Re: NHL (Blackhawks included) offseason thread

[RedFlash]

98 days until the next Chicago Blackhawks game. That doesn't seem very far away.

 

That's about 1/2 of a baseball offseason for a team that doesn't make the playoffs.

 

The Blackhawks will play again before the Cubs last game.

 

That's depressionly fantastic.

[apete6]

98 days until the next Chicago Blackhawks game. That doesn't seem very far away.

 

That's about 1/2 of a baseball offseason for a team that doesn't make the playoffs.

 

The Blackhawks will play again before the Cubs last game.

 

Will Patrick Kane stop drinking by then?

[RedFlash]

The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks will play an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Winnepeg in the fall.

 

True North Sports & Entertainment Limited said Wednesday the Blackhawks will play the Lightning on Sept. 22 at the MTS Center.

 

So for Toews and Keith their first game back as a Stanley Cup Champion will be on literally their home ice. Both are from Winnepeg, so I suspect that game will be quite fun for both players.

Edited June 17, 2010 by RedFlash

[UMFan83]

So for Toews and Keith their first game back as a Stanley Cup Champion will be on literally their home ice. Both are from Winnepeg, so I suspect that game will be quiet fun for both players.

 

As opposed to the type of fun that Kane likes to have right?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Saw a rumor that the Penguins might offer Hjalmarsson a 5-year, $17.5 million offer sheet. I hope that the Blackhawks could match that. If they even keep one RFA, I want it to be Hjalmarsson.

 

If they didn't match, that would give Chicago a 1st and 3rd rounder in 2011 from Pittsburgh.

[UMFan83]

Saw a rumor that the Penguins might offer Hjalmarsson a 5-year, $17.5 million offer sheet. I hope that the Blackhawks could match that. If they even keep one RFA, I want it to be Hjalmarsson.

 

If they didn't match, that would give Chicago a 1st and 3rd rounder in 2011 from Pittsburgh.

 

Hmm...I would hope they'd match that too. A first round pick is good no matter what, but definitely less valuable when it comes from a team that expects to compete for the Cup.

 

I don't know if there's any way we can match that...we'll see though.

 

I love reading other team's FA predictions...obviously they act like homers just as we would. On a penguins board, one poster thinks they should sign Hammer for 3 years 2.25 Mil cap hit, and then trade their 4th line center Max Talbot and a draft pick for Sharp.

[RedFlash]

So for Toews and Keith their first game back as a Stanley Cup Champion will be on literally their home ice. Both are from Winnepeg, so I suspect that game will be quiet fun for both players.

 

As opposed to the type of fun that Kane likes to have right?

 

Right. Toews/Keith would be good, clean hockey fun as opposed to Kane's, "I gotsta hit the bars running, and hit me some hood rats, yo" fun.

[RedFlash]

Saw a rumor that the Penguins might offer Hjalmarsson a 5-year, $17.5 million offer sheet. I hope that the Blackhawks could match that. If they even keep one RFA, I want it to be Hjalmarsson.

 

If they didn't match, that would give Chicago a 1st and 3rd rounder in 2011 from Pittsburgh.

 

Hmm...I would hope they'd match that too. A first round pick is good no matter what, but definitely less valuable when it comes from a team that expects to compete for the Cup.

 

I don't know if there's any way we can match that...we'll see though.

 

 

A first and a third from the Penquins would essentially be a 2nd/4th in terms of value considering where Pitt will be drafting. And since Hammer is a former 4th rd pick (2005 draft) that is not good enough value for Hammer. So yes, I do think the Hawks will match an offer sheet for Hammer, and it's not even close. The problem I see is getting good enough value for guys like Ladd/Versteeg/Buff to free up the money to keep Hammer.

 

I love reading other team's FA predictions...obviously they act like homers just as we would. On a penguins board, one poster thinks they should sign Hammer for 3 years 2.25 Mil cap hit, and then trade their 4th line center Max Talbot and a draft pick for Sharp.

