2024-25 Roster…too soon?

[Pez68]

Signing Marner would be like Toronto signing Tavares. NO.

 

[Drumman44]

Signing Marner would be like Toronto signing Tavares. NO.

First five years were pretty good. Their window got hosed by COVID

 

[Pez68]

First five years were pretty good. Their window got hosed by COVID

Their window got hosed by having too many forwards making too much money.

 

[Mrfenn92]

No more Toronto free agents

 

[BobbyJet]

It probably just means that Ryan Donato's 50 goal in 80 game pace is not sustainable.

Well, of course but BWC is right. Hawks need more offense from a few sources. Dickinson, Hall, Bertuzzi, Kurashev, Reichel and Jones all come to mind who need to be more productive.

 

[Drumman44]

Their window got hosed by having too many forwards making too much money.

True. Probably a larger issue. Overpaying RFA’s really cost them in depth

 

[Malaka]

Signing Marner would be like Toronto signing Tavares. NO.

Adding to this, I’m pretty sure Hossa was the only if not one of very few free agent stories where they signed and lived up to the contract/level of play. There’s a lot of variables in what makes a player successful, including systems and how they integrate with fellow players the team they move to is built around.

Can anyone name a 4 UFA’s outside of Hossa that put a team over the edge and into cup contention?

 

[CallMeShaft]

I will say, I'd be shocked if we turned into the next Maple Leafs, even if we signed someone like Marner.

Toronto's problem is a lack of D on the team. They might be allocating a ton to that forward group, but the best defender they managed to draft and developed turned out to be Morgan Reilly, who is a gigantic let down if he's your best defenseman. After that, what do they really have on defense? Our old buddy McCabe, who I think most here would agree is a solid middle pairing guy and a past his prime OEL.

Hawks have a number of defensive prospects who should turn out better than the trash the Leafs are icing on their back end every night. And I'd argue that Vlasic, right now, is better than any of their defenders.

 

[Taze em]

I have my eye on Ehlers.

 

[Clownish]

Adding to this, I’m pretty sure Hossa was the only if not one of very few free agent stories where they signed and lived up to the contract/level of play. There’s a lot of variables in what makes a player successful, including systems and how they integrate with fellow players the team they move to is built around.

Can anyone name a 4 UFA’s outside of Hossa that put a team over the edge and into cup contention?

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There's a few, but it's not common in recent years.

 

[Muffinalt]

I will say, I'd be shocked if we turned into the next Maple Leafs, even if we signed someone like Marner.

Toronto's problem is a lack of D on the team. They might be allocating a ton to that forward group, but the best defender they managed to draft and developed turned out to be Morgan Reilly, who is a gigantic let down if he's your best defenseman. After that, what do they really have on defense? Our old buddy McCabe, who I think most here would agree is a solid middle pairing guy and a past his prime OEL.

Hawks have a number of defensive prospects who should turn out better than the trash the Leafs are icing on their back end every night. And I'd argue that Vlasic, right now, is better than any of their defenders.

Very much agree with this, but the worry is that if we sign those high dollar FA forwards we won't be able to afford our own defensemen when they're up for the big raises.

Then we could turn into Toronto. But luckily I think the FO is showing very proactive cap management planning so far, so we should be fine.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I have my eye on Ehlers.

14 points in 37 playoffs games and from everything I’ve read, Jets fans are usually annoyed as shit with his play

 

[Chuck Testa]

Very much agree with this, but the worry is that if we sign those high dollar FA forwards we won't be able to afford our own defensemen when they're up for the big raises.

Then we could turn into Toronto. But luckily I think the FO is showing very proactive cap management planning so far, so we should be fine.

Also, I think teams around the league (if they're in any way sensible) can look at how things have turned out for the Maple Leafs after dishing out big money to 4 guys. If any team was to look at that scenario and look to replicate it for some asinine reason, then I would say that they would reap what they sowed.

