A Look at The Chicago Blackhawks Salary Dilemmas

(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

For the past week, the Chicago Blackhawks have been mentioned many times due to Dale Tallon's misunderstandings with his restricted free agents. After settling the issue with the NHL and NHLPA, Chicago managed to snag all eight RFA's.

With Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Cam Barker, Colin Fraser, and Aaron Johnson all signing new contracts with Chicago, some making more than expected, it seems that the future of hockey in Chicago is in for some struggles.

By re-signing all of these players and adding Marian Hossa, John Madden, and Tomas Kopecky, where does the Blackhawks' salary sit?

The answer is not good for Chicago because as of right now, the Hawks are about $4 million over the cap.

Likely, this means player like Aaron Johnson, Jordan Hendry, Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer, and Jack Skille will all begin their 2009-2010 season over in Rockford together. By sending these guys down, the Hawks will barely be under the salary cap, but able to compete.

The real trouble is next summer, as many people are bringing up.

In the summer of 2010, the Blackhawks will have to make a push to re-sign Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith as they will be restricted free agents.

According to General Manager Dale Tallon, "These three are our top priorities next off season".

I would sure hope so, Dale. Jack Skille, Andrew Ladd, Jordan Hendry, and Niklas Hjalmarsson will also be restricted free agents next summer.

The Blackhawks might also want to think about getting some of their unrestricted free agents back before they hit the open market. Chicago's unrestricted free agents will be John Madden, Adam Burish, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, and Aaron Johnson.

Another problem is that both Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd are arbitration eligible. This means if Dale Tallon doesn't offer the amount of money these guys think they should be making, both will no longer be in the Hawks' future.

After reading many people talk about this problem, I have looked into it and Chicago really is not in as much trouble as one might think.

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith will all be asking for more money than they are currently making, of course. 

Everyone thinks Kane and Toews will not be together next year on the Blackhawks, but I see this differently. Both of them will demand at least $5.5 - $6 million a piece. That is not true.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will most likely be looking for a long-term deal with Chicago that has them making around $4.5 - $5.5 million per season. This might seem awfully low, but think about it for a second.

In 2008-2009, the NHL saw just 46 players making above $6 million. The players that fit into this catergory have proved themselves worthy of that kind of money. Just to name off some players from this list: Heatley, Crosby, Ovechkin, Hossa, Havlat, Spezza, Vanek, Chara, Lidstrom, Gaborik, Kovalchuk, Thornton, Lecalvier, Iginla, Phaneuf, Nash, Marleau, Pronger, etc. You catch my drift.

Kane and Toews are two elite players and getting better, but neither one has even hit the 75 point plateau in a season yet. Yes, they have both only played two seasons, but they are not at a point per game average yet like most of the players on the list above.

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