Is there any way to retain Gus's services, while limiting his exposure during 5 on 5 play? When teams periodically dress 7D, how debilitating is that for the offense, really? Don't have an actual clue, which is why I am throwing this out there. Thanks.

Next year it's LaFreniere!
- boilermaker100

In the derriere for La Freniere

The main reason would be the problem of having 3 $10M+ players on the roster would have on the ability to construct a team around them that could be competitive - especially now that we know the cap growth is being slowed down for 2019/20 and 2020/21.
- EbonyRaptor

Obviously we have to lose contracts to make it all work, which would have to be done creatively, Seabrook, Anisimov, Saad.

I feel the Hawks have two main things going against them heading into UFA season. The thing that sucks is that the Hawks actually have money to spend on players for the first time in years.

(1) As has been pointed out by many on this board. Debrincat and Strome are both due huge raises and that must be taken into account above anything else at the present time. So if the Hawks are going to look at ripping off a cap-strapped team, it has to be done basically by carefully looking at contract term (length) so it does not interfere with signing Debrincat and Strome next summer. Seeng the money being handed out to players in the Debrincat/Strome bracket, tells me bridge deals from those two will be unlikely.

(2) Obviously, the most glaring need presently for the Hawks is a adding a proven top 4 NHL d-man. Looking at the crop of UFA d-men out there outside of Brandon Dillon, this group is weak at best. The Hawks are not going to be handing out a long term contract to any UFA as well because they know that they have a lot of young d-men on the way that they are very close to bringing into their lineup. I would not be getting too stoked for UFA time, as the Hawks have money but there is not a lot out there besides Dillon left for D-Men and the rest of the NHL knows that too.

Frustrating because it does feel like we are wasting some years when 19 and 88 are still very good NHL players. Partly, the Hawks fault because of some bad contracts currently on the roster, but like it or not, Seabrook at the time he got his contract still was very good. I do not think anybody saw him slipping this badly where he is a #5 defensemen now in Chicago. This board along with me, at the time would have went nuts if the Hawks let Seabrook walk for nothing when he signed his anchor contract. Also, the Hawks need to be wary of what the next CBA looks like as well. Who knows what the owners and Bettman will want this time around. We have seen many loopholes the teams have found ways to get around, but one thing is certain the NHL will always have a very strict salary cap if this league wants to survive.

Ok so now that the cap number is out, the trade market seems to be in the same position it was in during the draft.

Something’s off.

Ok so now that the cap number is out, the trade market seems to be in the same position it was in during the draft.

Something’s off.
- gifman

Right now I am more interested if the Hawks are talking to any free agents. Depending on if and who they sign, will dictate what trades the Hawks are going to make.

Right now I am more interested if the Hawks are talking to any free agents. Depending on if and who they sign, will dictate what trades the Hawks are going to make.
- LAHawk

Seems very quiet all around the league and from Tyler something has to give shortly I would expect.

Ok so now that the cap number is out, the trade market seems to be in the same position it was in during the draft.

Something’s off.
- gifman

What is the big infatuation with trades happening or not? GM’s have several factors to consider when making trades. If there are one or two “big fish” that multiple teams are interested in it will hold up the rest of the deals.

Does this involve the hawks?
- Scott1977

They've been talking to Vegas but so have 10+ pther teams I've heard.

Ok so now that the cap number is out, the trade market seems to be in the same position it was in during the draft.

Something’s off.
- gifman

Seems like GM’s busy talking to UFA’s, figuring out which RFA’s they’re going to QO, deadline 6/25 5:00pm ET.

6/26 12:01am ET RFA talks and offer sheets starts, busy times!

Biggest problem will remain the defense until something substantial is done there.

You're hopeful one or more of the kids will take the next step. But you still need someone or two going into this season. I would hope Stan has a couple of moves coming there first.

Of course the main problem remains the large contracts of 2 and 7 -while still a valued member of the team that deal is a killer. Keith's is the more movable deal, but would he waive...? I doubt it.

Gus great PP QB but lost in his own end.
Murphy - meh...but he'll take the body.

The reaction to the Matta trade seams mixed. From a top shot blocker and two time Cup winner to injury prone and needs someone to drive the pairing he's in. Hopefully he's serviceable.

Still very much a patch work - we'll how Stan plays it along with Corey Perry, Pavelski, etc...if Hayes is worth 7 mil per (crazy money) then what's the Cat worth?

