smart adds

Hawks decline. Skinner likely doesn't waive for Chicago and Pegula likely won't retain. But even if both happened, that offer doesn't get it done. Rosen is a good prospect, but not enough to take on 3 more years of that contract.

If Skinner was signed for 1 more season Hawks do this. Maybe with 2 more they still do, but 3 more seasons? I don't think they do it

Skinner at 6.4 is probably pretty close to his market value, top 10 in 5v5 goals over the past 3 seasons. I could also see him waiving to get a fresh start in a cool city with a chance to play with Bedard + Celebrini. Its also not like the Hawks are going to have a cap crunch anytime soon, I think they'll try to add by overpaying guys in free agency, but if they had the chance to add picks/prospect while also getting a roster player why wouldn't they?

Because skinner is on the wrong side of 30, about to turn 32 years old, which is when regression really sets in. 3 more years of that agreement, even at $6.4M, will be tough to move in the last season. So really his only value is a bridge player until the Hawks are competitive enough to make a push which at the earliest is 26/27 but more realistically 27/28. Hawks need to focus on adding free agents they can overpay and flip at the TDL for picks. Skinner would fit this perfectly with 1 year left and maybe 2, but 3 years is a bit much with the risk of him at age 35 not being moveable.

The other issue is he doesn't play the 200ft game with speed which is what the Hawks are preaching and the players they are adding as free agents are do.

Those two picks are insignificant to the deal. Hawks have plenty of mid round picks in the bank already. So it's really Rosen to take 3 years of Skinner at $6.4m. Like I said, Rosen is a nice prospect, but he's essentially the same style and size as Nazar and Moore, so he's redundant in the Hawks scheme of things. Hawks need some bigger body guys with top 6 potential in the prospect pool. And that 3rd year on Skinner's deal is a negative for the Hawks too. Hawks want maximum cap flexibility when Bedard signs his 2nd contract to add a big time free agent or two.