Countdown to July 1: NHL Salary Cap Numbers- Chicago Blackhawks

As the July 1 Free Agency period is quickly approaching, let's take a look at the current cap status of each team, and breakdown what they have, or don't have in terms of room to maneuver this off-season.

We will begin with the Cup Champs.

Chicago Blackhawks


Roster players under contract for 2010-2011*

Forwards:
Jonathan Toews $6.3m, Patrick Kane $6.3m, Marian Hossa $5.275m, Patrick Sharp $3.9m, Dave Bolland $3.375m, Kris Versteeg $3.083m, Dustin Byfuglien $3.0m, Tomas Kopecky $1.2m, Troy Brouwer $1.025m

Defensemen:
Brian Campbell $7.142m, Duncan Keith $5.538m, Brent Seabrook $3.5m, Brent Sopel $2.333m


Goaltenders:
Cristobal Huet $5.625

Roster Players Under Contract: 14
2010-2011 Cap: $56,800,000
2010-2011 Payroll: $57,598,003

Cap Space: -$798,003



Non-Roster players under contract

Forwards:
Kyle Beach $1.2m, Akim Aliu $845k, Ben Smith $812k, Brandon Bolling $545k, Jake Dowell $525k, Robert Klinkhammer $500k

Defensemen:
Kyle Stanton $897k, Brian Connelly $875k, Simon Danis-Pepin $850k, Shawn Lalonde $800k, Jonatha Carlsson $565k


Goaltenders:
Alec Richards $875k, Corey Crawford $800k

UFAs
Kim Johnsson, D $4.8m, John Madden, F $2.8m, Nick Boynton, D $1.5m, Adam Burish, F $700k, Kyle Greentree F $700k, Danny Richmond, D $600k, Jassen Cullimore $500k, Richard Petiot, D $500k, Mark Cullen, F $500k, Danny Bois, F $500k

RFAs
Andrew Ladd, F $1.6m, Jack Skille, F $1.3m, Ben Eager, F $1.0m, Nathan Davis, F $800k, Evan Brophy, F $800k, Antti Niemi, G $800k, Mike Brennan, D $800k, Colin Fraser, F $700k, Niklas Hjalmarsson, D $600k, Jordan Hendry, D $600k, Hannu Toivonen, G $600k, Jean-Claude Sawyer, D $500k, Adam Hobson, F $500k, Peter MacArthur, F $500k, Brian Bickell, F $500k

Analysis:
Fourteen players under contract and a cap number that starts with a minus sign!  Not good news.

The Hawks must make some trades to free up space.  Huet and Campbell will be candidates 1 and 1A to be moved, but it will be difficult considering their pay versus production.  We cannot see anyone being willing to take Campbell's $7m+ salary.  However, Huet could be moved to the right team, or at least be sent to the AHL where his money will be buried.

Without moving anyone, the Hawks have 7 roster spots to fill and no cap space.  That means more players besides Huet and Campbell will most certainly be dealt, and some of their RFAs will have to be moved as well.  Candidates for trade may include: Sharp, Versteeg and Byfuglien from the roster and RFAs Niemi and Hjalmarsson will be in high demand.

Barring some accounting miracles, there will be significant turnover on this championship roster.  Yet, the good news is that their core players are locked up for years to come.

* all cap numbers provided by www.capgeek.com