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Hudler will be a bust? He scored 57 points drifting between the 3rd and 4th lines, half of which (29) came at ES with virtually no help. Should he be played on the top two lines with skilled linemates, he'll easily match that kind of output if not exceed it significantly.

If Bert doesn't re-sign? 2010-11 DETROIT RED WINGS CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR FORWARDS Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m) Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.893m) / * Drew Miller ($0.578m) Kris Draper ($1.583m) / * Darren Helm ($0.659m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.550m) Mattias Ritola ($0.517m) DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m) * Derek Meech ($0.532m) / Doug Janik ($0.512m) GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion) ROSTER: 23; CAP:$58.8m; PAYROLL: $55.979m; CAP ROOM: $2.821m BONUSES: $0.000m As you can see, this leaves the Wings with about $2.8m in cap space, assuming all RFAs sign for their qualifying offers. This is a notable chunk of change, and could be used to replace Lilja with a good physical defenseman who is good defensively and on the PK. Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder, Garnet Exelby, Pavel Kubina, and Freddy Meyer are all guys who could fill this role. It could also be used to pick up a solid all-around forward for the second or third line, such as Alexander Frolov, Tomas Plekanec, Colby Armstrong, Raffi Torres, Matthew Lombardi, or Taylor Pyatt.

The 08 and 09 Wings didn't have a high paid goalie in net. But they did have an experienced Cup winning goaltender who was playing at the top of his game. In 08, he was also a Vezina candidate who had lead the league in GAA, and might have been a finalist had he played more games. Building from the net out used to be the way to a Cup... now it's more of putting together a core of players starting with a top defenseman and a top forward. Goaltending is secondary; so long as you have a solid defensive unit all you need is a goalie who can make the saves he's supposed to make. Build a solid defensive unit with good scoring and a decent goaltender and you have yourself a contender.

Chicago next season, for players currently signed who are expected to be on the roster barring trades or waiver activity, would save an astounding $12,256,731 if it were 50%, as they have twice that number committed to homegrown players. This is compared to Detroit saving $18,352,272. Pittsburgh would be saving 16,754,166. So how exactly are Chicago and Pittsburgh becoming 20-year dynasties? Detroit is saving more in cap space than either of them under this potential rule, AND has the best roster among players currently signed. Pittsburgh would have about $4m more in cap space available than Detroit, while Detroit would have $16m more available than Chicago. Detroit's "needs" are to add three solid two-way grinding forwards who are willing to fight, and a solid two-way physical defenseman who excels on the PK, blocks shots, throws punishing checks and will stand up for his teammates. With the savings listed above, and the rumored cap of $58.8m, the Wings would have around $18.9m to fill those spots. Chicago's cap hit would still be $47.25m, and that is needing 4 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goalie. Figure Niemi, Hjalmarsson, Hendry, and Brennan total around $6.75m to sign, so a cap hit of $3.375m. That leaves four forwards to sign with about $8m. Chicago's top two lines are signed, they just need to sign Ladd and three bottom six guys with that $8m. Perhaps it's Ladd, Madden, Eager, and Burish? Maybe Burish is dropped in favor of Jack Skille or Bryan Bickell? Who knows. But the Hawks would be able to put together a decent bottom six as well. Regardless, this wouldn't lead to 20-year dynasties. It would lead to teams trying to keep their best home grown talent rather than just shuffling players around. It would reduce trading activity, but increase team scouting and the ability for teams to market players as they would be more likely to spend longer periods with the team. How can you market a star player if he's only going to be with the team for three weeks, and then market the new star who replaced him in the summer and is gone at the end of the season?

True, Probert intimidated people because he would beat the s*** out of them, but that doesn't mean that he would be any less intimidating with no fights. If nobody was willing to fight him, maybe it's because he's even MORE intimidating than if he did fight? Physicality is one part of it. But number of fights is meaningless because you may not end up fighting if guys don't want to fight you because they would get destroyed. See Kirk Maltby for an example of this kind of behavior.

If we're moving away from the current system, how about this: Players who are under contract to the first NHL team to own their rights (via draft or free agency), who have not at any time been the property of any other team, count against the cap for only 50% of their average annual salary with a maximum reduction of 7.5% of the cap, or . The cap hit could not sink below the league minimum salary, however. For example, Datsyuk's cap hit would be $3,350,000. Kindl, however, would have a cap hit of $500k this season and $525k next season. This would encourage teams to draft and develop their own players rather than try and buy champions. It would result in teams working harder to make sure they properly scout players and drafting. Teams with strong scouting like Detroit would be able to keep good, strong teams together longer. Teams that drafted poorly would have to bring in more outside help and would likely be mediocre for the most part.

