Re: 2009 Chicago Blackhawks

[NewUserName]

With the way things have played out for Huet in the last few weeks, I don't see a scenario in which he comes back to this team next year. Does anyone know the particulars of the salary cap rules with respect to what would happen if they bought him out?

 

I think the Hawks would be on the hook for 2/3s of the contract. Also believe that will be the salary cap hit, but am not sure.

 

edit: Salary Cap is reportedly going up about 1 million next season.

 

You take his remaining salary, pay him 2/3rds of it, but spread the cap hit on that 2/3rds over twice the number of years as he had remaining.

 

just looked up darcy tucker and this appears to be the case. I think if this is the case then buying out Huet would almost be a no brainer.

[kujay]

With the way things have played out for Huet in the last few weeks, I don't see a scenario in which he comes back to this team next year. Does anyone know the particulars of the salary cap rules with respect to what would happen if they bought him out?

 

I think the Hawks would be on the hook for 2/3s of the contract. Also believe that will be the salary cap hit, but am not sure.

 

edit: Salary Cap is reportedly going up about 1 million next season.

 

You take his remaining salary, pay him 2/3rds of it, but spread the cap hit on that 2/3rds over twice the number of years as he had remaining.

 

So, it's a pretty good idea then if they can't trade him and Rocky is willing to shell out the cash.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'd say it's pretty likely. Even with Niemi's raise, Niemi+Crawford+Huet's buyout saves you some cap space over Niemi+Huet.

[NewUserName]

I'd say it's pretty likely. Even with Niemi's raise, Niemi+Crawford+Huet's buyout saves you some cap space over Niemi+Huet.

 

especially being such a young team. If the salary cap keeps tracking up for a couple of years it would help the Hawks quite a bit also.

[kujay]

Haven't seen anything in the media about this possibility -- just seems so obvious.

[NewUserName]

Haven't seen anything in the media about this possibility -- just seems so obvious.

 

not sure it would be appropriate to report something like this unless it was brought up by management first. Don't think you will see management talking about it during the season.

[brinoch]

There's been some speculation that the Hawks will buy out Huet, but it's mostly been from within the blogging community (which is really quite good).

 

The other possibilities are sending Huet down to Rockford next year and/or trading him. The problem will be the tagging issue.

 

If the cap does indeed go up, that'll help significantly. I think the Hawks will be fine. With Bickell, Skille, Dowell, Aliu, Beach and Danis-Pepin knocking on the door (and with other prospects like Olsen and Leddy on the horizon), I think the concern over next year and the capocalyspe are probably premature. The Hawks will need to shed salary, sure, but there are decent replacements coming. The 1st and 2nd lines are under contract (Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Kane, Bolland and Brouwer). I suspect, for example, that you'll see at least half of the 3rd/4th lines replaced with youngsters/cheap options. The 1st and 2nd pairs are locked down (and Hendry will be on the roster): Keith/Seabrook, Hjalmarsson/Campbell plus Hendry. Sopel and Johnnson are gone. Buff is intriguing with his versatility and they might keep him for his defense rather than as a forward.

 

The question will be what to do with Huet. If they buy him out and manage to keep Hammer and Niemi plus the buyout price at a total of Huet's contract, that's a huge win.

 

There are decisions ahead, but I think they'll make them wisely.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The problem with the capocalypse already hit us. I'm pretty sure we could have added a goalie if we weren't completely stuck up against the cap.

[NewUserName]

There's been some speculation that the Hawks will buy out Huet, but it's mostly been from within the blogging community (which is really quite good).

 

The other possibilities are sending Huet down to Rockford next year and/or trading him. The problem will be the tagging issue.

 

If the cap does indeed go up, that'll help significantly. I think the Hawks will be fine. With Bickell, Skille, Dowell, Aliu, Beach and Danis-Pepin knocking on the door (and with other prospects like Olsen and Leddy on the horizon), I think the concern over next year and the capocalyspe are probably premature. The Hawks will need to shed salary, sure, but there are decent replacements coming. The 1st and 2nd lines are under contract (Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Kane, Bolland and Brouwer). I suspect, for example, that you'll see at least half of the 3rd/4th lines replaced with youngsters/cheap options. The 1st and 2nd pairs are locked down (and Hendry will be on the roster): Keith/Seabrook, Hjalmarsson/Campbell plus Hendry. Sopel and Johnnson are gone. Buff is intriguing with his versatility and they might keep him for his defense rather than as a forward.

 

The question will be what to do with Huet. If they buy him out and manage to keep Hammer and Niemi plus the buyout price at a total of Huet's contract, that's a huge win.

 

There are decisions ahead, but I think they'll make them wisely.

 

I thought Hjalmarsson was going to be a RFA.

[Garwilly]

There's been some speculation that the Hawks will buy out Huet, but it's mostly been from within the blogging community (which is really quite good).

 

The other possibilities are sending Huet down to Rockford next year and/or trading him. The problem will be the tagging issue.

 

If the cap does indeed go up, that'll help significantly. I think the Hawks will be fine. With Bickell, Skille, Dowell, Aliu, Beach and Danis-Pepin knocking on the door (and with other prospects like Olsen and Leddy on the horizon), I think the concern over next year and the capocalyspe are probably premature. The Hawks will need to shed salary, sure, but there are decent replacements coming. The 1st and 2nd lines are under contract (Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Kane, Bolland and Brouwer). I suspect, for example, that you'll see at least half of the 3rd/4th lines replaced with youngsters/cheap options. The 1st and 2nd pairs are locked down (and Hendry will be on the roster): Keith/Seabrook, Hjalmarsson/Campbell plus Hendry. Sopel and Johnnson are gone. Buff is intriguing with his versatility and they might keep him for his defense rather than as a forward.

