Let's just enjoy the ride for now
Whatever the NHL's formula is for "tagging room," the Blackhawks were within the rules, which allowed general manager Stan Bowman to sign Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to contract extensions at this point in time.
Bowman told reporters Thursday the formula was way too complex to explain and that he and assistant GM Kevin Cheveldayoff even needed to go to Toronto to meet with league people to fully understand what had to be done to re-sign the Big Three.
“There is a league formula that, to be honest, we spent days going over this with the leaguer so to try to encapsulate it 20 seconds here would be impossible,” Bowman said. “It’s very complicated.”
Here's the potential rub, as Bob McKenzie of TSN.ca pointed out in a report on Thursday.
While the Hawks are under the NHL's $56.8 million salary cap at the moment, they are believed to be so close to it that there isn't any more money available to add a player if needed, either now or near the trade deadline in March.
And because of those "tagging” rules, which have to do with being over the salary cap for the following year based on contracts committed for next season, it appears they couldn't acquire a player, or even bring one up from Rockford, who is under contract for next season.
“That’s part of the equation, but we’re comfortable with where we’re at,” Bowman said. “That’s something we’re going to have to look to in the future, but we’re not unique in that way.”
Complicated? Yep. So let's do what Rocky Wirtz suggested Thursday and just enjoy the ride the rest of this season and worry about 2010-11 after the playoffs.
Contract breakdowns
Toews and Kane
2010-11 $6.5 million
2011-12 $6 million
2012-13 $6 million
2013-14 $6.5 million
2014-15 $6.5 million
Their cap hit is $6.3 million for each of the five years
Keith
2010-11 $8 million
2011-12 $8 million
2012-13 $8 million
2013-14 $7.665 million
2014-15 $7.6 million
2015-16 $7.5 million
2016-17 $6 million
2017-18 $5 million
2018-19 $4.5 million
2019-20 $3.5 million
2020-21 $2.65 million
2021-22 $2.1 million
2022-23 $1.5 million
Cap hit of $5.54 million
>The NHL game product is maybe the best its ever been with the right combination of skill, speed, and toughness needed to play -- congrats on that NHL -- but the "Shanahan Summit" is what really made it happen
>But the NHL as a league is really not getting it done:
>No Versus on DirecTV (Nice leverage Bettman)
>Poor ice conditions everywhere with the puck bouncing like a beachball
>No policy on head-hunting
>Many franchises in financial trouble, many empty seats
>And a cap policy designed to weaken good hockey teams in thriving markets
>Long term, a cap policy that undermines hockey administrative talent and franchise financial strength will reduce the quality of every NHL team
>Rocky would be wise to push for a luxury tax -- like baseball has
>No reason why the Blackhawks could not become the Yankees of the NHL (Toronto, too)
is doing most of what it was designed to do. Protect smaller market teams and not allow only the strong markets to compete. The TV coverage is a joke if you look North America wide, but Versus on DirectTV would only be a very minor victory. Versus isn't the network that brings the NHL to respectable coverage.
The league had a lot more upcoming money problems before the lockout and has definitely fixed a lot of issues.
I am sitting at work sporting my new Duncan Keith Alternate Jersey anxiously waiting to take my boys to the Hawks game tonight. My guess is 21,500 in the joint tonight and another great show at the UC. On December 1, 2006 the Hawks were about to play the Blues sporting a 8-12-2 record and that seems pretty good compared to the years before that. They would close the year with a loss to Dallas and register a 31-42-9 mark and yet another trip to the Golf Course when everyone else was getting ready for the playoffs. I simply to do not get the need to be negative during this terrific time...My only thought is that if people are negative now then they seem destined to always find fault with the teams they follow. It is a great time to be a fan and I for one (and based on today many others agree) will not spend 1 minute worried about anything in regard to the cap, tagging or any other behind the scenes issue that is not relevant to the 2009-2010 season..And remember, Stan's father is in the building and has a pretty good clue as to how to run a Hockey club so if Stan has any issues, I am sure he will ask his old man. We signed the 3 guys we needed to sign, Hossa is amazing, Huet is playing well, Q is the right coach, and we have a ton of talent on the ice...Well some of you you can say what you want about the state of the Hawks, but I am not going to STAND HERE AND LET YOU BAD MOUTH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GENTLEMEN!!!!
the next 3+ months: Teams in the East having injury issues & some cap space, that would compel them to trade for a player the 'Hawks have at present; with less money coming back. That would get some dollars off the 'Hawks books and allow the 'Hawks to get a mid-level prospect and/or pick; worst case, some [much smaller] dollars in return.
