Joined: Jan. 2017
Posts: 80
Likes: 13
I don't even want Skinner for $4.5m a season. 6+ seasons is just way too long for a player who, by all indications, peaked and is on the decline. The Hawks only have to deal with Seabs contract for 3+ seasons. I'd trade Seabs deal to the Isles for Ladd's deal at 2+ years and retain some salary to save a year of paying Seabs.
I don't think the Hawks should take anything that lengthens their LTIR though. In 3+ seasons (after 2023-24), they'll be set to completely rebuild and potentially sign some big UFAs to go with the RFAs that they've determined to be their new core. That's probably the first year that the cap will increase again AND it's the first UFA year for both Auston Matthews and Sebastian Aho who will both be only 26 years old. I suspect they'll both test the free agent market. If Patrick Kane can be convinced to come back at say 6 years for $6m a season after his current deal. I think Auston Matthews wants to play with Kane. Can you imagine a Top 6 that includes Matthews, Kane, DeBrincat, Dach, and Reichel? William Nylander will be a UFA at 28 and Teuvo Tervainen will be too at 29 years old. There will also be veteran UFAs like Kopitar and Stamkos who could be signed for 1 year "Go for the Cup" deals. We'll see if Toews comes back to play - he could be a damn good 3rd line center.
With the short term high dollar contracts that some young players have signed to forego bridge deals, that 2024-25 season may be the season when the NHL becomes a little like the NBA and super teams form with superstars each taking a little less to fit under the cap and win some Cups on like short term 2-3 year deals. Drew Commesso will be 22 years old and possibly ready to try the NHL on an ELC in net. The Blackhawks young defense corps will be seasoned by then. They may also have one or both of the big boy defensive prospects that season - Alec Regula (6'4") and Alex Vlasic (6'6") will be 24 and 23 years old.