Barker signs a 3-year deal with Hawks

[HawksFan4Life 0]

I think that Dale Tallon will be searching to sign them to a ridiculous long term contract. Remember, he signed Hossa to a 12 year deal because of cap reasons. You look at Washington signing Ovechkin to a 14 year deal. Hell, Dipietro was offered a 15 year deal. I think that since those long term deals are permitted in the NHL, Dale will look for a way to give the guys double digit contract years. He said that he took the Hossa signing and the core thing into consideration. If he legitmately was telling the press the truth, I believe he has a solution, and you will see them receive long term deals.

[HawksFan4Life 0]

Perhaps Hawks can sign their big three if they trade Barker, Hossa, Seabrook, Sharp and Sopel. Then it might work. (providing none of them have a NTC)

We're not trading Hossa. Nice try.

[StevieY9802 6]

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!

You are correct sir about the going over the cap this year. So there is NO WAY they all sign by Jan. I didn't even think about that. There will be guys traded, no matter what. Whether it's Sharp and guys like that or whoever. Either way they'll be some major changes.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

I think that Dale Tallon will be searching to sign them to a ridiculous long term contract. Remember, he signed Hossa to a 12 year deal because of cap reasons. You look at Washington signing Ovechkin to a 14 year deal. Hell, Dipietro was offered a 15 year deal. I think that since those long term deals are permitted in the NHL, Dale will look for a way to give the guys double digit contract years. He said that he took the Hossa signing and the core thing into consideration. If he legitmately was telling the press the truth, I believe he has a solution, and you will see them receive long term deals.

Get it through your head, lets sign Toews to a 20 year contract where he gets (this is just number not real) $5,000,000 for the first 5 and $1,000,000 for the next 15?!!? Please, spare us we know how long term deals work, Toews and Kane are too young to be signing deals like that. In 5 years they will be worth league maximum (if not in less years.) THere is NO WAY either of them or Keith sign a long term deal that only pays them $1M in the PRIME of the careers!

You problem this year lies in that you are OVER the cap already with Versteeg UNSIGNED! Unless you find a salary dump, you are losing him, period! Talon screwed up, now he has to hope your unsigned FA's give him a MEGA discount PLUS he needs to dump salary before camp is over. That leads to getting lowballed by teams because they KNOW you have to dump salary. Then next off season is gona kill Chicago!

Say goodbye to Versteeg this year and HOPE you win the Cup NOW because you will have half the talent on your team next year...

[HawksFan4Life 0]

Too young? I'm sorry, how old was Ovechkin again when he signed that 14 year deal?

Losing Versteeg will suck, but the right choice was made if you ask me. We have plenty of scorers, getting Barker back was the right thing.

[UKWING 8]

Too young? I'm sorry, how old was Ovechkin again when he signed that 14 year deal?

Losing Versteeg will suck, but the right choice was made if you ask me. We have plenty of scorers, getting Barker back was the right thing.

ovechkin has an annual cap hit of $9.5m. i think what leftwinger meant is that they are too young for the hawks to be able to sign them to 12 year deals with a cap hit of $5m like they did with hossa.

whatever way you look at it, the hawks cannot sign all of their young guys - they just have too many good young players who all deserve big raises.

[HawksFan4Life 0]

We can't keep everybody, that's true.

But, there are some that we CAN and WILL keep. I hope that Dale will be negotiating his butt off this season. If there is one player that we absolutely must keep, it's Toews. I expect him to be a Hawk for life.

Though it's unlikely, if that San Jose trade does happen, it's a whole new game for us.

[Raptor1116 11]

You want to give Toews, Kane, and Keith Ovie length contracts? That's fine. But, if you take a look, Ovie's cap hit? 9.5 Million.

[MadMan Mark 0]

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.

[HawksFan4Life 0]

Here is my solution:

#1, Let Versteeg walk

#2, Let Huet play this season in Chicago, then shop him in the offseason. He will have two years remaining. To those who think no one will take him. It's simple: Toronto, aka the richest team in hockey.

#3- I can assure you at least two of the big 3 will be back next year. Here is how we go about this.

Ovechkin signed a 13 year extension worth 124 million. That's a lot. What I think Dale should do, is maybe 3-4 more years, but less money added on. Then maybe the cap hit will change.

Edited July 7, 2009 by HawksFan4Life

[MadMan Mark 0]

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.

[chrisdetroit 189]

I'm sorry, but reading some of these posts just make me think that there is some animosity and some of you are bitter.

The fact that Dale has signed Barker has put the biggest smile on my face. True, it is quite a raise, but as I have posted on here before, we can't rely on just 2 defensemen, and put our trust into someone who is overpaid, and though Hjalmarsson played great, I'd like to see how he'll play this season.

562,000 isn't really that much. I have no regrets. However, if Tallon is right about keeping the core together, I will be at the Hawks Convention in 2 weeks, and will be sure to ask him the tough questions how to keep the core together. I have faith.

First he overpaid for Khabibluin

Then he overpaid for Huet

Then He overpaid for Campbell

Then he overpaid for Hossa+Kopecky

Now he is in Cap hell and next year will most likely lose at least one of the big 3

I'm glad I'm not a Hawks fan.

The Wings on the otherhand,

locked up Zetterberg for his entire career

locked up Franzen for his entire career

said adios to the 1 year guy that disappeared in the playoffs

dumped a 4th line guy in Kopecky that hasn't developed as hoped

[MadMan Mark 0]

First he overpaid for Khabibluin

Then he overpaid for Huet

Then He overpaid for Campbell

Then he overpaid for Hossa+Kopecky

Now he is in Cap hell and next year will most likely lose at least one of the big 3

I'm glad I'm not a Hawks fan.

