...the Hawks are a collective nightmare with a very diverse group of stars coalescing rather than being a star-driven team that needs a few guys to be at their best or else fail day after day.

And all of that will come to a screeching halt next year when they’ll be a team of about 10 high-priced (some even over-priced) “stars” and a dozen minimum-wage AHLers. Bowman Jr. built a “team” that will last for one year, and one year only. After that, they’ll be lucky to put two decent lines and four decent defensemen on the ice in any given game.

There’s no doubt they’re a force this year. And they may well walk away with the Cup. But that “happy feeling” they’re floating on right now won’t last beyond training camp next September.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 12/14/09 at 03:48 PM ET

Of course a Detroit fan would be saying that.  Don’t forget, most of the guys we have now we’re mere prospects when we were beating you all over the ice the past couple of years.  Akim Aliu, Kyle Beach, Jack Skille are just a couple to name out of the many gifted “AHL’ers” as you would call them that will be replacing those who’ll be leaving this summer after the Cup is in Chicago. 

Speak what you know, not what you think…

Posted by Ripper from Chicago, IL on 12/14/09 at 03:51 PM ET

Speak what you know, not what you think…
Posted by Ripper from Chicago, IL

Alright Jack’s son, here’s what I know...

FORWARDS
Jonathan Toews: $6,300,000
Patrick Kane: $6,300,000
Marian Hossa: $5,275,000
Dave Bolland: $3,375,000
Kris Versteeg: $3,083,333
Dustin Byfuglien: $3,000,000
Tomas Kopecky: $1,200,000

DEFENSEMEN
Brian Campbell: $7,142,875
Duncan Keith: $5,500,000
Brent Seabrook: $3,500,000
Cam Barker: $3,083,333

GOALTENDERS
Cristobal Huet: $5,625,000

ROSTER SIZE: 12
SALARY CAP: $55,800,000
PAYROLL: $53,384,541
CAP SPACE: $2,415,459

Unless you can find some sap of a GM to take Campbell and/or Huet off your hands, you’ll have a “team” of 12 guys and less than $2.5M left with which to sign Aliu, Beach, Skille and seven other guys.

Add to that the fact that Skille’s cap hit is $1.275M, Aliu has seven points in 25 AHL games, and Beach is in the WHL and the guys in your “gifted” group are either too expensive, too unproductive or not-yet-ready.

Don’t forget, most of the guys we have now we’re mere prospects when we were beating you all over the ice the past couple of years.

Yah, they did a bang-up job last May, didn’t they? Out in five I believe.

As someone once said, “Speak what you know, not what you think…”

Your silliness aside, Jack’s son, I have a lot of respect for, and fear of, this year’s team. Next year, not so much.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 12/14/09 at 06:14 PM ET

Fair enough, but i do believe that three players will be moved in order to make room for the Toews, Kane, and Keiths new contracts.  I see Cam Barker and Dustin Byfuglien as chips that can be moved easily, BUT with a pretty crappy return as we’re in a tight hole which other GM’s know about.  Sopel will be moved no doubt, but yes, Campbell and Huet can’t be which is a shame…

Kris Versteeg won’t be moved, but i hope they send Kopecky to clear some space.  Just send him down, get him off the books and pay his salary in the minors, simple yet effective.  I’d say the same for Campbell, but stupidity strikes at the overpayment part -_-.

And here’s what i know.  We’re not the same team as last season, although neither is Detroit.  Can you solely rely on Howard throughout the regular season as i see him taking over for Osgood.  Or do you plan to stick him back into the mix come playoff time as he makes his annoying stand in goalie every post season. 

Looks like we’re not the only team with tough moves to make.

...Yeah, that’s what i know.

Posted by Ripper on 12/14/09 at 07:24 PM ET