Fair enough. But for Reichel's next deal would you go with a bridge deal or a long term deal? KD could probably lock-up Reichel for his prime years with a 7-8 year deal at a reasonable rate.
- DarthKane

That's what i think as well, i remember the Avs signing MacKinnon to a sweet deal then they surrounded him with more talent and now he's getting paid double his last contract, well almost.

You know as soon as that salary cap goes up the wages are going up, i guess let's see how the season goes for Reichel maybe he'll only put up 40-50 points which would be good and bad, i don't think he'll sign a long term deal then.

Fair enough. But for Reichel's next deal would you go with a bridge deal or a long term deal? KD could probably lock-up Reichel for his prime years with a 7-8 year deal at a reasonable rate.
- DarthKane

By the end of this season he will more than double his NHL games played. His next contract will be about 99% determined by the results of this season.

I don't understand this line of thinking. We are going to have to start paying out kiddies sometime.
- BetweenTheDots

Strange concept for you.....how about they pay the kids that actually show they're worth it?

On twitter: Andy Strickland on Cam and Strick today said it’s likely “5 players” will be facing NHL suspensions for their involvement in the 2018 WJC sexual assault scandal. Said he knows the names but won’t say them now.
another person:
Not saying it's sus, but as a Lightning fan I found it odd that after the story initially broke that Howden, Katchouck, Raddysh, and Foote were all traded off the team within the next 2 years.

Forenton
Comtois
are
no longer in the league to face expulsions.
- wiz1901

Batherson and Formenton have not issued a public statement, that doesn't mean they had any involvement but it's interesting when several of their team mates have.

Here is Raddysh's comment:

As a member of the 2018 World Junior team, I first became aware of allegations made against certain members of that team back in 2019. At that time, I cooperated fully with the initial Hockey Canada investigation. I was not in any way involved in the alleged incident and I am prepared to cooperate with any
additional investigations in the future. Given the ongoing investigations, I will not provide any further public comments.

Katchouk made a statement through his agent/representative:

Boris has fully co-operated with the Hockey Canada investigation and will continue to provide that co-operation in any further investigation. Beyond this statement we are not commenting further.

Its been established that Raddysh wasn't even in the same city at the time.
- Elbows15

Where did you see that? I heard Makar wasn't in the city, but I haven't seen anything like that about Raddysh.

Batherson and Formenton have not issued a public statement, that doesn't mean they had any involvement but it's interesting when several of their team mates have.

Here is Raddysh's comment:

As a member of the 2018 World Junior team, I first became aware of allegations made against certain members of that team back in 2019. At that time, I cooperated fully with the initial Hockey Canada investigation. I was not in any way involved in the alleged incident and I am prepared to cooperate with any
additional investigations in the future. Given the ongoing investigations, I will not provide any further public comments.

Katchouk made a statement through his agent/representative:

Boris has fully co-operated with the Hockey Canada investigation and will continue to provide that co-operation in any further investigation. Beyond this statement we are not commenting further.
- DarthKane

No denial in the statement by Boris.

That's what i think as well, i remember the Avs signing MacKinnon to a sweet deal then they surrounded him with more talent and now he's getting paid double his last contract, well almost.

You know as soon as that salary cap goes up the wages are going up, i guess let's see how the season goes for Reichel maybe he'll only put up 40-50 points which would be good and bad, i don't think he'll sign a long term deal then.
- BetweenTheDots

Ding ding ding!

Correct, and the Cap (unless this new Covid strain comes on super strong...my 40 yr old neighbors just got the new strain and masks here in Florida are starting to show up in public) is TRULY going up and will steadily.

The agents know the market value, so you won't see KD fooling anyone, but he better be sure the pieces they are going to start paying long salaries are truly longer term additions.

I love watching juniors and trying to extrapolate where their strengths are and where they get taken in the draft, but ask where I see Kuraschev or Reichel upsides and I truly haven't gotten a pulse.

We can all predict. But KD and his staff have to be the decision makers.

Re Kuraschev
I have read that Rick Dudley piece how the arbitration process and what the team says about the player they are trying NOT to pay his arbitration $ can really shake the player b/c they are hard reality based negatives (to help the team win the arbitration) and some are hurt and shocked by "what the team thinks."
( I wonder if KD's deal with Kuraschev was two years to make nice after the contentious arbitration process. I basically is economically feasible and also better individual growth and results to gauge a next deal.)

