The only way that there will be more offer sheets, is if the compensation for them is lowered. The reason for the huge contracts that are given for offer sheets is because 1) you have to make it high enough so the other team doesn't match, and 2) The lenght has to be worth giving up 4 first round picks.

If the compensation gets cut in half, then things will be very interesting. Especially with some like Weber who is in their last year of RFA.

What does Nashville do if the flyers offer a 1 year deal to Weber for the max allowed. Do they take 2 first rounders, or do the match and get only 1 year out of him, knowing full that they can't trade Weber during the year, and that he will be a UFA at the end of the year.

Toronto doing a frontloaded, long term contract? Yeah, OK, when I win two straight lotteries and get a date with a hot Hollywood actress. Brian Burke will never do that. He has ethics. Of course his ethics run counter to what most of the large market teams GM consider ethical. He's ruined the Leafs, because he can't compete with the teams that will offer such terms.

I'm not taking this sitting down and might soon start putting in my $0.04...
- Flyfreaky

Hahaha...I see your $0.04 and I raise it a Buffalo Nickel and a Wheat Penny

They just don't seem to be able to nail down the guys they want. I believe this is part of the way the CBA is working. Players are staying with their original teams and not moving as easily. And, the new CBA will add even more restrictions.
- spatso

They're not gonna get everyone they seek out, but they continue to try to improve their team by doing some bold things...Wouldn't you agree?

Eklund: Could These Players be 2013 Offer Sheet Candidates?
- Eklund

I think once the new details of the CBA are worked out you will see a lot of these guys extended.

You dont have alot of the really big names?

Giroux
Eberle
Hall
Seguin
Lucic

I think the discussion is entirely upside down. Money is cheap today at 3%. So, as long as an ownership group can guarantee a loan there is no risk to a franchise losing any player they really want to retain. Franchises like Phoenix and New Jersey cold be in trouble if they are "technically" insolvent by being in default on any obligation.

The cost on $10m is only $300k. per year to accelerate the payment. The actual cost can be reworked in a new capitalization of the team finances. Most people don't understand that the Predators are much stronger financially because of the Weber deal and the changes it has caused in the capital structure of the ownership. People don't need to know the details of how it is done. Buffalo went from a non player to a big time player with the recapitalization of the team around Pagula.

The only teams that are vulnerable are the teams hard against the cap. I thought somebody would spot the Flyers weakness and make an offer to Voracek while the Weber offer remained outstanding. I believe that the Flyers are vulnerable for a couple more years. The guys that the Leafs should target are Giroux, Schenn and Couturier who come due at the same time.

Before that, Boston needs to make some moves or run the risk of losing Seguin.

Easy enough to understand the future. Ottawa paid the 21 year old Karlsson close to $7m for 7 years, no fuss, no mess, just do it. I assume a similar offers are coming for Pietranelo and Ekman-Larsson.
- spatso

I think Voracek was aware of the Flyers plans and was willing to wait. I'm not sure he would have signed an offer sheet before knowing the outcome of the Weber situation. Also, i highly doubt the Flyers will ever allow Giroux, Schenn or Couturier get to the point were they could be screwed by an offer sheet. That's not how the Flyers do business so please get any thoughts of Claude Giroux on the Leafs out of your head.

Hahaha...I see your $0.04 and I raise it a Buffalo Nickel and a Wheat Penny
- HopintheCordoba

I can't compete with that...$0.04 is my absolute ceiling...

I think Voracek was aware of the Flyers plans and was willing to wait. I'm not sure he would have signed an offer sheet before knowing the outcome of the Weber situation. Also, i highly doubt the Flyers will ever allow Giroux, Schenn or Couturier get to the point were they could be screwed by an offer sheet. That's not how the Flyers do business so please get any thoughts of Claude Giroux on the Leafs out of your head.
- NickTheKid87

Oh c'mon! You're clearly underestimating Burke and Holmgren's relationship! Kadri, Kulemin, Leopul and a 1st should be able to get Giroux, Voracek, Couturier and a 2nd! Play ball here!

They're not gonna get everyone they seek out, but they continue to try to improve their team by doing some bold things...Wouldn't you agree?
- Flyfreaky

There not getting anybody and they have lost guys this year (jägr, Carle). People don't want to believe this yet but signing advantage has shifted to mid market teams like Minnesota and Tampa thare able to strategically target re rudiment of players.

