Nice goal from Kane

Boston Bruins are to play a pre season game against a Belfast Giants select team on Oct2 in Belfast.Bit of a mis-match there unless the Giants get some players in from other clubs for the game.

That'll be worth seeing.

Since Chicago won the cup they've had to work out how to get under the salary cap for next season and they've already traded away Buff,Sopel,Eager to Atlanta last week and yesterday Versteeg was traded to Toronto.

Free agency started today but there's not many big names up for grabs with Kovalchuck the biggest name out there with LA favourites to get him.

Gutted about Versteeg as thought he would be an important player for the Hawks, but looks like the management may see Jack Skille as the next Versteeg. Andrew Ladd also been traded to the Thrashers and Burish gone to Dallas.

Us Hawks fans knew this was likely to happen as the cap would bite us due to the teams success but suprised a little at the severity of it. We need to try and off load Huet as had we have been able to do that then some of the trades would not have been needed. Still I have faith in the Bowman & Son as Scotty has proved a master over the years, Rocky Wirtz & McDonough for what they have achieved in such a short time and in Quenneville as the coach for bringing on the players from the ground work that Savard had done.

Its gonna be tough to be the same team again but if they can mould the new players to have the same team and work ethic as they had this season then we could see more success in the coming years.

No Buff in Chicago ?

Saddened to hear the news that for Redwing and Blackhawk Bob Probert has passed away this week. One of the most feared Enforcers in his time.

RIP

Hawks look set to possibly lose Hjalmarsson after Dallas offer him a $14M 4 year deal. Hawks have 7 days to match the offer, quesion for me is whether he is worth that at present. If we do lose him then I will be pi$$ed after losing Versteeg, still it will give us more options regards to replacing Steegs or Buff on the cap.
Hopefully Jack Skille will now step up and make the grade ala Versteeg. Would be nice to see Hull lad Davy Phillips get a shot with the Hawks too as he did well in his first season with Hawks farm team Rockford.

I think even though Tallon was a big reason we won the cup some of the contracts he gave out (Huet,Campbell)have meant that it could be a couple of years until we challenge for the cup again unless some of the young players progress quicker than expected.

They are the two main reasons we ended up losing Buff & Steeg's. Hjalmarsson has now been resigned and Bowman noow concentrating on keeping Niemi whilst staying under the cap. He may in the end be traded which could be a worry, however it seems that Huet is being assigned to Rockford which cuts $5.6M off the wage bill, seems the Hawks no longer see Huet in their plans at all and will be trying everything they can to dump his salary and him.

Hawks let Niemi walk after arbitration. Niemi was awarded $2.75M for a 1 year deal but Hawks announced that they will let Niemi go and have signed Turco.

Have to say I'm disappointed but with Huet still hanging on with the ridiculous deal he's on then its looks as though Turco comes in as possible No.1 and to help support Crawford and Toivonen.

Shame but thinking about it Hawks would have the same issue next season if Niemi had another good season. Just need to get rid of the dead weight which is Huet as soon as possible.

I'm sure one team watching how the "hawks are handling their salary cap issues are the Avs. At the moment the Avs are below the minimum but still have to make deals with Mueller and Stewart which should take them over the minimum. Of course the other young stars like Duchene, O'Reily etc. will need upgrades next season then it will become more interesting here in Denver.
The Avs first two games this coming season are home to the "hawks then away to the Flyers.
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