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Canucks and Sharks plus LTIR info

January 20, 2011, 3:12 PM ET [ Comments]
Peter Tessier
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I missed the game in Denver due to a business trip in Edmonton which had me watching the Oilers-fugly. That's about it.

In respect to the Canucks tonight, there are a couple of interesting story lines as Kyle Wellwood makes his return to the NHL and plays with the Sharks against his old team for his first game back. Certainly an interesting way to make a return even though it had little to do with his decisions. Ben Eager comes into Vancouver too, another player who has some history with Vancouver. Although not a noted rival player, Eager was one of the Chicago Blackhawks who seemed to find a way to get under the skin of many Canucks players in the past two post seasons. Is that the 4th line attitude San Jose hopes to capture by trading a 5th round pick for him?

Last game, Russian hopeful, Sergei Shirokov scored his first NHL goal after being called up to the Canucks. Tonight he slots in on the 2nd line again with with Kesler and Samuelsson while Raymond stays on the 4th. No changes on defense either. The Canucks mounted a gutsy come from behind win in San Jose in the last meeting between the two clubs. With 3 losses in the last 4 games and two shut outs against them I anticipate a more focused and motivated Canucks team tonight. I think we can all agree that the entire roster being out for the optional game day skate today is a good sign.

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I tweeted two days ago about some information about LTIR which I received from a certain NHL executive. (hint- rhymes with Braley) Here is what you need to know about how the NHL deals with players on LTIR.

I asked the question as to how the NHL monitors and enforces eligibility for players currently on LTIR, and this was the response:

We regularly do independent examinations of players pursuant to the procedures set forth in the CBA.


The other question I asked was "If a team has a player they would like to return to the active roster, how long do they have to be cap compliant and what happens if they cannot be cap compliant?

Clubs cannot activate players unless or until they are otherside cap compliant. no LTI player is eligible to participate in a League game unless his team has sufficient Room[sic] to accommodate the injured player's salary.


So what does that mean when we look at the Canucks and Sami Salo? I see it this way: he cannot be activated until there is enough cap space. That's it.

The first question I asked myself when looking at this scenario is this: what prevents teams from leaving players on LTIR for cap reasons/circumvention?

I would say it would take a player of pretty low ethical standards to agree to be 'injured' to help his team. These guys want to play- they want to compete. What reason do they have to 'pretend' to be injured? I just see that scenario as highly unlikely.

From the answer it looks like the situation is designed to make sure a player is honestly injured to be on LTIR for the cap relief. It would also make sense that if a player were on LTIR and there was no cap space your penalty is that you can't activate him. For the Canucks it may be that case. Who wants Rome or Alberts over Salo?

Take the Philadelphia situation- does anyone think the Flyers wouldn't want Pronger back? Obviously if they had cap problems they would make room for him. It seems to me Vancouver would do the same should and when Salo becomes healthy. If he's ready to play and wants to play what does it say to him, let alone other players, about the team if you do not make space. A GM and team would lose a lot of respect and ability to attract players should they manage a player injury that way.

I know this doesn't answer all questions about the 'Salo Situation' but it clarifies a few and that's what I was hoping to do by contacting a definitive NHL source. Thankfully he had enough respect for Hockeybuzz and Eklund to answer.

One last thought on the recent Canucks-2 wins in 5 games streak for 5 out of 10 points. It's still a .500 point percent streak on the road. Currently sitting at 65 points and accounting for .500 hockey in points means a 100 point finish. Folks the sky isn't falling. It's the dog days of the NHL season and more than a few players are looking to the All Star break for some R & R. I'll be concerned if we see more outings like the Wild and Rangers games after the All Star break.

Enjoy the game!
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