The Hawks have to be looking ahead to the upcoming years and trying to foresee how they'll be able to construct a perennial contender much like the contending teams they had during the glory years. You look at a team like Boston and it seems as though they've been in the mix year after year and I think that's in part to the fact that they don't dish out monster contracts to players which allows them to have the money to fill out the depth on their roster.

Now, it's not like I'm saying "We gotta be like Boston" but I'd rather have an approach more like Boston than like the Maple Leafs.

I really don't think KD is stupid enough to fall in to the Maple Leafs trap.

 

[Malagahawks]

Jumping into the fray with my own delusional banter:

What if we approached the Bolts with a Godfather type haul for Kucherov in the next off season? He still has 2 years from 25/26 to 26/27 at 9.5M. He will be 33 at the end of this contract and I can see him skating for another 3-4 years after this term.
Granted this is all throw shyte at the wall and see what sticks type stuff. They are IMHO reaching the end of the road with their Cup roster and might look favorably at retooling.

 

[BHawk21]

Stamkos wasnt elite either once he left Tampa

Banking on a next "Hossa" signing to fill a star forward slot would be pretty poor managing. Like you said, it rarely happens and usually those guys have a very particular destination in mind

He made it to UFA in Tampa and then looked around and resigned back in Tampa previously when he was still elite.

 

[BHawk21]

Signing Marner would be like Toronto signing Tavares. NO.

Except we have 1 elite forward talent in Bedard and not 3 in Marner Nylander and Matthews. So nothing like it.

In 2026-2027 we have 4 players signed. Bedard would be the 5th. They have more then enough cap.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I'm an "as long as it takes" kinda guy. Hawks felt like a "forever rebuild" last time until 2007-08 and then 2008-09 came around, and they weren't. Remember Mike Smith drafting Yakubov and Vorobiev with back to back picks? Not really in a huge rush, just get Bedard locked into an 8-year deal while continuing to pay lip service to wanting to be competitive, not tank, etc. and go from there.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Over spending on big FAs doesn't work. Be crappy for a couple of more years, see what you have, and go from there.

 

[TLEH]

I'm not necessarily advocating for signing Marner but I don't think them signing Marner would be similar to the Leafs at all with Tavares.

 

[GIADF]

Hawks have 15.25M in cap space tied up in Hall, Foligno, and Mikheyev. Give me a star in Marner for a 12M next year and you still have 3.25M to spare to fill in the other two roster spots. Your team is now significantly better and most importantly Bedard now has an incredible linemate.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Hawks have 15.25M in cap space tied up in Hall, Foligno, and Mikheyev. Give me a star in Marner for a 12M next year and you still have 3.25M to spare to fill in the other two roster spots. Your team is now significantly better and most importantly Bedard now has an incredible linemate.

Foligno isn't going anywhere, and I doubt Mikheyev is either.

 

[GIADF]

Foligno isn't going anywhere, and I doubt Mikheyev is either.

It was more of an example of how much we're spending on bad production currently in comparison to what Marner will make.

The Hawks can easily make room for Marner's contract without any significant pieces after this season. Hall will drop off and I think they have like 9M in space as is with no significant raises for next year.

But yes, I am expecting both of them to be on the roster next year as well.

 

[Clownish]

Foligno isn't going anywhere, and I doubt Mikheyev is either.

How 'bout Athanasiou and Hall?

 

[WarriorofTime]

It was more of an example of how much we're spending on bad production currently in comparison to what Marner will make.

The Hawks can easily make room for Marner's contract without any significant pieces after this season. Hall will drop off and I think they have like 9M in space as is with no significant raises for next year.

But yes, I am expecting both of them to be on the roster next year as well.

Yeah, I mean they're still a terrible roster, so yeah Marner + x + x is a better use of cap space today, but it's not like it's next year or bust.

 

[Hawkaholic]

How 'bout Athanasiou and Hall?

I could see Hall being back on a cheaper deal, but yeah, AA is as good as gone.