hawks give up another multi-goal lead.

That is an interesting article moy, and indeed it will be interesting to see what they do. I personally still believe they've made good choices so far given their situation. If I were a GM, I'd rather worry about replacing 12 depth players than trying to find another Brent Seabrook or Jonathan Toews. That being said, I think things would be different if Dave Bolland had been able to fill that 2nd line hole on the team.

I'm hearing alot about Jim Vandermeer or Brett Clark, who would both be upgrades over Jordan Hendry, but I wonder what would be going the other way. If the team has what I would call a "gaping" hole though, it's definitely a 2nd line centre.

As for Campbell, I'm aware he has an NTC, so it would difficult, but it wouldn't be unprecedented. Tampa, for example, would have the cap space, are a contending team that Campbell may accept a deal to, would offer a good fit style wise for him and would have players of interest to offer up, like Brett Clark who would be signed next season at a cap hit of 1.5 as well, as well as maybe a pick or two.

Now for that to be a legitimate possibility, I suspect the Hawks would want to add another dman in a separate deal to help compensate for Campbell's loss on the ice this season.

Finding cheaper alternatives to seabs is not 'that' hard to do.   There are lots of very solid d-men in the 3-4 mil range (i.e.FAs  Hjalmarrson, Meszaros, Volchenkov in the last  offseason to name a few..... jack johnson and marc staal at ~$4/yr signed long term this season to name a couple more).   

The problem really isn't seabs though - he's a solid young player and worth the $.  Its the hawks and their poor money management ($47 mil for 9 players and $13-$15 mil for the 12-14 remaining players).  Like the article suggests its quite difficult to fill out depth with so little money.  odds are one or two guys may step up but the hawks (and their fans) are banking on 12-14 diamonds in the rough - thats not going to happen

Campbells contract really needs to go at any cost - its a looooooooong shot though imo.

I agree about Campbell, however the point I'm making is that I'd rather have the core locked up long term and take a chance on the rest every year. The reason is that, in my opinion, the odds of winning another Cup are much greater with locking up the core and taking chances on the bottom half of the roster then to hope that the 3-4 million dollars you spent on a given FA gets you what you're hoping for. There will be guys available every summer in the 500k-1.5 million dollar range who can bring good value, and the Hawks have become a team that guys will take less to go to, simply because with the core they have there is always a chance that they'll win it all.

Also, with everyone signed long term, the odds of winning another Cup are also increased because within 2-3 years when the current prospects mature, they will still have the core intact, they will be able to bring up some quality players still under entry level contracts and contend once again. They've got enough in the proverbial cupboard for another 1 or 2 good runs in the next 5 years before having to think about disrupting the core.

After Dustin Byfuglien signed for 5.2 and Seabrook for 5.8, I bet you that comparable dmen this summer fetch upwards of 5 million, thus making Seabrook more difficult to replace with a "cheaper" option.

Posted by andru2797 on 2/28/2011 9:31:00 AM (view original):
I agree about Campbell, however the point I'm making is that I'd rather have the core locked up long term and take a chance on the rest every year. The reason is that, in my opinion, the odds of winning another Cup are much greater with locking up the core and taking chances on the bottom half of the roster then to hope that the 3-4 million dollars you spent on a given FA gets you what you're hoping for. There will be guys available every summer in the 500k-1.5 million dollar range who can bring good value, and the Hawks have become a team that guys will take less to go to, simply because with the core they have there is always a chance that they'll win it all.

Also, with everyone signed long term, the odds of winning another Cup are also increased because within 2-3 years when the current prospects mature, they will still have the core intact, they will be able to bring up some quality players still under entry level contracts and contend once again. They've got enough in the proverbial cupboard for another 1 or 2 good runs in the next 5 years before having to think about disrupting the core.

After Dustin Byfuglien signed for 5.2 and Seabrook for 5.8, I bet you that comparable dmen this summer fetch upwards of 5 million, thus making Seabrook more difficult to replace with a "cheaper" option.

who says your core has to be '9' players (5 F / 4 D) for $47 mil? Why not 12 players for $47 mil?

I highly doubt that players will take less to be a hawk... seabrook just signed for $29 mil knowing that it will f with their cap. They could have traded seabs for a solid D-Man in the $2-3 mil range like Eric Brewer or someone + picks. Then picked up a player like Joni Pitkanen in FA. Now they most likely will have to trade the only 2 movable assets they have (Brouwer and Hjalmarrson) to free up space for more $500-$1.5mil players.

