With so many elite players with big cap hits, the key to Hawks future success depends on cap management. That is why Soup had to be traded.
Luckily, the Hawks have Leddy as a replacement. Leddy is developing fast and will probably be an all star, but will never make anything like Soup money. Being able to dump Soup gave the Hawks the ability to acquire and sign the right role players and have good depth, key to a Cup run.
Olesz dumping was expected. At the start of the season you would have thought the future targets (with 7 mill in cap space) was center and a dman. But if Kaner sticks at center, maybe the key targets are atop 6 winger and d man. However, a key injury would dictate a need to fill a hole.
So now we wait and see who becomes available and what teams become sellers. I highly doubt the Hawks target a star or marquee free agent for several reasons. We have the stars, we just need the right role players and depth beyond that. But not the kind that make the league minimum.
Finally, kudos to the front office. A year ago the Hawks had to dump 1/3 of the team and were in cap hell. One year later, Hawks are able to sign free agents and then have 7 mill in cap space. Well done.
btw, Sharp's cap hit this year is 3.9, next year it goes up to 5.9.
-5Minutes
