At this point they are not Cap-crunched. There is no reason to bury 3.4 million for multiple years until they are, or until Seabrook is completely useless.
- TheTrob

That's only true for one more year. They will be cap crunched again in 2020/21 after re-signing Cat, Strome, Kahun, Caggiula, Hayden, Gustafsson (or his replacement) and Crawford (or his replacement) - unless there are moves to reduce the collective cap hits on the books.

I hope Stan can sign UFA Ben Chiarot this summer. He would be a good upgrade over both Forsling and Dahlstrom at LD.

Keith-Jokiharju
Chiarot-Murphy
Koekkoek-Gustafsson
Seabrook
- EbonyRaptor

Or a McNabb or Miller plus a depth forward from Vegas in return for a Forsling, Dshlstrom or 4K. Vegas gains about 5M in cap space to help them sign William Karlsson.

And Toews couldn't catch a pass on his stick until he could.
- LAHawk

Toews was still grinding out there last night.

Other than the fact that he is playing top-line minutes in Rockfish - and learning the pro game there as a 19 year old - what evidence is there that Colliton doesn't like him?

How about - he's not ready for prime time yet - he still has a lot to learn - and unlike some other 19 year olds who may very well have had their careers limited by going directly from juniors to the Show - he will be better off developing in the top minor league into what the Hawks (including the head coach) assume will be a top-pairing defenseman?

I like that analysis better....
- StLBravesFan

I agree he is in a good place for development. Going to the WJC and being a stud for Finland was a great experience too.

In fact, he is excellent most everywhere except when he finds himself playing for the Colliton coached Hawks. That is my observation and I don't know why.

Some speculate that keeping him under 40GP in the NHL this year has some contractual benefit to the Hawks but I don't know. I just don't see Colliton using him very much. Everything I've seen on his zone exits puts him as one of the top Hawks defensemen, but I am sure they are looking for other stuff from him, just don't know what.

Strome is the only one that would be costly. Most of those larger amounts are for top 10 spots in scoring for forwards or various awards. The lesser amounts are for games played for the most part. Even if Dinky hits all of his, its less than a million. It won't be an issue cause the Hawks have the cap space to handle them for this season. No carry over like they had to deal with in the past.
- Elbows15

So it can count toward this season then? That's good to know. I guess I was mistakenly under the impression that the hit applied to the following season. Thanks for clarifying.

1/1 to now in 23 games played which takes in the win streak as well as the losing streak:

W 12
L 11
Avg GA per game 4.08
Avg GF per game 4.00
Avg SOG against per game 36.65

Beginning of season to 12/31

W 15
L 26
Avg GA per game 3.25
Avg GF per game 3.63
Avg SOG against per game 34.8

Seems that they are giving up more shots, more goals and playing about .500 since New Year's.

I would say the data suggest not playing better. In fact, worse.
- Return of the Roar

Ok, so a little worse. At least they have gotten better at competing and on the offensive side. Lets give them a bit more time for the defense. If they start off the same next year on D, then I'll start to worry about their chances at raising a cup again.

Or a McNabb or Miller plus a depth forward from Vegas in return for a Forsling, Dshlstrom or 4K. Vegas gains about 5M in cap space to help them sign William Karlsson.
- boilermaker100

I would love Brayden McNabb on the Hawks

So it can count toward this season then? That's good to know. I guess I was mistakenly under the impression that the hit applied to the following season. Thanks for clarifying.
- 333inthe3rd

It only gets carried over to the following season if they don't have enough cap space for it in the current season, and only the amount above the cap gets carried over, if I remember correctly.

Toews was still grinding out there last night.
- Elbows15

Last night was a game for Toews, Saad, Anisimov, Murphy and Caggiula before he was hurt. A slow, neutral zone clogging game.

Kane hates these games (a poster mentioned he was a ghost earlier in this thread). He wants room to skate and he wasn't allowed to...until he was.

That was a playoff game if only bad teams made it. Slow and grinding and the 'hawks won. That's a good sign. If they can upgrade in some areas, then they win playoff games.

