I agree with you Tyler. Minor moves.

I really do not think the Hawks will compete for a Cup until after the 22/23 season when the Kane, Toews, Keith, ADB contracts come off of the books. It could be that Colliton will be off the books by then also. Adapt a "maintain and develop" philosophy. Let the prospects develop at the NHL/AHL/Junior level without rushing them. In 22/23 you have a lot of good young NHL ready players (especially dmen) that you have been developing for 3 years signed at reasonable prices. (Similar to the Flyers over the last 3 years). Then you can decide what you want to do with Kane, Toews and ADB. Also the Cap may be higher.

*Corey Crawford signs a 2-year, $3.5 AAV (Look at Khubodin if Crow wants more)
* Dominik Kubalik signs a 3-year, $3.75AAV
* Dylan Strome signs a 1-year, $2.1M AAV (take the 2nd round pick and cap space if someone offers Strome more.)
* Slater Koekkoek signs a 2-year, $1M AAV
* Drake Cagiulla signs a 2 year, 1.75M AAV

Buyout Smith $1.1M cap hit

Trade Maatta, Sikura and Calgary's 3rd round pick that we hold for to Ottawa for their 2nd round pick.

14 forwards
Saad - Toews - Kubalik
Suter - Dach - Kane
ADB - Strome - Shaw
Caggiula - Kampf - Highmore
extras Nylander/Carpenter

8 Dmen
Keith -Mitchell/Boqvist
deHaan - Murphy
Koekkoek/Carlsson - Seabs/Boqvist/Mitchell
extras 2 of Seabs/Boqvist/Mitchell/Carlsson/Koekkoek

2 Goalies
Crow
extra Lankinen

$2M in Cap space with a 23 man roster (one of the young guys start at Rockford) and you have picked up a high 2nd round pick.

If Strome and Koekkoek improve they are trade bait or exposed in the expansion draft or they allow you to move someone else.

Who pays AHL salaries for players under the control of the patent NHL team?
- StLBravesFan

Generally, if the player is under an NHL contract, the parent club pays the salary. If the player is under an AHL contract, then the minor league club pays the salary.

Even though I stated earlier that Stan will not make major changes, I also would like to see 4 to 6 new players.

So who goes to make room. Not 2, 7, 19, 88 due to their NMCs. No market for Shaw and probably deHaan due to their injury situations. Dach, Cat, Boqvist, Kubalik probably all keepers. Carpenter and Kampf are cheap and capable 4th liners.

So Smith, Saad, Nylander, Maatta. 4K, Strome, Cags among the likely players to be shipped out?
- boilermaker100

Saad not going anywhere if Stan has to make playoffs to keep his job.

What did baseball do when half of the Marlins tested positive? I don't follow baseball much anymore, but I heard about that and figured they would shut it down. That doesn't seem to have happened.
- Chunk

Make up 7 inning double-headers. So we'll be playing make up double two period games.

I agree with you Tyler. Minor moves.

I really do not think the Hawks will compete for a Cup until after the 22/23 season when the Kane, Toews, Keith, ADB contracts come off of the books. It could be that Colliton will be off the books by then also. Adapt a "maintain and develop" philosophy. Let the prospects develop at the NHL/AHL/Junior level without rushing them. In 22/23 you have a lot of good young NHL ready players (especially dmen) that you have been developing for 3 years signed at reasonable prices. (Similar to the Flyers over the last 3 years). Then you can decide what you want to do with Kane, Toews and ADB. Also the Cap may be higher.

*Corey Crawford signs a 2-year, $3.5 AAV (Look at Khubodin if Crow wants more)
* Dominik Kubalik signs a 3-year, $3.75AAV
* Dylan Strome signs a 1-year, $2.1M AAV (take the 2nd round pick and cap space if someone offers Strome more.)
* Slater Koekkoek signs a 2-year, $1M AAV
* Drake Cagiulla signs a 2 year, 1.75M AAV

Buyout Smith $1.1M cap hit

Trade Maatta, Sikura and Calgary's 3rd round pick that we hold for to Ottawa for their 2nd round pick.

14 forwards
Saad - Toews - Kubalik
Suter - Dach - Kane
ADB - Strome - Shaw
Caggiula - Kampf - Highmore
extras Nylander/Carpenter

8 Dmen
Keith -Mitchell/Boqvist
deHaan - Murphy
Koekkoek/Carlsson - Seabs/Boqvist/Mitchell
extras 2 of Seabs/Boqvist/Mitchell/Carlsson/Koekkoek

2 Goalies
Crow
extra Lankinen

$2M in Cap space with a 23 man roster (one of the young guys start at Rockford) and you have picked up a high 2nd round pick.

