The Official NHL Offseason (Cindy-free Zone) thread

[Suburban Rhythm]

OK, this exchange killed me...

Originally Posted by @Jeremy_Roenick

@luchador41 keep dating ur mom Nice picture

@Jeremy_Roenick You wanna compare something?

The ring on my mother's finger > The ring on your finger #NoCup #RingPluggedIntoMyEars

[Ronnie Dobbs3]

B's sign Bergeron, 8 years at 6.5 per

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

B's sign Bergeron, 8 years at 6.5 per

Good

[bbor]

I admire Russian hockey players for their skills.....but Kovy has proven (in my mind anyways) why i would never count on them to win a cup.It just means so damn much more to Canadian and American players.Give me players with heart,drive,and emotion over anything else any day of the week.

[ISiddiqui]

Because Russian hockey players didn't help the Red Wings win any cups in the 90s?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by bbor

I admire Russian hockey players for their skills.....but Kovy has proven (in my mind anyways) why i would never count on them to win a cup.It just means so damn much more to Canadian and American players.Give me players with heart,drive,and emotion over anything else any day of the week.

Thanks, Donald S. Cherry!

Come on now. I'd put Pavel Datsyuk's "compete level" (to use the parlance of our times) against any Canadian or American born player. Same with Vladimir Konstantinov. And Darius Kasparitis.

As for Kovy, the dude led all forwards in terms of ice time, in the entire league, by over 2:40 a game! He killed penalties, played on the powerplay. He did it all. He had all the heart, drive and emotion you'd want out of a player.

While Russian players do seem to be a bit more mecurial on average than North American or Canadian players, but there are plenty of very talented Canadian and American born players who have similar problems in terms of heart, drive and emotion. Isn't that basically why Tyler Seguin was traded? Same rumors around David Perron (now that he was traded) too.

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO

[sterlingice]

Love it

SI

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Agree

The KHL doesn't really care about straining relations with the IIHF. They don't care if Russian players are "trapped" in Russia...they want them there.

From a Devils perspective, they retain his NHL rights. I wouldn't want to be tied up in this mess long term, but this season...make it hell for him. Block every attempt to play ANYWHERE, especially the Olympics.

If he comes back, are the Devils still held to that contract? How do the Devils own his rights if the contract is voided?

Originally Posted by bbor

I admire Russian hockey players for their skills.....but Kovy has proven (in my mind anyways) why i would never count on them to win a cup.It just means so damn much more to Canadian and American players.Give me players with heart,drive,and emotion over anything else any day of the week.

A lot of Canadian and American players are lazy. I think the way Kovy went all out during the Devils' Cup run is a player I want on my team. Guy is a passionate player who wants to win. I never felt like he was a "lazy" player.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

LMAO

Is it just me, or did the Sharks delete their tweet to ESPN?

[bhlloy]

I think for the most part US major league sports fans just aren't used to not being the only show in town. It's probably very attractive for a lot of Russian players to go home and play less games and pay less taxes. Doesn't mean they all have to fit the stereotype.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Is it just me, or did the Sharks delete their tweet to ESPN?

It's still there. You probably have twitter set to show "No Replies". You can change this just above the timeline.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

If he comes back, are the Devils still held to that contract? How do the Devils own his rights if the contract is voided?

Sorry, wasn't aware at that point the Devils had voided the deal. They could have held the deal, and retained his rights.

I guess it was a 2 step process. 1, he retires, and the Devils agree to that. 2, they agree to void the contract.

However, before he returns now, he must receive an OK from all 30 teams. So, on the off chance he tried to return in a few years, why wouldn't 1 team block it just out of spite - Pittsburgh/Philadelphia, Boston/Toronto, Edmonton/Calgary, etc. Doesn't cost that team a penny.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Sorry, wasn't aware at that point the Devils had voided the deal. They could have held the deal, and retained his rights.

I guess it was a 2 step process. 1, he retires, and the Devils agree to that. 2, they agree to void the contract.

However, before he returns now, he must receive an OK from all 30 teams. So, on the off chance he tried to return in a few years, why wouldn't 1 team block it just out of spite - Pittsburgh/Philadelphia, Boston/Toronto, Edmonton/Calgary, etc. Doesn't cost that team a penny.

This is actually a really great system, and one that I wish all the leagues would implement. Makes the decision to retire actually...mean something.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Sorry, wasn't aware at that point the Devils had voided the deal. They could have held the deal, and retained his rights.

