Flyers season ticket holder here… Was there to witness it. Good for you guys. I know how I'd feel if things were the other way. Its disappointing on my end, but exciting still… Great year.
However, the Hawks are in some serious cap trouble with those horrible contracts they handed out to Campbell and Huet. They have $57 million committed to 14 players (need 4 forwards, 3 defensemen, and Niemi's arbitration which will be huge). That, and Kane and Toews hit all of their bonuses, totalling about another $5 million that needs to go on next year's cap due to the bonus cushion. That puts them at $62 million committed to next year, and the cap is going to be $58.6. Even if they dump Huet and Campbell, that brings $12 million off the cap, but they then have to sign 4 forwards, 4 defensemen (one of them being good enough to be a top 4), and a back-up goalie, and they only have $8 million to do so… and that STILL doesn't include Niemi's arbitration salary.
Don't get me wrong, I'd trade the cap trouble and inevitable bad trades that are going to come for a Stanley Cup… just saying, they're not about to be the next dynasty or anything.