Sure, it would have been nice but a 5th rounder choice has the same chance of playing in the NHL as Morrison. The real value if added cap space and a spot opens up for one of the younger D-men to take the bull by the horns.
- Elbows15

With the draft pick, though, there's still a chance of some winnings with that lotto tocket. The Morrison lotto ticket has already been scratched off so little to no chance of winning anything. Sorry for the corny analogy.

Thanks Olli for your one year of service with the Hawks. Stay healthy and good luck in LA.

An additional word of advice. Rent an apartment instead of buying a house. You WILL be in Seattle in a year.
- boilermaker100

Fixed

If the Hawks bought out Maatta, they would have had an annual cap hit of $600K+ for the next four years. They retain slightly more for only two seasons this way. And Morrison's contract has only one year left. The only minus is that they didn't reduce the number of contracts. They have 41 players under contract now, and 16 roster spots filled right now.

Sure, it would have been nice but a 5th rounder choice has the same chance of playing in the NHL as Morrison. The real value if added cap space and a spot opens up for one of the younger D-men to take the bull by the horns.
- Elbows15

On your last point, Maatta's departure opens up a spot for Carlsson. Beaudin needs another year in Rockford with a call up later in the season.

Just need to eventually free up a spot on the right side for Mitchell. That could open up sooner than later if Seabrook is either not ready to go healthwise or is shipped out because Colliton decides to not play him in the way he prefers.

Keith - Boqvist
de Haan - Murphy
Carlsson - Seabrook

Called it. No problem to trade Maatta. I agree that Morrison is unlikely to be a roster player, this was a salary dump and to make room on D. Might mean they will retain KK on the back end but I hope they can keep him as 7th man at msot.

Maatta traded to LA for Brad Morrison.
- Tyler Cameron

I would assume that he starts in Rockford. Beyond that, what are the projections for him?

Los Angeles Kings Sign Brad Morrison To Entry-Level Contract
MAY 1, 2018 AT 1:20 PM CDT | BY GAVIN LEE 2 COMMENTS

The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent forward Brad Morrison to a three-year entry-level contract. Morrison was originally a draft pick of the New York Rangers, but became an unrestricted free agent last June when he failed to sign with the club.

Back in 2015 when he was taken in the fourth round, Morrison was just an average offensive player in the junior ranks with a lot of speed and questionable upside for the NHL. Now, after an incredible playoffs with the Lethbridge Hurricanes that saw him register 37 points in 16 games the Kings may believe he’s something more.

It’s not the first time that Morrison has generated interest around the NHL. He attended Calgary Flames development camp last summer but didn’t earn a contract, instead going back to dominate in the WHL. The scouting report on the relatively small Morrison was never that he was unwilling or afraid to go to the tougher areas of the ice, or work hard to retrieve pucks and create opportunities, just that some had doubts he would be able to do it at the next level on a regular basis.

Now he’ll get that chance as he starts his professional career with the Kings next season. He’ll likely head to the Ontario Reign and try to prove that his doubters were wrong about his NHL upside. The Kings have been very clearly trying to add more skill into their organization, and Morrison is just the latest signing to bring that in spades.

Sounds like Alex Fortin 2.0

I would assume that he starts in Rockford. Beyond that, what are the projections for him?
- tvetter

He projects to be someone who’s name you won’t even remember two years from now.

On your last point, Maatta's departure opens up a spot for Carlsson. Beaudin needs another year in Rockford with a call up later in the season.

Just need to eventually free up a spot on the right side for Mitchell. That could open up sooner than later if Seabrook is either not ready to go healthwise or is shipped out because Colliton decides to not play him in the way he prefers.

Keith - Boqvist
de Haan - Murphy
Carlsson - Seabrook
- Theo Fox

I would like get Boqvist away from Keith as a partner. I think he defers too much to Keith which limits his offensive potential. Put Murphy on the 1st pair and Boqvist with deHaan on the 2nd pair.

He projects to be someone who’s name you won’t even remember two years from now.
- Ogilthorpe2

Yeah like those guys we got from Carolina for Bickell and Tevo. What were their names again?

Not complaining about this trade, but the end result of the Maatta era was Kahun and 750k in cap space for this Morrison guy.

