[News] Crawford extended 6 yrs, $6M AAV

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

It was a matter of timing...both Niemi and Hjarlmasson had gotten offer sheets, it was clear that the 'Hawks could only match one of the two...they apparently decided that the drop-off from Hjammer, to whomever they would have to replace him with was higher than the drop-off from Niemi to other affordable goaltenders, at that time.

I thought then, that the D-man was the correct choice. (although all would have been moot, if Tallon had checked the correct boxes when submitting contracts to the league on some other players!). Hjammer, has been the best Stay at Home D man on the squad, and gets the matchup with opponent top lines. Keith and Seabrook get press, Hjammer and his Partners do the heavy Defensive Lifting, and the goaltender in the system gets the benefit.

I don't think Niemi got an offer sheet, he went to arbitration and the Hawks walked away from it @ 2.75 million. They did match the offer sheet to Hjarlmasson from the Sharks, but should have let him walk IMO and kept Big Buff who was making around the same I think, and was a big part of their first cup run. He had already been traded by that point though.

[trackercowe]

I like Crawford, but this is too much as most people have said. It seems the Blackhawks learned nothing from the Huet or Khabibulin contracts.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by aaronck

I don't think Niemi got an offer sheet, he went to arbitration and the Hawks walked away from it @ 2.75 million. They did match the offer sheet to Hjarlmasson from the Sharks, but should have let him walk IMO and kept Big Buff who was making around the same I think, and was a big part of their first cup run. He had already been traded by that point though.

Doug Wilson knew hawks were in trouble and offer sheeted hjalmarsson with expectation that hawks couldn't keep both hjalmarsson and niemi given niemi likely going to arb. He likely was going to get shot at either one since hawks couldn't keep both. At least that is how someone here explained it to me.

[thefoss1957]

It is correct that it was only Hjammer with the offer sheet...but, point was the arbitration/offer sheet timing forced an either/or choice by the 'Hawks. The same forces are not in play for CC's contract, but, you have a well liked teammate tied up, and a roster that appears set for at least two years. The gamble is on the Cap moving up.

Again, regarding Niemi vs. Hjarlmasson, I felt the D-man was the correct choice to keep at that time.

[Erick Estrada]

I thought he was very steady in the playoffs despite the clowns on CBC trying to make it sound like he was fighting the puck at times. I'll take a guy that can make the big saves at the right time in the playoffs over a guy that makes a lot of big saves in the regular season and craps the bed in the playoffs like Luongo, Schneider, Bryzgalov, etc.

[SuperMatt18]

An overpayment for Chicago but Boston's Rask deal put them in a tough spot.

Rask got $7 million long term and Crawford had the bargaining chip that their careers are similar, they put up similar stats, and Crawford just beat him to win the Stanley Cup.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

The gamble is on the Cap moving up.

I'm surprised this wasn't said sooner. With the expectation being cap increases in a few seasons, this contract won't be as crippling as it looks for the 2014-15 season. After that the salary cap should be going up back toward $70M+ again.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

An overpayment for Chicago but Boston's Rask deal put them in a tough spot.

Rask got $7 million long term and Crawford had the bargaining chip that their careers are similar, they put up similar stats, and Crawford just beat him to win the Stanley Cup.

I don't really see the similarity at all. Rask is a career .927 goalie while Crawford is a career .913 one. Other than being on a much better team, Crawford's career to date has more in common with guys like Dubnyk or Reimer than it does with Rask.

Here are the combined save percentages of every goalie with 50+ games over the last 4 years. Crawford is way down there in 27th place:

http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...er_by=save_pct

[christoph186]

Keep shooting high glove!

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

The amount is in line with other starting goalies around the league. The length is a little longer than many 'Hawk fans would want. The gambles are...pad changes...Cap changes.

The feeling is that Hjammer will not get another contract with the 'Hawks, and Sharp is also gone unless the cap goes up to $70 million or so. The expectation is also that Hossa will get dealt to a cap floor team, down the line.

In toto, this deal won't effect the 'Hawks much for the next two seasons, but might become an issue when is time to re-up Toews and Kane.

Oops

[thefoss1957]

The move on Hjammer was not expected, at this time, by many 'Hawk fans. As I said, things won't come to a head until the 2015-2016 season, with Toews/Kane needing new contracts.

Shaw is the next contract due...and the 'Hawks will have to fit him or his replacement, and a backup goalie in after this coming season.

There are no guarantees that Guys like Hossa and Sharp will finish their contracts, without being dealt.

Repeating, the current roster core seems set for 2 years, and the money given for Hjammer's and CC's extensions, seem to be gambles on an upward adjusted cap.

[GreenLantern]

2015 off season Kane, Toews, Kruger, Saad, Leddy, will all need raises. They have a few contracts expiring between now and then (including the players listed) freeing up really rough ball park between 25-30 million.

So with 25-30 mill they need to sign 9 forwards, 3 D and a back up goalie.

That is an average salary of 2.14 million dollars per player (going off of the 30 million available). Again all very rough quick calculations. We know the majority will go to Toews/Kane... probably 7.5-8 mill each is my guess on 8 year deals.

So approximately 14 million left to sign 7 forwards, 3 D and 1 back up goalie.

Average salary approximately 1.17 million dollars per player.

The Hawks have a deep stable with a lot of good young players, so they can fill a few clutch spots on entry level deals. This frees up salary to sign the guys coming off of those deals like Leddy, Saad and Kruger. I don't think this roster will get decimated but yes there will be a little rollover in the summer of 2015.

They have done a great job so far of managing their roster though, 2 Cups are evidence of that.. so I am sure there is a long term plan in motion involving Kane and Toews.