There's no way a team will trade for a $3M 'Hawks player out of nothing other than TOTAL necessity for this season. Meaning they think they can get into the playoffs or do some damage in the playoffs with that 'Hawks player.
After the trade deadline, the 'Hawks leverage goes down significantly.
The reason otherwise, is the market will be flooded with players going into offseason. Why just not wait until then and get players on a rebate as compared to pre-trade deadline.
Mark your calendars: 6/15/10 That's when the buyouts can next start and a good possibility the only way to shed dollars is that way.
See: http://www.capgeek.com/buyout_calculator.php for details...it's pretty cool.
The Hawks are making a run it, enjoy this season and lets forget about what could happen next summer. Hopefully this site will not be full of folks crabing about the cap for the next six months. Let's NOT make it an outlet for all the goof's at TSN and Hockey Night in Canada, who will take shots at the Hawks for loading up on talent. In the salary cap world, things have a way of changing, when the cap becomes too much of a problem for too many teams in a particular league. The NFL cap at one point was in the mid 30 millions, the more teams that did things to circumvent the cap, or the more name veterans than weren't getting signed as pre-season camp started because of the cap, the more the cap suddenly started to go up every year.Franchise tags, transition tags all became part of the system. So did using up left over money at the end of the year, to help with a signing bonus. The NBA instituted the Larry Bird rule so teams could go over the cap limit, to resign star players. Baseball has rich teams that spend too much donating to small market teams with a luxury tax, when the NHL salary cap becomes to big of an issue, the league will find a way around it. Even if it's only short term until another labor stoppage has to happen. Which we hope never happens again.
Good job Sports Guy. When the salary cap emerged in all the other sports, franchise tags, luxury taxes, larry bird rules all weren't originally included in the rules. they were added on over time as issues arose. Same can happen in the NHL. Having blind faith in that happening is rather reckless, but we can field a full team on the ice and should go from there. The future is the future. THE BIG THREE are signed people! We were saying this wasn't possible this time last year, over the summer, 4 days ago...its done.
Lets all agree that there are a few parts of this team we can live without. We'd love to keep them all, but regardless, some parts can move (sopel, barker - won't name anymore because i don't want to cause a riot). Whether they are moved during the season or after is up the the powers that be and what they would get in return. Maybe picks won't be given up, maybe nhl ready replacements won't be included. Maybe we allow ourselves to be temporarily fleeced in a trade to free up cap room to sign Hjammer. Lots of things can happen.
However, take a step back for a minute and imagine this was the old NHL with no Cap, what would we be talking about now? How great this team is and how much fun we are having. Old man Wirtz and Pulford aren't around anymore, the team is now aware of the issues we have...i think :)
I love discussing the Hawks whether im right or wrong but the bottom line is we have a team we`ve been dreaming about forever and were rolling!
You will never have the perfect team and nobody will ever be happy but griping about players and things we cant change or know nothing about has become the favorite subject....count me in as one of the biggest offenders!
But after these three deals i am satisfied that we will be able to keep enough of the core around for the next 5 years and finally make the hockey world fear the "logo" again!
Here come the Hawks!!!
So we are all trying to figure it out and explain it and it turns out it's so complicated that Stan and Kevin have to go to Toronto so they can fully understand it. Well done NHL.
Complicated 7-ways of Sunday and no-one knows what's really in it...
you could still add, or call it change pieces through trades, you need a center and a gun slinger,buff ,sharp or barker will bring you that, 1 of those guys will, all 3 of those guys are overpaid for their roles! we have assets to trade, no need to panic!
Because Rocky Wirtz tells us to? In the same blog that Tim points out that the team can't make a deal to load up or even promote a player from Rockford who is under contract for next season? What are we lemmings? Six points from 9th in the Conference. Very shaky goaltending. A head coach who implodes everytime his team gets near the Finals. No playmaking center. No heavyweight. Inexperienced GM who is supposed to be the Cap expert?
Jac: The cap may go up the cap may go down. Revenue here is good but have you seen highlights from around the league. Are fans dressing as empty seats in Columbus, Phoenix, Florida, Long Island, Tampa, Atlanta, LA and even lower bowl Detroit? These long term annuity deals have huge cap hits at the end when the players are late 30's. Have you seen Brind'Amour and Schneider play this year? Even Brendan Shananhan. who is a Hall of Famer had to retire last month because the game passed him by. Hossa and Keith are no Shanahan. Just think about Detroit or NJ if he was still a $5 million cap hit for those teams. And they have won multiple Cups.
