The stuff about leaving the points open is pretty much what beats the Hawks. "We thought it would open things up" is also the same principle behind the misguided obsession with moving to 200'x100' ice. Widening the rink just means defenders will happily concede more space that you can't do shit with.

For Scotty to be that calm about the cap issues means they must have Crawford's bags packed already.

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Sure,when Bowman blasts low scoring,everybody listens. I bring it up in a thread and I'm out of (blue) line.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Because your premise was that today's players are less talented when that couldn't be more wrong. Bowman correctly addressed the spatial issues that are suppressing scoring (though he really glossed over the fact that the league more or less gave up on calling restraining fouls).

As for Jacob Markstrom, he's playing very well in the AHL because he's a very good AHL player. I'm sure he'll get one more whirl in the National because this summer will especially be spent jerking off over big goalies and there's no place for him in Vancouver behind Miller and Lack, but he'll wash back out. Guy was supposed to be the franchise goalie in Florida but couldn't keep from losing his job to Scott Clemmensen and Dan Ellis.

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This is huge. The amount of leeway given to a defender to get in the way or flat out grab onto a guy who just chipped a puck past him has grown exponentially the past 5 or so years.

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Team Cutler.

1. Corey Crawford has $6M cap hit for each of the next 5 seasons
2. Patrick Sharp has $5.9M cap hit for each of the next 2 seasons
3. Bickell has $4M cap hit for each of the next 2 seasons

The toughest one to move will be Bickell. I’m guessing they’ll eat some of it and send him away. Ouch.

If they can move Sharp and Crawford, things aren’t so bleak as the youth movement enters.

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I am less concerned than CH about the cap issues. We already had an extensive discussion in another thread. A lot comes down to how much Saad will get paid. The bottom of the roster is always going to be filled with near minimum salary level players.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Let's try to plot this out here. Presuming $5.5MM for Saad, that's $33.34MM for a top six of Saad-Toews-Hossa, Panarin-Teravainen-Kane, and that's presuming Panarin passes muster and Teuvo moves to center where I'm not certain he can play. Shaw's in there somewhere, so make it $35.44.

At defense, let's try a 1-6 of Keith-Seabrook-Hjalmarsson-Johns-van Riemsdyk-Pokka, which, as I alluded to in a prior post, is wildly unlikely as I can't see Quenneville willing to dress two outright rookies and a third who hasn't completed a full season.

Anyway, that's $18.8MM, roughly, bringing us to $54.24MM, leaving just under $17MM for five of your bottom six forwards, two spare skaters, and two goalies, or roughly $1.8MM per roster spot. Keeping Corey Crawford? Make that $1.2MM per spot. This is all presuming that Sharp, Versteeg, and Bickell have all been launched and none with dead cap space retained, which could be quite a leap. We also have to re-sign Marcus Kruger, who legally must be tendered at 100% of his current value (1.4) but will command more, obviously. We have one natural center on the roster, Toews, and thanks for all the fish, Brad Richards, but I am not taking another chance on him going forward. Philip Danault could make the team at $863,333, but the word on him is that he's a pure Kruger replacement rather than a #2/#3 center in his own right. That may have to come in free agency.

So doing the math. I wouldn't say that the team is totally doomed, but there's going to be a major step back. They can afford a couple good pieces in free agency; I'd look for a veteran centerman on a one-year deal and a good but not great 5/6D, along with some old-ass veteran defenseman who kind of sucks as a #7. But it's very important that they move the guys who need to be moved with little to no dead cap space.

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The unfortunate part of that is Crawford is the only one of the 3 earning his keep this year but he'll be the one to go. In 39 playoff games combined this year, Sharp and Bickell have a total of 4 goals. Throw in the paltry 4 goals by Hossa ( and I know he busts it defensively but he needs to score more) in 21 games and you have a huge reason why the Blackhawks are struggling against this finals. No one is stepping up. Saad and Richards have probably been their best forwards this series. Throw in a 4 man defensive rotation because you cant trust anyone else out there its amazing they've come this far.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Expectations for Bickell have been so re-adjusted that it's practically a minor miracle he can lace his skates. A pure scorer like Sharp doing nothing is what's been backbreaking.

