Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 5.40

www.afootinthecrease.com

While it may still wear on throughout the summer for the players, by now, just over a week since their Stanley Cup triumph, the feeling of euphoria must certainly be starting to wear off for Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman.

Simply by looking at the numbers, you can see Bowman has his work cut out for him with a $57.66 million cap hit covering just fourteen players for 2010/2011. More disconcerting for Blackhawk fans is the fact that key contributors in Nik Hjalmarsson and Antti Niemi – both due for big raises - are not among those fourteen players.

Next year’s cap is expected to be set in the neighbourhood of $58.5 million which will necessitate the removal of at least one but more likely two or three contracts from last year’s roster. With that in mind, let the vultures converge.

Remember the problems that the Tampa Bay Lightning went through after winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 when the big three of Vincent Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards were locked up at big dollars over long terms. Though they were solid up front, there was no money left to spend on adequate defense or goaltending. It’s been a problem they’ve been trying to solve since the league resumed after the lockout.

Chicago has a similar financial situation with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa not to mention the big contracts of defensemen Duncan Keith and Brian Campbell and goaltender Cristobal Huet. You have to think Bowman would like to unload Campbell and Huet – both of whom were far from integral to their playoff success. Easier said than done though with Campbell who has six years and $42.84 million remaining on his deal.

Likely two of Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Patrick Sharp will be on their way out and don’t expect the Hawks will get much in return. Remember, this is about unloading salary so there won’t be anybody of equal stature coming back. The Hawks hands are tied and the league knows it. Brian Burke, I believe that was your cue. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.