2014-15 NHL Thread

[brewcity77]

No runs, two goals, one Cup! Thanks Milwaukee!

Assuming it gets to Chicago...

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Winning is always fun.

[JWags85]

This is a special team.  The resilience and killer instinct when in important, series deciding games is something else.

Last night was an absolute blast in the city.  Streets were blocked off in huge chunks near Wrigley and downtown.  Just a street party to the max.

[Galway Eagle]

Wrigleyville and wicker park were absurd last night! Don't understand why they blocked off the main part of Clark street though.

[Lennys Tap]

Hawks are pretty average in games 1-4 every series, but beginning with game 5 they are dominant, head and shoulders above the competition. And most of the core is in their prime or younger.

[Galway Eagle]

Hawks are pretty average in games 1-4 every series, but beginning with game 5 they are dominant, head and shoulders above the competition. And most of the core is in their prime or younger.

Testiment to coach Q's ability to fine tweak the team.  I read the Hawks were the oldest team to make the playoffs this year. I'm not sure they're as young as you think.

[Pakuni]

Hawks fans really, really need to enjoy this year because they've got some major cap issues ahead the next few seasons.
As of the moment, they've got $18 million available under the cap for next year with only 10 players under contract and a huge raise coming Brandon Saad's way (figure $4-5 million against the cap, maybe worse if someone gives him an offer sheet).
They may be able to counter that by dealing Sharp and Bickell - they'll get little in return from either trade, but will be happy to be rid of those contracts - but ultimately they Hawks will have to fill out the bottom half of their roster with a lot of low-priced and young players.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Congrats.  At home is always the best....I've experienced that three times between baseball and hockey.  Nothing better than celebrating in front of home fans.

[jsglow]

I'd expect to lose Vermette, Richards and Oduya and I can see a trade of both Sharpe and Bickell.  Both Saad and Kruger will cost a bit of money but should be retained.  The Hawks have been very good at fitting in new pieces and many agents around the country (and even here in Chicago) are being told that players will take a discount to join or stay with the organization.

[Coleman]

Hawks fans really, really need to enjoy this year because they've got some major cap issues ahead the next few seasons.
As of the moment, they've got $18 million available under the cap for next year with only 10 players under contract and a huge raise coming Brandon Saad's way (figure $4-5 million against the cap, maybe worse if someone gives him an offer sheet).
They may be able to counter that by dealing Sharp and Bickell - they'll get little in return from either trade, but will be happy to be rid of those contracts - but ultimately they Hawks will have to fill out the bottom half of their roster with a lot of low-priced and young players.

Any good talent in Rockford waiting to come up?

[drewm88]

Testiment to coach Q's ability to fine tweak the team.  I read the Hawks were the oldest team to make the playoffs this year. I'm not sure they're as young as you think.

That stat is misleading and skewed by Kimo 40, Rozsival 36, and Richards 35. All are free agents, and I'd be shocked to see any return. The guys that matter are largely much younger, except Hossa.

Teuvo 20
Saad 22
Shaw 23
TVR 23
Kruger 25 (if he's back)
Darling 26
Kane 26
Toews 27
Hjalmarsson 28
Versteeg 29
Seabrook 30
Crawford 30
Keith 31
Sharp 33 (but likely gone)

[warriorchick]

Wrigleyville and wicker park were absurd last night! Don't understand why they blocked off the main part of Clark street though.

Crowd control.

[NYWarrior]

Hawks fans really, really need to enjoy this year because they've got some major cap issues ahead the next few seasons.
As of the moment, they've got $18 million available under the cap for next year with only 10 players under contract and a huge raise coming Brandon Saad's way (figure $4-5 million against the cap, maybe worse if someone gives him an offer sheet).
They may be able to counter that by dealing Sharp and Bickell - they'll get little in return from either trade, but will be happy to be rid of those contracts - but ultimately they Hawks will have to fill out the bottom half of their roster with a lot of low-priced and young players.

Sounds like 2010 ... or to a lesser degree, 2013 ... those purges worked out just fine.  The core remains so young (Teuvo, Kane, Toews, Shaw, TVR) and sound/signed (Nik, Keith, Crawford) -- they'll re-sign Saad, trade Sharp, let Kruger/Vermette/Richards walk, and figure it out. This year's purge started when they were able to unload Smith in March saving a few million bucks (and landed the effective Desjardins and his expiring contract, to boot).

