So, everyone's talking about the draft right now...and for good reason. I guess I'd like to ask Hawks fans about a different question...which might lead us back to the draft, but who knows?
With Cap Space at such a premium and a host of teams talking about dumping Cap Space, not retaining RFAs, or as we're starting to see...buying out players. What Tier 2 players should the Hawks target? I ask because IMO...guys like ROR, Kaner, Tarasenko, Barbahev, etc... You name them... They're all going to find their homes. They're all going to get real contracts too. Barbashev isn't taking a low ball offer. Bunting isn't looking like he will either. This is his 1st year at getting real life changing money and he's coming off a great year.
SO....finally to get to the actual quesitons...
Who will be left after the Tier 1 guys go?
Who should the hawks be targeting in the UFA market?
Should they all be 1 year deals for the TDL?
How would this impact our current RFAs...Caleb Jones, Joey Anderson, Bjork, or even guys like Entwhistle, Blackwell, Reese Johnson? Entwhisltle has 126 games with the Hawks. Caleb Jones 124 games. Reese 99 games. Should we be preparing to move on from these guys and target a UFA?
Tatar and Nyquist are the two guys who came to mind for me right away. I could also see the Hawks offering Killorn a one or two year deal at $6 or $7 mil a year. He might be open to that as he is on record wanting to be a Bolt for life but they can't afford him this season for sure and maybe next. Can't see the Hawks signing any D men. If Entwistle and Reese end up on waivers at the end of training camp so be it. I'm not in favor of it, but I see Caleb coming back for another year.
Depends on what CHI feels they need. If they think they need more draft capital, signing solid or resurgent UFA's could be lucrative at the TDL. But, if they aren't as concerned with acquiring more draft capital, they could bet on the upside of the RFA's. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what they are going to do, though. There are so many options that I can't even begin to predict what will happen or how this team is going to look next season or the season after.
Sorry if this doesn't really add to the conversation. But I find myself deleting my ACGM's constantly because I have no clue what they are going to do.
I've always liked tatars game and historically the hawks have had interest in him so I think he'd be a decent option. Kessel and Sheary also stand out to me as high character vets and cup winners. I wouldnt count us out on some of the tier 1 guys, though. The hawks can comfortably pay over the odds so I could see guys like killorn domi or compher making a lot of sense.
I'd expect we see deals on 3 years or less, but I dont think we need to rely on 1 year deals. Its nice to have guys you can flip as rentals at the deadline but you'd hope Davidson will also look for pieces, whether trade or FAs, that can contribute to making sure bedard/reichel have success in their first few seasons. And if we find guys like that it doesnt hurt us at all to sign them to multiple years. AA is the only forward as of now who is under contract for next season. There is so much flexibility that until bedard gets his payday the hawks have lots of room to play with the money they wanna spend on ufas or the cap dumps they wanna take on.
I think so much will depend on what the trade market looks like this next week. If we see teams are being stingy with their draft capital we'll probably sit tight and sign a few FAs/qualify our guys. If teams are more desperate to clear cap I bet we'll take on a couple cap dump or retain on 3 way deals and be compensated with some picks/prospects.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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