The article is right imo - you get what you pay for and those $500k-1.5 mil players are just that (boynton, scott, etc). Occasionally you get a steal with those players - but the key word is occasionally. The hawks are banking on a lot to go right to win it all - or even make the playoffs (considering this season) if they continue down this same path (being 9 core players and gambling on the rest of the roster). I think Crawford will surprise the hawks in RFA - based on the big $ defensive contracts being signed - you might see some 3 yr $9 mil offer sheets out there. Typically (other than last season) good goalies go for $3-5 mil.

I personally disagree with the whole concept of 'playing foor the future'. If teams like DET, PIT, PHI etc can always be good - why can't CHI? There are a lot of things that can go wrong in 2-4 years especially major injuries and decline due to age (like Hossa).

Besides.... how in 2-5 years when Leddy, Beach, Morin, and Kruger are (hopefully) decent and asking for more than $1.5 mil.... especially considering brouwer, stalberg, and frolik still need to be signed for next season at $1.5ish or more... will the hawks keep all these guys?

Ok...I don't understand why the Hawks have to suddenly trade guys like Brouwer and Hammer. They can fit. If we assume Crawford gets 2.5 million (everyone said Niemi would get over 3 for winning the cup, and look what happened), Brouwer gets a significant raise to 2 mil as does Kopecky, Dowell signs for 750 (comparable to what Fraser got), that puts this lineup at just under 59 million. Assuming the cap goes to 62 as most are estimating it will, that leaves the Hawks 2-3 million to fill out the 4th line and add 1 or two depth players. It's tight yes, but not impossible.

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Brouwer-Kopecky-Hossa
Morin-Bolland-Bickell
Dowell

Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Leddy-Scott

Crawford
Salak

Posted by andru2797 on 2/28/2011 1:55:00 PM (view original):
Ok...I don't understand why the Hawks have to suddenly trade guys like Brouwer and Hammer. They can fit. If we assume Crawford gets 2.5 million (everyone said Niemi would get over 3 for winning the cup, and look what happened), Brouwer gets a significant raise to 2 mil as does Kopecky, Dowell signs for 750 (comparable to what Fraser got), that puts this lineup at just under 59 million. Assuming the cap goes to 62 as most are estimating it will, that leaves the Hawks 2-3 million to fill out the 4th line and add 1 or two depth players. It's tight yes, but not impossible.

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Brouwer-Kopecky-Hossa
Morin-Bolland-Bickell
Dowell

Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Leddy-Scott

Crawford
Salak

and congrats - all you have is a playoff bubble team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not saying its impossible to re-sign a 23 player roster.... if you want to sign the subpar team known as this seasons hawks you most certainly can... but you can NOT improve the team from what you have this season. The Blackhawks are a playoff bubble team as is - you are kidding yourself if you think differently. They are rushing prospects to the NHL instead of rotating them in teh line-up in a timed and strategic manner like consistently great teams do. In 2 more seasons their prospects (like Morin, Kruger, Leddy, and Beach) will be RFAs. Salak goes RFA after this season and is already making more than a mil. How are they going to keep these guys AND the core? Let's not forget Sharps contract needs to be renegotiated next season.

I mean lets break the team down.... Scott/Leddy are a joke of a pairing - reallly - that's laughable. I'd be pushing it to say that Brouwer-Kopecky-Hossa are at best an average 2nd line for a 'playoff contender' and Morin-Bolland-Bickell are nothing to brag home about. What will the 4th line look like? Can't be good for $2-3 mil.

Champions:

Ladd - Toews - Kane
Sharp - Hossa - Byfuglien
Versteeg - Bolland - Brouwer
Eager - Kopecky - Burish
Madden, Fraser

Keith - Seabrook
Barker - Campbell
Hjalmarrson - Henry
Sopel

Huet - Niemi



Playoff Bubble Team:

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Brouwer-Kopecky-Hossa
Morin-Bolland-Bickell
Dowell-?-?
?,?

Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-Hjalmarsson
Leddy-Scott
?

Crawford
Salak

moy, 3/4s of the league is comprised of "playoff bubble" teams. A team doesn't necessarily have to finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the conference in order to be a Stanley Cup contender.

