What Can/Will The Hawks Do?

MMarch

MMarch

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Chicago is currently the highest team over the cap right now - signed players are 15 Forward, 8 Defense, 2 Goalies and they are $4.55 million over. How do they get under the cap? At forward they are top heavy at RW but a few of them play LW or C:

RW - Hossa $5.166
RW - Kane $3.725
RW - Sharp $3.9
RW - Versteeg $3.066
RW - Byfuglien (plays LW) $3
RW - Jack Skille (plays LW) $1.275
RW - Kopecky (can play LW or C) $1.2
RW - Brouwer (can play C or LW) $1
RW - Burish (can play LW or C) $712K

LW - Ladd $1.55
LW - Eager $965K

C - Bolland $3.375
C - Toews $2.8
C - Madden $2.75
C - Fraser $700K

I'm trying to figure out if they are really going with Fraser as their 4th line C, or if Kopecky, Burish, or Brouwer will center that line. I'm just wondering what they are planning on doing to get under the cap, and where these guys fit. I'm expecting Skille and Fraser to start the year in the AHL, but they still need to move money somewhere. In looking at the teams with money to spend, is there a trade coming with Nashville, Islanders, Phoenix, Columbus...... If they do make a deal with one of the higher salaried players, who gets moved? I don't see them moving any of their D unless someone wants to take Sopel and his contract, I can't imagine anyone is wanting to take Huet and the Hawks pretty much need him now, so there has to be some movement with their forwards right?
 
Hmm, don't think I've ever seen Kopecky play center. Though it would be interesting. :)
If they can't find anyone to take Campbell or Huet's salary I could see them being forced to trade Sharp or Byfuglien. May not be the most popular move but it would make sense financially. Saw a similar situation with the Ducks a few years back I think. Didn't they trade McDonald because of cap constraints??
 
Kane/Toews, are not as high of a hit as you listed depending on bonuses, and as this year isn't possibly the last year of the CBA, those bonuses can be rolled over. (Last year could've been the last year due to an out clause for the PA so bonuses had to count for the full year)

Capgeek.com shows them with $1,431,752 available but includes Skille on the farm as well as another D.

You've got to think that the Hawks want rid of Campbell's or Huet's contract, but it's unlikely that they'll be able to be moved without throwing in (multiple?) high draft picks or the like.

However, given his play in the playoff, I could see Byfuglien being movable as he's only 3M with 2 seasons left on his contract.

Kevin
 
I would think that there are a lot of suiters out there for Campbell, even to the point where you may be able to package in some of the overpriced (Sopel - Versteeg?) and get back something decent for him. With the defensemen on this team, he becomes pretty expendable even with how good he is.

Brouwer can play anywhere as far as I am concerned - he was pretty impressive during the Vancouver series and I can only imagine that he could be a damn good 4th line center over the duration of the season.
 
Campbell and Huet are immovable unless Mike Milbury somehow takes over another team.

Wouldnt be surprised in the least to see Versteeg and Barker end up getting moved so the Hawks can lock up Kane and Toews long term.
 
Here is what was posted on the ESPN rumor section today - Sharp may already be on the move - wouldn't mind seeing him in a Nucks uni...

ESPN Quote
"Players the Blackhawks might trade: Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker. In fact, Sharp is already in the process of being dealt. The Maple Leafs, among other teams, are interested, the Daily Herald writes.

Why this movement? Because, to the Blackhawks suits, those names look like this: $4 million, $3 million, $3 million and $3 million. And the 'Hawks need to clear some cap space so they can sign next year's unrestricted free agents: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith."
 
Can't see them moving Versteeg. This is why I HATE the salary cap; it punishes teams for drafting well and developing players well.
 
I wouldn't mind them trading Byfuglien, Versteeg, or both. I would hate to see Sharp or Barker go. It's tricky business though as teams know they have to dump salary so they aren't going to get much in return. What needs to come back are cheap younger players, or draft picks. Phoenix would make a great trading partner with all their young kids, but are they looking to take on payroll with their current situation?
 
If they are willing to take draft picks, it would be nice to see the Islanders try to pickup Versteeg. I am no Islander fan, but poor Tavarez doesnt have much help.
 
I see Sharpe being the odd man out.. Nobody will want Campbells contract unless Kane or Toews are included...
 
My friends and I had a big debate about Campbell this weekend and I am still of the opinion that there will be many (3 or 4) suiters should the Hawks decide to put him on the blocks.

Yes, he is overpaid and yes, he is not a huge scorer for that kind of money but he is still on the of the best puck moving defensemen in the league and he is still young - every team in the league needs a puck moving defenseman.

Cap issues are certainly abound but there are teams out there that could take on that money and would send about half back to the Hawks. We shall see though.
 

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