2025-26 Roster…too soon?

[MHO]

Why not start this now?

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[MTU34]

Forwards (14):
Connor Bedard
X
X
Teuvo Teravainen
Frank Nazar
Tyler Bertuzzi
Jason Dickinson
Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Foligno
Colton Dach
Lukas Reichel
Landon Slaggert
X
X

Defenseman (7):
Alex Vlasic
Connor Murphy
X
Nolan Allan
Ethan Del Mastro
Kevin Korchinski
Wyatt Kaiser/Louis Crevier

Goaltenders (2):
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom

Would love to see them add two capable top 6 forwards this off-season. One UFA, one younger guy via trade (Toronto/Florida 1st). Need a couple of 13th forward types too.

Probably need another veteran right shot but the internal comp should be good on D.

Goaltending room is easy. Move on from Mrazek and just waive Brossoit at the start of the year

 

[Taze em]

Big game hunting this offseason in. FA and trades. Have to if we want to be cap compliant, actually.

 

[CanadianHawks]

Bert-Bedard-X
Dach-X-Nazar
Mikeyeh-X-TT
Foligno-Dickinson-Slaggert
13th: Anderson

Vlasic-Crevier
EDM-Murphy
Kaiser/KK-Allan
Brodie

Knight
Soda

LTIR/Waivers Broussiant

Honestly not sure where Reichel draws in unless he’s at that 3C

Norris/Cousins/Pinto/Duchene trade or signing as that 2C

Rantanen or Boeser with Bedard

 

[MHO]

I think the only punishment for being below the floor is that a team would have to pay the difference to the league. Not sure about that though

 

[BHawk21]

Bertuzzi-Bedard-Marner
Teravainen-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Misa-Nazar-Dach
Reichel-Sturm-Slaggert
Foligno

Vlasic-Crevier
Korchinski-Murphy
Del Mastro-Allan
Kaiser/Brodie

Knight
Soderblom

 

[JLarucci23]

Add Marner for whatever it takes.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Just throwing this out there, but we can afford both Rantanen AND Marner next year.....

I do think we have to go after one of them or at least try to acquire someone else who is a bigger name than Teravainen and Bertuzzi. Free agent or via trading away picks (not our own 1sts) or lesser prospects. We need help up front and we have the cap to do it.

Defense you just let it be and see what happens. It'd be nice if Korchinski was ready for the NHL full time next season, but you make that judgement if/when he performs well in the preseason. Lev is less likely to make the team out of preseason, but the same rule applies, if he shows well enough you keep him up until it becomes apparent he needs more time.

Goaltending goes from our biggest unknown to maybe our biggest strength. 1/2 punch of Knight/Soda.

 

[Muffinalt]

I was very pro Marner or Rantanen, but giving them 15 mil is now making me hesitant.

Imagine we land Misa, then both him and Bedard could be asking for that number on their next contract, just like what happened with Toronto no?

I would be fine if they had no questions marks. But apparently Rantanen needs a top play driver and we know his defense is iffy, and Marner isn't a tough area player either. Those are both legit questions marks, where you have to consider if the test is worth for mucking up the internal cap situation down the line (again not space, but more a point of reference to match for the young guys).

The problem is, you really don't have too many other options that don't have these kind of question marks.

I would love Vilardi, but Winnipeg has obscene amounts of cap space.

I've had Cuylle's name long circled as an RFA we could offer sheet, but now the Rangers shifted out enough money to easily keep him.

Who else? Boeser is slow.

Ehlers I could see actually. But again Winnipeg and space.

Bennett I would love, but we need wingers. But he's the type of players we should be looking for.

I guess I'm more open to trying to get Marner because he's a good defensive player, and would be pretty good with Bedard in theory (although I want two heavier skilled players on his wing eventually). Cuylle would be an ideal partner for those two.

I think trades might be a better avenue to keep the internal cap in check, and trying to add the type of player we need.

Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens - these are the guys I'd be trying for ideally. Would need to be three team deals though.

Sorry I'm rambling a little, but it's not clear to me how the forward situation is going to shape up yet.

It's clear we need some skilled, fast, defensively responsible, heavier type wingers.

Edit: actually want do you guys think of trying to trade for Forsberg now? Nashville turned into a complete disaster, maybe theyre open to get some picks and prospects for him now?

He would be ideal. Obviously skilled, plays heavy, not that old either.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I was very pro Marner or Rantanen, but giving them 15 mil is now making me hesitant.

