Rumors continued to swirl around the Blackhawks on Friday that the team was looking to make another trade that would further dismantle the Stanley Cup champions' roster.
Instead, the only deal general manager Stan Bowman pulled off was to send the 30th pick in the NHL entry draft to the New York Islanders for pick Nos. 35 and 58 which will be selected Saturday as the draft continues.
Bowman said Friday that despite the rumors, many of which focused on winger Kris Versteeg, the Hawks don't have to make any more deals to clear space under the salary cap to sign key restricted free agents, including goaltender Antti Niemi and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Hawks have already dealt Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Colin Fraser.
Photo: Stan Bowman. (Phil Velasquez / Tribune)
"We're fine," Bowman said. "We made our move to unload some salary there and the salary cap was higher than we anticipated; we didn't think it would be at $59.4 (million). Those combinations made it a much better scene."
Despite not needing to make a deal, Bowman would not rule out any more trades, either involving picks during Saturday's portion of the draft or a player currently on the roster.
"There's been a lot of talk and we're still talking to some teams," Bowman said. "Whether they come to be or not is not really that important. It has to be the right deal. We're not just going to make a deal to make one. If it makes sense we won't hesitate but I'm not really focused on that as much as focused on (Saturday). We have a lot of picks and need to be ready for that.
"We're going to be fine for salary-cap related things," he added.
No further trades needed, and yet today he trades Versteeg. hahaha
I'm a Hawks fan from Arabi, La. Been one since the mid sixties. I'm elated over the Cup win but deflated over the trades. I kinda understand them, but I'm really gonna miss the Big Buff! Good luck to ya. Sorry you had to go to Atlanta.San Jose would have made for a more interesting next season in the play offs.
The article link below isn't definitive, but these solid estimates were made just after the Cup finals. The Hawks appear to be at least $4 million over the salary cap, based on the fact that Toews and Kane both hit all the targets in their entry-level contracts that would trigger bonuses.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/blackhawks-exceed-salary-cap-by-millions/article1601162/
The "very strong nucleus of young players in the minors" some keep referring to are also making relatively high salaries for roster fillers the Hawks need (Beach is at 1.17M, Brian Connelly is at .875M, Crawford is in the last year of his contract at .8M as is --added up that is 2.85M for three players.
Besides those 3 and 2 additional 'role players' in the last year of their contract, their strong nucleus are Jr players that have very little seasoning at the AHL level. Jr's to the AHL is a big step for prospects. The AHL to the NHL is an even bigger step...anyone thinking that Buff, Sopel, Versteeg, Eager, Niemi or even Huet will be equal replacements for those type of players clearly don't work in management of a NHL or AHL team.
Hawks GM Bowman is stretching the truth...and trying to maximize the Hawks leverage in a trade (but every other GM knows the math too).
The Hawks have enough cap room (since they can go to 110% of the cap until the end of training camp) to sign RFA to offer sheets without making a trade right now. But to keep teams from poaching those RFA's is going to take more cap room. So would the case if those RFA took the Hawks to arbitration. The NHL requires 20 players under contract (most every teams will carry 22-2) so losing 1.5M combined off those 3 'extra' players is another way to stretch the truth.
Notice how Bowman won't answer how much carry over bonus from Kane's and Toews' entry level contracts last season. He had to admit the Conn Symthe--but all the other performance clauses were hit too.
Steeg is gone. But no other team would pay the price the Hawks were asking before the draft. This comment to the media is all to try to leverage other GM's into paying that steep price. But come July 1st the info on the bonuses goes public and all leverage is lost.
Who is this magical team that wants to take Huet? I see a lot of people say "trade him", but to who???? Nobody wants him at that price.
One thing I would like to ask is, does anyone know if Carlos Zambrano know how to play hockey? If so then he'll be able to replace Buffy. Problem resolved.
Cmon Hawks fans stop all this dismantling stuff. Can't you enjoy the Championship? We have our core and until they get rid of any others avoid the speculation. All this we have to move more salaries stuff is a wait and see. We still have the best team in the league.
