mmamolo

Since it's been somewhat common place for it to happen no one can really complain. But at the same time, personally, I think if you have a contract with any team, anywhere in the world it should be honoured. An NHL contract shouldn't just stop you from being able to sign a contract with another NHL team. It should be representative of your commitment to play hockey for that particular team for the duration of your signed agreement. It shouldn't matter if you in the NHL, KHL, european leagues etc. A contract is a contract.

So are you saying that McCollum has only taken steps forward or are you saying that Larsson has taken steps backwards? I see what you're saying and I agree with you. Im jsut not sure why ppl dont mention Larsson more often.

I could see how a lot of ppl would view the KHL that way. At the same time however I could also see how if this trend continues that ppl's view on the KHL changes. At the end of the day ppl want to see good hockey and despite the loyal fans never leaving their teams that doesnt mean that the KHL wont gain momentum. Personally, as much as I love the Wings and wouldn't stray from them, I would watch the KHL if the quality of games was better than the NHL. I wouldn't stop watching the Wings, but I would watch two sick KHL teams play over Phoenix vs New York Islanders. My point is I, like a lot of fans, have allegiance to a team, not the NHL. If the KHL puts out a better product I could see myself tuning in to see what happens over NHL games I dont particularly care for.

It seems like a lot of ppl are already thining Howard won't work out before the kid has even played a game. Obviously, based on my previous posts in this thread, I know that it's possible he won't work out so there's nothing wrong in thinking ahead but I think we need to give the guy a fair shake before we pass judgment. Also, everyone seems to be talking about McCollum as the next big goalie prospect for us. Daniel Larsson had a solid year last year and looks like he'll only improve. Personally I would imagine that McCollum and Larsson will split time this season and we'll see who emerges as the true next goaltending prospect in line for motown.

Canadian spelling is always appreciated my friend

The problem I have with Shoreline, and it seems other do too, is the fact that the way he writes his posts he shows a disregard for other people's opinions. He comes across as though he is talkign down to you and that he values his own opinion far more than anyone else's. He doesn't express his opinions in a logical and uninsulting fashion. Instead, he gets on his high horse and tries to demean you and your opinions. Don't sweat it. Don't let his ignorance get on your nerves.

The Hawks have a very serious problem heading into summer 2010. Upcoming RFAs: Patrick Kane Jonathan Toews Andrew Ladd Ben Eager Colin Fraser Duncan Keith Niklas Hjalmarsson Antii Niemi Upcoming UFAs: John Madden Adam Burrish Aaron Johnson The Hawks have over $42M committed already to signed players (12) which leaves them with just over $14M in cap space. Andrew Ladd already makes $1.55M and will also want a raise. There is absolutely no chance the Hawks can bring back all of their big name unsigned players. Even if, for argument sake, that Kane and Toews would take a modest $4.5M/yr deal (which most likely it will cost them more) that leaves them with $5M to sign Ladd, Eager, Keith etc. Not to mention they'd still have to fill out the rest of their 22/23 man roster. I really think we might see a mass exodus of players from Chicago next summer. As some ppl have mentioned in this thread, summer of 2011 sees Brent Seabrook also become a UFA. Personally, I just can't see Chicago parting with either of Kane or Toews. I think Keith and Ladd are gone almost for sure.

I think you're right about Kindl. Im not really sure about Ritola but you may be right as well. Kindl's cap hit is 883k so ya shift 383k around in the D. But yeah whoever you chose to plug into the spots you just have to tinker with some numbers etc. But ya i think you're right

Assuming Lidstrom would come back at 5 it'd be tough to get all three D for 6M total. Especially considering it all depends on what happens with Lilja. Personally I wouldnt mind seeing Lidstrom at 5, lilja at a small raise to 1.4 and then a seventh d at .5 for a total of $6.9M for the three missing D. That leaves $9M for the remaining five forwards. It'd be great if Eaves works out ok and he gets $1M and then both Helm and Abdelkader get $1M each too. That leaves $6m for the remaining 2 forwards. Assuming you get 500k-$1M player to round out our third/fourth line you then have $5m left to divide up between a potential top 6 forward and soem remaining cap space. That's how I would probably try and work it out. That is of course assuming Osgood and Howard work out as a good goaltending combination. Actually, if our goaltending didnt work out and Hudler came back at a cap hit of $2.875M that would leave a little over $3.5M (6-2.875+.7) which includes Howard being off the books if he falters to sign a goalie. Any combination of this sort works out

