Let's talk dynasty

[DMelt36]

So, about three years ago, after the Hawks won their first Cup, I wrote this CCS article explaining why the Hawks were going to survive the Cap-ocalypse that immediately followed the first championship.

While I'll admit that it was written in the middle of a post-Stanley Cup euphoria, it appears that the central theme of that has come true: the immense talent at the top of the Hawks lineup has allowed younger players to develop in lesser roles and kept the Hawks firmly in contention.

One title was great, the second one was even better. But I think this team is in the middle of a dynasty, because of that the work of Hawks GM Stan Bowman and the continued development of the Hawks farm system.

While many will correctly say that Dale Tallon was the architect of that first championship team, this is Stan Bowman's dynasty. Here's why.

Blackhawks CapGeek page

Keep in mind that the salary cap is expected to increase each season. By how much is up for debate, though.

First off, only five Hawks' players become unrestricted free agents after this season: Bollig, Kostka, Brookbank, Khabibulin, and Handzus. Anyone worried about potentially having to replace them? Me neither. Antti Raanta is an RFA after this year ... I doubt he'll need too much money.

In the summer of 2015, Kruger, Leddy, and Saad go RFA. Saad figures to get a substantial raise, probably slightly more than Leddy. Kruger will get a modest raise, but probably not too much. But Oduya and Roszival go UFA. I'd bet both of those players leave town, freeing up about $5.5 million alone. The major issue that summer will be re-signing both Toews and Kane. Both will get huge deals, no doubt. But the combination of a steady salary cap increase along with the money Hawks will save from departed players like Oduya, Roszival, Khabi, Handzus, etc., I don't believe they'll have to worry about either player walking. It won't be easy, but they can each be locked up long-term, should both parties agree to it.

2016 sees Seabrook and Versteeg go UFA, Shaw go RFA.

2017 sees Sharp and Bickell.

This is the beauty of what Bowman has done with the Hawks contracts: he's doesn't have any major burdens waiting for him at the end of any upcoming seasons. Each year, a healthy number of players will need new paper, and the Hawks, through the moves they've already made, will have the financial wherewithal to meet those demands. You won't see this team being blown up by the salary cap at any point over the next 5-6 years.

This is going to be a dynasty. More championships are coming.

Enjoy it.

 

[DMelt36]

Oh, and here's some more good news for the Hawks.

The NHL just signed a massive deal with Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. It's going to greatly increase hockey related revenue (HRR), which is the figure that helps pinpoint the salary cap. Check this tweet from Toronto reporter James Mirtle (@mirtle):

NHL looking at massive growth - 5% or more - in 2014-15 from this deal alone. Overall HRR grew at 7.1% annually under last CBA.

If you apply that 7% percent pre-CBA growth, the salary cap reaches about $74 million by the summer of 2015, when Toews and Kane need to be re-signed. And it's not out of the question that it could be significantly higher.

 

[nwfisch]

In before Dews.

[video=youtube;wMKTB95-LVk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMKTB95-LVk[/video]

 

[Gravis]

My Zod! I wish Every Chicago team had a man like Stan. This is a great era to be a Hawks fan. It almost makes me less depress about everything else that has happened...almost.

 

[ClydeLee]

My Zod! I wish Every Chicago team had a man like Stan. This is a great era to be a Hawks fan. It almost makes me less depress about everything else that has happened...almost.

Bel..who?

The Stan/Tallon combo was a great build as GM and assistant GM... It still is a great combo for the Hawks since they swapped roles.

Why must I be Saad? Via Tapatalk

 

[CreepyBasementGuy]

My Zod! I wish Every Chicago team had a man like Stan. This is a great era to be a Hawks fan. It almost makes me less depress about everything else that has happened...almost.

I was chuckling at your sig for a couple minutes :roll:

But yeah, it's hard to see this team stop at 2 Stanley Cups because they will be a top 3ish team for years to come. Let's see what we can do in this year's playoffs.:woot:

 

[LonghornBob]

I think a whole lot of it is going to boil down to two things:

1) Play in the net. Can we count on anyone on the roster to NOT ONLY be steady and makes the saves he's supposed to make over the next few years, but also "steal" a game or two flashing a sick glove. There are guys out there who straight stone you when you should put up 5. If we can get steady play and the occasional theft, that's going to be enough. We don't have to have a Top 5 guy, but steady with occasional brilliance would be great.

