Lots of bad contracts out there, some worse than others. Lucic, Karlsson, Bobrovsky, Skinner, OEL, Subban, Ryan Johansen, Suter, Parise, the list goes on and on.
- TheTrob

Most of those teams are in better shape than the Hawks other than maybe the Sharks and Buffalo is pretty gnarly.

Calgary and Florida are two of the best teams in the league. NJ at least has some young very talented players that look like they wont suck. The Preds are in a playoff spot and Minnesota has had a tremendous year...

Some teams suck at roster management and some teams are better.

Calgary made good move in hiring Daryl Suter last year. He was able to weed out the players that don't fit the program, and look where they are today. First and foremost, Hawks need to hire new coach and stafff that can improve the team defense on this team once and for all. New coach will weed out the players that don't fit his system, and they will be gone by next years trade deadline. Does not matter who is in goal for Hawks, if they are so poor defensively. Also, new coach and staff must get the most out of young players like Dach. If they can't play up to the plan, weed them out also.

Most of those teams are in better shape than the Hawks other than maybe the Sharks and Buffalo is pretty gnarly.

Calgary and Florida are two of the best teams in the league. NJ at least has some young very talented players that look like they wont suck. The Preds are in a playoff spot and Minnesota has had a tremendous year...

Some teams suck at roster management and some teams are better.
- fattybeef

Agree, I would say Vegas under McCrimmon is not very good at it

Calgary made good move in hiring Daryl Suter last year. He was able to weed out the players that don't fit the program, and look where they are today. First and foremost, Hawks need to hire new coach and stafff that can improve the team defense on this team once and for all. New coach will weed out the players that don't fit his system, and they will be gone by next years trade deadline. Does not matter who is in goal for Hawks, if they are so poor defensively. Also, new coach and staff must get the most out of young players like Dach. If they can't play up to the plan, weed them out also.
- chuckdahammer

Who did Calgary weed out besides Sam Bennett? Which actually worked out great for Florida.

Who did Calgary weed out besides Sam Bennett? Which actually worked out great for Florida.
- LAHawk

Gus?

The other thing to remember, when 19 and 88 signed, there was the understanding that the cap was going to increase. It never did. Whose fault is that? Everyone's. Just sayin the team has always been behind the 8 ball because the cap did not go up to match the salary increase.
- powerenforcer

The cap has never been guaranteed to go up. There is always an excuse. It’s only going up $1M this year because Covid, same as last year. Next year they’ll say they’re still dealing with additional costs and lagging debts from Covid. Before the pandemic the excuse was escrow, or low ratings between two teams nobody cared about in the finals. Before that it was a lockout, or recession, or the Canadian dollar.

Basically my point is that the league’s hard cap is an embarrassment. The owners overreacted to the Red Wings’s super team winning with Hull, Shanahan, Robataille, etc. that they implemented this. It needs to be a soft cap where a team can pay it’s good players after a cup, or sign that big name… and pay a luxury tax. Let owners like the Jacobs or Wirtz’s decide if that one guy is worth the extra $7M with an added $3.5 in luxury tax. The Leafs would do it, the Rangers too. Instead we have to drag around the carcass of the Arizona St. Coyotes and others that contribute zero revenue and make the owners Jack up prices on everything to offset the revenue share loss.

Gus?
- powerenforcer

So if the Hawks weed Gus out this year they will be a top team next year? Book it

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe the flip him for a first round pick in 13 that turns into a cheaper more well rounded contributor for 15. Or a young player that hadn't quite figured it out yet (much like Sharp early in his career) that needed a change of scenery.

I want them to sell high on good players that can be replaced.
- fattybeef

You're talking about a guy who scored 35 goals at times. We were more concerned about losing core players back then and he was signed. Why risk it? Anything is possible and hindsight is 20/20. Nobody has complained about keeping Sharp. Only getting him back.

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe the flip him for a first round pick in 13 that turns into a cheaper more well rounded contributor for 15. Or a young player that hadn't quite figured it out yet (much like Sharp early in his career) that needed a change of scenery.

I want them to sell high on good players that can be replaced.
- fattybeef

I still think the biggest issue was the Hawks failure to develop a single D-men for almost a decade. I know they did not have high picks but not one lower pick (2nd or 3rd round even) turned in a bottom pairing player. If just one hits and is a 2nd pairing guy the Hawks likely don't wear their backend as quickly.

