ogreslayer

I've seen multiple mentions of KHL clubs preparing to offer BIG money to keep NHL players through the season. Would they dare break the transfer agreement they have with the NHL? I'm not so sure that they wouldn't for players like Kovy or Ovechkin.

As a counterpoint... What the NHL will do for fans. Jack & squat.

On the topic of buy-outs but from other teams, wonder if this will force the Islander's hands: Arthur Staple‏@StapeNewsday #Isles news: L. Visnovsky has decided to stay in Slovakia for the rest of the season, via his agent. Statement to come. https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday/status/288408359785345024

Really it should be halfway in & halfway out.

I barely want to think about that, let alone post about it here, for fear of jinxing it.

I assume that whoever said Brunnstrom just confused him for Brunner.

To show a long term committment & desire to resign him in the offseason, I think the rotating third A ends up on Flip. Wouldn't be surprised to see it on Cleary either though.

Might all depend on whether Kenny gets Flip, Howie, & Brunner resigned & who gets bought out from other teams but I don't see Kenny being a big UFA player, especially when it comes to the forward ranks. The need is going to be on D if White & Kindl aren't re-signed. Looking through the UFA list for after this season, I don't see any names that should take big money to sign, that is again unless a big name gets bought out. As it stands now, the Wings aren't looking bad at all with roughly $20m in cap space going into this next offseason.

Buy-outs can't be done until after the 2013 season. At that point, both Sammy & Colaiacovo will be in the last year of their deals at $3m & $2.5m respectively. Tootoo will have 2 years left at $1.9. Given the years remaining, buying out Tootoo makes more sense but it's not like he's costing the Wings a whole lot at $1.9. Personally, the only possible buy-outs I see are The Todd and/or Carlo if their health goes south this year. From a long-term cap flexibility standpoint though, the ones that would really make sense are Hank, Mule, & Kronner actually, but I don't think any of those (including Franzen) will happen.

I've heard the same thing. I think Pavel prefers to be the sneaky "Understands more than he lets on" type of guy when it comes to the media.

Thought I saw somewhere that Homer & the family were going to stay in the Detroit area once he's retired. I'm hoping he takes over Murph's job between the benches on FSD broadcasts.

But if he truly is going to be an upgrade over Hudler, how many more hookers can he handle at a time compared to Happy? That's the question I want answered.

And being waiver eligible yet, it wouldn't shock me at all if he was kept in GR. Not that I endorse it, but I wouldn't be too surprised by something like this up front if Kenny doesn't somehow pull off a deal that sends some forwards out before the start of the season: Mule-Dats-Bert/Sammy Brunner-Hank-Flip Cleary-Helm-Bert/Sammy Tootoo-Abby-Miller/Mursak/THE Cory F'n Emmerton On the back end, I personally wouldn't mind seeing something like this... Kronner-Smith Ericsson-White Quincey-Carlo/Kindl

Given where the Wings are cap-wise for 2013-14 & the amount of young forwards they have ready to contribute, I doubt Kenny uses either of his 2 buy-outs. The bigger question is which UFAs/RFAs come back. FA's in 2013-14: Filppula (UFA) Cleary (UFA) Brunner (UFA) Nyquist (RFA) Miller (UFA) Mursak (RFA) White (UFA) Kindl (RFA) Smith (RFA) Howard (UFA) Edit: Who I think will be back in bold

Hurry, somebody wake up Blueadams right now. We need 10 line combo threads....stat! Have to wonder what a truncated training camp's going to do for the young forwards i.e. Brunner, Nyquist, Mursak, & Emmerton (maybe throw Tatar on that list too) and whether they'll get a fair shake at breaking the lineup coming out of camp or if Babs decides to stick with more seasoned NHL vets. I actually wouldn't be too shocked to see Nyquist remain in GR. Also wonder if Homer calls up Kenny wanting another go given the shortened season. All will be answered soon enough now I guess.

Can't say it's 100% certain until it's signed, but it is under negotiation as part of the next CBA. Latest word was that the NHL had thrown in an extra buyout per team (up to 2) that could be done prior to the proposed cap drop to $60m for 2013-2014.

I would highly doubt that. I would think the buyouts would work similar to last time. Players that get bought out won't be able to turn around and re-sign with the same team. Edit: FAQs on the 2005 buyout process from NHL.com How long does a Club have to exercise a compliance buyout? There will be a six-day period commencing on July 23, 2005 and ending at 5:00 p.m. ET on July 29, 2005 during which Clubs may terminate and buy out player contracts. Can such a player, who is bought out pursuant to this procedure, be re-signed by the Club that bought him out? A player that has been bought out during the compliance buy-out period cannot rejoin his old Club during the 2005-06 season.

I typically find that one is better off not underestimating the stupidity of other people. If they prove to be more intelligent than I give them credit for, so be it.

Oh if only the irony of Minnesota having to buy out Suter or Parise would happen.

The comments I've seen on the proposal hint that the extra "round" would be a play in game or shortened play-in series (best of 3) for the bottom two qualifiers. The winner of the play-in then would take on the #1 seed.Edit: So in essence, they're taking the new wild card format from Major League Baseball.

How about the rest of the KLM line, Vladimir Krutov & Sergei Makarov, joining The Professor & in their prime to boot?

Wouldn't doubt that at all. Hasn't he made some noise about going back to Europe if he doesn't crack the Wings lineup in the recent past?

I could get behind some Dr. Steve Brule in a shootout

Arguing just to argue? It seems this thread as turned into the actual CBA talks then.

Maybe in one of these?