2024-25 Roster…too soon?

[CanadianHawks]

I would pay the piper for a Kaprizov

Absolutely not for Marner

Kaprizov is a game breaker. Franchise level player

 

[ColbyChaos]

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

Their RFAs continously not showing up when it matters is the biggest issue. Matthews is also just not someone who you can win with when you consider his contract shenangins every few years

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Wasn't there some rumor recently about Kaprizov eventually wanting a move to CHI? Idc if its complete BS

It was just BS from Lazerus

Literally bullshit with no basis in fact/reality

 

[ColbyChaos]

I'm not talking about making the jump to the NHL, I said as being a legit top linemate for Bedard. It's basically one full year at a minimum before that pick might even play, and likely 2-3 more for them to develop into a legit top liner if we're lucky.

Looking at the 2021 draft there is arguably one top line player right now from that draft in Beniers.

Guenther is very much a top line player already. Power is also a top pairing quality D already too. Terrible analysis.

Literally every single situation is different. Hawks signed Hossa to a 9.2% of the cap deal during UFA and won three cups. They signed Soupy to a deal worth 12% of the cap in 08. One worked amazing, one kinda worked. Minnesota used UFA and was a good team for a long time with Parise and Suter, just ran into the Hawks every year. Signing UFAs aren't going to flip you to be good immediately but they also can be around when you are good.

Wild had Bryzgalov, and a Josh Harding struggling with MS as their goalies, they had no first line C and were trotting out Grandlund and Koivu (who was already past his expiration). They were just mid

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Davidson needs to be on the phone shopping Murphy around. It sounds like a bunch of teams are already desperate for the playoff type Dman. That’s Murphy to a tee.

Big, physical, not immobile, right handed. Sure not much offense or anything, but most teams won’t care. At 2.2 million, that’s an easy first coming back. Those types just won’t be available as many teams won’t be out of the playoff running yet.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Friedman suggested that Stanley could be in on Murphy

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Friedman suggested that Stanley could be in on Murphy

Friedman or Captain Obvious? Everyone's put that one together already.

 

[Crow]

Murphy to me is about a Zadorov level dman in that they both fluctuate in their play and hit hard and make mistakes. Those guys make a lot of money even though they really aren’t that good at hockey. So I see Murphy aka BARFY retained fetching a pretty solid pick.

 

[GIADF]

Guenther is very much a top line player already. Power is also a top pairing quality D already too. Terrible analysis.

Guenther had played like 80 games prior to this season starting. Let’s maybe see him do it for a full NHL season before we claim he’s anything?


I was specifically talking about forwards and made no mention of defenseman so no idea why you’re bringing up Power.

 

[WarriorofTime]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851731353848721747

 

[BHawk21]

So when Connor Bedard is 25? Yeah, having some good cheap talent on the team then as Bedard is entering his absolute prime sounds super appealing to me.

No need to have a Buffalo 2015 season, where they decided "it's time to stop losing, we picked 2nd and 1st the last two years, now we need to learn how to win"

Traded 3 prospects and a 2nd for Ryan O'Reilly, then gave him a 7-year extension
Traded a 1st for Robin Lehner and David Legwand

They improved their goal differential from -113 to -26. Jack Eichel got to learn how to play "competitive hockey". They had a real player in O'Reilly leading the charge. They finished 8th to last and subsequently got to watch Matthews, Laine, Tkachuk and Keller all get taken ahead of them, but were rewarded for all that "learning to win" with Alex Nylander at the 8th pick.

They continued "learning to win" by signing Kyle Okposo the following offseason to a 7-year contract. But their goal differential slipped to -36. They finished 6th to last, and because of ping pong balls and an expansion team, they picked 8th. This time they got to watch Hischier, Heiskanen, Makar and Petterson all get taken ahead of them, but were rewarded for continuing to play "competitive hockey" with Casey Mittelstadt at the 8th pick.

...The reality is every draft slot gives you an incrementally more difficult odds of landing a high impact player. Oh sure, you have a good chance of getting a decent enough player that will stick around the NHL for a while and provide some good value here and there as they run their course through various teams around the League... but the nature of the beast is the superstars have a way of concentrating themselves at the top of the draft board.

