ESPN Insider piece today: Spoiler How the Chicago Blackhawks improved in free agency It should come as no surprise that the Chicago Blackhawks have been the most active team in the National Hockey League this offseason. Not only did the Stanley Cup champs have significant salary cap issues that forced their hand but they also have shown willingness in the past to part ways with complementary players after winning a Cup. The past two times they have seen a post-Cup exodus, it took a few years to bounce back. This time around, however, the Blackhawks have actually improved. Back in June 2010, the offseason after Chicago's Cup finals victory over thePhiladelphia Flyers, fans saw the Blackhawks trade two 24-year-old forwards who played key roles in their championship run. General manager Stan Bowman dealt Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd to the Atlanta Thrashers after the pair combined for 34 goals. They weren't the only casualties. Forward Kris Versteeg, who was 23 at the time, was moved in exchange for Viktor Stalberg after scoring 44 points. In 2013, it was the same story with different names. Chicago traded hard-nosed center Dave Bolland to the Toronto Maple Leafs and allowed Stalberg to sign with the Nashville Predators as a free agent. Each time, the Blackhawks kept their core of superstars intact. While role players were dealt away, key players Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook remained. But teams cannot reach the pinnacle of the sport on the backs of five players. Chicago's management replaced players such as Ladd and Byfuglien with more young players. The likes of Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw and Marcus Krugerfilled in the gaps along with some savvy moves such as signing forward Brad Richards for a mere $1 million. As busy as the 2010 and 2013 offseasons were, the Blackhawks might have moved out better players this time around than in the past -- yet it appears they still found a way to become a deeper and stronger all-around team. Before we dive in, here's a quick overview of their moves: Subtractions: F Brandon Saad (to Columbus), F Patrick Sharp (to Dallas), Brad Richards (free agency) Additions: F Marko Dano, F Artem Anisimov, F Corey Tropp, F Jeremy Morin(from Columbus), F Ryan Garbutt, D Trevor Daley (from Dallas) Losing Saad and Sharp Simply put: The Blackhawks lost a star player in Brandon Saad. Overshadowed by other stars, his numbers suggest his name belongs only a shade below the best of the best in the NHL. Over the past three seasons, Saad trails only Toews and Kane in five-on-five points scored on the Blackhawks. The 2011 second-round pick scored 40 goals and added 52 assists at even strength at an excellent 2.06 points per 60 minutes rate. Saad's even-strength scoring rate since 2012-13 is on par with those of teammate Hossa (2.05), Boston's Patrice Bergeron (2.12) and Los Angeles' Jeff Carter (2.08). The Pittsburgh native ranks behind only Toews and Hossa on the Blackhawks in goals for percentage since 2013 at an impeccable 59.2. He is only a touch behind the Toews-Hossa combo in Corsi percentage over the past three seasons, as well, at a dominating 55.9. And, while Saad was on the ice, the Blackhawks outshot their opponents 33.8 to 27.5. There is a bit of an asterisk next to all of Saad's amazing statistics: He played nearly 1,300 of his 2,700 minutes over the past three years next to Toews. The difference when alongside Captain Serious and not is stark. With Toews, Saad notched 3.24 goals for per 60 minutes and a 58.3 Corsi for percentage. Without Toews, those numbers drop to 2.77 goals for per 60 and a 53.7 Corsi for percentage. Although Saad's stats are still strong when he's away from Toews, they dip significantly. However, the 6-foot-1 forward is still only 22 years old and -- amazingly -- still has some room to grow into a star of his own in Columbus. As for Sharp, age and price were major factors in Chicago's decision to trade him to the Dallas Stars. At 33, the longtime Blackhawk showed he still had some offensive game by posting 43 points in 68 games. His drop-off went beyond just total goals and assists. The veteran winger dipped by 35 points from the previous season, making his cap hit of $5.3 million no longer tenable. The Stars are still getting a quality winger with something left in the tank. Sharp posted 15 points in 23 playoff games and had a strong 55.4 Corsi for percentage during the season. A drop in shooting percentage from 10.9 to 7.0 from 2013-14 to last season could bounce back, especially if he sees ice time with star centerTyler Seguin. It won't be easy to replace two staples of the Chicago top six who combined for 95 points. Two new top-six forwards Considering Artem Anisimov has played for a Blue Jackets team that has made the postseason just once in his three seasons, his years in Columbus are impressive. In fact, he is one of the most underappreciated two-way centers in the NHL. At 1.89 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, the 6-4 center has produced at a similar rate since 2012-13 as Vancouver star Daniel Sedin, San Jose stud Joe Pavelski (1.88) and two-way Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar (1.93). His total points are dragged down by a lack of power-play opportunity. Anisimov has scored only 12 power-play goals in 412 games. That will certainly change if he receives time in front of the net on Chicago's top PP unit. Nick Foligno, Columbus produced 3.06 goals for per 60 minutes -- a rate not far from Saad's scoring next to Toews. Anisimov is unlikely to see time next to Toews, but he could see Kane on his wing. And Kane will find him a vast improvement at No. 2 center over one-dimensional Richards. The other key element to Chicago's offseason recharge is adding a player with top-end talent who is on his entry-level contract. With Toews and Kane beginning the first year of salary-cap hits of $10.5 million, the only way to fit enough offensive dynamos on the club to compete for the Cup again in 2015-16 is to have young players -- the way Saad once was -- step up to the plate. Dano is that guy. In 35 games with Columbus last season, the 20-year-old's numbers were eye-popping. The Blue Jackets outscored opponents 3.2 to 1.8 with him on the ice, and the Slovak added a team-best 2.69 points per 60 minutes. Statistically, it does not appear Dano simply had beginner's luck. He also led the team in Corsi for percentage at 54.1 and flashed offensive talent reminiscent of a young Kane. Depth is key If the Blackhawks traded Saad and Sharp straight up for Anisimov and Dano, you could make a decent argument for it being a fairly even trade (if Dano lives up to potential). But where Chicago made its big improvement is in the overall depth of the forward group. • Garbutt is a bottom-sixer with some offensive upside. He produced 1.70 points per 60 minutes for the Stars last season, only a tick behind Jason Spezza's 1.73 per 60. • Tropp had a poor season in 2014-15 but posted 1.43 points per 60 in 2013-14 for a Blue Jackets team that made the playoffs. He could add some edge and a goal here and there to the fourth line, especially if Chicago trades cap-heavyBryan Bickell. • Morin has failed to show much scoring ability at the NHL level at age 24 but was a point-per-game player at Rockford of the AHL with 47 points in 47 games in 2013-14. • Daley may or may not replace Johnny Oduya. If he does, the veteran defender will need a bounce-back season. At 45.8 Corsi for percentage, he was last on the Stars. However, Daley led Dallas in Corsi for percentage in 2013-14. It seems likely an improved year is in order when Keith and Seabrook are eating up all the difficult minutes. Daley also offers something Oduya doesn't: offense. The 31-year-old provided 22 points in 68 games at even strength for the Stars, and Oduya nabbed only 10 in 76 games for Chicago. So, on the surface, losing Saad and Sharp appeared catastrophic. But under the microscope, it seems Chicago's front office knows exactly what it's doing -- and we can expect the new parts to all look shinier underneath the stars of Toews, Kane, Hossa and Keith.
I think we all figured this out when Daley was part of the Sharp trade, but Oduya's agent confirmed he won't be back with the Hawks. Which means the only move we probably make now is trying to dump Bickell and/or Versteeg in order to extend Kruger.
What lazy fuck wrote that insider article? Zero mention of Panarin or Tikhonov and they had both Sharp and Richards' cap numbers wrong. Lord knows what other stats were incorrectly listed. Also, are they serious that nobody would have jumped up and down if we'd traded Saad and Sharp to Columbus for Anisimov and Dano straight up?
Yes I would ship with Bickell (in order): Versteeg McNeill Danault Shaw Kruger I want Kruger traded for something good though and let Danault have a crack at 4C. If he can't handle it, Anisimov can take tougher starts and Desi/Tikohonov can play C. The Hawks need some futures. The prospect pool and future picks ledger is getting ugly. That has been the way the Hawks have reloaded twice. It's different this time. Look at those Buff/Ladd/Bolland/Brouwer/Frolik deals (all futures) compared to the Saad/Sharp deals.
They got Stalberg and a bunch of nothing from those Buff/Ladd/bolland/Brouwer/Frolik deals. I bet Dano alone is better than anything that came out of those deals.
Also I agree with your order of guys I'd like to ship out with Bickell but I don't think any team bites on any of that other than Kruger. Ship Bickell/Kruger, get a nothing draft pick, call up Danault and your cap situation is fixed.
The Hawks also weren't ready to compete for a cup the very next year after 2010, which is why they took all the prospects. Stan very much thinks they can win again in 2016, thus why we're taking players back and not picks/prospects. I think we all share the concerns about the prospect pool starting to get a bit more shallow though.
The Hawks have roughly what....$500k in cap space now? Wonder if they send Bickell somewhere and keep however much salary they need to in order to resign Kruger and call it an offseason. If they could get a team to take 2.5m of the 4m that should make way to resign Kruger. They could also eat 3 of the 4m and send Versteeg with him, resign Kruger and still be under the cap. Obviously not ideal, but they don't seem to have a ton of options at this point.
