Around the League '16-'17 Other Teams' Free Agent Frenzy

[kovacro]

Get as much while you can. Your career can be cut short at anytime. I got no issues with someone trying to maximize their worth.

 

[kingsboy11]

They are both RFAs, so they have to sign something. The Edmonton poster is right in many respects.

Where are McDavid and Draisaitl going to go if Edmonton only offers 5 years to each player at a reasonable amount?

Some team going to send them an offer sheet? Edmonton, if they like the number, just says thank you very much for handling the negotiation and matches.

No offer sheet? The player sits until they sign a deal with the Oilers.

You don't want to have to play hardball with your star players, but some of these numbers getting tossed around (by their agents I would presume) are ridiculous.

They both holdout until they get the deal they want because 108 million over 8 years>34 million over 4 years.

You are absolutely right about these offers because they are ridiculous and hamper the team's ability to compete, but the players hold all the leverage. The Oilers are in the gutter without Draisaitl and McDavid and their agents know that. They will hold the Oilers hostage because they know Chiarelli and their Owners will eventually cave because they don't want to return back to what the organization was like without McDavid. And what if they get an offer sheet at a number they don't like? They let them go and collect the first round picks? Try selling that to the fans that spent 10 years being a laughing stock around the league and just lost their generational player.

Its the agent's job to get the best deal for his client, not the best deal for the team. It's up to the GM to figure out how to build the team around that deal. At least that's what the agent's perspective is.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

And when lockouts happen, owners start crying about losing money, yet they're the ones cutting the paychecks.

After so many lockouts, I have no sympathy towards the owners. They made their bed. I used to think the players were being greedy, but the foolishness displayed during this free agent frenzy has made me think otherwise.

Will never get over the WIld Gm at the time--was it Fletcher? forget--*****ing and moaning endlessly about money leading a lockout and then throwing money at Suter and Parise. That's when I started disliking their operation.

Why is a player or his agent under any obligation to take discounts? I don't understand that sentiment at all. This is a job. You maximize your earnings.

I don't blame any player for trying to make the most money possible. It's the GM's job to agree to terms or move on.

I agree, I guess I'm just musing aloud that more often than not its the agents and players that hold the leverage, not really making a value judgment on who is 'right,' though I guess me using the word 'blame' certainly looks biased. This all kind of stemmed from my original thought that Edmonton fans will start to really get upset at the organization as time passes without a McDavid signing no matter whose 'fault' it is.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Last offseason proves there will always be a dumbass GM to throw out a ridiculous contract to a player and drive up the market - nearly half a billion spent and committed.

 

[KINGS17]

And when lockouts happen, owners start crying about losing money, yet they're the ones cutting the paychecks.

After so many lockouts, I have no sympathy towards the owners. They made their bed. I used to think the players were being greedy, but the foolishness displayed during this free agent frenzy has made me think otherwise.

It's a 50/50 split. As a fan every time the owners get what they want in a lockout it is better for the fans as a whole. Say the owners want the elimination of guaranteed contracts in the next CBA. Tell me is it better watch the Kings pay Kopitar a cap hit of $10M in three or four years if he continues to play like a $5M player, or is it better to cut him and do something better for the organization?

I don't think we want to go back to the foolishness of Detroit buying guys like Hull and Robitaille, then putting them on the 2nd and 3rd lines.

With respect to free agency, out of 31 GMs you are always going to find an organization where an owner won't meddle and a GM is trying to save his ass, or is just plain dumb.

 

[KINGS17]

Why is a player or his agent under any obligation to take discounts? I don't understand that sentiment at all. This is a job. You maximize your earnings.

I don't blame any player for trying to make the most money possible. It's the GM's job to agree to terms or move on.

Who is to decide what a discount is in the NHL? Is it a discount when McDavid takes anything less than the max?

I don't think anything over $10M is a discount.

 

[Nizar]

Will never get over the WIld Gm at the time--was it Fletcher? forget--*****ing and moaning endlessly about money leading a lockout and then throwing money at Suter and Parise. That's when I started disliking their operation.

It was Wild owner Craig Leipold.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Every team in the west has improved this year. Dallas big improvements , Arizona, Calgary, it's going to be real tough to make the playoffs this year . Now I'm little worried .

 

[KINGS17]

They both holdout until they get the deal they want because 108 million over 8 years>34 million over 4 years.

You are absolutely right about these offers because they are ridiculous and hamper the team's ability to compete, but the players hold all the leverage. The Oilers are in the gutter without Draisaitl and McDavid and their agents know that. They will hold the Oilers hostage because they know Chiarelli and their Owners will eventually cave because they don't want to return back to what the organization was like without McDavid. And what if they get an offer sheet at a number they don't like? They let them go and collect the first round picks? Try selling that to the fans that spent 10 years being a laughing stock around the league and just lost their generational player.

Its the agent's job to get the best deal for his client, not the best deal for the team. It's up to the GM to figure out how to build the team around that deal. At least that's what the agent's perspective is.

This is why the owners are going to rein in their GMs in the next CBA, or stick it to the agents yet again. You can have your big contract, but don't perform and your ass is cut.

 

[KINGS17]

Every team in the west has improved this year. Dallas big improvements , Arizona, Calgary, it's going to be real tough to make the playoffs this year . Now I'm little worried .

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Still not sold on Dallas even though everyone is slobbering all over them.

Calgary has always been a great team and added some very good pieces. I don't trust Smith, but if he can keep his head screwed on they'll be dangerous.

If we're worried about Arizona we should start mock drafting 2018.

 

[Nizar]

This year GMs did not overpay a lot. Most contract have short length. They did overpay on own players.