And comparing this year's, or any Hawks team for that matter to the greatest squad they've EVER put together is unfair. I don't think that, even if they kept EVERYONE, they could have repeated what happened last season. Players would regress, others would get hurt, competition would improve...it's inevitable. That's why it's so hard to repeat.

I believe there is a very real shift in thinking in the NHL from trying to build a dynasty to trying to give your organization the best chance to win one or more titles with a given core. Considering the Hawks have a core that has won before, I can completely understand why they would want to keep it together.

I also don't think you're giving enough credit to some players. Nick Leddy is an excellent 3rd pairing defenseman at this stage of his career because, although young, he plays a very "safe" game at his age. 3rd pairing minutes are enough to keep him engaged and learning while he isn't necessarily hurting the team like a 20 year old who is "rushed" to the big leagues. Dave Bolland has all the tools to be a good 2nd line center, but for some reason hasn't been able to translate it to 2nd line production. If he does, I think Hossa with him and Brouwer would make a very good 2nd line, but it doesn't HAVE to be this season. Bryan Bickell and Jeremy Morin are prototypical 3rd line players who bring energy and can chip in with the occasional goal and Jake Dowell works his *** off every shift and plays a physical game, making him a perfect fit as a 4th line center.

As for this season, Hossa, Toews, Kane and Campbell all missed time and there were over 12 new players on the roster so the chemistry just hasn't been there. Now I'm not making excuses for the team being where it is, I'm just saying things may have been different. Only time will tell though, which is why I think it's ridiculous to claim that they will (or won't) be an 8th place team with it's current structure. Talk to me again in 5 years and we can assess things, but no one can say for certain how things will turn out, which is why I think it's a little non-sensical for you to tell me that I'm definitely wrong and that I'm "kidding" myself if I think they'll be anything more than a subpar team. You also said Byfuglien would be a Norris candidate. I'm still waiting for him to break his 2 month long slump that I told you would happen.

And Chris Campoli...wow...I didn't see that coming. Could acquisition that will take lots of pressure of Keith and Seabs. He's a solid puck moving defenseman.

Posted by moy23 on 2/27/2011 11:50:00 AM (view original):

Posted by mudbone1969 on 2/27/2011 11:12:00 AM (view original):
I can't see anyone taking Campbell.  I'd love to see it, even though Campbell is a great fit for us.  We have younger, cheaper versions of him and replacing him would be easier than replacing the physical Seabs, which is the only one of his type in the organization.

Agree. Hjalmarrson is the only tradable contract on the defense... and its a shame to deal him cause at $3.5 locked up he's a steal.

He's a steal if he plays like he did last season.  He is far from that this year and should be arrested for theft.

Brouwer will not be dealt.  He's a solid power forward with a nice bit of nasty....he's staying.  Bolland is likely going to be shopped this off-season as well from what I've heard.  Sharp will command upwards of $5M in another year and we need to clear someone out.  Bolland makes 2nd line $$ and is a 3rd liner at best.  He's a solid player for sure, but yet another guy Tallon overpaid.

Great game last night.  Except for the shoddy penalty-killing, we controlled every aspect of the game.  We need to come back with that same effort tonight in Minny and keep rolling.

I said candidate..... and buff is still a candidate last I checked.

I can tell you with CERTAINTY that the hawks can't afford to keep all their youngsters you speak of for more than 2 more seasons w/o dealing the core. They all hit rfa at the same time (again nice money management). The cap would have to go up over time AND hockey players would have to demand less money to make it happen. I don't think so. Its going to be just like buff and ladd... the hawks develop them and due to money issues they have to deal them before the become superstars.

You speak of injuries like they never occur in the NHL. The hawks still have little depth and toughness with your projected 2012 roster so their stars are going to take hits when they have no protection and all teams have injuries. That's a fact. That's the NHL. The pens have been winning w/o Malkin and Crosby... the flyers w/o briere, leino, pronger, and betts..... the hawks get injured and fans start making excuses as to why they suck. Wow. Champs to chumps and its ok cause the franchise is in rebuilding mode for 5 more seasons.

Have you considered that while the hawks stay idle by keeping an eight seed team and hoping for team chemistry the other teams in the conference are going to load up w/ more talent?

I think you guys are too optimistic in regards to the back of your roster. They are not THAT good.

My 2 cents....

Btw.... the hawks might very well get in the playoffs if they keep up with these W's