I guess it was a 2 step process. 1, he retires, and the Devils agree to that. 2, they agree to void the contract.

However, before he returns now, he must receive an OK from all 30 teams. So, on the off chance he tried to return in a few years, why wouldn't 1 team block it just out of spite - Pittsburgh/Philadelphia, Boston/Toronto, Edmonton/Calgary, etc. Doesn't cost that team a penny.

I actually should of phrased my question better in that is his current contract voided? Or the Devils can be on the hook if he decides to come back? If he comes back and gets the OK, does he become a free agent?

[Pyser]

the contract is voided

dunno if the devils hold his rights or not though

[claphamsa]

ITs official Kovulchuck has signed with St Petersburg in Russia.
I play hockey with a couple Russian "diplomats" and they were all pissed. They think hes just greedy and a bad example for Russians. They also said St Pete regularly pays people a month late since they have no money....

[Suburban Rhythm]

Reading at HF...

Kovalchuk remains "property" of the Devils, but the contract he was under is voided.

In typical NHL fashion, of course there is a goofy twist in here.

Should Kovy return, the Devils retain him by offering a "fair and reasonable Standard Player Contract." What constitutes a fair and reasonable SPC? I guess if NJ offers something Kovy doesn't see fit, it goes to an arbiter.

At that point, either he's a Devils asset, either under contract or "owned" similar to a QO to an RFA, and could be traded if he didn't want to play in NJ.

And, in order for all of this to happen, he must meet one of these criteria
1) plays no professional hockey for 1 year
2) receive consent from all 30 teams
3) return after age 35 (April 2018)

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

rumor is $15-20m per year on SKA contract

[claphamsa]

what is this HF?

[Suburban Rhythm]

HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

Trade news breaks there as it's happening. And some really knowledgeable poster.

You just need to wade through the other 90% to get to anything of value.

[claphamsa]

thanks. rampant posters just like here

[whomario]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

DOLA

Unless I missed something...has the NHL ever explicitly stated NHL players will be participating in the Olympics?

If the NHL wants to take a stand here, if SKA signs Kovalchuk...no NHL players. Which means no Ovy, Malkin, Datsyuk, etc for the Games in Sochi.

so how much money is "taking a stand" worth ? Don´t have any numbers here, but i imagine that a smart person with insight and knowledge of economics would rate the "future income due to lack of exposure and/or pissing of everybody else" as rather high.

Also: Is it a big topic here or in the media that NHL contracts are incredibly ridiculous by anyones standards ? I mean, a 12 year contract ? And you tell me there was a lockout just recently (and 2 in the last 8 years) and no one bothered to clean that up ?

I love watching hockey at the international level, but for various tiny reasons never got into watching the NHL (or domestic leagues over here), so it´s actually an honest question

[claphamsa]

they did clean it up... 8 year max, 7 in FA

[Pyser]

new division names:

atlantic
metropolitan
central
pacific

fun fact: none of the teams in the old atlantic division are in the new atlantic division (facepalm)

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Pyser

fun fact: none of the teams in the old atlantic division are in the new atlantic division (facepalm)

I saw the new names but not where the teams were slotted, and thought to myself how weird it's going to be for the Rangers to be in the Atlantic but see/hear about a "Metropolitan" division since that's a word I hear associated with the NY area so much.

So instead, my head will pick up every time I hear Atlantic.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Pyser

new division names:

atlantic
metropolitan
central
pacific

fun fact: none of the teams in the old atlantic division are in the new atlantic division (facepalm)

I am fine with these names. I mean after the whole Leaders/Legends thing in the Big Ten, my bar for divisional names is very, very low.

Though saying the "Metropolitan Division" is a bit of a mouthful. The Metro Division is Pittsburgh and then everyone else. The Atlantic should be pretty competitive.

[claphamsa]

Schedule is up. AVS come to DC when im in Sonoma.... lame.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Metropolitan Division ... srsly?

Did they ask the Big 10 to help them come up with something?

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Metropolitan Division ... srsly?

Did they ask the Big 10 to help them come up with something?

seriously, how hard can it be to screw up division names. this league is run by idiots.

[Pyser]

atlantic and eastern wouldve worked fine for me.

or, you know, honor tradition and history. but lets be realistic.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Pyser

atlantic and eastern wouldve worked fine for me.

or, you know, honor tradition and history. but lets be realistic.