2) A physical presence. We can't control the puck 75% of the time like we used to do. that means we'll need to get some garbage goals in front of the net like Byflugien and Ladd used to get, and we need to be able to win battles in the corners on D.

I think those are our two biggest issues.

The third thing I might throw in is production from the lower lines. At one point we had Buff down there, we've had Bolland down there, Versteeg, Ladd, et al, and since we have good stars (Toews, Kane, Hossa) but not top of the charts absolute machines like Crosby or Stamkos, we need something from the 3rd and 4th lines.

We've got as good a shot as anyone over the next few years though, I will say that.

 

[JErryAZuma]

We've got a solid three lines versteeg signing was absolutely huge one major problem is Bollig other than a physical presence he is worthless and by that I mean pathetic..he kills any offensive momentum that line generates as soon as the Puck gets to him!

If we wanna repeat we really need to get our PK back to where it was last year losing Frolik really sucked for that reason. Last year any of our lines 1-4 could play with any teams top two lines which is a huge advantage in the game when you don't have to worry about the chess match of matching up lines with the other team... we need the fourth line to step up like last year and we will repeat... bickell needs to step it up when he returns as well.. but the good thing is that all of our goal scorers are scoring goals if you look at the stats its pretty eye popping our stars are putting up starlike numbers.. Crawford needs some help hope Raanta can do it!

 

[LonghornBob]

No question we can score, we're leading the league in goals scored and average about a full goal a game more than Colordo.

The problem is on D/in the pipes. They're giving up nearly a full goal less than we are per game. We aren't going to consistently win in the playoffs over the long-haul, as in a dynasty, without something more out of our D and netminder.

If we can get a physical presence to keep people from camping in front of our crease, and can step up the goalie play a notch we can win a lot of games for a long time.

 

[KBIB]

I think a whole lot of it is going to boil down to two things:

1) Play in the net. Can we count on anyone on the roster to NOT ONLY be steady and makes the saves he's supposed to make over the next few years, but also "steal" a game or two flashing a sick glove. There are guys out there who straight stone you when you should put up 5. If we can get steady play and the occasional theft, that's going to be enough. We don't have to have a Top 5 guy, but steady with occasional brilliance would be great.

Crawford is as steady as it gets. He has kept this team in many games with his play and has "stolen" a couple games already. I don't know what games you have watched, but about six of the wins already this year are because of Crawford. The guy turned the corner. Hes pretty damn good and makes the big save when its needed.

2) A physical presence. We can't control the puck 75% of the time like we used to do. that means we'll need to get some garbage goals in front of the net like Byflugien and Ladd used to get, and we need to be able to win battles in the corners on D.

This doesn't make any sense. If the Hawks control the puck 75% of the time, what board battles are they losing? The Hawks get the puck out of their own end better then any team in the NHL, and that's with a slow Rozi and the occasional brain shat. Buff was great in front of the net, but its not like they don't get production from Shaw, Smith, hell, Zues parks his elderly ass in front of the net. They have enough physical players. Ask the Kings and Bruins if the Hawks played physical.

The third thing I might throw in is production from the lower lines. At one point we had Buff down there, we've had Bolland down there, Versteeg, Ladd, et al, and since we have good stars (Toews, Kane, Hossa) but not top of the charts absolute machines like Crosby or Stamkos, we need something from the 3rd and 4th lines.

The Hawks third line this year has more skill then their third line last year. The fourth line is what it is, but is still much, much better then 90% of the rest of the NHL on account of Kruger and Smith both have the skill to move up a line or two while many teams just send out a bunch of wahed up players or goons. Don't under state this Hawks team. They are just as good, if not better then last years team skill wise.

We've got a solid three lines versteeg signing was absolutely huge one major problem is Bollig other than a physical presence he is worthless and by that I mean pathetic..he kills any offensive momentum that line generates as soon as the Puck gets to him!

Bolligs not out there to score goals. That might be the problem, kinda.




CHAMPS!!!

 

[Sunbiz1]

Crawford is as steady as it gets. He has kept this team in many games with his play and has "stolen" a couple games already. I don't know what games you have watched, but about six of the wins already this year are because of Crawford. The guy turned the corner. Hes pretty damn good and makes the big save when its needed.

This doesn't make any sense. If the Hawks control the puck 75% of the time, what board battles are they losing? The Hawks get the puck out of their own end better then any team in the NHL, and that's with a slow Rozi and the occasional brain shat. Buff was great in front of the net, but its not like they don't get production from Shaw, Smith, hell, Zues parks his elderly ass in front of the net. They have enough physical players. Ask the Kings and Bruins if the Hawks played physical.


