Giving that kind of money to anyone north of 30 is pretty not smart unless you get to the finals a time or two before they get too far over the hill.

Lots of injuries but he's been pretty consistent in terms or production. Falling off a cliff at 36 with the back issues he's had isn't unexpected.

Parise was at least signed in his prime whilst Seabrook was already hitting the down slope on his.
- fattybeef

they knew that praise's deal was going to be bad the last few years. but the first 6-7 he was fairly paid. so for 60% of his contract his $$ and production matched up. Seabs it was 12% or 1st year out of 8.

they knew that praise's deal was going to be bad the last few years. but the first 6-7 he was fairly paid. so for 60% of his contract his $$ and production matched up. Seabs it was 12% or 1st year out of 8.
- kmw4631

For perspective, how do the Suter and Parise deals compare to the Keith, Kane and Hossa deals?

Also, which Wild deal looks as good?

The Blues allowed Colorado to get 50 shots on goal. Did the Hawks loan JC to them for the playoffs? What system are they running there?

Am I the only one who thinks it not right that players who are so broken and battered and in rehab from surgeries are able to suddenly;y be well and get to play isn the Stanley cup finals?

Hey, they hawks were guilty too when Kanerhurt his wrist? and that was the way they get Cap space to add pieces at the deadline that along with Kane, secured the Cup win.

It just seems like this year more than any year that we are seeing returnees healthy co-incidental with season's end.

Whatya think ? Should there be a clear rule?
- wiz1901

Luxury tax

For perspective, how do the Suter and Parise deals compare to the Keith, Kane and Hossa deals?

Also, which Wild deal looks as good?
- mohel

kane was under the New CBA which limits contract to 7/8 years and no one year can be less then 50% of the highest year. Hossa and keith were more like those guys. Luongo as well.

Powers (in The Athletic) has ranked the Blackhawks’ top players under 25 years old.

deBrincat (23) is obviously top-ranked - and, from what I can see, is the only proven impact skater on the list.

Others may potentially/possibly become impact players, but none have yet shown that they probably will be: Dach, Boqvist, Reichel (who hasn’t yet played in North America), Borgstrom (who didn’t impress in Florida)….

But none (except, again, for AdB) have shown that they will be (or even can become) an on-ice presence like we’ve seen in this year’s early tournament games. Some nice pieces, perhaps, some pretty good depth, but I haven’t seen indications that any of them (including the four I mentioned above) would grow into a player who would play major productive minutes for, say, Carolina, Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, the top teams in the East….

Many of the under-25s could have nice NHL careers: Suter, Hagel, Kurashev, Mitchell, Beaudin, Kalynuk, Stillman, Gaudette, just to mention those that spent time in The Show this season. Will any of them strike fear in the minds of opposing Cup contenders they would be playing in the future? I’ve asked before: we like the young Hawks - but where do the young Hawks rank against other teams?

Probably unfair to Dach, with his injury and he did play well in the bubble, and Boqvist could develop the necessary strength and stamina, and we haven’t seen Reichel and Borgstrom.

But watching the first few games of the playoffs - I’m thinking that Bowman has a lot of work to do to keep this team from becoming at best, continual first round playoff casualties.

BTW - I’m not commenting on Powers’ ranking - he does have Strome at 5 on his list.
- StLBravesFan

I think it's difficult to really see what you have in a young player when the blue line is extremely bad. The most common complaint is how we are being constantly outshot? Is that all the D's fault no its a 5 man team fault.

Did we have 9 players score their 1st goal this year? screams very young, inexperienced team. So you have all these new players with a bad blue line playing in their own end most of the night. Definitely not a recipe for a cohesive 5 man team being constantly interchanged by the coach.

1 thing i really like is Bowman is bringing plenty of people in and creating an open competition, he didn't have the luxury to sit Strome last year, so messages are being sent, European free agents and disgruntled draft picks are being signed to play here.

I was watching the Avs game last night, believe it or not that team would be better with Hagel on it than Saad. His hands are brutal

Before we decide what a player is or isn't, let's let them get some games under their belt, a study shows a forward reaches his prime around 27 years old.

Powers (in The Athletic) has ranked the Blackhawks’ top players under 25 years old.

deBrincat (23) is obviously top-ranked - and, from what I can see, is the only proven impact skater on the list.

Others may potentially/possibly become impact players, but none have yet shown that they probably will be: Dach, Boqvist, Reichel (who hasn’t yet played in North America), Borgstrom (who didn’t impress in Florida)….

But none (except, again, for AdB) have shown that they will be (or even can become) an on-ice presence like we’ve seen in this year’s early tournament games. Some nice pieces, perhaps, some pretty good depth, but I haven’t seen indications that any of them (including the four I mentioned above) would grow into a player who would play major productive minutes for, say, Carolina, Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, the top teams in the East….

