Crazy to see Seabrook on the ice. That beard is something.
- Tyler Cameron

Well it has been 3 years since he's been able to grow that playoff beard.

I believe the league and the NHLPA have agreed to extend player contracts through the end of October.
- boilermaker100

I was thinking about the end date of contracts as well. Would be interesting if a player wanted to be free now and tested it in court? I think they would win. Can't just arbitrarily move a contract date without buy in from the person who signed it, Covid19 or no Covid19 unless there is a Covid19 clause which I highly doubt.

This.

No problem with the league, I really wish this wasn't a trend the Blackhawks went down.

If Mitchell gets to burn a year off his deal, get paid, and not step foot on the ice, it's a fail by the Hawks. However, I can't fully fault them for him not playing at all as the circumstances are the furthest from normal this year.
- Tyler Cameron

Better than not signing him at all which has always been a possibility.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, Buff the great equalizer
- BetweenTheDots

I would have kept Buff and Ladd over Campbell and Bolland... Easy to say now and 2013 could have looked differently but maybe 11, 12 would have been better?

- Rota's Rooter

One of my all-time favorite moments as a Hawks fan. It was a sad day when Bufuglien left.

Well it has been 3 years since he's been able to grow that playoff beard.
- boilermaker100

If Kane and Toews started three years ago they still wouldn't catch Seabrook's two week beard.

I would have kept Buff and Ladd over Campbell and Bolland... Easy to say now and 2013 could have looked differently but maybe 11, 12 would have been better?
- rpeters01

Disclaimer: my memory isn't always accurate. I seem to remember the decision came down to being able to afford only two of Byfuglien, Sharp and Versteeg and Buf was the odd man out.

Disclaimer: my memory isn't always accurate. I seem to remember the decision came down to being able to afford only two of Byfuglien, Sharp and Versteeg and Buf was the odd man out.
- EbonyRaptor

Think the bigger issue with Buff was that Q wanted him at wing and Buff wanted to play D.

I was thinking about the end date of contracts as well. Would be interesting if a player wanted to be free now and tested it in court? I think they would win. Can't just arbitrarily move a contract date without buy in from the person who signed it, Covid19 or no Covid19 unless there is a Covid19 clause which I highly doubt.
- rpeters01

They would lose. All the NHL (or other leagues) would have to invoke is force majeure (which would cover unforeseen circumstances like an act of terrorism or a pandemic)

They would lose. All the NHL (or other leagues) would have to invoke is force majeure (which would cover unforeseen circumstances like an act of terrorism or a pandemic)
- LAHawk

Also, I believe this was specifically agreed to in the negotiations to restart the season.

Think the bigger issue with Buff was that Q wanted him at wing and Buff wanted to play D.
- Beaver-Warrior

Maybe that tipped the scales a bit but I thought it was mainly, if not exclusively, salary cap driven.

... and I meant to add - who knows how things would have turned out if things were done differently - maybe the Hawks win more than 2 Cups after 2010 or maybe they don't win any more Cups after 2010. The bottom line for me is that they won in 2013 and 2015 and I'm very satisfied with that.

... and I meant to add - who knows how things would have turned out if things were done differently - maybe the Hawks win more than 2 Cups after 2010 or maybe they don't win any more Cups after 2010. The bottom line for me is that they won in 2013 and 2015 and I'm very satisfied with that.
- EbonyRaptor

So true, what if Stan would of signed Niemi, and let Jammer walk? Then you might have kept Byfuglien as a defenseman. But Bfuglien signed with Atlanta long term for $5.2 mil, AAV Jammer signed with the Hawks for $3.5 mil. AAV. I don't think signing Niemi, letting Jammer go and keeping Byfuglien would of worked salary cap anyway.

... and I meant to add - who knows how things would have turned out if things were done differently - maybe the Hawks win more than 2 Cups after 2010 or maybe they don't win any more Cups after 2010. The bottom line for me is that they won in 2013 and 2015 and I'm very satisfied with that.
- EbonyRaptor

Like Signing Hammer before he became a RFA and the Shark offer sheet?

I would have kept Buff and Ladd over Campbell and Bolland... Easy to say now and 2013 could have looked differently but maybe 11, 12 would have been better?
- rpeters01

Believe me if I had a magic wand and could have used it add Cap space, like you, Ladd and Buff would have gotten as much as it would have taken to not launch them.

