Around the League Thread Part III: Free Agent Frenzy Hangover

[KINGS17]

I'm lost, I thought we needed Eichel?

 

[Stimpythecat]

I'm lost, I thought we needed Eihel?

Fixed that for you.

 

[deeshamrock]

Nothing like some team bonding...

 

[deeshamrock]

The Sabres won't want to do that, but keeping the asking price insanely high is going to backfire unless they make a change like that.

They will continue to say that they don't have to move him, but his no trade clause kicks in after this year.

THey need move on...

 

[FSL KINGS]

The Sabres won't want to do that, but keeping the asking price insanely high is going to backfire unless they make a change like that.

They will continue to say that they don't have to move him, but his no trade clause kicks in after this year.

THey need move on...

Sounds like the agent is trying hard to get something done before the season. After the season starts & teams trim their rosters it seems like it will be more difficult.

Return for a player that won't recover past December or January, can't be good. Imagine being a gm trading a bunch of assets for Eichel to wait months before finding out what level Eichel will return to hockey at.

If the trade doesn't happen before the season Eichel might just be on IR all year & they can try next year. That isn't a great option & doubt trade value will increase much.

 

[Token]

Eichel can sit in Florida and chill, collecting his LTIR $10M payments all season …

… then on July 1st his $7.5M signing bonus gets paid by the Sabers …

If there ever was a time for him to go rogue, get his disk replacement surgery on his own, it would be July 2022.

If Buffalo terms him for breach of contract … so sad … he would be ready for the fall and plenty teams will offer him big ink, and the Sabers would have squat to show for it.

Adams might be all dick-swagger in the press, but he is truly holding the shit-end of the stick.

 

[kingsfan]

Eichel can sit in Florida and chill, collecting his LTIR $10M payments all season …

… then on July 1st his $7.5M signing bonus gets paid by the Sabers …

If there ever was a time for him to go rogue, get his disk replacement surgery on his own, it would be July 2022.

If Buffalo terms him for breach of contract … so sad … he would be ready for the fall and plenty teams will offer him big ink, and the Sabers would have squat to show for it.

Adams might be all dick-swagger in the press, but he is truly holding the shit-end of the stick.

Somewhat but not quite. If Eichel went rogue, Buffalo would likely save some salary for breach of contract but I don't know if that automatically guarantees he'd be released from his deal and can just go anywhere. Otherwise why wouldn't a Connor McDavid, Austin Matthews, etc. go rogue in their ELC's and then be UFA's to sign anywhere for big bucks? Also, as talented as Eichel is, he'd be walking out on $50 million or so still owed on his deal and he's not making that much back on any new deal fresh off a 2 goal in 21 games campaign and then missing a year while having a nasty divorce. Maybe he's fine with taking the hit to just go elsewhere, but he'd likely get a 2-3 year deal in the $7 mill range I'd assume. That's a big chunk of money to leave on the table if the contract gets breached.

As for a deal, if we were to go for him -which I hope we don't to be honest- I'd assume it'd be something like Kempe, Turcotte/Kaliyev/big name prospect not named Byfield, two 1sts and another lower level player (say Wagner) or a prospect/pick, and whatever cap dumps we can offer that they'd need to be cap compliant (Maatta), with the picks being conditional based on games played. If Buffalo makes picks conditional based on production they'd be dumb to do so. If a guy is healthy enough to play that should be all that matters.

 

[lumbergh]

Nothing like some team bonding...

Beats Coke and Molly for a pool party?

 

[Fishhead]

Somewhat but not quite. If Eichel went rogue, Buffalo would likely save some salary for breach of contract but I don't know if that automatically guarantees he'd be released from his deal and can just go anywhere. Otherwise why wouldn't a Connor McDavid, Austin Matthews, etc. go rogue in their ELC's and then be UFA's to sign anywhere for big bucks? Also, as talented as Eichel is, he'd be walking out on $50 million or so still owed on his deal and he's not making that much back on any new deal fresh off a 2 goal in 21 games campaign and then missing a year while having a nasty divorce. Maybe he's fine with taking the hit to just go elsewhere, but he'd likely get a 2-3 year deal in the $7 mill range I'd assume. That's a big chunk of money to leave on the table if the contract gets breached.

As for a deal, if we were to go for him -which I hope we don't to be honest- I'd assume it'd be something like Kempe, Turcotte/Kaliyev/big name prospect not named Byfield, two 1sts and another lower level player (say Wagner) or a prospect/pick, and whatever cap dumps we can offer that they'd need to be cap compliant (Maatta), with the picks being conditional based on games played. If Buffalo makes picks conditional based on production they'd be dumb to do so. If a guy is healthy enough to play that should be all that matters.