Many of the under-25s could have nice NHL careers: Suter, Hagel, Kurashev, Mitchell, Beaudin, Kalynuk, Stillman, Gaudette, just to mention those that spent time in The Show this season. Will any of them strike fear in the minds of opposing Cup contenders they would be playing in the future? I’ve asked before: we like the young Hawks - but where do the young Hawks rank against other teams?

Probably unfair to Dach, with his injury and he did play well in the bubble, and Boqvist could develop the necessary strength and stamina, and we haven’t seen Reichel and Borgstrom.

But watching the first few games of the playoffs - I’m thinking that Bowman has a lot of work to do to keep this team from becoming at best, continual first round playoff casualties.

BTW - I’m not commenting on Powers’ ranking - he does have Strome at 5 on his list.
- StLBravesFan

What is your definition of "impact player"?

I think it's difficult to really see what you have in a young player when the blue line is extremely bad. The most common complaint is how we are being constantly outshot? Is that all the D's fault no its a 5 man team fault.

Did we have 9 players score their 1st goal this year? screams very young, inexperienced team. So you have all these new players with a bad blue line playing in their own end most of the night. Definitely not a recipe for a cohesive 5 man team being constantly interchanged by the coach.

1 thing i really like is Bowman is bringing plenty of people in and creating an open competition, he didn't have the luxury to sit Strome last year, so messages are being sent, European free agents and disgruntled draft picks are being signed to play here.

I was watching the Avs game last night, believe it or not that team would be better with Hagel on it than Saad. His hands are brutal

Before we decide what a player is or isn't, let's let them get some games under their belt, a study shows a forward reaches his prime around 27 years old.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, I don't understand the concept of "I don't see X player being good/great/impact/etc" when they haven't even had a full season in the bigs. ADB is now considered in that category, but that was only after he started to play a more complete game. It's taken him four years to get to that point (not to mention a down year when everyone and their mother wanted to launch him into the sun).

I would not make ANY predictions of a player's career based off of this past season. Limited season, training camp, practice time, condensed schedule, constantly shifting lines and easily the most games played by rookies. Throw in, they only had about 3 vets that were pulling their weight and I would be hard pressed to even speculate much about individual players.

Imagine sliding Dach, or Boqvist, or Hagel, or Kubalik onto one of the cup teams. Not all of them at the same time, but individually. I think you would be seeing notably different results.

Yep, the depth of a contender is there. All they need to do is get the high-end talent. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
- mohel

Yesterday I wrote about Vegas adding via trades or free agency the likes of Pietroangelo, Stone, Pacioretty and Martinez. Two top line forwards and their top pairing defensemen to augment their expansion/extorted picks of Marchessault, Karlsson, Smith, and Tuch.

Maybe in a couple of years the young Hawk forwards develop into the latter 4 above. Maybe Kalynuk becomes a top pairing guy. Like you said, Mo, they just have to add 3 or 4 high end players like Vegas did. They're not going to get them drafting in the 12-20 range which is where they are at now and will probably be in the next couple of years. Sounds like Stan realizes that based on that podcast . If Stan is serious about what he said, sounds as if they'll be some big trades or UFA signings by next summer.

they knew that praise's deal was going to be bad the last few years. but the first 6-7 he was fairly paid. so for 60% of his contract his $$ and production matched up. Seabs it was 12% or 1st year out of 8.
- kmw4631

I would argue some, if not much of Seabrook's contract was renumeration for past performance well above the salary he had received.

I would argue some, if not much of Seabrook's contract was renumeration for past performance well above the salary he had received.
- 35Tony0

thats actually inaccurate. at 19 he singed ELC for 3 X $925K then 3 X 3.5 bridge deal and then at 25 signed 5 year 5.8 mil deal and then 30 signed 8 X 6.875. he is 5th all time earnings for Defensemen. and he still has 20 mil left. when he signed 5.8 that put him in the top 8 at the time. he was about 13th when it ended then he moved back into the top 10. He was never under paid and I oved Seabs till he singed the new deal that crippled this team. not his fault of course. his carrier earnings will 20 mil more then keith. at just over $100Mil over 19-20 years

I would argue some, if not much of Seabrook's contract was renumeration for past performance well above the salary he had received.
- 35Tony0

Pietrangelo is a really good dman but signing a 30 year old for $8.8 per is seriously going to handicap this team soon

I would argue some, if not much of Seabrook's contract was renumeration for past performance well above the salary he had received.
- 35Tony0

I'd think so. Given the long term injuries that were nagging Seabrook, I would hope the front office and/or team doctors knew about them. Really kind of makes you question why that contract was handed out.

I recall Seabrook mentioning maybe last year that the injuries (shoulder and hip) had been bothering him since '14 or 15'?

In hindsight I don't think that contract really kept the Hawks from getting back in the Finals. They were more than one 4-5 mil player away.

