Seems to me you don’t trade a proven top-sixer for someone to lose in the expansion draft.
- StLBravesFan

Seems to me its all about the money.

Heard an interview yesterday where the 'insider' said virtually every call initiated by a GM to another GM was an effort to dump $. Not very many teams in a position to take on payroll, Colorado was one of them.

Not saying you are stupid by any means, it isn’t like he is old, but nasty defensemen are hard to find, and he does fill a need. This guy is a NHL defender regardless of all the blasting he is taking. If I am wrong about him, I will eat CROW, like I always have done on this site.
- ChicagoHope

No one is blasting him. Most thought we would get a better return.

One would assume he went out looking for better offers - there were rumors that he was shopping Saad - but he seemingly got so little value back, he’d have been better off keeping Saad. It’s not like this deal satisfies a need that puts them into Cup contention next season.

Keith, deHaan, Seabrook, Murphy, Zadorov - that’s 5 out of the 7 defensive spots - add in Boqvist, and there’s only room for one prospect. Maybe one or two get moved - there’s still lots of time - but history says that expecting Stan to make a follow-up move usually leads to disappointment.
- StLBravesFan

Stan could have orders from Rocky to hit a certain cost number hence the shift last week to go all in young.

No one is blasting him. Most thought we would get a better return.
- Elbows15

Saad had 33 freaking points in 58 games, what kind of a return do u want? The Hawks got a 25 year old nasty bastard that is harder than hell to play against. That most importantly fills a need that the Hawks are sorely lacking. Plus, they opened up more cap space.

Saad had 33 freaking points in 58 games, what kind of a return do u want? The Hawks got a 25 year old nasty bastard that is harder than hell to play against. That most importantly fills a need that the Hawks are sorely lacking. Plus, they opened up more cap space.
- ChicagoHope

That's the kicker for me in this trade. I don't mind Zadorov at all and actually like what he can bring on the blueline if slotted appropriately. However, if the goal was to gain more cap space, the Hawks only gained $1.8M on a $6M contract going out. Not a favorable ROI.

The other thing is that across both the Maatta and Saad trades, there was no gain in draft picks or prospects that project to be NHL players. The Hawks gained two prospects who are likely career minor leaguers in Morrison and Lindholm.

Shedding some salary is better than none yet the Saad trade at least has you feeling disappointed in the return.

That's the kicker for me in this trade. I don't mind Zadorov at all and actually like what he can bring on the blueline if slotted appropriately. However, if the goal was to gain more cap space, the Hawks only gained $1.8M on a $6M contract going out. Not a favorable ROI.

The other thing is that across both the Maatta and Saad trades, there was no gain in draft picks or prospects that project to be NHL players. The Hawks gained two prospects who are likely career minor leaguers in Morrison and Lindholm.

Shedding some salary is better than none yet the Saad trade at least has you feeling disappointed in the return.
- Theo Fox

How many teams in the league do you think had legitimate interest in trading for Saad.
If we knew how many and who they were, we might be able to guess at what was being offered in return. Until yesterday, had to figure Montreal would have been very interested. How about Buffalo or NJ or Detroit? Maybe Pittsburgh for a hometown kid?

Joe Sakic is an extremely dangerous GM for a bean counter like Stanbo to deal with because he really knows a hockey player when he sees one and he never seems to overpay.

That said, I'm not too upset to see stone hands #20 go. If Mackinnon can't turn him into a 40 goal man nobody in the league can.

But to acknowledge Bowman's position, he probably had his mind made up that he wasn't going to negotiate another contract with the Saad negotiating team that includes his old man. And more importantly, he is on the hook to pay ADB $6.5M and its time for that kid to step up and be a front line player.

Not sure if Zadorov is fair trade value but at least the opposing forwards are going to have their heads up coming into the Hawk's zone unlike the way Vegas did whatever they wanted in there. The Bruins have gotten away with an immobile Chara for years by pairing him with somebody that can move. Maybe Bovqist can be our Charlie McAvoy.
- RickJ

This was my thought when I saw the move. Not necessarily that Boqvist would be McAvoy, but would free him up to do what he does.

Idk, as always time will tell, but like many I thought they'd parlay Saad for futures.

