 | Trade Rumors: Possible moves out of Chicago |
Brian Campbell's contract is the killer. His $7.14 annual salary is also his cap number, and he hasn't justified the money. Goalie Cristobal Huet has two years and $11.25 million remaining on his contract after this season. That's where the Blackhawks will be feeling the squeeze, even more if the cap drops after this season.
OK, so who gets sent packing? Patrick Sharp looks like a bargain at $4 million this year, but he could be gone in a one-sided trade. Kris Versteeg is just more than $3 million and is worth every penny, but he's another candidate for departure. Same goes for good, young defenseman Brent Seabrook and his $3.5 million deal. Heck, they could lose all three and still have a strong team.
But teams such as the Sabres, who can clear $6.4 million from the books if they don't keep Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder, should be prepared to pounce.
http://www.buffalonews.com/opinions/columns/buckygleason/story/884374.html
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| "Possible moves out of Chicago" | Login/Create an Account | 74 comments |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by number15 on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | To Leags:
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- Patrick Sharp
- 2nd rounder
To Hawks:
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- Nikolai Kulemin
- Gernnet Exelby
- 3rd rounder
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by the_word on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | Seabrook is the only player they can package with Campbell. No one is going to want to take on 11 million between Sharp (who is good but not great) and Campbell (cap tumor). The Blackhawks could package Campbell with two 1st round picks (those picks should suck anyway) and take a reasonable contract coming back. Problem solved.
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by cam7777 on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | The Hawks are screwed. With 61.3 million committed to just 15 players next season, they are going to have to move out a number of bodies to keep under the cap. Campbell and Huet are virtually unmoveable (though Huet might get claimed on a re-entry waiver),
Even if they bury Sopel, and manage to trade Versteeg, Barker and Byfuglien for nothing but picks, and no salary, they would still have over 49 million dollars committed to just 11 players. They would have to add 11 players to the roster with just 7 million dollars, which makes resigning RFA's like Niemi, Hjalmarasson, Eager and Ladd virtually impossible, as all will command raises that would eat up too much salary.
If I were an opposing GM, I would rather let Chicago squirm until the very last second, and try to pluck one of their players for nothing. I'm not just going to step up and start throwing 1sts around for Dustin Byfuglien and the like. Moreoever, leaving them in distress means that the aforementioned RFA's could hit July 1st as a UFA's as a result of no legitimate qualifying offers being tendered.
Bowman will literally have two weeks to move out anywhere from 4-7 big name players, just to squeeze under the cap. It's going to be chaos. |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by mon167 on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I dont think anyone is taking Campbell or Huet's contract...and if they do, they're dumb. The hawks are going to have to clear around 10 million dollars...i would be surprised if they do so while keeping any of the three players mentioned in the article. The rest of their players are either not being moved, not movable or dont make enough for it to make a difference. |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by bbruins37 (qwerty@hotmail.com) on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | | congrats to marty brodeur on tying sawchuk's shutout record. with 2 and a half seasons to go (at least), i think he could set the bar at around 120 |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by TheLeafNation91 on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | Another Leaf-centred question:
If Toronto is out of the playoff picture by trade deadline...Where should Ponikarovsky and Ian White be shipped off 2. They are having another good year and both are nearly at +10...Which asks you where does all the -'s come from...
I think we should pick up nice seconds for both... |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by 93killer93 on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | Chi
Sopel
2nd
3rd
Tor
Exelby
Foster |
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by palindrom on Monday, December 07
(User Info | Send a Message) | Offensively, gustavsson is better than komisarek
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Re: Possible moves out of Chicago (Score: 1)
by DannyLeafs (dude@dudemail.com) on Tuesday, December 08
(User Info | Send a Message) | Bowman's mismanagement of cap space has really looking like it could be a major set back to an organization that looked as if it could have become a dynasty. They still have the talent to do so, but they really need some form of stability, so I think it is necessary for them to devise a strategy going forward for who they would like to keep and who they see as expendable.
First is the forwards. This is one of the biggest areas of overspending on the club. They are paying too many forwards 3 million plus, and despite all of them being talented, some of them simply are not being used enough to be worth that for this team. This is the way I see their forward group going forward.
Keep:
Toews
Kane
Hossa
Obviously these three are the most recently signed forwards, and are also their most talented forwards, so they are definite keepers
Sharp - They should try at all costs to keep Sharp. His versatility is a must for a team that might face cap issues, and he is one of the few under value contracts the team has.
Bolland - He was only signed last year, and center is one position where their team is not particularly deep so he is essential. Also, it is likely they will need to trim down their forwards and go with more of a 6-6 set up in order to cut salary.
Brouwer - Provides most of what Byfuglien does, and is one third the cost. Here is a chance for Bowman to keep someone without letting their salary become too inflated.
Ladd, Eager, Kopecky, Burish, Fraser - good young players with smaller contracts that should be kept in check in order to get good value rather than retaining overpaid players
Trade:
Byfuglien - Too much money for what he provides for this team, his role and production can be replaced from within the organization
Versteeg- Talented, but unnecessary on a team with as much talent as Chicago.
Secondly their goaltending is an area where they could probably both upgrade and shed salary. Huet's contract may be difficult to move, but with just two years left and many teams without a quality starter, it should be possible to get something done with a team that is a couple of years away from being a true contender.
Finally, their defense is their biggest concern, mainly because who they want to move, and who they are able to move will likely never coincide. Also, despite being overpaid, Campbell is still a huge part of their defense core, and it is unlikely he would even accept a trade to any of the teams that would be willing to take on his contract. Chicago has too much money invested in their forward group to have a set up of 3 or even 4 high paid defensemen so they are likely going to have to trim down to a top two, with lower paid role players to fill out the bottom four. Either way, right now Chicago can't afford to keep all of Keith, Campbell, Seabrook, and Barker long term, so they will have to make a firm decision on who they are going to keep, and what they can do about the players they will have to move.
So to all HTR poster:
What strategy do you think is best for Chicago going forward? And what trades do you think make the most sense?
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