No way is TT on that 2nd line as Center. You'd have a better chance of McNiel being there and TT playing on the Wing. Richards could possibly stay another year and you have left Mcneil off completely.
Hossa will also be on the JT line, 88 on the second. TT could be the odd man out if he doesn't pick play up.
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Still could theoretically work depending on what depending on what Richard's asking price is. If TT is the odd-guys out that's an extra what, 7-8k from 1.5M (so 2.2M) that the 'hawks can use.
McNeill at that point was the 13Fwd (unless I mistyped), which means he could supplant someone.
The point was making the numbers work.
Under the cap...but not a cup contender. That's the worry. The forward depth is atrocious and the defense takes a big step back. It has 2011 written all over it.
Also - if the Blackhawks trade Sharp and Bickell, have to imagine that there will be some new blood in the NHL lineup from those trades.
All is real hard to predict right now and probably the most you can predict with what is in the card right now. Hell, maybe the Blackhawks surprise us all, trade Crawford and roll with Raanta/Darling. I don't suggest it, but it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibilities.
As for it being a contender--of course not. No team is going to have that big of changes to the lineup without it being a dark horse for the cup contender, and IMHO there's no way to make the salary work with the 'hawks still being one. The depth will be shallow as the farm is basically restocked.
If Sharp and Bickell are traded it's not about new blood, it's about freeing cap. The only way that works is if "the new blood" that comes in is under approx 1M+prospects. In other words, we'd need to be getting a thios-year Saad (less than 1M/playing closer to 3M) to work.
As for Dr. Craw, Trading him accomplishes nothing. The team D will take a hit no matter who goes and if Raanta/Darling can't step up to Crawford's level it hamstrings the team long-run, and if they can step up to Crawford's level, they'll be commanding 8.7%/6M+ You might as well let Crawford ride and keep a known quanitity in net.
Any known quantity netminder woyld take away from cap needed.
Lord didn't put Clendening in there nor do I think Kruger will get that much money.
Easily could have 2-3 left over in cap space with that team to sign someone else or a quality youngster to come in.
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I high-balled a lot of "returning" salaries. I figure if Saad commands any more than 4M you let him walk. I figure if Kruger commands amy more than 3M, you let him walk. Both are RFA and you take the picks. In that case you keep Sharp.
Bickell has been invaluable, priceless, the last two playoffs, how do you move him?
His game seems taylored to playoff hockey when phycicality increases, he shines. I'd be scared shitless to lose him and see what we are in playoffs without a forward that hits.
Kinda like how "we could never recover from losing Byfuglien in the playoffs?" (I know I was not a member here in 2010-2011, but that was bandied around all over the interwebs as well). Bickell in the reg. season is mostly dead weight and in a cap world, you can't keep him. I'd much rather have Saad sucking those 4M and getting, like RK said, McNeill or another FWD that hits on the cheap.
In summation, I figure the 'hawks need to drop about 10M of salary, and many of the "fill-ins" have to be making 1M or less to work. Bickell's the obvious choice. Keith and Hossa have the dreaded "Recapture" clause. Going forward team D will be a bit more important than team O, thus Seabs in his contract year will be valuable. Crawford provides stability in the crease, so he stays, thus Sharp, who could be mitigated defensively by Saad, will be the easiest to lose.
