Theo Fox: Compression Gear
A look at how the Blackhawks could manage the lineup if the NHL has a compressed schedule for 2020-21. One idea requires applying a postseason feature to the regular season.

Hey Theo, interesting stuff and hard to believe November is already here. Was a cold and windy one yesterday in the Detroit area.

Couple things...

Since the rebuild has been announced, I agree playing Kane and Keith a ton of extra mins to try to win runs counterintuitive to try and help some of the prospects grow so hopefully that stops.

While I'm hoping there is still a decent gap between Toews' and Kampf's mins it would be great if the two Marks made it such where it's less so and their aren't any 4th liners only skating for 6 mins.

With the acquisition of the 2 Swedes, If Shaw comes back and Suter wins a spot, I could see Carpenter and Kampf or Highmore being pushed out of the lineup.

It's official, hawks goaltending is worst in the league and SJ has a tandem of Jones/Dubnyk

I doubt they will go the Black Aces route - at the league minimum, the extra 8 on the roster would cost each team approaching $8MM, prorated to the number of games the team plays. Of course, they could reduce the game-day pay of those sitting out - they would have to work all of that out with the PA.

You seem to think the BAs would be the promising prospects - your point about this hurting their development because they would be sitting more than playing is very valid (can “valid” be modified by “very”? Something either is or isn’t valid. Breadman?)

I’m thinking they would more go with fill-in vets who haven’t made any 23-man roster - the true “replacement player” in the WAR calculations.

Of course, having the top prospects in the 31 would solve one iffy problem: we wouldn’t have to worry about the Rockford development program.

I doubt they will go the Black Aces route - at the league minimum, the extra 8 on the roster would cost each team approaching $8MM, prorated to the number of games the team plays. Of course, they could reduce the game-day pay of those sitting out - they would have to work all of that out with the PA.

You seem to think the BAs would be the promising prospects - your point about this hurting their development because they would be sitting more than playing is very valid (can “valid” be modified by “very”? Something either is or isn’t valid. Breadman?)

I’m thinking they would more go with fill-in vets who haven’t made any 23-man roster - the true “replacement player” in the WAR calculations.

Of course, having the top prospects in the 31 would solve one iffy problem: we wouldn’t have to worry about the Rockford development program.
- StLBravesFan

Very is a throw away word. Not incorrect in how you said it, alliterative, but not necessary.

If they start January 1st I suspect the shorter number of games will result in a slightly more compressed schedule, but I do not think it will be extremely compacted.

From the start of NHL training camp until the start of the AHL season I could see expanded rosters and a new short term formula for calculating the salary cap. Maybe they will only use the salaries of the 20 players on the ice in their most recent game (and it would adjust game to game, just like they do with the 22 or 23 man rosters).

Once the AHL camp opens the NHL roster size could return to 23 players, but they create a NHL/AHL "limbo" category. Let's say the Hawks have 23 players on their roster, they want to give Carpenter a rest. They move him off the roster, into "limbo / nonroster" category and call a player up from the AHL. Maybe they also change the waiver rules between NHL and AHL to make the movement easier.

If they start January 1st I suspect the shorter number of games will result in a slightly more compressed schedule, but I do not think it will be extremely compacted.

From the start of NHL training camp until the start of the AHL season I could see expanded rosters and a new short term formula for calculating the salary cap. Maybe they will only use the salaries of the 20 players on the ice in their most recent game (and it would adjust game to game, just like they do with the 22 or 23 man rosters).

Once the AHL camp opens the NHL roster size could return to 23 players, but they create a NHL/AHL "limbo" category. Let's say the Hawks have 23 players on their roster, they want to give Carpenter a rest. They move him off the roster, into "limbo / nonroster" category and call a player up from the AHL. Maybe they also change the waiver rules between NHL and AHL to make the movement easier.
- -Doh-

I don’t think that with the 22-23 man rosters, the cap hits change game to game. The cap hit is for the 23 man roster.

