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Post by nighbor on Apr 12, 2024 11:51:04 GMT -6
I think the team has more than enough cap space to do both (ie add cap dumps and young players from other cash-strapped teams). The real issue is whether or not the owner is willing to spend the money. For several years now, the Wirtz family (fronted by the young general manager) has been hiding behind this idea that they need to "preserve" cap space for future years. Of course, the system does not work that way. Money saved for this year is not added to subsequent years. There is no reason not to spend to the cap every year. We all understand that management must avoid taking on long term contracts to preserve future cap space for the kids. But the cap is not going to be an issue for some time. The cap is likely to be going up fairly dramatically over the next few years. Given fan excitement over Berard, my guess is that the team has never sold more jerseys than it has this year. Ticket sales remain strong. Money is being made - perhaps more now than even during the cup years. Yet the team is not spending... and some seriously suggest the general manager is not deliberately tanking. When Stan signed Toews and Kane to their monster contracts he was sure the cap would contiue to rise and there would be enough to go around. We saw what happened. I don't blame KD for wanting to avoid the same fate. Straddling the salary cap doesn't guarantee cups just ask the Leaf fans. |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 12, 2024 12:45:52 GMT -6
Skinner has had a career of season-to-season inconsistency, to be sure, but he's still a great skater and still scores goals. He's having a "down" season but he still has 45 points and 24 goals. He would be at worst the 2nd best goal scorer on the Hawks next season. As for the AAV and term - you're right to call it "play" money or it could be called "insurance" money to insure Bedard isn't forced to play his sophomore season with a band of misfits. Relying on Hall coming back and playing the entire season well enough to make a difference is not a good bet and hopefully not one KD will take. I know they have to reach the floor somehow and I realize the three year term doesn't interfere with signing players who'll need to be signed or RE-signed in a few years,but let me ask this. Shouldn't nine million bucks fetch a better linemate for Bedard than Skinner? Wouldn't this move really be made to add even more high picks to the already massive pile? I know there's strength in numbers when it comes to quality prospects but the numbers the team's collected from not just only the last two drafts,which equate to five drafts(five 1st's five 2nd's five 3rd's),but there's already surpluses in the next three.......big time surpluses! Yes it should. However the matter of availability of a better $9M player and the cost of acquiring that player makes it more likely Skinner may be the best option at this time - and that's only with the assumption it won't require a prohibitive cost. Time is more of the essence than what may otherwise seem like something that you do only if a good option presents itself. I believe that to be true because Bedard is the centerpiece of the rebuild and therefore risking that his development should suffer another season of not doing everything possible to help him grow into that center piece we need him to be would be a travesty of management. I don't care if it's Skinner or some other legitimate NHL level top-6 winger - but it can't be another Foligno or Dickenson or Athanasiou or even Reichel who hasn't been there and done that and may never be a legit NHL level top-6 player. Provide Bedard with a stud player to play with even if it requires overpayment. |
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Post by mvr on Apr 12, 2024 16:59:46 GMT -6
I think the team has more than enough cap space to do both (ie add cap dumps and young players from other cash-strapped teams). The real issue is whether or not the owner is willing to spend the money. For several years now, the Wirtz family (fronted by the young general manager) has been hiding behind this idea that they need to "preserve" cap space for future years. Of course, the system does not work that way. Money saved for this year is not added to subsequent years. There is no reason not to spend to the cap every year. We all understand that management must avoid taking on long term contracts to preserve future cap space for the kids. But the cap is not going to be an issue for some time. The cap is likely to be going up fairly dramatically over the next few years. Given fan excitement over Berard, my guess is that the team has never sold more jerseys than it has this year. Ticket sales remain strong. Money is being made - perhaps more now than even during the cup years. Yet the team is not spending... and some seriously suggest the general manager is not deliberately tanking. When Stan signed Toews and Kane to their monster contracts he was sure the cap would contiue to rise and there would be enough to go around. We saw what happened. I don't blame KD for wanting to avoid the same fate. Straddling the salary cap doesn't guarantee cups just ask the Leaf fans. But when is this future cap squeeze actually going to become an issue? None of the kids on the roster or recently drafted will be approaching UFA for six or more years. Bedard is going to get paid at some point, and so will Vlasic and Korchinski. But really, that's it. The general manager can easily anticipate these cap obligations and plan accordingly while filling the present roster with quality short term and mid-term contracts and spending close to the cap ceiling. The team deliberately planned to lose this year. They used the excuse of the future cap to save money on salaries while making huge at the box office and in merchandise. If they don't need to spend the money, they won't. The question is - how long will the fan base remain patient? I think the clock needs to start ticking....... |