For Seabrook, that return looks like a good start. Think the Hawks would need to retain closer to $2MM and maybe take a roster player back if number of contracts is a factor for the other team.

Not impossible to move him but I'd wager he retires a Hawk simply because he isn't going to waive. Same with Keith.
- AEL_Fox

Same old problems regarding moving Seabs. One, he had to waive his NMC, two, find a trading partner. If yes to part one, may need to take back an equally bad contract like someone like Lucic at 6M for 4 more years. Does that really put the Hawks in a better situation going forward?

Yep. The calculus becomes Seabrook at $6.8, or the cost of his replacement plus $3.4.
- mohel

Correct and the replacement player will probably be a guy on an ELC for the next 3-4 years which gives Stan another $2M+ cap space to play with. Having $3.4M on the books for 5 years for "nothing" is not ideal but IMO it's better than having $6.8M on the books for 5 years for next to nothing.

I agree he is in a good place for development. Going to the WJC and being a stud for Finland was a great experience too.

In fact, he is excellent most everywhere except when he finds himself playing for the Colliton coached Hawks. That is my observation and I don't know why.

Some speculate that keeping him under 40GP in the NHL this year has some contractual benefit to the Hawks but I don't know. I just don't see Colliton using him very much. Everything I've seen on his zone exits puts him as one of the top Hawks defensemen, but I am sure they are looking for other stuff from him, just don't know what.
- hereismike1

Almost if not all rookies go through a flat spot during the year. I have no problem with what they are doing with Joki. He appears to be a confident guy who is a natural leader. The Hawks have put him in a position to lead with Finland at the WJC, and with the Hogs, along with giving him time in the big show. That's a lot to absorb as a 19yo.

Other than the fact that he is playing top-line minutes in Rockfish - and learning the pro game there as a 19 year old - what evidence is there that Colliton doesn't like him?

How about - he's not ready for prime time yet - he still has a lot to learn - and unlike some other 19 year olds who may very well have had their careers limited by going directly from juniors to the Show - he will be better off developing in the top minor league into what the Hawks (including the head coach) assume will be a top-pairing defenseman?

I like that analysis better....
- StLBravesFan

If Murphy and Forsling did not begin the year on IR, would Joki have made the team in October?

So it can count toward this season then? That's good to know. I guess I was mistakenly under the impression that the hit applied to the following season. Thanks for clarifying.
- 333inthe3rd

Any bonuses are paid from the current season cap space but if there isn't enough cap space to pay all the bonuses the team can use cap space from the next season - but that obviously reduces the cap space available for the next season. The good news is the Hawks have around $4.7M in unused cap space which should be enough to cover all bonuses this season.

At this point they are not Cap-crunched. There is no reason to bury 3.4 million for multiple years until they are, or until Seabrook is completely useless.
- TheTrob

Or throw away a prime asset like Mitchell. You need veterans. Yes, the league is getting younger but people should look at the average age of the top teams. Most are in the top half for average age.

Seabrook is definitely not the player he once was but I think there is an over-reach on how bad he is, too.

Ok, so a little worse. At least they have gotten better at competing and on the offensive side. Lets give them a bit more time for the defense. If they start off the same next year on D, then I'll start to worry about their chances at raising a cup again.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I think you have to define little a bit.

They allow 5% more SOG and 21% more GA in exchange for a 9% increase in GF.

A 4+ GA/game avg requires a LOT of defensive improvement for them to be much more than "more entertaining to watch"

Is he a 2nd pair guy on a Cup contender, or just the Hawks. I'd rather not pay big money for the latter.
- mohel

He is a 3rd pair guy in reality. He is playing more this season because the Jets have had some injuries on their back end. Also coincides with the recent stretch of mediocre play from the Jets of late.

So it can count toward this season then? That's good to know. I guess I was mistakenly under the impression that the hit applied to the following season. Thanks for clarifying.
- 333inthe3rd

Yes. It is applied to the next season if a team doesn't have the cap space to handle in the season it is earned. The Hawks do for this season.