I doubt they will go the Black Aces route - at the league minimum, the extra 8 on the roster would cost each team approaching $8MM, prorated to the number of games the team plays. Of course, they could reduce the game-day pay of those sitting out - they would have to work all of that out with the PA.

You seem to think the BAs would be the promising prospects - your point about this hurting their development because they would be sitting more than playing is very valid (can “valid” be modified by “very”? Something either is or isn’t valid. Breadman?)

I’m thinking they would more go with fill-in vets who haven’t made any 23-man roster - the true “replacement player” in the WAR calculations.

Of course, having the top prospects in the 31 would solve one iffy problem: we wouldn’t have to worry about the Rockford development program.
- StLBravesFan

The economics of retaining extra players does not need to cover the actual press box of many players

Two or three ought to suffice. When Rockford and Chicago are both in town on a Blackhawks game day - even during the week as far as practice goes- we could witness players being back and forth the I90 Rockford
shuffle.

The minor league season begins later than the NHl, so getting our top prospects playing time immediately means interesting player shuffle even for one game. But the top prospects ought to get games and development for at least a month in the AHL.

Realisticly NHL teams should strategies to roll four lines and have maybe an extra forward or dman whom.is primarily getting most of his time on PP and or PK. Conserve your top minutes TOI guys

Have to wonder if teams will go into prevent defense mode when they get the lead, especially in back- to- backs

Could mean one strategy being to have that extra new age dean or the older slow dean who will clear the front of the net. Or, a face off specialist

It is going to be interesting. How much lackluster hockey will we see?

Did anyone see this over the weekend ?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...t-home-games-team-events/

Toews waives his NMC and and goes to Vegas !!!
Toews ($1.5M retained) + Suban for MAF ($1M retained) Stephenson, and 2021 NJ 2nd

Toews leads them to a cup in 2021!!

Not sure if this has been discussed, but why not just treat this "season" similar to the 2010 strike shortened season. Teams play 48 games (if memory serves correctly). Stanley Cup ends on time. I realize the revenue hit to the owners, but I think it would help with roster size, player wear and tear, travel (can still have realigned division).

Toews waives his NMC and and goes to Vegas !!!
Toews ($1.5M retained) + Suban for MAF ($1M retained) Stephenson, and 2021 NJ 2nd

Toews leads them to a cup in 2021!!
- HenryHockey

If the Hawks wanted to sign a mid 30's HOF goaltender for 2 more years, they could of just signed Crawford for a hell of a lot less, and still kept Toews.

Not sure if this has been discussed, but why not just treat this "season" similar to the 2010 strike shortened season. Teams play 48 games (if memory serves correctly). Stanley Cup ends on time. I realize the revenue hit to the owners, but I think it would help with roster size, player wear and tear, travel (can still have realigned division).
- ksilvy58

Because right now the NHLPA, if one game is played in the new season, the players want their entire money, no proration based on number of games played. Of course there will be a compromise, but part of it is the NHL to play as many games as possible in order so the players prorated salary would be more than 58% on a 48 game season.

I don’t think that with the 22-23 man rosters, the cap hits change game to game. The cap hit is for the 23 man roster.
- StLBravesFan

I think we are saying the same thing. The cap hit changes when the 23 man roster changes. So if the Hawks send someone down and brings someone up the cap hit changes on that day by the differences in their cap hits.

If they expanded rosters but only counted the 20 players playing against the cap (against a totally new concept and would require a totally new cap formula) the 20 players on the game roster would count against the cap each day until the next game would be played. I would emphasize that the cap floor, ceiling, and formula would have to be adjusted in this scenario.

I think we are saying the same thing. The cap hit changes when the 23 man roster changes. So if the Hawks send someone down and brings someone up the cap hit changes on that day by the differences in their cap hits.
- -Doh-

Yes.

