2015-2016 Blackhawks Off season thread

[Raskolnikov]

Please, no - seems like another Rozsival. Pick up a guy at the TDL if Johns/Pokka/TVR/(Reilly?) don't work out, but don't reach for a mid-30s, declining vet in July because you're afraid to play the kids.

Agreed. Vermette before defenseman in off-season because Center is greater need than Defense. No sense using cap and/or picks to acquire defense when you have a young solid player like TVR who you can get minutes from. A guy like Runblaad who can easily handle the physical aspect of the sport, and has offense to compensate his deficiencies. I have seen some good things out of him and think he could have a breakout year next year. Unless he gets a huge offer we should match it.

Then you have high quality top 4 projected players like Johns/Pokka and everyone keep those fingers crossed on Reilly. I don't see how Pokka could possibly be ready now but we'll see. Its something to look forward to.

Retain Saad/Kruger. Have to. Then my list is Vermette and utilize the farm. Its not that I don't like Oduya, I just don't want a 4+ million dollar Oduya. Johns/TVR/Reilly/Runblaad plus the trade deadline, Pokka, and a Rozy comeback.

I don't see a need to spend 4+ million on a 4th defneseman who makes bonehead plays. Somebody is going to elevate to 2nd pairing level. Likely Johns. Reilly is Leddy 2.0 so I see why he is looking at L.A. and Chicago now.

Also...since his dad is in Wild organization, he could be telling him to **** with us. We'll see. Reilly decision likely impacts my feelings on Oduya.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Letting go of Desjardins, Bickell, Raanta, Versteeg

doesn't bother me or weaken us imo.

Losing Oduya/Vermette does a bit surely. I think Oduya can be replaced with Johns, but the amount of facefoffs Vermette can win is irreplaceble.

I'm also still on the fence with Bickell. We won two cups with him and i hesitate to remove any physical nature from this team. If Bowman thinks he is important, and Q, then I concede.

 

[The Hawk]

One great thing about the Hawks making it to the Cup is that the wait for the offseason moves is basically non-existent. By next week we should start seeing a lot of these moves happening. Really excited to see how Bowman handles this summer.

Me too. Personally I think this should be a season where they reload and begin to set up for the near future. To that end, I can see 5 or 6 veterans released or traded and some of the younger guys in the system promoted. This is how dynasties continue and guys like Sharp, Bickell, Hossa, Richards, Versteeg, Seabrook, Kruger, and even Crawford do have to make way for younger and cheaper guys. I'm not suggesting that the guys I mentioned need to go, but the Hawks do need to get some younger guys into the mix, especially the defense and center ice guys.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Me too. Personally I think this should be a season where they reload and begin to set up for the near future. To that end, I can see 5 or 6 veterans released or traded and some of the younger guys in the system promoted. This is how dynasties continue and guys like Sharp, Bickell, Hossa, Richards, Versteeg, Seabrook, Kruger, and even Crawford do have to make way for younger and cheaper guys. I'm not suggesting that the guys I mentioned need to go, but the Hawks do need to get some younger guys into the mix, especially the defense and center ice guys.

Sharp and his $5.9M cap hit is where this is heading. said $$ to be used for Saad.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I'm not sure id want Jackman on the Hawks. Sure I'd love his physicality and toughness, but I don't think he's a "Hawks" type of defenseman. He's not that fast, and I don't think he's the best at breaking moving the puck, but I guess i don't typically watch for that when he's on the ice as he's usually looking to take someone's head off.


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[Shantz My Pants]

The Sharp rumor mill is now in full force. Seems the favorite are the Penguins and Capitals as well as the panthers.


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[winos5]

I saw a tweet from TSN saying Stan wants a 1st round pick, an "A" level prospect, and a top 6 forward still on ELC for Sharpie..

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

I can't see any potential trade partner coming close to Stan's trade demands knowing he is desperate to dump salaries to clear cap space.

 

[DMelt36]

I saw a tweet from TSN saying Stan wants a 1st round pick, an "A" level prospect, and a top 6 forward still on ELC for Sharpie..

Always set the bar high at the start. No surprise here.

 

[Adun]

I can't see any potential trade partner coming close to Stan's trade demands knowing he is desperate to dump salaries to clear cap space.

Yeah, but this Sharp saga can get into a bidding war

 

[Rex]

I saw a tweet from TSN saying Stan wants a 1st round pick, an "A" level prospect, and a top 6 forward still on ELC for Sharpie..

I saw that too. Likely just going to be a first rounder and an A level prospect, since I can't think of any top 6 forwards on an ELC that any team would part with.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

Hawks won't be surprised if whoever takes Sharp also require the Hawks to pay some of Sharps salary as part of the trade deal.

 

[Rex]

Hawks won't be surprised if whoever takes Sharp also require the Hawks to pay some of Sharps salary as part of the trade deal.

can't afford to hold onto any of that salary though. Blackhawks need 8.4 million just to make up for Toews and Kane's new contract.

