Welcome to NHL Network! We will be discussing potential free agents today, as well as our predictions for where said free agents will go.
We will first start off with superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who was traded from Atlanta to New Jersey because he wanted too much money for their tastes. From what I understand, it wasn't that he actually wanted that money, it was actually because he wanted out of the Thrashers organization.
My producer is telling me that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is about to make a big announcement. Let's cut live into the scene.
Bettman: It is my pleasure to announce that we have found a new owner for the Phoenix Coyotes and they will stay in Phoenix! Also, the Florida Panthers have a new owner, and they are expected to move to Hartford, making them the seventh current NHL team to currently play in Canada.
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More information will be in when we learn more.
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A change of plans. The NHL has announced that instead of the Panthers keeping their players, they will be able to keep five. Two forwards, two defensemen, and one goaltender. The average salary of these five players must be below $2.975 million, or $14.875 million in total. We cut live to Versus where Pierre McGuire and Gord Miller have their predictions on who the Panthers will keep.
Miller: Welcome to Versus! Pierre McGuire and myself, Gord Miller, are now going to make predictions on who the next team to be in Hartford will keep. Pierre, you first.
Pierre: *yelling while standing awkwardly close to Gord*It's pretty obvious that the Panthers are going to keep goaltender Thomas Vokoun, but the real questions lie for the skaters.
Miller: I agree fully with what you just said. Personally, I think that one of the two forwards they will keep is Stephen Weiss. While he is making $125,000 more than the average salary they can keep, He is just 27 years old.
Pierre: *still yelling while standing awkwardly close to Gord*I THINK THAT THEY WILL KEEP DAVID BOOTH. BUT WHO KNOWS, MAYBE THEY SURPRISE US AND KEEP A PLAYER LIKE RADISLAV OLESZ. HOW ABOUT DEFENCEMEN? MCCABE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE KEPT.
Miller: Bryan McCabe is an interesting player, but in all honesty, his salary is simply too high.
Pierre: *now is standing even closer*BUT DIMITRY KULIKOV WILL BE KEPT. THIS KID HAS AN ACTIVE STICK AND HE'S A MONSTER!
Miller: Why are you on my lap?
Pierre: Turtle, turtle
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Hello, and welcome to TSN. I am Darren Dreger and this is my new colleague, Colin Campbell.
So, Colin, why did you decide to take this job?
Campbell: Because the NHLPA filed a grievance... about me.
Well that suc...isn't good.
Campbell: At least somebody has some sympathy.
I'm just kidding. You handed out some of the worst suspensions of all time. Anyways, Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, has announced the last rules about this semi-expansion draft.
The Panthers can only draft one player from each team. This means that they can draft a player from the Ducks, like Luca Sbisa, but they cannot draft another player from them, such as Saku Koivu.
They cannot draft a player under the age of 20 from any team, nor can they draft a would-be restricted free agent.
A player with an overall of 85 or more cannot be drafted from any team, unless proper compensation is given. For example, to draft a player with 85 overall, Florida would have to give a similar type player with an overall of 80-84 and a draft pick (5th round for 84 ovr, 4th for 83, 3rd for 82, etc. etc.), or a player who is the same position (forward/defense, not RW, LW, C, LD, RD) with the same overall.
A player with an overall over 88 cannot be drafted, whether or not compensation would be supplied.
The Panthers cannot draft a player with an overall of 85 or more more than two times. The second time they draft a player with an overall over 85, compensation will be more. I will use the 85 overall example again. Instead of a 5th round for 84 overall, they would need to supply a third round draft pick, then a second for 83, and a first round pick for 82. If the player they are giving for compensation has an overall of 81, this year's first round pick and next year's third round pick will be surrendered. If the player has an overall of 80, this year's first round pick and next year's second round pick will be surrendered.
10-26-2010, 11:11 AM
