I think the biggest problem with bringing the kids along early during the cup years was that they were not yet ready. Which of the players they burned a year on during the cup years ended up biting them when they had to sign them to a bridge?

The difference now is that they have plenty of cap space and are slowly bringing in players into the mix, not signing them all at once. They can also slowly add in FA's as they see fit when the team is ready. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the contracts at this point. The kids are going to have to get paid at some point. At least they have the picture in front of them instead of hastily reacting.
- Chunk

If they are very good by the end of their ELC. Hopefully a bunch of them are, and the Hawks get back into cap hell. That would mean they are good again.

Here is a question for the board, who plays point on PP 2 replacing C. Jones? Phillips? Kaiser? Zaitsev?
- LAHawk

I think it'll be Vlasic.

According to Daily Hockey Dose, Patrick Kane is in negotiations with the Dallas Stars on a multi-year contract but they will have to move a player to fit him in.
- bjphawkfan

That's a long drive from Buffalo.

I am not sure the rest of the prospect forwards are ready to step up and in just yet, so I would say next year you start filling the front end after you fill the defense this next one.

I agree the emphasis will be to target a real UFA or two, and probably better to find an established forward or two who is younger by trade, instead of going long term all in on a UFA.
But if the 'hawks are using the UFA route as a short fix, Jake DeBrusk, and Devon Toews and big Tom Wilson seem good targets.
- wiz1901

Right now there are 13 forwards under contract and starting with the big club: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blackhawks

That number doesn't include Kurashev, Reichel, or Joey Anderson. I assume we'll see some players get dealt at the deadline, but in the interim, it's a bit of a logjam as to who gets to play here, who plays in Rockford, and if anybody gets traded or waived at some point.

His TOI jumped but his points did not. So his points per 60 minutes actually dropped off significantly. I see him as a 3rd liner for life. Not top 6.
- Ztra

That is a meaningless statistic for multiple reasons. O zone vs D zone starts would be the biggest. Who he's playing against, etc.

What’s the over/under on how many Norris Trophies Mitchell will win in his career? 3.5?
- DarthKane

So, three would be taking the under?

If they are very good by the end of their ELC. Hopefully a bunch of them are, and the Hawks get back into cap hell. That would mean they are good again.
- mohel

And somewhere, somehow, management needs to figure who of the good players to deal away at the right time to bring back assets so they can continue to be in the upper echelon consistently.
The hard cap is a real thing.

Well to be fair, the guy we sent to the Leafs wasn't spare parts run out of town like some of the previous guys.
- breadbag

Touché

Right now there are 13 forwards under contract and starting with the big club: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blackhawks

That number doesn't include Kurashev, Reichel, or Joey Anderson. I assume we'll see some players get dealt at the deadline, but in the interim, it's a bit of a logjam as to who gets to play here, who plays in Rockford, and if anybody gets traded or waived at some point.
- 333inthe3rd

And don't forget Bedard making it 17 forwards. IMO Anderson winds up back in Rockford. Maybe Guttman starts there too since he is recovering from shoulder surgery. That puts it back to 15

Entwistle and R. Johnson on the bubble - could be waived/sent down or maybe traded. Blackwell could be traded too if a team that has an injury in camp and needs a veteran depth forward. D!ckinson and Blackwell should be gone at the TDL. T. Johnson too if he's healthy and having a good year. Slim chance of that I know.

And don't forget Bedard making it 17 forwards. IMO Anderson winds up back in Rockford. Maybe Guttman starts there too since he is recovering from shoulder surgery. That puts it back to 15

Entwistle and R. Johnson on the bubble - could be waived/sent down or maybe traded. Blackwell could be traded too if a team that has an injury in camp needs a veteran depth forward. D!ckinson and Blackwell should be gone at the TDL. T. Johnson too if he's healthy and having a good year. Slim chance of that I know.
- boilermaker100

Remember a couple of years ago when Entwistle was a can’t miss prospect on this board?

Worked great for the Leafs.
- Chunk

Leave it to the Leafs to stop a streak

If they are very good by the end of their ELC. Hopefully a bunch of them are, and the Hawks get back into cap hell. That would mean they are good again.
- mohel

Funny thing to me is the teeth gnashing about being up against the cap. Unless the NHL notably changes the CBA or allows for renegotiated contracts, etc contending teams are all going to be in the same predicament. When you have great players they get paid.

I like that KD is stacking as many prospects and draft picks as he can now to be in a better position in the future. Ideally, he won’t have to part with too many 1sts to put the Hawks over the top (assuming they ever get in that position).

Leave it to the Leafs to stop a streak
- vabeachbear

Like the 57 year streak?

I think it'll be Vlasic.
- BetweenTheDots

via GIPHY

I think the biggest problem with bringing the kids along early during the cup years was that they were not yet ready. Which of the players they burned a year on during the cup years ended up biting them when they had to sign them to a bridge?

