Confirmed with Link: Frolik to WPG

[Recoil]

I'm just glad we'll see more of our prospects next year. I'm fine with getting rid of two bottom six guys in return for 5 picks and $5m of cap space

This.

Bolland will sting for a bit, but I'm OK with this move. Frolik always played at 110% and was great on the PK, but he barely contributed on offense unless you count continually trying to give Goaltenders bruised sternums. His salary was a bit much for a 4th line PK speciality, but more importantly I'd like to see his spot go to a prospect who is ready to come up.

It's not like 2011 where we have a mass exodus and several prospects coming up who aren't ready. We lost one fourth liner, will lose a third liner (Stalberg) and a 3/4 line C in Bolland. We've got a couple kids I'm excited to see what they can do.

 

[allan5oh]

Frolik should do well for us, we're looking for good PKers. This sounds like a match made in heaven for the Jets. He could even be on our 2nd line (yes I'm dead serious). Our RW depth in order of usage:

Blake Wheeler RFA 48 GP 41 PTS
Antti Miettenen UFA 22 GP 5 PTS
Kyle Wellwood UFA 39 GP 15 PTS
Chris Thorburn 42 GP 4 PTS
Anthony Peluso RFA 5 GP 2 PTS

Miettenen was on the 2nd line with Evander Kane and Olli Jokinen, he will be gone. If we don't get a 2nd line RW, Frolik will probably slot in there, or will at least be tried at times. Wellwood may be gone as well, depending on what happens. He went on a bit of a tear at the end of the year bringing his numbers up.

He certainly won't be used on the 4th line with Thorburn, Peluso, and Wright as our 4th line wingers.

 

[allan5oh]

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun 54s

Jets also inquired about Dave Bolland. Coveted both Bolland and Frolik. Happy to get Frolik, who will have a larger role in Wpg

I thought so as well. I think the fact that the Leafs pick was higher tipped the scale in their favor. I also think we were in on Schneider.

 

[BobbyJet]

This sucks ,, What is point of dumping both Bolland/Frolik

PK takes massive hit

Possibly a clear case of Q and team overrating Kruger .... but that said, it's no real surprise that both are gone. I think Stan didn't get enough for either though, especially Bolland. No question in my mind that Frolik made the PK what it was will be hard to replace (short of playing the core players in that role which we will likely see anyways in a normal regular season).

 

[UKBlackhawk]

Shame he's gone, done well.

 

[zac]

Possibly a clear case of Q and team overrating Kruger .... but that said, it's no real surprise that both are gone. I think Stan didn't get enough for either though, especially Bolland. No question in my mind that Frolik made the PK what it was will be hard to replace (short of playing the core players in that role which we will likely see anyways in a normal regular season).

I don't think this has been mentioned enough. Q alluded to the fact that the biggest reason he had Fro and Kruger out there in the first place was because he was worried about over-taxing his stars during a shortened season. I think he has every intention of putting most of his stars back in the role

 

[IU Hawks fan]

If Kitchen is worth his weight in salt, he'll turn someone else into the PK ace Frolik was. Maybe Smith can be that kinda guy, his ceiling seems to be a 3rd liner so maybe be can be a 4th line ace.

That's all it came down to. Fro was deadweight but they found something he can excel at.

 

[SLarmer28*]

If Kitchen is worth his weight in salt, he'll turn someone else into the PK ace Frolik was. Maybe Smith can be that kinda guy, his ceiling seems to be a 3rd liner so maybe be can be a 4th line ace.

That's all it came down to. Fro was deadweight but they found something he can excel at.

Frolik was not deadweight, but this a perfect example of overpayment for projected future performance based upon past performance with a previous team.

 

[hockeydoug]

I was amazed at how well Frolik performed given the drastic shift in his role. If they weren't able to retain or sign another player, I was hoping he could stay with Kruger for another year. Solid contributor, just too expensive for the role.

I think the return was fair, hope he does well in the future.

 

[Cullksinikers]

Frolik was a solid-ass penalty killer for us. However, the Hawks might be able to groom someone to PK just as well as Fro for less than the $2.33 million AAV he got. Remember, the Hawks basically developed him into the ace he was on that Cup run in a shortened off-season. Imagine the possibilities with the good prospects they are grooming. And the guy they develop to be just like him on the PK will probably have more upside in the offensive zone.