None of this matters unless we sign a tender! 6 Bobby Orr couldn’t help the Delia/Subban duo

How many teams in the league do you think had legitimate interest in trading for Saad.
If we knew how many and who they were, we might be able to guess at what was being offered in return. Until yesterday, had to figure Montreal would have been very interested. How about Buffalo or NJ or Detroit? Maybe Pittsburgh for a hometown kid?
- RickJ

Not sure, to be honest. There may have been several interested teams but only the Avs ponied up what Bowman and crew thought to be sufficient to say yes.

A few things....

The final year of Saad's contract required a list of 10 teams where he would accept a trade. That might have complicated the picture a bit.

Saad's cap hit after a buyout would have been about $2 million per for 2 years. A little less the first year, a little more the second.

A $6 million cap hit means a contract coming the other way. Cap space is golden in this environment. A 5th round pick to allocate $6 mill for Saad, not this year. My only question was what could they have gotten at the trade deadline, but again, they have less leverage if they can only talk to 10 teams.

I will leave the eval of Zadarov to the others. The only question is what happens to DeHaan given this trade. It feels like there is more to come.

As for Maatta, to rehash from a previous thread, worst case, they were buying him out and laying out a cap hit of about $625K per year for four years. The trade reduced it to two years of cap hits for not much more per year, but they had to take on a contract that counted towards the 50.

That's the kicker for me in this trade. I don't mind Zadorov at all and actually like what he can bring on the blueline if slotted appropriately. However, if the goal was to gain more cap space, the Hawks only gained $1.8M on a $6M contract going out. Not a favorable ROI.

The other thing is that across both the Maatta and Saad trades, there was no gain in draft picks or prospects that project to be NHL players. The Hawks gained two prospects who are likely career minor leaguers in Morrison and Lindholm.

Shedding some salary is better than none yet the Saad trade at least has you feeling disappointed in the return.
- Theo Fox

Gaining more cap space would have been good, but what would the Hawks have done with it? The Hawks gained some cap space and improved depth in one move instead of two.

A draft pick would have been good, but only a contender would be willing to part with a 1st round pick for Saad, the likes it Ottawa and NJ probably wouldn’t. Would a the 25th - 31st pick really have been a home run for Stan?

I get that as a fan it hurts to lose one of our favourites and a very good forward. But if the Hawks had no plans to keep Saad then they might as well get something for him. Saad made the Hawks better, but it’s not like he made them a Cup contender.

A few things....

The final year of Saad's contract required a list of 10 teams where he would accept a trade. That might have complicated the picture a bit.

Saad's cap hit after a buyout would have been about $2 million per for 2 years. A little less the first year, a little more the second.

A $6 million cap hit means a contract coming the other way. Cap space is golden in this environment. A 5th round pick to allocate $6 mill for Saad, not this year. My only question was what could they have gotten at the trade deadline, but again, they have less leverage if they can only talk to 10 teams.

I will leave the eval of Zadarov to the others. The only question is what happens to DeHaan given this trade. It feels like there is more to come.

As for Maatta, to rehash from a previous thread, worst case, they were buying him out and laying out a cap hit of about $625K per year for four years. The trade reduced it to two years of cap hits for not much more per year, but they had to take on a contract that counted towards the 50.
- 333inthe3rd

Buying out Saad wasn't even an option.

Gaining more cap space would have been good, but what would the Hawks have done with it? The Hawks gained some cap space and improved depth in one move instead of two.

A draft pick would have been good, but only a contender would be willing to part with a 1st round pick for Saad, the likes it Ottawa and NJ probably wouldn’t. Would a the 25th - 31st pick really have been a home run for Stan?

I get that as a fan it hurts to lose one of our favourites and a very good forward. But if the Hawks had no plans to keep Saad then they might as well get something for him. Saad made the Hawks better, but it’s not like he made them a Cup contender.
- DarthKane

How did they improve their depth? They have enough bottom pair d-men. They lack top 9 forwards.

After sleeping on it for half the night I figured out this trade. Maxim Shalunov is coming over and in obtaining Zadorov, Stan obtained a Russian to keep each other company .

And here I thought Saad might have had something in his contract where he could only be traded for Russians.

Folks are looking very short term in their comments. Nobody has mentioned next year, when Seattle comes into the league and we have to put guys out there. Maybe Zadorov is one they dangle next year vs. some of their up-and-coming young D men.

Same thing with goalie, we have to put somebody out there... We have 4, figure out next year which is the one you can part with (maybe another reason to keep Subban for at least one more year).

