gcom007

What kind of crazy f***ed up world do we live in where Jonathon Ericsson is worth $3.25 million a year?

I'm not sure I'm wholly convinced that Jagr wouldn't be worth $4 million. I could see him putting up 25-30 goals and 70-80 points on this team playing with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen and hell, even Cleary and Bert to some extent. There are a lot of guys with good hands on this team that would only serve to benefit Jagr, just as Jagr would benefit them. He's not just a former star, he's a former superstar; a bonafide all-time great hockey player. Even slowed down by age, he's still likely to be capable of some real strong play and that could easily translate to a lot of points. That is, if he can stay healthy... There's the rub. But bottom line, if we were to sign him and he put up 80 points, no one would be complaining about a $4 million contract. And I believe the rumor of him taking a bit more time to talk to both teams. It only makes sense and doesn't seem like a rumor so much as plain common sense unless he's dead-set on Pittsburgh and fine with any offer at all from them.

Come on...as much as anyone can worry and speculate and feel uncomfortable about having Jagr on your team, it's impossible to not be somewhat excited about it as well. You're talking about one of the all time greats who has still looked good the last few years. And for either us or Pittsburgh, you're talking about playing him with a class of players that far exceed the quality of those found in the KHL. Jagr and Datsyuk??? Of course Lidstrom is excited! I get the reservations. I've got them too...plenty of them. But come on...anyone who says that there's not at least a small (or large) part of them excited about the possibility of Jagr as a Wing is lying. I don't know how people continue to think they can logically justify the idea of the Modano signing being a mistake when a freak injury wholly and completely derailed his season. It's getting way past fuzzy logic and heading straight into "stupid" territory. No, make that "stoopid" territory. That's right...with two "O's."

Unbelievable. Luongo is going to need a witness protection program if he can't pull off game 7. And at this rate, game 7 is set up to be insane. Boston should win this series. Tim Thomas isn't going to let up for game 7. No way in hell. He's the best goalie in the NHL right now and he's got a tremendous amount of composure. But... Unless Luongo really cracks under pressure (which he has numerous times), he'll likely bring his A-Game to to game 7. And it's in Vancouver! It's going to be absolutely insane...just insane. I'm a little scared of what will happen if it goes down, but what the hell, they deserve it... GO BOSTON!

Paul Bissonnette is riling people up on Twitter tonight, but Datsyuk's getting some love out of it. Maybe not the most new-post-worthy topic ever, but I don't think I ever cease to be amazed by how much respect Datsyuk gets. I've always loved the guy, but I don't know if as many people realized that he's one of the absolute best athletes out there right now until the last year or two. Everyone knows Crosby is a great player, but do nearly as many people respect and admire him like they do Datsyuk? I don't think so...and that truly is impressive. Anyways... "BizNasty2point0 Paul Bissonnette Can we get #HatingOnDatsyukIsLike trending?" https://twitter.com/#!/BizNasty2point0

I was just waiting for someone to bring that to the table...

I didn't forget about Franzen and Z, they're just givens considering they're already signed to lifelong contracts. I expect Howard to be a Wing for life unless his play tanks out of nowhere, though I doubt it'll happen after his outstanding playoff effort this year. Goalies are definitely in a different class though when it all shakes down.

http://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/2011/05/26/nhl-salary-cap-to-rise-players-association-faces-decision/ Interesting article for anyone who hasn't considered what the big issue likely will be heading into the next CBA negotiation.

I will...try...but I'm no expert and am not likely going to do a good job of explaining it in the clearest of manners. But here goes... The players share of revenue cannot be determined until a season is over, thus the cap is set for a given year based on estimates of what league revenue will be. In order to ensure that the players get their fair share, money is withheld from their salaries (around 18% recently) and placed into escrow to bridge any potential gaps you could say. At the end of the year they can then direct the correct amount of money back to the players and back to the league once total hockey-related revenue has been calculated for the season. The problem that's developed though stems from these front-loaded long term contracts because it's not a players cap hit that's accounted for when the owners are calculating salary expenses, it's the actual amount paid out for a given season. So when guys have a $5.5 million cap hit but actually are making $10 million that year, they're forcing the rest of the players to account for the amount of money paid out over their cap hit. Subsequently, the low to mid-tier guys who tend to have a cap hit demonstrative of their actual salary end up paying out a greater percentage of their salary than they otherwise would if all cap hits were comparable to players actual yearly salary. The easiest way to understand it is to remember the term that's been attached to these long-term front loaded deals: salary cap circumvention. In other words...cheating. You can't spend more than allowed on player salaries, and if you do, you've got to make up for it somehow, hence the need for the percentage of player salaries in escrow. As said, the cap number is based on an estimate of what the players percentage of total hockey-related revenues. So take a $60 million salary cap for example and recall the deal where a player has a $5.5 million cap hit but is actually making $10 million that year. Assuming that this player is the only player who has a salary different from his cap hit, at the end of the year, the team is actually spending $64.5 million on player salaries. Seeing as the cap and all hockey-related revenues are linked, once the books are done, it's quite likely that the players share of salary is in fact $60 million. So the amount the players receive back from escrow will usually not be close the amount that they had to put in. So again, the guys who really have to be upset are the low-level guys who won't have 10+ year NHL careers. They're giving up more of their money so teams can essentially "cheat" the cap and pay a star a lot more money then their cap hit suggests. As has been noted by some, in the later years of the deals, this is actually a benefit to those players if the long-term guys complete their contracts as the cap hit ends up being far higher than the actual salary, but again, this doesn't tend to help the majority of the average NHL players who may not even be in the league that long. I personally am not passing any judgements around. On one level, I think the NHLPA has only themselves to blame as they signed off on the deal knowing that escrow was in the cards. On top of that, the lower cap hits allow teams to be more competitive and role guys to potentially make a bit more money while playing for said competitive teams. None the less, this escrow thing is definitely going to be a major issue heading into the next CBA negotiation, and it'll be very interesting to see how it affects the future of long-term deals. I doubt anyone involved will be stupid enough to let it become an issue big enough to warrant worry over a work stoppage, but the days of signing guys with contracts like Zetterberg and Franzen will no doubt be over, and it's very likely that the NHLPA is going to make rather negative examples out of many of these guys who signed the long term deals in order to rally support within the union. Can't wait for that mess... This spells it out in more detail: http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=3266#more-3266