[Pakuni]

Any good talent in Rockford waiting to come up?

Some, but more bottom six type guys. Which is more of what they need now, but eventually they'll need some top 6 forwards/top 4 d-men, especially with Sharp and Hossa, and maybe Seabrook, not likely around beyond 2016.
I would expect Ryan Hartman, their first-round pick from two years ago, to make the team as a third/fourth liner next year. I like his game a lot, but his offensive upside is a bit limited. I think he tops out as a very good third-line player.
Their first-round pick from last year, Nick Schmaltz, has top-6 potential, but is at least a year away, probably two.
Stephen Johns could make next year's roster as a bottom pairing/7th defenesman along with TVR.

[Pakuni]

Sounds like 2010 ... or to a lesser degree, 2013 ... those purges worked out just fine.  The core remains so young (Teuvo, Kane, Toews, Shaw, TVR) and sound/signed (Nik, Keith, Crawford) -- they'll re-sign Saad, trade Shaw, let Kruger/Vermette/Richards walk, and figure it out.

Well, they nearly missed the playoffs in 2011 (backed in on the last day of the regular season thanks to a choke job by Dallas) and were first-round exits that season and the next.  They recovered well, obviously, because Kane, Toews and Keith, in particular, were just entering their primes and Crawford was a revelation. Remember .... they really wanted to keep Niemi because they had doubts about Crawford, who was never considered an elite prospect.
Three seasons from now, Keith and Seabrook are going to be in their mid 30s and almost certainly in decline, Toews is going to be 30 and outside of of Teuvo, the cupboard is bare of top 6/4 talent. And it doesn't help that the Hawks have no first or second round pick this year and no second in 2016.

It was definitely worth it for them, but there are going to be consequences for selling out for this season.

[jsglow]

That stat is misleading and skewed by Kimo 40, Rozsival 36, and Richards 35. All are free agents, and I'd be shocked to see any return. The guys that matter are largely much younger, except Hossa.

Teuvo 20
Saad 22
Shaw 23
TVR 23
Kruger 25 (if he's back)
Darling 26
Kane 26
Toews 27
Hjalmarsson 28
Versteeg 29
Seabrook 30
Crawford 30
Keith 31
Sharp 33 (but likely gone)

I think they'll work hard to keep Kruger.  The Hawks have a new young wave that showed up very well during the playoffs.

[NYWarrior]

It was definitely worth it for them, but there are going to be consequences for selling out for this season.

Yup .. but going all in paid off -- that draft pick for Vermette in particular looked lousy for a while.

[drewm88]

I think they'll work hard to keep Kruger.  The Hawks have a new young wave that showed up very well during the playoffs.

Agreed. Pakuni's got a point about the future, but I think that's more in a few years. Next year will be just fine, unless there's a Cup hangover or Bowman shakes things up more than expected to preserve future years.

[brewcity77]

I think Richards might be back. While he wasn't the consistent season performer, he really stepped up when it mattered, and having another solid face-off guy was huge once it came to the Finals. He'll certainly be cheaper than Vermette and gives the 'Hawks another solid center that can likely be had for close to the veteran minimum. If they can get him on a one-year deal, he's worth a shot. Having a former Conn Smythe winner that can still skate is a plus, especially come May and June.

I'm hoping to see the Russian kid, Panarin (already a KHL all-star at 23), and the young defender, Stephen Johns, hopefully crack the lineup. The team will definitely be younger next year, but there's talent beyond the big three.

On defense, I believe Johnny Oduya is the only one who will likely leave through free agency. TVR and Johns likely make up the last pairing. Maybe hope that another young guy can come through and/or find a veteran on the cheap in free agency to get to 7 defenders. Panarin and Schmaltz are the best looking offensive prospects, would love to see them get a chance to start working their way up the lines.

[Lennys Tap]

Congrats.  At home is always the best....I've experienced that three times between baseball and hockey.  Nothing better than celebrating in front of home fans.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story - again. After all, it's not really a story at all until it's about you

[brandx]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story - again. After all, it's not really a story at all until it's about you

At least he didn't give us a story of another "friend" that was screwed by the Libs.

[g0lden3agle]

At least he didn't give us a story of another "friend" that was screwed by the Libs.

huh?

[Warrior Code]

Anyone going to the parade?

[Galway Eagle]

Anyone going to the parade?

Yessir

[Warrior Code]

Yessir

I'm going to try, if I can get someone to cover for me at work. I missed the last two.