The fee's go straight to the owners with zero impact on the cap.
- Blackwater13

Yes - but - national TV revenues are fixed in both countries, I think - so HRR spread over 31 teams instead of 30 could have a depressing effect on the cap.

Wiz I don't disagree about knowing exactly why. It's all speculation. But look back at Campbell and bowmans dislike of his game. Look at leddy and being chained to the pine late in games during cup runs.

Educated guess just has to be his skill set wasn't a match and he realized it early that he couldn't do what he does best and asked out. Good for him for being part of a winner.

And if that was the case, his skill set, then the real question is why would bowman acquire him knowing that player twice before didn't work in the hawks system?
- SteveRain

And if that was the case, his skill set, then the real question is why would bowman
acquire him knowing that player twice before didn't work in the hawks system?

If I may, but that one is a layup...

Bowman had no choice-The entire deal along with Oduya signing in Dallas was scripted and it was Jim Nill with pen in hand not Bowman.

If I would have came on here the day after the Cup win and say Oduya won't be back because he could make an extra $400k somewhere else I would have been crucified...

But that's exactly what happened and Bickell becoming an anchor had a lot to do with the entire Sharp/Oduya and Daley debacle.

Don't know if anyone else saw this, but after reading this, I'm more convinced that a big contract (probably CC) has to be moved this summer.

http://www.secondcityhock...ades-free-agency-nhl-2016

Escrow, guys - a higher cap means a higher escrow - higher giveback by players with contracts - it's a conflicted NHLPA - players with contracts vs. players without
- StLBravesFan

This is a fragile model that is heading to fall off a cliff if something isn't done...

At some point the PA and NHL will get together and figure out a way to relieve the cap max spenders. The PA has to be careful because this has turned into a have's and have not league to the extreme and that's not a healthy union environment.

The model here isn't exclusive to Chicago whereby a handful of players make the majority of the money. ...8 Hawks take up about $43 million in cap space...At current levels that 60% of the cap for 35% of the roster.

This is a fragile model that is heading to fall off a cliff if something isn't done...

At some point the PA and NHL will get together and figure out a way to relieve the cap max spenders. The PA has to be careful because this has turned into a have's and have not league to the extreme and that's not a healthy union environment.

The model here isn't exclusive to Chicago whereby a handful of players make the majority of the money. ...8 Hawks take up about $43 million in cap space...At current levels that 60% of the cap for 35% of the roster.
- Al

Eventually it will all grind to a halt when no teams have any space to make any moves whatsoever

Eventually it will all grind to a halt when no teams have any space to make any moves whatsoever
- dstainer

There should be bargains galore for the few non-cap teams out there, starting this year I believe.

Ference could be put on LTIR, I would love for bickell to declare that his vertigo is back and has chronic knee pain and LTIR him this year. The benefit for him is he gets a year to rehab his knee's and try and get a contract in a year. He is only going to get 3 mil instead of 4.5 mil he is bought out and there is no way he is getting a 1 year 1.5 mil contract this off season. he would probably get a tryout contract at best.
- kmw4631

Right, but then why would Edmonton make the deal? They will likely just LTIR him themselves.

Ference could be put on LTIR, I would love for bickell to declare that his vertigo is back and has chronic knee pain and LTIR him this year. The benefit for him is he gets a year to rehab his knee's and try and get a contract in a year. He is only going to get 3 mil instead of 4.5 mil he is bought out and there is no way he is getting a 1 year 1.5 mil contract this off season. he would probably get a tryout contract at best.
- kmw4631

Max LTIR benefit at season's start comes from being just beneath the cap before opening night. One of the post Cap Geek sites has a good explanation. Something must have held the 'Hawks back medically when it came to Bicks.

And if that was the case, his skill set, then the real question is why would bowman
acquire him knowing that player twice before didn't work in the hawks system?

If I may, but that one is a layup...

Bowman had no choice-The entire deal along with Oduya signing in Dallas was scripted and it was Jim Nill with pen in hand not Bowman.

If I would have came on here the day after the Cup win and say Oduya won't be back because he could make an extra $400k somewhere else I would have been crucified...

But that's exactly what happened and Bickell becoming an anchor had a lot to do with the entire Sharp/Oduya and Daley debacle.
- Al

Does anybody know why Stan did NOT buy out Bickell last year??

