Confirmed with Link: Joni Pitkanen to miss entire 2013-14 season

[Boom Boom Apathy]

If this turns out to be a career ending injury, or at least the type of injury that keeps Pitkanen from playing how he played for us in the past JR might want to consider using his compliance buyout on him. It would be a shame, especially since Pitkanen is a very serviceable player and his contract is actually a steal for what he can bring to the table (based on other players contracts at least), but if he really can't get back up to 100% then we should just walk away and try to find someone to replace him, or perhaps upgrade.

My understanding is Compliance buyouts had to be executed in June 2013 or 2014. Since Pitkanen is a UFA after this season, a compliance buyout isn't applicable.

And Pitkanen's contract has been anything but a steal. Since he signed it, he's played:

30 / 82 games in 11/12
22 / 48 games in 12/13
??? / 82 games in 13/14

I realize the injuries aren't his fault, but in terms of what the Canes got vs. what they paid, it's a terrible deal.

 

[Oan]

Blame the NHL icing rule.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yeah, the compliance buyout windows are closed.

In any case, we are going to get LTIR cap relief so the buyout isn't really necessary.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Yeah, the compliance buyout windows are closed.

In any case, we are going to get LTIR cap relief so the buyout isn't really necessary.

And you can't buy out an injured player.

 

[The Saw Is the Law]

What if he retires? His cap would be 0 but won't receive salary?

 

[Joe McGrath]

What if he retires? His cap would be 0 but won't receive salary?

He won't retire, he'll just go on IR and collect his paycheck if he's too hurt to play.

 

[wolfofthesteppes]

Per JR there would be some cap relief and actual cash relief via insurance is he is out for an extended period.

Yes, there is some salary cap relief after a certain period of time, and insurance would pay for a portion of the salary as well, for actual cash relief. But at this point I am not sure exactly when that would kick in.

 

[urho]

Some guy at the Finnish hockey forum jatkoaika.com said that Pitkänen's wife is positive that Joni's career is over. If that's true, it's a really sad day for Hurricanes- and Kärpät-fan (Kärpät is Pitkänen's hometown-team) like me

 

[The Saw Is the Law]

Some guy at the Finnish hockey forum jatkoaika.com said that Pitkänen's wife is positive that Joni's career is over. If that's true, it's a really sad day for Hurricanes- and Kärpät-fan (Kärpät is Pitkänen's hometown-team) like me

And our national team. We would have only two NHL caliber defencemen for olympics, including Sami Salo...

 

[Gaps]

Some guy at the Finnish hockey forum jatkoaika.com said that Pitkänen's wife is positive that Joni's career is over. If that's true, it's a really sad day for Hurricanes- and Kärpät-fan (Kärpät is Pitkänen's hometown-team) like me

Oh ****. Would you mind giving the link?

 

[jeromeo87]

My understanding is Compliance buyouts had to be executed in June 2013 or 2014. Since Pitkanen is a UFA after this season, a compliance buyout isn't applicable.

And Pitkanen's contract has been anything but a steal. Since he signed it, he's played:

30 / 82 games in 11/12
22 / 48 games in 12/13
??? / 82 games in 13/14

I realize the injuries aren't his fault, but in terms of what the Canes got vs. what they paid, it's a terrible deal.

So there will be another Compliance buyout period in a year? Because almost $5 mil for Ruutu?.. Hm..

 

[urho]

Oh ****. Would you mind giving the link?

http://keskustelu.jatkoaika.com/showpost.php?p=4914494&postcount=50

If true, that's ****ed up. I can't believe this!

 

[Gaps]

http://keskustelu.jatkoaika.com/showpost.php?p=4914494&postcount=50

If true, that's ****ed up. I can't believe this!

Thanks! What makes me more nervous about this is that IIRC, Joni's wife is a doctor.

 

[Kentti]

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/09/04/3164511/decock-pitkanen-injury-may-have.html

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/jaakiekk...hl-puolustajan-uran-jatko-ratkeaa-maanantaina

A couple of links on the matter. Finnish link says that the fate of Pitkänen's career is resolved on Monday.