The Hawks third line this year has more skill then their third line last year. The fourth line is what it is, but is still much, much better then 90% of the rest of the NHL on account of Kruger and Smith both have the skill to move up a line or two while many teams just send out a bunch of wahed up players or goons. Don't under state this Hawks team. They are just as good, if not better then last years team skill wise.




Bolligs not out there to score goals. That might be the problem, kinda.




CHAMPS!!!

Can Crawford perform at this level for an entire season/playoffs logging heavy minutes?.

That's my only reservation with this team repeating.

 

[DMelt36]

Can Crawford perform at this level for an entire season/playoffs logging heavy minutes?.

That's my only reservation with this team repeating.

That's what I'm worried about with the entire team, really. Especially considering that so many Hawks will be in the Olympics.

But, if there's one caveat, it's that I don't think Crawford is going to be playing for Canada in those Olympics. He might make the team as a 3rd goalie, but I don't see him surpassing Carey Price or Roberto Luongo on Team Canada's depth chart.

 

[DewsSox79]

if they win the cup this year this convo can be discussed. got to repeat this year.

 

[Sunbiz1]

That's what I'm worried about with the entire team, really. Especially considering that so many Hawks will be in the Olympics.

But, if there's one caveat, it's that I don't think Crawford is going to be playing for Canada in those Olympics. He might make the team as a 3rd goalie, but I don't see him surpassing Carey Price or Roberto Luongo on Team Canada's depth chart.

With the longest season in all of sports, and the playoffs seemingly an entire second season...is it really necessary to use NHL players at all for international competition?.

Seems rather pointless for teammates to play against one another when they do this in practice.

 

[ClydeLee]

With the longest season in all of sports, and the playoffs seemingly an entire second season...is it really necessary to use NHL players at all for international competition?.

Seems rather pointless for teammates to play against one another when they do this in practice.

Would you care about international competition if it wasn't with NHL players these days? There's not some grand social odds that would fuel anyones interest anymore.

Why must I be Saad? Via Tapatalk

 

[Sunbiz1]

Would you care about international competition if it wasn't with NHL players these days? There's not some grand social odds that would fuel anyones interest anymore.

Why must I be Saad? Via Tapatalk

Considering the IDOC recently and intentionally snubbed Chicago for the Olympics, and grand social odds only serve casual fans...should we care at all about international hockey competition?.

 

[Jntg4]

Been a dynasty since the moment we drafted Corey Crawford

 

[ClydeLee]

Considering the IDOC recently and intentionally snubbed Chicago for the Olympics, and grand social odds only serve casual fans...should we care at all about international hockey competition?.

Should? That's an irrelevant point and Chicago being a mess doesn't matter for anything.

If you want to see the best talent combine in competition, then you need the NHL talent.

Why must I be Saad? Via Tapatalk

 

[DMelt36]

With the longest season in all of sports, and the playoffs seemingly an entire second season...is it really necessary to use NHL players at all for international competition?.

Seems rather pointless for teammates to play against one another when they do this in practice.

For the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal game, I was at a bar in central Indiana, where the nearest hockey team is roughly 200 miles away, and the local sporting goods stores don't even sell hockey equipment.

Yet, the game was on every TV there. And the 20-30 people there went nuts when Parise tied it up at the end of regulation.

I went to that bar for several other national broadcasts of Blackhawks games and had to request for the game to be put on TV ... and sometimes I was told no.

That's why I want the NHL players involved in the Olympics. It's the absolute best advertisement for the sport: the game at its highest level of play.

 

[Sunbiz1]

For the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal game, I was at a bar in central Indiana, where the nearest hockey team is roughly 200 miles away, and the local sporting goods stores don't even sell hockey equipment.

Yet, the game was on every TV there. And the 20-30 people there went nuts when Parise tied it up at the end of regulation.

I went to that bar for several other national broadcasts of Blackhawks games and had to request for the game to be put on TV ... and sometimes I was told no.

That's why I want the NHL players involved in the Olympics. It's the absolute best advertisement for the sport: the game at its highest level of play.

I can't think of many worse places to be stuck in than a bar in central Indiana, went to college in Muncie.

That aside, 2010 didn't do a whole lot to increase the popularity of the NHL. Hell, the Hawks still have a tough time getting press coverage in their own city.

Yet, since Hawks won it all after the last Olympics...the topic is rather moot I suppose.