Which, IIRC, is how he looked in the first week he was up here two seasons ago: always in good position, quick (not early) down and quick up, ready for the rebound shot. No flopping, just always in position and ready.

For probably 3 games.

Then he went to the flopping, indecision, not being able to efficiently get up and down or side to side....

I was impressed with his first few games - it would be nice if he could get back to that.
- StLBravesFan

That's what I recall as well in respect to his debut season. Started out like gangbusters but then hit a wall pretty quickly.

That is one difference I've observed between Delia and Lankinen, i.e. Delia is either really dialed in and can stop everything or he's a sieve.

Delia has at least been trending in a better direction as far as being locked in more and lit up less. But when he's off his game, it's a deluge.

Lankinen is a little more even keel. Can lose focus once in a while but he at least doesn't get rattled. You can tell his pro experience in Finland is a plus.

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

Saad?
Ahh...completely washed up.
Need more deets?

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

Saad?
Ahh...completely washed up.
Need more deets?

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

I hope they re-sign Saad ... but for less than the $6.5M you suggested. The bad news is he's free to seek a better offer elsewhere. The good news is the market won't be clamoring for a $6M+ 50 point scorer.

Long term I think at least a couple other players are higher priority than Saad so I would be sure to re-sign (1) Kubalik and (2) Strome before determining what cap space is left to re-sign Saad. Saad is a very good 2-way player so scoring isn't everything but it's the biggest factor in determining market value - so hopefully Saad and his agent realize they are now in a new cost-model and it means less cap space will be available for middle tier players.

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

If he has a decent start to next season, what's Saad worth at the TDL to a Cup contender (which wouldn't be the Flyers)? Not familiar with what other pending UFAs would be available at that time, but Saad should be one of the top ones.

If he has a decent start to next season, what's Saad worth at the TDL to a Cup contender (which wouldn't be the Flyers)? Not familiar with what other pending UFAs would be available at that time, but Saad should be one of the top ones.
- boilermaker100

I would expect the fact that there is an expansion draft means whomever trades for Saad must protect him, else he would be an expensive rental

Saad?
Ahh...completely washed up.
Need more deets?
- bruceflyers

"Say something once, why say it again?"

Maybe not next, but eventually I suspect they will be pressured tp change it.
- DarthKane

Agreed and with that the potential of one of best looking jerseys in all of professional sports a memory.

If he has a decent start to next season, what's Saad worth at the TDL to a Cup contender (which wouldn't be the Flyers)? Not familiar with what other pending UFAs would be available at that time, but Saad should be one of the top ones.
- boilermaker100

Cup contender won't be able to take $6 without giving $6 back so probably not worth much.

Won't the CBA be up before three more years? What if players say "no way we're playing for those caps?" Long lock out.

I just feel sorry for the players with young children, having to move to that POS city. Would you want your kids to grow up in that environment? I think Bettman made a huge mistake picking that city.
- powerenforcer

poop that city is beautiful and the environment is youth and brilliant minds

"Say something once, why say it again?"
- I Am The Breadman

He's special......

He's special......
- BGKarras

I've noticed

Won't the CBA be up before three more years? What if players say "no way we're playing for those caps?" Long lock out.
- rpeters01

Aren’t they negotiating an extension of the CBA in addition to terms on resuming play?

Saad?
Ahh...completely washed up.
Need more deets?
- bruceflyers

Excellent assessment cousin Brucey

Tyler Cameron: What a flat cap means for the Blackhawks moving forward

It was announced that the salary cap would remain flat for the next two seasons with a 1 million dollar increase in the 3rd year.

This is not great news for many teams around the league.

Below, you will see how the Hawks will look within this new cap world.
- Tyler Cameron

Won't the CBA be up before three more years? What if players say "no way we're playing for those caps?" Long lock out.
- rpeters01

The current CBA expires in 2022, but an extension of 3 or 4 years is presently being negotiated. Might go out to players next week for ratification.