 

[bleedgreen]

Well that makes Monday a pretty big day. So we've got that to look forward to, which sucks. I've never been a fan of the guy, but I never wanted this. All that time and money spent on him, and we wouldn't get a thing back for it. We probably will just give his money to Faulk next year, and to replace him would take a top forward trade. Jr viewed him as our number one, and was desperate to get a guy of his level when we traded for him, and then we wanted suter on top of him. Curious to see where this goes long term if he actually retired after the season. Hate to see skinner traded just because we had to replace Pitts. Maybe the tlusty situation creates something.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Stephen Whyno ‏@SWhyno 2m
#Canes captain Eric Staal said he's very concerned about Joni Pitkanen, who had CT scan on heel. Worry is about Pitkanen's career.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

So Eric DOES care!!! LEADERSHIP.

Brings a tear to my eye.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Pfft...he only cares because he knows a large portion of the fanbase sees Pitkanen as lazy and unmotivated.

If Pitkanen's off the team, he can't fly under the radar doing the same thing

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Although without Chad 110% LaRose around, it could balance out.

 

[Ole Gil]

The moves for Sekera and Komisarek prepared the team for this. If they can pick up Hainsey or some other reasonable top 4 dman before the camp, the team may be better off this season over the long haul, as it will never be easier to get a suitable fillin than in the next couple weeks.

 

[bleedgreen]

A month ago we were wondering which contract would be moved to make way for the big pickup and Pitts was a favorite of more than one person. If we signed hainsey, then the world is ok. Hainsey would play a lot more and maybe have better chemistry with guys than Pitts did which would make us better than last season. We were likely seeing the last of Pitts this season anyway so if we sign hainsey, I'm ok with it other than we no longer will have money for morrow.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

True, a lot still depends on Komisarek regaining his form and the other guys staying healthy though.

Don't know a lot about his injury history, but Sekera seems to miss games every season with injury. Missed 11 games last year with various ailments, 13 games the year before, and almost half the season 4 seasons ago. Only time he came close to playing a full season was 76 games in 2010/2011.

Missing a few games here and there are normal, but they really can't afford any of the key guys to miss more than a few.

 

[DaveG]

Well, in all actuality money shouldn't be the issue there as long as we're not giving Morrow and Hainsey THAT much. LTIR will allow for an overage and Pitkanen was one of the contracts we had on insurance so the cash situation isn't going to be dire there. Essentially, unless he makes a miracle comeback in November/December, we're in a position where we will actually be able to add both with a comfortable cap situation:


Jiri Tlusty ($1.600m) / Eric Staal ($8.250m) / Alexander Semin ($7.000m)
Jeff Skinner ($5.725m) / Jordan Staal ($6.000m) / Tuomo Ruutu ($4.750m)
Drayson Bowman ($0.600m) / Elias Lindholm ($1.775m) / Brenden Morrow ($1.500m)
Nicolas Blanchard ($0.538m) / Riley Nash ($0.575m) / Patrick Dwyer ($0.900m)
Kevin Westgarth ($0.725m) /


Justin Faulk ($0.900m) / Tim Gleason ($4.000m)
Ron Hainsey ($2.000m) / Andrej Sekera ($2.750m)
Jay Harrison ($1.500m) / Ryan Murphy ($1.313m)
Mike Komisarek ($0.700m)


Cam Ward ($6.300m)
Anton Khudobin ($0.800m)


Buyout: Derek Joslin ($0.125m)
Retianed: Jussi Jokinen ($0.900m)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,225,833; BONUSES: $1,310,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $4,384,167

Only issue is that will put us at 49 contracts, I don't like being that close to 50.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Jiri Tlusty ($1.600m) / Eric Staal ($8.250m) / Alexander Semin ($7.000m)
Jeff Skinner ($5.725m) / Jordan Staal ($6.000m) / Tuomo Ruutu ($4.750m)
Drayson Bowman ($0.600m) / Elias Lindholm ($1.775m) / Brenden Morrow ($1.500m)
Nicolas Blanchard ($0.538m) / Riley Nash ($0.575m) / Patrick Dwyer ($0.900m)
Kevin Westgarth ($0.725m) /

Cam Ward ($6.300m)
Anton Khudobin ($0.800m)


Buyout: Derek Joslin ($0.125m)
Retianed: Jussi Jokinen ($0.900m)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,225,833; BONUSES: $1,310,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $4,384,167

Only issue is that will put us at 49 contracts, I don't like being that close to 50.

If that's your roster as listed above, it would mean that Gerbe, Palushaj, Boychuk, Dalpe, etc... all have to pass through waivers. I suspect that at least one of them might be claimed thus taking a contract or two off the books.

 

[tarheelhockey]

To CAR
Marc Staal

To NYR
Jordan Staal



Make it happen, JR.