You want the Blackhawks to have a top 5 pick in the 2026 draft?

 

[WarriorofTime]

You want the Blackhawks to have a top 5 pick in the 2026 draft?

I'd like for the Hawks to get better organically instead of artificially, because their recent draft picks are making a difference, not by signing expensive, long-term, '97/'98 born players, just to finish in 24th instead of 29th.

Hawks get better because Bedard is one of the best players in the League, Reichel is playing well, Korchinski, Levshunov, Nazar are all up and contributing, that sounds great.

Hawks go out and spend $13 million on Mitch Marner, sign two more veteran defensemen to keep some of the younger guys down in Rockford, and their average age looks similar to this year's roster.. just upgraded. Then still don't make the Playoffs. That feels like a waste.

 

[BHawk21]

I'd like for the Hawks to get better artificially, not by signing expensive, long-term, '97/'98 born players, just to finish in 24th instead of 29th.

Hawks get better because Bedard is one of the best players in the League, Reichel is playing well, Korchinski, Levshunov, Nazar are all up and contributing, that sounds great.

Hawks go out and spend $13 million on Mitch Marner, sign two more veteran defensemen to keep some of the younger guys down in Rockford, and their average age looks similar to this year's roster.. just upgraded. Then still don't make the Playoffs. That feels like a waste.

Im not sure you worded that correctly and then adding vet defenseman out of nowhere? Adding a 28 year old Mitch Marner who can be a elite player for another 5 years and a good player for 2 after that is a good thing.

We do not have a cap problem. There a zero signs of a cap problem. The team will continue to get better with Mitch Marner. Most of these good prospects wont get paid large contracts for another 5 years. IF THEY PAN OUT.

It would be a great thing if in 5-6 years we have a problem with to0 many guys needing to be paid.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Im not sure you worded that correctly and then adding vet defenseman out of nowhere? Adding a 28 year old Mitch Marner who can be a elite player for another 5 years and a good player for 2 after that is a good thing.

We do not have a cap problem. There a zero signs of a cap problem. The team will continue to get better with Mitch Marner. Most of these good prospects wont get paid large contracts for another 5 years. IF THEY PAN OUT.

It would be a great thing if in 5-6 years we have a problem with to0 many guys needing to be paid.

But prospects panning out and needing to get paid is simultaneously the only scenario where signing Mitch Marner results in a positive outcome... otherwise they need new prospects.

Anyways, we don't even know if Marner will be available and if he'd want to come here.

 

[BHawk21]

But prospects panning out and needing to get paid is simultaneously the only scenario where signing Mitch Marner results in a positive outcome... otherwise they need new prospects.

Anyways, we don't even know if Marner will be available and if he'd want to come here.

So we tank for 3-4 more years to see if Levshunov Korchinski Nazar Moore Boisvert Vanacker Top 5 pick this year pan out?

Of course we dont know that.

 

[GIADF]

So we tank for 3-4 more years to see if Levshunov Korchinski Nazar Moore Boisvert Vanacker Top 5 pick this year pan out?

Of course we dont.

While overpaying veterans for middle 6 production to make sure you still hit the floor. So basically what Detroit is going in year 6 of their plan or whatever, which looks like crap.

 

[WarriorofTime]

So we tank for 3-4 more years to see if Levshunov Korchinski Nazar Moore Boisvert Vanacker Top 5 pick this year pan out?

Of course we dont know that.

Don't need to tank, but also don't need to commit 7 years and a billion dollars to somebody just to specifically not tank. There are middle dollar/middle term free agents every offseason.

While overpaying veterans for middle 6 production to make sure you still hit the floor. So basically what Detroit is going in year 6 of their plan or whatever, which looks like crap.

Detroit is on like Year 9 of their rebuild because most of their early picks whiffed (Rasmussen, Zadina with top 10 picks) and they haven't unleashed gems from outside their top picks. They also came out of the rebuild too soon [the Buffalo problem], imagine if they had Bedard/Carlsson/Fantilli/Michkov instead of Nate Danielson to show for 2023 Draft.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

You add elite talent for dollars and make the rest work. Being too top heavy is absolutely a luxury problem.