Still don't think they will have to worry about most of it.

EDIT: Or what Ebony said. lol

Same old problems regarding moving Seabs. One, he had to waive his NMC, two, find a trading partner. If yes to part one, may need to take back an equally bad contract like someone like Lucic at 6M for 4 more years. Does that really put the Hawks in a better situation going forward?
- boilermaker100

This board makes it sound like Seabrook is the only contract that puts an albatross on a team in the league. Please name me one team in the past 5 years that has been successful that does not have a bad contract on the books or has major cap issues. Pittsburgh has 16 players signed next year at almost $79mil, that means approx. $4 mil. for 7 players, and they have 6 players with either NMC and NTC's like Patrick Hornquist and Justin Schultz.

I wouldn't mind relieving some of that by trading one of Forsling/Dahlstrom or Koekkoeck for Brian Dummelin, or if they don't want to give him up Nick Bjugstaad.

he definitely was dynamic last night - thats the Saad i like to pay $6MM.
- glennjpawlak22

Saad has been in beast mode since early December and especially since he has been given his own line to drive. He is damn near impossible for anyone to handle one on one right now.

This board makes it sound like Seabrook is the only contract that puts an albatross on a team in the league. Please name me one team in the past 5 years that has been successful that does not have a bad contract on the books or has major cap issues. Pittsburgh has 16 players signed next year at almost $79mil, that means approx. $4 mil. for 7 players, and they have 6 players with either NMC and NTC's like Patrick Hornquist and Justin Schultz.

I wouldn't mind relieving some of that by trading one of Forsling/Dahlstrom or Koekkoeck for Brian Dummelin, or if they don't want to give him up Nick Bjugstaad.
- LAHawk

Doumelin is probably unrealistic. Maata would probably be the one they move. Him I would pass on. Good player but can't stay healthy.

Yep. The calculus becomes Seabrook at $6.8, or the cost of his replacement plus $3.4.
- mohel

I believe the first 800K are schedule A and the remaining 2M are schedule B bonuses.

Schedule A are team awards. Several categories worth about 132K each which include being near the top in TOi, plus/minus, achieving something like 20 goals, 35 assists, 60 points0,. Not sure of the exact numbers.

B bonuses are league awards, like winning the Hart or other trophies, making the All Star team.

Debrincat should make his 132K, Strome maybe part of his 800K if he continues to put up the points, Kahun due to his good +/- numbers part of his 800K.

Saad has been in beast mode since early December and especially since he has been given his own line to drive. He is damn near impossible for anyone to handle one on one right now.
- Elbows15

14 goals and 10 assists in the last 38 games since 12/1. A nice run? Yes. Beast mode....not so much.

$6MM a year forward nice...meh, but a welcome turnaround nonetheless.

Last night was a game for Toews, Saad, Anisimov, Murphy and Caggiula before he was hurt. A slow, neutral zone clogging game.

Kane hates these games (a poster mentioned he was a ghost earlier in this thread). He wants room to skate and he wasn't allowed to...until he was.

That was a playoff game if only bad teams made it. Slow and grinding and the 'hawks won. That's a good sign. If they can upgrade in some areas, then they win playoff games.
- CanOCorn

It wasn't even that with Kane last night. We have watched him long enough to see the difference in him. He was gliding a lot with his stick up in the air. Also was flat-footed a lot. For whatever reasons, he wasn't feeling it last night. Until he needed to.

14 goals and 10 assists in the last 38 games since 12/1. A nice run? Yes. Beast mode....not so much.

$6MM a year forward nice...meh, but a welcome turnaround nonetheless.
- Return of the Roar

Playing with the likes of Kruger and Kampf for the most part? Yes, its beast mode.

Maybe he needs to throw a few hits for you or something.

Sporting a 53% Corsi on a team that bleeds shots. A CorRel of 5.4. Which means his team is far better when he is on the ice than not.