What could the offseason hold for the Chicago Blackhawks? Read on for the latest.
Blackhawks could see some changes this summer.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Chris Kuc reports the Blackhawks limited salary cap space this summer means they have little room to re-sign UFAs like Andrew Ladd and they’ll need to create some room. RFA center Andrew Shaw’s future with the Hawks doesn’t look bright, partly because of the club’s cap constraints and his recent homophobic slur during a recent playoff game which garnered a one-game suspension. He believes GM Stan Bowman will shop for an upper-tier defenseman, which could mean putting young forward Teuvo Teravainen in play. Kuc speculates former Blackhawk Brian Campbell might accept a major pay cut for a chance to move back to Chicago. Bowman is also expected to aggressively shop Bryan Bickell, who has a year at $4 million left on his contract.
David Haugh also believes the Blackhawks must bolster the blueline this summer. Though he notes trading Teravainen is a popular notion, he’ll only cost $832K next season against the cap plus and still has star potential. Haugh thinks Bowman will do all he can to retain Shaw. He suggests trading Artem Anisimov and his $4.55 million cap hit for a defenseman makes more sense than moving Teravainen. He also thinks Bowman should listen if a teams calls with interest in goalie Corey Crawford, who carries an annual cap hit of $6 million.
ESPN.COM: Craig Custance believes the Blackhawks should take a hard look at trading Shaw to a young team (Edmonton, Buffalo) in order to get an affordable asset in return. He also thinks they should try again to move Bickell’s cap hit and attempt to re-sign Artemi Panarin to a long-term extension..
CBS SPORTS: Chris Peters also believes Andrew Ladd is certain to depart via free agency and how they can afford to retain Shaw. If trading Bickell isn’t possible, he suggests a contract buyout, as they’ll only be on the hook for $1 million in 2016-17 and $1.5 million in 2017-18. RFA Richard Panik could be a wild card.
USA TODAY: Kevin Allen also believes the Hawks must improve their defense and moving Bickell could provide some much-needed cap space. He suggests Shaw could have sufficient trade value to land a veteran blueliner or scoring winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: First, Bickell will either be traded this June or bought out. The Blackhawks simply cannot afford another season burying him in the minors with over $3 million of his annual salary counting against their cap. I think a buyout is more likely. Barring a stunning move that frees up a lot of cap room, Ladd is a goner. Same with the other Hawks UFAs.
While Shaw’s homophobic comment was an unfortunate and embarrassing incident, I don’t think Bowman will hold that against him. Indeed, I think he prefers retaining Shaw, who brings a lot of grit and energy to the forward lines. I don’t like the notion of trading Teravainen. Yes, his development was slower than expected this season, but he’s only 21 with plenty of potential. His salary alone makes keeping him for another season a worthwhile gamble.
If Bowman is to move Anisimov as part of a salary-dumping deal (and it could be the only significant option he has), he’ll have to do it before July 1, when the center’s new contract with its modified no-trade clause kicks in. I’m not convinced that’s something Bowman intends to do, but it’s still worth noting. I don’t believe he has any intention of parting with Crawford, who’s considered part of their core as much as Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook. He also has a full no-movement clause.
If Bowman’s going after a defenseman, best to forget about Campbell. There’s talk he’s willing to accept a pay cut to stay in Florida. Besides, he’s turning 37 in May.
Remember when the Blackhawks gave up a 1st round pick – 2016 and Marko Dano for Andrew Ladd… and then Ladd gladly repaid the Hawks by putting up 1g 1a through 7 games in the playoffs and a -1, I would agree that barring some crazy unforeseen changes in cap management by Chicago this off season.. Ladd is not being resigned
I suggested moving Teuvo Teravainen a few weeks back. He’s too much of a parameter player and not really willing to get in the dirty areas, like Shaw does. On the other hand, Panik looked pretty good in a Black Hawk uniform. Shaw would be perfect on just about any team and the Sabres would welcome him.
Hawks showed how much they missed Oduya in their lineup, or any other legitimate top 4 defenseman. Rundblad miscue in the 3rd period was crucial in game 7.
Trading Bickell will be very hard, If he is to be trade to a playoff team/playoff contending team the hawks will have to retain salary or take back a toxic salary. A team tryong to make the cap floor is going to want a pick and I do not think a 3rd rounder would do it. Trading a 2nd would mean three straight years without a second round pick which I doubt a “build through the draft ” GM like Bowman would be comfortable with
Looking at next year they have about $67M for 2 G, 7 Dmen, and 9 Forwards.