Another thing to consider with Eichel is if he did breach and get the surgery on his own, there would be a lot of uncertainty about any new contract with him. Teams would obviously be hesitant because there is no precedent with that kind of procedure and a hockey player, so certainly less $$$, but there are also the insurance companies. That is a ton of risk to an industry that is built on risk assessment. His current contract is already covered, but if he breached and had to sign a new one it would be difficult to find anyone to cover it.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Look at several recent cases where players had their contracts terminated.

Kovalchuk and the Devils mutually terminated theirs and Kovalchuk was in his 30s when it happened so well after his RFA years, yet the Devils still owned his rights for a full year when he attempted a comeback.

Voynov had his contract voided when he self deported instead of being officially deported. the Kings still owned his rights.

Something similar I think happens. The sabres would still own Eihel's rights.

 

[kingsfan]

Very true, that is possible if the player were the one to breach, the team could hold rights for a period of time determined by the NHL. I assume this 'who has the right to determine what surgery is done' issue will be addressed whenever they reopen the CBA if not sooner.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Contracts in general are also 'in good faith' so a player can't just breach his own contract in bad faith/intentionally to be freed. I imagine that's covered specifically somewhere, i.e. what rights a team will have over a player in case of contract termination (especially intentional breach).

 

[Nickster]

I was looking at the Maple Leafs scrimmage and noticed most of the familiar names in the "official" NHL.com stats. I knew Amadio was in training camp and wasn't surprised that he was not in the lineup, but then later while watching the hockey guy on youtube, I saw Amadio on the note board. Apparently he was wearing #18, and NHL.COM recorded all his stats as Marner. He had an assist on Bunting's goal, but still sucked at faceoffs. Muzzin had a goal and was first star of the game; Kings' castoffs fighting for roster spots.

Oh and TT had a goal too for MTL

 

[YP44]

Not sure why I care but the Devils have an unvaccinated guy who is a "prominent player", and I wonder who it is. Mostly from a gambling/fantasy POV.

'We hope to get it rectified': How the Devils are handling their unvaccinated player

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Not sure why I care but the Devils have an unvaccinated guy who is a "prominent player", and I wonder who it is. Mostly from a gambling/fantasy POV.

'We hope to get it rectified': How the Devils are handling their unvaccinated player

It's Mackenzie Blackwood.

 

[YP44]

It's Mackenzie Blackwood.

really. interesting. Go Bernier Go!

 

[Bandit]

Never trust a person with two last names.

 

[kingsfan]

I find it funny someone who has had pucks flying at their heads since the age of six would be worried about the risks of a vaccine.

 

[Bandit]

I find it funny someone who has had pucks flying at their heads since the age of six would be worried about the risks of a vaccine.

It’s well documented that goalies are f***ing lunatics.

 

[HookKing]

That forehead........

Can't imagine how that noggin might be having neck issues...

 

[kingsfan28]

I'm lost, I thought we needed Eichel?

Not at that price. The Sabers are trying to trade an badly injured player as if he's healthy and want the moon for him. any deal, the price has to come way down [ plus take back some salary]. Even if he's traded today, your not gonna see him for 6 months, this is if all goes right.

 

[DrHansReinhardt]

Just saw on THG that Travis Hamonic RD may opt out this season or retire. With LAs glut of RD maybe a deal can be made between the clubs. Blake should pick up the phone.

 

[kingsfan]

Just saw on THG that Travis Hamonic RD may opt out this season or retire. With LAs glut of RD maybe a deal can be made between the clubs. Blake should pick up the phone.

He pushed for a trade closer to home back in 2017 due to personal reasons (I believe the thought at the time was a sick family member) and he's stayed in Western Canada since so I doubt he has interest in coming to LA, or even the states (outside of maybe Minnesota).

EDIT: NVM, I misread, obviously you meant we send them a replacement for Hamonic and I'm just a dumbass.

 

[KingTech]

I think walker to van for Michael DiPietro and a 3rd would work for both teams.

 

[kingsfan]

I think walker to van for Michael DiPietro and a 3rd would work for both teams.

I'm not sure that helps us really. I like Dipietro but I'm not sure he's significantly better than other prospects we have coming up and would just add to the glut we have already. I'd rather let our kids play for the year and see where things sit at the end of the season first.