Quoting: LoganOllivier
It almost doesn't matter what Chicago does, they are finished as contenders. The only hope they have is if the insane rumours about Montreal wanting Toews are actually true. He's a solid player but already declining and owed so much money. He's the best centre Chicago has but his injuries and age are catching up to him. Same goes for Seabrook and, to a lesser extent, Keith. Apart from their super expensive core, they also have very little talent. They are the blueprint for why bridge deals are horrible for long term cap management. Chicago is paying their core for what they did in their 20's not what they can do in their 30's.
Watch Pittsburgh make a couple of minor changes this off season and bounce right back into being a truly elite team. Chicago will make some moves and then lose because they are older and slower than the year before.
The Hawks will be contending for the Cup next season...... I've been watching hockey/following hockey for the past 35 years - the Hawks are nowhere CLOSE to rebuilding...lol
Last season the Hawks were a playoff team until Crawford got injured.... Not only that but Bowman had no cap space to bring in free agents that would have helped the Hawks contend....... This summer is going to be different - Bowman has 20 million in cap space with only a few minor RFA's to re-sign (Hinostroza, Hayden & Duclair).......
This UFA class has all the players the Hawks need to contend next season and Bowman has more than enough cap space to sign the guys he needs.... Bowman also has some trade bait too like Anisimov...
But yea, I get it - you HOPE the Hawks are done contending, lol..... It's wishful thinking on your behalf, lol..
The Hawks have the foundation/core to win a couple of more Cups, but that core needs to be surrounded by the right players to make it happen....
The Hawks are in a pretty good situation right now actually:
- Drafting 8th & 27th overall.
- Have $20,000,000 in cap space.
- Don't have any major contracts coming up until next summer (Schmaltz).
- They have 2 studs in DeBrincat & Schmaltz, and one on the way in Henri Jokiharju.
- The have a plethora of young NHL ready bottom 6 players with a bit of upside.
- They still have an effective core that knows how to win Cups.
The Hawks are in a better position than the majority of teams in the NHL.......
I'm not worried at all, and I look forward to this offseason because I know it will be exciting and I have faith in Bowman because he knows how to build a team that can contend AND win Cups -- especially on the fly......