Factoring in next years expansion draft has to be a key component to all the trades and even what the Hawks plan is. Not saying I have a clue about the strategy of figuring out the guys you are willing to dangle next year, but I know it has to be a very prominent piece of the thought process. And they never would tell the media about what their thought process is.

Would be an interesting article sometime, if Theo can figure out the nuances of the expansion draft interplay with the current roster moves in the league.
- DontKnowNutin

I think you pointed out what is going on in many of these decisions.

After sleeping on it for half the night I figured out this trade. Maxim Shalunov is coming over and in obtaining Zadorov, Stan obtained a Russian to keep each other company .
- boilermaker100

Zadorov is going to be a big contributor and fan favorite very soon.

As long as Stan can sign him.

Saad had 33 freaking points in 58 games, what kind of a return do u want? The Hawks got a 25 year old nasty bastard that is harder than hell to play against. That most importantly fills a need that the Hawks are sorely lacking. Plus, they opened up more cap space.
- ChicagoHope

This

I tried to listen and watch from youtube Blackhawks Rinkcast reaction to this Saad trade. But man that was awful..those guys shoud do their homework before making statements. Man that was so bad I had to quit that one.. Have these guys really followed Blackhawks closely? I know JJ has but man..

Seems they are ripping the band aid off about as much as they can. Maybe deHaan and Murphy both go somewhere too in trades, but it'll be interesting to see if Toews, Kane and/or Keith ask out.

Not saying you are stupid by any means, it isn’t like he is old, but nasty defensemen are hard to find, and he does fill a need. This guy is a NHL defender regardless of all the blasting he is taking. If I am wrong about him, I will eat CROW, like I always have done on this site.
- ChicagoHope

The problem for me - and for most of us criticizing the trade, I think - is not the value of Zadorov - apparently a 5/6 blue liner with size and a willingness to use it.

It’s that his value does not approach that of Saad and that the deal creates a bigger problem than it solves.

Glad to have you back! Your stats and analytics bring different view on things.
- Scott1977

She’s just the best. So much more than the stats, I love the velvet hammer she’s uses when calling BS.

That's the kicker for me in this trade. I don't mind Zadorov at all and actually like what he can bring on the blueline if slotted appropriately. However, if the goal was to gain more cap space, the Hawks only gained $1.8M on a $6M contract going out. Not a favorable ROI.

The other thing is that across both the Maatta and Saad trades, there was no gain in draft picks or prospects that project to be NHL players. The Hawks gained two prospects who are likely career minor leaguers in Morrison and Lindholm.

Shedding some salary is better than none yet the Saad trade at least has you feeling disappointed in the return.
- Theo Fox

Especially since - after the Maatta trade and walking away from Crawford - they didn’t particularly need the additional cap space - we’re assuming Stan isn’t going to make a UFA splash - even in goal.

Maybe there is some kind of plan for that. I hope not.

The Saad deal saves Rocky $2.3MM cash. Right now, this looks like a cash savings deal to me.

Giving up a not-so-old skater (28 in two weeks) who could be very useful to the next Cup run - and with plenty of time for Stan to work out his next deal.

Seems like Stan decides early that he won’t be able to resign a pending UFA, gives up, and moves him out.

That's the kicker for me in this trade. I don't mind Zadorov at all and actually like what he can bring on the blueline if slotted appropriately. However, if the goal was to gain more cap space, the Hawks only gained $1.8M on a $6M contract going out. Not a favorable ROI.

The other thing is that across both the Maatta and Saad trades, there was no gain in draft picks or prospects that project to be NHL players. The Hawks gained two prospects who are likely career minor leaguers in Morrison and Lindholm.

Shedding some salary is better than none yet the Saad trade at least has you feeling disappointed in the return.
- Theo Fox

It appears fans (and player agents) underestimate the business climate and ownership’s pain, discomfort, uneasiness or whatever about the health of the business going forward. It’s the only explanation,?I guess.

Buying out Saad wasn't even an option.
- Elbows15

A buyout is worst case. To finish that thought, a buyout would have subtracted a little over $4 mill this season, but then they have to add x amount back in that roster spot. If it's a prospect, it's somewhere over $3 mill in cap savings for the upcoming season. Then they have a hit for over $2 mill for next year. Just to compare it to this trade that results in a $1.8 mill cap savings this year, and a clean slate the following season.