NHL Free Agency Starts Today

[mugs]

They need to close that loophole however

I agree, it should be closed. Something along the lines of making the cap hit the greater of the average value or the salary for the current year, but leave open the possibility of a gradually increasing contract by allowing a raise of maybe 20% a year while still using the average value. That way a front loaded contract would cost the team more cap space over the years than they're actually paying out, while a contract that increases each year would cost the same cap space as it does now.

Not saying that's a perfect solution, there may be a way to abuse that too.

I don't know all of the intricacies of the salary cap rules - if a team signed a player to a long front-loaded contract, then later in the contract the player signs an extension (or just a new contract?) with the team for a bit more money in the later years, could that have the effect of LOWERING the cap hit over the rest of the contract?

Example:

$10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m

12 years, 66 million = $5.5 million cap hit for 12 years

If after the first 6 years they signed a new contract for
$2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m
how would that affect the cap hit? Would it go down to $2 million? Or up to $6.5 million because of the original contract?

 

[Blackjack200]

I don't know all of the intricacies of the salary cap rules - if a team signed a player to a long front-loaded contract, then later in the contract the player signs an extension (or just a new contract?) with the team for a bit more money in the later years, could that have the effect of LOWERING the cap hit over the rest of the contract?

Example:

$10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m

12 years, 66 million = $5.5 million cap hit for 12 years

If after the first 6 years they signed a new contract for
$2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m
how would that affect the cap hit? Would it go down to $2 million? Or up to $6.5 million because of the original contract?

One point that I would make is that under the current CBA each successive year can't be more than 50% less that the preceding year. So in your example the contract would have to be somthing like:

$10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $6m, $4m, $2m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m

I'm not sure exactly how extentions work. I do know that every dollar that the team pays a player has to count against the cap somewhere.

 

[Dominato3r]

Canucks still haven't signed Mason Raymond. What's wrong with them? That guy is going to be a Zach Parise in a few years.

 

[sjwaste]

Bah I can't believe my team is paying Jody Shelley a mil.

 

[Blackjack200]

I know no one cares anymore, but I still do.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/report_kovalchuk_to_kings_over_again_47GGOzJym9x7leQJpsmdvK

Looks like the Devils may be the only team left willing to sign Kovy. Well, the only NHL anyway, which means the only team that will actually cut him a check on pay day.

 

[oogabooga]

Bah I can't believe my team is paying Jody Shelley a mil.

not great but not too terrible..

At least compared to the Boogaard contract

Free agency was so fun the first day... and now it sucks.

 

[AMDZen]

Looks like Kovalchuk to KINGS. Pretty much a done deal it sounds like

They are going to be the team in the west to beat next year

 

[Blackjack200]

Looks like Kovalchuk to KINGS. Pretty much a done deal it sounds like

They are going to be the team in the west to beat next year

Where do you see that? I don't see anything.

 

[mugs]

Where do you see that? I don't see anything.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/after-a-night-of-talksKovalchuk-to-KINGS-e4-seriously/1/29342

For what it's worth

Considering how this has gone, I'll believe it when I see it. Not that I'm holding out false hope that he'd sign with the Devils

 

[Elganja]

Hahaha eklund... it must be true because he broke the story... lol

 

[JohnAn2112]

Hey he upgraded to an E4 so it might happen!

Seriously though. I hope Kovy stays out of the West...especially out of the Pacific Division.

 

[Firsttime]

Another one of his rumors is that the Sens are potentially going to trade for Savard. Please God no don't let that happen. I do not want that contract, I don't know why anyone would want to touch it with a 10 foot pole. We have a decent team this year and a lot of cap space freeing up next year, I don't want to see that wasted on Savard.

 

[sjwaste]

Eklund throws so much shit at the wall, something is eventually bound to stick. I don't buy his rumors for a second.

 

[AMDZen]

Eklund throws so much shit at the wall, something is eventually bound to stick. I don't buy his rumors for a second.

