Well now it's going to be a very interesting offseason for the Bruins! Let's get this thing started. The draft and leading up to it is when I expect a flurry of moves from them.
Stanley Cup Finals Thread
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I figured it was his groin. Thought it must be a strain because it seems illogical that he could play 3 games at goalie with a torn groin muscle. Hockey players are definitely a different breed.cshea said:
Soxfan in Fla said:
Marc Staal was playing with a broken ankle and Ryan McDonough a broken foot when they were playing the Lightning. I am not sure how that's possible, but, yes, hockey players are certainly a different breed.
God knows what kinds of injuries Johnson has at this point. He was a completely different player until about Game 2 of the Rangers series.
BoSoxFink said:
Chicago made the very tough decision to dump some key guys after their first Cup win (Niemi, Versteeg, Byfuglien, Eager, Sopel, Ladd) because they were up against the cap. But they were able to win afterwards because they drafted very, very well and have been able to maintain their core of Toews, Kane, and Keith.
The Bruins resigned most of their guys, and it's tough to argue that was a mistake as they made another Cup final 2 years after winning and had the best record in the league the following year. But they didn't draft well and got stuck against the cap and had to dump guys with little return because of it.
Chicago is very, very good at what they do. I am in stunned admiration.
Chicago is also extremely fortunate they got Duncan Keith (and Brent Seabrook, although he's a notch or three lower than Keith) locked up to the most team-friendly superstar contract in sports. His cap hit this year was almost 500k less than Mike Green and he's locked up for several more years.
I'd probably add Hossa in there too. Illegal contract now, but $5.2 million cap hit. They took full advantage of the back diving deals when they were legal.
I'll also add that Chicago has the injury gods smiling on them. Throughoutl their runs, none of their core guys seem to get hurt. Keith, Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Seabrook. None o those guys has ever missed significant time in the playoffs. Seabrook was suspended once, but that is it. Things come together for 1 year for most teams, but they've been able to bob and weave and avoid significant injuries throughout the 6 years.
It might be Chicago's time to finally pay the piper. Unless they can find a taker (sucker) for Sharp or Bickell they are going to be up against it next season. They currently have 11 skaters signed next season and 5M in cap room, a good chunk of which will go to Saad.
The only real asset they have to trade and create cap space is probably Seabrook who only has 1yr left at 5.8.
The only real asset they have to trade and create cap space is probably Seabrook who only has 1yr left at 5.8.
I could also see them trading Crawford and letting Darling and Raanta fight it out.j44thor said:
Resident Hawks fan here. The prevailing thoughts are that Sharp and Bickell are all but certainly gone with an outside chance at Crawford (which would be a mistake) and Seabrook (1 year left on his deal) making the move as well. Versteeg is the one that no one is sure if he's on the list or not but personally I think he's traded as well if they can find a taker.
Saad is going to get paid, and rightfully so. The other UFAs in Oduya, Rosival, Vermette, Desjardins and Richards are all goners with only Richards having any chance of coming back if he wants to take another bargain basement deal.
The other RFA to watch will be Kruger as he's due for a raise and is one of the cogs that really makes the bottom six work.
Saad is going to get paid, and rightfully so. The other UFAs in Oduya, Rosival, Vermette, Desjardins and Richards are all goners with only Richards having any chance of coming back if he wants to take another bargain basement deal.
The other RFA to watch will be Kruger as he's due for a raise and is one of the cogs that really makes the bottom six work.
As long as they have Toews and Kane, they should be able to figure things out up front. They'll get Saad signed and maybe down the road they move Hossa if Teravainen is legit and capable of a top 6 spot.
The D is a bit more of a mystery and where they probably run into problems. Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson are the only vets signed for next year, and rumors are that Seabrook could be a cap casualty. If they lose Seabrook, they need to fill 4 defenseman spots, and they don't really have much in house depth.
The D is a bit more of a mystery and where they probably run into problems. Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson are the only vets signed for next year, and rumors are that Seabrook could be a cap casualty. If they lose Seabrook, they need to fill 4 defenseman spots, and they don't really have much in house depth.
$4 million contract, but only a $2 million cap hit, with Florida paying and taking the hit for the other half. At $2 million, he's fairly valued, so they can move him if they have to, I suppose. I suspect someone will take Sharp. I can't imagine how they move Bickell. Bickell and a 2016 #1 pick, for nothing in return? Someone would do that, I guess. If they can't move Bickell and Sharp, I think Seabrook (or Crawford) has to go. Seabrook was their number one pick in 2003, a year after they took Keith in the second round. That's incredible draft luck.ookami7m said:
Kruger, Tervainen and Saad are all young enough that they should improve, which gives me hope for next year. But they have a fair number of guys who are either overpaid or at the high end of fair value. That'll make it tough to get under the cap. Saad can comfortably say "I'm worth more than Versteeg or Bickell," to set the starting point for negotiations.
Glad the Blackhawks won. Love how they play. Duncan Keith is magical. I think they can figure their way out of their cap problem. They'll look to trade Crawford, Sharp and Bickell. There are so many good, young goalies now...most teams have two of them. If they can lose most of that money they can resign Saad. They should be able to keep Seabrook, too. Very smart management team. Let's see what they do.
cshea said:
Hossa is the definition of "unmovable" thanks to the NHL penalizing the old frontloaded contracts on the cap should he trade and retire or similar. He'll be here until he pulls the LTIR shenanigans like Pronger in PHI.
The AHL depth at D is why the Hawks were ok with trading Dahlbeck at the deadline for Vermette - it'll be young but Keith/Hjammer/Seabrook/Trevor Van Rymsdyk/Runblad/young guy or reclamation project ain't bad.
This is the same hawks front office that got Calgary to take Brandon Bollig and a 2+MM cap hit for nothing so don't doubt that Bickell can move.twothousandone said:
As for number guys that are overpaid, Bickell (gone this offseason), Crawford (arguable) and who else really? Toews and Kane aren't necessarily overpaid. Keith is on the friendliest deal ever seen.
Moving Bickell is going to be tough given he has never been worth that contract and the cap has barely gone up since he signed it.
I'd argue Kane is overpaid, sure he is good but he is far from the second best player in the nhl good. Certainly not an albatross type contract but prob a 1-2m/ yr overpay. But your point is well taken, the hawks do a great job for the most part of paying for future performance not past.
I'd argue Kane is overpaid, sure he is good but he is far from the second best player in the nhl good. Certainly not an albatross type contract but prob a 1-2m/ yr overpay. But your point is well taken, the hawks do a great job for the most part of paying for future performance not past.
Rosival is overpaid, too. Or was. Versteeg is either overpaid, in cap terms, or at the high end of the range. I think Sharp (not that the contract was a mistake) and Oduya are at the high end of the range, you might make a similar argumet for Seabrook, but, like Sharp, he's important and it's tough to complain about the contract too much.
With the Kane and Toews discounts going away, Keith is the only clear bargain left, though I'd argue Hjalmarsson is a bargain, as well.
With the Kane and Toews discounts going away, Keith is the only clear bargain left, though I'd argue Hjalmarsson is a bargain, as well.