If Strome and Koekkoek improve they are trade bait or exposed in the expansion draft or they allow you to move someone else.
- -Doh-

Pretty realistic, but the UC is going to be getting emptier and emptier as the Hawks miss the playoffs again next season.

The White Sox are on the verge of being the shiny new toy in Chicago sports. Good luck getting any media coverage as the Hawks are mired in 6th in the Central again next season.

Make up 7 inning double-headers. So we'll be playing make up double two period games.
- rpeters01

All played 3v3!!

Pretty realistic, but the UC is going to be getting emptier and emptier as the Hawks miss the playoffs again next season.

The White Sox are on the verge of being the shiny new toy in Chicago sports. Good luck getting any media coverage as the Hawks are mired in 6th in the Central again next season.
- scottak

I've been out of the Chicago area for 8 years, but even I know the Sox will never get any media coverage, regardless of how well they play.

I agree 100% with Wiz, the defense is in need of a makeover. No one is untouchable.
If Bowman can get rid of Seabs, and Keithin any way, he must. It is a new dawn in this Blackhawk era. Shaw, Strome, Nylander are all pieces that may or may not bring something in return. Bowman can"t get rid of Toews or Kane or Dach obviously, but everyone else is open. The Hawks have too many potential NHL'ers to let them be held up by guys who are proven good but past their prime or make more than their value. Here are my cast of keepers for now and in the next year as starters

CENTER.............LW..................RW..................D...................D

Toews.........Debrincat...........Kane............DeHaan............Maatta
Dach..........Saad...............Kubalik...........Murphy.............Mitchell
Strome.......Hagel.............Highmore.........Koekkoek.........Kalynuk
Kampf........Entwhistle......Caggiula...........Boqvist............Carlsson
.................Suter.............Sikura



These aren't necessarily lines, just new blood that I believe are the immediate future. Seabs, and Keith have been warriors, but what have we won with them the last 5 years? Maata is under rated all year. I guarentee you if he ran the power play vs. Keith, he would have more goals and points just from his offensive awareness and his ability to get shots through. I would take 6 Maatas if I could, smart, steady, strong on the boards. Very underrated, only 26, and 6' 2". Kalynuk from Wisconsin is better than Boqvist right now. Draft a goalie in the first round and let Delia and Lankinen battle it out, Lankinen will win. Sign a free agent goalie for competition. Crawford is like Seabs and Keith, great in their day, but it is time to re-load. if Bowman can get replace Strome with a faster, better F/O center, do it. An enforcer who can play would be super nice.
We have been so very lucky to be Blackhawks fans the last decade, and I believe if Bowman goes with the younger guys we have, plus a 3 C to replace Strome, they will be fun to watch for a long time to come.

What did baseball do when half of the Marlins tested positive? I don't follow baseball much anymore, but I heard about that and figured they would shut it down. That doesn't seem to have happened.
- Chunk

As Sage suggested, they had a plan.....and didn't follow it. The were supposed to shut down positive players and bring up guys. But they just canceled games.

Pretty realistic, but the UC is going to be getting emptier and emptier as the Hawks miss the playoffs again next season.

The White Sox are on the verge of being the shiny new toy in Chicago sports. Good luck getting any media coverage as the Hawks are mired in 6th in the Central again next season.
- scottak

MLB this season:

37.3% of all plate appearances end in “true outcomes” - HR, SO, BB, HBP - where the ball isn’t put into play - no fielders required.

More Ks than hits

17.4 SO per game - 23.2% of all plate appearances.

Boring....

If Murphy is traded to the Leafs, salary would come back in the form of Johnsson, Kapanen, or Kerfoot as each earns around the same amount Murphy does (# of years vary).
- AEL_Fox

In terms of all four players their development, the best player is still the defenseman Murphy so no sale, unless someone REALLY thinks Kapanen is a real scorer.

The LA Kings are interested in him...
- wiz1901

That's another team that would make sense.

One scenario about Crawford's future in Chicago i will mention here does not have necessarily have legs to it more than a few other scenarios already mentioned or which could be conjured.

I suppose right now Bowman does not know how Crawford's situation turns. That could very well be due to what other transactions occur. It is unlikely Crawford happily signs elsewhere. If I am a GM in another city, I would be wary not only of Crawford's health/injury potential based upon his history, but perhaps moreover concerned that Crawford might up and quit or retire mid way through a season if he is not a Blackhawk

Well it should be expected Crawford strongly prefers to remain a Blackhawk, indeed. Therefore a prudent move by Bowman should be to take care of other transactions with Crawford last or certainly after more pressing needs

Actually I want to segway just a bit about the team's other pressing needs as it relates to Crawford's value playing one or two more seasons here

You and I probably can agree it is a struggle to make playoffs. With Crawford. So you know Crawford is a stop gap measure for one or two seasons. If you need to appease Rocky, then you sign Crawford. This would make the team strongest in net than another one or trio of netminders whom would fill the net if Crawford's Blackhawk career ends after this season has finally ended.

