zamadoo wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 14:54 pm
4 months, mid season return as he's a RFA and Carlsson just got offered that contract...
This is going to be a real test of their front office's mettle.
How much do you pay a player with the durability of a can of Pringles and for how long?
You haven't won with him. Do you gauge the trade market when he comes back? I think you have to.
Talk about potentially being saddled with an albatross contract if they get anywhere near the Carlsson contract.
How about this for a high risk/high reward strategy (just for fun, I wouldn’t want the Blues to do it)……..sign Bedard to an offer sheet now and see if Chicago matches. Under normal circumstances, they obviously would match but with this latest injury, maybe they don’t. Of course shoulder injuries suck and you might be giving big money to a guy that’s damaged goods, but like I said, high risk/high reward.
BalotelliMassive wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 15:27 pm
I would give him a bridge deal - prove that you can stay healthy if you want to be the face of the franchise.
I also think they should sign Kane - the guy can still score.
No one in the history of ever would sign a deal where they have to prove they can stay healthy.
Some idiot will give him the money he wants, it'll likely be the dummy running the Hawks so why would he take a short deal to prove something that he really has no control over.
It's not his fault he's frail...its just the body he grew into
By my calculations he's missed 27 games in 3 years and now this on top of that.
That's not horrible or was not horrible until this untimely weird injury popped its head out which will create SOME doubt on his durability and longevity in the league....likely enough to keep a huge monstrous contract away for now.
Hawks need to be careful they don't push too hard.....or Bedard might just bet on himself.
dhsux wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 15:47 pm
By my calculations he's missed 27 games in 3 years and now this on top of that.
Taking an elbow to the jaw as an 18 year old…a learning experience but I won’t call him fragile over that one. It seems like he cleans his shoulders with windex and that’s a serious concern for any hockey player - I think he comes back as a winger to be safe.
dhsux wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 15:47 pm
By my calculations he's missed 27 games in 3 years and now this on top of that.
Taking an elbow to the jaw as an 18 year old…a learning experience but I won’t call him fragile over that one. It seems like he cleans his shoulders with windex and that’s a serious concern for any hockey player - I think he comes back as a winger to be safe.
Yeah the jaw was just unlucky. The shoulder is concerning.
UMR-alum-05 wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 17:33 pm
Players do get hurt. My concern as a Hawks would be here's a tiny guy that people already want to move off of Center who wants to make 17MM.
If I'm the Hawks I'm trading Bedard. Plenty of options. Might have to wait until he's healthy obviously. But move him out.
Bedard is listed as 5'10" 190. Hawks should have waited until he hit his growth spurt?
My take is the guy was SO skilled some other aspects of his game went unrefined, and he WAS a target for a continual barrage of every elbow, hip, board, and stick check possible. Then he trips over a paint line under the ice? Yeah, put him on wing right up against the boards. Could be another Eichel, though I get that shoulders are a particular concern.
I hate that he's hurt. I hate when generational talents go thru this kind of stuff and maybe never reach the level that they could be. I don't mind it's happening to the hawks, but even then I don't feel good about it.
But for all those that think tanking guarantees success, this is case in point number 1. Chicago is begging and praying that Bedard stays with them, who is also a multi injured asset. I would venture to guess there are way more flameouts of top 5 talents than there are successful top liners in the league. That bet would stink because raw numbers would obviously point to throwing darts at the rest of the draft. But these kinds of things are cautionary tales. Can you imagine if the Hawks threw a max at this guy right now?
Kind of disturbing. How did he hurt it to the point he needed surgery? A self-contact fall to the shoulder? Davidson is having a shitts summer - albeit a lot is on him with that insipid trade and sign of byram.
IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 18:29 pm
Kind of disturbing. How did he hurt it to the point he needed surgery? A self-contact fall to the shoulder? Davidson is having a shitts summer - albeit a lot is on him with that insipid trade and sign of byram.
IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 18:29 pm
Kind of disturbing. How did he hurt it to the point he needed surgery? A self-contact fall to the shoulder? Davidson is having a shitts summer - albeit a lot is on him with that insipid trade and sign of byram.
He was told no one offer sheeted him and he had to return to Chicago this year
Right and left shoulder injuries back to back before 21 just does not seem positive. You have to wonder is this his build or did they rush him into the NHL giving him less body/muscle development time. Either way I do hope this isn't a yearly trend.
callitwhatyouwant wrote: ↑08 Jul 2026 18:24 pm
I hate that he's hurt. I hate when generational talents go thru this kind of stuff and maybe never reach the level that they could be. I don't mind it's happening to the hawks, but even then I don't feel good about it.
Agree 100 percent.
Curious how EJ's career would have turned out without that darn golf cart.
