Wouldn't the signing of Suter leave no room to improve the top 2 lines?
- dpard

Maybe, depends on the cap and the totality of moves made. Hjalmarsson +Oduya makes room for Suter. Subtract a forward salary (llke Bolland's) plus cap increase and you have ample room to improve the top 6.

Maybe, depends on the cap and the totality of moves made. Hjalmarsson +Oduya makes room for Suter. Subtract a forward salary (llke Bolland's) plus cap increase and you have ample room to improve the top 6.
- John Jaeckel

If the Hawks get Suter.. would that be the only DEF they go after?

Is there any plans outside someone goes nuts and outbids the Hawks?

Wouldn't the signing of Suter leave no room to improve the top 2 lines?
- dpard

Not necessarily, for a couple of reasons - (rough numbers below based on cap geek)


1.) the cap is likely to grow. As the roster stands now, they have about $3.8M of space.

2.) About $7M is coming off the books in expiring contracts - although let's say $5M because of Sharp and Emery's pay bump.


* So in cap space alone, you've got about $9M alone before the cap bump. $9M to fill 7 roster spots (Brunette, Morrisson, Bollig, Mayers, Lepisot, Oduya, O'Donnell). My guess is that number will be closer to $11M or $12M after the new CBA.

Even if you slot $7M for Suter (and it could be less than that, depending on the contract structure, you're probably looking at $5M or $6M to flesh out the other six spots - and I'll guess that Bollig comes back at similar money. So say $5.5M to fill five roster spots. Far from ideal, but not completely out of the question.



3.) If Suter comes, salary will be shed - Whether it be Bolland or Hammer (likely the latter), I will all but guarantee a cap hit get shed to cushion the influx. My guess is Hammer moves for sure, and I think JJ's idea bout Bolland/prospect moving for an upgrade at center is a real possibility.

Just curious...when was the last time anyone saw ANY GM admit his mistake publicly? Not gonna happen in any market that cares.
- andru2797

That is something Tallon did here on more than one occasion.

If the cap does not go up we are in for more of the same, or deals which create a new hole to fill another one.

If the current CBA were to extend one more year for example, the cap would go to like $69MM plus the NHLPA would exercise the accelerator clause and bring it to like $72MM.

THAT would give the cap room to fill all of the holes.

If the result is a static number or lower....it's rookie city.

With the Bergevin appointment in Montreal....In case any Hawk fans are wondering I hear Mike Haviland does not speak French!

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

With the Bergevin appointment in Montreal....In case any Hawk fans are wondering I hear Mike Haviland does not speak French!

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Regarding the C situation - (appealing to any Pens fans who may happen by)

How desperate/serious are the Pens about moving Staal? I'm sure the health of Crosby is a big factor here for the short-term, but seeing as how his contract expires (into UFA status) after next season - as does Crosby's, and Malkin's the following year - I would think that this summer is the ideal time to move him and try to get something in return. I highly doubt they intend to re-sign him in June 2013, and he's already making $4M.

The new CBA is a big factor here, but how likely is it that Staal gets moved this summer? And would Bolland/Saad or Bolland/Morin be enough to land him? I'm sure there will be other bidders...

With the Bergevin appointment in Montreal....In case any Hawk fans are wondering I hear Mike Haviland does not speak French!

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Beware the tax structure in Quebec. Havy would need Rosetta Stone CD's and an enormous pay hike just to stay even with what he has now.

If the cap does not go up we are in for more of the same, or deals which create a new hole to fill another one.

If the current CBA were to extend one more year for example, the cap would go to like $69MM plus the NHLPA would exercise the accelerator clause and bring it to like $72MM.

THAT would give the cap room to fill all of the holes.

If the result is a static number or lower....it's rookie city.
- Return of the Roar

My thoughts are the same the cap for next yr. will be between this season's # and $72 mill.

My thoughts are the same the cap for next yr. will be between this season's # and $72 mill.
- Al

That would be huge, because instead of having $6.8MM to work with you now have $11.8MM-14.8MM.

Beware the tax structure in Quebec. Havy would need Rosetta Stone CD's and an enormous pay hike just to stay even with what he has now.
- RickJ

Q speaks French

This summer is do or die for Stan for sure...but the jury is still out, albeit they're almost ready to pass judgement.
- andru2797

It will be and we now another high level vacancy with Bergevin becoming the GM in Montreal. Dudley, Cheveldayoff and now Bergevin. The continued exodus of good hockey men certainly hurts organizational continuity and will not helped the Silver Spoon KNOB who currently sits on the throne.
- philco28

Very interesting that you have these senior level executives with loads of experience of the game leaving Chicago. Must be hard to work for someone who has little experience and was given the job based on a family name.

That would be huge, because instead of having $6.8MM to work with you now have $11.8MM-14.8MM.
- Return of the Roar

I can see a possibility of staying the same which could be couched as a $7-$8 mill decline...

Or as u say with the multipier $72 mill or so...or somewhere in between.

