Leaving one of the premier cities on earth for a college town in the middle of goddam ohio. I'd be crying, but at least I could wipe the tears away with dollar bills.

It's the 14th largest city in the country. Slightly larger than a "college town."

@TSNBobMcKenzie 4m4 minutes ago

 

Kessel to Pitt in multi player deal. Done

I bet they paid out the ass on that one.

@ESPNChiPowers

The Blackhawks and forward Viktor Tikhonov have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to a source.

 

All the Russians!!!

Thankfully two other GMs thought Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal were better than Toews.

 

To be fair, that was the concensus at the time of the draft. Same with Kane at #1.

The Hawks are shaping up to be a much different team next year then I expected!

 

I've gone through the same range of emotions that everyone else has gone through about the Saad trade.

 

First, shock and disgust. Then, when details started to leak about the trade and Saads potential contract, less disgust. I'm still upset we won't get to see if Saad develops into a superstar with us, and I'm definitely going to miss those "power forward" moves he can put on.. but I am excited about Dano and I guess also excited about Anisimov+extension despite his concussion worries. By the way, does anyone know how Anisimov fares between the dots? I'm guessing he's not as elite as Vermette or Toews, but hopefully he holds his own well.

 

Also, it's good to know the rumors of us also signing Tikhonov were true. It looks like his top potential is a good two-way 2C, but more likely a 3C or 3W. I'll take that on my team, for sure. 1.04M for him for 1 year, not bad. Depth is always nice.

Edited July 1, 201510 yr by South Sider

I bet they paid out the ass on that one.

 

Not really. Toronto just really didn't want Kessel.

 

From TSN:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins. According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the Leafs will receive forwards Nick Spaling and Kasperi Kapanen, defenceman Scott Harrington and a first-round pick in exchange for Kessel and a second-round pick. McKenzie also says the Leafs will retain 15 per cent of Kessel's salary.

Barrett Jackman 2-year deal with Nasvhille. Dodged a bullet there, there was rumors about him coming to Chicago. That would have sucked.

Barrett Jackman 2-year deal with Nasvhille. Dodged a bullet there, there was rumors about him coming to Chicago. That would have sucked.

Nashville is a perfect place for that plug.

Can he just stay there?

 

Stanley Cup ‏@HawksCupTracker 2h2 hours ago

Stanley Cup retweeted wheresTheCup

Bryan Bickell has the cup in Toronto Today! @StanleyCup411 #CupTracker c

Going back to the Saad situation with rumors coming out the agent misplayed his hand...

 

Just thinking out loud here, this isn't amateur hour, isn't there usually like a benefit of the doubt, last minute phone call when Bowman says:

 

I have a trade in place, unless we are willing to work something out? I mean I've never been a part of negotiations but I can't imagine a mess up like that on agents part if Saad really wanted to stay here, just wanted to get paid max.

Going back to the Saad situation with rumors coming out the agent misplayed his hand...

 

Just thinking out loud here, this isn't amateur hour, isn't there usually like a benefit of the doubt, last minute phone call when Bowman says:

 

I have a trade in place, unless we are willing to work something out? I mean I've never been a part of negotiations but I can't imagine a mess up like that on agents part if Saad really wanted to stay here, just wanted to get paid max.

Who's to say he didnt? He said they "werent even close" on numbers. That doesnt seem to suggest that there was even a chance of coming to a deal.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 2h2 hours ago

Brandon Saad said he left the negotiating up to his agent entirely: "As a player, I try to stay out of it as much as possible." #Blackhawks

@ESPNChiPowers

The Blackhawks and forward Viktor Tikhonov have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to a source.

 

Slava Malamud ‏@SlavaMalamud 5m5 minutes ago

Viktor Tikhonov, signed by the #Blackhawks for just over $1 mil, is coming off a $3.3 million deal in KHL. Kid really want to give it a go.

That is like giving him credit for not stepping in front of a bus. Those were both Duh type of picks.

Maybe, maybe not. A couple of teams passed on Toews. A few people wanted Kane traded before they won any cups. Tallon, whose nickname was "Fail" also traded for Sharp. He is pretty astute in the scouting spectrum, and had as much impact as anyone building a team that not only could win, but had the core to win at least a few times. I don't think Bowman is a dunce, but when you start out with Kane, Toews, Keith, and Seabrook, the "duh" the Hawks are going to be pretty good could be used there.

It could also be Saad's camp trying to do some damage control after the Hawks spun things fairly well talking about how Saad wanted 6.5 and it just wasn't going to fit, which was understandable.

 

Saad doesn't want to come off like he is just a money hungry athlete, but at the end of the day you can never hold that against the player. I would have loved for Saad to take a 4.5 million dollar deal to stay with this club, but if there is a team out there willing to go 6 or 6.5 per, go make your money. I don't hold that agianst Saad, or the Blackhawks.

Exactly. I will never blame someone for taking the extra money. It's not like it's 10 or 15k a year.

I mean, not that 6 years 40 mill is chump change. But look at the athletes in other sports. John Danks made more than that on a 4 year deal and has pitched like garbage the whole time.

 

Edit: my point here is I don't blame him.

Edited July 1, 201510 yr by bmags

I mean, not that 6 years 40 mill is chump change. But look at the athletes in other sports. John Danks made more than that on a 4 year deal and has pitched like garbage the whole time.

 

Edit: my point here is I don't blame him.

The Bulls paid Tim Thomas IIRC $18 million to go away. A couple years later, they got him back, and paid him another couple of million to go away. Like you said, $1 million-$2 million might not be that big of a deal in the NBA or MLB, but it is pretty huge in the NHL.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 50m50 minutes ago

Source says #Blackhawks have been trying to figure out a way to re-sign Johnny Oduya, but the sense is it's still a long shot.

Ken Campbell ‏@THNKenCampbell 1m1 minute ago

Can confirm Brad Richards has officially signed with the Detroit Red Wings. Terms to follow.

 

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m2 minutes ago

1 yr for Richards to Det. $3 mil with bonus to $4 mil

Ken Campbell ‏@THNKenCampbell 1m1 minute ago

Can confirm Brad Richards has officially signed with the Detroit Red Wings. Terms to follow.

 

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m2 minutes ago

1 yr for Richards to Det. $3 mil with bonus to $4 mil

 

interesting on the salary.

Mark Lazerus ‏@MarkLazerus 50m50 minutes ago

Source says #Blackhawks have been trying to figure out a way to re-sign Johnny Oduya, but the sense is it's still a long shot.

 

That would be great. The dude played like a champ with basically one arm.

Ken Campbell ‏@THNKenCampbell 1m1 minute ago

Can confirm Brad Richards has officially signed with the Detroit Red Wings. Terms to follow.

 

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m2 minutes ago

1 yr for Richards to Det. $3 mil with bonus to $4 mil

Every vet should want to come and play for the Hawks. Come to Chicago, win big, get overpaid.

Vermette back to AZ. 3.75 AAC 2 years

Vermette back to AZ. 3.75 AAC 2 years

 

Hmm. That makes me a bit less happy about the Asimov deal

I saw a tweet with a Columbus Saad jersey, did he actually sign yet? I want to see terms.

 

Nope, not yet, still negotiating