 

[Cullksinikers]

If Kitchen is worth his weight in salt, he'll turn someone else into the PK ace Frolik was. Maybe Smith can be that kinda guy, his ceiling seems to be a 3rd liner so maybe be can be a 4th line ace.

That's all it came down to. Fro was deadweight but they found something he can excel at.

I made my last post and then read this. This is exactly what I was getting at. Fantastic post. Spot on!

 

[Any Colour You Like]

I said that ideally Bolland and Frolik would both be gone in the roster thread, and look where we are now.

Thanks for being an absolute PK beast, Fro. We'll miss you, but not your salary-role correlation.

 

[CS85]

It is weirding me out reading how impassioned people are about Frolik being traded. Bolland I can see because short-sighted peeps are still lusting over his game winner, but Frolik was never going to excel beyond his PK/4th line duties with this team. The contract was the writing on the wall. He had good chemistry with Kruger, but I feel like that's as much Kruger's doing as Fro's.

Frolik's rightfully getting sent somewhere where he has the wiggle room on a roster to grow that he simply wasn't going to get here. I wish him the best of luck.

 

[Sir Psycho T]

Don't mind this deal much.

Frolik was a 4th line, PK, winger, those aren't worth 2+ million a year. Got a really good return all things considering. Now guys like Morin, Hayes, etc can get a chance.

 

[CS85]

Don't mind this deal much.

Frolik was a 4th line, PK, winger, those aren't worth 2+ million a year. Got a really good return all things considering. Now guys like Morin, Hayes, etc can get a chance.

...and the return for both Bolland Frolik refills the coffers with development projects. A lot of teams that come off of titles aren't in such a good position to have their cake and eat it too. The Blackhawks didn't quite rock the world with sexy NHL 14 trades, but these are shrewd moves that improved the organization.

 

[RomersWorld*]

I'm hoping Phillip Danault is basically a better version of Michael Frolik by 2014-15.

 

[Godlike13]

Frolik was a solid-ass penalty killer for us. However, the Hawks might be able to groom someone to PK just as well as Fro for less than the $2.33 million AAV he got.

I think we'll probably be seeing more of Saad on the PK now.

 

[ModryJazyk]

Why are we dumping so much salary? Please don't overpay for Bickell!

this is what's happened.Overpayed Bickell means no room for Frolik.Hawks great depth is gone.

 

[Bring Back GLR]

this is what's happened.Overpayed Bickell means no room for Frolik.Hawks great depth is gone.

Pretty Much, we win a Cup and then lose some great depth. Zac's post was perfect earlier about Frolik. One of those things where there wasn't much we could do. Though I expected Bolland to be shipped out but not Frolik, but at this point right now Stan is probably the best G.M. in the league, not cuz he just won a Cup but cuz of the moves he had to make after we won the Cup in 2010 and his trades, signings and non-moves while some have left us confused at the time they all worked out amazingly well. Emery, Rosival, Oduya, Handzus, Frolik, sticking with Kruger and Crawford. Who knew that those guys would be so integral in getting us another Cup.

 

[Spectra]

Thanks for everything, Fro, you will be missed!

 

[Bubba88]

if the Jets wanted Bolly too, they could have given us their 1st Rounder...

 

[ColdSteel2]

Well, we absolutely could have kept him, now it comes down to what we get in UFA...or we way overpay Leddy. Two vastly different scenarios that will shape the team next year.

 

[salty justice]

We can't afford to pay a 4th liner / PK specialist more than $2M a year, simple as that. Hopefully we have a replacement lined up or give Beach a shot.

 

[Bubba88]

come on coldsteel... starting this already again?

BTW, Leddy >> Frolik in terms of value and future. Frolik is good and I hate to see him go, but the chances that Leddy is better and more helpful going forward are higher than Frolik being the better.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Frolik was not deadweight, but this a perfect example of overpayment for projected future performance based upon past performance with a previous team.

Deadweight from a money standpoint.

Maybe dead money would be a better description.