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Post by LordKOTL on Apr 12, 2024 17:52:09 GMT -6
When Stan signed Toews and Kane to their monster contracts he was sure the cap would contiue to rise and there would be enough to go around. We saw what happened. I don't blame KD for wanting to avoid the same fate. Straddling the salary cap doesn't guarantee cups just ask the Leaf fans. But when is this future cap squeeze actually going to become an issue? None of the kids on the roster or recently drafted will be approaching UFA for six or more years. Bedard is going to get paid at some point, and so will Vlasic and Korchinski. But really, that's it. The general manager can easily anticipate these cap obligations and plan accordingly while filling the present roster with quality short term and mid-term contracts and spending close to the cap ceiling. The team deliberately planned to lose this year. They used the excuse of the future cap to save money on salaries while making huge at the box office and in merchandise. If they don't need to spend the money, they won't. The question is - how long will the fan base remain patient? I think the clock needs to start ticking....... Playing devil's advocate: I agree that we want mid-terms deals that will not tuck us in with albatross contracts. However, the right fill-in players might not want those deals. They might want a 7-8 year/retirement deal with the cash to go with it. If it is someone that can be a Hossa/Campbell type, sure, we do it. On the flipside, if it's someone who we'd rather have them signed to a Hall-type deal for a small amount of years (even at inflated salary), but they want long term, do we take the risk? At some point cap squeeze will become an issue. Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Campbell all had high salaries in those days with that cap ceiling. At some point we'll need a similar nucleus: Bedard, Vlassic, Korch, and 3-5 others that all will command a chunk of the cap--be them prospects or acquisitions. Do we want the 'hawks to risk signing an albatross long-term deal and have to work around it? Or, do we go for a potentially lower-yield player who might not be as-good but will take a short-term deal and kick the can down the road? I said before I think we should start looking now into getting players in from outside if there is a hole in the lineup that there's not a can't miss prospect ready to fill. If the outside acquisition is also can't-miss, I'm fine with term. If there is a risk I'm not really okay with term, but that's my opinion. |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 12, 2024 18:29:55 GMT -6
I think salary cap management and planning to sustain a Cup contending team is almost as important as constructing the roster of a Cup contending team - else you may get only one or two seasons to that Cup contending upper echelon team before the Cap casualties start tearing it down. I think we all know and can agree with that.
The challenge comes with knowing when to keep the powder dry and when to pull the trigger. And that gets complicated when there are so many moving parts with different time lines that have to be managed within your own roster and the availability and cost to bring in players from outside the organization.
So I get that it's tough and the probability to get it wrong is probably much higher than it is to get it right and is made even tougher because sometimes things are out of your control.
But - I think a good rule of thumb is keep the FA big buck acquisition money dry until the first half of the new guy's contract aligns with the Cup contending window. In other words you pull the trigger about when the Cup contending window is opening - not 3 or 4 years ahead of time or that high price free agent brought in to be the "final piece" will be over 30 when you need him to play like he did when he was 27.
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Post by mvr on Apr 12, 2024 19:47:08 GMT -6
The team we are watching tonight, the Predators, made two big off-season signings last summer.
Ryan O'Reilly, 33, accepted a four year $18 million deal. Gustav Nyqvist, 34, signed for two years at $3.2 M/year.
Neither of these moves locked the Predators into long-term deals. Both players have played extremely well. GM Barry Trotz took a team looking to be in decline and has them in the playoffs (and now anything can happen - see the St Louis Blues, LA Kings etc).
I don't believe in bidding on the big names in UFA and never have. I also don't want an aging slug taking a spot where a young player should be playing.
But I do think a team needs to spend close to the cap to be competitive. And when your coach is dressing guys like Zaitsev, Tinordi, T. Johnson etc., there is room for veterans of higher quality.
