June 4, 2014: Playing Bowman

On the day that the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals begin, it’s time to take a look at the Hawks, and see what has to be done in order to be back in this series next year.  A roster overhaul is NOT necessary, however, there are changes that should be made, business that needs to be taken care of, in order to get this team prepared to win again next year.  This is my chance to play Bowman as I map out some offseason to-do’s for the Hawks.

Sign Toews and Kane… now.  Although both contracts do not expire until after next season, there is no need to wait on locking up these boys.  In fact, I’ll argue that this should be done as soon as possible.  We need to put this season ending downer behind us.  By signing them soon, this will get the positive momentum started back up and rolling for 2014-2015.  When we talk about core players, there is nobody more core than these two.  By locking them up for another 5+ years each, we take care of the 2 most important players on this team.  Once these contracts are done, then we can begin to look at the rest of the team.

Let’s start with the defense.  With Keith and Hammer locked up for another 5+ years, we have our 2 best defensemen taken care of.  Seabrook has 2 more years left on his deal, so there is no need to rush there.  With his play in the postseason, he may only have 2 years left here.  No need to decide that now.  Leddy, Oduya, and Rozsival will all be in the last years of their deals.  I guess we’ll need to take care of Leddy, but Oduya and Rozsival are definitely expendable in my mind.  The defense is an area that the Hawks need to get better in.  Do we resign Brookbank who is a FA to step in on a 3rd defensemen pairing?  Do we need to make a deal to bolster the D?  Are we OK rolling with our current crew?  Our defense is what really sank us I believe in the Kings series.  We couldn’t clear the puck, we turned it over way to much, and we let the Kings do pretty much whatever they wanted in our zone.  Keith and Hammer should be our #1 D pairing, while we pair up Seabs and Leddy at #2.  I think we try to move Oduya AND Rozsival, and either commit to Brookbank for the #3 D pairing or someone else in our system, and possibly get a FA as well.  We need to be better AND tougher next year on D.

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Up front, we’re loaded.  After locking up Kane & Toews, we turn to the rest of the core.  Hossa is locked up for 7 more years, while Sharp has 3 more years on his current deal.  I don’t think any action is needed there, or is there???  Sharp wasn’t so sharp this postseason, while Hossa played well, but didn’t really have much to show for it on the stat sheet.  I think these guys will be among the hungriest come next year.  Two veterans with subpar postseason performances will come back looking for blood, and I want them up front with Kane and Toews for years to come.  Bickell and Bollig are under contract for 3 more years.  What will this duo give us?  Bickell was non-existent in the regular season, and ended that way in the Kings series after an impressive playoff up until then.  Meanwhile, newly signed Bollig was a healthy scratch for multiple games this postseason.  Are these 2 expendable?  I think so.  Another guy we can only hope they get rid of, is Versteeg.  With 2 more years on his deal, he was horrible.  Although maybe not fully recovered from an injury, if anyone is interested, let’s make a deal.  A few guys who are NOT dispensable are Saad, Shaw, and Smith.  Nothing needs to be done immediately with Saad (1 year left) and Shaw (2 years left), but Smith is a FA.  I think we make him a priority with our FA’s.  We know Handzus will be gone, but Morin and Regin are also FA’s.  Smith has to be the priority out of those 3 guys, although I would like to sign all 3 if we could get rid of some players via trade.  With Kruger under contract for another season, that is a good thing, while Nordstrom and Rundblad are also signed for another year, but don’t think anyone would miss them (I don’t even remember Rundblad).  Let’s not forget about Teuvo.  Will he start the season with the Hawks this year?  If so, who goes?  If not, do we move him, or just wait for him to develop?  There are other guys in the pipeline as well, although he is the most highly touted.

It will be an interesting off season.  One in which I think moves should and will be made.  Although the season was pretty great, and we were on the doorstep again, we lost.  No need to make any rash decisions because of that, but nobody likes losing.  This should prompt some moves to be made.  It’s easy to stand pat after winning a Cup.  Don’t think it will be that easy this year.  I’m ready for the puck drop of the 2014-2015 season, and interested to see what the real Bowman has in store.