Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[17 Seconds]

 

I think you guys are understating how much cap issues the Hawks are going to have the next couple of years. That is basically what the announcer was talking about.

 

no, i understood what he was talking about, and i understand we're going to lose some guys. i was referring to the "blowing up" part.

 

Blowing up may not be the right phrase, but I think Hawks fans should consider the situation Anahiem was in 2 yrs ago and Tampa Bay right after they won the Cup. Both teams seemed destined to be powers for years but were hit by the cap by overpaying some mediocre players. Both teams still have large pieces of the core group of players that they won the cups with, but lack the overall depth to be cup contenders now.

 

pretty terrible comparisons

How so?

 

tampa never had the young talent the hawks had when they won the cup. the only 2 significant players they had who were young were richards and lecavlier, and both of those guys were already 23.

 

i just dont really see the comparison. that lightning team wasnt young at all, and nobody was talking about them being set as a cup ocntender for several years. i live near tampa (brother has been a hardcore bolts fan since they came into the league), so i followed that team. they were pretty much a team of seasoned veterans.

 

oh and also, the lightning dont still have the core group of the championship team. they have st. louis and a shell of vincent lacavalier. that's it.

[brinoch]

Niemi is also a restricted free agent. How much can the Blackhawks afford to pay him if they make him the franchise goalie?

 

I agree if the Hawks can keep producing productive 3rd line players they will probably be fine. Do consider this though, you are talking about trading Versteeg or Sharp or Barker or Byfuglin, or probaby two of them to just make it under the cap. You will certainly not be able to resign Madden unless he plays for league minimum. That is already 3 key depth guys gone. Also consider if some team offers Hjalmarsson 3-4 million which is a strong possibility. I think the Hawks would have to match but then probably couldnt afford both Ladd and Fraser.

 

I think all of the potential players lost are not big in themselves. But you start adding up 4 to 5 guys and basically having to replace them with AHL players, that is what most of the rest of the league is talking about when they are saying the Hawks are in cap trouble in the future.

 

I posted this earlier, but I think it's pretty certain that the Hawks will resign Niemi and Hjalmarsson. Consider the defense first for the moment -- with the eventual signings of Hjalmarsson and Niemi included. The goalies and top two defensive pairings are set with Keith - Seabrook and Campbell - Hjalmarsson. The third pairing and depth aren't certain to stay. Barker and Sopel are both under contract for $3.1M and $2M, respectively. Hendry is an RFA. For an average of 13:30 and 14:15 of ice time per game, Barker and Sopel are overpaid (though Sopel is a strong PK asset) for your 5/6 pairing. Look for Barker to be traded and it is possible that both will be gone. Given the relative paucity of prospect D-men in system, Hendry will likely be resigned inexpensively and one or two depth defensemen (depending on Sopel) will be signed. You can easily save money here, but how much? It's tough to say what Hjalmarsson and Niemi will get. There are a lot of available of both top-line and back-up goalies on the market, and the going rate isn't that much. Call it $1M for Niemi. Hjalmarsson will get more -- probably $2-3M. In this scenario, the Blackhawks probably save a million or so.

[17 Seconds]

are they going to be able to afford to lock up seabrook?

[NewUserName]

are they going to be able to afford to lock up seabrook?

 

I think he is under contract for at least 2 more years. By then Huet will be off the books so there may be a chance to resign him

[NewUserName]

Niemi is also a restricted free agent. How much can the Blackhawks afford to pay him if they make him the franchise goalie?

 

I agree if the Hawks can keep producing productive 3rd line players they will probably be fine. Do consider this though, you are talking about trading Versteeg or Sharp or Barker or Byfuglin, or probaby two of them to just make it under the cap. You will certainly not be able to resign Madden unless he plays for league minimum. That is already 3 key depth guys gone. Also consider if some team offers Hjalmarsson 3-4 million which is a strong possibility. I think the Hawks would have to match but then probably couldnt afford both Ladd and Fraser.

 

I think all of the potential players lost are not big in themselves. But you start adding up 4 to 5 guys and basically having to replace them with AHL players, that is what most of the rest of the league is talking about when they are saying the Hawks are in cap trouble in the future.

 

I posted this earlier, but I think it's pretty certain that the Hawks will resign Niemi and Hjalmarsson. Consider the defense first for the moment -- with the eventual signings of Hjalmarsson and Niemi included. The goalies and top two defensive pairings are set with Keith - Seabrook and Campbell - Hjalmarsson. The third pairing and depth aren't certain to stay. Barker and Sopel are both under contract for $3.1M and $2M, respectively. Hendry is an RFA. For an average of 13:30 and 14:15 of ice time per game, Barker and Sopel are overpaid (though Sopel is a strong PK asset) for your 5/6 pairing. Look for Barker to be traded and it is possible that both will be gone. Given the relative paucity of prospect D-men in system, Hendry will likely be resigned inexpensively and one or two depth defensemen (depending on Sopel) will be signed. You can easily save money here, but how much? It's tough to say what Hjalmarsson and Niemi will get. There are a lot of available of both top-line and back-up goalies on the market, and the going rate isn't that much. Call it $1M for Niemi. Hjalmarsson will get more -- probably $2-3M. In this scenario, the Blackhawks probably save a million or so.

By your own admission Barker and Sopel are overpaid though. So what is their trade value going to be? I actually think Sopel may be worth keeping at $2M. Honestly it will be much easier to unload Sharp adn Versteeg then Barker. Hjarlmarsson will probably get up to a $4 million offer from somebody.

[TruffleShuffle]

sopel is probably going to have to go away soon. you can't afford to take a $2.3M cap hit on third pairing d-man unless you're in very good shape versus the cap. the blackhawks aren't so they're going to have to unload him. sending him to the minors would also be an option (wouldn't count against the cap) but there's no reason that a team sopel couldn't provide good value to another team at that price.

[bcl412]

Random fact. The Blackhawks haven't lost consecutive games since November 27 and 28. They haven't gone two straight games without receiving a point since the middle of October and the most games they've lost in a row all year has been 2. They are pretty good.

[bcl412]

Random fact. The Blackhawks haven't lost consecutive games since November 27 and 28. They haven't gone two straight games without receiving a point since the middle of October and the most games they've lost in a row all year has been 2. They are pretty good.

[UMFan83]

LOL, Hawks already up 1-0 90 seconds in.

[UMFan83]

D'oh, poor defense by the Hawks. That shouldn't have been a goal.

[Butterscup1679666578]

first to 10 wins

[UMFan83]

That was an awesome centering pass from Kane and nice job by Toews to be there to put it in.

 

11 games in a row for Kane with a point.

[UMFan83]

This is just too easy.

[Butterscup1679666578]

i love this [expletive] team so much

[Butterscup1679666578]

oh my god Patrick Kane you are so sick

[MidoreX]

good god... they make it look like child's play. 9th game in a row with 4+ goals. :cool:

[Butterscup1679666578]

HOSSA SHORTIE

[bukie]

Hawks only have 12 shots on goal in 2 periods.

[Soul]

Funny how we can send a torrent of shots one night and nothing goes, then tonight relatively few shots but plenty hit the mark.

[Butterscup1679666578]

what the [expletive] guys

[UMFan83]

Come on...2 quick goals in :45 and this is a game again.

[Butterscup1679666578]

are you [expletive] kidding me?

[UMFan83]

And another goal, and the Hawks are collapsing. 5-4

[Soul]

Umm....crap?

[Butterscup1679666578]

we look like we just gave up out there. minnesota is now flying around and cracking our guys all over the ice and we can barely possess the puck.