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Post by BigT on Apr 12, 2024 22:09:44 GMT -6
The team we are watching tonight, the Predators, made two big off-season signings last summer. Ryan O'Reilly, 33, accepted a four year $18 million deal. Gustav Nyqvist, 34, signed for two years at $3.2 M/year. Neither of these moves locked the Predators into long-term deals. Both players have played extremely well. GM Barry Trotz took a team looking to be in decline and has them in the playoffs (and now anything can happen - see the St Louis Blues, LA Kings etc). I don't believe in bidding on the big names in UFA and never have. I also don't want an aging slug taking a spot where a young player should be playing. But I do think a team needs to spend close to the cap to be competitive. And when your coach is dressing guys like Zaitsev, Tinordi, T. Johnson etc., there is room for veterans of higher quality. I gave you a thumbs up cuz I can’t say you’re wrong. But I don’t think you care at all about the Hawks plans. I’m half on your side. The Hawks should do better than T Johnson, R Johnson, Entwhistle, etc. They will all be gone soon. Maybe one more year for Whistle. It’s good to see kids like Slaggert. He’s been really promising. I can see him being another Hagel type. There’s gonna be a lot of kids coming over the next two years. So they probably don’t wanna sign a 33 year old O’Reilly to 4 years. I can see that. But what they can do is take on salary dumps for a ransom. And also signs a couple bottom 6 guys to 3 year deals. Bob has brought up Duhaime. He makes 1.1 this year. He hits, he can score a little and will fight if need be. If the Hawks offered him a 3 year 6.6 million deal. He’d probably take it. He will mean every dollar of that. Ad in 1-2 more guys like that, and it helps stop the bleeding!!! |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 12, 2024 22:52:57 GMT -6
Expectations - I have expectations for next season that the following players are NOT here: Johnsons (both of them), Raddysh, Entwistle, Anderson, Blackwell, Tinordi, Zaitsev, Megna, and if there's a way to get rid of these guys who are still under contract - do it: Murphy, Donato, and Athanasiou. Give them all a one-way ticket to Palookaville where they belong.
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Post by mvr on Apr 13, 2024 6:03:09 GMT -6
The team we are watching tonight, the Predators, made two big off-season signings last summer. Ryan O'Reilly, 33, accepted a four year $18 million deal. Gustav Nyqvist, 34, signed for two years at $3.2 M/year. Neither of these moves locked the Predators into long-term deals. Both players have played extremely well. GM Barry Trotz took a team looking to be in decline and has them in the playoffs (and now anything can happen - see the St Louis Blues, LA Kings etc). I don't believe in bidding on the big names in UFA and never have. I also don't want an aging slug taking a spot where a young player should be playing. But I do think a team needs to spend close to the cap to be competitive. And when your coach is dressing guys like Zaitsev, Tinordi, T. Johnson etc., there is room for veterans of higher quality. I gave you a thumbs up cuz I can’t say you’re wrong. But I don’t think you care at all about the Hawks plans. I’m half on your side. The Hawks should do better than T Johnson, R Johnson, Entwhistle, etc. They will all be gone soon. Maybe one more year for Whistle. It’s good to see kids like Slaggert. He’s been really promising. I can see him being another Hagel type. There’s gonna be a lot of kids coming over the next two years. So they probably don’t wanna sign a 33 year old O’Reilly to 4 years. I can see that. But what they can do is take on salary dumps for a ransom. And also signs a couple bottom 6 guys to 3 year deals. Bob has brought up Duhaime. He makes 1.1 this year. He hits, he can score a little and will fight if need be. If the Hawks offered him a 3 year 6.6 million deal. He’d probably take it. He will mean every dollar of that. Ad in 1-2 more guys like that, and it helps stop the bleeding!!! The goalie we saw last night, Lankinen, has played exceptionally well all year and really could be a number one goalie on many teams. He is still young. Davidson gave him away. Dylan Strome leads his team in scoring with 65 points. Kane averages just under a point a game and so does Debrincat. Hagel has 72 points. McCabe is playing top four minutes for the Maple Leafs. Dach looked very good last year with the Canadiens. Perhaps if Davidson had not blown up the roster and instead just changed coaches, the team could have turned the corner. The Kane/Toews contracts ended last year, which meant the team would have plenty of money to add players such as O'Reilly and Nyqvist. Toews might still be playing in a reduced role. Sure, Bedard is here. There are some promising kids in the system - more than what would be here without all the trades. But prospects are not players. They are lottery tickets. The Oilers have been "rebuilding" for 20 years. Has Ottawa or Arizona ever not been rebuilding? There was a different path to follow here. One that did not require the team to tank. It would have required patience and stability - attributes people don't value any more. I have always been one to believe in slow, organic growth. Those pushing for sudden radical change lack the wisdom or maturity to handle the keys to the car. |
