I think Wiz wants Brodie. Hell, I want Brodie too. Can we kidnap Brodie?

Hilariously untrue rumor starting: I heard Burke offered Brodie for Bickell, 2016 first, and the rights to Kruger.

I would do that in a second.
- Sandus

Brodie and his 4.6M hit? Ouch...

Better trade Crawford...

Brodie and his 4.6M hit? Ouch...

Better trade Crawford...
- ArlingtonRob

But it's only $650k more than Bickell! That's the equivalent of a Corey Tropp!

Actually he's a good deal at that price too...

I think a lot of fans see sexy names like "Saad" or "Sharp", and ask themselves "why are we getting lesser players in return?" well, what they dont realize is we've gotten FOUR NHL ready players in return for TWO. Not draft picks that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. Not highly touted prospects that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. But NHL ready players to retool for next season and make another push for the Cup. IMO Panarin replaces Sharp, Dano replaces Saad, Anisimov replaces Richards, Garbutt is another nice addition(might have to replace Shaw/Versteeg). And Daley will replace Oduya. Now by "replace" im not saying they will be just as good, but im saying that we aren't counting on scrubs or 3rd/4th liner rookies.

Also many question "well if we got rid of Sharp why didn't we keep Saad?" or "why didn't we move Bickell and Versteeg earlier and keep Oduya?"....and they all seem to have answers, or better ideas that they somehow knew existed and SB messed up by passing on them. Its just silly. Nonsense. Its not NEARLY as simple as some make it sound. SB overpaid Bickell by a tad, and shouldn't have acquired Timonen. Other than that i think he's been OUTSTANDING, including what he's done so far this offseason.
- SimpleJack

Well said Jack...I agree completely.

I'm not disappointed in the return at all. Stan is faced with a difficult task managing a capped out roster with yearly championship aspirations.

Already looking forward to camp and seeing how this interesting mix of players fits together for the coming year.

In fact, I would venture to guess that any dance partner the Hawks can get for ANYONE they offer up - including Crawford - will come with premiums required either in salary holdback or high quality players/prospects.

No one is going to do Stan any favors building a cup contending roster knowing he has no leverage at all.

CAR has 11.5 in cap space, NJ has 18.8, WIN has 12.5, NSH has 21.2, WSH has 10.9.
Two of them need to add payroll to get to the floor, yet no one is interested??
- Return of the Roar

My guess is Bickell ends up in New Jersey.

I think Rosenbloom wrote something saying Dollar Bill fought for a hard cap for years. I guess this is Dollar Bill's legacy to Blackhawk fans... Instead of 3 in 6 that 10 team plus some of the better additions.... Hawks could have been an Oilers style dynasty.

Where is he buried? I feel the need to urinate.
- tredbrta

He was indifferent on a cap ceiling. He didn't want a cap floor. He didn't want to be told he had to spend a certain amount of money.He is the only one to vote against the cap.

I think a lot of fans see sexy names like "Saad" or "Sharp", and ask themselves "why are we getting lesser players in return?" well, what they dont realize is we've gotten FOUR NHL ready players in return for TWO. Not draft picks that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. Not highly touted prospects that we'll develop 2-3 years from now. But NHL ready players to retool for next season and make another push for the Cup. IMO Panarin replaces Sharp, Dano replaces Saad, Anisimov replaces Richards, Garbutt is another nice addition(might have to replace Shaw/Versteeg). And Daley will replace Oduya. Now by "replace" I'm not saying they will be just as good, but I'm saying that we aren't counting on scrubs or 3rd/4th liners or rookies.

- SimpleJack

You simply said what I couldn't.

The idea was we were all set for a longer term re-set, with Rockford promoted and we were surprised by this abrupt change of direction we all didn't expect.

What if we actually got two quite good players for Brandon Saad and he wilts under the pressure of being the highest paid jacket?

What if Daley's offensive jump ignites more offensive looks?
This and This

You simply said what I couldn't.

The idea was we were all set for a longer term re-set, with Rockford promoted and we were surprised by this abrupt change of direction we all didn't expect.

What if we actually got two quite good players for Brandon Saad and he wilts under the pressure of being the highest paid jacket?

What if Daley's offensive jump ignites more offensive looks?
- wiz1901

Preach!

Exactly what i was saying. Retool with ready and effective NHL talent(some of which may wind up with more upside than the most coveted talents we said goodbye to like Saad/Sharp), rather than rebuild with the likes of McNeill, Danault, Ross, Hartman, and Baun competing for 2-3 starting roles.

