So none of this is new information but I appreciate handy visuals now that it's officially the offseason









Source: @HawksBreakdown on Twitter

Hard cap world. Coaches and GM's are gonna earn their money now. Gonna have to cram some square pegs in round holes, devise systems around players you have to play with not the other way around, play rookies, guys taking up 30-50% of the cap have to play like it.
- Mr Ricochet

Daily double, nice post

I guess the point I was making was not that I don't love Oduya ( I do) but he didn't win'em anything and I actually think he wouldn't a won us anything either...that wasn't where things fell apart.
- wiz1901

The way this team is right now, a solid 4D is absolutely imperative, because there's not much depth after that. What if Oduya never did fully recover from the broken foot last year? Who plays those tough minutes, and how do they win the Cup otherwise? Oduya filled a glaring need on this team, and he was a great fit here. Do they win this year with him? Probably not, as the forward depth was a problem, but without a solid 4D, this team had an even bigger uphill climb.

Let the Bickell buyout watch begin

And the worst year of nhl hockey since 05-06 season has ended. Didn't watch a second after the hawks were eliminated, they use to call it the hardest trophy to win in sports because of all the punishment you take to win it. Besides and handful of cheap shot hits this year's playoffs weren't physical at all. Settle the concussion lawsuit and bring back real hockey. Can't wait til the draft and July 1st.

So, the blog is about goalies. Who won the cup? The team with the better goalie or the team with the better defense? I say defense. What does that mean for us? Hope we sooner see than later be.

GO HOCKS!

P. S. My sources say Gordie Howe is still dead. God rest his soul.

Let the Bickell buyout watch begin
- walter34

You mean the Bickell buyout watch that should have happened last summer...

Still shocked that Kessel didn't get the Conn Smythe.

Loved that they booed the crap out of Bettman.

Letsssssss Go Stan !! Its 0700CST why is Bickell still here ???

Hard cap world. Coaches and GM's are gonna earn their money now. Gonna have to cram some square pegs in round holes, devise systems around players you have to play with not the other way around, play rookies, guys taking up 30-50% of the cap have to play like it.
- Mr Ricochet

And rookies are going to have to perform and be productive - unlike almost all Rockford call-ups the past several years.

Shaw spent time there - Saad, in the lockout year - has anyone else performed at a high level in the Show - either Chicago or a City he was dealt to?

I know - low picks, traded picks - but it seems to me that lack of development on the farm has been an important issue.

We'll see what happens with Pokka, McNeil, some of the others who gave had a cup of coffee in Chicago... So far, I'm not enthused.

Letsssssss Go Stan !! Its 0700CST why is Bickell still here ???
- mrpaulish

Freakin' Stan, dragging his feet again. When will this guy ever learn.

Pitt won the cup almost 12hrs ago, and Stan still hasn't done a GD thing

You mean the Bickell buyout watch that should have happened last summer...

Still shocked that Kessel didn't get the Conn Smythe.

Loved that they booed the crap out of Bettman.
- DK002

Giving it to Kessel doesn't fit the NHL's Crosby narrative

interesting look at the cap and who needs to get to the floor.
http://www.thehockeynews....w-70-million-next-season/

Don't know what the offseason will bring...

-Shaw needs a contract before next year
-Panarin needs a raise after next year
-Teravainen needs a raise after next year
-Bickell's contract has one year left
-Hossa has one more year where makes more than $1M a year
-Expansion draft in one year
-2nd expansion draft in two years?
-Stagnant cap
- DMChi2010

I just don't think they'll wait that long. The longer they let it drag on, the more likely it is, he leaves.

I also don't buy that it's a "trade-off" between TT and Panarin. Until TT proves he can play center in the NHL, which he really hasn't, he is a wing, and as such, not remotely in Panarin's league.

IF TT shows he can be an NHL 2C, then there's a "discussion" that can be had where a comparison, I guess, can be made on their value.

Finally, the "reason," if there is one, that you trade TT now is if what you get back fills a need. This team DOES have needs. The higher salaried guys mentioned, including Crawford, might not bring back much as far as filling needs—you're losing a contract and cap hit, and someone else is taking that off your hands.

Doesn't mean CC should be "given away" either, but some of the possible returns I've seen mentioned for him are probably not realistic.

