Around the League 2018-2019 Part 3
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Sleeping Dog
Fan Since ‘68
Keith’s 5.5 cap hit has been great for the Hawks in the past, but these last few years will be painful. Seabrook’s contract was horrible the day he signed it. They’ll probably have to eat that one soon. Maybe they’re hoping for a compliance buyout with the next CBA.
Primakov!
Registered User
Those type of players set the ceiling, but the contracts that get handed out to the mid and low tier players sets the floor and I feel it has a bigger impact as everybody begins playing the "well if so-and-so got that much then I deserve this much" game and the market shifts.
I mean, just think about the spit take a lot of folks on this message board did when they saw how much Clifford and Lewis got paid for the roles they play on the team. Then you look at Vancouver signing very similar players in Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle for 1 to 1.5 million dollars more, moving the bar for 3rd and 4th liners upwards.
And when that happens the superstars want to get paid even more because they are so much better than the average player and it's only natural that they should be paid gobs more! Agents mop up tears of joy with $100 bills and fans are then left to facepalm as another lockout kicks in as owners with ink stains and carpal tunnel from signing checks talk about how the market is out of control and they need cost control measures...
KingsFan7824
Registered User
- Dec 4, 2003
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The problem with the cap is the floor. It forces teams to spend on marginal players, as they are usually the only players available, because not everyone is going to be either a $10m guy, or an ELC guy. If there was no floor, then you could squeeze the marginal talent more, their salaries would drop, leaving more for the actual talent a team has or wants.
You can also say the problem with the cap is the cap itself. Let owners spend as much or as little as they want. If a franchise can't sustain itself in a given market, wherever that market is, then it needs to either move and go away. Nothing personal, just business.
You can also say the problem with the cap is the cap itself. Let owners spend as much or as little as they want. If a franchise can't sustain itself in a given market, wherever that market is, then it needs to either move and go away. Nothing personal, just business.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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I knew this is where you were heading. If you want the NHL to contract down to around 24 teams at most, and for most teams to never have a shot at winning a Stanley Cup, this is a great idea.
Let's go back to the days of the two biggest spenders in the Western Conference (back in the day Colorado and Detroit) being the only playoff series worth watching, uh no thanks.
The NHLPA doesn't want that, and neither do the owners.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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Some in Toronto are pretty confident about the Marner situation.
Bourne: Marner’s not leaving via offer sheet, buyer beware...
This is all about negotiation and the Leafs letting him go through this RFA song and dance is basically just calling his bluff and diminishing his leverage. That the Leafs have made some noise about potentially letting him walk if he does sign an offer sheet should be enough to put the fear of blowing all that into him. The Leafs just do not seem afraid that the player is dumb enough to forfeit the whole What Could Be scenario. He’s not walking away for what could be a couple million a year up front and a tarnished legacy at home. He’s just not.
Bourne: Marner’s not leaving via offer sheet, buyer beware...
This is all about negotiation and the Leafs letting him go through this RFA song and dance is basically just calling his bluff and diminishing his leverage. That the Leafs have made some noise about potentially letting him walk if he does sign an offer sheet should be enough to put the fear of blowing all that into him. The Leafs just do not seem afraid that the player is dumb enough to forfeit the whole What Could Be scenario. He’s not walking away for what could be a couple million a year up front and a tarnished legacy at home. He’s just not.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
It's funny to see how many Leafs "reporters" are really just diehard fans.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I love Bourne's takes and writing 99.9% of the time...this is the .01% that absolutely sucks. Grade A pandering to the lowest common hardcore denominator that cannot admit that other teams exist in the hockey universe and suggest that Marner would be lucky to get 7.5 x 4 just to stay with such an all-time team.
I would even say 24 teams is very optimistic. The NHL isn't popular like the NFL or the European soccer leagues where billions of dollars rather than millions are distributed. The NHL numbers last year were way bigger than usual recently because of expansion, and there still were teams that struggled. Each team got close to $17M in expansion fees in 17-18, but if you look at operating incomes only 14 of the teams made at least that much in profit. There's a huge gap between team value in the NHL, it's very top heavy.