Toews waives his NMC and and goes to Vegas !!!
Toews ($1.5M retained) + Suban for MAF ($1M retained) Stephenson, and 2021 NJ 2nd

Toews leads them to a cup in 2021!!
- HenryHockey

Detroit has room for MAF and could probably squeeze additional assets.
From Vegas: MAF, 1st round pick, NJ's 2nd round pick (held by Vegas), and Tuch
From Detroit: Bernier and Vegas 3rd round pick (DET obtained in the Tatar trade)

Exactly. Now that Stan announced giving young players more playing time, everybody wants Toews and Cane for a song. LA, are you changing your name to NVHawk?

Exactly. Now that Stan announced giving young players more playing time, everybody wants Toews and Cane for a song. LA, are you changing your name to NVHawk?
- Angotti

Probably, my boss is more and more sold on getting out of California. It is not just the taxes, but the increase in crime (anarchy). In a recent survey, crime is the number one concern of business owners, ahead of even taxes and regulation.

Detroit has room for MAF and could probably squeeze additional assets.
From Vegas: MAF, 1st round pick, NJ's 2nd round pick (held by Vegas), and Tuch
From Detroit: Bernier and Vegas 3rd round pick (DET obtained in the Tatar trade)
- -Doh-

I don't see Vegas spending that much to move MAF....and would MAF go to Detroit....I doubt it. His 10 team no-trade list probably includes 6 cellar teams. And Tuch? WOW!
Bernier for MAF and a 1st and a 4th would be all that is needed.

I don't see Vegas spending that much to move MAF....and would MAF go to Detroit....I doubt it. His 10 team no-trade list probably includes 6 cellar teams. And Tuch? WOW!
Bernier for MAF and a 1st and a 4th would be all that is needed.
- HenryHockey

You may well be right. But if the problems Tampa is having in moving Tyler Johnson and his NTC are any indication, the price to dump a salary and NTC could be very very high, yet still possible. The Hawks (Hossa, Bickell, Bolland and others) and Wings (Datsyuk and others) have some experience in this area.

Did anyone see this over the weekend ?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...t-home-games-team-events/
- LAHawk

Yep, let the pr machine begin

It's official, hawks goaltending is worst in the league and SJ has a tandem of Jones/Dubnyk
- Udogs

For $2 mil that's not much of a problem

Probably, my boss is more and more sold on getting out of California. It is not just the taxes, but the increase in crime (anarchy). In a recent survey, crime is the number one concern of business owners, ahead of even taxes and regulation.
- LAHawk

They say there's a lot of crime in Chicago, but it's really condensed in certain areas

For $2 mil that's not much of a problem
- BetweenTheDots

I would have to agree with this characterization of the goalie situation. You get what you pay for and the Blackhawks are fully cognizant of what they are heading into the new season with in net.

If they wanted a proven goalie, they had plenty of opportunity to pursue it. Maybe they still will but that would run counter to the stated direction of the franchise not just with goalies but all positions.

Let Subban, Delia, Lankinen, and Tomkins compete for spots and let them develop. Don't expect them to be Vezina-caliber tenders.

I doubt they will go the Black Aces route - at the league minimum, the extra 8 on the roster would cost each team approaching $8MM, prorated to the number of games the team plays. Of course, they could reduce the game-day pay of those sitting out - they would have to work all of that out with the PA.

You seem to think the BAs would be the promising prospects - your point about this hurting their development because they would be sitting more than playing is very valid (can “valid” be modified by “very”? Something either is or isn’t valid. Breadman?)

I’m thinking they would more go with fill-in vets who haven’t made any 23-man roster - the true “replacement player” in the WAR calculations.

Of course, having the top prospects in the 31 would solve one iffy problem: we wouldn’t have to worry about the Rockford development program.
- StLBravesFan

I agree that would be the smarter move and actually cheaper. Probably cost $650-750. Rockford guys are $800-$975...