I just don't think they'll wait that long. The longer they let it drag on, the more likely it is, he leaves.

I also don't buy that it's a "trade-off" between TT and Panarin. Until TT proves he can play center in the NHL, which he really hasn't, he is a wing, and as such, not remotely in Panarin's league.

IF TT shows he can be an NHL 2C, then there's a "discussion" that can be had where a comparison, I guess, can be made on their value.

Finally, the "reason," if there is one, that you trade TT now is if what you get back fills a need. This team DOES have needs. The higher salaried guys mentioned, including Crawford, might not bring back much as far as filling needs—you're losing a contract and cap hit, and someone else is taking that off your hands.

Doesn't mean CC should be "given away" either, but some of the possible returns I've seen mentioned for him are probably not realistic.
- John Jaeckel

Guess the part I struggle with in this narrative is what you can get back for TT. Maybe he is of great value around the league, I just don't see that big of a return.

Even if he value is more than I see, whatever you get back can't have a higher salary than about 850K.

Just don't see where moving TT makes any sense. Not that I'm in love with the player or over valuing him, just don't see how it works with the situation they are in.

They are going to need about 4 guys min who contribute at ELC value.

Letsssssss Go Stan !! Its 0700CST why is Bickell still here ???
- mrpaulish

Ha I know.. though I think the buyout period starts Wednesday but hopefully he finds a trade partner without giving up a major asset to take that contract.

I just don't think they'll wait that long. The longer they let it drag on, the more likely it is, he leaves.

I also don't buy that it's a "trade-off" between TT and Panarin. Until TT proves he can play center in the NHL, which he really hasn't, he is a wing, and as such, not remotely in Panarin's league.

IF TT shows he can be an NHL 2C, then there's a "discussion" that can be had where a comparison, I guess, can be made on their value.

Finally, the "reason," if there is one, that you trade TT now is if what you get back fills a need. This team DOES have needs. The higher salaried guys mentioned, including Crawford, might not bring back much as far as filling needs—you're losing a contract and cap hit, and someone else is taking that off your hands.

Doesn't mean CC should be "given away" either, but some of the possible returns I've seen mentioned for him are probably not realistic.
- John Jaeckel

John, in your opinion and experience, do you think the Hawks can trade Crawford and get an "ok" return? I saw that you mentioned Steve Mason in the past... Can Chicago get more than him in a trade?

Now we just need that cap number. Rumblings are its gonna come in 72.5'ish. Lets hope for 74, but doesnt look good.

So, the blog is about goalies. Who won the cup? The team with the better goalie or the team with the better defense? I say defense. What does that mean for us? Hope we sooner see than later be.

GO HOCKS!

P. S. My sources say Gordie Howe is still dead. God rest his soul.
- hocktock

The team that put together a group of a #1 and five #4-5-6-7 Dmen and devised a plan to make that work, team that played defense by keeping the puck 160-200 feet from their 21 yr old goalie, new era (old Hawk) kinda defense, team that played a TEAM defense, team that played a swarm style on the SJ rotation, team that took away time and space on every inch of ice kinda defence, team that played aggressive on the point taking away lanes and blocked shots (a forward lead the team in blocks), team with a Dman who couldn't skate 12 minutes a night for the Stanley Cup champs and one who couldn't play for the lowly Oilers.

Respectfully if you could answer one question (who had the better goalie or the better D) and that could be answered with one sentence us message board fans could construct a roster and coach a group to a cup.

What kinda players do you have, what kind down on the farm, what kind can you afford to add? Now put together a system and win some games.

The team that put together a group of a #1 and five #4-5-6-7 Dmen and devised a plan to make that work, team that played defense by keeping the puck 160-200 feet from their 21 yr old goalie, new era (old Hawk) kinda defense, team that played a TEAM defense, team that played a swarm style on the SJ rotation, team that took away time and space on every inch of ice kinda defence, team that played aggressive on the point taking away lanes and blocked shots (a forward lead the team in blocks), team with a Dman who couldn't skate 12 minutes a night for the Stanley Cup champs and one who couldn't play for the lowly Oilers.

Respectfully if you could answer one question (who had the better goalie or the better D) and that could be answered with one sentence us message board fans could construct a roster and coach a group to a cup.

