The Off Season Blackhawks Discussion Thread

[2323]

I've read Markov might be on his way out in Montreal.

It doesn't look like Stastny is going to stay with Colorado.

 

[The Hawk]

Trade Crawford and get a centerman.

 

[fatbeard]

Trade Crawford

As long as we're throwing out absurdities, let's also sign Sidney Crosby to play 2nd line center.

 

[DMelt36]

http://www.capgeek.com/blackhawks/

Guys I'd like to see them move on from:
Bollig
Versteeg
Leddy
Seabrook :crying:/Oduya

FAs I want back
Smith
*Morin (won't happen)
Brookbank
Regin
Raanta

Bollig isn't going anywhere, unfortunately.
Versteeg will be tough to move because you'd have to find a buyer. If you can, jump on it.
Leddy? No fucking way. He's staying here.
I'm not so anxious to move either Seabrook or Oduya. Not yet. Ideally, you let Clendening or Jahns make the jump to the Blackhawks in 2014-15 and allow one of them to get their feet wet in the NHL in the regular season. If they appear to be the real deal, then you could unload either 7 or 27. I'd prefer the latter, considering his deal is up after next year.

Smith and Morin are both restricted free agents. You'd be surprised at how little leverage they have, should the Hawks tender them a qualifying offer. If there's a silver lining of a WCF exit its that Ben Smith doesn't get a chance to grind out any more goals and make himself too expensive for the Hawks to keep.
I think Brookbank is gone. Think there's only room for one of he and Roszival on this roster and, since Roszival is under contract through next year, he stays. That's unless, of course, Roszvial decides to retire.

Also, Handzus is an unrestricted free agent. Really hoping he retires because it's obvious how much Q loves him and will play him all the time. Fantastic career for him, though. And his last NHL goal could be an OT GWG in Game 5, at the Madhouse. What a way to go.
I think Regin and Raanta are back

 

[Diehardfan]

Leddy just needs to get his head in the game, I'd rather have him do that here than on another team. His potential is over the top. The Bollig contract is a real waste of cap space and that will hinder things a bit. As I've said before, as much as we like some of these players.....the line has to keep moving as youngsters replace aging veterans. They built this team to win or contend yearly. They are too smart to go against that principle.

 

[DMelt36]

I'll be stunned if Toews and Kane make it to next year's training camp without new contracts in place.

If you want another silver lining, a 3rd Cup may have raised the salaries for Toews and Kane by another million or two.

 

[HawkWriter]

Leddy just needs to get his head in the game, I'd rather have him do that here than on another team. His potential is over the top. The Bollig contract is a real waste of cap space and that will hinder things a bit. As I've said before, as much as we like some of these players.....the line has to keep moving as youngsters replace aging veterans. They built this team to win or contend yearly. They are too smart to go against that principle.

I personally wouldn't be surprised to see the Blackhawks move Leddy. Not saying it is a move I agree with or would do (all depends on the return I suppose) but Q really seems to limit his ice time in a big way when it comes to the playoffs. Says a lot in my eyes.

In regards to the Bollig contract, I don't think it is that big of a deal. $1.25mil for a player that will be the #12/13 guy (who knows when it comes to the playoffs) isn't going to be a whole lot when you have the salary cap heading the way it is. I'm fine with him on the team next year, atleast for the regular season. The last thing you want to do is put a young guy on the 4th line for 82 games and give him 10 - 12 minutes a night when he can be developing in the AHL.

 

[Chris Sojka]

I feel like Morin and Teuvo are both going to see more ice, which will certainly help with both depth, infusing some youth since we're almost certain to lose a few older cats. Everyone griped about how horrific the second line played and (surprise!) we were dead in the water until they showed up and started giving the team quality minutes.

Again, my knowledge in terms of roster construction is certainly not other-worldly, but I agree with Diehard that a second line center that can score from anywhere on the ice and provide pressure on a PP is extremely important. Maybe Teuvo can be that guy to step up? Outside of that, I really felt like we go pushed around that entire WCF series. Getting absolutely trashed against the boards, guys getting shoved, manhandled, whatever you want to call it. I know it kind of contradicts the Hawks style of play, but I'd like to see a physically imposing guy to help with changes of pace and to help clear the puck when killing penalties -- because this series clearly shows your team always can't dictate the style of play.

Other then that -- just draft well, try to fill some holes internally in order to save that precious cap space for the impending Kane and Toews extensions.

I like the idea of getting one of the bigger forwards in this draft to help bring some physicality to our line-up... its desperately needed...