The Wings on the otherhand,

locked up Zetterberg for his entire career

locked up Franzen for his entire career

said adios to the 1 year guy that disappeared in the playoffs

dumped a 4th line guy in Kopecky that hasn't developed as hoped

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

[HawksFan4Life 0]

We did not overpay for Khabibulin, he was at the right price if you ask me. Also, Keith will be an RFA, not a UFA, and I think that if Dale takes my solution into consideration Kane and Toews will be locked up for their careers as well.

Also, we will have to make some trades to clear up cap room. Not everyone can be signed, but we will just call up guys like Kyle Beach and Akim Ailu from Rockford to take their places.

Edited July 7, 2009 by HawksFan4Life

[MadMan Mark 0]

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.

[chrisdetroit 189]

We're not trading Hossa. Nice try.

Maybe after his next playoff you will change your mind. Take out his 1 good playoff year and he averages 0.641 points/game. This year he was right on his average and that is over 8 NHL playoffs.

So as long as you are ok with how hid did this yaer in the playoffs...LOL

[HawksFan4Life 0]

There is no way we are giving Hossa a 12 year deal and letting him play just 1 year. Not only will he deliver for us this year, but he will make younger guys like Bolland and Byfuglien better. But since none of us can see into the future, you never know, maybe Hossa will have a good playoff this year.

[chrisdetroit 189]

We did not overpay for Khabibulin, he was at the right price if you ask me. Also, Keith will be an RFA, not a UFA, and I think that if Dale takes my solution into consideration Kane and Toews will be locked up for their careers as well.

Also, we will have to make some trades to clear up cap room. Not everyone can be signed, but we will just call up guys like Kyle Beach and Akim Ailu from Rockford to take their places.

IF Khabibulin had performed like he did in the Playoffs with Tampa the year before, you are right, the price would have been fair. But for what you got from him, the proce was too high.

The last year he was in Tampa he had a 0.933 save percentage and won the Cup. This year in the playoffs, had an 0.898 save percentage. You are paying 6.75 mil a year for a guy with a .898 save percentage in the playoffs and you think that that's about right?

LOL

[chrisdetroit 189]

There is no way we are giving Hossa a 12 year deal and letting him play just 1 year. Not only will he deliver for us this year, but he will make younger guys like Bolland and Byfuglien better. But since none of us can see into the future, you never know, maybe Hossa will have a good playoff this year.

Well if not, then you can keep him for 11 more years anyway...

hahahahahah

[HawksFan4Life 0]

IF Khabibulin had performed like he did in the Playoffs with Tampa the year before, you are right, the price would have been fair. But for what you got from him, the proce was too high.

The last year he was in Tampa he had a 0.933 save percentage and won the Cup. This year in the playoffs, had an 0.898 save percentage. You are paying 6.75 mil a year for a guy with a .898 save percentage in the playoffs and you think that that's about right?

LOL

You don't realize that Khabibulin didn't have a team in front of him the first two years in Chicago.

[MadMan Mark 0]

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.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

wow lmao...The Hawks are going to sign Kane, Toews, and Keith before Jan 2010....lmao Wings fans are so jealous its not even funny. THe hawks will dump sopel or Campbell..you guys are so stupid there is plenty of room for these guys. The wings can sign Zetter, Dats, Hossa, Franzen, and Lidstrom, but the hawks cant sign their big three to big deals? LMAO Just wait and see homos

Good call.

That's like saying Patriots fans are jealous of the Lions.

[Raptor1116 11]

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.

Example A-Ken Holland and the Detroit Red Wings.

[Snazzy 0]

wow lmao...The Hawks are going to sign Kane, Toews, and Keith before Jan 2010....lmao Wings fans are so jealous its not even funny. THe hawks will dump sopel or Campbell..you guys are so stupid there is plenty of room for these guys. The wings can sign Zetter, Dats, Hossa, Franzen, and Lidstrom, but the hawks cant sign their big three to big deals? LMAO Just wait and see homos

Wrong. Your hockey intelligence is very limited, obviously, Zetterberg AND Franzen did NOT have their big contracts in 2009, their contracts does not kick in till this coming season, which is why (Holland) Red Wings signed him to a 1-year contract. We resigned Zetterberg and Franzen for a bargain price and let Hossa walk. This is why Hossa's on your team now, because Hawks had cap room because they didn't sign their big top players yet. And now they can't. Your GM really screwed your team over and it's not even funny, it's sad because I was hoping another original six team would start building up to become another powerhouse in the league like Detroit is.

I must say though, this offseason has been a real treat to watch. Chicago has really turned into a circus show... 'amusing' is an understatement. And next year is going to be even more fun watch! Self destruction in .....3.....2......1 (KRAH-BOOM!)

Expect the trolls to start rolling in, a Hawk fan has started a thread about LGWs on their forum -----> http://boards.chicagoblackhawks.com/index....=34217&st=0

[Raptor1116 11]

HAHA, wow. that was good for laugh!

Detroit is too old, Detroit is on the way down, stuff we have heard before. (How are we on the way down with Z, Dats, Mule, Flip, Cleary, etc, etc, I'll never know)

You want to see some low, and I mean LOW hockey IQ go take a read. They seem to neglect the fact that the cap is going to go down next year, their solution is to just trade players to make room, and, the best I saw, "All 3 are RFA, we can just match whatever contract they may get offered."

It's like they are playing "NHL Hockey Tycoon!"