Blackhawks Offseason Thread

[Cynosure]

Well it was a great season with a ton of highlights. This team got a lot further then probably any of us expected so I am not really disappointed at all.

 

We now have tons of hard choices coming up this offseason.

 

Discuss.

Edited July 13, 2009 by Cynosure

[Mark_R]

Should we Nancy Brian Campbell?

 

I know of a guy... ;)

[Drew Doughty]

can we split the nhl off-season thread into western conference and eastern conference discussion? they should be seperate imo.

[Schwarber Fan]

can we split the nhl off-season thread into western conference and eastern conference discussion? they should be seperate imo.

 

Do you honestly think there are enough people here that care about hockey for that?

[Drew Doughty]

can we split the nhl off-season thread into western conference and eastern conference discussion? they should be seperate imo.

 

Do you honestly think there are enough people here that care about hockey for that?

 

totally.

[Cynosure]

can we split the nhl off-season thread into western conference and eastern conference discussion? they should be seperate imo.

 

Or you could stop being sarcastic and let hockey be like every other sport and Chicago sport. One Blackhawks thread, one regular offseason thread. If you don't like it... ignore it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Let Khabi walk, work on deals for the core guys, let the marketplace work itself out with Havlat and if the price is reasonable after he shops himself, consider bringing him back.

[NewUserName]

Here is a list of NHL free agents this off season. The scuttlebutt is that the cap is coming down 2 million and drop again in 2010. I am not sure where the Hawks stand with guaranteed money next season.

 

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2009-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position/

 

I still think the best option for the Hawks is to let Khabibulin and Havlat go. Both are probably get paid more than they are worth.

[jersey cubs fan]

Here is a list of NHL free agents this off season. The scuttlebutt is that the cap is coming down 2 million and drop again in 2010. I am not sure where the Hawks stand with guaranteed money next season.

 

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2009-nhl-unrestricted-free-agents-by-position/

 

I still think the best option for the Hawks is to let Khabibulin and Havlat go. Both are probably get paid more than they are worth.

 

I think the only realistic way they can bring Havlat back may be for him to agree to a 1 year deal while awaiting a rebound in the economy. The cap declining hurts the Blackhawks, but at least they have avoided the struggles that other teams are enduring. There might not be a huge market for Havlat this summer. You'd have to have a team with cap space and financial health necessary to give him a 3/15-18 type deal that would take him away from Chicago (I'm guessing). In better times more teams might be willing to risk taking on such a huge injury risk longer term.

[shnsajax]

Bring back Roenick and win it all next year.

[RynoRules]

I wonder if they will extend Toews and/or Kane this offseason. I bet Toews gets his first.

[NewUserName]

I think the Blackhawks will be wise to get Toews and Kieth signed long term. Should be there top priorities.

[kujay]

The great thing about going deep into the playoffs is the offseason is so much shorter! We have the draft in about a month, then free agecy, then the convention about a month after that, then camp and preseason schedule about a month after that. Awesome.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Question:

 

Given the depth the Hawks have defensively, would you give up Duncan Keith for a legit top-line center, giving us a dominant No. 2 to go with Toews?

[NewUserName]

Question:

 

Given the depth the Hawks have defensively, would you give up Duncan Keith for a legit top-line center, giving us a dominant No. 2 to go with Toews?

 

He better be dominate and with a very cap friendly contract. Also depth on defense doesnt look so deep when you would have Campbell or Barker on the top pairing. Honestly I cannot think of a situation where this is a good move for the Hawks.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Question:

 

Given the depth the Hawks have defensively, would you give up Duncan Keith for a legit top-line center, giving us a dominant No. 2 to go with Toews?

 

He better be dominate and with a very cap friendly contract. Also depth on defense doesnt look so deep when you would have Campbell or Barker on the top pairing. Honestly I cannot think of a situation where this is a good move for the Hawks.

 

I just don't see Bolland or Pahlsson as the No. 2 center on a legit threat to win the Cup, and I like Barker as a No. 2 defenseman with another year under his belt.

[NewUserName]

Question:

 

Given the depth the Hawks have defensively, would you give up Duncan Keith for a legit top-line center, giving us a dominant No. 2 to go with Toews?

 

He better be dominate and with a very cap friendly contract. Also depth on defense doesnt look so deep when you would have Campbell or Barker on the top pairing. Honestly I cannot think of a situation where this is a good move for the Hawks.

 

I just don't see Bolland or Pahlsson as the No. 2 center on a legit threat to win the Cup, and I like Barker as a No. 2 defenseman with another year under his belt.

