I fully expect the remaining players to be ELC players, but in my scenario, the Hawks are at $82 after signing ADB, Strome and Lehner. Since they still need 6 more players, add another $4.5-5.5 for that.

ETA: if they extend Strome now, they could probably get him much cheaper than next year. Not that I'm advocating that, but playing well for half a season vs a season and a half should make a big difference come signing time.

Also, my scenario includes signing Lehner, which may or may not be Bowman's plan.
- tvetter

Ah, I see now. Thank you for clarifying.

I, for one, won't care where Jakiharju stands - I will only be concerned about Nylander.

He's the Blackhawk.

Jokiharju isn't.
- StLBravesFan

That’s not how this works...you know that.

Someone seems conspicuously absent from that list.
- Ogilthorpe2

You don't get a silk purse without starting with a pigs ear.

You don't get a silk purse without starting with a pigs ear.
- eagle50

What about an Ice Hogs ear?

I want $4mil too, doesn't mean I am getting it.
- powerenforcer

We all want four million, lol I have been watching Gusev on Youtube this past week and I am pretty certain it would be like Panarin and Kane all over again. Gusev and Kane would be dynamic together imo and Stan should really go after him. Our top six would be lights out!

I, for one, won't care where Jakiharju stands - I will only be concerned about Nylander.

He's the Blackhawk.

Jokiharju isn't.
- StLBravesFan

Hagel will out-work and out-perform Nylander in pre-season. Whether Bowman has the stones to let Colliton choose Hagel over Nylander to start the season with the big boys is another question.

What about an Ice Hogs ear?
- BlackhawkMike

Even better Set a fire under his ass if need be.If Nylander doesn't come to camp ready to prove himself he will be doing himself a big disservice,The Hawks should be entertaining this year due to all the competition for roster spots,Stan talks about players earning their ice and this looks to me an all season battle for some of these guys.I haven't been this stoked for the season to start in years.

We all want four million, lol I have been watching Gusev on Youtube this past week and I am pretty certain it would be like Panarin and Kane all over again. Gusev and Kane would be dynamic together imo and Stan should really go after him. Our top six would be lights out!
- joegreif17

I did the same thing last month and I agree it seems he would be a very good LW to play opposite Kane - Panarin-like. But, aside from the cost of coaxing Vegas to trade him to us - I just don't see a realistic way to fit him under the cap. Vegas is not in a position to take salary back as they are $3.5M over the cap with only 5 d-men on the roster.

Maybe package Gustafsson and Dahlstrom for Gusev, then add Boqvist to replace Gustafsson which nets a little more that $1M in cap space bring the total cap space to about $4.4M. Add Kubalik and Dach to the roster and the cap space is reduced to $2.5M. With $500K for in-season moves - that leaves only $2M to sign Gusev.

Don't see that happening.

I did the same thing last month and I agree it seems he would be a very good LW to play opposite Kane - Panarin-like. But, aside from the cost of coaxing Vegas to trade him to us - I just don't see a realistic way to fit him under the cap. Vegas is not in a position to take salary back as they are $3.5M over the cap with only 5 d-men on the roster.

Maybe package Gustafsson and Dahlstrom for Gusev, then add Boqvist to replace Gustafsson which nets a little more that $1M in cap space bring the total cap space to about $4.4M. Add Kubalik and Dach to the roster and the cap space is reduced to $2.5M. With $500K for in-season moves - that leaves only $2M to sign Gusev.

Don't see that happening.
- EbonyRaptor

I don't see it happening either, but will be interesting closer it is to training camp, especially with these big RFA contracts yet to be agreed to, and several teams still in serious cap trouble.

I did the same thing last month and I agree it seems he would be a very good LW to play opposite Kane - Panarin-like. But, aside from the cost of coaxing Vegas to trade him to us - I just don't see a realistic way to fit him under the cap. Vegas is not in a position to take salary back as they are $3.5M over the cap with only 5 d-men on the roster.

Maybe package Gustafsson and Dahlstrom for Gusev, then add Boqvist to replace Gustafsson which nets a little more that $1M in cap space bring the total cap space to about $4.4M. Add Kubalik and Dach to the roster and the cap space is reduced to $2.5M. With $500K for in-season moves - that leaves only $2M to sign Gusev.

Don't see that happening.
- EbonyRaptor

I personally would not like to see Gustafsson go anywhere. I think he can even do better than 60 points and is a lock on the pp for now. If the desire to acquire Gusev is great enough there can always be a way even if it is costly. The top six would be the best in the league with Gusev on a line with Toews and Kane. Watch some Gusev hilites on you tube and he is as good as Panarin and Kucherov, worth the gamble for me as he is just in his prime.

https://www.tsn.ca/agent-...into-khl-return-1.1340494

Any trade the Hawks make if it involves Gusev, he must agree to a contract before he is moved.