Deryk Engelland
or
Mark Stuart
or just a 36 yr old
Robyn Regehr

or maybe this novel idea:

Is Ryan Stanton a UFA?

My guess is Bickell ends up in New Jersey.
- DarthKane

are you saying on the team or in the meadow lands with Hoffa

Hmmm...specific with a club, but not a name or two. Don't have to get very deep into the Flames roster before I get lost...

There are some rather hefty cap hits except for Schlemko who's a UFA. Do you like some of the non-roster players?
- ArlingtonRob

I was figuring for Bickell

Preach!

Exactly what i was saying. Retool with ready and effective NHL talent(some of which may wind up with more upside than the most coveted talents we said goodbye to like Saad/Sharp), rather than rebuild with the likes of McNeill, Danault, Ross, Hartman, and Baun competing for 2-3 starting roles.
- SimpleJack

I'll get over it eventually, but my only "complaints" about the post season remain...

Dealing with a division rival, and...
Moving Johns

I was looking forward to Johns on the blueline, plus he was "cheap" at less than 1M.

Oh well...

Heard the theory floated on NHL Network radio today that the days of the bridge deal, at least for higher end talent, may be over. Supposedly the reason is because GM's are becoming less and less shy about preparing offer sheets. We just never hear about them because the player's current team are nipping it in the bud, so to speak.
- Dunconn_Smythe

I said the same yesterday on NHL radio... there are no bridge deals for young players thought to be the future cornerstone of a franchise...as was the case recently with Tarasenko and Saad.

I was figuring for Bickell
- wiz1901

Well I figured so much...but suppose Versteeg could move if the Flames wanted him...

...was just curious about specific names on the Calgary roster you find interesting in return.

You certainly know more about those guys than I would.

are you saying on the team or in the meadow lands with Hoffa
- DestinBlackhawk

LOL...

...well played.

I said the same yesterday on NHL radio... there are no bridge deals for young players thought to be the future cornerstone of a franchise...as was the case recently with Tarasenko and Saad.
- Al

Al, I listened to your interview on NHL radio and it was very good. About Saad though, do you think he's still here if the Hawks lose in rd 1 or rd 2 this past year? I think he very well might be, I think the Anaheim and TB series put him out of reach. As you said, that's those are the consequences of winning.

The casual disregard (and disrespect) for Crawford is mind boggling.

The man is paid fairly, perhaps underpaid, considering his resume.

Besides, he is owed 5 years and 30M dollars. How many clubs will take this even if they want him?

IF...IF Crawford were to be moved the Hawks would be left with the following..

Darling
Leighton
Visentin

Q and the Hawks front office will NOT enter next season with this goal tending depth chart...NO & WAY. Nor would any Hawk fan with a functioning brain.

So if a taker for Crawford is out there, the Hawks must get a quality goaler in return. Or, perhaps the Hawks can find a goaler is a seperate trade. Either way the Hawks will be taking salary back so the savings would be unknown, but likely modest at best.

The Hawks currently have just under 7M is cap space tied up in goal tending which shouldn't be a problem and compares well with other clubs.
- ArlingtonRob

There are other goalies in this league making the same as Crawford who some think would be a massive upgrade over Corey. Interestingly enough, they share the same first name. Crawford was paid his money after he won a Cup.
He was a long time member of the organization. Signing him went away from everything many say isn't how the Bowmans views goalies.

Why? If anyone can win as a goalie for the Hawks, why did they spend the money on Crawford? That is a question no one seems to ask.

Only one goalie in the league faced more high quality shots than Crawford this season. Price. Their SV% on those shots were very close with a slight edge to Price.

Well I figured so much...but suppose Versteeg could move if the Flames wanted him...

...was just curious about specific names on the Calgary roster you find interesting in return.

You certainly know more about those guys than I would.
- ArlingtonRob

from my post above:
Deryk Engelland
or
Mark Stuart
or just a 36 yr old
Robyn Regehr

or maybe this novel idea:

Isn't Ryan Stanton a UFA?

First of all I would have to really stupid to call Saad's deal a bridge I was being sarcastic THAT he refused a bridge type deal. Crazy high bridge deal = 6 million the highest player on the bluejackets when he and his agent should have come in reasonable iF he really wanted to stay. They choose to play chicken not take a reasonable bridge deal and they lost

What is really silly is to think what was reported about the "shock" was anything but "disappointment" That was the shock...he was gone DONE
(Like Saad didn't know the demands ...he just never expected the hawks to be so quickly done with back & forth of his new deal)

- wiz1901

and if you really have an NHL player in contract negotiations so far out of touch with his agent...I don't want a dummy like that on my team...

it's your livelihood.
I really don't think reading that new piece /tweet that you seeing the reality of it.

yeah I need to read more.
Wake up and understand your'e not talking to some newbie- as i have been watching hockey 12 years before you had a team, two Boston Bruin castoff goalies, a goon team, and hot roding kill-yourself-goalie.