 

The question will be what to do with Huet. If they buy him out and manage to keep Hammer and Niemi plus the buyout price at a total of Huet's contract, that's a huge win.

 

There are decisions ahead, but I think they'll make them wisely.

 

I thought Hjalmarsson was going to be a RFA.

 

That is the case.

[brinoch]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

[NewUserName]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

 

my guess is someone will offer him a contract 3 mill+...I think that the Hawks would have a tough decision matching that. They would receive 1,2 and 3rd round picks though.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

 

my guess is someone will offer him a contract 3 mill+...I think that the Hawks would have a tough decision matching that. They would receive 1,2 and 3rd round picks though.

 

Really? That much? 1, 2 and a 3? Are all of those from the signing team or are some compensatory from the league? I would have no problem if another team signed him to such a deal and they got that sort of compensation.

[NewUserName]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

 

my guess is someone will offer him a contract 3 mill+...I think that the Hawks would have a tough decision matching that. They would receive 1,2 and 3rd round picks though.

 

Really? That much? 1, 2 and a 3? Are all of those from the signing team or are some compensatory from the league? I would have no problem if another team signed him to such a deal and they got that sort of compensation.

 

I think its the signing team. Its a sliding scale. If he gets more than 4 million the Hawks would get even more picks

[gflore34]

It appears to me that the Blackhawks will have some tough cap decisions to make but, in no way shape or form was this season a one-time all or nothing shot at the Cup. My mother-in-law and her father, both diehard Red Wing fans, keep insistng this is situation with the Hawks. Of course, they also insist the Red Wings recent streak of 19 playoff appearances is some kind of a professional sports record - it's not even close - Bruins 29 straight years. Happily, they'll be disappointed to learn the Hawks will be very good next season as well.

[NewUserName]

It appears to me that the Blackhawks will have some tough cap decisions to make but, in no way shape or form was this season a one-time all or nothing shot at the Cup. My mother-in-law and her father, both diehard Red Wing fans, keep insistng this is situation with the Hawks. Of course, they also insist the Red Wings recent streak of 19 playoff appearances is some kind of a professional sports record - it's not even close - Bruins 29 straight years. Happily, they'll be disappointed to learn the Hawks will be very good next season as well.

 

Their current streak of 100 points+ seasons is a NHL record(and they still may make it this year)

 

I think the Hawks could easily fall from where they are this year because of salary cap issues. I wouldn't bet on it though. They will need to have young players producing in key roles in the next few years to improve.

[jersey cubs fan]

Their current streak of 100 points+ seasons is a NHL record(and they still may make it this year)

 

Is that not a bloated record given the change in points system making it so much easier to get points post restructuring?

[NewUserName]

Their current streak of 100 points+ seasons is a NHL record(and they still may make it this year)

 

Is that not a bloated record given the change in points system making it so much easier to get points post restructuring?

 

probably. I will have to look. My guess is until this year they were never that close to not making 100 points though.

 

edit: I havent looked at the OT game details but in the current streak, but they have only been below 110 twice. Those were a 108 and 109 and they both were before the lockout. The current scheduling and being in a weaker division is probably more responsible for the bloated record.

[brinoch]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

 

my guess is someone will offer him a contract 3 mill+...I think that the Hawks would have a tough decision matching that. They would receive 1,2 and 3rd round picks though.

 

That's probably more than another team will offer, I'd guess. There are a lot of good defensemen who can be had for $3M or less without losing draft picks. You never know in free agency, but that's a very, very high price to pay.

 

Looking at the numbers, finding a way to jettison Huet (even if you have to pay $1.9M) and Sopel saves this team a ton of money. Likewise, I expect to see Madden gone as well. The only way he stays is if he takes a steep pay cut. With Madden, Huet and Sopel gone they can pretty much keep the rest of the team.

[NewUserName]

Hammer is an RFA (as is Niemi), but they'll be making a lot more money. There's been general speculation that some other team might make a run at Hammer, but that's just speculation.

 

my guess is someone will offer him a contract 3 mill+...I think that the Hawks would have a tough decision matching that. They would receive 1,2 and 3rd round picks though.

 

That's probably more than another team will offer, I'd guess. There are a lot of good defensemen who can be had for $3M or less without losing draft picks. You never know in free agency, but that's a very, very high price to pay.

 

Looking at the numbers, finding a way to jettison Huet (even if you have to pay $1.9M) and Sopel saves this team a ton of money. Likewise, I expect to see Madden gone as well. The only way he stays is if he takes a steep pay cut. With Madden, Huet and Sopel gone they can pretty much keep the rest of the team.

 

IDK...Hjalmarrson has shown 1st pairing potential and is a certain 2nd pairing dman. 3-4mill plus 3 draft picks may be a good deal for a team that expects to draft late.

[Burtonbell]

Hossa with a crazy shot there! 1--0 Hawks and that goal should be all over the highlights tonight.

[Soul]

Feels good to be witnessing confident Hawks hockey again.

 

Keep it going.

[bcl412]

Hope this is how they go into the playoffs.

[kujay]

Plenty more 4th line magic tonight. Good to see.

 

Mr. Invisible tonight = Kris Versteeg

[Hairyducked Idiot]

No new goalie? Campbell out?

 

No problem guys, we have Colin Fraser and Tomas Kopecky to save our season.