$12M growth in the cap in just two seasons? Seems really unlikely. At that point, I doubt both OEL and Panarin can comfortably be afforded. Here, I feel like Saad has to be traded if you want to sign both guys.

Well, this is all assuming Seattle is awarded a franchise and is ready to join the league in 2019-20. If they do the cap will go up, the cap is going up significantly this summer due to Vegas joining the league add another team and the cap will go up even more ..... The cap is expected to go up to 82 million this summer due to Vegas, but I think it will actually be higher than that due to the success and revenue Vegas is taking in. The Vegas attendance is 103% every game, and that's a good indicator for the cap - the economy is also a lot better, and that translates to more revenue.

Remember, the cap is tied to league gross revenue..

Of course we won't know what the cap will be until teams submit their receipts .... We should have a very good idea before the draft.

So yea, I don't think I'm shooting the moon on estimations - especially if Seattle is ready to go.

No way is Ekman-Larsson signing for $2 million more then what he's currently making now. Ekman-Larsson will get closer to $8.5 million or $9 million and no way he's signing with the Hawks greater chance in Detroit since he grew up a Red Wings fan then Chicago.

No, what's funny is you think OEL will sign in Detroit just because he grew up a Redwings fan.... NOW THAT IS FUNNY!!

You think OEL is interested in signing with another rebuilding team after he's been in Arizona/Phoenix all this time with nothing to show for it? Because you know, just because right? because he grew up a Redwings fan...lol

Where do you think that Hawks are heading in a few years towards a rebuild of their own, No way are the Hawks the same team as their cup years. The Hawks are trending down here badly. And yeah i definitely see OEL in Detroit before Chicago Chicago doesn't even have close to the cap to afford Ekman-Larsson they're in cap hell for the foreseeable future need to unload on Seabrook before you can even come close to Ekman-Larsson.

The Hawks aren't rebuilding any time soon.....The Hawks are FINE... The Hawks had a bad season because the salary cap really screwed them and Bowman was stuck signing guys out of the UFA bargain bin....Hawks lost Hossa, Panarin, Hjalmarsson, Campbell, Kruger and others then replaced them with Saad, Murphy, Wingles and Bouma.... Why? because it was what Bowman could afford.... The Blackhawks will have cap space this summer to make significant upgrades..... Hawks will be contending for a cup next spring.

Also, the Hawks have a very bright future - so there will NOT be a rebuild ... They already have "new core" pieces moving forward in Schmaltz, DeBrincat, Jokiharju, Sikura and excellent young depth players in Hayden, Hinostroza and Duclair who all have 40 point potential.... Then of course the Hawks have 2 picks in this deep draft - one pick that will be a top 10 if not top 5.....

The Hawks are "rebuilding" on the fly - if you even want to call it that...

There is no "trending downward"...... like I said - this team had a terrible season because it took a hit in talent and experience - NOT because their legs are about to fall off....

So you can believe whatever the hell you like but I'm a Hawks fan, been one for close to 40 years and there is absolutely ZERO indication this team is even close to rebuilding..... This team is a few depth players and role players away from contending for another Cup next fall and you better believe the Hawks have the cap space to add those players...

And YES, I do believe OEL would choose a team that can win now over the the Wings who are no where close to winning .