MadMan Mark

I am anxious to see who stays and who goes, how much room, if any, they are left with, and what position are they in prior to next year's cap being announced.

More rules on the fly from the NHL. . . cap applies to all teams in 2009-10 EXCEPT Chicago. That's the only logical explanation, that and Gary Bettman was seen giving Dale Tallon a hummer.

I think Toews is the logical choice to keep of the 3. I don't think Huet goes away. Even with less years on his contract, it's still a $5.6M hit. Hawksfan - of the Hawks signed, who can be sent down and not have their salary count against the cap? I guess in order to free up space without losing players, they will first exercise that option since it means they don't lose the player or rights.

I don't think they can ascend in the life of a contract or Holland would have taken that into consideration regarding Hossa and the money opening up next year. I had asked the same question about a month ago. OK, Hawksfan, if cap drops and excess bonus money is applied to next year, how do they sign anyone next year? Even if the cap stays the same, I see this as a one-year shot at the Cup. After that, 2 of 3 previously mentioned players, Kane, Keith, Toews, will be gone elsewhere

Wow, didn't think they would sign him. . . now the Hawks sit $4.3M OVER the cap with 24 players signed OK Hawksfan, who gets let loose, and now how do they make any kind of offers to Keith, Kane, and Toews? I'm still shaking my head on how this got done. If Hawks don't make the Cup finals, and I don't believe they will, this will be a lot of money spent and no progress made.

I had a good laugh going through the Hawk board. Hawkfan4life at least brings an intelligent discussion with him when he shows up on the Wings board. The majority of those posting on the Hawks board are not looking at the complete picture. 1. As of now, and according to capgeek.com, Hawks $1M+ over cap 2. As of now, Hawks bonuses exceed the maximum allowed and will thus be applied to 10-11 cap if nothing changes 3. If Hawks sign Versteeg, I believe they will exceed the maximum allowed in going over the cap 4. I believe Huet and Campbell have no-trade clauses 5. If Hawks don't sign Kane, Toews, and Keith before free agency, someone else will make an offer that Chi cannot match 6. Hawks will be compensated with picks, but then have to go through the development process I believe the Hawks will be a better division rival next year, but in no way do I think they will win the Central. Please some clarification. . . is Keith UFA or RFA? capgeek.com has him as a UFA

Latest update from capgeek.com has Chi over $1M above the cap w/o Versteeg. ESPN story says how Versteeg's agent is trying to work out a deal with Chi. . . how? And, if they get it done, who do they dump? Very interesting developments in Chi. . . the hockey is going to be fun this year, but the circus occurring in the off-season is going to be even more fun to watch come summer 2010.

I think I'll tune in a little more often to the Pens-Flyers games this year.

capgeek.com must have it wrong. . . they list Keith as UFA 2010. . . I wonder how early Tallon sends out qualifying offers to Toews and Kane and Keith (if he is RFA) next year. I bet he has already scheduled a Fed Ex same-day delivery on the first available day.

Now that is an idea. . . Let Lemaire focus on the D and PK. . . doubt it would ever happen but I like it

allow me to continue. . . called up a young, proven player in Helm called up a young, proven player in Ericsson called up a young, proven player in Abdelkader signed Leino at quite a bargain, IMO on the verge of signing Hudler (I think this gets done before arbitration) Wings are re-tooled,now let's have some fun watching it work

OK, I think we agree on the Versteeg walking. . . what kind of cap hit are you thinking Tallon can come up with for the big 2 and not lose many role players in the process? I think Huet is the albatross the Hawks have to endure. If he sucks this year, no other team will want him at that price. If he plays better than average, how will Chi respond to Tallon shipping their goalie after what would be deemed a "successful" season? Unfortunately for Chi, Campbell showed his ineptitude in the WCF. Chi either pays him $3.5M to play elsewhere, or $7.1M to stay. . . tough place to be in. IMO, Tallon wet himself when the idea of attaining Hossa became real. All Chi had to do was put a competetive team on the ice again in 09-10, and then lock in their core. The Hossa signing risks the future by not addressing mediocre D and goaltending. I guess we'll all see how this plays out when the puck drops.

We have some of the best defensive forwards in the game. They will create opportunities from their play. I don't care if we win 2-0, 2-1, 3-2, as long as we win. I believe we will see a much tighter checked game in our own zone, taking care not to be out of position. We have the best defensive player to ever lace up the skates and young, tough hitters to fill out our D corp. I want to see an improved PK. That seemed to be our Achilles heel. Go Wings!

Allow me to bring up another point not yet mentioned. . . as it stands now, the potential bonus payout for the upcoming year for Chi is $5.4M. The league allows a max of 7.5% over the cap for bonuses which translates to $4.2M. Any overage in bonuses gets applied to the next year cap. Take into account that Chi is already over this year's cap, cap will more than likely be lowered next year, and excess bonus payouts will apply to 2010-11 cap, where does Chi drop salaries enough to sign Keith (UFA), Toews and Kane (RFA), not to mention the ever-growing number of other RFA's? Campbell is not going away, even if he does through waivers, Hawks on the hook for $3.55M Huet is not worth $5M+, good luck shedding that salary. Just look to Ana, they have a high-priced goalie on the bench who says he's not going anywhere. Hawks fans are talking about substantial raises for key players next year and they will have even less money to work with next summer. Versteeg is gone this year. Keith is gone next year. Kane or Toews is gone next year. Oops, and look who has money to spend. . . Ken Holland If I am way off on this, Hawks fans, please give me a "real" scenario that shows how you keep this team intact.