Fair enough. But for Reichel's next deal would you go with a bridge deal or a long term deal? KD could probably lock-up Reichel for his prime years with a 7-8 year deal at a reasonable rate.
- DarthKane

This a big prove it season for Reichel imo. Hoping it goes well, if gets 50 points 20 goals 30 assists that would very good season and hopefully improve year to year going forward. Time will tell

This a big prove it season for Reichel imo. Hoping it goes well, if gets 50 points 20 goals 30 assists that would very good season and hopefully improve year to year going forward. Time will tell
- Scott1977

Imo, a 50 point season should not result in a 7 year deal with a $7M AAV. Call me berserk....

This a big prove it season for Reichel imo. Hoping it goes well, if gets 50 points 20 goals 30 assists that would very good season and hopefully improve year to year going forward. Time will tell
- Scott1977

I am more interested in how Reichel develops his 200 ft. game than how many points he accumulates next year. Apparently Reichel is not going to be on a line with Bedard. and probably won't be on PP1. How many points do you really think he is going to rack up playing with Athanaseu / Kurashev or T. Johnson on his line?

I am more interested in how Reichel develops his 200 ft. game than how many points he accumulates next year. Apparently Reichel is not going to be on a line with Bedard. and probably won't be on PP1. How many points do you really think he is going to rack up playing with Athanaseu / Kurashev or T. Johnson on his line?
- LAHawk

And if he puts up 60ish points regardless, and plays 200 for game, what then? Bridge deal? Long term knowing more talent is on the horizon?

And if he puts up 60ish points regardless, and plays 200 for game, what then? Bridge deal? Long term knowing more talent is on the horizon?
- BetweenTheDots

If he does I would try and go long term. The Hawks have 9/3/1 player(s) under contract for the next 3 seasons, they don't have that much talent in the system to fill a complete NHL team, let alone have any salary cap problems.

Call me a skeptic on this huge salary cap increase next year. I don't think this Bally's sports bankruptcy is going to end well.

well yesterday was See the Cup day here in Saskatchewan. seems its making its rounds thru the province again this year. looking forward to Nolan Allen and KK bringing it home in a few years!

If he does I would try and go long term. The Hawks have 9/3/1 player(s) under contract for the next 3 seasons, they don't have that much talent in the system to fill a complete NHL team, let alone have any salary cap problems.

Call me a skeptic on this huge salary cap increase next year. I don't think this Bally's sports bankruptcy is going to end well.
- LAHawk

I agree, actually on all of this.

That's what i think as well, i remember the Avs signing MacKinnon to a sweet deal then they surrounded him with more talent and now he's getting paid double his last contract, well almost.

You know as soon as that salary cap goes up the wages are going up, i guess let's see how the season goes for Reichel maybe he'll only put up 40-50 points which would be good and bad, i don't think he'll sign a long term deal then.
- BetweenTheDots

Indeed they did, but at the time, MacKinnon had not yet really broken out points-wise. He was about 0.68 PPG through his ELC and first year of his $6.3M AAV, 7-year extension. Then he blew up. if Reichel hits 0.7 PPG this year, I think it would be fine to go 4 years at $4-5M.

KD has mentioned several times that he wants to maintain as much roster and cap flexibility as he can. I think he will be very careful about who he gives out high term and dollar contracts to. We will see how he does with the NMC's...

Imo, a 50 point season should not result in a 7 year deal with a $7M AAV. Call me berserk....
- mohel

And it won't. I don't think we see any precedent for that especially considering it will be his first full year (presumably) with the team.

I am more interested in how Reichel develops his 200 ft. game than how many points he accumulates next year. Apparently Reichel is not going to be on a line with Bedard. and probably won't be on PP1. How many points do you really think he is going to rack up playing with Athanaseu / Kurashev or T. Johnson on his line?
- LAHawk

Your comment got me to thinking about the Hawks goal production for this upcoming season. Last season they scored the least goals in the league with a grand total of 204. About 70-75 goals were scored by players no longer with the team. Domi (18), Kane (16), Toews (15), Lafferty (10), Khaira (6) along with others.

Where will that lost production come from? Lets speculate -
Bedard 30?, Hall - 25? Reichel 20? (13 more than last year) will make up for the most of the lost production. Then there are the additions of Foligno, Perry and Donato, say maybe 30 combined. Then Raddysh and AA have to match last year's production of 20 goals each. T. Johnson, D!ckinson and Kurashev will have to match their 30 goals total. And then the defense will have to contribute about 30 goals to equal last year's total, and the Katchouks, Blackwells and Entwistles, etc's have to do their share. So if Bedard, Hall and Reichel come through and the secondary scoring stays at last year's levels they should score about 30 more goals this season. Say 234 total goals.

Let's say their goals against stay at last year's 301. Remember Mrazek in goal, Jones & Murphy leading the D, and a few newbies getting their feet wet over extended periods isn't going to lead IMO to a tremendous decrease in goals allowed.

