Huge Trade for Blackhawks

[Bear55]

I kind of hope they do, then they might need a cheap goaltender and the Wild have an extra one we have been trying to move.

[Bear55]

The Hawks match and now have 50K in cap space. Rumors of them shopping Sharp and Campbell.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

I don't think they will move Sharp or Campbell. Look for them to ship Niemi and they are going to try to dump Huet's money as well.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I have never seen a team in such bad cap shape. They still have what, like 10 or more players to sign with no money at all? All other 29 teams should make a pact to not trade with the Hawks so they can't shed salary that way. That would be kinda funny.

[Bear55]

Ya they certainly have a mess on their hands, kind of lucky they won the cup this year because it made it all worth while but this is a very good example of poor cap management.

From what I understand Niemi is in arbitration and we should hear a ruling soon. The Hawks can sign him to what the arb awards or let him walk as an UFA and maybe try and sign him that way but he just might be too expensive for them.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Everybody is jumping on this salary cap bandwagon but you are all missing the point of what is going on. At the end of the day the Hawks will have exactly 1 player missing from their top three O lines and nobody from their top two D lines. Niemi had a hot run in the playoffs but Crawford was actually charted ahead of him and if he bolts you will see Crawford in the nets and he will do just fine.

As long as the core is solid you can fill in the missing pieces with other players who will get their name in lights when the Hawks repeat next year.

And if anybody thinks it is only the Hawks who are in this pickle just look at their closest rival the Sharks and see what kind of mess they are in WITHOUT having won the Cup already!

[Bear55]

Windy I would agree your core is in good shape but the one thing that made the Hawks really good last year was their depth. Now even if you have a deep farm system those guys don't have much experience and are going to need some time.

I'm thinking the Hawks take small step back next year and be ready to make another title run in the near future and probably be very good for a long time. Like I said before if you had not won the title this would be a serious mess but things are not as bad because you have the cup. I wish the Wild had your mess right now, with a cup win of course.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Right there wit ya Bear! Would I like to return the entire team, naturally, does the current system allow that, nope. The Hawks next year will look an awful lot like the Hawks of this year. You will just have to learn a few new names that are probably easier to remember or say than Byfuglian!

[genegodawa]

In deference to Windy being on his fishtrip to Cass, I report in his absence the announcement that the Hawks now have Turco to replace Niemi in G.

[OnAFly]

When Turco is good, he's good, when he's bad...he's terrible.

Only a one year signing I see. Got anyone in the minors that may warrant a promotion next year?

[Matt Breuer]

I thought one of the main goals when they started moving guys was to keep Niemi around?

Buff deserves more credit than people are giving him. Maybe it's because I'm a Roseau boy... His presence in front of the net was worth more than getting to the 20 goal mark...

[scsavre]

Buffs problem was his regular season performance. Playoffs he was awesome. I guess we will see how he does this year.

Are the hawks the only team the Wild are allowed to deal with?....