The following is the highlights of the latest proposal from the NHL to the NHL Players' Association:

- Ten-Year Agreement (through 2021/22 season); Parties have mutual opt-out right after 8 years.

- 50-50 Revenue Split between Clubs and Players with current HRR Accounting.

- $300 million in "Make-Whole" payments (outside the system) to compensate Players for the reduced value of Player contracts in the early years of the new CBA.

- No contractual "roll backs" of Player Salaries.

- Clubs can operate with an effective Upper Limit of $70.2 million in 2012/13; must come into compliance with $60 million Upper Limit for the start of the 2013/14 season.

- Each Club will be entitled to execute up to one "Compliance Buy-Out" prior to the 2013/14 season pursuant to which payments made to the Player will not be charged against the team's Cap, but will be charged against the Players' Share.

- Establishment of a Defined Benefit Pension Plan that will provide maximum permissible benefits to Players upon retirement. The Plan will be funded with contributions out of Players' Share and $50 million of the "Make-Whole" payment amount of $300 million will be allocated and set aside to fund potential underfunding liabilities of the Plan at end of CBA.

- Rules for Entry Level System, Salary Arbitration and Group 3 Unrestricted Free Agency will remain unchanged.

- Maximum contract length of 6 years subject to a Club's ability to re-sign its own Player for a term of up to 7 years (provided the Player played his last full season with the re-signing Club). In addition, year-to-year Salary variability will be limited (up or down) to no more than 10% of the value of the first year of a multi-year SPC.

- Money paid (above a defined threshold) to Players on NHL SPCs in another professional league (e.g., the AHL or a European league) will be charged against the NHL team's Cap, but not against the Players' Share.

- "Cap Advantage Recapture" formula applicable to existing long-term contracts (in excess of 6 years) for years in which Player is retired or fails/refuses to perform under his NHL SPC.

- Ability for Clubs to retain/allocate Salary and Cap Charges in the context of Player Trades within specified parameters.

- More robust League-wide Revenue Sharing Program (increased pool from approximately $150 million to $200 million) with creation of Industry Growth Fund to improve the long-term revenue generating potential of the League and low-grossing Clubs. Formation of active Revenue Sharing Oversight Committee on which NHLPA will participate.

- New Player Discipline procedures and protocol incorporating Player appeal rights to a neutral third-party arbitrator for both on-ice and off-ice discipline.

- Flexibility-related adjustments to Payroll Range System, including (in addition to Salary/Cap Charge allocation in Player trades):
1. Lower Limit obligation without performance bonuses;
2. Elimination of Re-Entry Waivers;
3. Creation of Salary Cap exceptions for emergency roster situations/goaltender injuries;
4. Waiver exemptions for mid-season signings of Club's own European Players;
5. Availability of Performance Bonus Cushion in every year of the CBA; and
6. Creation of "interview period" for Unrestricted Free Agents.

Here is the latest NHL proposal. If this goes through, it will be an interesting 2013 off season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWauQoebGB4

That is the link for TT's goal against the Czech Republic yesterday...the goal is somewhere around the 40-45 second mark

Really nice goal if you ask me...shows his great hands and that he can get a quick shot off in a tight area.....TT's hands are just great, like Datsyuk and Kane great
- captainserious

Terrific player in space, lightning quick release on his shot, makes everything look easy. I think the Datsyuk comparison is better than Kane.

Watching Shalunov, Russia versus Germany.

To me, he looks like a pro winger. Kid is big, can skate, plays on both special teams for a pretty loaded national club and he plays hard/physical/with a lot of emotion (maybe too much at times—but you can work with that). He hasn't gotten that plus shot off in this game, but has been noticeable all over the ice.

His positioning at both ends and feel for open ice in the offensive zone is very good.

Shalunov shows speed and nice assist on Russia's seventh goal, short-handed. A couple of less heralded Russians who were very impressive, the center Kosov and blueliner Yarullin.

Shalunov shows speed and nice assist on Russia's seventh goal, short-handed. A couple of less heralded Russians who were very impressive, the center Kosov and blueliner Yarullin.
- John Jaeckel

Is there an NHL player that Shalunov reminds you of John?

Is there an NHL player that Shalunov reminds you of John?
- jhawk159

A little bit of Alex Semin. A little bit of Viktor Stalberg.

Doesn't have Stalberg's top end speed and might not have the full offensive arsenal of Semin, but looks like a potentially better three zone player than either. He is pretty to very instinctive as far as where to be in the flow of the play, covering his man up and down the ice, etc.