I think bowman and company will have to get creative and some trades. Maybe a strome for murry from pitt type of trade or murphy and shaw's contract to Toronto for kerfoot or johnsson and holl depending on shaw not playing again and going to LTRI. Buyout smith expose matta or dehann to expansion draft. Keep suppan as a backup have no faith in delia or kampf as nhl players.

The current CBA expires in 2022, but an extension of 3 or 4 years is presently being negotiated. Might go out to players next week for ratification.
- boilermaker100

If players are going to go through a lockout now is the time to do it. Who wants to play in this environment anyway?

"Say something once, why say it again?"
- I Am The Breadman

EmphaSIS!!!

If he has a decent start to next season, what's Saad worth at the TDL to a Cup contender (which wouldn't be the Flyers)? Not familiar with what other pending UFAs would be available at that time, but Saad should be one of the top ones.
- boilermaker100

That is the big decision with Saad. His value at TDL is most likely a 1at and a prospect. That is the standard for a rental. I think it will depend a lot of what type of season the Hawks are having next year. Does a late 1at and prospect n being more values than an extended Saad

EmphaSIS!!!
- bruceflyers

*yawn*

What are everyone's thoughts on Saad?

I have the Hawks resigning him when his deal is up. Is it a fair deal? Would you retain him?
- Tyler Cameron

I like Saad but his contract expires at a bad time. Teams won't have a compliance buy out until 2022. With young talent in the system, stagnant cap, and drafting Lafreniere this year, i can see the Hawks trading Saad for a 1st round draft pick to keep saturating this franchise with young talent.

I’m not sold on Delia or any other goalie in the system. Running with any of them as the back-up is a risk given Crawford’s concussion history. But it’s a risk the Hawks may have no choice but to take.
- DarthKane

I think these short length play-in series with necessitate Delia playing a game.
I haven't been a big fan from any of his NHL games in the past, but I am open minded enough to see if there is a large jump in his results from then.

Again, everything from the Seattle expansion, to the strict Cap, the past Cups that required rewarding the key players (you can't delineate between ant hawk player eats an what other Cup winners have shelled out, know the reward players were getting long in the tooth.)

So, I bet most teams are gonna be relying on the farms to get through the crunch.

The question is, if Askarov is brought to North America prior to his draft selection (where he is not in Russia in a "bargaining chip" position, where he / NHL has to but his way over, even though there is no formal agreement in place), because a prospect like this sets a Cap heavy team whose veteran goaltending is long in tooth a nice back up.

I am not necessarily advocating this for the Blackhawks because they HAVE to look at the two (three) guys on their farm as candies for a)the nhl back up role, b)maybe a Seattle selection, or c) a sweetener in a pre-expansion draft agreement.

Contrary to others, I do not see Seattle coming out as rose as Vegas did, simply because there were more than one lesson learned in the bonsus players that Vegas was offered, and I have to think even though the Cap locks, unless Seattle is more than willing to take on a fat NHL player contract (along with tHAT player WANTING to go there ((Tyler Johnson ?)),the establish will share surplus in trades with the others establish teams before they come calling to the newbie...

That is the big decision with Saad. His value at TDL is most likely a 1st and a prospect. That is the standard for a rental. I think it will depend a lot of what type of season the Hawks are having next year. Does a late 1at and prospect n being more values than an extended Saad
- Elbows15

I dunno.
Reverse that...
if the Hawks could be buyers this season knowing now that they are part of the play-off would THEY PAY THAT????

I guess I look at the six teams that I think were high functioning before the close and am not sure they pay that much, but I am trying to objective about Saad after where he "fit" or didn't the entire year in Chicago.
If StanBo tells me he want that as pay off, I ask why Saad didn't pay a more prominent role on their roster?

So, we hope Saad performs so he gets us something...not sure he does.
And if the number one draft kid was more than a fantasy, Saad leaves this summer, or Saader is terrific all best shortened year and then the line up is so thick that you don't wanna thin the forward pool for the playoff..just put ballin'