Ladd won't sign for that.

The Hawks won't make that trade to the Leafs without 50% retention.

Motte will be in the NHL next year. He's good enough. Kruger doesn't make sense on a line with Ladd and Hossa.

Kruger was paired with Ladd and Hossa in the playoffs this year multiple times, and proved to shutdown scoring lines when they were on the ice. Probably right about Ladd, but I do think he would come back for somewhere between 3 and 3.5 million

I like Hossa off the toews line. I like the idea of a "shutdown" forward line, and if Hossa is on it then there is a scoring threat too, but Hossa isn't under any pressure to have his line put up the points. Ladd is not taking a pay cut to stay with Chicago. He might sign for the same he made on the Jets (4.4 million) because his take-home pay after taxes would be more, but the market for Ladd is a lot higher than what the Hawks could ever fit under the cap.

Agree, Ladd would never sign anywhere for that.

That is 50% retained on JVR.

And do you really think Motte is good enough to be in the NHL instantly with no time in Rockford? I said this elsewhere, but the last *drafted* Hawks players to make the team with literally no pro AHL experience were Kane and Toews. They've had undrafted but older / more experienced guys walk on to the team only really (and only one be an instant success in Panarin, though TVR and Gus were ~fine). Even Teravainen, a guy who has a higher ceiling and played extremely well in a pro league that's better than NCAA, spent time in Rockford. Motte is probably a year away, though I wouldn't be surprised to see up for short periods this year or longer later. The Hawks don't like to rush prospects, though I'd love to be wrong and he's insta ready.

Ladd-Kruger-Hossa had some great chemistry at the end of the playoffs. Not that it matters because the Hawks aren't resigning Ladd and I doubt Q would play him on the 3rd even if they did for long periods.