Around the League 45: The Stanley Cup is in God's Waiting Room

[Blueline Bomber]

While this is true, they could have just as easily come up with an exception that allowed him to stay on LTIR knowing that was the destination for him anyway. Instead, they'll get to operate without that, which is beneficial. It may not be a big deal compared to whatever BS they will inevitably cook up later this season, but it's not nothing. And when they've been allowed to get away with so much, it invites people to feel bad about what they're doing even at a time they should not.

Admittedly, I don't know the ins and outs of the CBA or NHL contracts, but I feel like it'd open up a MUCH bigger can of worms if teams were allowed to put a player on LTIR without the player being able to meet the requirements needed to qualify for LTIR.

Again, they were getting that contract off the books regardless. Lehner didn't pass a physical, he couldn't be put on LTIR because of that, that's grounds for contract termination. Once that contract is terminated, his cap hit is gone anyway.

The only thing that's changed after that is Vegas deciding that they still want to pay the remainder of his contract and how to accomplish that. That's what the "unique situation" that's being referred to is.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Admittedly, I don't know the ins and outs of the CBA or NHL contracts, but I feel like it'd open up a MUCH bigger can of worms if teams were allowed to put a player on LTIR without the player being able to meet the requirements needed to qualify for LTIR.

Again, they were getting that contract off the books regardless. Lehner didn't pass a physical, he couldn't be put on LTIR because of that, that's grounds for contract termination. Once that contract is terminated, his cap hit is gone anyway.

The only thing that's changed after that is Vegas deciding that they still want to pay the remainder of his contract and how to accomplish that. That's what the "unique situation" that's being referred to is.

If the league allows that without penalty I can see a lot of "injured" guys in the future magically not being able to qualify for LTIR and having their contracts terminated, but still getting paid out of a team's "generosity". Isn't this the equivalent to paying someone "under the table"? If the team is paying him anything, it should count towards the cap hit, LTIR or not. Otherwise what's to stop the "mutual termination" of a bad contract only for the team to turn around and pay them "out of generosity", thereby getting out of the cap hit?

 

[A Star is Burns]

Admittedly, I don't know the ins and outs of the CBA or NHL contracts, but I feel like it'd open up a MUCH bigger can of worms if teams were allowed to put a player on LTIR without the player being able to meet the requirements needed to qualify for LTIR.

Again, they were getting that contract off the books regardless. Lehner didn't pass a physical, he couldn't be put on LTIR because of that, that's grounds for contract termination. Once that contract is terminated, his cap hit is gone anyway.

The only thing that's changed after that is Vegas deciding that they still want to pay the remainder of his contract and how to accomplish that. That's what the "unique situation" that's being referred to is.

From what I remember reading, I thought he did not show for the physical. Failing the physical seems like it would be grounds to be on LTIR, and I'd assume he'd fail it since he was expected to be on LTIR again.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Admittedly, I don't know the ins and outs of the CBA or NHL contracts, but I feel like it'd open up a MUCH bigger can of worms if teams were allowed to put a player on LTIR without the player being able to meet the requirements needed to qualify for LTIR.

Again, they were getting that contract off the books regardless. Lehner didn't pass a physical, he couldn't be put on LTIR because of that, that's grounds for contract termination. Once that contract is terminated, his cap hit is gone anyway.

The only thing that's changed after that is Vegas deciding that they still want to pay the remainder of his contract and how to accomplish that. That's what the "unique situation" that's being referred to is.

Vegas gets a lots of stick (often legit of course) but I give them credit for paying Lehner here.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

From what I remember reading, I thought he did not show for the physical. Failing the physical seems like it would be grounds to be on LTIR, and I'd assume he'd fail it since he was expected to be on LTIR again.

Well, apparently the mental health issue and financial issue that Lehner is dealing with is a gambling addiction. Which means the less time he spends at or near Vegas, the better for everyone involved.

 

[Lempo]

Otherwise what's to stop the "mutual termination" of a bad contract only for the team to turn around and pay them "out of generosity", thereby getting out of the cap hit?

In this case the third party creditors of Lehner may be an extra bump on the road, because if he were to mutually terminate a contract worth millions of dollars expected to go towards paying him debts, that would in all probability raise the issue of "debtor dishonesty" or whatever the punishable crime is called in the Americas.

It's a bad look for the league too if a player defaults on massive debts amassed courtesy of his status of a NHL player and his team was perceived as a co-actor in facilitating that. I guess someone inventive left out of their money might even come up with grounds for a nasty lawsuit there. Vegas paying the full of his contract gets the team amd the league off the hook for the potential bad optics.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Well, apparently the mental health issue and financial issue that Lehner is dealing with is a gambling addiction. Which means the less time he spends at or near Vegas, the better for everyone involved.

Which is why it comes back to they could have decided to keep him on LTIR instead of forgiving the cap hit. If the expectation was that was where he was going to be anyway, and I've not heard differently, then keep him on LTIR instead of doing something that benefits Vegas. Again, not the end of the world, but there were other ways to look out for the player that didn't help Vegas.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Which is why it comes back to they could have decided to keep him on LTIR instead of forgiving the cap hit. If the expectation was that was where he was going to be anyway, and I've not heard differently, then keep him on LTIR instead of doing something that benefits Vegas. Again, not the end of the world, but there were other ways to look out for the player that didn't help Vegas.

Again, nothing unsavory was done to help or benefit Vegas here. Lehner failed to show up for his physical, he’s failed to show up to camp. His contract is null and void, as far as the league is concerned. LTIR was no longer an option. All of that is above board and something that all teams have done and used in the past.