It is tough though because Bedard is likely going to be our best player and your best player needs to make the most money for internal cap structure. Guys don't wanna move all their shit. It's a hell of a lot easier to get Vlasic deals when you do that.

 

[BHawk21]

Don't need to tank, but also don't need to commit 7 years and a billion dollars to somebody just to specifically not tank. There are middle dollar/middle term free agents every offseason.


Detroit is on like Year 9 of their rebuild because most of their early picks whiffed (Rasmussen, Zadina with top 10 picks) and they haven't unleashed gems from outside their top picks. They also came out of the rebuild too soon [the Buffalo problem], imagine if they had Bedard/Carlsson/Fantilli/Michkov instead of Nate Danielson to show for 2023 Draft.

? Adding Marner would be to try to win with him within the next 7 years. Signing him isnt about making the playoffs in 2025.

Bedard and Marner can both sign for 13 million. Those are your two top players and then you hope that Nazar, 2025 pick is good enough to warrant a big deal down the line.

 

[GIADF]

Don't need to tank, but also don't need to commit 7 years and a billion dollars to somebody just to specifically not tank. There are middle dollar/middle term free agents every offseason.


Detroit is on like Year 9 of their rebuild because most of their early picks whiffed (Rasmussen, Zadina with top 10 picks) and they haven't unleashed gems from outside their top picks. They also came out of the rebuild too soon [the Buffalo problem], imagine if they had Bedard/Carlsson/Fantilli/Michkov instead of Nate Danielson to show for 2023 Draft.

And some of our guys are going to be total busts too. Can’t not spend money because we think every first and second round draft pick is going to be a home run.

If you end up with too much talent then that’s an amazing problem to have and easy to solve. Also gives you trade bait for playoff runs.

 

[Mrfenn92]

No thanks to Mitch

 

[Crow]

Im not against signing an elite UFA but Marner is just too poor in the playoffs to consider paying north of 10 million to me. I highly doubt he signs for less than 11.

 

[x Tame Impala]

? Adding Marner would be to try to win with him within the next 7 years. Signing him isnt about making the playoffs in 2025.

Bedard and Marner can both sign for 13 million. Those are your two top players and then you hope that Nazar, 2025 pick is good enough to warrant a big deal down the line.

Tavares signed a 7 year, $11m AAV deal in 2018/19. The next year Marner signed a 6 year, $10.9m AAV deal and Matthews signed a 5 year, $11.6m AAV deal. The UFA contract for Tavares set the tone for the other guys.

True we don't have a cap problem or 3 major RFA's to sign after our big UFA contract but that doesn't mean we need to make things more difficult down the road. Imagine if Toronto had not gone out and chased that big free agent? Their RFA's would have lower AAV's and they would've had a lot more cap space going forward to balance out their roster. Instead they're always up against the cap solving major leaks in their team by putting duct tape on it with bargain bin players and guys like 42 year old Joe Thornton.

If Marner comes in wanting $14m as a UFA and we give it to him then Bedard could/would want that or more. That sets the tone for each and every one of our RFAs going forward and while none of them are at Bedard's level it could raise their contract asks and dwindle away our abundant cap space.

 

[Hawkaholic]

You want the Blackhawks to have a top 5 pick in the 2026 draft?

Chances are they will, or be pretty close to it. How much better do you think they'll get in 1 more offseason, where our goalies will be the same, our D will be the same +/- 1 or 2 guys, and we add an impact forward if you get your wish?

 

[GIADF]

Chances are they will, or be pretty close to it. How much better do you think they'll get in 1 more offseason, where our goalies will be the same, our D will be the same +/- 1 or 2 guys, and we add an impact forward if you get your wish?

I will be disappointed if they are still a bottom 5 team for the 2026 draft. They won’t really lose anyone of significant value for next season and will have a few bucks to spend.

Then ideally Korchinski, Nazar, and Allan take on full time roles.

May also have a top 3 pick to jump right into the mix.

I’m not going to count on Levshunov playing NHL minutes next year but I don’t think it’s that crazy of an idea if he plays well in Rockford this year. I’d bet he would be better than Brodie, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s best for his development and something they can or will do.

But more importantly than all of that it’s entirely possible we have a new coaching staff and just about anyone would be better.