2013 - 2nd on Dahlstrom
2012- 2nd on Dillon Fournier
2011- 2nd on Adam Clendening
2010 - 2nd on Justin Holl and 2nd on Stephen Johns
2009 - 1st on Dylan Olsen
2008 - 3rd on Shawn Lalonde
2007 - 2nd on Akim Aliu
2006 - 2nd Simon Danis-Pepin

I still think the biggest issue was the Hawks failure to develop a single D-men for almost a decade. I know they did not have high picks but not one lower pick (2nd or 3rd round even) turned in a bottom pairing player. If just one hits and is a 2nd pairing guy the Hawks likely don't wear their backend as quickly.

2013 - 2nd on Dahlstrom
2012- 2nd on Dillon Fournier
2011- 2nd on Adam Clendening
2010 - 2nd on Justin Holl and 2nd on Stephen Johns
2009 - 1st on Dylan Olsen
2008 - 3rd on Shawn Lalonde
2007 - 2nd on Akim Aliu
2006 - 2nd Simon Danis-Pepin
- bhawks2241

They also lost front office talent. Bergevin left, Cheveldayoff left, You can also say they never developed a goalie after Crow either.

Adding S. Jones, McCabe, T. Johnson, healthy Toews and MAF the expectation was that this team was playoff capable, Watching them play regularly changed those expectations.
- TheTrob

On a previous thread I referred to this as trying to draw an inside straight. Everything had to go right for that to happen. They also needed Dach and Kane at 100%. Connolly needed to be better than buried cap space. And Kubalik had to do a lot more than he has done. And Kurashev needed to take the next step. And there are a few more what-ifs I'm probably missing here.

About the only better than expected event this season was the emergence of Strome, and even that didn't happen right away. Well, Hagel became good enough to get that kind of trade deadline value, also.

I still think the biggest issue was the Hawks failure to develop a single D-men for almost a decade. I know they did not have high picks but not one lower pick (2nd or 3rd round even) turned in a bottom pairing player. If just one hits and is a 2nd pairing guy the Hawks likely don't wear their backend as quickly.

2013 - 2nd on Dahlstrom
2012- 2nd on Dillon Fournier
2011- 2nd on Adam Clendening
2010 - 2nd on Justin Holl and 2nd on Stephen Johns
2009 - 1st on Dylan Olsen
2008 - 3rd on Shawn Lalonde
2007 - 2nd on Akim Aliu
2006 - 2nd Simon Danis-Pepin
- bhawks2241

Pretty good 2nd round in 2010.....though it took Holl forever to develop and make the NHL and Johns was only healthy enough to get 167 games in the NHL. The rest are a whole bunch of nothing.

I still think the biggest issue was the Hawks failure to develop a single D-men for almost a decade. I know they did not have high picks but not one lower pick (2nd or 3rd round even) turned in a bottom pairing player. If just one hits and is a 2nd pairing guy the Hawks likely don't wear their backend as quickly.

2013 - 2nd on Dahlstrom
2012- 2nd on Dillon Fournier
2011- 2nd on Adam Clendening
2010 - 2nd on Justin Holl and 2nd on Stephen Johns
2009 - 1st on Dylan Olsen
2008 - 3rd on Shawn Lalonde
2007 - 2nd on Akim Aliu
2006 - 2nd Simon Danis-Pepin
- bhawks2241

Or they were bad at drafting talented players on the blue line...

You're talking about a guy who scored 35 goals at times. We were more concerned about losing core players back then and he was signed. Why risk it? Anything is possible and hindsight is 20/20. Nobody has complained about keeping Sharp. Only getting him back.
- rpeters01

They could have gotten a lot for him and reloaded instead of trying to maintain the status quo.

The cap has never been guaranteed to go up. There is always an excuse. It’s only going up $1M this year because Covid, same as last year. Next year they’ll say they’re still dealing with additional costs and lagging debts from Covid. Before the pandemic the excuse was escrow, or low ratings between two teams nobody cared about in the finals. Before that it was a lockout, or recession, or the Canadian dollar.

Basically my point is that the league’s hard cap is an embarrassment. The owners overreacted to the Red Wings’s super team winning with Hull, Shanahan, Robataille, etc. that they implemented this. It needs to be a soft cap where a team can pay it’s good players after a cup, or sign that big name… and pay a luxury tax. Let owners like the Jacobs or Wirtz’s decide if that one guy is worth the extra $7M with an added $3.5 in luxury tax. The Leafs would do it, the Rangers too. Instead we have to drag around the carcass of the Arizona St. Coyotes and others that contribute zero revenue and make the owners Jack up prices on everything to offset the revenue share loss.
- ObeseOprah

PE is right, I absolutely remember Bettman saying the cap was going up and also gave a range before Toews and Kane were signed. And it turned out to be all Bullpoop

They could have gotten a lot for him and reloaded instead of trying to maintain the status quo.
- fattybeef

Your premise is totally based on hindsight. Nobody thought the run was coming to an end after the 2015 Cup.