The only difference between a usual contract termination and this situation is that Vegas wanted to continue to pay Lehner’s contract, for the benefit of Lehner. Well, also probably to avoid the bad PR of terminating the contract of a guy with massive gambling debts, I’m sure.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Again, nothing unsavory was done to help or benefit Vegas here. Lehner failed to show up for his physical, he’s failed to show up to camp. His contract is null and void, as far as the league is concerned. LTIR was no longer an option. All of that is above board and something that all teams have done and used in the past.

The only difference between a usual contract termination and this situation is that Vegas wanted to continue to pay Lehner’s contract, for the benefit of Lehner. Well, also probably to avoid the bad PR of terminating the contract of a guy with massive gambling debts, I’m sure.

I think to do this and make it not so sus, the contract should be terminated, Lehner announce retirement, and the team give him a contract as a "consultant" or something that covers what he was going to get paid. I think that would make the situation seem less cap circumvent-y.

Otherwise next year I can see a lot of teams "convincing" players on LTIRetirement, buyout candidates, or players with horrible contracts to not show up to camp, get their contract terminated, and magically have team generously decide to pay them anyway afterwards. Then the player can go get a smaller contract elsewhere and be getting a huge payday. Is that expensive for a team? Yes. But some teams can absorb that especially if it makes them more competitive.

 

[cptjeff]

I think to do this and make it not so sus, the contract should be terminated, Lehner announce retirement, and the team give him a contract as a "consultant" or something that covers what he was going to get paid. I think that would make the situation seem less cap circumvent-y.

Otherwise next year I can see a lot of teams "convincing" players on LTIRetirement, buyout candidates, or players with horrible contracts to not show up to camp, get their contract terminated, and magically have team generously decide to pay them anyway afterwards. Then the player can go get a smaller contract elsewhere and be getting a huge payday. Is that expensive for a team? Yes. But some teams can absorb that especially if it makes them more competitive.

That makes it much more circumventony, not less.

And I while agree that this could be a dangerous thing to allow, but that's why they're doing it as a one off with special permission from both the NHL and NHLPA rather than allowing this as a regular part of the rules. It's a one off and they're treating it as such rather than being hidebound to rules that don't fit this situation well. They should be commended for that.

 

[hurricure]

Buffalo starting life after skinner…playoff bound

 

[Derailed75]

Buffalo starting life after skinner…playoff bound

If the Oilers miss the playoffs thus year we will know poor Jeff has some bad juju hanging over him

 

[hurricure]

Noesen scores on Ukka Poopyer Pantaloons for first nhl goal of the season

 

[Unhinged Finn]

Noesen scores on Ukka Poopyer Pantaloons for first nhl goal of the season

Random Finn: It's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

HF26:

 

[Daeavorn]

Greg Wyshinski throwing some odd shade at Rod Brind'amour.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842273558283837635

 

[chaz4hockey]

Greg Wyshinski throwing some odd shade at Rod Brind'amour.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842273558283837635

He tends to be an arrogant arse.

 

[cptjeff]

The regular season officially started today, with the Global Series thing. Cool kickoff. Now, you schedule the rest of the games to start on Sunday, right? Take the Global Series hype and momentum into opening night for everyone else, right? Right?

Nope, Tuesday. 4 and a half days later. Fine, okay, stupid, but I'm sure there's some reason like wanting to have the global series teams flown back (...though why can't they just make that fight while everyone else is playing?). But since we've got that delayed regular season start, everyone else is playing on Tuesday or Wednesday for a big bang, right? Every team will play within a day of the start of the season? Get every fanbase involved and excited? Right?

Anyway, we don't play until next Friday. A full week after the NHL season officially begins. What the actual f***, NHL?

 

[A Star is Burns]

Greg Wyshinski throwing some odd shade at Rod Brind'amour.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842273558283837635

Wysh is a pretty big Devils fan, so it's not surprising he might throw shade at the Canes or Brindy. There are also plenty of people on this very board that have opined that we might miss the playoffs, take a step back, or are tired of Brindy and lament that we haven't won it all. I still like Wysh and it might be his genuine opinion, but I also know the source. I find him to be better at hockey related entertainment than providing unbiased hockey knowledge and prediction acumen.

The regular season officially started today, with the Global Series thing. Cool kickoff. Now, you schedule the rest of the games to start on Sunday, right? Take the Global Series hype and momentum into opening night for everyone else, right? Right?

Nope, Tuesday. 4 and a half days later. Fine, okay, stupid, but I'm sure there's some reason like wanting to have the global series teams flown back (...though why can't they just make that fight while everyone else is playing?). But since we've got that delayed regular season start, everyone else is playing on Tuesday or Wednesday for a big bang, right? Every team will play within a day of the start of the season? Get every fanbase involved and excited? Right?

Anyway, we don't play until next Friday. A full week after the NHL season officially begins. What the actual f***, NHL?

I've seen people make this complaint around online and I just can't bother getting worked up about it. They want to make these trips that the teams will want to go on and not seem like a huge competitive disadvantage. And while us hardcores will tune into a lot, these international games are largely for the international markets and markets of the teams involved. They are being shown only on NHL Network out of market if I remember correctly.

The big launch day for the NHL is going to be Wednesday and they always stagger when teams start. I guess you can make the argument for all teams playing opening night, but they always like to put a little shine on the Cup winner and the national broadcast partners want eyeballs on their games, not the openers for all the individual teams. They're doing the all teams played staggered night again at some point this year I believe, and I think that makes sense and works fine in place of doing it on opening night.

 

[Lempo]

The regular season officially started today, with the Global Series thing. Cool kickoff. Now, you schedule the rest of the games to start on Sunday, right? Take the Global Series hype and momentum into opening night for everyone else, right? Right?

Damn, should try to find the .ics file or somesuch again.

Preferably one with f***ers not having preset the 2 am alarms for me.