To me it appears that instead of Stan having to give up a draft pick as a sweetner to take Matta’s contract. We took a player for one year that takes up a contract spot. I can go along with that. Rangers had to give a 2nd rounder to dump Staal’s contract.

If the Hawks bought out Maatta, they would have had an annual cap hit of $600K+ for the next four years. They retain slightly more for only two seasons this way. And Morrison's contract has only one year left. The only minus is that they didn't reduce the number of contracts. They have 41 players under contract now, and 16 roster spots filled right now.
- 333inthe3rd

They don't have to qualifiy some players.

They don't have to qualifiy some players.
- Scott1977

Morrison in the minors doesn't cost the Hawks any cap space.

To me it appears that instead of Stan having to give up a draft pick as a sweetner to take Matta’s contract. We took a player for one year that takes up a contract spot. I can go along with that. Rangers had to give a 2nd rounder to dump Staal’s contract.
- LAHawk

Maatta had a very cheap buyout cost. They were not under any serious duress to get a trade done. Anybody who wanted Maatta's contract had to offer something better.

They don't have to qualifiy some players.
- Scott1977

I am going by the Cap Friendly numbers. I assumed that the number left out those they didn't have to qualify.

On your last point, Maatta's departure opens up a spot for Carlsson. Beaudin needs another year in Rockford with a call up later in the season.

Just need to eventually free up a spot on the right side for Mitchell. That could open up sooner than later if Seabrook is either not ready to go healthwise or is shipped out because Colliton decides to not play him in the way he prefers.

Keith - Boqvist
de Haan - Murphy
Carlsson - Seabrook
- Theo Fox

Problem is players that spend more than a year in Rockford don't move up to the big club. Hopefully that changes with King. Mitchell may need some time in the A. I am okay with that since he has a 3 year ELC.

If the Hawks bought out Maatta, they would have had an annual cap hit of $600K+ for the next four years. They retain slightly more for only two seasons this way. And Morrison's contract has only one year left. The only minus is that they didn't reduce the number of contracts. They have 41 players under contract now, and 16 roster spots filled right now.
- 333inthe3rd

They have plenty of contract space. Most teams are closer 46/47 contract spots.

They have plenty of contract space. Most teams are closer 46/47 contract spots.
- Elbows15

They still have 7 roster spots to fill. That would put them at 48 contracts, assuming none of spots are drawn from existing contracts.

Maatta had a very cheap buyout cost. They were not under any serious duress to get a trade done. Anybody who wanted Maatta's contract had to offer something better.
- 333inthe3rd

Except the whole league knows how slow Maatta is at this point. Teams want more mobility in their D-men. This is a great trade. A buyout would mean the Hawks have to carry dead cap space for 4 seasons instead of two. Also means the Hawks have cap space to make deals without being under duress. Because at 8M, things were pretty tight.

They still have 7 roster spots to fill. That would put them at 48 contracts, assuming none of spots are drawn from existing contracts.
- 333inthe3rd

You are assuming those spots will be filled by players they don't currently have under contract. That won't be the case.

Except the whole league knows how slow Maatta is at this point. Teams want more mobility in their D-men. This is a great trade. A buyout would mean the Hawks have to carry dead cap space for 4 seasons instead of two. Also means the Hawks have cap space to make deals without being under duress. Because at 8M, things were pretty tight.
- Elbows15

Yes, this is a great trade for them. I did make the point of 2 years of dead cap space instead of 4 earlier. We agree.

You are assuming those spots will be filled by players they don't currently have under contract. That won't be the case.
- Elbows15

Probably true. But having one less contract is added flexibility.

Problem is players that spend more than a year in Rockford don't move up to the big club. Hopefully that changes with King. Mitchell may need some time in the A. I am okay with that since he has a 3 year ELC.
- Elbows15

I'm good with that too, i.e. Mitchell spending a year in Rockford to hone his game and get up to pro speed (skating, thinking, physicality).

I would like get Boqvist away from Keith as a partner. I think he defers too much to Keith which limits his offensive potential. Put Murphy on the 1st pair and Boqvist with deHaan on the 2nd pair.
- boilermaker100

The D pairs I laid out were just as placeholders. I also have a preference for not skating Boqvist with Keith.

Boqvist needs a defensely wired partner while Keith is a rover who loves to activate offensively. Keith needs a defense-first partner as well.