egroen

A healthy fine would discourage such tactless comments in the future, but the fact is Avery just handed them a very nice ratings boost on a silver platter and the NHL was too stubborn or clueless to realize it. With the crap that goes on with players from the other (much) more popular sports, I'm ok with an off-the-cuff tasteless comment every once in a while in the NHL. In fact, I am desperate for it... the canned "awww shucks, they sure played a great game" interviews drive me crazy.

I remember reading that Claude Lemiuex would have been the oldest player to ever play in the AHL, so....

If you have ever been in marketing or even taken a marketing class, you would know the first people you need to market towards in order to grow your business are your existing customers. I typically only watch the Red Wings, but if I know the Bruins are playing the Canadiens or the Penguins are playing the Capitals or the Flyers, I'm going to try and catch it because I know those will be exciting games. Football games attract tons of viewers that are fans of other teams.

The Bertuzzi incident was a freak accident, but an exciting rivalry was budding there. Was March 26, 1997 good for the sport? Go to any NHL forum and take a look at all the "I was going to watch that game" posts. Yes, "sloppy seconds" would have reeled them in... I think that is obvious

I'll say "can play" if it makes you feel better. Samuelsson is good defensively.

Completely agree. Most people I talk to that do not like hockey consider it boring, hard to follow and just do understand the rules or players' last names. Perhaps there are some soccer moms out there who consider hockey players "talentless thugs" but I don't think that should be the NHL's target market anyways. I do not live for fights and I am not pounding on the walls demanding the Red Wings ice multiple enforcers, but I would have watched this game. God forbid something happens to inject some excitement into a game that would normally be watched only by the two teams' fans actually playing. Fine Avery for being classless, but this would have been one of the most watched games all year and the NHL really blew it.

But... THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! Dallas actually already had one of their defenders, Janik, playing forward.... that's a rough suspension to an already depleted team, two hours before the game.

* Ok, maybe I added the last part.

Bettman is just pissed he did not follow the script he was provided with: "Calgary's a great team and we know they are really going to come out motivated."

And Holland could argue it's best to take that money now, before Obama's tax increases go into effect!

I'm curious if the suspension will be closer to Pronger's 6th and 7th suspensions, in which he received one game each for elbows to heads - or if it will be closer to Pronger's 8th suspension in which he stomped on a prone player with the blade of his skate and received an 8 game suspension. Is the comment "sloppy seconds" closer to head-hunting or stomping in terms of crimes in the NHL?

ESPN just cancelled their contract talks with the NHL

The NHL is pretty stupid. I was going to go out of my way to watch this game... not now.

You're really annoying! I am interested in the future of the team, and do not want to be disappointed and in shock when all the players are not back next year. If some of them can be brought back, it is interesting to me to consider how it might be done. So of course: stay out of these threads in the future.

stevkrause: You are already at $55 million with only 20 players (assuming Samuelsson, Maltby, Hudler and Chelios are all gone).

That's funny, they censored "sloppy seconds": http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=258171&amp...os=topStory_nhl

Contracts can no longer be renegotiated. The reason a front-loaded contract might apeal to Zetterberg is because he can take the extra money up front and invest it over the life of the contract and earn more than the real contract value. Or he could follow McCarty's advice and double it at the casinos overnight I just think if Franzen hits free agency it will be a frenzy. Could you imagine him on Crosby's or Malkin's wing? Franzen will need at least $4 million a year to stay with the Wings and will command upwards of $5 million or more in free agency. Ryan Malone received $4.5 million and I think most can recognize Franzen is a much better all-around player. If Holland wants to keep him at a discount I just think he needs to get creative, as well as take a risk. But Holland has not been much of a risk taker so far, so he might not even consider such an option.

It will also depend if Zetterberg would consider a front-loaded contract. For instance: 10 10 8 6 5 4 4 3 = $6.25 million cap hit This has him under contract until he is 36. Would Franzen? 6 5 4 3 2 2 1 = $3 million cap hit Under contract until he is 37. This is the direction I think Holland is going to have to go in order to get creative.

Because that is a good price for him... he could get more. He plays on the PP and PK, is "gritty" and in addition to a very successful playoff run last year he is on pace for 70+ points this year. Cleary has shown a lot less and got $2.8 million - and the only way he accepted such a low salary was if it included a no-trade clause.

PROBIE4PREZ: You only have a 21 man roster. You need at least one more. And with both Leino *AND* Helm you also only have 21 players.

I personally feel the only way Franzen stays is if Filppula is traded (and obviously Hudler and Samuelsson leave). As for the thought Zetterberg should be making what Datsyuk is ($6.7 million): 1) Zetterberg is a far better player today than Datsyuk was when he signed. A Conn Smythe and Selke nomination are nice bargaining chips. 2) When Datsyuk signed the cap was at $44 million, and Datsyuk's salary was over 15% of the salary cap. I have Zetterberg signing for a very nice home-town discount of the Lidstrom cap at $7.45 million - which is only 13% of the salary cap today.

Samuelsson plays on the penalty kill just as Cleary and Fillpula do and is more of a regular on the power play than they are. He has also been producing a lot more points than either of them. The fact Holland, with all his "magic", signed Cleary and Filppula for around $3 million tells me we will most likely see the better player, Samuelsson, give a home-town discount for close to the same. Even if Holland printed up a transcript of LGW.com and used it to bring Sammy's value down to $2 milion, that is only $1 million you have freed up. What does that do for you? You could let Kopecky go and afford Leino, which would not be bad at all.

I posted this because many fans do prefer to live in a fantasy land where Hossa, Franzen and Hudler will all be on the team, but many might also be curious if it is at all possible. For those inquiring minds: it is not. I challenge anyone to create a viable team that includes all of them. Sheesh, you want not only Hossa, Franzen and Hudler but also Sammy and Leino! This is the team I am expecting for next year, and if Holland can work some magic and make it a little bit better, I am going to be pleasantly suprised.

The Black Hawks Winter Classic jerseys are about ten times nicer than their third jersey (which is still a lot better than a lot of the other third jerseys).

CBA Article 50.7 50.7 "100 Percent Rule" for Multi-Year SPCs. The difference between the stated Player Salary and Bonuses in the first two League Years of an SPC cannot exceed the amount of the lower of the two League Years. Thereafter, in all subsequent League Years of the SPC, (i) any increase in Player Salary and Bonuses from one League Year to another may not exceed the amount of the lower of the first two League Years of the SPC (or, if such amounts are the same, that same amount); and (ii) any decrease in Player Salary and Bonuses from one League Year to another may not exceed 50 percent of the Player Salary and Bonuses of the lower of the first two League Years of the SPC (or, if such amounts are the same, 50 percent of that same amount). Front-loaded contracts are becoming popular, and in addition to the obvious salary cap help, it gives the GMs a bit more leeway towards the end of a contract. For example, a player with a salary like this could be easily traded to a cash-strapped team with plenty of cap room. It's also nice for the player because with interest, they can earn more with a front-loaded contract than with the same amount of dollars paid each year. Holland will have to get creative with them if he wants to keep two of Zetterberg, Hossa and Franzen. All these guys are around 30, so it would make sense.