No way Talbot plays the whole year injury free. . . Philly will bang up Pitt and one casualty will be Talbot. Add in the fact that everyone plays the Cup Champs tougher in the reg season and I see a tired, beat up Pens team come April lucky to survive Round 1 and out after Round 2. Not sour grapes, I just don't think they are that good, mediocre D and one-dimensional. Then let's hear alol the talk about "oh, the injuries cost us." Didn't hear any Wings talking that it was injuries that cost us.

Gotta tell ya, for as much as I hear Wings fans look through winged-wheel glases, these Hawks fans are incredible. In response to the moron who said the big 3 will be signed by Jan 2010. . . how? If I'm not mistaken, there are rules in place as to when and how many players you can negotiate depending on their status. That was the case with Zetterberg, and once Franzen signed, Hossa was off-limits until after the playoffs. In addition, are their rules in place limiting how much you can go over the cap and when? I believe it was no more than 10% over the cap, but you need to be at or below the cap by the first game. . . I could be wrong on the percentage. Regardless, the Hawks HAD a bright future and now their god of a GM signs Hossa (include Kopecky) for 6.4M/yr for the next 2 (don't tell me the Hawks like Kopecky, this was a package deal). They are on the hook for Campbell for $7M+ because he is oh so worth it. Huet eats up $5M+ and has never won anything. The core of Chi is gone after this year. That is a fact. As a Wings fan, I will laugh next year at the Hawks as I am now laughing at the Sharks. Holland saw this year coming and is prepared. Now he knows he has $10M+ for next year and will go shopping. Holland is a GM who can see beyond the current year. I thought Tallon was a visionary, but he looks like any other GM now, gotta win now. . . funny, it still won't happen. Go Wings!

Wonder how Pens fans will feel when opposoing players deliberately go after his shoulder next year. Kind of comes full circle with the slash to Datsyuk's foot. Bite me, Pens.

It all comes back to me now.

Wings get back to the Finals and face either Washington or Boston. I think the Pens flame out in Round 1 or 2. Chi keeps us honest in the reg season, but their D is mediocre and Huet is nowhere near the caliber of the Bulin Wall. SJ is in cap hell, Ana lost a lot of toughness with the departures of Pronger and Beauchamin. No one in the Northwest scares me. Van has Roberto "I never Won Anything" Luongo and the Flames run out of gas. Wild are trying a new system. West seems to be a one-team conference, but we'll see who rises as the reg season plays out. Wings statement is always made by collecting 16-20 wins in Oct/Nov. If Wings can have another fast start, the rest of the division, this year, will be playing catch up with Detroit.

I'll add mine, nearly threw a puck through my TV, but common sense fortunately grabbed hold. . . and I threw it through the window.

If this happens, I am really surprised. Malkin is the better of the two players between Cindy and Vaginy. Pitt is making a mistake in trading him. Perhaps Pitt sees what I have been saying all off-season, they won't be able to keep Cindy, Vaginy, and MAF once their contracts expire. . . there is no room for raises and they cannot commit so much to 3 players. How you trade away the Conn Smythe winner in the immediate off-season is beyond me. Cindy is the one who disappeared when real defense was applied to him in the Finals.

I read yesterday that the NHL frowns on mailing the qualifying offers stating they should be faxed to the player/agent or delivered by courier. I don't see how the NHL can turn a blind eye, but then again they apply their own rules on the fly. The precedent was there in 2000 with the Devils. I don't care what the excuse is, qualifying offers were not in players/agents hands by the deadline. . . they should become UFA's.

GM for the Sharks is a moron. . . they talked about cleaning house and they have done nothing but sign an aging D-man. In addition, they let their backup goalie get away. Nothing will be different for the Sharks come April, they'll make the playoffs and exit in Round 1 because Nabokov will be used up in the reg season again and mighty Joe has no idea what it means to step things up. The only different scenario I would like to see is SJ meet Chi in the first round and have SJ take out the mighty Hawks. It would be only fitting for Talon to have a quick exit since he has now risked the future of the Hawks by signing Hossa and not leaving much money to sign their RFA's in the next 2 years. Regardless, Wings are still the favorite in the West, no matter what the media and the NHL do to try and convince everyone else that they are not. Go Wings!

I read somewhere that Hudler is seeking arbitration, so it's almost a sure thing he will be back.

Hawks trying to get their Cup through offense only. They have a 1 yr window. Their goalie has never won anything and their D is mediocre, at best. Wouldn't it be funny to see Hawks and Sharks in Round 1 and this is the year the Sharks show some life in the playoffs. . . ha ha money well spent Dale Talon.