Imagine we land Misa, then both him and Bedard could be asking for that number on their next contract, just like what happened with Toronto no?

I would be fine if they had no questions marks. But apparently Rantanen needs a top play driver and we know his defense is iffy, and Marner isn't a tough area player either. Those are both legit questions marks, where you have to consider if the test is worth for mucking up the internal cap situation down the line (again not space, but more a point of reference to match for the young guys).

The problem is, you really don't have too many other options that don't have these kind of question marks.

I would love Vilardi, but Winnipeg has obscene amounts of cap space.

I've had Cuylle's name long circled as an RFA we could offer sheet, but now the Rangers shifted out enough money to easily keep him.

Who else? Boeser is slow.

Ehlers I could see actually. But again Winnipeg and space.

Bennett I would love, but we need wingers. But he's the type of players we should be looking for.

I guess I'm more open to trying to get Marner because he's a good defensive player, and would be pretty good with Bedard in theory (although I want two heavier skilled players on his wing eventually). Cuylle would be an ideal partner for those two.

I think trades might be a better avenue to keep the internal cap in check, and trying to add the type of player we need.

Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens - these are the guys I'd be trying for ideally. Would need to be three team deals though.

Sorry I'm rambling a little, but it's not clear to me how the forward situation is going to shape up yet.

It's clear we need some skilled, fast, defensively responsible, heavier type wingers.

Edit: actually want do you guys think of trying to trade for Forsberg now? Nashville turned into a complete disaster, maybe theyre open to get some picks and prospects for him now?

He would be ideal. Obviously skilled, plays heavy, not that old either.

Honestly I wouldn't look to add to our core in free agency.

I'd look at Tavares or Duchene on short term deals to reach the cap floor, and to have a quality vet that can win draws.

If there's even a 1% chance McDavid tests free agency in 2026, we should leave the books open. Don't want to miss out because you already committed to a monster deal with Rantanen.

 

[GIADF]

Honestly I wouldn't look to add to our core in free agency.

I'd look at Tavares or Duchene on short term deals to reach the cap floor, and to have a quality vet that can win draws.

If there's even a 1% chance McDavid tests free agency in 2026, we should leave the books open. Don't want to miss out because you already committed to a monster deal with Rantanen.

If McDavid leaves it’s because he hasn’t won a Cup and he’s only going to go somewhere that is ready to win tomorrow. That ain’t gonna be Chicago.

 

[TLEH]

I'd like to see them sign Roslovic, Boeser, and Kunin personally.

Think those are fairly realistic. I'd also be interested in Brock Nelson on a shorter term, high dollar deal.

 

[MHO]

If McDavid leaves it’s because he hasn’t won a Cup and he’s only going to go somewhere that is ready to win tomorrow. That ain’t gonna be Chicago.

I'm not saying anything will or won't happen. But the proximity of a Blackhawks cup became much closer after 08 compared to 07. Then by 09, we were able to sign Hossa.

 

[TheFridge]

Signing Marner or Rantanen is a short-sighted, rushed move. Bedard needs some help but the Hawks haven't entered their contention window and signing either of those players does little to open it. You really want to sign a 29-year-old Rantanen to 7 years at 15M per just to ensure Bedard has a premium linemate next year?

 

[TLEH]

Signing Marner or Rantanen is a short-sighted, rushed move. Bedard needs some help but the Hawks haven't entered their contention window and signing either of those players does little to open it. You really want to sign a 29-year-old Rantanen to 7 years at 15M per just to ensure Bedard has a premium linemate next year?

Cap is about to blow up and players of their caliber do not hit the market in this league. I don't think its short sighted personally but I understand the thought process.

 

[Crow]

Imagine if they are a poor fit with Bedard, like zero chemistry. It wouldn’t be a total loss, they would still play, but it would undermine the reasoning for the timing.

 

[TheFridge]

Cap is about to blow up and players of their caliber do not hit the market in this league. I don't think its short sighted personally but I understand the thought process.

The cap is going to blow up but that never actually creates space for teams, it just raises the salaries of players. They all play percentage of cap games now. You can't cite McDavid or MacKinnon or Makar's deals bc the agents just cite the percentage of the cap those players signed for at the time.

It's exciting that the cap is going up but at the end of the day, the players are still going to be paid and the money gets spent quickly.

