I think we could save a little money on Kubalik also. This option also gives us the option to take on bad deals for futures due as I don't think this is playoffs calibre. I like Lank and have high hopes for Soderblom but we would need a good defensive system to allow them to flourish and a hope at playoffs.

definitely doesn't look like a playoff team and there's not enough cap space to make one. it would take big leaps from a lot of young players for that to happen. the following offseason will be even more interesting with kane, toews, and cat all having contracts expire

I don't think it makes sense to sign Dach for $3M x 3, he has barely earned a $2M AAV, and that's probably too much for Kubalik who's QO is $4M. Obviously with trades though, things will look a lot different. I do think there's a chance to replenish some draft capital this deadline, draft wisely, and use some pieces to unload bad cap in the offseason. This would allow the hawks to become somewhat competitive (Playoffs, most likely), but there's a lot of work to be done.

I don't know if Toews comes back to be honest, out indefinitely with another concussion. I could see him LTIRetiring this offseason, he's one of the most body-conscious athletes in the sport, if there's anything that would threaten his career, it's concussions.

All of this won’t matter when Assistant GM of the Chicago Cubs becomes the Blackhawks GM because Rocky isn’t done raw doggin us yet

Yeah toews sitting out would change everything...i wanted to be generous with the cap hits versus being hopeful but my thought behind Dach is he'll probably want a two year deal around 2 mil so I'm betting on him and buying that third year at a $5 million value for him but keeping the cap hit reasonable. While we'll gain pick/prospects at the deadline, I don't see using them to unload cap hits as a good plan. There are so many holes on this team that it would be hard to make a true contender but signing FAs. Maybe the year after but I think next year is a step back in hopes of being able to take two steps forward the following year