234 goals scored, 301 goals against = -67.

Comparables last season
SJS, -89, 60 points
MON, -75, 68 points
ARI, -71, 70 points
PHI, -55, 75 points

Long story short, my prediction is the Hawks will get 71 points this season. Last year that would have put them 7th from the bottom.

This a big prove it season for Reichel imo. Hoping it goes well, if gets 50 points 20 goals 30 assists that would very good season and hopefully improve year to year going forward. Time will tell
- Scott1977

But you don't pay him 7 or 8 mil for 7 or 8 years based on those numbers.

Can't even believe we're discussing paying Reichel that kind of term and number.

Glad the board isn't the GM of the Hawks.

Moore's goal from yesterday.

https://twitter.com/SElli...tatus/1686834933610741760

But you don't pay him 7 or 8 mil for 7 or 8 years based on those numbers.

Can't even believe we're discussing paying Reichel that kind of term and number.

Glad the board isn't the GM of the Hawks.
- vabeachbear

It wouldn't surprise me if he scored in the 60s this year. He has things to learn like many players but one thing is for sure he's playing on the ice now and not thinking. Aren't these things GM's have to contemplate? Say he puts up 60 points this year so you only sign him to a 3 year deal, same time Bedards contract comes up or do you role the dice and sign him for a 8 year deal that can look like a great deal when more talent filters into the big club? That would allow future flexibility in signing other players.

NHL Network analyst comments on Korchinski.

https://twitter.com/NHLNe...tatus/1686904719778729986

NHL Network analyst comments on Korchinski.

https://twitter.com/NHLNe...tatus/1686904719778729986
- boilermaker100

Yea i saw that, he's got a man crush on him, for sure

Personally i think the Cozens, Thompson deals are going to look really good in a couple of years

Your comment got me to thinking about the Hawks goal production for this upcoming season. Last season they scored the least goals in the league with a grand total of 204. About 70-75 goals were scored by players no longer with the team. Domi (18), Kane (16), Toews (15), Lafferty (10), Khaira (6) along with others.

Where will that lost production come from? Lets speculate -
Bedard 30?, Hall - 25? Reichel 20? (13 more than last year) will make up for the most of the lost production. Then there are the additions of Foligno, Perry and Donato, say maybe 30 combined. Then Raddysh and AA have to match last year's production of 20 goals each. T. Johnson, D!ckinson and Kurashev will have to match their 30 goals total. And then the defense will have to contribute about 30 goals to equal last year's total. So if the Bedard, Hall and Reichel come through and the secondary scoring stays at last year's levels they should score about 30 more goals this season. Say 234 total goals.

Let's say their goals against stay at last year's 301. Remember Mrazek in goal, Jones & Murphy leading the D, and a few newbies getting their feet wet over extended periods isn't going to lead IMO to a tremendous decrease in goals allowed.

234 goals scored, 301 goals against = -67.

Comparables last season
SJS, -89, 60 points
MON, -75, 68 points
ARI, -71, 70 points
PHI, -55, 75 points

Long story short, my prediction is the Hawks will get 71 points this season. Last year that would have put them 7th from the bottom.
- boilermaker100

It's a fun game to play. It could go any of the three possible ways (same, better, or worse).

Forwards:
Perry, Foligno, and Donato combined for 36 goals last year (Perry and Foligno in reduced roles). Does time finally catch up to these two or do they produce a bit more than they did last year?

Is Reichel a closer player to what we saw at the end of last year or when he was first called up? Does Guttman break out a bit? Who gets injured?

Up front I think the MOST important thing is how the entire group comes together in their own zone. I'm cautiously optimistic on that front. As strange as it sounds, I think not having Toews (still obviously not 100% from his condition), and Kane (operating on one leg and never known for his defense in the first place) might benefit that part of the game for this team.

On the back end. Who knows. Most here I think would agree that Caleb was lacking defensively (although he did improve a bit toward the end of the season). If you extrapolate Phillips numbers out for a whole year (I know kinda dumb to do, but just for the sake of argument), he matches Caleb's numbers and I think he's got a bit better defensive ability. I think replacing any combination of C. Jones, McCabe, Mitchell, and Jack Johnson with Vlasic/Kaiser/Phillips/Korchinski (longshot in my mind) will at worst be a wash and could be a good tick better.

The goal options are what they are. Mrazek will be average at best (assuming he stays healthy). If Soderblom improves he could be a bright spot, but who knows with goalies.

Again, fun to think about, especially this time of year.

Moore's goal from yesterday.

https://twitter.com/SElli...tatus/1686834933610741760
- boilermaker100

I love that the D-man just realizes "nope, not gonna catch him".