Factor in Toews' & Kane's bonuses (approx $4 million) and subtract Huet's salary ($5.6 million), Chicago will have less than $6 million in cap space to sign 11 players (to make 23). With a league minimum of $.5 million, that's not impossible to do, but they won't be able to resign someone like Niemi unless they unload someone else.
According to the following site:
http://www.thehockeygm.com/chi.html
The only thing the trade involving "Big Buff" did was to free up enough cap space to pay Kane and Toews the bonuses they will receive for next season. Looks like some crazy numbers. This could be a case where those bonus laden contracts can bite you in the arse when you win it all. Thanks for the cup at least. They look pretty screwed still if you ask me. Why aren't we hearing about this?
From what I am reading, both from the story and comments section, is the Blackhawks management going into top secret mode? If so, don't you hate when teams do that? Shutting out the fans. Then whatever they're hiding eventually comes to light e.g., the Hossa injury from last year. Am I reading too much into this?
I'm surprised the Hawks haven't moved Huet out of the picture completely. Dumping 3 players/enforcers/penalty killers that they really need and keeping the goalie who quit on them.
Nice.
Keep an eye on Dale Tallon...see what he will do for his new team.
Chris on June 26, 2010 10:11 AM
No matter what Bowman says, we still have to ditch payroll. Run the numbers yourself. Versteeg is 100% gone, and Ladd is a probability.
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Chris, none of us know that.
If we have more than 11 million in cap space ... and we do if Huet is moved down, then we have that much to sign Niemi, Hjalmarrson, and Ladd. Then we'll need enough for a couple minimum contracts. This isn't out of the realm of possibility.
Those who are worried about Ladd not getting an offer yet, I don't think it's that big a deal.
Niemi got his offer because there was no doubt he was staying.
Since it looks like Versteeg and/or Ladd could still be part of a trade today, Ladd's not going to get his until probably tomorrow.
I think it's clear that they are just keeping their options open until they are sure they aren't going to get a great offer for either Ladd or Versteeg. And if they don't NEED to make a trade, Ladd should get his tomorrow.
No matter what Bowman says, we still have to ditch payroll. Run the numbers yourself. Versteeg is 100% gone, and Ladd is a probability.
What us fans don't know is that the Blackhawks have a very strong nucleus of young players in the minors, and this will be a great thing to have on this team once the other players are up for raises, and the youngsters are ready to take the next step in the pros. So having said that I don't think these trades are going to make a drastic impact on this team for ti's going to be good for many years to come.
Before we get all swoony and start patting each other on the back, remember that Bowman did NOT tender an offer to Andrew Ladd. Having traded away two of the toughest players on the 2010 roster in Eager and Byfuglien, how can you not re-sign a player who was tough enough to play in the Finals with a fractured shoulder? I wonder who will Bowman and Coach Q select to play the role of Al Secord on the line with Toews' Savard and Kane's Larmer? Hockey may have moved away from "Goons on Ice", but it is still a physical game. Filling a roster with finesse players may look good on paper, but it gets rough on the ice and other teams are getting tougher, not prettier.
excellent news. can't wait for fall. Cubs are a disgrace. Bulls, Hawks and maybe Bears, what a fall and winter to look forward to
Thank you everyone for not drinking the David Haugh kool aid. If the biggest loss is Big Bluff, and we still get to keep all the aforementioned guys who actually have some talent, then I think Stan Bowman has to be GM of the year!
If this means we get to keep Sharp, Niemi, Hjalmarrson, Ladd, AND Versteeg ... we're doin awesome.
I thought we'd have to lose Versteeg too, and that was not great, but acceptable for our circumstances.
If not, we keep our top two lines and 8 of our top 9 forwards ... our top two defensive lines and our goalie.
We lose a couple of good role players, who we can likely replace.
Doesn't sound like a dismantling to me either.
The only thing being "dismantled" is the back end of the Hawks' roster . . . when the most valuable piece that's been sent packing is a forward who was 10th on the team in scoring, I think you're being a bit melodramatic in calling the moves that have been made a "dismantling". Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, Seabs, Campbell, those guys start getting dealt, maybe we can talk, otherwise it'd be wise to stow the hyperbole.