Waiving Scuderi creates cap room. Let's not over complicate this by looking at it only in terms of the Hawks cap. What if a salary goes the other way?

As far as Kruger going on LTIR, and the timing of that, my source is a hockey guy and not a cap guy so he might have been off there. Dunno.
- John Jaeckel

Perhaps there's a trade that will bring us right up to the cap. Moving Kruger to LTIR after that would make sense.

Hawks fans how about Markov for Bickell, prospect or depth D-men, and 2016 1st? Not too up on Hawks prospects but this can make some sense for both teams as Markov cap hit this year and next can be offset by Bickell and Habs get upside in a prospect and/or 1st rounder. What is Dano worth?

Not sure what the market would be for Markov?

Other options would be Tom Gilbert or Mark Barbario for draft picks... maybe a 3rd or 4th rounder?
- Croft_31

Markov will get you nowhere close to that. The Hawks will not even do Dano for Drouin straight up. I would say Bickell, a prospect like McNeil, and a 3rd possibly. But for a 37 year old defensemen on his last legs, I am not sure the Hawks would be too interested, especially for a high cost. See the recently waived Scuderi as reasons why they wouldn't want to go old. It might sure up our 2nd and 3rd pairing though.

Everyone suggests we had these dynamite 3rd and 4th lines last year in the playoffs. The fact is in 23 playoff games the 3rd and 4th lines at even strength scored less than 20 goals, 35 assists and had a combined -4 plus/minus. TT and Bickell only played in 18 of the games, Vermette 20, and Desjardins 21.

I like what I am seeing in Danault, Panik, Sekac, Desjardins, and Rasmussen. Mashinter and TT not so much. But I am ok with TT on the 3rd line for sure. So would 29 other teams like him on their 3rd line (or on their 2nd line). Add Kruger to this group and it is pretty good. If you upgrade the 1LW and move Shaw into this group it is even better.

Compare the Hawks bottom 6 to other teams. Caps. Ducks. Kings. Stars. Blues. Whose bottom 6 would you take over the Hawks.

There are a few issues at work here.

The fire drills in their own zone come from a combination of things. When Rosival or Scuderi are on the ice, much of it comes from their inability to win a race to a loose puck. They are both able to put a body on someone down low, but then need the assistance of the center or a wing dropping low to retrieve the puck. You see the wings usually hesitant in Q's system to drop below the dots as it creates way to much room up top. In addition, in the second period, the long change leads to some brutally long stretches in their own zone where the D just cant get off. The reliance of the stretch pass as a breakout has something to do with this as well.

In terms of the forwards, some of them are just not good along the boards and or play way to soft in their own end. Against the Ducks, TT was directly responsible for two of their goals because he was charmin soft along the boards. Mash has horrible hands and struggles to control pucks along the boards, same for some of the other forwards. For all the crap that Kane takes about being a poor defensive player, he is one of the best on the team at controlling a puck along the boards and finding the correct outlet. Hossa and Toews are also beats along the boards. Panarin is strong along the boards, but still needs to learn where his outlets are and make that decision a little quicker.
- TheTrob

National media stresses the Hawks and stretch passes too often. The stretch pass should be an accent play not mainstay of the offense....And when things have gone well here over the years that's exactly the case.

Kane hasn't been a poor defensive player for awhile...His basic fault is at times he stays out on the ice for too long and is slower to get back..But he asked to do a lot and a drawback is overstaying on some shifts.

And let me add, while not exactly the same player as Vermette, a little bit of Andrew Ladd could be just what the doctor ordered
- John Jaeckel

He would check the box of power foward with grit which would allow q to not dress mash all the time

So the Penguins are not sitting on the outside looking in?
- hankscorpio

Tied for a wild card spot with a game in hand and the 2nd best center in the east due to return next game. So yes I am very happy. Honestly not trying to troll here. Daley didn't fit Coach Q's system and was perfect for what the Pens were looking for. I love this trade.