If the Hawks sign their core players, who have proven themselves as quality players, to long term contracts with decent cap hits, then they won't have to worry about signing big name FAs, which is what everyone keeps saying is the reason they can't simply waive Huet and Campbell. Byfuglien, Seabrook, and Brouwer are all RFA after 2010-11, as well as Corey Crawford, who likely backs up if Huet is disposed of. Versteeg is RFA after 11-12. Kopecky is UFA after next season, and Sharp the season after. So any perception of a lack of loyalty to Campbell and Huet can be painted over by loyalty to the players they have who will be free agents, with regards to how they treat them.

If I were Bowman, I would do what I have suggested in the past for other cap-crunched teams, and use a technique that has been implemented multiple times by Lou Lamoirello. "13.21 (a) When a Club desires to terminate a Player's SPC for any reason, such action may not be taken until Unconditional Waivers have been requested and cleared in conformity with this Article. Notwithstanding this provision, a Player with a no-move clause shall have the rights set forth in Section 11.8." The Hawks could place Huet on Unconditional Waivers and if he goes unclaimed, they can simply terminate the contract. Remember when Shanny signed with the Devils and then didn't play for them, and his contract didn't count against their cap? That's how it was done. They can do the same to Campbell if necessary.

As far as Giguere, I'll suggest the following: Burke had Vesa Toskala, who was spreading suck sauce across the ice and dragging the team down when he played. Toskala had a $4m cap hit. Anaheim wanted to unload Giguere, but wanted to get some value back rather than just waive him. So Toronto and Anaheim were perfect trading partners, with Toronto basically trading underachieving winger Jason Blake to Anaheim for Giguere, and getting Toskala out of town in the deal. Anaheim stays basically cap-even as they flipped Toskala to Calgary later on for Curtis McElhinney. Toronto cuts down their cap hit and gets a good mentor for their young goaltender, and Anaheim gets deeper at forward while cutting down their long-term cap hit and moving out their $6m backup.

FYI: You could be paying a player the league maximum to play in the minors and he wouldn't cost a cent against the team's cap. He would cost his full salary if on a one-way deal, but would not cost a cent against the team's cap. Otherwise the Leino deal would have been moot, because Tollefson had a one-way deal for $600k. Wouldn't have saved enough cap space to bring Franzen back unless TKO went to the minors, now would it?

Huh? What? How does trading or not trading a third/fourth line forward determine whether or not the Wings make the playoffs? Trading Leino allowed the Wings to activate Franzen. Would you have rather they waited, or traded perhaps Justin Abdelkader or Darren Helm instead? I'm sure keeping Leino over one of those two would have ruined the Wings' regular season and cost them 12 points in the standings. Does that mean Abdelkader and Helm should be in the running for the Hart? Sure sounds like it given the impact on the team's success they apparently had.

Campbell has a NTC. No Trade Clause. He doesn't have a NMC, or No Movement Clause. BIG difference. He would being waived and sent to the minors or picked up by another NHL team. He has no say in that. Huet would be the same scenario, without the NTC. It's not really that hard to comprehend.

Hmm... Keeping RFA Jordan Hendry on the roster (he was one of the team's top 6 defensemen all year) I'll show you how. I think your numbers might be a little off for Niemi and Hjalmarsson, but for argument's sake I'll use them, as well as required qualifying offers for all other RFAs. Waive Huet and Campbell. Sign Ladd, Eager, Fraser, Bickell, Hjalmarsson, Hendry, and Niemi. Get this: AUTO-GENERATED CAPGEEK.COM LINES FORWARDS Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m) / Marian Hossa ($5.275m) Patrick Sharp ($3.900m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Kris Versteeg ($3.083m) Dustin Byfuglien ($3.000m) / * Andrew Ladd ($2.000m) / Tomas Kopecky ($1.200m) Troy Brouwer ($1.025m) / * Ben Eager ($1.013m) / * Colin Fraser ($0.735m) * Bryan Bickell ($0.550m) DEFENSEMEN Duncan Keith ($5.538m) / Brent Seabrook ($3.500m) * Niklas Hjalmarsson ($2.643m) / Brent Sopel ($2.333m) Ryan Stanton ($0.897m) / * Jordan Hendry ($0.893m) Brian Connelly ($0.875m) GOALTENDERS * Antti Niemi ($2.826m) / Corey Crawford ($0.800m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion) ROSTER: 22; CAP: $57.5m; PAYROLL: $58.063m; CAP ROOM: $0.030m BONUSES: $0.593m *8-bit winning music* Hooray! That's a roster that can contend for the Cup the next few years, as long as cap management is good. The problem is that after next season, Seabrook and Byfuglien are both RFA. That's going to be a more difficult offseason than this one if they use the waiver strategy I put forth. 2012 sees Sharp as UFA and Versteeg as RFA. So the next couple of years will take some clever management regarding player movement and contract handling. I would bet that the Hawks trade Kane by 2015, which is when his $6.3m deal runs out and he'll be a UFA looking to get at least 20 cents on his deal, but that's just me.