Here Shoreline, even though I think you were being annoying in the Zherdev thread, here's a link to the Red Wings 30 in 30 article. It's really kind of boring though. Detroit Red Wings: 30 in 30

The only reason I 'targeted' Bettman was because I was responding to someone's post who asked specifically if Bettman could be blamed. I answered with saying he was partly to blame. As for why do we need to blame anyone at all? That's just ridiculous. There is a negative situation happening in the NHL and ppl are responsible for it. It's funny how the whole time you've been tryign to convince me that the players are to blame for this situation and now suddenly you're trying to hide behind an argument that says no one is to blame. If you've read my posts you would see that I have said the same thing from my first to my last message. If you want to say I toned it down that's fine. But in reality all I did was explain it with more detail and dumbed it down for you because it's clear you weren't understanding what was being said. Not blaming anyone for this situation is assanine, as are your responses throughout this thread. I have no problem with someoen disagreeing with me but when someone acts as thick headed as you have you're not worth the time or effort. The poster who suggested ignoring you hit the nail on the head. If you ever decide to contribute something worthwhile to a discussion then I'll respond to you. Until then good luck to anyone else who has to deal with your s*** because you're simply not worth my time.

Obviously Anaheim is going to want to keep HIller but with Giguere on the books for another year (after this year) at $6M+ it all depends on what Hiller wants. It's been said that Giguere is refusing to waive his no trade clause and with a sick kid I cant see that changing. If Hiller plays really well again this year and solidifies himself as the number 1 in Anaheim and then askes for $4M/yr on a new contract or something hwo can the Ducks devote over $10M for their goaltending, even if it's only for one year? But who knows, I'd probably want to keep him and somehow manage to get Giguere's number off the books. Personally, I really think Frolov would be a huge addition. I think he would instantly round out our forwards.

oh my god, man are you even reading my posts? I have said over and over again that i am not 100% blaming Bettman. I have repeatedly written that the Owners/GMs, players, and Bettman all have their share of the blame. Try reading my responses to your comments before you respond so argumentatively. I am not fully blaming Bettman for any of it. Im am saying he has his share, just like everyone else. If you can't understand that then there's nothing more I can do for you.

The Rangers would be forced to move players in order to pay him due to the salary cap which as I already explained Bettman, the Owners, GMs and players are all partly responsible for. The Rangers were forced to choose between signing Zherdev and moving other players or walking away from Zherdev. This is directly an effect of the cap. This is the entire point of this conversation. As I have already said it is not 100% Bettman's fault. I have already said that the players share some of the blame for demanding salaries. They share their portion of the blame too. I have already said this. I do not think that a player should be paid whatever he feels he is worth. He should be paid according to his market value which is determined through other contracts league wide. Look, at the end of the day all I have said is that Bettman shares part of the blame for this overall situation. Again, I have already stated that the players also share some of the blame. Why you're being so argumentative, I don't know. I have already agreed that Zherdev can sign wherever he wants, KHL included. But the Rangers choice to walk away from ZHerdev's awarded contract had 100% to do with the cap (which Bettman is part to blame for) and their standing within it (which their Management staff created).

Right on, thanks

Do you know when the current tv deal ends? I would imagine, coming out of a lockout, that the tv deal wouldnt be so hot but recent years should give the NHL some more bargaining power to ensure a more lucrative deal in the future.

I'm not saying Bettman is direcotly to blame for the Rangers walking away from Zherdev's contract as it was their choice. Im also not saying Bettman is to blame for Zherdev choosing to sign with the KHL, which he has every right to do. I'm just saying Bettman played a role in creating the current cap world and financial situation the NHL is in which. The financial position (team revenues, league revenues, and the cap) played a significant role in the Rangers choosing to walk away from Zherdev. Teams inability to pay players what the players feel they are worth and what the teams could financially afford (strictly from a monetary sense, not a cap sense) were factors (most likely) in Zherdev (and Hudler) going to the KHL (for supposed bigger pay days). Again, Bettman is not directly to blame but the cap world and financial situation of the league (which forced a cap into the NHL) is partly to blame for players opting for bigger paydays in the KHL. Reiterating from my previous post, all parties share some blame in the situation. The owners/GMs for over spending in the pre-cap world on players who did not deserve it (paying above true market value for players), players for going to the highest bidders and Bettman for bidding on behalf of the owners and over expanding thus creating more teams in financial dispair and having a smaller % of league shared revenues to each team.