Im 100% certain its a daily figure that calculates out

The salary cap is a daily cap, not a season cap. Stan has confirmed this MULTIPLE times. Its also why Stan shuffles prospects back and forth on a daily basis sometimes without even having guys report to Chicago. Its cap saving maneuvers because of the daily accrual

Team salary expenditures are calculated on a daily basis from the first day to the final day of the NHL regular season.

http://proicehockey.about...a/2013_nhl_salary_cap.htm
- hawkeytalkman

What Bowman and the CBA are talking about isn't a "daily accrual." It's the fact that a team has to calculate its overall cap hit every single day to ensure that it's compliant with the cap rules. That's actually what Bowman means when he says it's not a season cap. A "season cap" would keep track of how much money was spent over the course of the season. But that's not how the CBA works; it requires daily compliance with the cap rules.

If it were, in fact, a daily accrual cap, we'd be constantly seeing high-paid players who aren't subject to waivers being sent down and then recalled in paper transactions between games. Teravainen ($894,166 AAV), Danault ($863,333 AAV), and Van Riemsdyk ($925,000 AAV) all have higher cap hits than most guys in Rockford. This isn't happening.

Where we do see cap manipulation is when a player is about to go on LTIR. That's because the way LTIR cap relief rules work makes it advantageous for a team to get as close to the cap as possible before putting the player on LTIR.

For the record, the nutshell version of cap hits is this: The cap hit for a player who was with the organization at the start of the season is his AAV. The cap hit for a player who joins the organization midseason, through trade, FA signing, etc., is his AAV pro-rated in proportion to how many days are left in the season when he's acquired. So a player with a $3 million AAV acquired with 25% of the season left to go only counts $750,000 against the cap.

Everyone suggests we had these dynamite 3rd and 4th lines last year in the playoffs. The fact is in 23 playoff games the 3rd and 4th lines at even strength scored less than 20 goals, 35 assists and had a combined -4 plus/minus. TT and Bickell only played in 18 of the games, Vermette 20, and Desjardins 21.

I like what I am seeing in Danault, Panik, Sekac, Desjardins, and Rasmussen. Mashinter and TT not so much. But I am ok with TT on the 3rd line for sure. So would 29 other teams like him on their 3rd line (or on their 2nd line). Add Kruger to this group and it is pretty good. If you upgrade the 1LW and move Shaw into this group it is even better.

Compare the Hawks bottom 6 to other teams. Caps. Ducks. Kings. Stars. Blues. Whose bottom 6 would you take over the Hawks.
- -Doh-

Danault, Krueger, Shaw, Desi, Rasmussen all decent draw options too. If Shaw drops down and gives the bottom 6 a little more scoring this team looks much better.

Clearly though, the key is having a 1LW that can produce with 19 and 81. Another dud there ends up mucking up the lines again. Get someone by the TDL who can settle in there and Q should be able to also settle on 4 lines by playoff time.

Everyone suggests we had these dynamite 3rd and 4th lines last year in the playoffs. The fact is in 23 playoff games the 3rd and 4th lines at even strength scored less than 20 goals, 35 assists and had a combined -4 plus/minus. TT and Bickell only played in 18 of the games, Vermette 20, and Desjardins 21.

I like what I am seeing in Danault, Panik, Sekac, Desjardins, and Rasmussen. Mashinter and TT not so much. But I am ok with TT on the 3rd line for sure. So would 29 other teams like him on their 3rd line (or on their 2nd line). Add Kruger to this group and it is pretty good. If you upgrade the 1LW and move Shaw into this group it is even better.

Compare the Hawks bottom 6 to other teams. Caps. Ducks. Kings. Stars. Blues. Whose bottom 6 would you take over the Hawks.
- -Doh-

The true story is every time the Hawks have won the Cup they have had the best bottom six forwards. Scoring aside that was the case especially so in the later series.

The season the 3rd and 4th lines have not been in sync over much of the season.