The difference now is that they have plenty of cap space and are slowly bringing in players into the mix, not signing them all at once. They can also slowly add in FA's as they see fit when the team is ready. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the contracts at this point. The kids are going to have to get paid at some point. At least they have the picture in front of them instead of hastily reacting.
- Chunk

Aside from the Dale fax fiasco, after the 2010 cup you had Niemi, Hjalmarsson, and a couple other RFAs. Hjalmarsson signed an offer sheet with San Jose. And Niemi I believe we either traded or let walk. Versteeg and Byfuglien were each making $3M but I can’t remember if that was because their deals had burned a year off already on ELCs.

It’s really foggy back then, Phish tour opener was the same week we won the cup at Toyota Park, college, etc. it was a great time. I just remember that ELCs are god’s gift to GMs and once they run out you’re suddenly having to actually pay a good player.


Speaking of Phish, my partial season ticket plan doesn’t get me much pull with the ticket office. The band is coming for three nights in October. Do any of you season ticket holders feel charitable and want to try to snag me some tickets? I’ll pay handsomely if you can save me from the clutches of Ticketmaster.

Like the 57 year streak?
- paulr

No, those they never break..............

i tried to find the Tweet or article and could not not find it?
- kmw4631

I believe I saw it on facebook so it is probably nothing.

And don't forget Bedard making it 17 forwards. IMO Anderson winds up back in Rockford. Maybe Guttman starts there too since he is recovering from shoulder surgery. That puts it back to 15

Entwistle and R. Johnson on the bubble - could be waived/sent down or maybe traded. Blackwell could be traded too if a team that has an injury in camp and needs a veteran depth forward. D!ckinson and Blackwell should be gone at the TDL. T. Johnson too if he's healthy and having a good year. Slim chance of that I know.
- boilermaker100

Oops, I really did that. and I didn't realize Guttman had shoulder surgery. I would figure that Anderson starts in Rockford, but he did earn another contract, so I want to believe there is some upside beyond what he does for Rockford.

Seeing which D-men get to stay here should be interesting.

According to Hawks insider, the Hawks had a lengthy discussion with Milan Lucic who confirmed that talk. Toews will not play next season. He wasn't listed on his agency's free agent list but has not said as yet if he plans to retire. There is a rumor about LaFreniere and Chicago, but I very much doubt it. I believe the Rangers want to keep him. And finally, the BlackHawks will make a push to sign Kureshev before the July 20th arbitration date. Their qualifying offer to him was 787,000.00. A bit low I think.

According to Hawks insider, the Hawks had a lengthy discussion with Milan Lucic who confirmed that talk. Toews will not play next season. He wasn't listed on his agency's free agent list but has not said as yet if he plans to retire. There is a rumor about LaFreniere and Chicago, but I very much doubt it. I believe the Rangers want to keep him. And finally, the BlackHawks will make a push to sign Kureshev before the July 20th arbitration date. Their qualifying offer to him was 787,000.00. A bit low I think.
- bjphawkfan

KD couldn’t sign Loooch! Obviously the long string of KD failures and missteps has begun.

Well probably no Norris, but Boston will win the cup now and Mitchell will be a #4-6 Dman on the team. Teams that have our leftovers on D seem to always have a good shot at winning it all.
- breadbag

Hawks will win a cup before boston

Well probably no Norris, but Boston will win the cup now and Mitchell will be a #4-6 Dman on the team. Teams that have our leftovers on D seem to always have a good shot at winning it all.
- breadbag

Hawks will win a cup before boston

Hawks will win a cup before boston
- LFS

I kind of agree with this.

I see Boston as a team that really takes a nose dive, think Hawks in 2017, and headed towards 2018 and beyond.

If they were smart, they'd start the rebuild this year.

I kind of agree with this.

I see Boston as a team that really takes a nose dive, think Hawks in 2017, and headed towards 2018 and beyond.

If they were smart, they'd start the rebuild this year.
- vabeachbear

Their payroll situation won't allow for the kind of rebuild that's been going on here. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/bruins

How much of last year's roster can they bring back? Are Bergeron and Krejci done?

They have about $6 mill for three spots.

Man, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set up PERFECTLY to be a trade partner with the Hawks.

They're finalists for Karlsson, which would mean they'd have 3 d-men - all over the age of 33 - making a combined $25m. That's lunacy. They'd surely look to move Petry, who has two years left at $6.25m AAV out to clear space for EK.

Enter Chicago. Ripe with ample cap space and trade familiarity with Dubas now at the helm, Chicago could help facilitate a trade by taking on salary (Petry) while scooping up another future 1st round pick. The team currently has 2 first round picks in 2024 and 2025, and only one in 2026. I could envision Pittsburgh being willing to part with a 1st round pick in 3 years to move out Petry's contract now. By 2026, dinosaurs Crosby, Malkin, and Letang won't be able to carry the team the way they are now so it could be a nice early/middle of the first round pick.