What kinda players do you have, what kind down on the farm, what kind can you afford to add? Now put together a system and win some games.
- Mr Ricochet

You bet.. Q is gonna need a whole new outlook on how to handle this team. And a big bowl of Zen to let the kids work through the rough patches.

And rookies are going to have to perform and be productive - unlike almost all Rockford call-ups the past several years.

Shaw spent time there - Saad, in the lockout year - has anyone else performed at a high level in the Show - either Chicago or a City he was dealt to?

I know - low picks, traded picks - but it seems to me that lack of development on the farm has been an important issue.

We'll see what happens with Pokka, McNeil, some of the others who gave had a cup of coffee in Chicago... So far, I'm not enthused.
- StLBravesFan

This club is down to bare bones, no flesh left on the cap ravaged corpse. McNeil is a 1st rounder, Pokka is their top rated D prospect, Rasmusson WAS a big body that WAS mobile with good size and could play two positions, Daley was a prime #4 Dman, Denault WAS a 1st rounder that played center and was mobile, Gus getting yanked back and forth isn't gonna help him develop, TT playing 3C-1LW-3LW over a months time ain't gonna help him develop at 147 lbs, Garbutt played hells bells forecheck and was the fastest skater on this team.

Rookies, freaks and oddities will be needed to round out a group that has 2-3 million to fill the many spots left after the 48 million 6 man core is paid.

Letsssssss Go Stan !! Its 0700CST why is Bickell still here ???
- mrpaulish

June 15th is open season, since cup now won.

The team that put together a group of a #1 and five #4-5-6-7 Dmen and devised a plan to make that work, team that played defense by keeping the puck 160-200 feet from their 21 yr old goalie, new era (old Hawk) kinda defense, team that played a TEAM defense, team that played a swarm style on the SJ rotation, team that took away time and space on every inch of ice kinda defence, team that played aggressive on the point taking away lanes and blocked shots (a forward lead the team in blocks), team with a Dman who couldn't skate 12 minutes a night for the Stanley Cup champs and one who couldn't play for the lowly Oilers.

Respectfully if you could answer one question (who had the better goalie or the better D) and that could be answered with one sentence us message board fans could construct a roster and coach a group to a cup.

What kinda players do you have, what kind down on the farm, what kind can you afford to add? Now put together a system and win some games.
- Mr Ricochet

No, no, no.
Stan better give me my kind of players because we're playing my system.
And if the guys he gives me can't come in and play the specific way I want them to play, they are going to sit. A lot.

It doesn't matter if they can skate well. It doesn't matter if they are gritty and can play physical. It doesn't matter if they have skills that might be able to be used in some fashion to win. If I don't get what I want, then they won't play or I will have them traded.

I am very happy for Mike Sullivan. Was he lucky? Yes.
Lucky to get the chance to show if you take the best that guys have to give and figure out how to use those skills to your advantage, you can win.

I doubt anyone in the organ-I-zation learned anything.

Guess the part I struggle with in this narrative is what you can get back for TT. Maybe he is of great value around the league, I just don't see that big of a return.

Even if he value is more than I see, whatever you get back can't have a higher salary than about 850K.

Just don't see where moving TT makes any sense. Not that I'm in love with the player or over valuing him, just don't see how it works with the situation they are in.

They are going to need about 4 guys min who contribute at ELC value.
- vabeachbear

It all comes down to return, now or later, because next summer, if they intend to keep Panarin, forces hard decisions BEFORE NEXT SUMMER, and on more than just TT (who's is also due a new contract then).

This club is down to bare bones, no flesh left on the cap ravaged corpse. McNeil is a 1st rounder, Pokka is their top rated D prospect, Rasmusson WAS a big body that WAS mobile with good size and could play two positions, Daley was a prime #4 Dman, Denault WAS a 1st rounder that played center and was mobile, Gus getting yanked back and forth isn't gonna help him develop, TT playing 3C-1LW-3LW over a months time ain't gonna help him develop at 147 lbs, Garbutt played hells bells forecheck and was the fastest skater on this team.

Rookies, freaks and oddities will be needed to round out a group that has 2-3 million to fill the many spots left after the 48 million 6 man core is paid.
- Mr Ricochet

Is Moose gone?

Is Moose gone?
- z1990z

Going to play in Sweden.