It's also like this in many of the European soccer leagues, but most of them have a much different system with relegation and promotion where you can pay less for a roster in a lower division while your team tries to rebuild.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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I have seen the relegation and promotion system suggested by some (mostly European I presume) NHL fans. How does that work? If a team were relegated, does that mean they miss out on a team like Colorado or Tampa coming to town during the relegation period?
If so, I don't think American fans would buy in to that at all.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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I am not an expert on the Leafs, but it looks like Dubas did okay with the Kapanen and Johnsson contracts.
This puts the pressure on Marner's agent. Toronto now only has $7M in cap space. Dubas has moves he can make to free up some cap space to be sure, but he also has a lot of depth up front.
Dubas also has the possibility of picking up four 1st round picks along with $7M in cap space to get a slightly less talented player than Marner, or help his defense.
We can assume Toronto will attempt to trade Zaitsev ($4.5M cap hit), but they have to fill that hole. I guess they could rush one of their young defensemen on an ELC into the lineup, and see how it shakes out. I still think they will be trying to sign Hutton as well.
Definitely an interesting off season already in Toronto.
This puts the pressure on Marner's agent. Toronto now only has $7M in cap space. Dubas has moves he can make to free up some cap space to be sure, but he also has a lot of depth up front.
Dubas also has the possibility of picking up four 1st round picks along with $7M in cap space to get a slightly less talented player than Marner, or help his defense.
We can assume Toronto will attempt to trade Zaitsev ($4.5M cap hit), but they have to fill that hole. I guess they could rush one of their young defensemen on an ELC into the lineup, and see how it shakes out. I still think they will be trying to sign Hutton as well.
Definitely an interesting off season already in Toronto.
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Toronto could trim some more fat by trading Connor Brown's deal (2.1 million). I thought the Devils might be interested since Brown grew up in the same neighborhood as Jack Hughes when they were younger. So it might be a bonus to have a familiar face to help navigate the off ice stuff during Hughes' rookie year. Brown would fill a need as a bottom six RW as well.
deeshamrock
Registered User
NOt just that hole on D. Hainsey is gone and Gardiner on his way out. That's experience exiting, you can fill all the holes with kids. They don't have $$ for upgrade at D without moving somebody else out, unless they find a trade partner. Still rumors Nylander might be moved.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
Free agent Dion Phaneuf: ‘One bad year is not going to define me’
One bad year? Try your last three and I might be generous in that estimation.
Free agent Dion Phaneuf: 'One bad year is not going to define me' - Sportsnet.ca
One bad year? Try your last three and I might be generous in that estimation.
Free agent Dion Phaneuf: 'One bad year is not going to define me' - Sportsnet.ca
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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I tend to agree. At this point Nylander is the odd man out, if they give Marner what he wants. I already assumed Gardiner and Hainsey aren't returning to Toronto.
deeshamrock
Registered User
LeBrun says that the Bolts are very interested in Pavelski. With all the contracts they have to sign, where is that $$ coming from
Also, he said the Leafs called the Bolts about Stralman but the price was too high
Also, he said the Leafs called the Bolts about Stralman but the price was too high
deeshamrock
Registered User
Friedman thinks the Leafs offered Marner 2 yrs, 8M per , with the thought that the CAP will go up a lot after that for the next contract.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
They have a couple in house options to promote this season in Borgman (24), Rosen (25) and American Born Teemu Kivihalme (24) who they signed recently from the Finnish League (Karpat). He played college hockey for Colorado College.
I'd assume two of these guys find themselves on the NHL roster come opening night. Remember that Dermott will be out for some time to start the season.
deeshamrock
Registered User
I wonder if that was the player referenced as 'too high' when Dubas called the Bolts about Stralman.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
Must of been during the season or maybe at the draft (negotiating rights) as Stralman is a UFA on July 1.
Can't imagine the rights to acquire him to negotiate a contract would be very high. Likely something along the lines of the Kevin Hayes deal.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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Forgot about Dermott being out, thanks. A lot of work to do on the back end for Toronto.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
riznat
Registered User
Forbort and Clifford for nylander even though I don’t even like nylander after last year and yes I know Dubas wouldn’t do it
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