$4-4.5 million cap hit over a long term seems about right. He could get more on the open market but he'll stay here for a front loaded deal, no doubt about it. The reason he won't get more is injuries. Stuart I think will finish as a Wing for $3.5-4 million a year. He knows he's found his home in hockey here, even if his "home" will be in the west during the summer and when his career winds down. He wouldn't have signed his current deal if the West coast thing was a bigger deal to him than many try to suggest. Kronwall, Stuart, Eaves, Datsyuk, Cleary and most likely Helm will finish their careers as Red Wings.

No way he's done. I don't know why anyone's still even talking about it. Maybe next year, but no way is he done this year.

They don't come classier than Rafalski. That was an incredibly gracious announcement, refreshing to hear from a professional athlete. It's a bit sad to see him go, but I'm going to take his advice and be happy for him. He really loves his family and now he'll have a lot more time for them. He had a great career, and I'm glad he was able to play for the Wings and help us win a Cup.

It's fun to speculate about all the possibilities, but I don't think any of the more lofty ideas will come even close to panning out, and long term, it may be for the best. I expect them to sign Jovanoski to a 1 year deal and another couple low to mid-level guys to 1-2 year deals. They'll save the long-term cap space for next summer's more attractive free agent market, plus they'll get a better feel for who they need to get and how much they need to pay Stuart and Kronwall in new deals.

The phrasing "Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and Brian Rafalski will host a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the veteran defenseman’s future with the organization," is somewhat interesting. I too wondered for a brief moment if he wouldn't be considered for the assistant coaching job, but I'm highly doubtful. Wouldn't be shocked at all though to see him get some role in the organization. He's one of the best U.S. players ever, a local guy and he won a championship with us. Why not?

All I've got to say is "wow." Did not expect this at all. Rafi's been a great Red Wing and a huge part of our recent success. He was definitely taken for granted by many around here who couldn't get over their fantasy's of having $6 million to play with in cap space. To those people, news flash: it's going to be a whole lot harder to replace Rafalski than you ever imagined. Definitely sad to see him go, but I really appreciated him while he was here. It's always great to have hometown guys (Rafi actually went to my high school) return and win a Championship at that.

Someday. Not this summer. Not a chance.

We almost beat this team with numerous significant injuries. I doubt Z was 100% and at the very least had some rust to deal with starting out. Dats had the wrist issue, despite still being the best player in the series without a doubt. Franzen was just a mess. That's your 3 top offensive players dealing with injuries. Then you think about the fact that we did take it to game 7, and consider that in that game, already playing with no Franzen, an injured Datsyuk and maybe still an injured Z, you lose Cleary and Bertuzzi completely. And still, you're in the game to the final seconds and lose by one goal. Give me a break. The Sharks are living on a strong prayer named Antti Niemi and the Wings didn't have the firepower to finish them off. I have no problem admitting that the Wings aren't perfect and have problems, and I am probably one of the few here that genuinely respects and admires other teams in the league. But I won't for a second say that the better team won that series. I don't believe it at all. We had some bad luck with injuries...that were at times caused or exacerbated by Joe Thornton cheap shots. I'm not going to give my respect or props to the Sharks. They won, that's far more than they deserve for their efforts, and I don't think they'll get to 16, let alone 12. But we will be back.

