Re: NHL (Blackhawks included) offseason thread

[RynoRules]

i think hjalmarsson needs to be a priority. i don't think we can afford to lose him

 

Agree 100%. As great as Keith was during the season and playoffs, Hjalmarsson was almost as impressive, IMO. He was as tough in Game 6 as any athlete I have ever seen. He got popped in the face three times and it looked like his nose was broken, yet he kept playing his a-- off and putting himself in front of pucks. Amazing job.

[NewUserName]

i think hjalmarsson needs to be a priority. i don't think we can afford to lose him

 

Honestly, if the Hawks lost Hjalmarsson they would probably have to sign a FA for the second pairing. Hjarlmarsson is much better then anyone the Hawks could probably afford on the FA market.

 

On a side note. Trying to find articles that do a good job of explaining the depth of the Hawks cap issues has turned into this, they are either written by people who are gloating how bad of a situation the Hawks are in or by people with some Hawks homerism going. It is hard to gauge just where the situation truly is.

[Flames24Rulz]

There's an insider article on ESPN that has a headline of Hossa being dealt to save cap space. Anybody with insider care to share?

[inari]

There's an insider article on ESPN that has a headline of Hossa being dealt to save cap space. Anybody with insider care to share?

 

That'd be awful.

[hawkeyecub]

There's an insider article on ESPN that has a headline of Hossa being dealt to save cap space. Anybody with insider care to share?

 

It's speculation from an SI writer originating here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_kelley/06/10/leighton.blackhawks.notes/1.html

 

Also a piece with Niemi's agent saying there will be no hometown discount. USA Today writer speculated that he'll demand $4M.

[RedFlash]

There's an insider article on ESPN that has a headline of Hossa being dealt to save cap space. Anybody with insider care to share?

 

That'd be awful.

 

There is no chance of Hossa being dealt for severa reasons:

 

1: On paper it is a 12 year deal, but in reality it is essentially an 8 year deal followed by a 4 year cheaper cheap. It was done to lower the cap hit when he signed.

 

2: This would not be a good image for future fa. You win and then dealt after nearly a year. FA will be leery on signing on.

 

3: It firmly established Hossa as a merc, and that is something I think that is a moniker he doesn't want, hence the 8 year deal with the Hawks.

 

All in all this writer is talking out of his arse.

[UMFan83]

There's an insider article on ESPN that has a headline of Hossa being dealt to save cap space. Anybody with insider care to share?

 

It's speculation from an SI writer originating here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_kelley/06/10/leighton.blackhawks.notes/1.html

 

Also a piece with Niemi's agent saying there will be no hometown discount. USA Today writer speculated that he'll demand $4M.

 

Hometown discount? Niemi says NO.

 

Ok bye bye Niemi.

 

But honestly that doesn't make sense. Does Niemi not want to be a Blackhawk anymore? He's gotta know that by demanding that much money he's not coming back. I think he thinks he has leverage being a fan favorite and stanley cup hero and the blackhawks not have any proven options at goalie. But he has to know that if its between keeping him and Patrick Sharp, they are going to choose Sharp. I do understand that this is his best chance at making for money and wants to maximize that. I can't fault him for that. But if he wants to remain a Hawk, this is not the best way to go.

 

I'm still in the honeymoon period though. I promised 2 weeks of not worrying about next season. Still got like 10 days left.

[Magnetic Curses]

there are any number of goalies out there who could replace niemi. good luck to him, i say

[17 Seconds]

4m for an average goalie? later antti

[RedFlash]

There's a poster on a Hawks site that I frequently visit and he suggested the Hawks should trade Seabrook. I responded with no.

[UMFan83]

There's a poster on a Hawks site that I frequently visit and he suggested the Hawks should trade Seabrook. I responded with no.

 

Do not mess with the defense. Seriously, that's our biggest strength, and our goalie isn't getting better anytime soon.

[17 Seconds]

There's a poster on a Hawks site that I frequently visit and he suggested the Hawks should trade Seabrook. I responded with no.

 

Do not mess with the defense. Seriously, that's our biggest strength, and our goalie isn't getting better anytime soon.

 

it could if we got somebody like price

[inari]

How did Crawford do last year? Could he start?

[Flames24Rulz]

How did Crawford do last year? Could he start?

 

He was pretty bad with Rockford. Not a chance he could start.

[RedFlash]

There's a poster on a Hawks site that I frequently visit and he suggested the Hawks should trade Seabrook. I responded with no.

 

Do not mess with the defense. Seriously, that's our biggest strength, and our goalie isn't getting better anytime soon.

 

The talent on the Hawks D is so great that they can turn a average goalie into a really good goalie. So why to fix one problem you create another. Seabrook/Hammer/Soup/Keith can help developed the next goalie.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I don't blame Niemi one bit for trying to get his payday while he can. I just don't want the Blackhawks to be the one to give it to him.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

I'm still in the honeymoon period though. I promised 2 weeks of not worrying about next season. Still got like 10 days left.