 

[winos5]

Here's some breaking news from TSN citing a source at NHL.com;

Sharp will be traded next week.


Thanks a fucking lot for nothing. Everybody and their mother knows that.

 

[Rex]

He's gone either day before the draft or at the draft. No surprises there.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Sharp needs to provide a list of teams 48 hours before a trade, so once that gets out you can expect him to be traded within a day or so.

I agree with Dmelt that StanBo is obviously starting the war high, which is what you do when looking to off load a player teams might be interested in. Maybe team A will say no to the top 6 forward but offer a 1st rounder and a prospect and then Stan can call team B and they offer a 1st rounder and 2 prospects. If Stan were to say, I'm just looking for prospects he in essence would be lowering the bar on potential offerings and the bar might not go that high.

Despite Sharpie heading out of his peak, he's still a veteran with 3 cups and good skill that a team such as the Caps or Pens would really like.

Supply and demand 101.


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[HawkWriter]

Have to remember that this is a weak free agent year. Sharp likely isn't worth what Stan is asking, but why not start the discussion there and see where it goes. Hoping the Blackhawks can get a 1st and NHL ready prospect/young player for him. I think that would be pretty good. Make no mistake about it though, it will likely be a downgrade for whoever takes Sharp's place in the lineup. Know he didn't have the greatest season or playoffs at times, but it will be a downgrade.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Have to remember that this is a weak free agent year. Sharp likely isn't worth what Stan is asking, but why not start the discussion there and see where it goes. Hoping the Blackhawks can get a 1st and NHL ready prospect/young player for him. I think that would be pretty good. Make no mistake about it though, it will likely be a downgrade for whoever takes Sharp's place in the lineup. Know he didn't have the greatest season or playoffs at times, but it will be a downgrade.

I don't think you look at it like a downgrade, because Saad is the one replacing him as #3 in the system. Teuvo will continue to improve and may be capable of surpassing him next season or more likely the next. Hosea is on a steady decline. Panarin is insurance, and we haven't seen what else is going to happen, who we get, etc. Or what the ceiling of Baun/Hartman/Danault/McNeil/Nordstrom might be.

The challenge is always going to be for Kane/Toews to see if they can win 1 or 2 more in their salary albatross era. Its amazing they won 3 while they are still wet. Now the real dynasty era is usually just beginning. Can we find a way to transition from production of Sharp/Hossa? Saad and Teuvo say we can.

I have zero fears except the usual injury roulette next year. We are going to be loaded.

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Teuvo-Richards-Kane
Panarin-McNeil/Danault-?
Hartman-Kruger-Shaw

Thats assuming Versteeg, Bickell, Vermette, Desjardins all gone as well. The Panarin signing and Teuvo blossoming give us liberty to go in whatever direction the largest rays of bounty shine our way.

 

[Probie2429]

Sharp will be gone for a 1st rounder and a prospect type deal. Florida seems like a perfect spot for him, and Tallon will probably overpay knowing that he needs to try to make the playoffs ASAP.

Bickell should be traded, but the Hawks will have to eat some salary and throw in a prospect to make it happen.

They will resign Saad and Kruger.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Shaw traded since he is a RFA after next season, and guys like Danault, Ross, etc. can probably more easily replace him.

Now way Vermette is back. He is probably the best UFA forward available this summer (not saying much). He can get 4-5 million easily.

I think Richards comes back for 1.5 million or so. Desjardins is resigned for around 1 million, but Oduya and Rozsival sign elsewhere.

I'd absolutely love to trade Crawford while his value is peaked, but that's a pipedream.

 

[Probie2429]

I don't think you look at it like a downgrade, because Saad is the one replacing him as #3 in the system. Teuvo will continue to improve and may be capable of surpassing him next season or more likely the next. Hosea is on a steady decline. Panarin is insurance, and we haven't seen what else is going to happen, who we get, etc. Or what the ceiling of Baun/Hartman/Danault/McNeil/Nordstrom might be.

The challenge is always going to be for Kane/Toews to see if they can win 1 or 2 more in their salary albatross era. Its amazing they won 3 while they are still wet. Now the real dynasty era is usually just beginning. Can we find a way to transition from production of Sharp/Hossa? Saad and Teuvo say we can.

I have zero fears except the usual injury roulette next year. We are going to be loaded.

Saad-Toews-Hossa
Teuvo-Richards-Kane
Panarin-McNeil/Danault-?
Hartman-Kruger-Shaw

Thats assuming Versteeg, Bickell, Vermette, Desjardins all gone as well. The Panarin signing and Teuvo blossoming give us liberty to go in whatever direction the largest rays of bounty shine our way.

Hawks will be in a great spot in another season or two. The 88 and 19 deals set the bar for similar players on the other contending teams, and guys like Kopitar and Stamkos are set to be UFA soon. Hawks will already be ahead of the game with their retooling.