The mismanagement of the Cap is a big story here. Everyone can bury their heads and drink the coolaid if they want. Now if Rocky knows that when this CBA expires there will be a new system that will allow teams to spend what they want and pay a penalty fine, I will eat my Stan Mikita autographed Stan Mikita helmet. But my sense is that there is going to be another lockout in which owners, most of whom don't own the buildings, parking, concessions and inherited the teams, will want to lower player costs not inflate them.
From the Buf and Sharp signing, through this summer's mailing fiasco till yesterday the team has been throwing around money it did not need to spend. Buf is a decent prospect but makes money like a 10 year vet. Sharp? Versatle 2nd line guy but he has not played well for a full season since he has been here. His contract year was his best.
The most disturbing part of all of this is that the team was in the catbird seat only a few months ago. Finally, tons of young talent in the pipeline that they drafted. Finally a place where free agents would take a discount to come to to hear the roar and have a chance to win. Finally a team loaded with character guys who played hard. Now they can't add a player for the stretch run or bring up a guy who has another year on his deal.
Wow.
SFC---Sounds like if Bowman needs to add somebody....he can. Everyone, everywhere thought the Hawks had to trade a guy to make those deals work, and again only the Hawks and NHL knew what was going on. All these cap websites are at best guesses. It's time for everyone to stop thinking they are capologists and just worry about the season. Everytime this blog dives into the cap problems, we all look stupid when the Hawks make it all work. All we have heard the past 2 years is that the Hawks couldn't sign the big 3. They did. Now we all are hearing that the Hawks have to make a trade. They don't.
The debate you have moving forward is IF this team is good enough....right now, to compete in the postseason. I'm not sure. They have plenty of mid level players that are going to be coveted, and I'm sure Bowman will make the right moves. The one thing the hawks have been good at recently, is judging talent. I don't think the Hawks have traded anyone yet that has come back to bite us.
As far as the difference in points between 1st-15th.....Guess what? that's the norm for the NHL since the shoot out began. Go read the espn article explaining it. yeah, I would like to see more seperation, but the Hawks still lead the division by 5 pts, play Nashville tonight, and have a game in hand. They win their next 2 games....they could be up by 9 pts.
Not picking on you, but if the Hawks have to dump a guy or two outside their core, so be it. Just enjoy the now.
Here's my take.
Hossa, Ginger, Keith, Kane, Toews locked up thru 2015 at $29 million per. Basically a good thing long term, but a big problem next year when the cap is supposed to go down or stay flat.
All those people saying the Hawks can make deals in the offseason are ignoring the FACTS, that:
a) lots of teams have cap troubles, and
b) there will be more free agents than dollars to pay them (just like last offseason)— so only a FOOL would trade picks or prospects to the Hawks for a $3-4 million player, when they will have their pick of them on 7/1 with no compensation owed to their former team!
The fact remains that although this team is usually a blast to watch, they have holes and maybe the wrong mix (too young, too finesse) of players to play the type of game it takes to win in the playoffs all the way through.
All I can say is, if they don't win a Cup this year, then get snookered in the offseason because they played a pat hand, there will be hell to pay. And there should be.
Jacukel-- outside of a couple of players, I agree with you most of the time. And especially with regard to what they need going forward from here. My guess is that the powers that be are looking forward to the Penguins game as a barometer. I know I am, but first they have to beat the team right behind them with the the best coach in certainly the division, probably the conference, and maybe the whole league.
A lot of these games between now and Feb. 1 are going to be barometers. Reading Bowman's quotes last night, he's not ruling anything out, standing pat or making a move. And he shouldn't.
They DON'T have to do anything until February. And if they work some of this out, maybe not even then. But . . .
I get what you are saying, but last year all I read is how the Hawks should trade Havlat and Khabibulin before they could walk. They didn't. Both of those guys were key to getting the Hawks to the WCF and that experience will pay HUGE dividends this year, and on. Granted they had cap room to replace havlat with Hossa, but still.
Cap problems are always going to exist. You also don't know what another GM will be willing to spend. Is a Sharp, Versteeg, Buff, or Barker a deal at their salary this offseason compared to the market? If the Hawks took back a prospect or pick for them, but made a deep playoff run is it worth it? What about a trade at the draft? If a GM can get a PROVEN guy, making decent money, and not have to OVERSPEND come free agency...he would be stupid not to do so. That's where the Hawks can benefit.