 

[TLEH]

The cap is going to blow up but that never actually creates space for teams, it just raises the salaries of players. They all play percentage of cap games now. You can't cite McDavid or MacKinnon or Makar's deals bc the agents just cite the percentage of the cap those players signed for at the time.

It's exciting that the cap is going up but at the end of the day, the players are still going to be paid and the money gets spent quickly.

Cap has never really blown up to the levels its about to blow up before.

 

[TheFridge]

Cap has never really blown up to the levels its about to blow up before.

What's the idea with the cap? That it's going to go to like 115(ish)M for the start of 2027? It's 88M right now. So that's a 30% rise in 3 years.

The cap rose 45% from 2005-06 to 2008-09.

We haven't seen a rise like this in a while, in large part because of covid, but we have seen significant increases to the cap before.

The main issue with the cap and the rise is, again, that players don't abide by any sort of historical precedent for salaries anymore. It's all percentage of cap. Bedard is going to be making as much or more than McDavid/MacKinnon are making on their current deals after his ELC. The money is going to be used up fast. I'm not sure the Hawks really want another Jones on their hands after just ridding themselves of him (and continuing to pay him 2.5M for the next 5 years).

 

[bwanajamba]

Imagine if they are a poor fit with Bedard, like zero chemistry. It wouldn’t be a total loss, they would still play, but it would undermine the reasoning for the timing.

The reasoning for the timing is that talents of the caliber of Marner and Rantanen rarely reach free agency. It may prove to be a mistake but fit with Bedard is only part of the equation

 

[Crow]

The reasoning for the timing is that talents of the caliber of Marner and Rantanen rarely reach free agency. It may prove to be a mistake but fit with Bedard is only part of the equation

That might be your reason and a better one but it’s not the reason I’m seeing posted everywhere by people wanting those two.

 

[belfour30]

Signing Marner or Rantanen is a short-sighted, rushed move. Bedard needs some help but the Hawks haven't entered their contention window and signing either of those players does little to open it. You really want to sign a 29-year-old Rantanen to 7 years at 15M per just to ensure Bedard has a premium linemate next year?

Thank you.

 

[TLEH]

What's the idea with the cap? That it's going to go to like 115(ish)M for the start of 2027? It's 88M right now. So that's a 30% rise in 3 years.

The cap rose 45% from 2005-06 to 2008-09.

We haven't seen a rise like this in a while, in large part because of covid, but we have seen significant increases to the cap before.

The main issue with the cap and the rise is, again, that players don't abide by any sort of historical precedent for salaries anymore. It's all percentage of cap. Bedard is going to be making as much or more than McDavid/MacKinnon are making on their current deals after his ELC. The money is going to be used up fast. I'm not sure the Hawks really want another Jones on their hands after just ridding themselves of him (and continuing to pay him 2.5M for the next 5 years).

I mean yeah I guess but that was when the cap was new. Bedard is not going to be making 13M after his ELC unless he goes for 100+ next year and thats still maybe not enough to get McDavid money.

They are set to have 38 million in space for next year with that being still 17 roster players. Giving a UFA crazy dollars just means you're paying an external player the most on your team which can make the guys who have been here want max money too, which I get, but other than that I don't see the huge risk.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I would imagine given the world’s looming economic situation that the cap doesn’t actually jump up as high as it’s projected too.

Ignore for a moment the huge issue regarding the Canadian economy, the US economy can potentially drastically change as well and if money collectively gets tight I wonder how willing fans are going to be to spend $500+ at a hockey game.

A huge UFA contract under the assumption of a massive cap increase has already bit us badly with T & K, I’m personally not eager to do that again.

 

[CallMeShaft]

I would imagine given the world’s looming economic situation that the cap doesn’t actually jump up as high as it’s projected too.

Ignore for a moment the huge issue regarding the Canadian economy, the US economy can potentially drastically change as well and if money collectively gets tight I wonder how willing fans are going to be to spend $500+ at a hockey game.

A huge UFA contract under the assumption of a massive cap increase has already bit us badly with T & K, I’m personally not eager to do that again.

Yep.

Me and Disgruntled (who has disappeared from here recently, hope he's alright) sort of touched on the topic of tariffs a month or two ago and what it could do to the league and, in turn, the salary cap.

In fact, here's an article from today about Gary Bettman discussing how tariffs could affect the league's future revenue.

NHL commissioner says U.S.-Canada tariffs could affect league

Gary Bettman says that 25% of the NHL's revenue comes from its seven Canadian teams and that all players are paid in U.S. dollars.

www.nbcnews.com