 

It may all be over with by the time your honeymoon period is overwith. The Blackhawks have to clear serious space by July 1 if they want to give qualifying offers to their RFAs, and the draft is in 11 days, so any trades involving draft picks will have to be done before then.

[Banedon]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/blackhawks-exceed-salary-cap-by-millions/article1601162/

 

Both players maxed out all of their 'A' and ‘B' bonuses this year to push their team over the cap, meaning that while every other team will be working with about a $58.5-million cap next season, Chicago's cap "penalty" will mean a ceiling of closer to $54.5-million.

 

And the Blackhawks already have $57.6-million in salary commitments with only 14 players signed for next season

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/blackhawks-exceed-salary-cap-by-millions/article1601162/

 

Both players maxed out all of their 'A' and ‘B' bonuses this year to push their team over the cap, meaning that while every other team will be working with about a $58.5-million cap next season, Chicago's cap "penalty" will mean a ceiling of closer to $54.5-million.

 

And the Blackhawks already have $57.6-million in salary commitments with only 14 players signed for next season

 

That means we need to clear around $7 million in cap space in the next 13 days in order to give qualifying offers to our RFAs, or else Ladd, Eager, Niemi, Hjalmarsson and Hendry all become UFAs instead of RFAs.

[Banedon]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/blackhawks-exceed-salary-cap-by-millions/article1601162/

 

Both players maxed out all of their 'A' and ‘B' bonuses this year to push their team over the cap, meaning that while every other team will be working with about a $58.5-million cap next season, Chicago's cap "penalty" will mean a ceiling of closer to $54.5-million.

 

And the Blackhawks already have $57.6-million in salary commitments with only 14 players signed for next season

 

That means we need to clear around $7 million in cap space in the next 13 days in order to give qualifying offers to our RFAs, or else Ladd, Eager, Niemi, Hjalmarsson and Hendry all become UFAs instead of RFAs.

 

And we can't send Huet to the minors yet, right?

[Banedon]

Zito is Antti Niemi's agent...

 

"You have to make a smart hockey decision," Zito said. "Where does he want to play? Does he want to be part of this thing?

 

"This city, it's unbelievable now. But he might say 'no.' In fact, he's the kind of guy who might say, 'I don't like it.' "

 

"The other night, we were all going to dinner and I was like, 'Hey, we're going to one of these Mexican places, do you want to go?'

 

"Antti says, 'No. Too many people will see me.'"

[Hairyducked Idiot]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/blackhawks-exceed-salary-cap-by-millions/article1601162/

 

Both players maxed out all of their 'A' and ‘B' bonuses this year to push their team over the cap, meaning that while every other team will be working with about a $58.5-million cap next season, Chicago's cap "penalty" will mean a ceiling of closer to $54.5-million.

 

And the Blackhawks already have $57.6-million in salary commitments with only 14 players signed for next season

 

That means we need to clear around $7 million in cap space in the next 13 days in order to give qualifying offers to our RFAs, or else Ladd, Eager, Niemi, Hjalmarsson and Hendry all become UFAs instead of RFAs.

 

And we can't send Huet to the minors yet, right?

 

Correct, not until the season starts. Until then, he basically is using up the whole 10% buffer we get for the offseason.

[17 Seconds]

Zito is Antti Niemi's agent...

 

"You have to make a smart hockey decision," Zito said. "Where does he want to play? Does he want to be part of this thing?

 

"This city, it's unbelievable now. But he might say 'no.' In fact, he's the kind of guy who might say, 'I don't like it.' "

 

"The other night, we were all going to dinner and I was like, 'Hey, we're going to one of these Mexican places, do you want to go?'

 

"Antti says, 'No. Too many people will see me.'"

 

sounds like he's gone. or just a weak negotiating tactic

[17 Seconds]

how much is carey price likely to get next season? i know nothing about hockey contracts.

 

you figure he's probably avilable with what halak did in the postseason, and with the pieces we're going to get back for the guys we deal, we could afford to give up some guys for him.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really like Bolland, and I think my two "favorites" to be dealt are Versteeg and Buff. I don't like Versteeg, and Buff's value is probably way over his worth to the team right now. It's one thing to shed some payroll, but if you can get some actual quality in return, that's huge for the future with no top draft picks coming anytime soon.

 

The timing of the big three contracts this season could not have been better, as all of those guys would have gotten much more this offseason, post-Cup. Because of this, you have to at least entertain the possibility of dealing Seabrook. I don't want to, but if he's going to be impossible to resign, I'd rather deal him sooner and then keep the other parts you want to keep, than wait and potentially lose him for nothing.