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Post by mvr on Apr 13, 2024 7:58:42 GMT -6
Expectations - I have expectations for next season that the following players are NOT here: Johnsons (both of them), Raddysh, Entwistle, Anderson, Blackwell, Tinordi, Zaitsev, Megna, and if there's a way to get rid of these guys who are still under contract - do it: Murphy, Donato, and Athanasiou. Give them all a one-way ticket to Palookaville where they belong. You're talking here about turning over more than half the roster - again. This is not going to provide the young players with stability or consistency. How is a coaching staff going to develop any cohesion with this much change - again? For certain, Tyler Johnson is gone. He looks like he wants out. My assumption is that Blackwell will explore UFA, though I'd offer him a short term contract. Zaitsev should be replaced. So should Megna and Tinordi. Now we are already at five guys. I think Raddsyh goes and is replaced by Dach. That's six. The backup goalie position might need to be upgraded. That's seven new players next year which is just about a third of the entire roster. My feeling is this is enough change. Cheap-fill like Entwistle, Reese Johnson and Anderson assume roles at the bottom of every team's payroll. They provide value for the dollar, and there is no need to replace them until better options emerge from within. Murphy, Donato and Athanasiou carry short-term contracts and will be trade fodder at next year's deadline. |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 13, 2024 8:02:51 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect.
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 13, 2024 8:06:29 GMT -6
Expectations - I have expectations for next season that the following players are NOT here: Johnsons (both of them), Raddysh, Entwistle, Anderson, Blackwell, Tinordi, Zaitsev, Megna, and if there's a way to get rid of these guys who are still under contract - do it: Murphy, Donato, and Athanasiou. Give them all a one-way ticket to Palookaville where they belong. It's what I would like to see happen - it's not what I think or expect will happen. I'll be pleasantly surprised if half of those on that list are gone and especially pleased if all three of Tinordi, Zaitsev and Megna are the first ones out the door. |
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Post by hsbob on Apr 13, 2024 11:25:18 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect. I thought the plan was to scorch the earth,tank the record and take-on bad contracts in order to collect a massive amount of high picks because we don't want to be a 'one and done team' or 'just make the PO's' and the team's done those things. I thought the drastic nature of the rebuild and the draft capitol acquired was intended to make the team perennial cup contenders for years. Shouldn't the suffering lead to more than just a good team? I know it'll take a few years but expectations should remain high with all the high picks acquired,some good,young players were traded for those picks and accountability for the FO's performance has to be measured at some point. Bad's the enemy of good too! Gotta be good before you can be great. |
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Post by Granada on Apr 15, 2024 9:40:20 GMT -6
Bill Wirtz was always upfront and honest about what he was doing. We all despised him for it. His grandson is doing the same thing, and yet he gets a free pass. I don't get it. Wait, so we're at the point now where we're comparing Bill and Danny? Seriously? It's not as if I'm a gigantic fan of Danny -- his decision to retire Chelios' number alone will forever etch his name on my shit list -- but comparing him to Bill is just plain ridiculous, sorry. Danny hasn't spent money yet because the team is rebuilding. This isn't Rocket Science. |