With the Bergevin appointment in Montreal....In case any Hawk fans are wondering I hear Mike Haviland does not speak French!

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Everyone speaks French. (Haven't you heard people say 'pardon my French')?

This summer is do or die for Stan for sure...but the jury is still out, albeit they're almost ready to pass judgement.
- andru2797



Very interesting that you have these senior level executives with loads of experience of the game leaving Chicago. Must be hard to work for someone who has little experience and was given the job based on a family name.
- roenick

Bazinga

That is something Tallon did here on more than one occasion.
- Al

And as we all know....Stan Fail...is NO DT.

Regarding the C situation - (appealing to any Pens fans who may happen by)

How desperate/serious are the Pens about moving Staal? I'm sure the health of Crosby is a big factor here for the short-term, but seeing as how his contract expires (into UFA status) after next season - as does Crosby's, and Malkin's the following year - I would think that this summer is the ideal time to move him and try to get something in return. I highly doubt they intend to re-sign him in June 2013, and he's already making $4M.

The new CBA is a big factor here, but how likely is it that Staal gets moved this summer? And would Bolland/Saad or Bolland/Morin be enough to land him? I'm sure there will be other bidders...
- FredoXV

Fred,

Maybe I am missing something. How does trading Staal solve anything for the Pens?

They afforded all three with lower cap ceilings???

This summer is do or die for Stan for sure...but the jury is still out, albeit they're almost ready to pass judgement.
- andru2797



Very interesting that you have these senior level executives with loads of experience of the game leaving Chicago. Must be hard to work for someone who has little experience and was given the job based on a family name.
- roenick

In fairness to Bergevin, and while office politics could very well have played a role, he was with the Hawks for seven years and now has the chance to head up a high profile original six team. Hard to pass up the invite.

In fairness to Bergevin, and while office politics could very well have played a role, he was with the Hawks for seven years and now has the chance to head up a high profile original six team. Hard to pass up the invite.
- Return of the Roar

The Montreal GM job to a Montreal native is a dream come true...

The Montreal GM job to a Montreal native is a dream come true...
- Al

And if he can bring back the Elan he will be a hero.

Fred,

Maybe I am missing something. How does trading Staal solve anything for the Pens?

They afforded all three with lower cap ceilings???
- Al

That really is my question - is it really a possibility? Heard/read all kinds of conjecture about over the last couple of years.


Here's what it all boils down to - Staal hits the open market next summer. Does he re-sign before that? If his agent is worth his paycheck, he'd advise him to test the market - make premium coin to be the #1 or #2 guys somewhere else, as opposed to taking a discount to play third filddle. It's not just a question of what the Pens can afford, it's a question of what Staal wants to do.

My thoughts are the same the cap for next yr. will be between this season's # and $72 mill.
- Al

IMO $72M is to high of a jump from $64M. More likely if the league increases the numbers it will be the same as last year about $5M. Also the floor will have to be raised from $48M and some of the struggling teams can not afford a significant increase in payroll.

JJ, thoughts.............

1) WHOOOO is gonna be the master mind and pull the trigger on all these so called deals everyone is coming up with? we lost chevy, dudley, dale & now bergy!! i got an idea .....Mc Cub should go with another hairbrain scheme like he did when harry died and he started that stupid 7th inning stretch guest singer, he could have GM for a week and all deals are legit!!
i'm 1st....hello peter chiarelli, everyone on my team is in play except 19,88,81 & 7. can we talk about milan lucic? tired of seeing my captian get raked over every game with no answer back. i put kaner or hoss with him but on the other side i either got a guy thats more interested in combing his hair ,radio shows and GQ magazines than playing on that line lately,or i got a big swede that plays small, can't score in a cat house with a fist full of 100's let alone playing with the other 2 but is fast! can we yalk about big looch pete? i'll sweeten the pot if i have to!
don't want to see tazer not know who he is by the time he is 26 so i gotta do something pete! the last guy left me with a team the size of highschoolers! also got a kid from the wild that has all the talent but plays like casper the friendly ghost out there when the going gets rough! lots of work to do pete!
JJ, humor aside what are the choices for assistant GM and if havy goes, then bowman should tell bergy no permission to talk to havy unless kitchen goes with them!

Regarding the C situation - (appealing to any Pens fans who may happen by)

How desperate/serious are the Pens about moving Staal? I'm sure the health of Crosby is a big factor here for the short-term, but seeing as how his contract expires (into UFA status) after next season - as does Crosby's, and Malkin's the following year - I would think that this summer is the ideal time to move him and try to get something in return. I highly doubt they intend to re-sign him in June 2013, and he's already making $4M.

The new CBA is a big factor here, but how likely is it that Staal gets moved this summer? And would Bolland/Saad or Bolland/Morin be enough to land him? I'm sure there will be other bidders...
- FredoXV

Why do we keep offering up Bolland when moving Sharp and Saad or Sharp and Morin will be a sure thing. Bolland has a role. Stop thinking that Kruger is the guy. He does not have the inner rat or tenacious attitude that Bolland has or any other typical third line center does.