If the Hawks stand pat at the deadline, and don't free up salary, then what is the expectation or result expected that will limit the backlash the front office will be exposed to?
For me if they stand pat....and then dump a Barker and/or Bolland/Sharp I can live with it. Hammer replaces Barker, you could live with Hendry as a 6th defenseman....and then you can give one of these kids at Rockford a shot up front.
They could've dealt Bulin and Havlat and still made a run. And with them, they still weren't going to the Cup. Period. If they dealt them, they would've stockpiled a lot of picks/prospects in a system that needs them now.
Also, you assume free agents are going to be expensive this offseason. Look at the deals signed last offseason, Khabibulin barely got $4 million per in Edmonton. Many others. Why? Cap stayed flat. As one GM put it: "there are more players than dollars." Same thing is going to happen this year, maybe more.
Why trade picks and prospects to the Hawks when you can just a sign a guy for similar or even slightly more dollars who's just as good as the Hawks' guy?
it is simple - if you dump Khabby and Havlat at the deadline - you don't make the playoffs. Actually, the Hawks were pretty close to going to the cup, we were possibly one solid defensemen away. We picked up one player - Paulson. Also we still had 5.6 mil sitting on the bench for a majority of it. One or two bounces or hits, and it would have been a different story. Not sure if we could have beaten the Penguins again. by the way, did you see the moves the Penguins made close to the deadline.
also the experience the Hawks gained in the playoffs is priceless.
Also you don't have to pick up players through the draft all of the time to get a contender, the key is knowing how to discover or recognizing or developing talent; which can be the first round pick, sixth round pick, or free agent or some other teams castoff or doghouse. It doesn't look like the Hawks are too good at it. Whoever discovered Versteeg, Sharp, and Eager did their job.
I get what you are saying but Khabibulin is a bad example. He got 4 years at $4 million because he is 36 and has been injury prone and average for the past 4 years. Havlat got a real good deal as did Hossa and Gaborik. I would think the players the rumors have the Hawks trading are better then a lot of the players in the FA market and much more valuable then draft picks. We're talking about players in their low-20s who have quality NHL experience and have produced. They aren't Toews, Keith, or Kane but they are coveted by other teams.
You can ABSOLUTELY solve the cap problem by dealing before the deadline, getting picks/prospects or UFAs in return.
You can MAYBE wait til the offseason. But the facts say it's a risky proposition in terms of getting fair value for the guys you have to unload.
The cap is going to be static or going down slightly.
Don't assume that among the 100+ free agents who hit the market, there aren't going to be a lot of very good players in the $3-4 million range.
Don't assume more than a handful of teams are going to have the cap space to take on Hawk players without sending salary back.
Finally, don't assume this team right now is assured of winning a Cup. It isn't. It's great to have a winning, exciting team to watch. But there's room for improvement. Detroit looks like crap right now, but they'll be healthier by April. Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston all made the Hawks look like garbage at times last year.
How soon people forget— Dollar Bill gave you an exciting team for parts of the 80s and 90s. But you NEVER got a Cup.
If you can get an UFA that solves one of this team's glaring holes, which will be evident by the trade deadline, then I wouldn't be against moving one the rumored guys. This is assuming that you don't have any major injuries to your core. One of the best things the Hawks have going is there depth up front. It's only a matter of time before some of these 2nd tier guys start taking advantage of the matchups they get. Just like you pointed out that the Redwings did against barker and walker last year.
I also don't disagree with the potential of the market coming down in terms of dollars being offered to free agents. It happened in baseball, and that's why IF the Hawks decide to keep this group post trade-deadline, I think you HAVE to move guys at the draft. Get prospects, and picks to keep plugging in holes with cheaper guys to offset the major contracts to your core.
Lastly, if anyone is going tonight...I'll be there. Ususally get to the bud light bar by 6ish and put a couple back before I trek up to the 300 level. If you want to meet and have a couple.....let me know.
Rain-- whatcha wearing tonight?
I'll try to get a table on the outside part of the bar.
I'll be with my brother who wears a red Roenick jersey.
Rain--sorry, as soon as I typed that last thing something came up. Maybe next time.
it's why Dale is gone and Stan is in; period.
Teams MUST overpay when they suck. That's the 'Hawks just over 2 years ago (e.g. Campbell's deal).