 

And after that trade is announce the Hawks will announced they've acquire Sidney Crosby from the Penquins for Jake Dowell and a draft pick. I don't have a problem with trading Sharp, but the Hawks are not in the business of giving away quality players. Which is what the Penquins fans seem to think. But according to the Penquins they believe they can acquire both Sharp and Hammer for a crappy player, and three draft picks. Right.

Edited June 17, 2010 by RedFlash

[Banedon]

When can we expect activity to start up here? July 1st?

[UMFan83]

That's what I was wondering. Isn't July 1st the day that other teams can sign RFA's to offer sheets? And I'm pretty sure I read that the Hawks cant match offer sheets if they are over the cap. So shouldn't some moves be made before 7/1?

[jersey cubs fan]

draft is next week, so I assume that's when stuff will start to happen.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's what I was wondering. Isn't July 1st the day that other teams can sign RFA's to offer sheets? And I'm pretty sure I read that the Hawks cant match offer sheets if they are over the cap. So shouldn't some moves be made before 7/1?

 

Earlier than that, even. In order to keep RFA rights, you have to give the free-agent a "qualifying offer" which is a small, one-year deal based on his previous salary. The deadline to qualify your RFAs is June 27. The Blackhawks don't even have the cap room to give those qualifying offers right now.

 

Something will have to happen, probably at the draft, to clear space for the QOs, or those guys all become unrestricted free agents.

[RedFlash]

So is it safe to assume that the Hawks will be the most active team at the draft?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I keep changing my mind on these things, but I think you have to keep Byfuglien over Sharp, just because of the 900k difference in their cap hits and Byfuglien's ability to play D in a pinch. That could prove valuable on a roster that may stay short a player or two all season.

 

Here's the best I can come up with on CapGeek, though I may be off on the salary estimates for the super-cheap RFAs like Fraser, Bickell, Hendry and Skille, who will get cheap new deals and I just gave them all very small raises over what they made this year, and if we're lucky Hjalmarsson might not get the full $3.5 million that many are guessing.

 

Assuming we need to carry 13 forwards, 7 D, 2 G, and that we can pick up a couple of super-cheap guys either as returns on the trades or free-agents. Also assuming our cap is about $54.5 million, as reported, because of the bonus cushion carryover hit. Also assuming that with the glut of goalies, we can wait until the summer is over and find some vet without a job who will take a super-cheap one-year deal.

 

This is the best I can do and we are *still* $1 million over. May not be able to keep *any* of the RFAs if we can't get lucky and move Campbell:

 

AUTO-GENERATED CAPGEEK.COM LINES

FORWARDS

Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m)

Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Dustin Byfuglien ($3.000m) / Kyle Beach ($1.200m)

Tomas Kopecky ($1.200m) / Troy Brouwer ($1.025m) / * Jack Skille ($1.000m)

* Colin Fraser ($0.900m) / * SuperCheapF ($0.600m) / * SuperCheapF ($0.600m)

* Bryan Bickell ($0.500m)

DEFENSEMEN

Brian Campbell ($7.143m) / Duncan Keith ($5.538m)

* Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3.500m) / Brent Seabrook ($3.500m)

* Jordan Hendry ($0.800m) / Shawn Lalonde ($0.800m)

* SuperCheapD ($0.600m)

GOALTENDERS

* SuperCheapG ($1.000m) / Corey Crawford ($0.800m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS

(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)

ROSTER: 22; ; PAYROLL: $54.956m; BONUSES: $0.520m; CAP HIT: $55.476

 

This team is missing Sharp, Versteeg, Sopel, Madden, Brouwer, Eager, Huet, Niemi, Ladd and Burish.

Edited June 17, 2010 by Hairyducked Idiot

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So is it safe to assume that the Hawks will be the most active team at the draft?

 

Absolutely yes. Moves have to be made, and they have to be made quickly.

