As the league begins to decompress from a busy NHL Draft with some blockbuster news, the Chicago Blackhawks are sure to be in the forefront of many discussions after being one of the most active teams on the market this week. One question that remains to be answered is how their Hall of Fame talent feels about the club’s direction. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta confirms today that the team will reach out to winger Patrick Kane “in the very near future” to have a conversation about his future with the team.
Both Kane and Jonathan Toews each have just one year remaining on their matching contracts, both carrying a cap hit of $10.5MM. They also both have full say in what the future holds for them in the form of full no-movement clauses. If one or both do end up wanting a trade out of Chicago in order to make another championship run, it makes sense that the Blackhawks would want to know now. The highest value for them will likely be this offseason, as the risk of declining performance could lower their trade value by next year’s deadline.
- There’s some good old-fashioned drama in the State of Hockey. Many believed the Minnesota Wild had reinforced their goaltending situation by re-signing Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year contract yesterday, but as quotes from general manager Bill Guerin and Cam Talbot’s agent George Bazos reveal, Talbot may not be entirely happy with the team’s choice to keep Fleury around. Bazos gave a cryptic quote after meeting with Guerin during the third round of today’s draft, saying that Guerin “had a lot to think about.” Guerin countered later, reminding media that Talbot is still under contract, and said that “George can say whatever the hell he wants.” If the relationship turns sour quickly between Talbot and the Wild, it could leave them in an interesting position next season in the crease.
- The deadline for issuing qualifying offers to restricted free agents is July 11, and the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t made a decision on whether or not to qualify winger Ondrej Kase. Kase is eligible for arbitration, and after producing 27 points in 50 games, the award might be too rich for Toronto’s blood if Kase elects for it. Not issuing a qualifying offer to Kase wouldn’t prevent him from returning to Toronto, but it would make him an unrestricted free agent, and could sign anywhere in the league.
Bill going down the wrong path.
Should have signed Ottenger to an offer sheet,unloaded more salary,and traded Talbot,even if he didn’t sign MAF. He burned the Talbot bridge and then sent him a boat with a hole in it. He’s in a bad way with the past buyouts.
You can always walk away from Kase.
Dallas has $18.5 million in cap space. You would have to sign Jake to $9+mil per to have a shot at the Stars not matching it.
Zero % chance Dallas wouldn’t have matched.
Dave , you can only walk away from an arbitration over a certain $ threshold, I read it awhile back but i think it is 3.5m
But I could have the figure wrong. I’ll try to find it
Assuming Chicago eats 50% of Kane’s last year, what is a realistic return? Im sure the market on him wont be too big due to the flat cap but LTIR opportunities may pop up.
I would think Kane at 5.25 is a good deal. Good player. I’m not sure how Toews has been latly but at worst a 3 line center and good locker room guy.
Edit: yea Toews has fallen off points wise but I dunno who he has played with still a great faceoff guy
Kane still has it, gotta be a HoFer over point per game, best player at his position for a time, couple cups
The minimal return you will get for Toews is not worth the bad PR of trading a franchise icon.
JJ Peterka and a first.
Would there be, really? Even the most rabid Chicago fanboy — one incapable of wrapping his head around the fact that Toews has *never* been as good as touted — has to recognize by now that Toews has declined to be no better than a 3rd-liner, and the superstar cap space he’s taking up is crippling the team.
Whoa! JJ Perterka?! A 1st? For a player with 1 year left & making $10mil? No way.
For a future Hall of Famer still playing at an elite level who is a Buffalo native and can likely be extended to join a new young core.
Yes way.
If Kirby F’n Dach was dealt for a 1st and an early 3rds, the gods only know what could be gotten for an elite superstar like Kane. I would say “no way” on such a deal not because it’d be madness for Buffalo to do it, but it’d be madness for Chicago to agree to it.
Send Talbot to Chicago
Then Chicago can send him anywhere else for draft picks!
Does washington or toronto go for talbot for on e year instead of Campbell/ kuemper for multiple years. Deadmonton doubt they would want Talbot again.
Chicago Blackhawks, meet Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. Ok, Bessie, time to kick over a few dozen kerosene lanterns to burn the joint to the ground. Moo-moo!
I don’t understand why this drum gets getting beat regarding Toews. There is no way a team is going to give up anything for him at this point. They would have to attach assets and retain salary to convince anyone to take him; at that point, you may as well just keep him and give him a retirement tour as a reason to keep people coming to the arena during what is sure to be a dismal season.
I can see Kane being traded before the season starts (focus on getting as many top 2023 & 2024 draft picks).
Toews will more than likely be a trade deadline move (get any 2023 draft picks that you can) with of course half salary retention.
Sorry, I’m with JH. Even with half salary retention, what does Toews possibly bring to the table worth actually PAYING for it, even given the improbable notion that a contending team could fit a $5 million hit into their almost-certainly choked cap space?
Trade Toews for draft picks and prospects. Then trade those prospects for more draft picks. Then trade those picks for even more picks, and so on, until the Blackhawks own every draft pick. Then they can trade all of those picks . . . to themselves.