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Post by LordKOTL on Apr 15, 2024 9:49:48 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect. I thought the plan was to scorch the earth,tank the record and take-on bad contracts in order to collect a massive amount of high picks because we don't want to be a 'one and done team' or 'just make the PO's' and the team's done those things. I thought the drastic nature of the rebuild and the draft capitol acquired was intended to make the team perennial cup contenders for years. Shouldn't the suffering lead to more than just a good team? I know it'll take a few years but expectations should remain high with all the high picks acquired,some good,young players were traded for those picks and accountability for the FO's performance has to be measured at some point. Bad's the enemy of good too! Gotta be good before you can be great. Too go of of ER, was the previous build perfect? We're there moves that are regrettable that could have gotten us another cup? Probably. But we still got 3 cups. In the same vein, how many of the 2006 roster got the 2010 cup? 2013? 2015? We need lukewarm bodies to fill out the roster and they will be turned over. We got some guys on the roster with potential long term. Everyone else should be shuffled out |
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Post by BigT on Apr 15, 2024 10:11:02 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect. Einstein once said. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. So at some point the rebuild plan has to totally shift directions. The rebuild is an organizational created problem. They created a last place team. Now they gotta build it up differently than the tear down. I like a lot of kids coming in. But a team will not be built just from within. Getting a few of those pieces now is not a bad thing!!! |
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Post by Granada on Apr 15, 2024 10:44:27 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect. Einstein once said. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. So at some point the rebuild plan has to totally shift directions. The rebuild is an organizational created problem. They created a last place team. Now they gotta build it up differently than the tear down. I like a lot of kids coming in. But a team will not be built just from within. Getting a few of those pieces now is not a bad thing!!! Right, but that is the question: when exactly? I mentioned in another thread, I don't think Davidson can be afforded more than 3 years -- what I mean by that is, he's basically got one more year (this year was year 1) to be a complete cellar-dweller like the team was this year, and the year after, there has to be substantial progress/improvement, whether that means making the playoffs or just missing. This off-season is his last to essentially "stand pat" and fill holes with cheap vets, as he did this past off-season. He has to bet on a core of Bedard, Kurashev, Jones, Vlasic, and Korchinski -- with preferably another forward and a core goalie -- by 2025-2026 -- even if he isn't sold on it. I would not mind if he brings in outside pieces this off-season to build the core, and in a way, I'm expecting him to. Then again, if he doesn't, there is zero doubt he will next off-season (2025), because he won't have a choice. |
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Post by BigT on Apr 15, 2024 11:07:07 GMT -6
Einstein once said. “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. So at some point the rebuild plan has to totally shift directions. The rebuild is an organizational created problem. They created a last place team. Now they gotta build it up differently than the tear down. I like a lot of kids coming in. But a team will not be built just from within. Getting a few of those pieces now is not a bad thing!!! Right, but that is the question: when exactly? I mentioned in another thread, I don't think Davidson can be afforded more than 3 years -- what I mean by that is, he's basically got one more year (this year was year 1) to be a complete cellar-dweller like the team was this year, and the year after, there has to be substantial progress/improvement, whether that means making the playoffs or just missing. This off-season is his last to essentially "stand pat" and fill holes with cheap vets, as he did this past off-season. He has to bet on a core of Bedard, Kurashev, Jones, Vlasic, and Korchinski -- with preferably another forward and a core goalie -- by 2025-2026 -- even if he isn't sold on it. I would not mind if he brings in outside pieces this off-season to build the core, and in a way, I'm expecting him to. Then again, if he doesn't, there is zero doubt he will next off-season (2025), because he won't have a choice. If Draisaitl does not re-up with Edmonton. KD will go hard at him. He’s the new age Hossa. So I think he waits till next summer. Maybe adds a few pieces in this year. But I think that’s part of the plan. We’ll see though!!! |
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Post by Granada on Apr 15, 2024 11:21:29 GMT -6