Your premise is totally based on hindsight. Nobody thought the run was coming to an end after the 2015 Cup.
- rpeters01

Not really. Seems pretty foolish to rely on all of your players over 30 to maintain a high level of play indefinitely. And moving on from talented players is the only way to get the assets necessary to replace them other than being bad.

Your premise is totally based on hindsight. Nobody thought the run was coming to an end after the 2015 Cup.
- rpeters01

In 2016, we were one goal from a long run. 2017 not sure what happened against the Preds but it ended up in the implosion of trades that got us Murphy, Saad and Hossa retired, which really was the beginning of the end. We were the first overall seed in the West that year... Lot like the year the Stars bounced us in the first round and went to the Cup.

In 2016, we were one goal from a long run. 2017 not sure what happened against the Preds but it ended up in the implosion of trades that got us Murphy, Saad and Hossa retired, which really was the beginning of the end. We were the first overall seed in the West that year... Lot like the year the Stars bounced us in the first round and went to the Cup.
- Popsghostly

You don't know that. They just as easily could have been blown out in the 2nd round.

What happened against the Preds was the other team played full team defense and the Hawks thought they could skate through it/beat it with speed. Plus, their main defensemen were starting to falter. It failed miserably.

Not really. Seems pretty foolish to rely on all of your players over 30 to maintain a high level of play indefinitely. And moving on from talented players is the only way to get the assets necessary to replace them other than being bad.
- fattybeef

We'll see but even paying young players like Vasilevsky, Kucherov and now Point are going to take its toll. Hedman monster in ozone, dzone not so much anymore. McDonough signed till 37? Who's going to want that Stamkos contract, We'll see

Pens have lost in the 1st round or the play in round the last 3 years, so i guess they should trade Crosby and Malkin? Remember when the RedWings would always get off to a great start and for years they made the playoffs while they faded.

Caps just resigned Ovi, 36 $9.5 per? Over 35 contract, Not really a smart move either or is it?

I guess we'll see how it all shakes out but 3 cups in 6 years is pretty sweet. And i see all these franchises really being bad in 5 years.

In 2016, we were one goal from a long run. 2017 not sure what happened against the Preds but it ended up in the implosion of trades that got us Murphy, Saad and Hossa retired, which really was the beginning of the end. We were the first overall seed in the West that year... Lot like the year the Stars bounced us in the first round and went to the Cup.
- Popsghostly

That 2017 team was winning a lot of games, but I still had a bad feeling about their chances. The wins felt too easy, and they had a lot of cheap extra points because they had a perfect lineup for regular season overtimes and shootouts.

Your premise is totally based on hindsight. Nobody thought the run was coming to an end after the 2015 Cup.
- rpeters01

True, but dumping Sharp was a good idea at that point. The problem was the return was Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt. He needed to be able to turn Sharp into either a solid prospect and a pick, or two good picks.

Yes, I'm aware of the situation at the time and that Stan did not have much leverage, but he had to do better than that.

Agree, I would say Vegas under McCrimmon is not very good at it
- LAHawk

Let's see if the Panthers can win a playoff series first.

What's happening in Vegas is great

You don't know that. They just as easily could have been blown out in the 2nd round.

What happened against the Preds was the other team played full team defense and the Hawks thought they could skate through it/beat it with speed. Plus, their main defensemen were starting to falter. It failed miserably.
- Chunk

Agree Chunk. But it felt like it- after racing back after being down 3-1. And we lost that first game with Keith out serving a suspension. And of all players scoring the game winner- T Brow. Also, that Breadman rookie year was awesome too.

True, but dumping Sharp was a good idea at that point. The problem was the return was Trevor Daley and Ryan Garbutt. He needed to be able to turn Sharp into either a solid prospect and a pick, or two good picks.

Yes, I'm aware of the situation at the time and that Stan did not have much leverage, but he had to do better than that.
- Chunk

Sharp had a modified NTC clause too I think, so that even more limited Stan's options. I remember the rumor of Sharp to Montreal for 2 2nds. Maybe Sharp nixed that trade.