Teams also overpay when they MISCALCULATE a player's trade value. That's the 'Hawks about 17 months ago (e.g. signing Huet w/o being able to deal Khabi).
As the 'Hawks get better and better, they will attract more players to choose from in the pool of FA's and in trades. Players will WANT to come here and will take a little less to play here than other teams. It's the EXACT opposite situation the 'Hawks were in just over 2 years ago.
Well, one positive spin on these 12 or 13 year contracts maybe that the cap could be 80-90 million by the time they expire. Then the cap hit Keith gives you won't seem like much at all.
And to be honest, I think the contracts we are going to be complaining about are the ones Toews and Kane signed yesterday. If they stay healthy we're going to wonder why they didn't also get 13 year contracts back in 2009 so they wouldn't be asking for 10 million each in 2014. We're all going to forget about the fact there wasn't any wiggle room to do this for all three.
$29 million a year for the five core guys is going to look brilliant under a $90 million cap.
Dude....Relax man. You're harshing my mellow.
If you can't be happy about these Hawks and the transformation that has taken place in the last 3 years, then it may be time to turn in your autographed Stan Mikita helmet. I don't want you to do that though, because we've all been there before...out on that ledge. It's not fun, but we all have our moments, and that's what were here for...to help our Blackhawk Brethren through their dark times.
So get back in here, pour yourself a drink and chill out for a while, we're gonna get you through this. Trust me, everything is going to be OK.
I quote the great Tom Petty "...most things that I worry about, never happen anyway..." Think about it, and then stop worrying, you're freaking out the kids.
I wish I had read your post before cutting my wrists. And I don't think I should pour myself a drink after all those pills I swallowed.
Good lord fellas. I became a fan the year before the 61 Stanley Cup win. I have been one ever since. Been through a lot of tough times. But I never felt the doom and gloom that is being spewed in this blog.
The problem is that you guys just simply cannot enjoy a good thing when it hits you in the face. You or I or all of us combined can do anything to change what happens. So sit back and enjoy the season. Let's worry about tomorrow when tomorrow arrives.
Have a good day!
Been a fan almost as long as you give or take 5 years (prob give lol) and I can find nothing seriously wrong with our team and enjoy the thought of watching the Hawks next game regardless of who it is!
If the hawks were 23-0 we would still have this back and forth on who sucks and who is lazy! If I was Dustin B and had to listen to the crap spewed on here about him, I think i would be a little disillusioned given the teams success!
Bottom line is we are very good....... but everyone still has the right to say whats on their minds!
Sing it brother!!!!
I was going to post - Do us a favor - Step Off the Ledge!
But I like your post better - your kinder words have restored my Mellow! Thank You!
Now - I can't wait to catch tonights game and that is nice!
I believe the thinking is that by the end of Keith's contract, retirement at 36,37, or 38 is not entirely out of the question, even likely.
There's just no way the Hawks do not make a trade this year.
Obviously Sopes would solve alot (tho not likely going) and Buff the other.
But Sharpie or VERSTEEG! would bring the most, and even then, probably after the year is done.
Last Year the Hawks finished 13 points from 9th.
The same person who says that 6 isn't alot, wouldn't be far from saying 13 isnt a whole lot more.
Also, i actually do think Hossa IS a Shanahan in some respects.
Shanahan is FORTY. he should retire. (see point above)
Hossa is Thirty. And although not a Lock for the HHOF, he has averaged more Points Per Game than Shanny.
Point Taken. There is Kool Aid to be had, for sure. Thats what McDummy & Wirtz do for a living...
Only Time will Tell.
The one mantra i have for myself this year and beyond: Not too High; Not too Low.
I want to win the Cup this year. And they do need to clear space for next year. To me, that calls for serious consideration of a deadline move to bring in a missing piece or two (physical d-man, center or extra vet goalie) at the cost of 1-2 youths.
Our third pairing and a couple of other aspects of this team still concern me.
Champions don't hesitate to go for it at times like that.
The concerns going forward are the third D pair and lack of a #2 center. The trading deadline should be a good test for Bowman. I have to think there are going to be some rent a player situations out there. The trading deadline should be pretty busy with teams jockeying for position going into the playoffs or looking for cap relief ( in our case both). Like you I want to see the Hawks go for it this year. Pick any sport and the teams that are serious contenders will make that last move that puts them over the top.
