Bowman: Blackhawks Will Buy Out Montador, Olesz
When Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman met with the media on Thursday morning, he confirmed what many had assumed for some time: the Hawks will use their compliance buyouts on defenseman Steve Montador and forward Rostislav Olesz.
The window for compliance buyouts ends at 4 PM CT on July 4. Montador and Olesz still need to clear waivers for the buyouts to take place.
By using their compliance buyouts, the Hawks will cut $2.75M (Montador) and $3.125M (Olesz) off the cap for the 2013-14 season. Olesz had only one season remaining on his deal; Montador had two.
This announcement puts to bed the dialogue regarding whether or not the organization would use a compliance buyout on Marian Hossa.
The only reason buying out Hossa would be considered is because of the penalty in the new CBA for players retiring before the end of longer deals. If Hossa retires with one or two years left on his current contract, the Blackhawks would have an enormous cap penalty.
However, the Blackhawks do have options with Hossa beyond using a compliance buyout.
Hossa acknowledged while meeting the media on Thursday that he hurt his back late in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final, and that he was limited in the final four games of the series. He also admitted that surgery may be an option.
He is only 34 years old, though, and is still a very productive NHL player. In spite of a shoulder injury costing him regular season games, he still posted 31 points (17 goals and 14 assists) in 40 games. And in spite of injuries limiting him in the postseason, he was still tied with Patrick Sharp for third on the Hawks with 16 points in the 2013 playoffs.
According to CapGeek, if Hossa plays three or four more years in Chicago, and then the Blackhawks use a traditional buyout to relieve the organization of his contract, here is what the cap hit would look like (the small numbers on the right indicate a 2017 buyout):
- 2016-17: $1,808,333
- 2017-18: $4,808,333 – $4,608,333
- 2018-19: $4,808,333 – $4,608,333
- 2019-20: $4,808,333 – $4,608,333
- 2020-21: $4,808,333 – $4,608,333
- 2021-22: $533,333 – $333,333
- 2022-23: $533,333 – $333,333
- 2023-24: $533,333 – $333,333
- 2024-25: $533,333 – $333,333
- 2025-26: $533,333
Those numbers are all down significantly from the $5.275M cap hit the Hawks have budgeted for him through the 2020-21 season. Also, the cap is going to go up in coming seasons.
The fact is, Hossa has a lot of good hockey left in him and the Blackhawks aren’t in the same desperate cap situation they were in 2010. Using the teams two compliance buyouts to get the dead weight contracts of Montador and Olesz off the books in 2013-14 has always made the most sense for the organization, and Bowman confirmed the decision of the team on Thursday.
This makes it much easier to resign Bickell and some other key ingredients of our champions!
My new Motto is ” Trust in the Bowmans ” this guy has done nothing but great moves for our team.
“Those numbers are all down significantly from the $5.275M cap hit the Hawks have budgeted for him through the 2020-21 season. Also, the cap is going to go up in coming seasons.”
This is an apples and kumquats comparison. With Hossa on the team, you have a $5.275m cap hit, and a hall-of-fame 2nd line wing. With Hossa retired, you have a $5.275m cap hit (penalty of $4.6-4.8m plus salary of $600k) with Some Rockford call up (a $600k guy) as your 2nd line wing.
The penalty for Hossa’s retirement for those 4 years is almost exactly like his sitting on the roster for those 4 years, taking up full cap space, but glued to the bench and not able to play. Highly punitive. Every other team in the league (except those few in same condition) is playing with an extra $5m player on their roster compared to you.
And remember, for him to NOT retire after 2016/17, we have to assume he will accept $1m/year cash payment to take that punishment on his 38-42 year old body. Risk further concussions, etc.
That’s a big leap of faith.
The front office has so much more information than me on the players. They know the CBA like the back of their hand. But I’m still surprised, with the little info I have, that they are using both their CBOs this year, versus saving one for next year to have a conversation with Hoss then.
So lets say they buried both Monty and Olzy this year to save their CBOs. That adds about $2mm to our Cap. Plus about $950K ?? in bonuses would lower the Hawks roster cap to about $61mm, can’t do it. Someone please confirm!
They are in win now mode, so it makes sense to try and get 3-4 more good years out of Hossa and deal with the consequenses later.
Also, Lecavalier was just released by TB. How good would that guy look as 2C? Plus by all accounts he is a great guy. Seems like a perfect fit to me.
And LeCavalier will look for a great situation as TB will be subsidizing his paycheck. 2 – 3 years at $4MM I’m thinking. Hawks would def have to dump Bolland.
