Interesting. 2 years 7.5...that is 3.725 per. Much less than thought. Plus term less than. I guess the Hawks were indeed looking for a REAL discount to what he made last year. Because it was not term he took in Dallas.
- TrueGrit

Ya, wonder what happened with that Buffalo offer on the table worth $5M/year - or was it BS like a lot of things?

If JO walked on the Sabres offer his accountant is probably in the washroom puking right now.

Decimated his ankle? So it was a sniper after all!

Oduya not signing with Hawks was a foregone conclusion after Daley arrived, no room for that many top 4 d men. I assume Cumiskey's contract will be renewed otherwise some 1 million to 1.25 million dollar d man will get signed. At that point it will be pretty close to the same quality defense they had last year with perhaps a little more fire power. Looking forward to watching them this year.
- hawkeytown

Hey. I like the word decimated, okay?

In the POs, I saw an aging guy who KNEW his role, played it well, didn't panic in his own zone and gave Q 18min TOI.

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea how well he is healing. He could be toast. However, if he's OK, or is going to be OK come October and SB can land him for sub-$1M, it would be crazy not to have that insurance policy.
- blackhawk24

I'm watching the payoff games again you know without the adrenaline, Rozy absolutely solid in his own end and amazed how many quality scoring chances the Hawks have due to a pass off his stick.

I think the writing is on the wall for some of the Hawk players.

Shaw-Hawks bring in Garbutt, speedy winger with lots of grit that gets under peoples skin for half the cost. Shaw is due for a contract next year so I think he is moved

Kruger- With Danault in the wings, if Kruger gets fed up with the Hawks I could see an offer sheet in his future. More so if early rumblings were true that JO and Krugs had handshake deals in place, then Hawks get Daley. Question is do Hawks match if he is offer sheeted. May be a throw in to a deal as a worst case scenario

Bickell- Floater that shows up less than 25% of the year (including playoffs). Cashed in on 2013, but has only shown that in 2013. Yes he hits sometimes, but for $4 mil, can be replaced. Trick will be what will hurt the Hawks the least in return. Can see him moving in a deal that brings back a player like Gilbert in Montreal. Another bad contract for a defensman that can play third pair

Morin-I think he will get a shot at camp, otherwise he will be sent packing again. Like many Hawk fans, not sure why they brought him back unless they view him as NHL ready top 6. However with Panarin, Dano, Hossa, and Kane in the top 4 wing slots not sure where I see him fitting in? In Bickell's place should #29 get moved?

I think Seabs is safe this offseason and am 50% on Versteeg and CC. Not a lot of goaltending depth, however most proposed deals have an established goalie coming back. I think he moves if Armageddon happens and Stan cannot find deals for #29 and #23. Stan appreciates depth and the defense needs it.

One interesting quirk in the Oduya contract: he has a full no-trade for exactly 3 months. From now until October 15. Then he supplies a list. - @War_on_Ice

Not sure what people expected from Stan with the position he is in. He is trying to make the best out of a tough situation. it is what it is. Other GM's in the league are not in the business of helping someone else team out. 3 cups in 6 years....I dare another GM to do better. Stan is doing an alright job IMO.

Dallas is now Atlanta circa 2010. Just swooping up all our players haha
- BURDA13

And how has that turned out?

Us: 2 more Cups in the next 5 years

Them: missed playoffs, moved to Winnipeg, missed playoffs 2 of 3 years.


Winner: Blackhawks

Trade almost becomes JO, Sharp, and Johns for Daley and Garbutt at 50%. Yikes

Oh well, best of luck Johnny, thanks for your service to the Hawks.

If true about Hawks having to take back salary in a bickell trade, then get a #5 dman with a $2 mil cap hit. I feel the Hawks could overcome the loss of #65, and it would clear 6 mil in cap that would add a lot of depth. Take that with a grain of salt since I am a HUGE Shaw fan and would hate to see him go.
- ikeane

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.

Not sure what people expected from Stan with the position he is in. He is trying to make the best out of a tough situation. it is what it is. Other GM's in the league are not in the business of helping someone else team out. 3 cups in 6 years....I dare another GM to do better. Stan is doing an alright job IMO.
- NedsHead_88

Stan and everybody else knew something like this was coming, only the specific player details were missing.