Kruger makes no sense for me. Not sold on his offense as a 3C and he is ready for a bigger salary than we can stomach for the role he is awesome at. Danault can likely do the same on an ELC.
They need a vet third pairing defenseman. I think we see something like this https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/19564 May have to eat a million of Bickell's salary. May be able to play hardball with Kruger and get him back on a cheap 1 year deal.
"I'm not going to lie: It has been a long year and extremely difficult,'' Keith said. "I know there was a lot of talk throughout the year regarding Sharpie and that was all a complete fabrication as well. My divorce had nothing to do with anything except what was between me and Kelly-Rae, and that's where I'd like to keep it. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...th-haugh-spt-0717-20150716-column.html#page=1
I would love to know the true story with the whole sharp and Keith's wife situation. Doubt it will ever be public though.
1st line – Brandon Saad (Columbus Blue Jackets)-Antoine Vermette (Arizona Coyotes)-Andrew Ladd (Captain, Winnipeg Jets) 2nd line – Patrick Sharp (Assistant Captain, Dallas Stars)-Brad Richards (Detroit Red Wings)-Troy Brouwer (St. Louis Blues) 3rd line – Michael Frolik (Calgary Flames)-Brandon Pirri (Florida Panthers)-Jimmy Hayes (Boston Bruins) 4th line – Brandon Bollig (Calgary Flames)-Dave Bolland (Assistant Captain, Florida Panthers)-Tomas Kopecky (Free Agent) 1st Defensive pairing – Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets)-Johnny Oduya (Dallas Stars) 2nd Defensive Pairing – Brian Campbell (Florida Panthers)-Nick Leddy (New York Islanders) 3rd Defensive Pairing – Stephen Johns (Dallas Stars)-Adam Clendening (Vancouver Canucks) Goaltenders – Antti Niemi (Starter, Dallas Stars), Antti Raanta (Backup, New York Rangers), Ray Emery (Third-String, Philadelphia Flyers) http://blackhawkup.com/2015/07/17/team-composed-ex-blackhawks-champions/
Mark LazerusVerified account@MarkLazerus Stan Bowman said the #Blackhawks have $750,000 in bonus overages from last season. That'll count against the cap this coming season.
That just about wipes out whatever space you guys had, correct? Have to think another trade is coming.
Pretty much. Don't they still have the nuclear option available for Bickell (buyout) or were the ones they used for Montador and Olesz the only ones they had?
Different kind of buyout than what they used on those guys. Plus I think the window to buy out players is over.
True, and this isnt new info to the team - it's just made public now. Just less space than previously thought
My guess is you see Shaw or Kruger + a prospect going out in order to move Bickell. That basically fixes the roster and the cap situation and allows them to bring in another vet D
Going back to the Daley/Oduya situation, I wonder how much if any Bowman was scared off of Oduya by Roszival. He was great and they won the Cup, then they signed him for 2 more years (age 35 and 36) and he absolutely fell apart. Wonder if Bowman saw Oduya as a speed defenseman turning 34 and thought he couldn't risk it again (especially if Oduya's agent was talking 3 years like Buffalo offered him).
Chris Hine @ChristopherHine Quenneville on Teravainen playing center or wing: "In my mind right now I'm thinking center."
Wouldn't be surprising. That's a lot of miles on Oduya over the past few years. Anxious to see Daley.
seems like Svedberg and Gustaffson are getting serious look for that 3rd LHD spot wonder what Ehroff wants
That's what I thought as well. My co-worker that has season tickets and seemingly zero knowledge of salary cap rules was trying to convince me that the Hawks could buy out Bickell's contract. Several of the other people on our team sarcastically refer to the aforementioned season ticket holder as "The GM" and get mad when I talk about hockey with him. They say "Don't poke the GM or we'll have to hear him pontificate on nonsense for 15 minutes straight."
They could have bought Bickell out before free agency (like the Rangers did with Richards) but it counts 2/3 against the Cap for double the remaining years. So a 2.68 cap hit for 4 years if they had bought Bickell out.
Maybe that is what he was referencing. He was trying to tell me it would be like a $1.5M hit for the remaining years on the deal. Learning all of the NHL cap nuances is not my strong suit to begin with, but I really need to stop listening to that guy --- just muddying the waters.
Mark Lazerus@MarkLazerus 46m46 minutes ago Bryan Bickell had an infected tooth removed recently, which has (so far) alleviated his vertigo symptoms. #Blackhawks
The Hockey Chat@TheHockeyChat SOURCE: Blackhawks have shown "serious interest" in JVR Return to the Leafs would likely be a top prospect + pick(s) + salary dump #NHL