Sharp/LeCavalier/Hossa……….hmmmm
When did noah build the ark, before the rain. I dont know how, but the Bowmans knew some things a yr or so before the cba stuff. They have a plan, which has some branches depending certain players, so we ll have several options not be stuck with only one. I gotta a feeling they know what there doing. I totally understand about the Hoss possibilities, but I am confident that at the end of the day with the longterm roster we ll all be smiling.
Morrison: agreed w the confidence in Bowmans. That’s why I couch my opinions in “limited info”. I hope you’re right, and I suspect you’re right.
Tab- what provisions are in the new CBA regarding early retirement/Due to Injury…
and or what happens if –
Hossa has surgery and misses whole year?
Hossa has surgery-plays- hurts it again and retires this year or next???
Right now I am going thru disc issues- numb leg, can’t drive a car for more than hour, etc… it is not a lot of fun- and has really limited me.
Wall: I read some stuff in the CBA recently. It is 500 pages long. I didn’t read the injury stuff, but when skimming past it, I noticed there was a lot of stuff there, second opinions, verification, etc.
I’ve had similar thoughts about saving a buyout for Hossa. Or maybe that he’d be ready to retire this year. I started to get frustrated about it then realized that I’m sure they’ve had all these discussions and they have a plan. I’ll trust that.
They just provided an incredibly enjoyable year of rooting for the team I grew up loving.
It then occurred to me that the Blackhawks don’t just want to be an organization that wins hockey titles, but an organization that treats people well. Hossa has been a amazing contributor to this team. He deserves to go out when and how he is ready, and I think that the Blackhawks organization wants to honor that. That may be naive, but it seems they are committed to having an environment that players love and know they get treated with dignity and respect.
another question on this CBA- buyout stuff… is there anything against say -Vinnie Lacavlier ( who just got bought out) of signing w/ let’s say Hawks or Pens for league minimum- ( or a little more based on his years)- I assume Vinnie still gets his 30 +Mill
from Tampa-and now he gets to pick the team that might win the Cup??? Or does he have to sign with the highest bidder???
I hope there are rules against picking team and signing for lowest $$$!!!! If not- it actually favors the Great teams like Hawks, Pens, Bruin, Wings… but seems really unfair!?!?!?!? You would think the NHL would make the NEW team that signs the buyout pay some of that buyout amt/against the cap to prevent those kinds of Shannaniggans!!!!!
Im very surprised by the Montador buy out. I think I’m one of the few Hawks fans that feel this guy can still play. Certainly as a 3rd d pair. I saw him taking Rosey place w Leddy. However Stan deserves the benefit of the doubt. Hossa’s contract is going to be painful down the line, I’m little surprised they didn’t save the last buy out for him next summer. Hoss is a gamer so its nice knowing he will retire a Hawk. I’m hoping the Hawks copy more of the Winblueprint and sign a few of these buyout players for league min salary for a chance at another cup. Vinny for 1 or Mike Roberio. I’m considering the parade tomorrow is anyone else?
No, buying out Montador and Olescz were the the right things to do…as Wall said, Hossa is that RARE athlete who just might play until he is 40…very special guy. Montador and Olescz were both dogs…I never liked or approved the Montador signing by Bowman…don’t know what he was thinking.
As for the 2nd line centre…I guarantee it is either Pirri or LeBlanc…which is also the way to go as of now…
Vinny’s either going long term to Tor/Mon or 1 yr deal with an elite team so he can then be free to resign with TB after next yr. Given how deep his roots are in TB, I’d bet on the latter. And how many elite teams have some cap space and a 2nd line center opening? Hawks, Philly?
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Sharp-Lecavalier-Kane
Bickell-Shaw-Smith
Carcillo-Kruger-Frolik
… now I’m just bein greedy :)
ER: Sounds more like Hoss is going to start next season on the IR recovering from disc, etc. Also- not sure why (other than injury), you’d want to break up Bickell/Toews/Kane.. So, in the unlikely scenario that Vinny came to Hawks, I would suggest it looks more like this:
Bickell/Toews/Kane
Sharp/LaC/Hoss
Hayes-Morin/Shaw/Smith
Carcillo-Bollig/Kruger/Frolik
That said (as Brad states), much more likely no FA (let alone Vinny), is coming to Chicago and it’s Pirri or Kruger or LaBlanc as 2C in 13-14. If that’s correct, I douibt either can play 2C in the NHL right out of the gate and it could/would look something like this:
Bickell/Toews/Kane
Sharp/Kruger/Hoss
Hayes-Morin/Pirri-LaBlanc/Smith
Carcillo-Bollig/Shaw/Frolik
Regardless, too many new developments needed to make projections at this time..