In October, everybody will be marvelling at how he has reshaped the roster and made the Hawks a much younger team. Not better necessarily but much younger.

Mex: If the Hawks wanted to keep their Shaw/Denault/Krug guys, what level pick would be needed to offload Bicks, meaning Bicks and what pick gets him moved with no salary coming back. Something like Bicks and a 2nd for a mediocre prospect? Could it be done with no salary coming back with a 1st? I have no idea, just throwing out the question. Thx

Can't view this in a vacuum. Just because Nill took advantage of SB not being able to move some guys, doesn't make it a coup for Nill.

SB had to move salary. He did. SB had to cover his ass in possibly losing his 4D. He did. SB needed to sweeten the deal to move salary. He did. SB need to save further money coming back in a 4th liner. He did.

It make look tilted in the favor of DAL, but SB did OK for himself IMO.
- blackhawk24

I guess the only counterargument to this is what if Nill really did offer the two 2nd round picks for Sharp? We'd have that, and resign Oduya.

Otherwise, the way I look at it is the Hawks are free and clear of Sharp's salary, and they got a serviceable D in place of the loss of Oduya. Garbutt for Johns otherwise. As much as there is raving about Johns, what about his injury history? What does anybody make of it going forward?

I will miss Oduya for sure. What a warrior that guy is. Loved watching him play with Hammer. Daley is just different than Oduya. I don't know what his upside will be in this system, but I have to think that the power play just got an upgrade, if nothing else.

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'll take a top-4 d-man over "picks and prospects" every single day of the week. No brainer.

No he was a difference making contributor for the Hawks when we won the Stanley Cup in 2013, there is no way we get by Detroit without him period.

It'd rather trade Versteeg since he can't keep his composure, deal with Bickell, sign Kruger and Rozi, play Darling half the games till trade dead line and if Darling cuts it trade CC and whoever else the org is looking at getting rid of next year.
- BetweenTheDots

No way Crawford gets dealt mid season if we are in playoff contention. That would destroy team chemistry.


Next.

Eric Stephens ‏@icemancometh · 4m4 minutes ago
Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

Makes Anisimov look like a bargain.

Kesler's last three years: -5, -15, -5; 105 points in 171 games.

Kesler turns 31 next month.

Loved JO and gonna miss seeing him in the Hawks sweater. Sure having Hammer as his D partner helped but he's still a very good defenseman in his own right. Big thanks to him for his years here and definitely wish him the best in Dallas.

Still like the way the team is shaping up for next season. Bringing Oduya back would've been outstanding and would've instantly bumped our D corps from average to elite, but we still have a lot of good young pieces in place around the core. Somehow we need to clear some space and get Kruger and a veteran D for the bottom pairing signed and then I think we'll be looking at a really solid squad heading into next season.

Eric Stephens ‏@icemancometh · 4m4 minutes ago
Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

Makes Anisimov look like a bargain.

Kesler's last three years: -5, -15, -5; 105 points in 171 games.
- KingB

You can't say that... everyone here is set that Bowman is stupid and his deal is huge. They never take into account the constant growth of contracts.

Hey. I like the word decimated, okay?
- JRoenick97

Eric Stephens ‏@icemancometh · 4m4 minutes ago
Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

Makes Anisimov look like a bargain.

Kesler's last three years: -5, -15, -5; 105 points in 171 games.
- KingB

And by the way, where would that have fit in our current cap hell if we had pulled the trigger on him last summer...and TT would be a Canuck!

Oh, and the ring we have and he doesnt.

@icemancometh: Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

LOL, ryan kesler...

@icemancometh: Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

LOL, ryan kesler...
- FourFeathers773

Wow. Ducks tossing money around.

How ironic would it be if the Stars knockout the Hawks in the playoffs?!
- Chicago_Sean

On a goal by Johns

@icemancometh: Kesler's new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).

LOL, ryan kesler...
- FourFeathers773

Ya, but when he starts hitting in a playoff series no human on earth can absorb that kind of punishment.

No human can withstand that length of contract. --- Ryan Kesler

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

Everyone keep in mind...

Ryan Kesler scored 47 pts last year. Everyone has labeled him a "perfect fit"in ANA

Anisimov will be a massive bargain even scratching 50 pts playing with Kane