He looks like a 2nd or 3rd line RW (with the ability to play either side) in the pros. Can play either a two-way or offensive game with more skilled linemates.

A couple of other things about him is he has no fear of contact or going to the front of the net. This could be because in the WJC's and especially against Germany he is playing against boys, versus in the KHL, where he plays against men.

On the negative side, as I said previously, he plays a little out of control emotionally at times, and he seems to have a little bit of a tendency to dog it toward the end of shifts, but that could also be due to conditioning, playing a lot of minutes or just longer shifts.

Nothing special about his hands but like I said he is instinctive and seems to see his linemates well, and passes pretty well. Plays the right halfboard on the PP. I think he will be a guy in the pros who gets about equal amounts of goals and assists.

Ok, so TT is awesome.


Why did so many GMs pass on him ?

Why do you say that?
- DarthKane

New CBA aside most here underestimate the fact that the last thing a GM wants to do is a buyout a contract. They then have to look at their mistakes on the books for a long time and that is one reason it is seldom done.

Olesz is only under contract for 1 more year and the Hawks will eat it or he will find a new home overseas.

From what I understand Olesz isn't a problem in Rockford and actually seems to enjoy playing there....So he isn't a bad influence Bowman needs to get out of town.

As far as the new CBA buyout factor there are a couple others I would consider before Olesz but Bowman may not buy anyone out.

Remember there has been a school of thought the Hawks have been "setting up" for a lower salary cap.

Anyone Bowman would want to deal to shed salary can be traded except for Olesz.....ie Frolik, Monty, Oduya.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

New CBA aside most here underestimate the fact that the last thing a GM wants to do is a buyout a contract. They then have to look at their mistakes on the books for a long time and that is one reason it is seldom done.

Olesz is only under contract for 1 more year and the Hawks will eat it or he will find a new home overseas.

From what I understand Olesz isn't a problem in Rockford and actually seems to enjoy playing there....So he isn't a bad influence Bowman needs to get out of town.

As far as the new CBA buyout factor there are a couple others I would consider before Olesz but Bowman may not buy anyone out.

Remember there has been a school of thought the Hawks have been "setting up" for a lower salary cap.

Anyone Bowman would want to deal to shed salary can be traded except for Olesz.....ie Frolik, Monty, Oduya.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

If there is a clear buyout candidate it is Montador, followed maybe by Frolik.

If this team did not know that there might be a reduction in the cap when they signed Oduya this past summer, they should all be fired immediately. So I really doubt they would buy him out immediately post CBA. Makes zero sense.

To your point Al, they seem to have been preparing for a lower cap regardless.

Further, there will be some possibility of trades. But understand, that will involve teams with significant cap room dealing picks, prospects or lower-salaried players for higher salaried players. And that will be a buyer's market, with teams like the Islanders, Florida, etc in the driver's seat as far as cherry-picking deals. If the Hawks wanted to lose Hossa, for example, that would be the way to do it, assuming he remains relatively healthy. His deal is actually very cap friendly for a player of his caliber.

To just buy out Hossa, if he has any tread left on the tire, would be a move that could come back to haunt the Hawks. Another contending team would sign him immediately.

Ok, so TT is awesome.


Why did so many GMs pass on him ?
- mrpaulish

As I understand it, he was a late, fast riser and some teams felt they did not have enough opportunity to scout him. And his lack of size might have worked against him.

Let me also say with regard to Teravainen and ANY player I compare to a current NHL player—the NHL comparable is the "style" of pro player he would be, not necessarily (at all) the production he would have as a pro.

Teravainen could end up as a Datsyuk "style" player in the NHL, but with less production, or production more in line with a good second line center.

Ok, so TT is awesome.


Why did so many GMs pass on him ?
- mrpaulish

And to be fair, Teravainen and Saad were both "top 10" players going into their respective drafts— and Saad fell a LOT further.

If there is a clear buyout candidate it is Montador, followed maybe by Frolik.

If this team did not know that there might be a reduction in the cap when they signed Oduya this past summer, they should all be fired immediately. So I really doubt they would buy him out immediately post CBA. Makes zero sense.

To your point Al, they seem to have been preparing for a lower cap regardless.

Further, there will be some possibility of trades. But understand, that will involve teams with significant cap room dealing picks, prospects or lower-salaried players for higher salaried players. And that will be a buyer's market, with teams like the Islanders, Florida, etc in the driver's seat as far as cherry-picking deals. If the Hawks wanted to lose Hossa, for example, that would be the way to do it, assuming he remains relatively healthy. His deal is actually very cap friendly for a player of his caliber.