Right, but that is the question: when exactly? I mentioned in another thread, I don't think Davidson can be afforded more than 3 years -- what I mean by that is, he's basically got one more year (this year was year 1) to be a complete cellar-dweller like the team was this year, and the year after, there has to be substantial progress/improvement, whether that means making the playoffs or just missing. This off-season is his last to essentially "stand pat" and fill holes with cheap vets, as he did this past off-season. He has to bet on a core of Bedard, Kurashev, Jones, Vlasic, and Korchinski -- with preferably another forward and a core goalie -- by 2025-2026 -- even if he isn't sold on it. I would not mind if he brings in outside pieces this off-season to build the core, and in a way, I'm expecting him to. Then again, if he doesn't, there is zero doubt he will next off-season (2025), because he won't have a choice. If Draisaitl does not re-up with Edmonton. KD will go hard at him. He’s the new age Hossa. So I think he waits till next summer. Maybe adds a few pieces in this year. But I think that’s part of the plan. We’ll see though!!! That is a good call, I wouldn't be shocked if KD pursues him then, as he should. That's partly why I wouldn't blow a gasket if he doesn't bring in a big name and/or if he brings in similar pieces like Hall this off-season. I won't grab my pitchfork until the 2025 off-season. |
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Post by 2old4this on Apr 16, 2024 0:03:39 GMT -6
If Draisaitl does not re-up with Edmonton. KD will go hard at him. He’s the new age Hossa. So I think he waits till next summer. Maybe adds a few pieces in this year. But I think that’s part of the plan. We’ll see though!!! That is a good call, I wouldn't be shocked if KD pursues him then, as he should. That's partly why I wouldn't blow a gasket if he doesn't bring in a big name and/or if he brings in similar pieces like Hall this off-season. I won't grab my pitchfork until the 2025 off-season. What is the goal of every NHL player? What do you think his odds are of achieving that goal with the B'Hawks in the next few years? How much do you think he would want in salary? How much do you think KD would be willing to pay? |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 16, 2024 0:51:04 GMT -6
What's the old saying - "perfect is the enemy of good" - or something like that. I want the result of this rebuild to be good - it will never be perfect. . “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. Eh, Einstein shmeinstein - what did he know? He couldn't even account for quantum gravity is his theories.  |
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Post by BigT on Apr 16, 2024 5:27:54 GMT -6
If Draisaitl does not re-up with Edmonton. KD will go hard at him. He’s the new age Hossa. So I think he waits till next summer. Maybe adds a few pieces in this year. But I think that’s part of the plan. We’ll see though!!! That is a good call, I wouldn't be shocked if KD pursues him then, as he should. That's partly why I wouldn't blow a gasket if he doesn't bring in a big name and/or if he brings in similar pieces like Hall this off-season. I won't grab my pitchfork until the 2025 off-season. Draisaitl’s bday is in October. He’ll be 29 this year. When he’s a free agent, he’ll be 30. Pretty much like Hossa. Is it worth a 7 year deal for him? He’s gonna want 12-13 million. And we may only get 3-4 good years outta that. I love what the guy brings and maybe he gets Reichel going in the same direction. But maybe it’s best to steer clear of that later cap problems. Maybe they could do a higher cap, lower term deal. Like a 5 year 14 million deal? This way the team isn’t strapped forever. And if the cap could be 90-92 million by then. Gotta think with Salt Lake getting a team and a full building. It’ll really help move the needle the other way. Coyotes helped move the needle down way too often. So paying him may not be that bad. Especially on the shorter term!!! |
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Post by hsbob on Apr 16, 2024 11:02:45 GMT -6
I thought the plan was to scorch the earth,tank the record and take-on bad contracts in order to collect a massive amount of high picks because we don't want to be a 'one and done team' or 'just make the PO's' and the team's done those things. I thought the drastic nature of the rebuild and the draft capitol acquired was intended to make the team perennial cup contenders for years. Shouldn't the suffering lead to more than just a good team? I know it'll take a few years but expectations should remain high with all the high picks acquired,some good,young players were traded for those picks and accountability for the FO's performance has to be measured at some point. Bad's the enemy of good too! Gotta be good before you can be great. Too go of of ER, was the previous build perfect? We're there moves that are regrettable that could have gotten us another cup? Probably. But we still got 3 cups. In the same vein, how many of the 2006 roster got the 2010 cup? 2013? 