[RedFlash]

So is it safe to assume that the Hawks will be the most active team at the draft?

 

Absolutely yes. Moves have to be made, and they have to be made quickly.

 

Let me ask you this Kyle, if trading Sharp means you keep Hammer, woud you trade Sharp?

[UMFan83]

I'm sorry I cannot in good conscience take Buff over Sharp. I realize the value that Buff brings, but Sharp is simply a better and more consistent player.

 

Also you said the roster doesn't include Brouwer, but Brouwer is in the projected lines.

 

Why couldn't Keith have won the conn smythe grr.

 

Re: Sharp vs. Buff - if the cap hits aren't that far off, how can you take buff over Sharp

 

Last 2 seasons:

Sharp: 51 G, 59 A, 110 P, +30

Buff: 32 G, 33 A, 65 P, +0

 

Postseason:

Sharp: 18 G, 15 A, 33 P, +9

Buff: 14 G, 11 A, 25 P, -6

 

That's not enough to justify Buff's ability to play mediocre at defenseman.

Edited June 17, 2010 by UMFan83

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So is it safe to assume that the Hawks will be the most active team at the draft?

 

Absolutely yes. Moves have to be made, and they have to be made quickly.

 

Let me ask you this Kyle, if trading Sharp means you keep Hammer, woud you trade Sharp?

 

Yes. Sharp is a UFA after next season anyway, and we just can't afford the $3.9 million cap hit. I want to keep him, he's by far the best of the expendable wingers, but every little bit counts and we are struggling to even field a roster here.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm sorry I cannot in good conscience take Buff over Sharp. I realize the value that Buff brings, but Sharp is simply a better and more consistent player.

 

Also you said the roster doesn't include Brouwer, but Brouwer is in the projected lines.

 

Why couldn't Keith have won the conn smythe grr.

 

My bad, I meant Fraser on the "without" list.

[brinoch]

Kyle, I've seen a couple of pretty respected bloggers indicate that the Hawks will follow the Detroit model and won't rush guys like Lalonde and Beach to the NHL -- which'll save some money. They believe the Hawks will plug in cheap UFA's on one-year deals. In addition, I think that Skille will be gone. I see Dowell and Bickell getting the call.

 

Also, I think Sharp would stay over Byfuglien. I think the Hawks view Sharp as the #2 Center now, with Bolland as the #3.

[RedFlash]

I'm sorry I cannot in good conscience take Buff over Sharp. I realize the value that Buff brings, but Sharp is simply a better and more consistent player.

 

Also you said the roster doesn't include Brouwer, but Brouwer is in the projected lines.

 

Why couldn't Keith have won the conn smythe grr.

 

I agree. I like Buff, but there is a good chance that somebody might overvalue him and give the Hawks a solid enough package for Chicago pull the trigger. Whereas I think it takes basically a king's ransom to pry Sharp out of Chicago.

[UMFan83]

I would agree though that having Bolland as the #3 center is possibly depth that we can't afford to have considering Bolland is probably a #2 center on many teams.

[jersey cubs fan]

I would agree though that having Bolland as the #3 center is possibly depth that we can't afford to have considering Bolland is probably a #2 center on many teams.

 

I really like Bolland.

 

 

And I think you trade the guys who get you the most in return, not necessarily the guys you think you can most afford to lose.

[RedFlash]

I would agree though that having Bolland as the #3 center is possibly depth that we can't afford to have considering Bolland is probably a #2 center on many teams.

 

Yeah, but I think you will see the Hawks bump Bolland up to 2nd Line Center and Sharp return to wing, if he is still here.

[brinoch]

Versteeg and Byfuglien probably have the highest value among the forwards right now, but Bolland probably has some suitors. Someone will overpay.

 

I don't think we'll see any movement until each team's cap is officially known, and from what I've read, that hasn't happened yet. Once it is, things tend to move quickly.