Buff & Ladd would have asked for and received (on the ufa market) more than Soupy giant deal and Bolland value deal.

You would be subtracting a new age attacking defender with a muscle big shot one, and the hawks had finally figured out that the reason they were a non play off team was the fact they had few up ice carrying generators from the back end.

And Ladd would be a luxury that weekend. the centre ice position, if Bolland and to go, and I m a not sure if the team had the depth to fill that need, since the continually brought in centers at the deadline when the hand Bolland, which signifies the need for pivot depth/strength.

Believe me if I had a magic wand and could have used it add Cap space, like you, Ladd and Buff would have gotten as much as it would have taken to not launch them.

Buff & Ladd would have asked for and received (on the ufa market) more than Soupy giant deal and Bolland value deal.

You would be subtracting a new age attacking defender with a muscle big shot one, and the hawks had finally figured out that the reason they were a non play off team was the fact they had few up ice carrying generators from the back end.

And Ladd would be a luxury that weekend the centre ice position, and I m a not sure if the team had the depth to fill that need, since the continually brought in centers at the deadline when the hand Bolland, which signifies the need for pivot depth/strength.
- wiz1901

Wasn't it Toews Conn Smythe bonus the cause for Ladd being moved?

Better than not signing him at all which has always been a possibility.
- rpeters01

Good point. And to be honest these young kids have way more power than they used too.

Disclaimer: my memory isn't always accurate. I seem to remember the decision came down to being able to afford only two of Byfuglien, Sharp and Versteeg and Buf was the odd man out.
- EbonyRaptor

But they kept Bolland and Campbell as well.

Think the bigger issue with Buff was that Q wanted him at wing and Buff wanted to play D.
- Beaver-Warrior

Definitely true!

Also, I believe this was specifically agreed to in the negotiations to restart the season.
- Chunk

Contracts are not simply CBA especially when the CBA addendum is negotiated after the expiration date of the contract. I don't think it was voted on before 7/1 but don't know for sure? We will never know what would happen.

Disclaimer: my memory isn't always accurate. I seem to remember the decision came down to being able to afford only two of Byfuglien, Sharp and Versteeg and Buf was the odd man out.
- EbonyRaptor

Hate to bring this up since it's sure to spark a Tallon vs. Bowman discussion, but if it wasn't for the mistake in not tendering those RFA contracts on time to some players back in 2008 or whenever, and the Hawks had to add some money to the deals, does anyone know the amount of extra dollars the Hawks wound up paying out? And how seriously did it effect the cap related purge after the 2010 Cup winning season?

So true, what if Stan would of signed Niemi, and let Jammer walk? Then you might have kept Byfuglien as a defenseman. But Bfuglien signed with Atlanta long term for $5.2 mil, AAV Jammer signed with the Hawks for $3.5 mil. AAV. I don't think signing Niemi, letting Jammer go and keeping Byfuglien would of worked salary cap anyway.
- LAHawk

I knew when I said I would have kept Buff and Ladd it was playing arm chair GM after the fact. I think Stan knew all along Crawford was at least as good as Niemi and he was correct. Something else Stan did with the grace of Rocky's money was get Huet off the books.

But they kept Bolland and Campbell as well.
- rpeters01

The disclaimer proves accurate.

Rather than Stan having to decide to keep two of Byfuglien, Sharp and Versteeg - as I previously posted - I think it was Stan had to decide to keep only one of Ladd, Byfuglien or Sharp - and he decided to keep Sharp. Somebody check me on that.

The window to playoff opt-out begins when the new CBA is ratified by vote and the deadline is 5 p.m. ET on the third day following, so likely Monday, July 13 – the same day players are scheduled to report for training camp.

That's when we know if a player(s) isn't playing...

I knew when I said I would have kept Buff and Ladd it was playing arm chair GM after the fact. I think Stan knew all along Crawford was at least as good as Niemi and he was correct. Something else Stan did with the grace of Rocky's money was get Huet off the books.
- rpeters01

I still can't believe we had to get rid of SO many players after the 2010 cup win.
Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Kris Versteeg, Brent Sopel, Adam Burish, Colin Fraser, and Niemi.