Trivia quiz for newfy: What is the effect of a one-way contract in the NHL?

IIRC, teams don't have to fit under the cap until the start of the season. And he can be removed from their roster before training camp by not participating, which should take his cap hit off the roster.

The NHLPA would flex their muscle on the Hawks? Waiving him allows him to play, as well as it gives other teams that may be interested - and there are teams that might be able to use him - the opportunity to grab him up for free. Same with Campbell. They didn't make a stink about Khabibulin when he was sent down, why would they make a stink about Huet or Campbell? They would still be making the same amount of money. It's not like the two lose $5m each; they are on one-way deals, plus waivers give other teams the opportunity to grab them for nothing. They didn't 'flex their muscle' when Washington assigned Michael Nylander and his $4m cap hit to Grand Rapids last season (18 points in 24 games). Nylander is still under contract to Washington, although he finished last season in Jokerit (7 points in 14 games) and his NHL career may or may not be over. He's still contract-bound to Washington until the end of the 2010-2011 season, but he may not get a new deal in the NHL once his current deal ends. He will likely be at their training camp, but it's possible that will only be a formality unless he really tears it up and/or shows great chemistry with one of the team's stars and looks like he might be worth the cap hit for the year.

Top four contenders in each conference: Detroit Chicago Vancouver San Jose Washington Buffalo Pittsburgh Boston These teams have a combination of a decent amount of cap space and strong rosters among players already signed. They should be the top teams next season in their respective conferences.

Meech was a full-time Red Wing this season and played 49 games, often seeing time even when the team was completely healthy or almost completely healthy. Janik spent most of the season and played 13 games as a call up during a period the Wings had three or four defensemen injured. Janik might secure himself a spot on the full-time roster, but he is signed to be a depth player who can be called up from Grand Rapids. Meech, assuming he accepts his qualifying offer or signs for another amount, will be on the Wings' full-time roster unless he is traded. So Janik has a one-way dal in his second year. Meech will have a one-way deal for ALL years. So if you are using that to determine who is on the roster, there you go.

Pronger in the HOF... that just made me throw up a little in my mouth.

Hossa didn't "just float around" out there. No, he didn't score. But he was defensively solid and did create opportunities. If you want a floater, look no further than 20 cent. I lost count of how many times Kane coasted back defensively, and if he got hit or had the puck knocked off his stick he would just lazily get back into the play when he felt like it. His work ethic on the ice makes Robert Lang look like Darren Helm.

Waive Campbell and Huet and let them be claimed by another team or send them to the minors. That alone clears up the cap mess for the Hawks. No idea if Bowman will do this, but it is really that simple to keep the rest of the team together. Did you lol at the fact he was part of Chicago's top line much of the finals, including game six when they won the Cup?

Wings' depth chart on D now: Lidstrom Kronwall Rafalski Stuart Ericsson Kindl Meech Janik That's how it will likely go. The 5th-7th have the potential to rearrange by the end of camp, mostly based on where Kindl lands in the top seven.

Enforcers aren't effective deterrents at all. I have stated this repeatedly in other threads, but I'll say it again: If you want someone to be afraid of the consequences of their actions, there has to be a chance that they will face them. A 5-minute enforcer for Team A does nothing to deter Team B's 10-minute fourth liner from laying a cheap shot on Team A's star player. The chances they will play a shift against each other are low, thus low chance for consequences. What you need are players in your lineup who actually contribute offensively and/or defensively AND can be a physical presence.

Number of fights is not a measure of toughness or intimidation; it's a worthless statistic. You could have Bob Probert in his prime on this roster, and have him not get into one fight, and it wouldn't make him any less intimidating. Of course Probert in his prime would and did get into a ton of fights, but you get the point. Is this a requirement? I mean like, to be an elite goal scorer how you have to consistently put up high goal totals? In the fighter's head does he realize towards the end of the season "s***, I'm only at 3 fights. I better ramp it up." and get into two meaningless fights?

Pronger basically cost his team the most important game they played in the playoffs. That's not how an MVP rolls.