Negzz you’re forgetting Saad.
Thanks for putting Hossa’s situation in English, Tab. You’re a great resource.
I hope he finishes his career here. Stay or go, I’m a fan.
Negzz, why did Saad get demoted off the big club :). We have soooo many prospects, people forget about them. I would like to see LaC come too, but while I think a one year deal could get done from the Hawks too many other teams will offer 3-4 year deals.
If Hoss has to have surgery on a disk in his back, this is defintely the beginning of the end for Hossa in the NHL. I know this surgery, and there is NO guarantee that it will work, and because it is the back and the spine, the recovery time takes a while. So if this is the case, the Hawks need to prep for this…and its good news for Frolik as if Hoss can’t go, the Hawks will keep Fro…
If Hoss is out, then I will revamp my starting lineup:
Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Pirri/LeBlanc-Saad
Smith-Shaw-Morin
Hayes/Bollig-Kruger-Frolik
Another way this could go to help Pirri with Hossa out is:
Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Kruger-Saad
Smith-Shaw-Morin
Hayes/Bollig-Pirri/LeBlanc-Frolik
My D lines stay the same:
Seabrook-Keith
Hammer-Oduya
Leddy-Stanton/Clendening
Crawford/Rantaa
Even this lineup gives us a HUGE shot at winning another Cup as Smith, Morin, Hayes bring us scoring, 2 way play, and toughness/physicality. Pirri could be what puts us over the top…if Brandon can settle in and become that productive 2nd line centre, we may actually be a better team…
And if Hoss can play, even if it is only half the season, it actually works out well…because others on the team will be asked to step up, lead and deliver. Plus Hoss would be fresh when the playoffs start. Lots of positives with all these fresh faces.
Something to think about is maybe Lecavalier will want to sign a one year deal with a competitive team that could use a second line center, like Chicago or Detroit, to try to win a cup. Then the next year he could go back to Tampa Bay, which I suspect is where he would prefer to play.
That said, I think Brad’s lineups seem the most likely.
It will be interesting to see if any of these buy out guys take winning over a bigger check. Vinny for example is getting somewhere around 30 million to go away. Also heard on NHLN he is looking for 4 or 5 yrs at 4 million now that’s just being greedy. If that’s the case screw him. I’m very curious to see how the team looks next year. Also heard there are some bolland trade rumors. 3 weeks ago I woulda said in a heartbeat now it depends on the return deal. Bolland produced in big games and key times, not to mention he scored the game clinching goal
@Pter- Too funny- yes, I did scratch Saad as an oversite/switheroo. I meant to pull Hoss (not Saad), in view of his injury/recovery time. As such, Brad has some good takes on it, but I like Q’s options, and here’s another:
Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Kruger-Saad
Hayes-Morin/Shaw/Frolik
Carcillo/Bollig-Pirri/LaBlanc-Smith
Y’know, it’s also possible that the Hawks have to KEEP Bolland in his final year of contract. If they did, we’d currently only have $7.8 to fill holes.. That’s less that what’s needed to sign only your priority FA’s as follows (assumes signing bonus and cap friendly deal structures):
* Bickell: $3.0
* Kruger: $1.75
* Leddy: $1.75
* Rantaa: $1.4
Something/someone has to give or go…
That 2nd year to Carcillo might cost us one of Bickell and/or Leddy.
I have Bickell at 3 as well and I think you are right on what it will take to get Kruger and Leddy back. We will have to see what happens. I still think Bolland will be starting #2 C because I don’t see anyone giving us value and I don’t think we would just dump him. I wonder if you might see a prospect go for a late round pick. Maybe Smith…
Bickell isn’t worth $3M & probably isn’t getting that in Chicago. Also, Leddy will get his. Everyone throwing around cap hits for Bickell north of $2.5M need to slow down.. also, the chances of Rozsoval being back next year are 0.5% at best.
Tab- you really think there isn’t an idiot GM willing to pay 29 north of 3M-
I think there are more than a few that will/would pay him $3.5 +++
what’s Kopecky making? what about Leino??
@ wall: I didn’t say there wasn’t a GM dumb enough to pay him $3M. I said he isn’t worth that much, especially not to the Hawks IMO. There will always be a Holmgren willing to waste money, but I’m not in the camp that Bickell playing elsewhere in 2013-14 would be a deal breaker.
Tab, you are absolutely correct on Bickell. Put him on another team with players other than Toews and Kane and he will not be as productive as he was for us. Let’s hope that other GMs don’t offer him ridiculously high offers and we can keep him at a fair price.