I'd think so. Given the long term injuries that were nagging Seabrook, I would hope the front office and/or team doctors knew about them. Really kind of makes you question why that contract was handed out.

I recall Seabrook mentioning maybe last year that the injuries (shoulder and hip) had been bothering him since '14 or 15'?

In hindsight I don't think that contract really kept the Hawks from getting back in the Finals. They were more than one 4-5 mil player away.
- bhawks2241

Contract or not, he was still the second best defenseman they had on the ice.

I'd think so. Given the long term injuries that were nagging Seabrook, I would hope the front office and/or team doctors knew about them. Really kind of makes you question why that contract was handed out.

I recall Seabrook mentioning maybe last year that the injuries (shoulder and hip) had been bothering him since '14 or 15'?

In hindsight I don't think that contract really kept the Hawks from getting back in the Finals. They were more than one 4-5 mil player away.
- bhawks2241

but maybe you dont have to trade teravinen or panarin. panarin probably takes a long term deal 7.5 to 8 for 8 years instead of bridge deal.

but maybe you dont have to trade teravinen or panarin. panarin probably takes a long term deal 7.5 to 8 for 8 years instead of bridge deal.
- kmw4631

Highly doubt that, he was going to the highest bidder.

Yesterday I wrote about Vegas adding via trades or free agency the likes of Pietroangelo, Stone, Pacioretty and Martinez. Two top line forwards and their top pairing defensemen to augment their expansion/extorted picks of Marchessault, Karlsson, Smith, and Tuch.

Maybe in a couple of years the young Hawk forwards develop into the latter 4 above. Maybe Kalynuk becomes a top pairing guy. Like you said, Mo, they just have to add 3 or 4 high end players like Vegas did. They're not going to get them drafting in the 12-20 range which is where they are at now and will probably be in the next couple of years. Sounds like Stan realizes that based on that podcast . If Stan is serious about what he said, sounds as if they'll be some big trades or UFA signings by next summer.
- boilermaker100

Agree that Stan was saying exactly that.

Pietrangelo is a really good dman but signing a 30 year old for $8.8 per is seriously going to handicap this team soon
- BetweenTheDots

Now do the Sharks blue line.

Highly doubt that, he was going to the highest bidder.
- LAHawk

The talk at the time was that he wanted FLA or NY (weather or market).

So do we know yet If Toews Is suffering from a medical Issue or Is there more to the story? I have a feeling that J.T. Is Disgruntled with Bowman and don't be surprised If Stanley Is frantically on the phones trying to work out a trade that works for Toews and the Hawks.

So do we know yet If Toews Is suffering from a medical Issue or Is there more to the story? I have a feeling that J.T. Is Disgruntled with Bowman and don't be surprised If Stanley Is frantically on the phones trying to work out a trade that works for Toews and the Hawks.
- Shady1962

Now I understand why your handle is Shady.

Yeah, I don't understand the concept of "I don't see X player being good/great/impact/etc" when they haven't even had a full season in the bigs. ADB is now considered in that category, but that was only after he started to play a more complete game. It's taken him four years to get to that point (not to mention a down year when everyone and their mother wanted to launch him into the sun).

I would not make ANY predictions of a player's career based off of this past season. Limited season, training camp, practice time, condensed schedule, constantly shifting lines and easily the most games played by rookies. Throw in, they only had about 3 vets that were pulling their weight and I would be hard pressed to even speculate much about individual players.

Imagine sliding Dach, or Boqvist, or Hagel, or Kubalik onto one of the cup teams. Not all of them at the same time, but individually. I think you would be seeing notably different results.
- Chunk

This is a good point, imo. At the same time, management can't assume they'll all progress in the same manner as Cat - most don't. Until a guy actually takes those steps, management can't assume so. Dach is a good example; I think he can be an impact player, a 1C on a contender. But he's not that now. So, if I were Stan, I think of Barkov or Matthews. If Dach reaches his potential, all the better.

So do we know yet If Toews Is suffering from a medical Issue or Is there more to the story? I have a feeling that J.T. Is Disgruntled with Bowman and don't be surprised If Stanley Is frantically on the phones trying to work out a trade that works for Toews and the Hawks.
- Shady1962

That feeling is probably gas.

Pietrangelo is a really good dman but signing a 30 year old for $8.8 per is seriously going to handicap this team soon
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, but it all is an afterthought down the road after you raise that Cup and banner up. Sure we'll screw ourselves later, but we'll do our best to win now.

We are so lucky we won it- multiple times. Brouwer doesn't score that goal in Game 7, I think we could have gotten far if not won it all in 2015-2016.

Highly doubt that, he was going to the highest bidder.
- LAHawk

he was a RFA he took a 2 year 6 mil deal. I agree after they traded him to coloumbus he was going to wait it out but all accounts he loved Chicago and was shocked he was traded. I think he would have taken a LT deal back 4 years ago in CHI.