Blackhawks offseason moves?

[CarbombCarcillo]

What do we think their roster will look like come fall?

Just my opinion of a few guys:

Gone: Emery, Stallberg, Carcillo, Brookbank, Mayers, Montador
Resign: Bickell and Kruger
Maybe: Handzus and Rosival

Two key questions:

A: Who'd be Crawford's backup (could we sign anyone good?)

B: What do we need? (I feel like we're still missing one high caliber player, despite our success)

[Mr. Guru]

Leddy?

Rights traded or retained?

[Mr. Guru]

a) Crawfords back up is already Finnish sensation Antti Raanta 1 year at 1.4M

Best goalie in Europe this year....he won pretty much every award he could in the SM-Liiga
SM-liiga All-Star Team
SM-liiga Best GAA (1.85)
SM-liiga Best Goaltender "Urpo Ylönen Award"
SM-liiga Best Player in Playoffs "Jari Kurri Award"
SM-liiga Best Player of Regular Season "Lasse Oksanen Award"
SM-liiga Best SVS% (.943)
SM-liiga Champion
World Championship Top 3 Player on Team


b) I think a 3rd line center will be the teams biggest need....

[Daydream Nation]

I have read a lot of comments lately that the Hawks are in poor shape for next year and that is not true.

Free Agent Loses: Bickell, Stalberg, Rozsival, Emery, Handzus

RFAs: Leddy, Kruger

Compliance Buyouts- Montador, Olesz

Here are a couple options:
1) Trade Bolland and/or Frolik and resign Bickell. Obviously, this depends on the cap hit. If it is much over 3.2 M, let him walk. Have to remember that Hjalmarsson is up next year and Kane in Toews in 2 more years.
2) Replace Bickell w/Hayes/Morin. Cheapest, easiest alternative. Keep the core and replace non-core players with system players.
3) The #2 center will be either LeBlanc/Pirri. You can always acquire a veteran to help at the position like with Handzus this year.
4) Raanta is the backup goalie next season. Excited about this.

Here are the likely starting lines next year until Q starts shuffling.

Toews, Hossa, Saad
Pirri/Leblanc, Kane, Sharp
Bolland, Shaw, Frolik
Kruger, Morin, Hayes/Smith
Carcillo, Bollig

Keith, Seabrook
Oduya, Hammer
Leddy, Veteran Dman
Brookbank

Crawford
Raanta

Don't fret! This is hockey in the salary cap era. You can't keep everyone.

[suvojitde]

I have read a lot of comments lately that the Hawks are in poor shape for next year and that is not true.

Free Agent Loses: Bickell, Stalberg, Rozsival, Emery, Handzus

RFAs: Leddy, Kruger

Compliance Buyouts- Montador, Olesz

Here are a couple options:
1) Trade Bolland and/or Frolik and resign Bickell. Obviously, this depends on the cap hit. If it is much over 3.2 M, let him walk. Have to remember that Hjalmarsson is up next year and Kane in Toews in 2 more years.
2) Replace Bickell w/Hayes/Morin. Cheapest, easiest alternative. Keep the core and replace non-core players with system players.
3) The #2 center will be either LeBlanc/Pirri. You can always acquire a veteran to help at the position like with Handzus this year.
4) Raanta is the backup goalie next season. Excited about this.

Here are the likely starting lines next year until Q starts shuffling.

Toews, Hossa, Saad
Pirri/Leblanc, Kane, Sharp
Bolland, Shaw, Frolik
Kruger, Morin, Hayes/Smith
Carcillo, Bollig

Keith, Seabrook
Oduya, Hammer
Leddy, Veteran Dman
Brookbank

Crawford
Raanta

Don't fret! This is hockey in the salary cap era. You can't keep everyone.

Not sure if Coach Q is big on Leddy based on the ice time he got in this series. Also you mention trading Bolland and/or Frolik but have them both on the roster. To me, Bolland is key and Frolik filled an important role on the PK (he was the best non-goaltending PK on a number of occassions) so not sure I see them both being traded, maybe one of them. We will have to wait and see hot it all plays out but even though this season just ended, can't wait for the next one to start ;-)

[Shake]

You can take this to the bank. Bryan Bickell will return to the Hawks. Not even worried about that. I hope they do not get to crazy with the money for him, but he will be a Blackhawk for the next 4-5 years. I don;t worry about him not being a Blackhawk, I am more worried about the money they'll give him and what it might do to the rest of the teams cap.

[Daydream Nation]

@suvo- you only trade Bolland or Frolik if you are resigning Bickell. Bolland is a little over 3 M and Frolik is 2.3 M. Both are overpaid for what they bring. I was just stating some options and then giving a likely, conservative roster for next year.

I like Bickell but he has never played as well as he has this postseason. I hope the Hawks don't pay him 3.5 for 4 years. Let Jimmy Hayes try to fill that role. The Hawks won the President's Trophy without Bickell being THIS Brian Bickell.

I worry about resigning Hammer and then Toews and Kane down the road. I already fear that they'll have to trade Sharp when Toews and Kane are paid 8 M each.

And Leddy- well his RFA contract took a hit in these playoffs but you still want to keep him. He's young.