Escrow, guys - a higher cap means a higher escrow - higher giveback by players with contracts - it's a conflicted NHLPA - players with contracts vs. players without
- StLBravesFan

Eh, to an extent but until long term deals come into play for over 50% of the union, the smaller guys, aka role guys, 2nd/3rd tier scorers, and non super stars will want the highest cap possible to maximize their earnings and not be forced to take less to offset money to going to the top players in the league. Conversely, the top guys have to approve the escalator which dings them long term, to offset their fellow union brothern who are trying to cash in.

This is why next stoppage will be a dandy. This system is royalty flawed.

And if that was the case, his skill set, then the real question is why would bowman
acquire him knowing that player twice before didn't work in the hawks system?

If I may, but that one is a layup...

Bowman had no choice-The entire deal along with Oduya signing in Dallas was scripted and it was Jim Nill with pen in hand not Bowman.

If I would have came on here the day after the Cup win and say Oduya won't be back because he could make an extra $400k somewhere else I would have been crucified...

But that's exactly what happened and Bickell becoming an anchor had a lot to do with the entire Sharp/Oduya and Daley debacle.
- Al

I don't disagree on all fronts. Horrible card playing by Bowman and reluctance to cut ties with Bickell knowing full well his deal wasn't moving anywhere. Just like it wont' this summer without a pretty significant sweetner.

Escrow, guys - a higher cap means a higher escrow - higher giveback by players with contracts - it's a conflicted NHLPA - players with contracts vs. players without
- StLBravesFan

Sounds like decades of MLB owners.

The guys under contract for a lot less bucks will be aggrivated the most. 19/88 are still the highest AAV. How many times in the cap era has the same team had that? It's the price to pay for success, by everyone in the org.

I'd like to see contract restructuring of some sort amended into this CBA or at least in the next one.

Sounds like decades of MLB owners.

The guys under contract for a lot less bucks will be aggrivated the most. 19/88 are still the highest AAV. How many times in the cap era has the same team had that? It's the price to pay for success, by everyone in the org.

I'd like to see contract restructuring of some sort amended into this CBA or at least in the next one.
- blackhawk24

There will be. Has to be. Players allowed a 4 million dollar roll back last time to the cap number which only hurt their ability to earn and allowed small market owners to cash in.

Every year since, I believe, the escalator has been approved. So the players are routinely taking it on the chin. The only benefit to large teams up against the cap is moving a dead AAV but low actual salary to a team tryhing to reach the cap floor. See it every year.

But to your point, 19/88 take up 21 million in cap space, thus forcing the 2nd wave to either take a smaller amount to stay here OR cash in elsewhere like Saad, Leddy did. Tough choice for Shaw, especially when union wants him to cash in for future comparables when other RFAs/UFAs go to the table.

I am not pro union but tough to read about owners crying about losing money.....nobody loses money unless they want to or are in a perfect storm of hell and need to relocate like Atlanta did.

For the record, I don't see how Las Vegas works long term.....that will be a tough spot for UFAs to land.....That housing market is still screwed up and their isn't heavy gambling or fantasy interest in NHL compared to NFL.

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks 2h2 hours ago
#Blackhawks agree to terms with goaltender Mac Carruth on a one-year contract.

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks 2h2 hours ago
#Blackhawks agree to terms with goaltender Mac Carruth on a one-year contract.
- DarthKane

Rockford fully stocked now.

God wiling tomorrow Bickell's name will have been submitted to be bought out by the Hawks.

I know every $0.01 counts but I dont' see any logical reason to save an additional 1.896 million if that includes a player who could be some what useful this upcoming year in 86. Now if iit's Svedberg, that's a different story..........

Also curious to see a team out East go hard after Shaw in a possible offer sheet scenario or trading for his rights. Somebody who is close but just doesn't have enough jam upfront.

My worry is ,losing that in Shaw will hurt the Hawks as well.

I know the buy-out period begins tomorrow, but is there a time limit that players must be bought out, or can that run all the way until the beginning of the season? Just wondering about if Bickell needs to be listed now, or if we can keep trying to trade him until the season is about to begin.

Rockford fully stocked now.
- Return of the Roar

What do you mean?

