This season coming up is going to be quite the season for everybody involved with the Hawks. Hockey aside, if these allegations turnout to be true, the entire front office could see an overhaul, from Stan Bowman down. Regardless if that happens or not, hockey wise the Hawks need a complete retool. Rebuild has not been a word said out of Bowman's mouth until recently, and with Toews coming back, no name Hawks rookies over performing, and the rumoured reuniting of the Jones brothers, Hawks are going to be in for a wild offseason.
I feel both Jones trades will happen prior to expansion draft, as CBJ may want to protect their own young defencemen over Seth if he's traded, and EDM as well shouldn't have to worry about Caleb being unprotected.
First off, Seth Jones from CBJ. May seem like a slight overpayment to some, underpayment to others, but this is what I feel could be semi realistic. Nikita Zadorov's RFA rights going the other way seems unlikely in theory until you hear his initial ask for his new contract (5+mil over 6 years). Zadorov can go to CBJ (probably not for that contract) and renegotiate with a team not really worrying about cap space all too much, in addition Zadorov is still a player who holds value. Onto Kurashev, even though I don't recommend you build a team around Gregory Hoffmann, but the two have experience playing for Swiss international team together. With out even bringing that up, Kurashev himself did quite well as a rookie with 0 swiss national teammates. To even out value for a former 4th overall pick, CHI also sends a 1st round pick from this year. In the prospect realm, CBJ could very much use quality over quantity.
Onto the Caleb Jones trade. With Hawks can reading this you could definitely see my Oilers bias flowing here. However, at his age, looking at his underlying stats, his contract, and all factors considered, Oilers should really not go after Keith. This is why CHI is adding on Dylan Strome. Happens to be a Top 6 Wing / 3C flex EDM could use and also just happens to be McDavid's star junior teamname. With the rumour that CHI is trying to move out salary, you're moving out about 8.5 million with this move. Onto EDM's side, Caleb Jones is the final part of bringing back the Jones brothers. EDM management is probably aware we'd lose Jones to the expansion draft, so let's get something out of it. That something happens to be an aging Duncan Keith, Dylan Strome, Getting rid of Koskinen's contract, and moving up from round 5 to round 2. Even though CHI is giving up a lot here, at this point of Keith's career, you got to pay to get rid of him. You're moving cap out, Koskinen's deal will expire in time to give Seth & Caleb both extensions.
Before the expansion draft, Hawks elect to buyout Calvin De Haan. But onto the expansion draft, The Hawks end up protecting 7-3-1 (Toews, Kane, DeBrincat, Gaudette, Borgstrom, Hagel, Hinostroza, S Jones, C Jones, Murphy & Lankinen) I say Seattle goes for Malcolm Subban, to be a 3rd goalie role.
Onto RFA resigning. Suter & Hagel both get matched 2 x 2.1 million dollar deals. Both really broke out out of nowhere and deserve their paydays. Adam Gaudette didn't quite get the opportunity to show off his skills with the Hawks, so he comes back on a 1x1 deal. David Kampf comes back making south of 1 mil for 2 years. And Alex Nylander coming off of his ELC injured, as well signs a 1 year prove me deal.
Onto UFA resignings, I say Hawks elect to bring back Hinostroza. Starting with defence, while I see it entirely possible CHI lets their young stars eat up big minutes, there needs to be at least 1 veteran presence. And Hawks are gonna do what they do best and that's bringing in a former player in Niklas Hjalmarsson. Not that he'll shock the world with his point total next year, he's shut down, pure defensive defencemen who knows the system. He comes in at a cheap AAV compared to his last deal for 1 year. There was rumours he may even sign in SHL this offseason, but I find it hard that he'd turn down an NHL deal if CHI shows interest in him. Onto forwards, I'm going to do it again and bring in a former Hawk, this time Brandon Saad. His 3rd stint with the organization hopefully he finds a permanent home here. He ends up signing long term with a 4.5 million AAV.
Just a minor tweak, but what if that 2nd didn't go to Edmonton but to a 3rd party (with maybe another pick from Edmonton) that ate 25-50% of Keith's salary on the way. This works for Year 1 but hammers the Oilers cap wise in Year 2.
Way too much going to EDM. CHI isn't looking to shed cap space. They have tons of it. They're just not willing to retain for free.
Hawks have zero reason to dump Keith and won't do it, he's not nearly as bad as his underlying stats and the reason the Oilers want him on the second line behind nurse. They sure as **** aren't giving up Strome to move him. This trade is WAY off. Edmonton adds a 1st and it's close.
Hawks have zero reason to dump Keith and won't do it, he's not nearly as bad as his underlying stats and the reason the Oilers want him on the second line behind nurse. They sure as **** aren't giving up Strome to move him. This trade is WAY off. Edmonton adds a 1st and it's close.
Well you’re a little off. Keith was horrible this season as a top 4 dman. He’s nothing more than a 3rd pairing dman right now. And the oilers didn’t want Keith, both Keith and Chicago agreed it would be mutually beneficial for Keith to be somewhere else. Edmonton was apparently on his list of 4 teams that he gave Chicago. Edmonton holds all the cards. Chicago really wants Seth Jones and having Caleb would maybe be incentive for him to sign long term on a slightly friendlier team deal. The only way I see a deal with Chicago not taking back a contract is if they add Strome and a pick. Strome wasn’t good at all either but he has a history on McDavids wing so I’d be willing to take the risk on him.
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