Have we ever talked about how they spent three years having their star players under cheap contracts and refused to spend the entire time? 31 organizations in that spot go for it because that was a window. We spent the least in the league twice and the third least this year. Because I keep hearing about how the contracts are kicking in and they won’t be at the bottom anymore…and it never comes with the slightest understanding of what that means we just wasted. Everyone wants to talk about how Tage, Cozens, Dahlin and Power were better last year. They were also a lot cheaper. They combined to make less than Dahlin makes next year. And the organizational plan was to leave the most cap space unspent in the entire league. That was a window. If not to win it all…at least to break the drought and instill some success in this group. I’d say they nailed it shut…but Terry wouldn’t spring for the f***ing hammer.
Not all 31. Bedard on his rookie contract. Hawks spending max cap and 'going for it'? No, in fact it's the opposite. Dead LAST in cap $ spent.
One can say, oh lets jump on UFAs and blow to $ to the cap ceiling while Eichel is on his rookie deal. Truth is, those rookies that are even phenoms, are not ready for PPG NHL hockey, let alone playoff hockey at 18, 19 or 20 years old.
Bedard will be off his rookie deal and making 10+ million/year before Blackhawks think it's time to spend to the cap ceiling. So, no real advantage of the rookie deal at all.