2015? We need lukewarm bodies to fill out the roster and they will be turned over. We got some guys on the roster with potential long term. Everyone else should be shuffled out The previous build was as perfect as a build's gonna get IMO,it's a high bar to measure-up to and nearly unparalleled in the cap era. I won't say every move was perfect but I recall few if any "regrettable" moves myself. The cap gutted the 11&12 teams and my only regret was the puck bouncing-in off Ledy in OT of the 2014 WCF game seven. If this rebuild was at the very begining,more shuffling out of warm bodies would be required but I don't see it at the very beginning. There's still a good number of prospects from the previous regime and the team's already drafted five times in the 1st,five times in the 2nd and five times in the 3rd just in the past two years with even more surpluses in the bank the next 2-3 drafts. Some prospects will undoubtedly be moved out,but if all seven picks in the first 3 rounds are retained this summer,it'll give the team aprox thirty in-system kids from rounds 1-3 alone to go along with later round picks......the team will have amassed SEVEN 1st round picks in three consecutive drafts. I think these numbers suggest the rebuild should be well on it's path and the presence of Bedard,the immergence of Vlasic and KK to a lesser extent and Kurashev's encouraging play should have some impact on the trajectory too. Continuing to shuffle warm bodies in and out could have a less than ideal effect on these good,young players if it goes on for too long. The kids will need a few years to develop and some time to get their legs under them once they're up with the big club,but what kind of atmosphere do we want these kids to develop in? No one's advocating for the late 20's max-term,max-money UFA,but the team will have it's draft foundation in place after this summer,targeting an age appropriate,talented forward or two who'll be in their mid 20's in a few years helps the kids that are here in the meantime and offers better support for the kids to come. I don't expect much over the next two seasons but a competitive atmosphere would be advantageous and Jr's gonna have to shit or get off the pot at some point. |
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 16, 2024 11:15:16 GMT -6
That is a good call, I wouldn't be shocked if KD pursues him then, as he should. That's partly why I wouldn't blow a gasket if he doesn't bring in a big name and/or if he brings in similar pieces like Hall this off-season. I won't grab my pitchfork until the 2025 off-season. Draisaitl’s bday is in October. He’ll be 29 this year. When he’s a free agent, he’ll be 30. Pretty much like Hossa. Is it worth a 7 year deal for him? He’s gonna want 12-13 million. And we may only get 3-4 good years outta that. I love what the guy brings and maybe he gets Reichel going in the same direction. But maybe it’s best to steer clear of that later cap problems. Maybe they could do a higher cap, lower term deal. Like a 5 year 14 million deal? This way the team isn’t strapped forever. And if the cap could be 90-92 million by then. Gotta think with Salt Lake getting a team and a full building. It’ll really help move the needle the other way. Coyotes helped move the needle down way too often. So paying him may not be that bad. Especially on the shorter term!!! I'm sure it must be annoying to some to read me banging this drum over and over - but getting the timing right is a major factor in getting this rebuild right. Pulling the trigger on a Draisaitl or Hossa type player years too early is more likely to hurt the rebuild than help it. The best strategic time to take the swing for the fences "final piece" free agent acquisition is at least a couple years away - if not 3 or 4 years away - when the Hawks are just getting to the opening of their Cup contending window - meaning the free agent would be 27/28 THEN - not now. We want "the guy" to still have his late 20's and early 30's left to play during our Cup contending years. The free agent we would be targeting then would be 24'ish now. To be clear - I'm talking about THE big fish acquisition we want to add for the "final piece" - not free agent acquisitions on shorter term deals to play crucial roles in developing the young players over the next few years - like someone to play with Bedard. Edit: the Hossa acquisition supports the point that the big time free agent acquisition should be done at the time the Cup contending window is opening - as it was in 2009 when we signed Hosaa. The Hawks are not at the same position of the rebuild as they were in 2009. |
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Post by mvr on Apr 16, 2024 13:03:57 GMT -6
Martin Havlat was a mercenary Tallon brought in during the early rebuild.
Before Kane and Toews fully took charge, he was the go-to guy. When Havlat was healthy, he filled that role quite adequately.
Admittedly, I was never a fan, and I cheered when Bowman let the fragile Havlat go so he could sign the bull Hossa.
Right now, however, Bedard certainly could use a Havlat-type to help take some of the scoring-pressure off him on a short term deal. Certainly, the Tallon rebuild did not really suffer in losing Mark Bell and dinner scraps.