Hahaha eklund... it must be true because he broke the story... lol

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/after-a-night-of-talksKovalchuk-to-KINGS-e4-seriously/1/29342

For what it's worth

Considering how this has gone, I'll believe it when I see it. Not that I'm holding out false hope that he'd sign with the Devils

I know if you only see that source, it looks bad given Eklund's rep - but trust me, its pretty much a done deal. I don't have a link or something I can give you because its a friend of mine. Or actually, I don't expect you to trust me because I wouldn't - you will find out soon enough.

 

[AMDZen]

Hey he upgraded to an E4 so it might happen!

Seriously though. I hope Kovy stays out of the West...especially out of the Pacific Division.

Actually he was the first to report the Buff, Sopel and Eager deal to Atlanta, before tsn, before sportsnet, before anyone. Dreger and Bob McKenzie even gave him credit.

But seriously, Eklund is not the source I am using. But again, I wouldn't trust me either

 

[Firsttime]

Are you like some kind of secret insider or something haha? I'm not arguing with you, I would totally believe he's on his way to LA. Just your reluctance to reveal your source is amusing.

 

[AMDZen]

Are you like some kind of secret insider or something haha? I'm not arguing with you, I would totally believe he's on his way to LA. Just your reluctance to reveal your source is amusing.

Its not reluctance at all. Its just a friend who lives in LA, his fiance works for the organization but she has a fairly minor role. Does that really make it much more believable? I doubt it. I just don't have a link or anything, obviously

Regardless, I believe it. Doesn't mean it will be a for sure thing but there are lots within the organization that believe its a done deal and thats good enough for me.

 

[Firsttime]

I mean, it makes sense. They love the big names in LA. It sells hockey. Their team might be decent right now, but it's superstar department is quite lackluster. Kovy makes sense. They can sign him without jeopardizing their core of players in the future if they get the right deal, and Kovy would get to play with Kopitar and a solid d to make him look good. Win/win in my book.

 

[mugs]

Edit: nvm

 

[FallenHero]

I agree, it should be closed. Something along the lines of making the cap hit the greater of the average value or the salary for the current year, but leave open the possibility of a gradually increasing contract by allowing a raise of maybe 20% a year while still using the average value. That way a front loaded contract would cost the team more cap space over the years than they're actually paying out, while a contract that increases each year would cost the same cap space as it does now.

Not saying that's a perfect solution, there may be a way to abuse that too.

I don't know all of the intricacies of the salary cap rules - if a team signed a player to a long front-loaded contract, then later in the contract the player signs an extension (or just a new contract?) with the team for a bit more money in the later years, could that have the effect of LOWERING the cap hit over the rest of the contract?

Example:

$10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $10m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m, $1m

12 years, 66 million = $5.5 million cap hit for 12 years

If after the first 6 years they signed a new contract for
$2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m, $2m
how would that affect the cap hit? Would it go down to $2 million? Or up to $6.5 million because of the original contract?

Contracts can't be renegotiated under the current rules. Once they are signed, that's it for that player sans a trade to change teams or performance incentives.

 

[Firsttime]

So according to TSN Markov became a Canadian citizen today. Seems like a good bet he plans on staying in Montreal for awhile. The Habs are quietly building a really solid team this off season it looks like. Too bad the Leafs had to screw the division over by giving Boston so much free shit .

 

[classy]

I was stunned by the Koivu contract.

 

[Firsttime]

It was slightly huge.

 

[classy]

It was slightly huge.

He is a 5 million dollar player tops. He should get about the same money as Kessler. And he isn't all the great of a defensive forward either, he's okay, but he is not a Pavel or Alfie

 

[Firsttime]

No Alfie, that's for sure haha. I'm not sure I would even say he's worth 5 mil in today's league. The guy gets 20 goals, but it would seem in order to maximize his skill he needs someone to feed, I have no clue who the frig that would be on the Wild, unless it's Havlat who can't stay healthy these days. He just doesn't strike me as the kind of player the Wild would want making top dollar. They have no franchise player.