 

[King'sPawn]

Every team in the west has improved this year. Dallas big improvements , Arizona, Calgary, it's going to be real tough to make the playoffs this year . Now I'm little worried .

Activity does not equal achievement.

 

[KINGS17]

Still not sold on Dallas even though everyone is slobbering all over them.

Calgary has always been a great team and added some very good pieces. I don't trust Smith, but if he can keep his head screwed on they'll be dangerous.

If we're worried about Arizona we should start mock drafting 2018.

You never know, but the Stars did solidify their biggest weak spot, which was in the net.

Right now I see the Pacific Division:

1. Edmonton / Anaheim
2. Anaheim / Edmonton
3. Calgary / San Jose
4. San Jose / Los Angeles
5. Los Angeles / Phoenix
6. Phoenix / Vancouver
7. Vacouver / Vegas
8. Vegas


Over in the Midwest Division Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Minnesota and Dallas are all better than the Kings and Sharks.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Seems like it's more and more likely a work stoppage will occur in a couple years. The signing bonuses some players got seem to indicate it.

Maybe hockey should go take elements from the KHL and other sports. Exclude 1 franchise player from cap considerations or a portion of his salary. KHL does 2 or 3 exclusions - not sure. Make the teams that franchise a player also pay that amount excluded to teams that don't use it - a tax like baseball and the nba. So budget teams can actually spend to the cap.

Change escrow. Instead of withholding, pay contracts full face value but this means at a lower team salary cap. At the end of the season, owners pay players whatever the difference is to get to 50/50. Base it on AAV of the contract - each contract $ gets x cents at the end of the year.

Do another free CBO.

 

[johnjm22]

The fact that AAV amounts are going up is a good thing. It means that the cap system is working properly.

Under the old CBA McDavid's new contract would pay him ~14M in real dollars but have a much lower cap hit.

It's actually good for the owners because I believe they're actually paying out less relative to revenue.

The fact that McDavid's contract is going to cause the Oilers to possibly lose some other players is a good thing. That's how is supposed to be. Not like before where Chicago was cheating the cap and costing ownership an arm and a leg.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Still not sold on Dallas even though everyone is slobbering all over them.

Calgary has always been a great team and added some very good pieces. I don't trust Smith, but if he can keep his head screwed on they'll be dangerous.

If we're worried about Arizona we should start mock drafting 2018.

I don't think anyone is worried about Arizona. I was just saying they're improving and headed in the right direction. I always have hope in the Kings because they're our team and I believe . But other teams are getting better. Dallas added Hanzal,Radulov,Methot,Bishop those are pretty big adds and Pitlick for bottom 6. Calgary has always been good indeed and look to be better this year. I just want one of Iaffalo,Kempe,Brodzinski to be a huge pleasant surprise for us this year.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The fact that AAV amounts are going up is a good thing. It means that the cap system is working properly.

Under the old CBA McDavid's new contract would pay him ~14M in real dollars but have a much lower cap hit.

It's actually good for the owners because I believe they're actually paying out less relative to revenue.

The fact that McDavid's contract is going to cause the Oilers to possibly lose some other players is a good thing. That's how is supposed to be. Not like before where Chicago was cheating the cap and costing ownership an arm and a leg.

Yep. It's working. It's just that other teams are finally entering 'the cycle' instead of being able to hide at the cap basement and strike.

There's finite cap space in this world and eventually all teams were going to have to answer to it.

 

[kovacro]

I could certainly see Edmonton and Calgary fighting for the Pacific crown. That Flames defense looks pretty darn solid. I think Smith will find success there.

 

[damacles1156]

Kings really needed a solid Third line Center.

I think Kempe is extremely overrated. Dowd is a bad 5v5 Center, Shore is more of a 4th line center right now.


Hope Kempe proves me wrong.

 

[damacles1156]

That Price contract.

WOW, You don't pay a guy 10m Cap hit, that will play the majority of his contract on the wrong side of 30 years old.

Price already has injury concerns as well.

That type of money should go to the McDavid+Draisaitl's of your team.

Honestly MTL should rebuild, they have no Center depth whatsoever.

 

[KINGS17]

The fact that AAV amounts are going up is a good thing. It means that the cap system is working properly.

Under the old CBA McDavid's new contract would pay him ~14M in real dollars but have a much lower cap hit.

It's actually good for the owners because I believe they're actually paying out less relative to revenue.

The fact that McDavid's contract is going to cause the Oilers to possibly lose some other players is a good thing. That's how is supposed to be. Not like before where Chicago was cheating the cap and costing ownership an arm and a leg.

This is true. Now when are GMs going to figure out you can't tie up 30% to 40% of your cap space in 3 or 4 players?

 

[damacles1156]

Erik Karlsson+ Drew Doughty, unless they both have a change of heart they are going to be 11+million dollar cap hits.

Quick's contract is looking like a steal.

 

[Kingsfan1]

Not 1 person on the main boards think the Kings will make the playoffs in their predictions . Time to prove them wrong boys ! Kempe is overrated in my eyes as well. I wouldn't be against trading him anymore . This year will prove a lot though. I just hope they allow kids to beat out players if they're playing better . Such as Brodzinski, Iaffalo etc.. beating out Clifford and Others .

 

[johnjm22]

Kings really needed a solid Third line Center.

I think Kempe is extremely overrated. Dowd is a bad 5v5 Center, Shore is more of a 4th line center right now.


Hope Kempe proves me wrong.

He shouldn't be in the NHL.

Rushing your prospects into the NHL because the big club is desperate is what crap organizations do. It's something I thought we got away from during the Lombardi years.