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This is the place to post and discuss any thoughts you have on issues relating to the Blackhawks currently and the future direction of the team.

It seems that the biggest issue currently surrounding the 'Hawks, of which the outome could drastically impact on the team long-term, is what to do with Patrick Kane. It has been well and truly reported (some might say excessivley) that Kane got into some altercations at a party recently, which has many people questioning the merits of keeping him or trading him to fill another weakness.

Patrick Britton of Bleacher Report raises this issue in HIS ARTICLE and notes that this is not the first time that Kane has found himself in trouble. We all remember the cab driver incident, which on top of this latest mistake has some calling for him to be moved. I am more hesitant to trade him though, as I think that he cops too much criticism for the negatives while a lot of people ignore his positives. He is still an elite scorer in the NHL, despite coming into the season with a wrist injury from the playoffs the year before, although some point to his scoring totals dropping last year. However, we have to factor in that he was played at every forward position during the season which meant he had to learn new roles, and he was without Jonathan Toews for a decent chunk of the year as well. That brings me to the main part of my reasoning behind not trading him -- his chemistry with Toews. The two of them seem to have a connection on the ice and they make each other better. It's the same situation that Detroit faced over the last few years deciding whether to keep Datsyuk and Zetterberg together or to split them up. Personally, I think we should give him another season with a healthy team around him, and play him consistently in the same position, and see if he doesn't bounce back to form. Even if he doesn't get back to his best and we do decide to trade him, he will still be very valuable at this time next year, especially given his young age.

This isn't good news: http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/85444 ... agree-meet

If the players and the league can't even agree to meet to discuss the lockout, then it doesn't sound like they'll be reaching an agreement anytime soon.

The lockout is over, and we have (part of) a season! Hoping to see some more fellow Blackhawks fans around these parts from now on!

Salary structure:
http://capgeek.com/blackhawks/

RFA - Kruger, Leddy

UFA - Bickell, Handzus, Stalberg, Mayers, Rozsival, Emery

~$2.1 mil in cap space

Biggest question this off-season is probably what to offer Bickell. How high do you go ? Bolland and Hjalmarsson are RFA after '13-14.

molepharmer wrote:Salary structure:
http://capgeek.com/blackhawks/

RFA - Kruger, Leddy

UFA - Bickell, Handzus, Stalberg, Mayers, Rozsival, Emery

~$2.1 mil in cap space

Biggest question this off-season is probably what to offer Bickell. How high do you go ? Bolland and Hjalmarsson are RFA after '13-14.

The link says the hawks have 9 m in cap space. Bickell I believe his same cap number would be fair which is 4 mil.

Handzus- Maybe he retires on top. Depends on price.
Stalburg-Wants I'ce time, hawks don't have it. Easy decision.
Mayers- Servicable player. Wait and see.
Rosival- Good defender. If the room is there would be nice to have back.
Emery- Backup. Don't have to risk resigning at expense of others.

So with the 9 mil. Id resign bickell for 4m.

Rest of 5 mil in this order for ufa:
Rosival or
Mayers


Qualifying offers for:
Leddy
Kruger if it makes sense.

Bickell has been locked up for 3 years I think. We've said goodbye to Bolland and Frolik in order to fit Bickell into the salary cap as well. Was that worth it? I know Bickell had a great post-season, but he's already 27 and is it just a coincidence that he had a breakout party right before looking for a new contract? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Bolland and Frolik will be bigger losses than a lot of people think, especially defensively. They weren't huge scorers, but Bolland has done some great defensive jobs in the past and always comes up big in the playoffs, and Frolik turned himself into a great defensive forward and PK'er this year. Anyone got any ideas on who will fill their spots? Do we sign some veterans or promote a couple of kids? This will all be very interesting to see as time goes on.

TNBT wrote:Bickell has been locked up for 3 years I think. We've said goodbye to Bolland and Frolik in order to fit Bickell into the salary cap as well. Was that worth it? I know Bickell had a great post-season, but he's already 27 and is it just a coincidence that he had a breakout party right before looking for a new contract? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Bolland and Frolik will be bigger losses than a lot of people think, especially defensively. They weren't huge scorers, but Bolland has done some great defensive jobs in the past and always comes up big in the playoffs, and Frolik turned himself into a great defensive forward and PK'er this year. Anyone got any ideas on who will fill their spots? Do we sign some veterans or promote a couple of kids? This will all be very interesting to see as time goes on.

So the hawks resign Rosival and Handzus. They are pretty much at all full capacity for the 2013-2014 season.

Curious what others want or see the Hawks doing this off-season, if anything big. Some talk of Kessler, Thornton and Spezza being 'available' for the right price. Have heard Seabrook and Sharp as biggest names Hawks 'may' consider moving.

Personally I'd like to see them make a big move for a veteran scorer. Give the offense a little more punch. 'Course I also wouldn't mind adding a better (top 4) defenseman either.

It would suck to say goodbye to Seabrook or Sharp, but if I had to move one, I'd move Sharp. He's older and I like our forward depth and prospects more than our defensive depth and prospects. I don't think Sharp and Hossa will be Blackhawks for too much longer, unfortunately. It will give a chance to a guy like Teravainen though to get a regular top-6 role.


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