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Metropolitan Division ... srsly?

Did they ask the Big 10 to help them come up with something?

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, I know this is a tempest in a teapot but I'm actually curious.

Saw the article today where the Bruins "Bieber-proofed" their locker room before his visit. When the hooha came in about logo incident in Chicago the espn.com (and some others) article mentioned how "Bieber should have known better" etc.

I may be Southern but I'm not exactly a complete hockey noob. I had a THN subscription for several years, I can still name a good portion of the initial Atlanta Flames roster and among my favorite calls in all of sports is Pat Foley (on SportsChannel Chicago, via the old school big ass satellite dish) screaming "Bannermannnnn !". I ain't Canadian but I think it's fair to say I'm above the curve in the U.S.

That said, in my entire life I don't think I've ever heard anything about the whole "don't step on the logo" deal until this Bieber stuff came up. Is it really THAT widely known & I'm just dim? Or is the "everybody knows that" aspect being blown out of proportion just because of the celebrity involved?

What say you FOFC, did everybody here know that unwritten rule already?

[Matthean]

If you want to make sure something isn't stepped on, don't put it on the floor.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Okay, I know this is a tempest in a teapot but I'm actually curious.

Saw the article today where the Bruins "Bieber-proofed" their locker room before his visit. When the hooha came in about logo incident in Chicago the espn.com (and some others) article mentioned how "Bieber should have known better" etc.

I may be Southern but I'm not exactly a complete hockey noob. I had a THN subscription for several years, I can still name a good portion of the initial Atlanta Flames roster and among my favorite calls in all of sports is Pat Foley (on SportsChannel Chicago, via the old school big ass satellite dish) screaming "Bannermannnnn !". I ain't Canadian but I think it's fair to say I'm above the curve in the U.S.

That said, in my entire life I don't think I've ever heard anything about the whole "don't step on the logo" deal until this Bieber stuff came up. Is it really THAT widely known & I'm just dim? Or is the "everybody knows that" aspect being blown out of proportion just because of the celebrity involved?

What say you FOFC, did everybody here know that unwritten rule already?

I knew about the rule. It's usually if you step on it, you get fined. There's always someone who either does it unwittingly or accidentally steps on it. I think for Biebs it was the fact that he was standing on the logo WHILE taking a picture of the Stanley Cup he didn't earn INSIDE in the locker room. I just think there were too many things going on there to earn him the derision he got.

So I dunno if it's a "commonly known" thing, but I had heard of it well before and when I first saw the picture, I too, was incredulous that he had the gall to do it and that he didn't have any handlers who could admonish him of his error.

Obviously if it's not Bieber, it'd probably not be "news" but...yeah...it was a rookie move, but I usually blame the handlers of these people when they do stupid stuff, because someone ought to have known better.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Okay, I know this is a tempest in a teapot but I'm actually curious.

Saw the article today where the Bruins "Bieber-proofed" their locker room before his visit. When the hooha came in about logo incident in Chicago the espn.com (and some others) article mentioned how "Bieber should have known better" etc.

I may be Southern but I'm not exactly a complete hockey noob. I had a THN subscription for several years, I can still name a good portion of the initial Atlanta Flames roster and among my favorite calls in all of sports is Pat Foley (on SportsChannel Chicago, via the old school big ass satellite dish) screaming "Bannermannnnn !". I ain't Canadian but I think it's fair to say I'm above the curve in the U.S.

That said, in my entire life I don't think I've ever heard anything about the whole "don't step on the logo" deal until this Bieber stuff came up. Is it really THAT widely known & I'm just dim? Or is the "everybody knows that" aspect being blown out of proportion just because of the celebrity involved?

What say you FOFC, did everybody here know that unwritten rule already?

When I heard about this it rang some faint bell, but it wouldn't really be something that I would think about it. I might have heard something about it during one of the 24/7 episodes or something.

It's all a bunch nonsense.

[bbor]

Hockey lore...never step on your logo...and never let your jersey hit the floor....2 golden rules of the locker room.

Respect your logo.

[Logan]

It was a minor theme in "Goon" too.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by bbor

Hockey lore...never step on your logo...and never let your jersey hit the floor....2 golden rules of the locker room.