 

[fatbeard]

In regards to the Bollig contract, I don't think it is that big of a deal. $1.25mil for a player that will be the #12/13 guy (who knows when it comes to the playoffs) isn't going to be a whole lot when you have the salary cap heading the way it is. I'm fine with him on the team next year, atleast for the regular season. The last thing you want to do is put a young guy on the 4th line for 82 games and give him 10 - 12 minutes a night when he can be developing in the AHL.

Agreed. IMO, Bollig's contract is not nearly as bad as Versteeg's. Given Bollig's regular season growth and his relatively low cost, I could actually see moving him as feasible. And if the Hawks want to give him another year it's not the end of the world either. To me, Versteeg's contract is much, much worse, even with Flordia eating half of it. I have never seen such a horrifically incompetent player and I can't imagine any team would be so desperate as to take a chance on him.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Utterly disgusting that a useless piece of shit like Bollig will be making 1.2 mil next season.

 

[Ares]

Utterly disgusting that a useless piece of shit like Bollig will be making 1.2 mil next season.

But.... sometimes he does da face punching.

 

[Ares]

I personally wouldn't be surprised to see the Blackhawks move Leddy. Not saying it is a move I agree with or would do (all depends on the return I suppose) but Q really seems to limit his ice time in a big way when it comes to the playoffs. Says a lot in my eyes.

In regards to the Bollig contract, I don't think it is that big of a deal. $1.25mil for a player that will be the #12/13 guy (who knows when it comes to the playoffs) isn't going to be a whole lot when you have the salary cap heading the way it is. I'm fine with him on the team next year, atleast for the regular season. The last thing you want to do is put a young guy on the 4th line for 82 games and give him 10 - 12 minutes a night when he can be developing in the AHL.

Not limited enough....

 

[Diehardfan]

Regarding Leddy....for some players it just takes a little longer for the light to go on. He's got way too much potential to trade now which would net the Hawks very little in return.

 

[DMelt36]

Regarding Leddy....for some players it just takes a little longer for the light to go on. He's got way too much potential to trade now which would net the Hawks very little in return.

Especially defensemen.

 

[nwfisch]

Regarding Leddy....for some players it just takes a little longer for the light to go on. He's got way too much potential to trade now which would net the Hawks very little in return.

Meh...I mean teams are pretty stupid. We got Sharp for nothing.

So :dunno:

I still think even if he develops, paying him or Saad shouldn't be a contest.

 

[DewsSox79]

players like bollig are starting to go away in this league. it is going the route of tough guys that can actually play. bollig is making 1.2 million more than he should. there is no need for a guy like him to just take bad penalties and try to fight for no reason.


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[DewsSox79]

and no! its not about putting a "young" guy in that 4th spot, its about putting a guy with somewhat of a hockey IQ that has some skillset. ugh the cheerleaders here my god.


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[Capt. Serious]

Hope the Hawks can get some assets for Oduya this summer, who's a UFA after next season.

Replace him with Dahlbeck & it frees up a much needed 3.3 mil in cap space.

 

[HawkWriter]

A few thoughts...

Bollig isn't the reason, or atleast only reason, why the Blackhawks are home right now. His game and his cap hit really aren't a concern in my eyes. Let him play on the 4th line and go from there. His game has improved over the last year compared to where he was. Are there better fourth liners out there? Sure, but it is what it is, this isn't fantasy hockey. Feel like there is a little too much focus on Bollig here.

A lot of people looking to trade Oduya/Leddy and replace them with Dahlbeck, Johns, Clendening, etc. (on here and elsewhere) First off, trading Oduya to free up some cap space isn't a big issue considering the Blackhawks aren't really in a poor cap position for next year. Also, wanting to replace guys that are in the top 4 on defense with rookies, is always a risky proposition.

I'd look for a minor move or two. If they make a big splash, it would surprise me but it isn't out of the question. This is a good team and they have a bright future. They have holes and hopefully they can improve on them but no need to jump off the cliff and start shaking things up.

 

[nwfisch]

Like DMelt says though HW, the Hawks had 4 quality lines in 2010 and 2013. Bolland, Kruger and Frolik were the 4th line in 2013. Having 2-3 complete liabilities in Bollig, Versteeg and Zus that only get less than 5 minutes of ice time on that 4th line really plagued them and Q for whatever reason decided to go with 9 forwards. You can't tell me Morin, Nordstrom and Regin wouldn't have played responsible hockey. It certainly wasn't the only reason they lost, but I think its a big reason.


That said, with salaries going up in the FA pool, trading a guy like Sharp/Seabs doesn't necessarily mean they get better at the position. The Hawks are better off in 2014 than they were in 2011.