RFAs on Shaw and Panik.
they have the minimum cap space to pay shaw around the same he got and fill the rest of the roster with ELCs/$1M.
If they want to get anyone they need to unload salary. Nobody will take Bickell.
On forwards its mainly Kane, Jossa, Toews, Anisinov, and Kruger. Everyone else signed are around $1M or less.
On defense its 3 high paid players and then 4 cheap players.
What they may have to do is trade this:
Hjalmarsson+Bickell for 2 lower salaried players that area forward and defense unload $8.5M for about $3.5M in return contract, then that gives them $5M extra room to go out and sign a Campbell.
A team like Buffalo would trade Pysyk Ennis (at 50%)for Hjalmarsson + Bickell
buffalo wouldn’t do that
You want to trade Hjalmarsson, a 28 year old, top four DMan in his prime making $4.1M/year to make room to bring in Brian Campbell, a 37 year old, on the back 9 of his career who will probably be asking more than $4.1M/year. This is the worst suggestion of the day, folks.
I agree with Lyle on all fronts but possibly 1, any hope Bickell can be traded.
Ladd won’t be resigned, they just don’t have the money so unless he’s taking no more than 4 mil per which isn’t happening it’s a non starter. Teravainen & Anisimov; that #2 line was a beauty & when Anisimov was injured late it almost vanished, won’t be traded. Bickell will be bought out, I don’t see a trade that off sets next seasons cap hit more than the buy out, the most salary Chi can retain in trade is 1/2, 2.25 million, the team that acquires him would have to pay the other 2.25. Bickell isn’t worth 2.25 in this cap world. Nor the 2 mil cap hit he moves with leaving 2 mil on Chi books, a mil more than the buy out provides. If Chicago wanted to make that deal they would have to eat 1/2 his salary & add a sweetener but it costs them a mil in cap spce next season & 1.5 the season following but following expansion everyone will be better positioned in cap dollars.
I also don’t agree that Chicago needs to add a #4 Dman. Although I didn’t think van Reimsdyk was ready for that role & minutes in these playoffs & Chicago should have acquired Hamhuis as opposed to Ladd, van Reimsdyk is young & developing. Playing him as a #4 to continue his development makes sens moving forward now.
I think Chi will buyout Bickell saving 3 million in cap space & even after the carry over bonus monies paid out to Panarin & nominally less for a few others against next seasons cap will have the money to retain Shaw, sign their only other RFA Panik giving them 10 f’s, 7 D & 2 G’s & still have enough money to add or promote 3 4th line depth forwards & a #8 Dman. Tight but doable.
Now this is Stan Bowman & he has shown he’s willing to do almost anything when push comes to shove.
Chicago needs to move Crawford to a Calgary or Edmonton for a good return and play Darling and hope you beat everybody 4-3.
that was what boson tried to do this yr and didn’t work out so well lol
the most common position for a consistent contending team is the goalie. how about crawford for bernier + the rest of the team?
What The Hawks r out of the playoff? Gee $21m doesn’t buy you much! I know, they’re paid for pass performances. Funny how every one praises Toews and as i said all long this team is built on the backend and are the main reason they won 3 cups in 6yrs. The deal that Bownman wanted to make and couldn’t and the one he was reportedly the most upset over was not getting Hamhuis out of Vancouver and he was willing to go. If that trade happen maybe the Blackhawks are poised for another long playoff run, that Toews with 0 goals would get all the credit for. If they can get another top 4 dman they very well might be back next season.
OMG Chicagos window has closed, they gave up picks prospects to land guys like Ladd, Weise, Fleishman, Ehrhoff ….and failed!!!! It’s over , they have aging players like Crawford 31, Seabrooke 30, Kieth 31, Hossa 36, Rozsival 36, they’re stuck with Bickell …..Anyone see my joke / comparison here? Why isn’t this sky falling? LOL
As a gm you could sign all the cup winning castoffs, at reduced prices as well as without trading any resources.
In the playoffs, id argue the skill and drive are equal.
You are more likely to play a tied game whos winner would is usually determined by a 4th liner than a skill player
Id have 10 cups no rebuild with the nyr & chi & la castoffs that the pundits discard, like chelios at 40 to detroit for 2 cups?
the salary cap has killed the game. money corrupts.
whos the next bandwagon?
I have been a chi since the early 80s if you stay with the team instead of jumping bandwagons they eventually win again and all the wannabes come running back
think Chicago would be stupid enough to trade Bickell to NYR for Girardi?