I hate the Yanks but they have been a very well run organization. They spend tons of money on talent and more often than not they put a great product on the field. I would think the St.Louis Cardinals get an honorable mention too. But nothing comes close to them.
- glove_was_stuck

Yankees compete and win, because the have a luxury tax system, that lets them spend to the max! All they have to do, is match dollar for dollar, once they hit the luxury tax limit. YES has money to burn, so the Yankees can cherry pick talent, when they need it. Teams like the Pirates, Marlins, Astro's, plus 20 other teams, survive on revenue sharing. Put in a hard cap, or eliminate revenue sharing and see where the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and Rangers go.

I can't compete with that...$0.04 is my absolute ceiling...
- Flyfreaky

Well if you pay $0.27 now---your overall cost of our conversations will be relatively inexpensive at $0.04. Do you really want to miss out on such quality?

There not getting anybody and they have lost guys this year (jägr, Carle). People don't want to believe this yet but signing advantage has shifted to mid market teams like Minnesota and Tampa thare able to strategically target re rudiment of players.
- spatso

Nah, it's just a blip...I don't think the Flyers really cared about losing Jagr and Carle or they would have done more to keep them...They have things going on that we can't even begin to imagine...

Well if you pay $0.27 now---your overall cost of our conversations will be relatively inexpensive at $0.04. Do you really want to miss out on such quality?
- HopintheCordoba

Yankees compete and win, because the have a luxury tax system, that lets them spend to the max! All they have to do, is match dollar for dollar, once they hit the luxury tax limit. YES has money to burn, so the Yankees can cherry pick talent, when they need it. Teams like the Pirates, Marlins, Astro's, plus 20 other teams, survive on revenue sharing. Put in a hard cap, or eliminate revenue sharing and see where the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and Rangers go.
- PrinceLH

I don't fully disagree with you, but its a fair system. Pay with money you make. Maybe stick with hockey eh?

I think Voracek was aware of the Flyers plans and was willing to wait. I'm not sure he would have signed an offer sheet before knowing the outcome of the Weber situation. Also, i highly doubt the Flyers will ever allow Giroux, Schenn or Couturier get to the point were they could be screwed by an offer sheet. That's not how the Flyers do business so please get any thoughts of Claude Giroux on the Leafs out of your head.
- NickTheKid87

Understand, don't disagree. But, make no mistake the money the Flyers will need to pay out is going to be very substantial. The Flyers are going to have to pay out big bucks for Hartnell. They cannot risk that he is next summers Carle. The reality is that the Flyers have been one of the losers in this summers signings. They are at risk again over the next couple of years.

Nah, it's just a blip...I don't think the Flyers really cared about losing Jagr and Carle or they would have done more to keep them...They have things going on that we can't even begin to imagine...
- Flyfreaky

Jagr had a nice season--sort of---you guys were a jumping off point. He has been, and always will be about the $. I have that on several reliable sources, aka former teammates that were expecting, not suprised by, him going for the $ and not staying in a better situation in Philly.

Understand, don't disagree. But, make no mistake the money the Flyers will need to pay out is going to be very substantial. The Flyers are going to have to pay out big bucks for Hartnell. They cannot risk that he is next summers Carle. The reality is that the Flyers have been one of the losers in this summers signings. They are at risk again over the next couple of years.
- spatso

Strange that they haven't negotiated with Hartnell yet. Its not their nature to let a player they want to sit idle. I see him gone. I would gladly have him in Pittsburgh, but that probably wouldn't happen.

I'm not taking this sitting down and might soon start putting in my $0.04...
- Flyfreaky

You should save all your pennies, one day they will be extinct

Nah, it's just a blip...I don't think the Flyers really cared about losing Jagr and Carle or they would have done more to keep them...They have things going on that we can't even begin to imagine...
- Flyfreaky

Losing is losing. The Flyers made a bad signing last summer with Bryzgalov. They have lost some key pieces this summer and have not replaced them.

I think the big test is Bobby Ryan. The Flyers want him. Several other teams are in the bidding. If they lose out to a mid market team (eg. Ottawa or Buffalo) we will know that there is something larger happening here. I do not expect the Flyers to get locked out the way the Leafs are being stonewalled but, clearly, the Flyers have hit a dry spot.

