They have $8.5 mill to spend now......Jesus Christ! Fucking swing a deal for Panarin and sign him long term!

The Chicago Blackhawks are “in talks” to acquire two top-end talent left wingers in Montreal Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty and Carolina Hurricanes’ Jeff Skinner, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

Chicago freed up $8.5 million in salary cap space with a seven-player trade Thursday that included Marian Hossa.

Pacioretty, 29, has one year remaining on his current contract at a $4.5 million cap hit and is coming off a season in which he scored a mere 17 goals. The 6-foot-2, 206-pounder reached the 30-goal mark in each of the previous four seasons.

Marc Antonine Godin of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has informed Pacioretty that the team doesn’t plan to negotiate a contract extension this summer and that “his intention is to trade Pacioretty as soon as possible.”

Skinner, 26, also saw a drop in his production this past season with 24 goals and 49 points. In the previous two seasons, he scored at least 28 goals and eclipsed the 50-point mark. The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder also has one year left on his contract with a $5.725 cap hit.

Previous reports have linked Chicago to Carolina, but for defenseman Justin Faulk, who is a top-four right-handed shot the Hawks need. Faulk, also 26, scored 30-plus points a season since the 2013-14 campaign. He He scored 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 76 games last season. Prior to the 2017-18 campaign, he had scored at least 15 goals in each of the last three seasons.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

So help me understand this....I get we needed to dump Hossa's contract. I get it was going to something of value to do that, hence Vinnie. Nice player.

We have salary off the books, but since it's after July 1, we have the same cap hit we had prior, which isn't much.
yes???

I would love Pacioretty. Skinner is a flimsy little baby. And the Hawks need Justin Faulk like a hole in the head.

I believe you have until the start of the season to get your cap in line. I recall in years past they would go over the cap, but then make moves before the start of the season to get it right.

Patches would be a good pick-up if he comes cheap.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

I thought Hossa just retired.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

Panarin ain't comin' back.

Pacioretty would be a good get.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

... probably missing playoffs the next two years, if we're being honest.

Can't say this makes any difference. 8.5 million in cap space give you room for one nice player. One nice player does not solve the multiple problems
1. defense
2. $10 million for a center that performs like a 2nd or 3rd line center
3. goalie depth....especially when your stud goalie is gone for half the season
4. Scoring help at wing.

I see another year of missing the playoffs.

Marcus Kruger?

Wonder if Crow has a great first half they tank trade him.

Not sure I believe he will be on the ice, this year. We still have not got an answer to this "mysterious" injury.

Does Passages Malibu have a rink for him to get some work in during his down time?

Not sure I believe he will be on the ice, this year. We still have not got an answer to this "mysterious" injury.

They’re a playoff team if Crawford is close to 100% and they get a couple bounce back performances. Granted, Nashville, Winnipeg, and probably St. Louis are better teams than the Hawks.

ok, so maybe they're a playoff team with a first year exit just like 2015-16 and 2016-17 if Crow is 100%.. not sure this team is even as good as those teams. Woof.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.