Now if you were even able to decipher those new stories, it's fairly certain I can read.
They didn't just let me out of the old prison in the Museun district of Philly were you go to get scared on Halloween...

lol

Deryk Engelland
or
Mark Stuart
or just a 36 yr old
Robyn Regehr

or maybe this novel idea:

Is Ryan Stanton a UFA?
- wiz1901

Stanton is a UFA and would be cheap. A guy that the team knows.

Mark Stuart wold be fine too.

Engelland is paid too much for what he brings.

There are other goalies in this league making the same as Crawford who some think would be a massive upgrade over Corey.
- TTtime

So...I just saw some of the Ducks playoff games while in the local Lou Malnati's --i haven't see Corey Schneider win enough to even stay in Vancouver and after seeing corey crawford on tv tonight, I kinda resent the bull that there are better goaltenders making less $...
and furthermore THERE AREN'T ANY BETTER GOALTENDERS on the TRADING BLOCK...so pointess.

Ask yourself which roster is better?

This one(everyone's hopeful "best case scenario" for the offseason that obviously proved to be unrealistic and impossible):

Panarin - Toews - Hossa
Saad - Richards/Teravainen/cheap depth C - Kane
Hartman/Baun/Danault/McNeill - Teravainen/cheap depth C - Shaw
Desjardins - Kruger - Nordstrom/Hartman/Baun
Hartman/Baun/Danault/McNeill/Nordstrom

Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Oduya
TVR - Rundblad
Johns/cheap vet(Rozsival?)

Crawford
Darling

Or.....

This one:

Panarin - Toews - Hossa
Dano - Anisimov - Kane
Versteeg - Teravainen - Garbutt
Desjardins - Kruger - Shaw
Tikhonov

Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Daley
TVR - Rundblad
Pokka/cheap vet(Rozsival?)

Crawford
Darling


IMO, the first roster(everyone's expected best case scenario) in all honesty is not noticeably better, so close to the point where any complaining about the job SB has done is simply laughable considering we all figured we would take a step back regardless of what he did, and as it turned out that hypothetical dream scenario again wasn't possible(Saad's demand for an impossible extension, Bickell being too hard to move, Richards moving on, Sharp moving on and not for the cap relief we at first expected, etc, etc.)...so can we please take some time to realize that we've been handed a team for next season that is retooled for another deep run, a minor step back possibly, yet the potential to surprise and be even better. And as the entire league knows if we make the playoffs on a hot streak then we're public enemy #1 and everyone's worst nightmare given our track record in the clutch.

Im feeling very optimistic tonight.

from my post above:
Deryk Engelland
or
Mark Stuart
or just a 36 yr old
Robyn Regehr

or maybe this novel idea:

Isn't Ryan Stanton a UFA?
- wiz1901

I've been hoping Stan would sign Stanton ever since the Canucks didn't qualify him. I think he'd make a better depth defenseman than Rundblad. At one point the organization thought somewhat highly of him.

from my post above:
Deryk Engelland
or
Mark Stuart
or just a 36 yr old
Robyn Regehr

or maybe this novel idea:

Isn't Ryan Stanton a UFA?
- wiz1901

Thanks...your input is always appreciated.

...and somehow I missed your above post.

lol
- flyershockey

That was Bernie Parent & Doug Favell and Pelle Lindbergh

I'll get over it eventually, but my only "complaints" about the post season remain...

Dealing with a division rival, and...
Moving Johns

I was looking forward to Johns on the blueline, plus he was "cheap" at less than 1M.

Oh well...
- ArlingtonRob

Yes but was there another Oduya replacement(price wise) out there for a potential top 4 role that could have been had? Also the addition of the serviceable Garbutt at half his cap hit was another plus for me. I really like Daley's speed, PP ability, and puck moving skills, and i hope Q teaches him to learn our defensive system so he holds his own.

Johns may be a very solid top 4 defensman one day, but for now they like TVR(who doesn't?) and Rundblad more, and dont count out Pokka playing a large role as a rising defensive prospect. Still other cheap options there without Johns.