Official Chicago Blackhawks Thread

[3KingsofMIAMI]

prediction: blackhawks lose in stanley cup thanks to hossa and his curse

[Mild Sauce]

Well, having them going that far is better respect than anyone outside of shaggy dog Barry Melrose has given them so far.

[Mild Sauce]

Okay, seriously, where's the team spirit. They're in the freaking STANLEY CUP FINALS NOW!!! WAKE UP BLACKHAWKS FANS!!!

[cselby]

Yeah, really, you'd think there would be at least a couple fans on here.

[Mild Sauce]

Yeah, seriously, I don't get it. Almost everyone out here is going nuts because of them, but it's like nobody on these boards seems to care, very strange. You can't go to a bar in the area without that Fratellis song coming on at least twice in the night, but oh well, yeah, this does not indicate what it's actually like in the Chicago area right now at all.

[No Pressure]

wee.

[cselby]

Come on Chicagoans, GET EXCITED! I can't believe No Pressure and Mild Sauce are the only hockey fans on this site...big game 4 tonight, I'm calling a Chicago 4-2 victory! get some!

[Mild Sauce]

Yeah, no kidding, even though that game didn't turn out great, seeing Byfuglien totally dominate Pronger and the Blackhawks dominate the Flyers in game 5 was awesome. I'm thinking the series ends with game 6, and I'll be there for the parade.

[cselby]

Congrats on the Cup victory!

[Mild Sauce]

I'm agreeing with that and thanks. I don't like to live vicariously through my teams, but at a time like this it's very hard not to. Still, it was a great series and the Flyers gave the Blackhawks a huge challenge, that team's as resiliant as any team the Blackhawks played in the playoffs, and really as any team in the league, but the Blackhawks finally were just too much for them in the end. It was an awesome and very exciting game.

[cselby]

I'm agreeing with that and thanks. I don't like to live vicariously through my teams, but at a time like this it's very hard not to. Still, it was a great series and the Flyers gave the Blackhawks a huge challenge, that team's as resiliant as any team the Blackhawks played in the playoffs, and really as any team in the league, but the Blackhawks finally were just too much for them in the end. It was an awesome and very exciting game.

Yeah, Flyers shouldn't hang their heads, that's for sure.

Now Chicago faces some major decisions in the offseason. The core is intact, but they are over the cap and have a handful of players they'll likely need to be rid off.

[bullsfan913323]

I liked kane's comments after the game.

Interview: "Now behave yourself tonight now patrick"

Kane: "Not a chance.. not a CHANCE!"

Lol.

[youngrazzle7]

crosby / ryan miller = my <3

[Mild Sauce]

I'm agreeing with that and thanks. I don't like to live vicariously through my teams, but at a time like this it's very hard not to. Still, it was a great series and the Flyers gave the Blackhawks a huge challenge, that team's as resiliant as any team the Blackhawks played in the playoffs, and really as any team in the league, but the Blackhawks finally were just too much for them in the end. It was an awesome and very exciting game.

Yeah, Flyers shouldn't hang their heads, that's for sure.

Now Chicago faces some major decisions in the offseason. The core is intact, but they are over the cap and have a handful of players they'll likely need to be rid off.

Yeah, I think Byfuglien is gone, and I'm thinkig...is it Sharp that's also expiring? It's Byfuglien and someone else, and I think they're going to be somewhere else next season. It'll hurt to lose both of them, but like you said, the core is intact, and like in basketball, in hockey if you have a core to build around, then you're in good shape since the rest can be filled in.

[cselby]

Sharp expires after this next season, he's currently under contract, but I have heard his name in multiple rumors stating that because of his salary, he's expendable and might look to be moved for a much cheaper player or a draft pick. In fact, I expect my Leafs to be pushing pretty hard for him. Then they've got Niemi who is an RFA, but that would be pretty shocking if they didn't re-sign him with a nice raise. Ideally, they'll try and move Campbell's monstrous deal, which could allow them to keep Buff, but that may be easier said than done.

Here's a Canadian media take on the Hawks offseason http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=324457

Not the most informative article, but I posted it because it outlines who the key free agents are. And I was just looking over at a salaries website, and it appears we are both a little misinformed. Byfuglien isn't an expiring deal, in fact he becomes an RFA after next season, and Sharp actually doesn't expire until 2013.

So you've got Burish, Madden, Johnsonn, and Boynton as UFA's. Madden and Boynton I can assume won't be back, the other two ideally are players you'd like to re-sign, it just depends on what the cost will be. But it is the RFA's that are going to kill you. Niemi obviously needs a raise, 1.5 to 2.3 mil per season seems respectable for him. Hjlamarsson you definitely want to keep and he'll need a raise (he made 600k this year). Ladd is a guy I'd try and re-sign, but, not the end of the world if you gotta let him go. They'll likely have to choose between Eager and Ladd.

Chicago is about 1 mil over the cap, and, adjusted for potential inflation, lets say they are right at the cap when the free agency begins, they'll need to offer contracts to 8 players at most. Niemi, Hjlamarsson are guys you absolutely must keep, so they'll have to trade one of the following: Sharp (4 mil), Byfuglien (3 mil), Versteeg (3 mil), Huet (5 mil), or Campbell (7 mil) to have a chance at re-signing both those guys. Nobody is going to take Huet but they can put his salary in the minors, and then they'll have to flip Sharp, Buff, or Versteeg for a cheaper player or a draft pick, which will sting, but it has to be done. So all hope is not lost for this team right now, they just have to hope there is a market for players like Sharp, and if they play their cards right, they'll be fine.

That post is pretty incoherent but I'm hoping it clears up the salary cap situation for you.