 

I do think the Hawks are going to have to make some gambles if they plan on reaching the next level. Another thought is...since they have solid depth at wing, trade Kane for a dominate 2nd line center.

[brinoch]

The Hawks have lots of flexibility in how they approach this offseason. They have a bunch of restricted free agents (Bolland, Brower, Eager, Fraser, Versteeg, Dowell, Barker, Niemi and Crawford) with small number of unrestricted free agents (Khabibulin, Walker, Johnson, Brent, Pelletier, Pahlsson, and Havlat). The key is to keep the core together and perhaps find a way to unload Campbell or Huet, if possible (quite unlikely).

 

I think the Hawks will resign Walker inexpensively. He's not that impressive in any event, but he is filler. Remember, they still have Sopel under contract. They'll need another D-Man or two in addition, probably someone young who won't mind bouncing back and forth.

 

1. - Seabrook (3.5) and Keith (1.9)

2. - Barker (RFA) and Campbell (7.14)

3. - Hjallmarsson (.666) and Sopel (2.5)

4. - Walker and ??

 

Also under contract: Hendry (.650)

 

Figure that once everything is done -- Barker resigned, Walker and another couple of low-grade D-Men are signed, the Hawks will spend about $20M here, (Barker's cap number was higher than his salary because of his bonus...) maybe about $2M more than this year. I'd try and keep it about the same at $18M if possible. Cap figures can be deceptive since they don't take into account minor league service.

 

On the Goalie front, Khabibulin is gone. Huet is good enough, though over priced for what he does. The Hawks need to make a decision between Crawford and Niemi, but I suspect they'll sign them both and let them compete for the #2.

 

1. Huet (5.625)

2. Crawford (RFA)

3. Niemi (RFA)

 

That's a savings of 6.75M. Big money.

[Cynosure]

The Hawks have lots of flexibility in how they approach this offseason. They have a bunch of restricted free agents (Bolland, Brower, Eager, Fraser, Versteeg, Dowell, Barker, Niemi and Crawford) with small number of unrestricted free agents (Khabibulin, Walker, Johnson, Brent, Pelletier, Pahlsson, and Havlat). The key is to keep the core together and perhaps find a way to unload Campbell or Huet, if possible (quite unlikely).

 

I think the Hawks will resign Walker inexpensively. He's not that impressive in any event, but he is filler. Remember, they still have Sopel under contract. They'll need another D-Man or two in addition, probably someone young who won't mind bouncing back and forth.

 

1. - Seabrook (3.5) and Keith (1.9)

2. - Barker (RFA) and Campbell (7.14)

3. - Hjallmarsson (.666) and Sopel (2.5)

4. - Walker and ??

 

Also under contract: Hendry (.650)

 

Figure that once everything is done -- Barker resigned, Walker and another couple of low-grade D-Men are signed, the Hawks will spend about $20M here, (Barker's cap number was higher than his salary because of his bonus...) maybe about $2M more than this year. I'd try and keep it about the same at $18M if possible. Cap figures can be deceptive since they don't take into account minor league service.

 

On the Goalie front, Khabibulin is gone. Huet is good enough, though over priced for what he does. The Hawks need to make a decision between Crawford and Niemi, but I suspect they'll sign them both and let them compete for the #2.

 

1. Huet (5.625)

2. Crawford (RFA)

3. Niemi (RFA)

 

That's a savings of 6.75M. Big money.

 

Sopel and Walker #-o

 

I hate that Q has such a hard on for Walker.

[NewUserName]

The Hawks have lots of flexibility in how they approach this offseason. They have a bunch of restricted free agents (Bolland, Brower, Eager, Fraser, Versteeg, Dowell, Barker, Niemi and Crawford) with small number of unrestricted free agents (Khabibulin, Walker, Johnson, Brent, Pelletier, Pahlsson, and Havlat). The key is to keep the core together and perhaps find a way to unload Campbell or Huet, if possible (quite unlikely).

 

I think the Hawks will resign Walker inexpensively. He's not that impressive in any event, but he is filler. Remember, they still have Sopel under contract. They'll need another D-Man or two in addition, probably someone young who won't mind bouncing back and forth.

 

1. - Seabrook (3.5) and Keith (1.9)

2. - Barker (RFA) and Campbell (7.14)

3. - Hjallmarsson (.666) and Sopel (2.5)

4. - Walker and ??