I think Bob signs with FLA pretty quickly...Panarin might want to sit down with the Rangers...but we'll see what kind of effect Q has there.

I think the hawks are going to decide between one forward ...

not sure if it is a cap squeezed teams player (maybe Vegas defensive forward Karlsson at .575 mil a year ...the hawks could go to arbitration and IT might be a one year marriage, or someone else) or go long ball with C-LW Christian Dvorek who is locked until 4,450,00 until 2025 and THAT might have Coyotes, after his 33, 37, and 2 goal seasons and a combined -12....I am not so sure they Arizona is ready to part ways, but maybe Dvorek is.

Anyway...either move or any move, might be part of a Anismov, Forsling, Koekoek,Dahlström, and or Murphy departure and/OR Rockford sweeteners added.

I think Corey Perry is sort of an after the dust has settled move IF he doesn't sign with Nashville as some are reporting.
I hate Perry as an opponent, "heard" he was an sob teammate in practice too, but one thing I would not be surprised at is Perry OR Dach lining up with Toews and Kane next year.

Vegas extends Karlsson 8 year 48 million deal. 6 million per year cap hit. Deal being finalized.

They've been talking to Vegas but so have 10+ pther teams I've heard.
- Tyler Cameron

Well if that’s the case f’em. I hope Stan doesn’t budge and gets max return back. No Stasny or Pacoriety. When we were in a similar position we gave up good and great players for nothing.

Vegas extends Karlsson 8 year 48 million deal. 6 million per year cap hit.
- BGKarras

Good deal for Vegas considering Hayes got 7 X7

Obviously we have to lose contracts to make it all work, which would have to be done creatively, Seabrook, Anisimov, Saad.
- slarm

The Hawks situation is probably worse than others in terms of having a competitive team with 3 $10M+ players because of Seabrook's contract. Other teams with an albatross contract would have the same problem. But aside from the handful or teams further constrained by an albatross contract, all teams would be hard pressed to construct a competitive team with 3 $10M+ players without the highly unlikely possibility of a combination of veteran players and ELC players all playing above their pay grade, and even then it isn't sustainable as those ELC players get paid more on their 2nd contracts.

They've been talking to Vegas but so have 10+ pther teams I've heard.
- Tyler Cameron

Which means they, and other cap strapped teams, are not going to get fleeced. Teams with the best offers will get what they want.

Stan is only in a position with these teams to eat turd contracts with one year left, and acquire other players with only one year left. These crunched teams can’t take salary back, so deals involving Saad or AA wont likely happen with Vegas or Toronto.

Far too many other teams out there with REAL cap space to offer better deals than Chicago can.

Good deal for Vegas considering Hayes got 7 X7
- LAHawk

It is I'm wondering if he gave them a HomeTown discount to stay in Vegas because he really likes it there.

Good deal for Vegas considering Hayes got 7 X7
- LAHawk

Philly’s GM is an idiot

Which means they, and other cap strapped teams, are not going to get fleeced. Teams with the best offers will get what they want.

Stan is only in a position with these teams to eat turd contracts with one year left, and acquire other players with only one year left. These crunched teams can’t take salary back, so deals involving Saad or AA wont likely happen with Vegas or Toronto.

Far too many other teams out there with REAL cap space to offer better deals than Chicago can.
- Return of the Roar

16 million isn’t real cap space?

Vegas extends Karlsson 8 year 48 million deal. 6 million per year cap hit. Deal being finalized.
- BGKarras

That’s a good deal for Vegas.

16 million isn’t real cap space?
- gifman

Some of that $16,000,000 goes into signing your own RFA's, such as Perlini (who Bowman said will be resigned), Quenneville, Sikura, and Kamph.

Good deal for Vegas considering Hayes got 7 X7
- LAHawk

Maybe the $81.5 million salary cap will bring a salary correction to the market place.

I'm just a realistic person who is being honest about Chicago's personnel.


Toews and Kane can not be paired up all season long because it limits Chicago's ability to generate offensive production.

Imo toews won't have the same type of year he had last year, when you look at his last 4 years he has had 1 great season and 3 mediocre.


- Taylorst1

Does it though? Kane with Toews still puts a 40 goal scorer in Dcat on line 2. Also, if Toews won’t have the same kind of year as last (and I am inclined to agree with you though I hope we’re both wrong) then maybe playing with Kane all year will help him reach that level of play again?