Exactly. It should be a free enterprise. I think revenues generated by tv deals etc shoudl be split evenly across the board but teams that generate revenue from playoff home games, merchandise, ticket sales etc should have the ability to spend their money. That's why I would even be open to the idea of a luxury tax. Pro Sports should have systems in place to reward succesful franchises, not hinder them. THe deck is stacked against certain teams. Teams should be rewarded for drafting well with cap reductions in home grown talent/retention. Teams should be rewarded for ticket sales and playoff runs and should be allowed to spend their money.

Im not saying that at the time, with the given situation, that a cap wasnt the best option to undertake. I agree with you that it was absolutely necessary. But the point was that that situation was created in part by Bettman's overexpansion. By no means am I full out saying it is Bettman's fault the Rangers walked away from Zherdev's contract as when it coems right down to it it was the Rangers decision. What I am saying is that Bettman helped create this situation that played a large role in the Rangers decision. That is why I wrote that Bettman is partly to blame. In my opinion Bettman with his over expansion and into non-traditional hockey markets that couldnt, and are still having trouble, supporting teams created a league that didnt have the revenue to support itself. That created a situation where a cap had to be introduced. Now with the cap in place we have a situation where teams decisions to accept or walk away from arbitrators salary awards are largely influenced by the fact they must structure their team to work within the cap system. Again, this is a situation that Bettman (and the owners) helped create. So yes, I do think he is partly to blame. Not fully, but partly. I also think that the Owner's and GMs are partly to blame too. At a time when salaries were rising owners and GMs awarded and over paid players for their services, thus driving the market value of players up. Each year when a UFA gets overpaid it has a ripple effect throughout the league. Next year's crop of UFAs look at previous signings as benchmarks to determine their own market value and arbitrators do the same when awarding salaries. By over paying players and driving their market values up the Owners (who gave their GMs permission) helped cause the current situation as well. The players by no means are guilt free in the situation either. When players only look for the biggest pay day it hinders the whole system as well. Bettman, Owners, GMs, and players are all partly to blame. That previous post only asked if Bettman was to blame so I only commented on him sharing part of the blame. I just happen to think of all the parties involved that he carries the bulk of the blame.

I'd say he's at least partly to blame. Over expansion into non-hcoeky markets has caused financial perail for many teams which in turn had a negative effect on the overall league revenues and then created a cap. Due to the cap mid level NHLers aren't receiving the money they feel they deserve and are now migrating to the KHL. So yeah, in my opinion he definitely shares a large portion of the blame.

Or a Luxury Tax to give the big markets the ability to spend and the smaller markets could share in the Luxury Tax with the league to earn additional Revenue

Im not sure but does anyone know if the NHL has, or has discussed, introducing profit sharing throughout the league. Profit sharing through their TV deal would enable the cap to go up while giving smaller market teams money to spend and stay competitive. I would imagine Owners, of the big market teams, wouldnt be too crazy about Profit Sharing but if Im not mistaken I believe the NFL has it and it seems to work well. The league is constantly competitive and I never hear of serious financial problems for franchises. But then again, they actually have a lucrative tv deal.

There is no way there would be the money to resign LIdstrom and then sign both Kovalchuk and Hiller. I think you could possibly swing Lidstrom, Frolov and Hiller but even that would be a tough sell

Jokinen definitely isnt clutch, and of course money would be a factor, but he's always been counted on too much as a primary scorer. In Detroit, behind Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Franzen I think he'd fit well. But aside from Lidstrom I would want Frolov the most. I think he'd be a beast in Detroit. Plus, depending on our goaltending situation if you could get Hiller I'd be hard pressed to walk away from that (obviously assuming he has another good year this season).

Although Zherdev was signed to a KHL contract after the Rangers walked away from his contract and Hudler was signed before his arbitration hearing we should remember that the KHL wouldnt operate as a whole in this regard. Hudler signed with Dynamo Moscow while Zherdev signed with Salavat Yulaev. The two teams, although both from the KHL, may operate differently. So the fact that one NHL player was signed before his arbitration hearing and another signed after should reflect the way the two separate KHL franchises do business (at leat in this example), not how the KHL as a whole does.