Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzz41
Why? Because they're not storied franchises in hockey markets?
From a hockey perspective, this would be an awesome series.
But to be clear, my bracket still says Hawks/Rangers so I'll be rooting for that to happen.
|
I really don't like the Ducks. I just don't like their brand of hockey. I can't stand Corey Perry, and the only guy I've ever found myself rooting for is Cam Fowler.
Tampa I'm ok with. I'd prefer my boys Yandle, Hank, Nash, McDonagh, etc. are in the Finals, but I rather enjoy Tampa...just not as much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMoore4075
Yeah, they'd need to sweeten that deal for anyone to take him. Well, I guess there is always Tallon in FLA.
I don't know if they have the balls to give up Crawford, that's my thing.
|
If it's not Crawford, it's Sharp. Do you think they would move a guy that's had the "A" on his sweater since before Toews/Kane stepped onto the ice, since the crowds went from 3,000 per game to 22,000?
I think the Hawks made moving Crawford obvious when they resigned Darling. It gave them the tandem of Darling and Raanta for the next couple years at super, super cheap. They have them both under contract, and can let them battle it out between the pipes. The Hawks have always been a "skater before goaltender" group, and Crawford has just been a luxury the past couple years. I certainly think that the organization will do whatever it can to keep Sharp and Seabrook at all costs, including moving Crawford.
I think Crawford, Versteeg, and Bickell are gone, which clears $12,200,000 in cap space, and puts them at $51,845,127 committed to the cap. Assuming a $72m cap, that gives them ~$20m in space to work with, but a lot of that can be filled within the organization.
The signings of Panarin, Baun, and Paliotta were done to fill holes for dirt cheap with "NHL ready" talent. If Stephen Johns didn't get hurt in the last game of the season in the playoffs with the Ice Hogs, it sounded like Q was ready to let him skate in the playoffs. Couple that with TvR and you have a pretty good defensive pairing for less than $2m. Resign Kruger, possibly Vermette or Richards, bring up Ryan Hartman...and the Hawks cap issues don't look so bad.
What I'm saying is...It just is the most likely scenario. Crawford is the most Byfuglien-like person on this year's squad. Yes, he's valuable, and no, we couldn't have made it this far without him...but he just is right outside of that "core" looking in that Bowman always talks about.