Respect your logo.

okay, never new about the jersey thing

[Dr. Sak]

Meet Team USA's Head Coach and top 2 assistants for the upcoming Olympics.

[Fidatelo]

Jets re-sign Bryan Little for 5yrs/23.5m. At first blush this seemed about 1m/yr higher than I expected, but after seeing some comparables (Bozak, Gagner) it is perhaps in line with the current market. That said, Andrew Ladd must be pissed to see Little getting paid more than him. And this can only mean that Wheeler and Bogo are both probably going to average >5m/yr.

How are all of these teams going to stay under the cap in 3 years?

[Draft Dodger]

but the jester in the middle is Canadian, right?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Jets re-sign Bryan Little for 5yrs/23.5m. At first blush this seemed about 1m/yr higher than I expected, but after seeing some comparables (Bozak, Gagner) it is perhaps in line with the current market. That said, Andrew Ladd must be pissed to see Little getting paid more than him. And this can only mean that Wheeler and Bogo are both probably going to average >5m/yr.

How are all of these teams going to stay under the cap in 3 years?

Yeah, $4.5 - $5 million a year seems to be about the going rate for 20 goal/50 point centerman right now.

Based on most projections for "hockey related revenue", most expect that the salary cap will go up rather quickly over the next few (several?) years. At least that's what a lot of people are saying. If true, that salary floor will just keep going up and up and we'll be ready for another lockout once the current CBA is up. Like clockwork.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Jets re-sign Bryan Little for 5yrs/23.5m. At first blush this seemed about 1m/yr higher than I expected, but after seeing some comparables (Bozak, Gagner) it is perhaps in line with the current market. That said, Andrew Ladd must be pissed to see Little getting paid more than him. And this can only mean that Wheeler and Bogo are both probably going to average >5m/yr.

How are all of these teams going to stay under the cap in 3 years?

Sure they're spending $, but it's on their top players. After Wheeler and Bogo are signed (long term), the guy's they'll be signing after that will either be 1) coming off rookie contracts (Schieffle and Trouba) or 2) depth players who can be found in free agency.

The Penguins have a ton of $ tied up, especially at forward. But those guys are Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Kunitz, etc. Outside of Brandon Sutter on the 3rd line, and maybe Joe Vitale, none of the players who will be on the 3rd/4th lines this season will be here in 2 years.

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Yeah, $4.5 - $5 million a year seems to be about the going rate for 20 goal/50 point centerman right now.

Based on most projections for "hockey related revenue", most expect that the salary cap will go up rather quickly over the next few (several?) years. At least that's what a lot of people are saying. If true, that salary floor will just keep going up and up and we'll be ready for another lockout once the current CBA is up. Like clockwork.

And this.

The ceiling is going to be back over $70m if not in 14-15, surely by 15-16.

You really only need to worry about the cap dropping again in the 2023 season, after the owners need to roll back salaries again.

[Suburban Rhythm]

DOLA

Learned something today that I am both amused and baffled by.

In Pittsburgh, or more precise, South Hills of the city, there are 3 amateur/developmental squads. Pittsburgh Predators (the squad my son is in), SHAHA Panthers, and Mount Lebanon Hornets (Ryan Malone played there).

The Hornets cut John Gibson twice during his bantam/midget years, before he went to the OHL.

[miked]

I can't believe the Devils signed Jagr. Blech.

[Dr. Sak]

Ping SR:

Andy Delmore retires

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Ping SR:

Andy Delmore retires

An_y _elmore ...

He reached the peak of his career as a rookie in 2000 in that playoff matchup.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

Jets re-sign Bryan Little for 5yrs/23.5m. At first blush this seemed about 1m/yr higher than I expected, but after seeing some comparables (Bozak, Gagner) it is perhaps in line with the current market. That said, Andrew Ladd must be pissed to see Little getting paid more than him. And this can only mean that Wheeler and Bogo are both probably going to average >5m/yr.

How are all of these teams going to stay under the cap in 3 years?

And we have a winner!

Wheeler 6 years, $33.6 = $5.6m per

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

And we have a winner!

Wheeler 6 years, $33.6 = $5.6m per

It's nice to get Wheeler signed, but him making more than guys like Tavares and St. Louis is a bit of a stretch. That said, the Jets are in decent cap position and he is in the prime years of his career. If he can be a 65-75 point guy for most of that contract then I think it is worth it.