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There's a decent possibility that Shaw won't be back.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

That would suck.

I agree that Shaw might not be back. The emergence of Ryan Hartman and Garret Ross makes it easy to sell relatively high on Shaw before he can cash in on a third contract. I wouldn't be heartbroken if he left, but I've generally liked him. I just wish the team had been better at using him correctly.

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He's going to want more money eventually. A couple guys in Rockford who play the same game with more offensive upside including Chicago's very own Ryan Hartman.

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Team Cutler.

Saad will get Sharp's money, so that is a wash. Sharp has underperformed but someone will take him. Crawford has been good but damn, that contract is nuts and I believe Darling is ready to be the starter.

Shaw....he's been played out of position for much of the season and we are seeing that he's still very good when used correctly. Losing him would suck, but it won't hamper the team.

I see 1-2 years of transition with the younger players. TVR, Teuvo, Saad, Kane, Toews, plus some of the other younger guys they signed this year. They'll be back...Q will be forced a youth movement next year.

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No. He's calm because he knows that he has Toews, Kane, Saad, Kieth, & Teavu locked in as their core for many years to come, and they have a shit load of great talent in Rockford. He knows they will be good for another 8-10 years.

As I said before the playoffs started, there isnt an NHL GM in the league who wouldnt trade his roster for the Hawks.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

I think Sharp is the one with his bags packed.

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Sharp is likely gone I agree but it is not due to Bernsie's dumb ass family problem shit. Have a look at the video in this:
http://www.hockeyfeed.com/patrick-sharp ... -the-game/

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Elections have consequences.

1. Corey Crawford has $6M cap hit for each of the next 5 seasons
2. Patrick Sharp has $5.9M cap hit for each of the next 2 seasons
3. Bickell has $4M cap hit for each of the next 2 seasons


These contracts are ugly. Be hard to get rid of them.

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Not as hard as you might think. We need nothing much back. In fact we do not want cap dollars back. The reason they may go is there is a salary floor in the NHL. Some teams have to spend stupid money to be spending enough.

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Elections have consequences.

If the Hawks win the cup, I dont see how they get rid of Crawford. Bickell, Sharp, Vermette, Richards, Versteeg & Kimmo will be gone, and maybe Sharp, and maybe even Seabrook, I'm pretty sure his deal is up at the end of the season. I am really looking forward fo the Hawks getting younger and seeing some of the great Rockford talent in the bigs.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

get rid of your "fake" superstars with their 27-goal in 81 game seasons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I've mentioned this here before but I read a long interview with Scotty Bowman a few years back. He talked about his team building philosophies and the salary cap, etc. He didn't exactly say the goaltender didn't matter, but just short of that. He talked about controlling the puck and if you do that enough, you can win with anyone in the net.

I also think it's interesting that he talks about these tall goalies and they happen to have big ass Darling waiting in the wings.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Scottys goalie philosophy is certainly well known, and it isnt as if the Hawks havent parted ways with a succesful goalie before...Niemi won the cup and was gone. I gotta believe though that Q and others in the organization would want to keep a guy who has won 2 cups.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

If you're aware of it I don't know why you'd be shocked at them dumping Crawford. And I would hope to God they aren't letting Quenneville make personnel decisions. You might end up with a line of Handzus, Versteeg, and Carcillo while Teuvo spends another season in Rockford.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

They will have no problem letting Crawford go. Bowman changed Vernon, Hasek and any other number of goalies. Shit the Hawks got rid of Hasek and Belfour too. Goalies may not get respect anymore at all.

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Elections have consequences.

Yep, you read between the lines. I'll put this in terms Scorehead will understand: BIBGO!



I think they're respected. It's just that there aren't exceptional goalies like there used to be, nor are there terrible goalies (well, okay, Lindback). The line has been smoothed out and raised.

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Bickell is the only one that will be tough to move.

Saad will get his money, but Kruger and Shaw...something may have to give there.

I think Q will be forced an army of youth....he'll have no choice but to play the young guys.

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Exactly. Its going to be fun to watch the Hawks with no over the hill players for once.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan