Come on now. They can patch it up as long as Hossa, seabrook, and Keith aren't too old. It will close at some point and soon. Glad they got it this year, still pissed about last year!!!!

Nope. It's over. It ended during the Anaheim series, like CH repeatedly claimed. The third Cup was a fluke.

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-- source

As soon as they won against the Ducks that cup was theirs. If they'd have gotten past the KIngs last year they would have won too. They can do it again but at some point they won't be able to. Lots of hours in the last 7 seasons.

It'll be interesting to see how hellish the West starts looking tomorrow. Free Agent Frenzy probably won't be all that frenzied (who wants Alex Semin?), but I'm sure there will be a lot of trades. I don't think the Central is going to be as loaded as it was last year, with St. Louis probably regrouping a little bit and Dallas/Colorado still being too stupid to get guys who can defend. Winnipeg will probably improve considerably, as will Minnesota, so the Hawks will probably finish in their customary third place. The real story is out west with Calgary and Anaheim, and to a lesser extent Los Angeles and Edmonton.

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Incorrect. Every team in the NHL would trade their roster tomorrow for the Hawks roster. Kane, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hammer, Teavu, Crawford, etc. The Hawks & their fans wont even notice that Saad is gone. The Hawks are loaded & their Rockford affiliate is loaded.
The Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, then shed players because of cap problems, then win another Stanley Cup. Wash, rinse, repeat. Get used to it because this team will win 2 or 3 more cups in the next 5-8 years.
I think next years team with a youth movement will be better than this years team.

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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

You didn't like Saad? There should be a little moment of silence for him.

I'm not as confident. Hossa is old, so is keith, so is seabrook. It's gonna give at some point.

I loved Saad & I was very very disappointed when I heard the news that he was traded. But, if someone was going to offer him $6.5 Million per year, then Stan, Joel & Scotty made the right decision. We have seen this happen with other players after winning the cup. Ladd, Byfuglien , Niemi, & others. Dont buy into the pessimistic negativism that is being pushed by some here. Keith is 32 & Seabrook is 30. They aren't old. This team is the premier organization in the NHL & the envy of every other team. The Hawks have the best organization, roster, head coach, & player in the NHL. We're going to win 2 or 3 more cups before this regime is done.

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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

OOOoooo good call. This is a little niemish for me.

32 and 30 is old. Lots of hours there.

I'm worried about Seabrook falling off before Keith does. Keith, as we all know now, has superhuman conditioning, aided by a terrific economy of movement -- guy makes the hard look easy out there all the time. (If he were photographed contorting his face as much as Toews is, he'd win the Norris every fucking year. EDIT: nah, j/k, they'd find reasons to give it to offensive defensemen in the East instead!) If we're out of it at the deadline, Seabrook will go, but Keith will contribute at a high level for years and years.

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Keith is your hero.

I love Saad and I do think we will really miss him.

However, lets not overvalue him and make him out to be the difference in a championship window being open or closed.

The more I read on this Dano kid the more I like.

When I first heard about the trade I was really really pissed, and a part of me is still pissed. But I am going to choose to trust Bowman. Hard to argue with his record so far.

Hawks are going to be fine.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Shut up Nancy!!!!

Couple quick hits before commute.

As far as #2 and #7's age people forget that Oduya is older than both of the, They are fine.

Regarding Crawford's contract, it will look normal after that Niemi contract and more coming. San Jose gave Martin Jones 3 years at $3M.

Bowman will shed a (Sharp, Bickell, Shaw?) couple more and we move forward. Sucks yeah but it is what it is and I trust him.

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Elections have consequences.

I really need this trade to not go through. I prefer my Blues to be a one Tarasenko backed by 11 playoff ghosts. Dumping an 28 y/o overrated shootout wizard for a 21 y/o former #1 overall would be not be good for everyone else. Sure, he's underachieved but that's because Edmonton has done everything to stunt his game.

Please please please fall through.

Did anyone mention that not only did Bowman get some value for Saad, but he precluded Anaheim from making an offer sheet to him and possibly having to let him go to a conference rival?

Major props to Stan on this one.

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Yes, Barry Rozner did.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Barry is always on top of it.

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Elections have consequences.

You may have missed the joke PM.....

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Guess so. I was sarcastic about Rozner anyway.

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Elections have consequences.

The signings of Crawford and Bickell stand out now more than they ever did. Two totally ununnecessary signings just cost us our 3rd best forward.

I do like that Stan has begun to dismantle the culture of "Fuck you, I want mine" that Kane/Toews have instilled. Good warning shot to Seabrook to temper his demands or he'll be sent to some NHL Siberian equivalent like Carolina or Dallas.

AGAIN with the Crawford contract bullshit

He was the EIGHTH highest-paid goaltender last year, and within $500,000 of the next-lowest paid five more or so. Who would you rather have that would be paid significantly less and perform the was Crawford has in the playoffs???

I'll give you Bickell.

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Not a mult.

AGAIN with the Kane/Toews FUIWM bullshit

I don't seem to remember any contention between either player's camp and management regarding an extension. They were offered and are getting paid their market value, and have been central in winning three fucking championships, including the current one.

Geezus.

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Not a mult.

The Hawks would of probably won the Cup with Darling. I don't believe in paying goalies, they're not as important as they once were. Stack the team with skill and throw someone in net that won't totally fuck everything up every night. Those goalies are dime a dozen now.

I was against the Crow and Bick contracts at the time they signed them. However, Crow earned his money. I am with Gay in that goalies are not worth those contracts due to the lumpiness of their performances. Crow has been damn good though.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

As much as I like Darling, that was a small sample size, and everyone seems to forget that he struggled mightily in the last two games he played against Nashville (seven GA in 40 shots the last two games, including being pulled after three GA on 12 shots in Game 6), which allowed Crawford to return for the duration.

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Not a mult.

If Saad really wanted $6.5M per, then that is way too much. A team with tons of cap space can afford to overpay, but the Hawks cannot. I thought anything above $5M would be more than the Hawks could bear. At least they controlled where he went to and got something in return. I am anxious to see what Saad ultimately signs for and if indeed he becomes the next Hossa. He may have been a product of the Hawks system and in playing on the top line. But he sure showed a lot.

I assume he will have to play for Columbus, and that is a big FU, because (in my best CH impression), he has to play in Columbus.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Jay Z. just said Stan is gonna extend Anisimov 5 years.

There, kids, is your long-term 2L center.

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Not a mult.

Watch Tallon throw in an offer sheet for 6/42

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Not a mult.

Where's my under 25 power forward? We already have a 2C in Tuevo. Unless they trade him in 2 years for another bucket of stick tape and pucks.