The savings from a team friendly signs (plural as in several players needing new contract) could be the difference in savings which Bowman uses in making a trade or free agent signing.

So is it time for Bowman to see how each of his other current goaltenders grade out at the NHL level

Because if no clear long term number one netminder emerges from his current cast of backups, then any one of them could share net not only next season, but the following season after there is a glut of goaltenders on the market due to expansion.

Bowman would have two seasons to scheme how and where to find a future number one. Bowman saves money for two seasons as his goaltenders would be paid less than Crawford.

Crawford takes a team friendly deal or he is headlights

Conversely you may have another take on the turbulent roster shake up over the next few seasons.

I might just bury Smith the Minors. the Mil of dead cap space in year 2 hurts,
- kmw4631

This is an option as well if the Hawks can move $ around money.

Just take him at 17. You want another pick in the 1st round? Saad to the Habs for 16 and maybe Poehling.
- Elbows15

Wait ... that's too simple. Why do something simple if you can over complicate things?


Actually, I was just going on Wiz' Draftsite ranking where he had him at #30 so I thought if the Hawks could move down a little bit and still get him AND maybe get something else to boot.

I've seen it a couple times but I don't think trading de Haan is an option.

No one is touch him and that shoulder. The Hawks are stuck with him.

I would cut him some slack this playoffs, dude was coming off of major surgery and hadn't played an actual game since December.

When healthy - which I believe he will be 100% by next year - de Haan can be a top 4 in Chicago. It's just whether his shoulder will hold up all year... and that's why no other team will take him.

All played 3v3!!
- Chunk

No goalies.

I've seen it a couple times but I don't think trading de Haan is an option.

No one is touch him and that shoulder. The Hawks are stuck with him.

I would cut him some slack this playoffs, dude was coming off of major surgery and hadn't played an actual game since December.

When healthy - which I believe he will be 100% by next year - de Haan can be a top 4 in Chicago. It's just whether his shoulder will hold up all year... and that's why no other team will take him.
- Tyler Cameron

Hey Tyler.... I hear you, but I think the Hawks should consider trading any defenseman not named Duncan Keith if it makes sense for the long term. I wouldn't trade all of them, but some of Seabrook, de Haan, 4K, Maatta and Murphy could easily go.

As Sage suggested, they had a plan.....and didn't follow it. The were supposed to shut down positive players and bring up guys. But they just canceled games.
- mohel

Kind of hard to bring up 17 players.

MLB this season:

37.3% of all plate appearances end in “true outcomes” - HR, SO, BB, HBP - where the ball isn’t put into play - no fielders required.

More Ks than hits

17.4 SO per game - 23.2% of all plate appearances.

Boring....
- StLBravesFan

What are the percentages if you take the Cubs out? So stupid to let Nick Castellanos go. "Let's get rid of our best hitter because we have no pitching."

I've seen it a couple times but I don't think trading de Haan is an option.

No one is touch him and that shoulder. The Hawks are stuck with him.

I would cut him some slack this playoffs, dude was coming off of major surgery and hadn't played an actual game since December.

When healthy - which I believe he will be 100% by next year - de Haan can be a top 4 in Chicago. It's just whether his shoulder will hold up all year... and that's why no other team will take him.
- Tyler Cameron

I hear what you are saying, but... we traded for him when he was still injured. He made it through two series. He didn't play all that well, but he made it through which may be just enough.

End of the day, I think you are right. He likely stays (even though I previously opined that he and/or Maatta would be gone).

I hear what you are saying, but... we traded for him when he was still injured. He made it through two series. He didn't play all that well, but he made it through which may be just enough.

End of the day, I think you are right. He likely stays (even though I previously opined that he and/or Maatta would be gone).
- Chunk

If Seabrook, Maata and deHaan are all on the team next year, Boqvist will be rotating with several others from Rockford, assuming there is a Rockford and he does not separate himself from the pack. I think Stan wants to rotate 3-4 defense men from Rockford to showcase them. Gilbert would make five.

Generally, if the player is under an NHL contract, the parent club pays the salary. If the player is under an AHL contract, then the minor league club pays the salary.
- AEL_Fox

If there is no AHL season - can there be an NHL season?

There is a need to have a place where players can be playing games to keep in shape for the call-ups that every team requires during a season. (Jeez - what a clumsy sentence - Breadman can fix it if he wants).

Nylander sikrua for josh Anderson? Also i know he be coming off an injury.
- Scott1977

Jarmo won’t do that deal. Torts would kill him.

Matta to dallas for Richarderson or Winnipeg for copp or lowery. Not straight up but base of a trade.
- Scott1977

What about Appleton in a package?