I fully expect the remaining players to be ELC players, but in my scenario, the Hawks are at $82 after signing ADB, Strome and Lehner. Since they still need 6 more players, add another $4.5-5.5 for that.

ETA: if they extend Strome now, they could probably get him much cheaper than next year. Not that I'm advocating that, but playing well for half a season vs a season and a half should make a big difference come signing time.

Also, my scenario includes signing Lehner, which may or may not be Bowman's plan.
- tvetter

Agree that if Lehner is extended, most of next year's 19M cap space pays him, Cat and Strome and Delia/Lienkinen. That makes 17 under contract with maybe 1 or 2M plus the cap increase maybe another 2M to sign 5 or 6 players.

I can see two or three of Saad, Smith and one of Murphy/Maata/DeHaan moved freeing up anywhere between 8 - 10M less whatever salaries brought back in trade. Then can extend Kubalik and Cagguila if desired.

Roster still would have to be rounded out with 4 or 5 kids on ELC.

Agree that if Lehner is extended, most of next year's 19M cap space pays him, Cat and Strome and Delia/Lienkinen. That makes 17 under contract with maybe 1 or 2M plus the cap increase maybe another 2M to sign 5 or 6 players.

I can see two or three of Saad, Smith and one of Murphy/Maata/DeHaan moved freeing up anywhere between 8 - 10M less whatever salaries brought back in trade. Then can extend Kubalik and Cagguila if desired.

Roster still would have to be rounded out with 4 or 5 kids on ELC.
- boilermaker100

Trade Kane to Yotes...

I did the same thing last month and I agree it seems he would be a very good LW to play opposite Kane - Panarin-like. But, aside from the cost of coaxing Vegas to trade him to us - I just don't see a realistic way to fit him under the cap. Vegas is not in a position to take salary back as they are $3.5M over the cap with only 5 d-men on the roster.

Maybe package Gustafsson and Dahlstrom for Gusev, then add Boqvist to replace Gustafsson which nets a little more that $1M in cap space bring the total cap space to about $4.4M. Add Kubalik and Dach to the roster and the cap space is reduced to $2.5M. With $500K for in-season moves - that leaves only $2M to sign Gusev.

Don't see that happening.
- EbonyRaptor

This is a report from last week so their asking price may have changed since then, but Vegas is reportedly underwhelmed by trade offers for Gusev. Offers have included a 2nd round pick + a low-end prospect or a lower draft pick.

This is a report from last week so their asking price may have changed since then, but Vegas is reportedly underwhelmed by trade offers for Gusev. Offers have included a 2nd round pick + a low-end prospect or a lower draft pick.
- AEL_Fox

The only way I see us trading for Gusev if we make another trade Saad for picks, otherwise I do not see the math working.

The only way I see us trading for Gusev if we make another trade Saad for picks, otherwise I do not see the math working.
- LAHawk

It’s just not in the cards.

If I were drafting i would go with the Hawks scouting department instead of the Athletic.

I remember the good old days when we got Cat in the 2nd round

Teuvo dropped to us

Kane was to small to play in the NHL

And so on and so on
- BetweenTheDots

Dach was not my preference. He definitely was in the group I was okay with them picking. I think he is going to a vg player in this league. He appears to have a great attitude.

- I Am The Breadman

6 ELC players means you are in cap hell and have a problem...
- rpeters01

Agreed, which is why my original post ended with me saying Bowman will be busier next summer than he was this summer.

I, for one, won't care where Jakiharju stands - I will only be concerned about Nylander.

He's the Blackhawk.

Jokiharju isn't.
- StLBravesFan

We always reserve the right to rip on Stan and Co if the trade doesn't work out as we had hoped.

6 ELC players means you are in cap hell and have a problem...
- rpeters01

Most teams have several players either still on their ELC or on a sub-$1 million deal. That's just the new reality in the salary can world. Hockey's middle class is getting squeezed out.

We always reserve the right to rip on Stan and Co if the trade doesn't work out as we had hoped.
- 333inthe3rd

Even if the trade works out well it would have always worked out better if another GM made the deal.

https://thehockeynews.com...-10-untradeable-contracts

The Hockey News has an article today about the most untradeable contracts in the NHL. Seabrook is #2 with other notables: Hayes at #3 and Schmaltz at #7. Weber is #1.

https://thehockeynews.com...-the-2021-expansion-draft

Another article today by the Hockey News is starting a series that discusses each team's expansion draft plans, i.e. who each team should protect. Ducks start the series. If a new team is highlighted each day, the Blackhawks should be up on Sunday or shortly after.