Hawks are setting up for a wonderful camp 2011

With the recent departure of BRIAN CAMPBELL, TOMAS KOPECKY, and letting go of JAKE DOWELL, the Hawks are letting go of serious baggage.

I don't know what type of guilt trip Stan Bowman gave Dale Tallon, but the combination that Florida wasn't even going to hit the cap floor minimum, and the fact that he personally tied the hands of Chicago from competing by him oversigning Brian Campbell to 7.1 million, may have had something to do with it. But,...to have Tallon personally call Campbell and convince him to let go of his "non-trade" clause .........was genius.

Now, that unties the hands of the Hawks. But, wait,...there's more. Then to get more than a hand shake from Kopecky was amazing. He traded the rights to Florida ONE day before free agency for a 7th round pick (either 2012 or 2013). NICE !

Jake Dowell was only on the Hawks last year because they were tied up with the salary cap. His talent isn't NHL ready...at least, not good enough to be on the Hawks 4th line. Jordan Hendry I don't believe he'll be kept around either,...but if so, it's for league minimum.

With Mark McNeill eagerly waiting to come aboard, and even more so, KYLE BEACH is finally going to get his true opportunity to make the team, this means the Hawks can fill their roster with qualified personnel.

14million to spend,... They offered Campoli, Frolik and Stalberg conditional offers. They are all restricted free agents.

Here's the present roster as it now stands:

1) Toews,

2) Kane

3) Hossa

4) Sharp

5) Bolland

6) Bickell

7) Scott

8) Seabrook

9) Keith

10) Hjalmarsson

11) Leddy

12) Krueger

13) Smith

14) Crawford

If they can obtain Ryan Johnson for less than $800k, then do it. He's a good teammate and works hard.

15-18 ( I believe Stalberg, Campoli and Frolik will stay.....but here's to assuming, for the time being).

19. Salak as the back up........and Turco goes bye-bye.

20-21. Morin and Beach.........One or both come up.

22....here's to hoping Ryan Johnson decides to stay.

23. Heres to hoping Shawn LaLonde makes the squad as the last defencemen

20 players dress per game,.......12 forwards, 6 defencemen, 2 goalies

Scott and Johnson would flip flop in and out of lineup... Krueger and possibly Stalberg become interchangeable...

The Hawks may go after one player under the $1.5m range who could be a solid 4th liner with 'grit'.

However the Hawks decide to go here,...the good news is they aren't going to have to put people in the line-up strictly because they make less money. (e.g. Skille, Dowell, Pisani, etc...)