If Toews and Kane get “Malkin-Crosby-like” contracts then Chigago should consider themselves damn lucky; both of the Penguins’ stars signed for below market value (as did Guerin, Staal, Orpik, Fedotenko and Adams.)

Posted by Moebius on 07/14/09 at 01:08 PM ET

If Toews and Kane get “Malkin-Crosby-like” contracts then Chigago should consider themselves damn lucky; both of the Penguins’ stars signed for below market value (as did Guerin, Staal, Orpik, Fedotenko and Adams.)
Posted by Moebius on 07/14/09 at 02:08 PM ET

I’m sorry…was that a joke?  If Toews and Kane sign “Malkin-Crosby-like” contracts, it will be with another team.  Just because #87 and #71 are making less than Ovi-wan-kenobi…DO NOT assume that it is less than market value.  They’re both making about $8 mil a year if memory serves me correct.  That really isn’t doing Pittsburgh any favors.  I’m not saying they’re not worth it, but I certainly wouldn’t consider it “a bargain”.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/14/09 at 01:12 PM ET

Yes, Tallon did deserve to get re-assigned.  If for no other reason than signing Cristobal Huet.

Posted by bsalamon on 07/14/09 at 01:12 PM ET

I believe he did the most important thing that could be done. He got rid of the losing culture that had be developing for the last decade. That’s one of the most important issues in turning a franchise around.

Posted by Lindas1st on 07/14/09 at 01:18 PM ET

Tallon may not have deserved his fate - but honestly, he was the last remnant of the previous regime, and once Rocky Wirtz began to make changes it was only a matter of time.

If he hadn’t taken the blame for the qualifying offers that were late, the Blackhawks might have not been able to find sufficient cover for what they clearly wanted to do all along, and that would have been worse because Tallon would have been left hanging.  At least this way he wasn’t working with a sword hanging over his head anylonger than he was already.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/14/09 at 02:15 PM ET

He didn’t deserve to be re-assigned, he deserved to be fired. A year ago.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 07/14/09 at 02:21 PM ET

I was trying to be charitable, Nathan - it’s a beautiful day out and I’m in a good mood. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/14/09 at 02:24 PM ET

I was trying to be charitable, Nathan - it’s a beautiful day out and I’m in a good mood. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/14/09 at 03:24 PM ET

Depsite Inge-Bomb’s performance in the HRD, no less.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/14/09 at 02:29 PM ET

I thought it was because of the way he virtually guaranteed the loss of one or more of the Hawks’ prized young RFAs next summer.

Posted by Bio on 07/14/09 at 02:37 PM ET

I thought it was because of the way he virtually guaranteed the loss of one or more of the Hawks’ prized young RFAs next summer.

I doubt he was acting on his own.
There is something brewing in Chicago…Long term.
It is going to be interesting…maybe 3 yrs before we see the final plan.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 07/14/09 at 03:04 PM ET

[chuckles]

Wow.  A mess with Toews and Kane expected to ask for at least $7.5 million each in next year’s talks.  Duncan Keith is about $4.5 million next year as well.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 07/14/09 at 03:10 PM ET

Depsite Inge-Bomb’s performance in the HRD, no less.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/14/09 at 03:29 PM ET

He was voted onto the roster, not into the derby - besides, he’s saving himself for the games that actually matter, like against the Yankees.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/14/09 at 04:05 PM ET

“Malkin-Crosby-like” contracts ... both of the Penguins’ stars signed for below market value

Below what market? Crosby is making $9 million a year Malkin is making $8.7 million. What team do you think was going to pay them more than that?

Now, on the other hand, Henrik Zetterberg signed a contract with a cap hit of $6,000,000. And Johan Franzen, a 34-goal scorer last season, signed for a cap hit of $3,950,000. Now, those are bargains.

But, hey, who knows, maybe Toews and Kane will sign Zetterberg-Franzen-like contracts next year and that would make them a bargain. But if they sign Malkin-Crosby-like contracts, the Hawks are screwed…well, more screwed than they already are.

As for Tallon, he should have resigned the day the Hawks brought Scotty Bowman aboard. The handwriting was on the wall. And the handwriting said, “The next Hawks GM will be Stan Bowman…sooner than later”. But, hey, anyone dumb enough to sign Huet and Campbell to the contacts they got probably isn’t smart enough to read the handwriting on the wall.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/14/09 at 05:45 PM ET

maybe tallon really is a great judge of talent and responsible for the current stable of great young thoroughbreds chicago has, maybe not, i honestly have no idea.  what i’m sure of though is that he has compeletely hosed the team going forward with respect to the salary cap and in terms of job performance that’s just as important.  campbell and huet were already huge baggage to be lugging around and then he went out and dumped a load on hossa.  the rfa cluster**** this year is what sealed his fate.

good luck to bowman finding 16M+ for kane toews and keith, and that’s assuming he offers up the red wing style dozen-plus-year cap-friendly, hometown discounted contracts.

Posted by bitterguy from san francisco, ca on 07/14/09 at 06:01 PM ET

Crosby and Malkin might not be bargains but they they are VERY moveable contracts. That’s the test to tell if it’s a good deal. Will most teams trade for that player at that price? I think most teams/GM’s would take Crosby and Malkin with their current contracts. OTC,why do you list Crosby salary $9m and not his cap hit $8.7m. But when it’s Zetterberg you do the opposite you list his cap hit $6.083m but not his salary $7.4m? I’know it’s only $300,000 difference for Crosby’s actual salary/cap hit, but it’s interesting how you listed them.

Posted by Lindas1st on 07/14/09 at 06:12 PM ET

I’know it’s only $300,000 difference for Crosby’s actual salary/cap hit, but it’s interesting how you listed them.

You’re right. That $300k makes all the difference. I was wrong. Crosby is a major bargain.

Sheesh.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 07/14/09 at 07:08 PM ET

Don’t forget that Toews and Kane are RFAs next year. In the absence of an acceptable salary compromise between the players and the team, and I still favour an intermediate contract somewhere in the vicinity of $5-5.5M, the alternatives are offer sheets.

Though you cannot rule out the possibility, the odds of a team throwing unmatchable offers at the two, that they’re also willing to sign, appears rather remote. Giving up $7M or more plus four first round picks in compensation, when the salary cap might be declining as well, seems farfetched. Neither Toews nor Kane is worth that kind of cumulative price. (Certainly not in the Crosby/Malkin league if I may be allowed to flash my partisanship.) Chicago would let one of them go and collect the picks if that were to happen.

I see other players fall by the roadside, or other semi-drastic measures, rather than the above scenario in terms of reality.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 07/14/09 at 07:21 PM ET