it will be close. Arms race in the Pacific. Scott, MacGratton, Lucic, Stewart.... May look like the old Norris this year....

And the Hawks will be faster up and down the lineup.

Damn, really? Geeze. He played like he was 38. My bad.
- kwolf68

Mature beyond his years

Damn, really? Geeze. He played like he was 38. My bad.
- kwolf68

I think Seabrook will be miles ahead of what Rozi was at 36 though.

Kesler plays balls out for his team all the time. The guy didn't take games off or loaf around on shifts. He wants to win.

Playing head games and getting the other team off their game isn't a bad thing when he's going good.

Can't say he whines or makes excuses...
- kaptaan

Dude, he's a chump. He is a loudmouth and whenever he opens his yap it almost always backfires on him.

If he'd stick to hockey he'd be fine. I do agree with your first sentence. Kesler is a beast hockey player, a total stud center.

Mature beyond his years
- bhawk1s

I think Seabrook will be miles ahead of what Rozi was at 36 though.
- JRoenick97

Yea no question. I can't see #7 in another sweater. At least not until the Hawks goto a total rebuild in 4-5 years, then I can see it.

Schlemko is still out there. Erhoff if cheap enough. Schlemko could be under $1m.
- tredbrta

I could see them maybe adding Gonchar for $600k, you know, to keep the adding a fossil defenseman theme going.

Ehrhoff could be a solid number 5 if his head is right.

Not sure about all the love Schlemko gets on these boards. Now, I say that because I don't ever remember seeing him play. And his stats don't really pop out to me. Or does he fall in the "just serviceable enough so you don't throw your remote at the TV because something Rundblad just did" camp?

TT and Bickell for a first a conditional and a third and no salary coming back is more than reasonable IMO.

Poor Stan. That guy is going to need a drink after he gets compliant.
- fattybeef

No way would I ever make that trade.