Chicago Blackhawks Offseason Thread

[Soul]

Apparently the deal was signed on Craw's day with the Cup. Talk about riding a high.

 

I sure hope that cap figure goes up as expected.

[NewUserName]

I think the Hawks are wise to not jettison Crawford just because of the system of that they may have someone else who can do a competent job. That being said, this deal really only makes sense if they believed that Crawford would be worth more next off-season. I have a hard time seeing that. I do not think anyone thinks Crawford is some sort of elite game/series stealing goalie. They only thing that I think could happen is that he has less value next off-season...which of course will make this deal look bad.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think the Hawks are wise to not jettison Crawford just because of the system of that they may have someone else who can do a competent job. That being said, this deal really only makes sense if they believed that Crawford would be worth more next off-season. I have a hard time seeing that. I do not think anyone thinks Crawford is some sort of elite game/series stealing goalie. They only thing that I think could happen is that he has less value next off-season...which of course will make this deal look bad.

 

Well, they were never in a situation where jettisoning him was an option, or even close to a necessity. But there was very little point in giving him this extension at this time.

[UMFan83]

Playing Devils Advocate, if the cap goes up, more teams have money to spend making it likely Craws value would go up if he has a season at least as good as this one.

[biittner77]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

[Soul]

Not that I like this deal, but things change quickly, and Craw grew up a lot as an NHL goalie through the season, and in the playoffs.

 

They could have extended him for fewer years and I would have been fine. I don't see why it needed to be 6 years. Doesn't make sense to me.

[UMFan83]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm defending this deal, because I'm not, but don't goalies typically age slower than skill players? Him being 34 years old at the end of the contract doesn't seem like a big deal.

[Drew Doughty]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm defending this deal, because I'm not, but don't goalies typically age slower than skill players? Him being 34 years old at the end of the contract doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=6252

[Guest]

i still can't believe this contract. why not at least wait until next offseason? are you really that scared that someone will pay more than that? stan has been playing it extremely safely since taking over, and then out of nowhere he does this.

 

one of the biggest advantages we were going to have with the upcoming toews/kane/hossa/sharp/hjal/seabrook decisions was that we didn't have big money tied up in goaltending.

[UMFan83]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm defending this deal, because I'm not, but don't goalies typically age slower than skill players? Him being 34 years old at the end of the contract doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=6252

 

ok im out of justifications

[biittner77]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm defending this deal, because I'm not, but don't goalies typically age slower than skill players? Him being 34 years old at the end of the contract doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

I think it probably seems that way since it usually takes goalies longer to develop and the really good ones can hang around seemingly forever.

 

It will be hard for him to be worth this contract, particularly since it will likely cost the Hawks either Hammer or Seabrook being traded to make cap room to pay Toews, Kane, Leddy and Saad.

[UMFan83]

This time last year, fans and media alike were wondering if Crawford would even start. Now he's getting $6 million until he's 34. There's very little to like about this deal.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm defending this deal, because I'm not, but don't goalies typically age slower than skill players? Him being 34 years old at the end of the contract doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

I think it probably seems that way since it usually takes goalies longer to develop and the really good ones can hang around seemingly forever.

 

It will be hard for him to be worth this contract, particularly since it will likely cost the Hawks either Hammer or Seabrook being traded to make cap room to pay Toews, Kane, Leddy and Saad.

 

The article posted above said was really good at breaking down the average starting goaltenders value above replacement level (assumed to be the average backup). It said historically a starting goaltender is with ~2.17 wins more than replacement level or 4.something points, and given the minimum salary and current cap, that works out to like $4.6 million per season. But with the cap almost certainly increasing that number should be higher. While I do not really agree with the 6 year deal or the dollar amount, Crawford shouldnt be too overpaid if he produces numbers like last year.

 

But I still hate the deal and despite last year's Cup win I still don't trust that he's anything more than an average to slightly above average goalie. If we didn't have Raanta, I might feel slightly better, but I believe that there are only a few exceptional difference making goalies out there, and the rest go from slightly below average to slightly above average depending on the season/defense in front of them.

[UMFan83]

Hawks sign Hjalmarsson to 5 year extension, not sure the money yet

[Butterscup1679666578]

what is going on

[kujay]

I don't mean to sound like an ingrate, but really Stan? I guess let's see what the money is.

[jersey cubs fan]

So this is all just a marketing decision? McDonough didn't like the backslide after the previous sell-off and he's mandating that they lock guys up this offseason instead of dealing them away?

[Banedon]

Maybe counting on Hossa retiring after this season?

[kujay]

So this is all just a marketing decision? McDonough didn't like the backslide after the previous sell-off and he's mandating that they lock guys up this offseason instead of dealing them away?

 

It does seem like they are taking advice on contract decisions from Facebook commenters.

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe counting on Hossa retiring after this season?

 

That would be a negative, considering the new rules for those contracts.

[kujay]

$4.1M/year.

 

Fail.

[jersey cubs fan]

$4.1M/year.

 

Fail.

 

Whaaa???

 

Something crazy is happening here.

[Banedon]

$4.1M/year.

 

Fail.

 

It's a $600k/year raise.

[kujay]

$4.1M/year.

 

Fail.

 

Whaaa???

 

Something crazy is happening here.

 

Does kind of make you wonder if a big trade is in the works. Though if the Khabi/Huet mess taught this organization anything, it should be to make the trade first, then the signings.

[E.J.]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I'm not upset with the Hjalmarsson deal at all. It's a small bump in salary, and it locks up a great, highly-underrated defenseman.

[SABR Gamer]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I'm not upset with the Hjalmarsson deal at all. It's a small bump in salary, and it locks up a great, highly-underrated defenseman.

 

Out of the Crawford, Bickel, and Hjalmarsson deals, the Hjalmarsson deal seems the least embarrassing to me.

 

Hammer deal > Bickel deal >>>>> Crawford deal.