I don't fully disagree with you, but its a fair system. Pay with money you make. Maybe stick with hockey eh?
- HopintheCordoba

It's why I don't watch baseball anymore. If I'm a Jays fan, the Yankees and Red Sox have grabbed every available free agent and your buried, because of the wildcard setup. If you have 90 million to spend and the Yankees outspend you to the tune of 220 million, what chance do you have? If the Jays kick up their spending, into that ballpark, they lose money, first, because they don't get the same television revenue as the Yankees and Redsox. Two, they have to start paying into revenue sharing, again making it too expensive. What ends up happening, like Roy Halladay, is that you trade your key player, because you can't afford to sign him. You end up with prospects or middling players in return. You cannot compete. Hockey has the right idea, but needs to balance the contracts, to the point that the first year is averaged out the same as years going forward. That would keep the big market teams from poaching the teams that are barely squeeking by.

Jagr had a nice season--sort of---you guys were a jumping off point. He has been, and always will be about the $. I have that on several reliable sources, aka former teammates that were expecting, not suprised by, him going for the $ and not staying in a better situation in Philly.
- HopintheCordoba

That's why I didn't care if he left...The Flyers surrounded him with good players to help him succeed and he actually had a great attitude the entire season, but really did fade come playoff time...He's not a big loss...And Carle isn't either considering the money he got...

Understand, don't disagree. But, make no mistake the money the Flyers will need to pay out is going to be very substantial. The Flyers are going to have to pay out big bucks for Hartnell. They cannot risk that he is next summers Carle. The reality is that the Flyers have been one of the losers in this summers signings. They are at risk again over the next couple of years.
- spatso

They are at risk because they didn't overpay Carle, get a 14 year, $110 million contract, or trade for Rick Nash who as a $7.8 million cap hit? I don't get how they are at risk, especially with Timonen coming off the books next year and Briere two years after. Plus they will trade players if need be and will have other, lesser salaries coming off the books. Historically, the Flyers don't allow other teams to ever get a chance to sign their best players.

Strange that they haven't negotiated with Hartnell yet. Its not their nature to let a player they want to sit idle. I see him gone. I would gladly have him in Pittsburgh, but that probably wouldn't happen.
- HopintheCordoba

They'll probably extend him sometime over the course of the year. I'd be surprise if they let him walk.

It's why I don't watch baseball anymore. If I'm a Jays fan, the Yankees and Red Sox have grabbed every available free agent and your buried, because of the wildcard setup. If you have 90 million to spend and the Yankees outspend you to the tune of 220 million, what chance do you have? If the Jays kick up their spending, into that ballpark, they lose money, first, because they don't get the same television revenue as the Yankees and Redsox. Two, they have to start paying into revenue sharing, again making it too expensive. What ends up happening, like Roy Halladay, is that you trade your key player, because you can't afford to sign him. You end up with prospects or middling players in return. You cannot compete. Hockey has the right idea, but needs to balance the contracts, to the point that the first year is averaged out the same as years going forward. That would keep the big market teams from poaching the teams that are barely squeeking by.
- PrinceLH

I understand your frustration. I am a Red Sox fan, have been my whole life. I HATE contracts that massively overpay players though. I don't mind paying more, but paying 2x or 3x over market value is stupid and my boys are paying for some of that right now. I can't wait til' they hand the reigns to the young guns we have who deserve a chance to play. By September thats what we will see
As far as the Penguins go---I think they have handled contracts exceptionally. I'm excited to see our more even aged team this year

Losing is losing. The Flyers made a bad signing last summer with Bryzgalov. They have lost some key pieces this summer and have not replaced them.

I think the big test is Bobby Ryan. The Flyers want him. Several other teams are in the bidding. If they lose out to a mid market team (eg. Ottawa or Buffalo) we will know that there is something larger happening here. I do not expect the Flyers to get locked out the way the Leafs are being stonewalled but, clearly, the Flyers have hit a dry spot.
- spatso

Dry spells are fine...It's not the end of the world...I'm not a fan of Bryz or that contract, but was very glad that Homer did try addressing that huge on going and never ending problem that the Flyers have...I pray to god everyday that the Flyers don't trade for Ryan and go after Doan or Yandle or Arnott or other good character mid level players to fill the holes...They do have some good young players that might get bigger roles this season...As long as they have Bryz, I'm not holding my breath on them winning the Cup...