 

Also under contract: Hendry (.650)

 

Figure that once everything is done -- Barker resigned, Walker and another couple of low-grade D-Men are signed, the Hawks will spend about $20M here, (Barker's cap number was higher than his salary because of his bonus...) maybe about $2M more than this year. I'd try and keep it about the same at $18M if possible. Cap figures can be deceptive since they don't take into account minor league service.

 

On the Goalie front, Khabibulin is gone. Huet is good enough, though over priced for what he does. The Hawks need to make a decision between Crawford and Niemi, but I suspect they'll sign them both and let them compete for the #2.

 

1. Huet (5.625)

2. Crawford (RFA)

3. Niemi (RFA)

 

That's a savings of 6.75M. Big money.

 

Sopel and Walker #-o

 

I hate that Q has such a hard on for Walker.

 

Q's biggest weakness as a coach is he seems to favor guys like Walker and Eager. These guys are usually nothing but trouble in the playoffs. He basically let Pronger run around like an idiot for years with St Louis in the playoffs with predictable results. Worse of all Walker and Eager are not even future HoFers. So at best they are mediocre hockey players who usually do stuff in the playoffs that cost the team.

 

Also brinoch, good breakdown. Just want to add that the Cap is looking to drop a couple of million this year and maybe up to 5 next season. At least that is what the scuttlebutt around the league is.

[brinoch]

Question:

 

Given the depth the Hawks have defensively, would you give up Duncan Keith for a legit top-line center, giving us a dominant No. 2 to go with Toews?

 

He better be dominate and with a very cap friendly contract. Also depth on defense doesnt look so deep when you would have Campbell or Barker on the top pairing. Honestly I cannot think of a situation where this is a good move for the Hawks.

 

I just don't see Bolland or Pahlsson as the No. 2 center on a legit threat to win the Cup, and I like Barker as a No. 2 defenseman with another year under his belt.

 

I do think the Hawks are going to have to make some gambles if they plan on reaching the next level. Another thought is...since they have solid depth at wing, trade Kane for a dominate 2nd line center.

 

Let Havlat walk and make a run at the Sedins. See if you can get them both at $4.5M-$5M (but don't go long-term -- maybe two years). Between the Havlat and Khabibulin money -- 12.75M total -- you get a top center, replace Havlat (more or less) and save a little cash. It would be more complicated, because we're a little over-loaded at LW and would need additional help on the right, but that could be dealt with. I'd probably look to trade Ladd for an equivalent RW. You could also flip Sharp to RW, I suppose.

 

1. Sharp - Toews - Kane

2. D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Byfuglien

3. Versteeg - Bolland - Brouwer

4. Beach - Pahlsson - Burish

[jersey cubs fan]

Let Havlat walk and make a run at the Sedins. See if you can get them both at $4.5M-$5M (but don't go long-term -- maybe two years). Between the Havlat and Khabibulin money -- 12.75M total -- you get a top center, replace Havlat (more or less) and save a little cash. It would be more complicated, because we're a little over-loaded at LW and would need additional help on the right, but that could be dealt with. I'd probably look to trade Ladd for an equivalent RW. You could also flip Sharp to RW, I suppose.

 

1. Sharp - Toews - Kane

2. D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Byfuglien

3. Versteeg - Bolland - Brouwer

4. Beach - Pahlsson - Burish

 

That would be a lot of fun. But I don't see those guys signing short-term and definitely not at that low price tag.

[kujay]

Let Havlat walk and make a run at the Sedins. See if you can get them both at $4.5M-$5M (but don't go long-term -- maybe two years). Between the Havlat and Khabibulin money -- 12.75M total -- you get a top center, replace Havlat (more or less) and save a little cash. It would be more complicated, because we're a little over-loaded at LW and would need additional help on the right, but that could be dealt with. I'd probably look to trade Ladd for an equivalent RW. You could also flip Sharp to RW, I suppose.

 

1. Sharp - Toews - Kane

2. D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Byfuglien

3. Versteeg - Bolland - Brouwer

4. Beach - Pahlsson - Burish

 

That would be a lot of fun. But I don't see those guys signing short-term and definitely not at that low price tag.

 

That's one hell of a team. But yeah, the Sedins could get $7.5M each for 5 years. Hawks obviously can't do that. Not many teams can.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is a really big moment-of-truth offseason for the Hawks. The more I look at the roster, the less convinced I am that they are that close to making the next step. And beginning this year, they can't afford to make *any* cap-room mistakes, not with Campbell already under contract for that ridiculous deal.

[brinoch]

I should point out that I can't imagine that the Sedins will leave Vancouver. That's just crazy-talk by me.

 

More realistic is targeting Saku Koivu and keeping Havlat.