While the Blackhawks introduced Jonathan Toews to Chicago on Tuesday, the question of how much of a face lift the team will undergo this summer remains an open one.
Hawks general manager Dale Tallon presented Toews with a No. 19 sweater, which means if disappointing center Denis Arkhipov is re-signed, he’ll have to get a new number.
Both Toews and the Hawks professed their excitement to be with one another Tuesday and team president and owner Bill Wirtz made sure to mention Toews comes with the endorsement of future Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman.
Yzerman, the former Red Wings great, helped put together Team Canada, which won the recent world championship with Toews on board. Yzerman’s stamp of approval may be the only thing Hawks fans and Wirtz can agree on.
Tallon kicked to the curb a question about the Hawks’ budget for next season, saying they will determine it next week after the NHL sets the salary cap for 2007-08.
One of the worst-kept secrets around the NHL is that the cap is going to rise next season, likely to $48 million. The Hawks, however, probably will be somewhere between $42 million and $44 million.
That means, barring trades involving significant salaries, the Hawks may not be very active when the July 1 free-agent signing period begins.
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With Toews signing, the Hawks have just below $38 million committed in salaries for next season. Tallon said he expects to use the No. 1 pick in the June 22 entry draft and hopes whomever the team selects will be able to play this upcoming season in Chicago.
Tallon said he hasn’t had any discussion about trading the pick and it appears the Hawks will choose from either Patrick Kane, James VanRiemsdyk or Kyle Turris.
Signing that player likely will involve a bonus package near or above $3 million for salary-cap purposes, which will put the Hawks at around $41 million.
Tallon also said he expects to tender qualifying contract offers to his restricted free agents, which will add at least another $1.5 million. Throw in another contract or two from their prospects in Norfolk and the Hawks will be near $44 million. The Hawks could free up some money via a trade and Tallon, as usual, said they are exploring all options to improve the team.
Trading some of the high salaries, such as goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin ($6.75 million for two more years) or defenseman Adrian Aucoin ($4 million for two more years), however, likely will involve taking equal salary back, but it could address particular needs at forward.
Last season the Hawks added goaltender Patrick Lalime and Arkhipov via free agency and were able to trade for Michal Handzus, who appears set to sign somewhere else as a free agent, and Martin Havlat.
So far, Tallon has had slightly better success in trades than in free-agent signings, even with Travis Moen scoring the winning goal for Anaheim in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. Tallon traded Moen for Michael Holmqvist after the lockout.
In the end, the Hawks’ direction could hinge more on whom they select first overall or if they trade the pick and how well their prospects perform than on how much money Wirtz gives Tallon to spend.
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