We'll let you know this summer.

How is the 4.5 million Daley doing for you guys
- BetweenTheDots


Great! Thanks for asking

Minnow: Daley have you positioned to win the cup? I know this trade has helped us get into position. Addition by subtraction, baby!

Tied for a wild card spot with a game in hand and the 2nd best center in the east due to return next game. So yes I am very happy. Honestly not trying to troll here. Daley didn't fit Coach Q's system and was perfect for what the Pens were looking for. I love this trade.
- Mino42

Yawn. Of course you were trying to troll.

If the Daley trade is reason to gloat for Pens fans then that franchise is really in a sad, sad state.

Daley in your top 4... in fact your top 4 other than Letang scares no one in the playoffs. Maata, Dumolin, Pouliott all need a few more years. How old will your stars be then? That Despres deal must really hurt.

So, I think that you have a group that lacks quite a bit of polish.

Between Dunno, Sekac, Richardie P, Moose, Other assorted prospect that doesn't live up to astronomical expectations, there is a yearish learning curve that needs to run its course. Maybe two in some cases before they get close to potential (if things progress well).

All those guys are serviceable NHLers for the most part though. Some combination of Rozy, TVR, Gus Gus and Lurch is a pretty substandard bottom 3.

Regardless of the word vomit spewed from Pat and Eddy and the steadfast loyalty from every blackhawkolic regarding Seabrook, the defensive stats that matter, like driving possession and suppressing shots, are not where they have been traditionally this year and started to take a down turn last year. Numbers aren't everything, but they are important over the course of 130 NHL games.

47.9% CF at 5v5 is an atrocious and inexcusable stat for a player of his alleged calibre. Scoring chances against is about par with last year but a striking difference between that and the rest of his career. He is getting a similar minute spread as Keith over the lines.

Explanations: TVR who he has been playing with mostly, is not capable of playing on the second pairing at a high enough level. Gus Gus is not capable of playing on the second pairing at a high enough level. The player is incapable of carrying a young and inexperienced player but plays a good sidekick. The player just got a nice raise and a long contract but deteriorating.

Solutions: Play 7 with 2 and solve that problem and let hammer do what he has done for most of his career and make mediocre to average defenders look like studs.

Forward wise, move what they have to move to get Staal, move Shaw to the third line and restore balance to the force. (Because acquiring a defender is going to be a nightmare and they can just oust score everyone like in 2010 this way) Everything else should sort itself out when Hossa and Kruger come back. Deal with the consequences at the draft. Most reasonable people should be content with an off year after a repeat to break new guys in and\or move heavy assets out.
- fattybeef

This is an amazing post. Humorous, states the problems clearly, and provides solutions for today and tomorrow. Thanks!

Not sure what Stan is doing cap-wise, maybe trying to bank space prior to getting up to the cap before putting Kruger on LTIR. Maybe he thinks he can come up with enough space without going the LTIR route.
- walleyeb1

As the original said, yes, he should have put Kruger on LTIR BEFORE waiving Scudballs. But I think he is looking at coming up with enough space without going to LTIR because I think Krugs will come back for the last few games in April. That's actually good if he does so he can test everything out in a few game scenarios that aren't the playoffs.

Unquestionably. Losing the Daley cap hit along with waiving Rundblad gave the team Gustaffson. Waiving Scuderi gives them even more flexibility.

Compare records since the trade. In particular since the Gustafson call up.

Also, enjoy Daley in the playoffs.... if you make it.
- tredbrta

And now Gustafsson is in the doghouse, which leads me to wonder what the blueline will actually look like in mid April.

From source just now:

First move may be a deal that does not require Kruger going on LTIR. Later, if necessary, precursor moves BEFORE putting Kruger on LTIR could happen.

Hawks are trying to pull off something big and complicated. "LOTS GOING ON, STAY TUNED"

The true story is every time the Hawks have won the Cup they have had the best bottom six forwards. Scoring aside that was the case especially so in the later series.