While most people see a good save percentage, I also see a much greater than ever commitment by the rest of the team to block shots. I have to think there is a correlation. It does appear that Huet is working on his game to not go down as quick, so credit for a good attitude should go to him. But how the heck do they give a guy still trying to figure out his game a contract like that? With all respects, he plays like he needs ritalin.
At least the big 3 got signed. And with the team gelling like it has, why mess with what you have? I think we are all relieved that French Fry has started to be the minder we all want him to be. Anybody else for more Crow?
Well, I was against the signing when it happened, and I have occasionally popped up here and at HockeyBuzz to get on him . . . . But I have also remarked that hopefully I am wrong about him and that one day I might have to eat crow. I am not quite there yet - he has to sustain this all season and have a good playoff.
But I also think we all to have to admit that he has been pretty good for the most part - and not just lucky. I didn't think he was so great on a couple of the Columbus goals, the other night, and I was wondering if the old Huet was coming back. But really those goals weren't of the awful variety, and of course he was great in the shootout. So, as with the signings yesterday, let's enjoy the ride for now. Unfortunately for me, I live in Florida and have to enjoy it all from afar.
Finally, re. Huet, kudos to Jackuel - he was the voice of reason on behalf of Huet early on. Although after that Dallas game, it looked like JJ was about to break and join the rest of us, but he held tough, kept supporting him. If Huet leads the 'Hawks to a Cup, perhaps JJ can cook the crow that many of us will have to eat.
When I eat mine, I eat it caveman style, raw. And I do eat mine on occasion.
We have ALL been right to question Huet. And I commend guys like you Al, and especially Panger and Swiss Cheese for grudgingly giving the guy his props for battling back. Fair's fair.
Two things about him that I like: he takes responsibility (always) when he sucks and then finds a way to lock it down, and he can be pretty d--- good at times. Let's face it, most of this year thus far, he has been.
Will he go back to deer in the headlights at some point? Who knows? But I do also know there's a good chance he'll battle his way out of it, too. Remains to be seen if he does, and how badly it might affect the team if he does.
I suppose it has been Huet's "battling back," as you say, that has been most impressive. After that Dallas game, he did take responsibility, but I thought, "Talk is cheap, we've heard it before. This is the Huet we're stuck with, because nobody will take him." And I wasn't (and am not) convinced that Niemi is the answer. But in fairness to Huet, he really has fought through this, and, as others have commented, it is obvious that he has worked hard on not going down too early. The upshot of all that is that you have to emphathize and respect a guy for his courage and determination after being humiliated (not just humbled) - those are traits that will help anybody in any walk of life.
I have also begrudgingly become a Kane fan - counter-intuitively perhaps. I thought he seemed like a self-centered, coddled brat when he first came here. My change in thinking happened after and because of the cab incident. He is much more humble, mature, and determined it seems to me - precisely because of what happened. I am not excusing him for what he did. He got off very easy - and he knows it. I think what he did in response was count his blessings; he knows he dodged a bullet.
All of that is to say, Huet and Kane are both becoming better through this adversity - much of it brought on themselves and deserved, but their respective responses are both impressive in my view. And kind of refreshing relative to the larger world of professional sports. They both seem like they are the kind of guys you might want to go into battle with (I say that as a veteran - I know it's only sports).
No crow cookin' goin' on here. Huet seems to thrive on getting a lot of work and the more work he gets, the better he seems to do. Of course it doesn't hurt that the boys are playing pretty darn well defensively in front of him either. I think he plays with a chip on his shoulder and I like that. He knows he has something to prove and he seems to be a hard worker.
So for those of us who like our food cooked... No food for you.
Jacukel, caveman style can be had anytime my friend. Hopefully you go hungry for a while and Huet continues to play well for us.
Hopefully I'll make the 3.5 hour drive to Chi-town here within the month to see the boys go at it. I do know that I'll be in Detroit on 12/23 to see the Hawks take down the Dead Wings in my Toews jersey!!!! Gotta love goin' into enemy territory.
should start enjoying it. I mean, people have to be pretty picky to find things to complain about this year. Huet gets bashed the most and overall he isn't playing all that bad. Sure he makes mistakes, but once you average it all out, he is getting the job done.
The comment I want to add, what if the Hawks keep a few of their improving players like Brouwer and Versteeg and Hjalmarsson and they keep getting even better. How much of a force could this team be in the next 5 seasons. You have to wonder just how much the young players may develop by this time next year. It may become possible to do without guys like Huet and Campbell who are overpaid.
I'm hoping Bowman can make some good moves in the next 9-10 months and keep this time on track.