I thought this clearly means the Blackhawks are trading both Crawford & Darling and going with Carruth & Johansson as the team is entering the "Scotty Bowman says goaltending doesn't matter" era.

I apologize in advance for the sarcasm...it's been one of those days.

What do you mean?

I thought this clearly means the Blackhawks are trading both Crawford & Darling and going with Carruth & Johansson as the team is entering the "Scotty Bowman says goaltending doesn't matter" era.

I apologize in advance for the sarcasm...it's been one of those days.
- DarthKane

Hey DK...

The Detroit model simply puts more focus on a balanced/deep D core. Solid goal tending is needed without a doubt. This modern hard cap NHL is forcing very hard decisions in terms of where to spend your money.

I know the buy-out period begins tomorrow, but is there a time limit that players must be bought out, or can that run all the way until the beginning of the season? Just wondering about if Bickell needs to be listed now, or if we can keep trying to trade him until the season is about to begin.
- spudrock512

regular buyout window. The start of this window shifts - it is either June 15th or 48 hours after the Cup is awarded, whichever is later. This window ends at 5pm EST on June 30th, just in time to let the dust settle before free agency starts.

We should have bought out bickell and signed SAAD on the 30th last year. and then traded sharp and then traded Daley to a 3rd team looking for Defense help resigned JO. Held off on Seabs contract till this summer. When no one was going to give him a big contract like that and a NMC as well. IMO. When ever deciding between players to keep go young and improving.

Hey DK...

The Detroit model simply puts more focus on a balanced/deep D core. Solid goal tending is needed without a doubt. This modern hard cap NHL is forcing very hard decisions in terms of where to spend your money.
- z1990z

I know...I was just being goofy.

I think trading Crawford would be a mistake, but if Stan could find a way to trade him and improve the overall team depth without sacrificing too much in goaltending then go for it.

I was just poking fun at the people (mostly on Twitter) who feel Crawford is expendable simply because Scotty didn't have a big ticket goalie in Detroit.

Does anybody know why Stan did NOT buy out Bickell last year??
- Lido_Shuffle

Because it would have meant his cap hit would have been on the books for 4 additional years from that point (twice the number of years left on the contract at 1/3 the annual salary of the contract). So, the net result would have been that his buyout cap hit would have been on the books through 2018-19, instead of through 2017-18 if they do it this summer.

For everyone saying "just buy Bickell out" / "why didn't they buy him out last year?"...Bowman HAS to try everything reasonably possible to trade him so that his contract is off the books after this season. Especially with Panarin, Teravainen, Gustafsson, Kempny, all due for new contracts next summer. That zombie $1.5mil in 2017-18 could cost the Hawks a really useful/important player. Buyout has to be an option of last resort.

Schmaltz and Forsling are the only prospects I wouldn't include in any deal to get Bickell cleanly off of the books this year. Even if you have to retain some salary, that's fine because it is only this year.

For everyone saying "just buy Bickell out" / "why didn't they buy him out last year?"...Bowman HAS to try everything reasonably possible to trade him so that his contract is off the books after this season. Especially with Panarin, Teravainen, Gustafsson, Kempny, all due for new contracts next summer. That zombie $1.5mil in 2017-18 could cost the Hawks a really useful/important player. Buyout has to be an option of last resort.

Schmaltz and Forsling are the only prospects I wouldn't include in any deal to get Bickell cleanly off of the books this year. Even if you have to retain some salary, that's fine because it is only this year.
- BreakoutHockey

He's been trying for over 18 months to move him. he's damaged goods. The Hawks know it. The league knows it. Plus, why would any team take Bickell at 4 million this year when they can get him at a LOT less via a buyout.

Plus Bickell has a modified NTC in which he can only go 8 places unless he waves.

See what happens, but even after being recalled and having an OK game vvs WPG he was quickly exposed as being too slow for the NHL game.

Thank you. And with the info trickling out that Las Vegas will be the 31st franchise, and some guidelines set up for protection of players....who is the most likely Hawk player that we will lose in the expansion draft? I am hearing that only one player maximum can be taken from each team. Any thoughts?
- onehundredlevel

I think TVR could be in jeopardy. Certainly Shaw if he stays and he doesn't have a no movement clause.

I haven't heard about the one player rule......but that seems to make sense.