To just buy out Hossa, if he has any tread left on the tire, would be a move that could come back to haunt the Hawks. Another contending team would sign him immediately.
- John Jaeckel

Agree it will be definitely a buyers market and in my view dealing Hossa has to be considered if the other younger core players are part of the plan moving forward.....Kane, Toews, Bolland, Sharp, Keith and Seabrook.

And I would look to deal Hossa to a team like the Islanders, if possible, and not a contender in the West.

I don't think they would have to buy anyone out albeit with limited returns when trading them.

Agree on Oduya but if cap drops to $60 million and he isn't a top 4 dman can they afford to pay him almost $3.4 mill???

I wouldn't but it remains to be seen what the alternative is.

Agree it will be definitely a buyers market and in my view dealing Hossa has to be considered if the other younger core players are part of the plan moving forward.....Kane, Toews, Bolland, Sharp, Keith and Seabrook.

And I would look to deal Hossa to a team like the Islanders, if possible, and not a contender in the West.

I don't think they would have to buy anyone out albeit with limited returns when trading them.

Agree on Oduya but if cap drops to $60 million and he isn't a top 4 dman can they afford to pay him almost $3.4 mill???

I wouldn't but it remains to be seen what the alternative is.
- Al

If Hossa is traded, is his cap hit the same as it was in Chicago ($5MM+) or does it get recalculated for the new team based on remaining years and salary (probably less than $5MM)?

And to be fair, Teravainen and Saad were both "top 10" players going into their respective drafts— and Saad fell a LOT further.
- John Jaeckel

To add to your explanation...

No one is privy to individual team draft rankings.
Fans and the press as well see overall rankings.

There can be many variables as to why a players falls or is taken higher.

Some are...

He is a poor interview, rumor of a nagging injury, parents too involved
he doesn't grade out high enough on psychological exams....

All those and some have to do with how he actually has played leading up to the Draft.

Then you can combine all the variables concerning what else happened in the Draft.....As to other players falling more than expected and some being taken far ahead of what most thought.

There are many reason and possibilities and here is where luck comes in...

When a player falls like Saad or TT drops the GM relies on the scouts who have watched them play the most.

If that particular scout or scouts is well thought of in the OrganIzation their voice is louder than others. In those cases the GM feels more confident to take a "value" pick.

Like I have writen before....Saad and TT look like good values....Kyle Beach was thought of in the same way when drafted, as was Akim Aliu.

Some value picks work out and others don't.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

If Hossa is traded, is his cap hit the same as it was in Chicago ($5MM+) or does it get recalculated for the new team based on remaining years and salary (probably less than $5MM)?
- StLBravesFan

In the past it would stay the same cap hit.

Al,you mentioned earlier that Olesz seemed content playing in Rockford.I know he was there last year but where is he playing now?I have been unable to find anything on him this year.Do you think they would bring him to camp if a deal gets done?

Al,you mentioned earlier that Olesz seemed content playing in Rockford.I know he was there last year but where is he playing now?I have been unable to find anything on him this year.Do you think they would bring him to camp if a deal gets done?
- eagle50

Via Chris Block...

Olesz was hurt in a game on Apr 1 and had to have surgery again on his right knee....That's the bad news for him.

The good news is he should be 100% in late Jan/Feb.

The other good news for him is he is getting paid his full salary.

But Olesz can't play in Rockford until lockout ends as he is on a 1-way contract.
Getting hurt again wasn't a good thing but did enable him to earn his full salary.

Via Chris Block...

Olesz was hurt in a game on Apr 1 and had to have surgery again on his right knee....That's the bad news for him.

The good news is he should be 100% in late Jan/Feb.

The other good news for him is he is getting paid his full salary.

But Olesz can't play in Rockford until lockout ends as he is on a 1-way contract.
Getting hurt again wasn't a good thing but did enable him to earn his full salary.
- Al

Thanks for the information.

Some teams are going to be seriously F'd if this cap goes down to $60 mil next year. That being said the Hawks actually look like they'll be ok if this happens. Aside from swinging for the fences with Parise, it looks like their rather mild offseason may benefit them moving forward. Van, Bos and Philly all will be in some trouble.

Teravainen lights the lamp again!!
But Finland is losing 3-2

Teravainen lights the lamp again!!!

Both of TT's goals came on the power play, neither was too fancy, but the second goal showed how quick his hands and release are...and both goals are already on youtube, really happy that he is playing well in this tournament, overall he had a nice game, really hope he makes the jump to the AHL next year, and then possibly the year after to the NHL