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 16, 2024 13:14:10 GMT -6
Martin Havlat was a mercenary Tallon brought in during the early rebuild. Before Kane and Toews fully took charge, he was the go-to guy. When Havlat was healthy, he filled that role quite adequately. Admittedly, I was never a fan, and I cheered when Bowman let the fragile Havlat go so he could sign the bull Hossa. Right now, however, Bedard certainly could use a Havlat-type to help take some of the scoring-pressure off him on a short term deal. Certainly, the Tallon rebuild did not really suffer in losing Mark Bell and dinner scraps. Exactly - Havlat is a great example of the type of player KD should acquire - would help Bedard and other young players develop their offensive games and wouldn't muck up the salary cap plans for the rebuild. Sign a player like that for 2 or 3 or even 4 years and overpay him if necessary to make it happen. |
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Post by mvr on Apr 16, 2024 14:32:07 GMT -6
Jeff Skinner for three years at $9M is pretty much a Havlat carbon copy. If the Sabres offer an incentive to take on the contract, I am in.
An off-season where Davidson adds Skinner (with picks), Kotkaniemi (with picks) and Pinto (minus pick/prospect) would set the team up for a quick turnaround. I don't think he'd need to do much more. The rest of the roster would be filled gradually with all the prospects.
By the time the team is ready to compete, Skinner is done. The centre and defence positions, however, would pretty much settled. Hopefully, Davidson has added through the draft some power wingers and a right shot defenceman. At that point, he can draft or trade for the scoring forward to replace Skinner.
The real issue: does the general manager have the go-ahead from the owner to spend to the cap?
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Post by mvr on Apr 16, 2024 14:44:04 GMT -6
Before anyone screams "cap space," let's remember: the Hawks are more than $15 M below the cap this year. Zaitsev and Tyler Johnson are off the books this summer saving another $10 M. There is at least another $5 M in gained cap space as buyouts mature for Duncan Keith and several others.
No question there is room moving forward for all three of Skinner, Kotkaniemi and Pinto (with plenty to spare both in the short term and beyond).
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Post by ebonyraptor on Apr 16, 2024 15:23:30 GMT -6
Before anyone screams "cap space," let's remember: the Hawks are more than $15 M below the cap this year. Zaitsev and Tyler Johnson are off the books this summer saving another $10 M. There is at least another $5 M in gained cap space as buyouts mature for Duncan Keith and several others. No question there is room moving forward for all three of Skinner, Kotkaniemi and Pinto (with plenty to spare both in the short term and beyond). If KD can acquire Skinner - count me in. The other two - not so much. First, I'm not high on Kotkaniemi, especially at his extended cap hit of $4.8M. I think he maxes out at around a 50pt player which isn't bad but I hope one or more of the prospects coming up the ranks can provide that or more. Second, Pinto will probably not become available because with Josh Norris' injury history Ottawa will be counting on Pinto being their 2C behind Stutzle. I think KD assumes Hall comes back able to play all or most of next season. Acquire Skinner and Hall-Bedard-Skinner provides Bedard with top-6 level talent to play with. Move Kurashev down to play with Reichel and Nazar and there's the 2nd line. The veterans available to fill out the lineup would be guys under contract for next season - Foligno, Dickenson, Athanasiou, Donato, and maybe re-sign Anderson and/or Blackwell and then complete the lineup with Slaggert and another prospect or two. In summary - I think we need a Skinner type top-6 winger for Bedard and we need Hall to come back and play. Everything else we've already got in-house or can re-sign. |
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Post by BigT on Apr 16, 2024 16:38:28 GMT -6
Before anyone screams "cap space," let's remember: the Hawks are more than $15 M below the cap this year. Zaitsev and Tyler Johnson are off the books this summer saving another $10 M. There is at least another $5 M in gained cap space as buyouts mature for Duncan Keith and several others. No question there is room moving forward for all three of Skinner, Kotkaniemi and Pinto (with plenty to spare both in the short term and beyond). I love what you’re saying. The Hawks have accumulated enough picks over the last 4-5 years (and many on the roster now). Hawks could take on salary dumps and hopefully they pan out. If not, they’re not long term plans. I like the thought of Pinto. Not liking Kotkaniemi. Especially at that money and term. I’m not interested because Carolina would more than likely not sweeten the pot. And if they did, it’d be a 2nd rounder or a mid level prospect. Kotkaniemi just won’t be worth it. But……. I absolutely love what you’re selling here!!! |
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