The season the 3rd and 4th lines have not been in sync over much of the season.
- Al

Getting Kruger back, replacing Shaw on 1 makes the bottom 6 (barring trades): Kruger, Desi, Shaw, Danault, TT, Ras.

Essentially the same as last year, except swap Ras for Sharp, Danault for Vermette. Good, not as good as last year. THAT'S how important it is to get Shaw back in the bottom 6.

From source just now:

First move may be a deal that does not require Kruger going on LTIR. Later, if necessary, precursor moves BEFORE putting Kruger on LTIR could happen.

Hawks are trying to pull off something big and complicated. "LOTS GOING ON, STAY TUNED"
- John Jaeckel

Thanks for the suspense and I'll stay tuned since I am one of those inquiring minds who want to know.

So if they put Krugs on LTIR and say they trade for Ladd, can Ladd take over #16 until he gets back? I'm kidding of course, but I think it would be great to have Ladd back.


Go Stan Go!

Markov will get you nowhere close to that. The Hawks will not even do Dano for Drouin straight up. I would say Bickell, a prospect like McNeil, and a 3rd possibly. But for a 37 year old defensemen on his last legs, I am not sure the Hawks would be too interested, especially for a high cost. See the recently waived Scuderi as reasons why they wouldn't want to go old. It might sure up our 2nd and 3rd pairing though.
- spudrock512

Not saying Markov will get us Dano, Habs would have to add. I just on't know what Markov's value would be to a contending club. He is no longer a 1st pairing but can help on the 2nd pair for sure. If Markov was a UFA at year's end there would be interest... another year at 5.75M is the trouble (for Habs if they keep him or the team trading for him). How important is it for Hawks to dump Bickell's salary for a more useful piece? Markov will fill a hole on Habs D but at this stage should be moved for young assets.

DaNo

From source just now:

First move may be a deal that does not require Kruger going on LTIR. Later, if necessary, precursor moves BEFORE putting Kruger on LTIR could happen.

Hawks are trying to pull off something big and complicated. "LOTS GOING ON, STAY TUNED"
- John Jaeckel

That's what I said about 20 minutes ago.

Yawn. Of course you were trying to troll.

If the Daley trade is reason to gloat for Pens fans then that franchise is really in a sad, sad state.

Daley in your top 4... in fact your top 4 other than Letang scares no one in the playoffs. Maata, Dumolin, Pouliott all need a few more years. How old will your stars be then? That Despres deal must really hurt.
- tredbrta

Their defense doesn't have to scare people. They leave that up to the top six forwards. Look any Pens fan would have taken a bag of broken sticks for Scuds so when GMJR was able to fill a need and rid themselves of an expensive 7th defenseman we were all thrilled. Also look at all of the preseason Hawks blogs and almost all of them (minus the rape ones) talked about what how great of addition Daley was. To be honest I am glad that Despres is gone because I really don't think he was worth almost 4 million a year for a bottom paring defenseman. I would love for them to get more but it is what it is at this point...

From source just now:

First move may be a deal that does not require Kruger going on LTIR. Later, if necessary, precursor moves BEFORE putting Kruger on LTIR could happen.

Hawks are trying to pull off something big and complicated. "LOTS GOING ON, STAY TUNED"
- John Jaeckel

Another cliffhanger damn you. FlaminMikey will be very angry.

you still think you won that daley - scuds trade?
- martox

Do you clearly still believe the Hawks made the deal to get Scuderi?

From source just now:

First move may be a deal that does not require Kruger going on LTIR. Later, if necessary, precursor moves BEFORE putting Kruger on LTIR could happen.

Hawks are trying to pull off something big and complicated. "LOTS GOING ON, STAY TUNED"
- John Jaeckel

Big and complicated sounds like CAR or MTL are involved.

Ladd has a lot more dimensions to his game than Vermette...grit to mention 1