My thoughts: As Good As Signed: Lidstrom, obviously. No way he retires. Not. A. Chance. Eaves is going to be a Wing for life unless he completely prices himself out of the possibility, which I really doubt will happen. He's thrived here and gets hockey tradition and he knows what it means to wear this jersey. I'm expecting a longer deal, 3-4 years at least if not more, and I expect he'll sign for around $1.5 million, give or take. He's still got lots of upside we've yet to see. On the Bubble: Salei signing again wouldn't shock me, but I wouldn't be shocked if he was gone either. Osgood wants to play and was strong in the backup role this year when healthy. But the health factor is everything and I don't expect anything to be finalized on the backup job until after camp unless Osgood decides he's done. If he's truly healthy, he'll be back. Drew Miller may be gone if the Wings don't assure him that he has a full-time role on the team. He's too good of a player to sit in the press box every other night and he knows it. If neither Draper nor Modano are brought back, I think he'll be a Wing for awhile. Most Likely Gone: Draper and Modano are most likely done. The only way I see them coming back is if we really struggle to find guys to fill out the team. Ericsson is likely to be gone as he'll likely chase money and I'm sure he'll find more than the Wings are willing to give. Joey MacDonald was fairly strong down the stretch when we needed him and might try to leverage that into more money and a legitimate backup role. I'm not convinced the Wings are comfortable giving him either. If no one bites though, he'll at least be at camp competing. Players Under Contract That Could Be Moved: ***Ultra-Speculatory Warning*** Filppula will be heading into the final year of a 5-year deal in which after every year the Wings were left waiting for the true breakout year. I'm not sure the Wings will be keen on signing him again at $3 million a year or more given this fact, so again, if the right deal came up, I think he could be dealt. He could make more money on another team and play a bigger role, and the Wings know this. They'll have to decide how much he's worth to them and if it'll be enough to keep him here once the current contract expires. I highly doubt it'll happen, but for all his brilliant flashes, he simply hasn't consistently been strong enough to consider the possibility out of the question. Hudler has been disappointing this year to say the least. If the right deal were to come up, I don't think the Wings would hesitate to move him. Then again, I don't expect it much at all let alone over the summer. If he has a descent start to the season and a good deal came along to make while his stock was up, he's gone. So long as he's here though, he'll continue to be given every opportunity to consistently realize his offensive potential. If he continues to struggle through next year with no trade, I can tell you one thing for certain: he will not be a Wing for the 2012-13 season.

He's the best player in the world right now. What else can you say? "Phenomenally great" is a phenomenal understatement.

Howard was nothing short of outstanding in the playoffs. Anyone who wants to try to take anything away from his performance is out of their damn mind. I didn't expect a performance like this in the playoffs until next year maybe. I thought he still needed a bit more experience to get his game to the level he did consistently, but man oh man, did he really rise above in surpassing what I thought were my reasonable expectations. Again, he was outstanding and I'm thrilled for him on an individual level. (I'm just copying what I wrote in the other thread as I figured it was appropriate for this thread as well...)

Howard was nothing short of outstanding in the playoffs. Anyone who wants to try to take anything away from his performance is out of their damn mind. I didn't expect a performance like this in the playoffs until next year maybe. I thought he still needed a bit more experience to get his game to the level he did consistently, but man oh man, did he really rise above what I thought were my reasonable expectations. Again, he was outstanding and I'm thrilled for him on an individual level.

I think it's hysterical. A lot of people need to lighten up.

I don't hate the Canucks, just like I don't hate the Sharks. I'm just consistently disappointed by them. Unlike many here, I really love good, strong competition. I don't like feeling like there's no competitive teams out there. But you look at the teams that have consistent regular season success over the years out of the West and the Wings are about the only one's that have gone the distance. Sharks? Canucks? They constantly blow it when it really matters. Even last year when they beat an injury-riddled Wings with a rookie goalie who didn't get playoff hockey yet, the Sharks blew it in the Western Finals. And how long has it been since the Canucks even made it that far? I just don't respect or really admire these flashy regular season teams that have no playoff legs. And I don't like Luongo. I think he's overpaid and overrated and he epitomizes everything that's wrong with teams like the Canucks and Sharks. When we play Chicago, I hate them with a tenacious passion, but at all other points in time, I respect them and even kinda like them. They're a team with heart and talent and I think they'll win another Cup sometime in the next few years. I appreciate the fact that they bring a legitimate challenge to the table that I think we'll be able to count on for some time. Again, I love the battle and the competition. It makes victories sweeter when they come our way. But so long as the Wings are healthy, I'm not intimidated by the Sharks or Canucks even a little bit. Not in the slightest. And even if they can fluke their way to a series win against us, deep down I know that they still won't go the distance and win the Cup, and that makes it all the more disappointing. I would love to be more scared of the Sharks or Canucks, because I'd like and respect them more as well because it'd be more fun to play them. But they just don't have what it takes year after year, and until they do, they're just annoying, overrated teams that will keep getting beat by supposed "underdogs" in the playoffs.

So happy with this period.

He'll be at camp no doubt but he'll have to prove he's healthy and capable. If he is, then good for us. If not, he had a hell of a profoundly underrated career. Simple as that.