I don't think that would work. It would have to be something like a conditional 1st round pick if he doesn't play beyond, or if Edmonton trades him later down the line. Again, the cap penalty to the Sabres is more severe if he retires at all while still under contract and he is not on this team. If Edmonton ends up trading him before his contract is up to, say, Florida, and he says "screw this, I'm done" and goes back to Germany, the Sabres are still the team that gets popped. Somehow, the penalty is less severe if he's still the Sabres' property and does this.

Also, Ehrhoff's play hasn't been so bad that it's worth being eager to get off the books. There are plenty of others to go first. They easily have enough room, especially if Miller goes, to do whatever they damn well please as far as a rebuild is concerned even with Ehrhoff on the books.
- buffalofan19

Has it been good enough to where we want to keep him if we get offered something decent? He has been pretty bad lately

What's the penalty?
- stashu

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...racts-153717517--nhl.html

Has it been good enough to where we want to keep him if we get offered something decent? He has been pretty bad lately
- sbroads24

I would imagine it would have to be more than decent given the liability involved down the road. Also, Ehrhoff, just like everyone else on this defense corps, is suffering from a below average forward group. They're lousy both defensively and offensively. You can win with this defense corps as constructed. You just need a competent (not even great) forward group to do it.

Regardless of who he plays for, Sabres pay penalty. I actually think it's quite possible he is moved.
- sbroads24

Actually, it's much less if he retires here as opposed to elsewhere, because the "cap savings" amount decreases over time, and by extension, so does the amount they would be on the hook for.

I would imagine it would have to be more than decent given the liability involved down the road. Also, Ehrhoff, just like everyone else on this defense corps, is suffering from a below average forward group. They're lousy both defensively and offensively. You can win with this defense corps as constructed. You just need a competent (not even great) forward group to do it.
- buffalofan19

I agree that you can win with them, however Ehrhoff has greater value on this team than he does on a good team. In a few years if we keep him guys like Pysyk, Myers, Ristolainen or even Zadarov could be moved ahead of him on the depth chart. I say unload him now while he's logging a lot of minutes and still at a decent age. Teams like Philly for example are never concerened with the cap or making bold moves.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/luongo-rule-nhl-cba-punish-cap-circumventing-contracts-153717517--nhl.html
- buffalofan19

what if we promise to trade him back to you?

I agree that you can win with them, however Ehrhoff has greater value on this team than he does on a good team. In a few years if we keep him guys like Pysyk, Myers, Ristolainen or even Zadarov could be moved ahead of him on the depth chart. I say unload him now while he's logging a lot of minutes and still at a decent age. Teams like Philly for example are never concerened with the cap or making bold moves.
- sbroads24

If Philly were to make a move to acquire a guy like Ehrhoff, it would be in the offseason, not at the deadline. Again, he's not immovable, but there are a few factors working against him being moved. The first is the massive contract as I have explained. 2nd is that if you remember, this was the first guy Pegula basically told (or if you believe the reports, "suggested") Regier go get back in 2011 when he took over. Like it or not, I think Ehrhoff is one of the guys they want to build around. Unless he demands a trade, I don't think you see him go anywhere. Third, I believe he has a limited no-trade clause. Now, I guess they could get on their knees and beg him to waive it like they did to Robyn Regehr but that's far from a guarantee.

EDIT: Ehrhoff has a "limited" no movement clause, whatever that means.

http://www.thefourthperio...de_deadline/notrades.html

what if we promise to trade him back to you?
- Morris

Pinky swear?

If Philly were to make a move to acquire a guy like Ehrhoff, it would be in the offseason, not at the deadline. Again, he's not immovable, but there are a few factors working against him being moved. The first is the massive contract as I have explained. 2nd is that if you remember, this was the first guy Pegula basically told (or if you believe the reports, "suggested") Regier go get back in 2011 when he took over. Like it or not, I think Ehrhoff is one of the guys they want to build around. Unless he demands a trade, I don't think you see him go anywhere. Third, I believe he has a limited no-trade clause.
- buffalofan19

NMC. . It wouldn't be a deadline deal but if you look at a team like Philly they really could use a guy that is locked up long term. Timonen is about gone, Schenn is a bust, Coburn seems on his way out. That contract is actually attractive salary wise, and the cap hit will be minute starting next year when the cap raises and guys like Phanuef get 7 mil per next year

NMC. . It wouldn't be a deadline deal but if you look at a team like Philly they really could use a guy that is locked up long term. Timonen is about gone, Schenn is a bust, Coburn seems on his way out. That contract is actually attractive salary wise, and the cap hit will be minute starting next year when the cap raises and guys like Phanuef get 7 mil per next year
- sbroads24

Personally, I think Ehrhoff essentially becomes a younger Sergei Gonchar: very good at what he does best (i.e. offense, but he needs a lot of help up front in order for it to be noticed), average to even below average at everything else. His value is going to be highest on a team with a very good to great forward group.

Personally, I think Ehrhoff essentially becomes a younger Sergei Gonchar: very good at what he does best (i.e. offense, but he needs a lot of help up front in order for it to be noticed), average to even below average at everything else. His value is going to be highest on a team with a very good to great forward group.
- buffalofan19

Gonchar is a good comparison. A lot of people compare him to Paul Martin and they have very similar numbers. IMO a team like Colorado should be all over Hoff, unfortunately outside of a 1st rounder theres not much else that would interest me.

If you're anything like my ex-girlfriend over in Scotland, you'll stay up to see it.
- Tsyolin

at least the Olympics will be at a reasonable time for us.

Pinky swear?
- buffalofan19

This is definitely how regier got Nashville to give up a first for gaustad

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/luongo-rule-nhl-cba-punish-cap-circumventing-contracts-153717517--nhl.html
- buffalofan19

Thanks for the link, but now my brain hurts....

The quote from the league's proposal makes it sound like the penalty never affects anyone other than the team that signed the initial contract, yet Lebrun later talks about the cap charge affecting both the original team and the current team the player may be playing on...I don't get his conclusion...

But still, I'd be fine trading him for a good deal, and as was mentioned before, conditional picks in the future depending on when he may retire and/or be traded. Sounds like a very convoluted deal would need to be made.

Thanks for the link, but now my brain hurts....

The quote from the league's proposal makes it sound like the penalty never affects anyone other than the team that signed the initial contract, yet Lebrun later talks about the cap charge affecting both the original team and the current team the player may be playing on...I don't get his conclusion...

But still, I'd be fine trading him for a good deal, and as was mentioned before, conditional picks in the future depending on when he may retire and/or be traded. Sounds like a very convoluted deal would need to be made.
- stashu

That would be really far down the road. I would take a 1st and a prospect for him it if was offered. Obviously if it was a team like Philly I doubt they give up their 1st.

Thanks for the link, but now my brain hurts....
The quote from the league's proposal makes it sound like the penalty never affects anyone other than the team that signed the initial contract, yet Lebrun later talks about the cap charge affecting both the original team and the current team the player may be playing on...I don't get his conclusion...

But still, I'd be fine trading him for a good deal, and as was mentioned before, conditional picks in the future depending on when he may retire and/or be traded. Sounds like a very convoluted deal would need to be made.
- stashu

My first rule of reading the CBA is not to read the CBA.

Thanks for the link, but now my brain hurts....

The quote from the league's proposal makes it sound like the penalty never affects anyone other than the team that signed the initial contract, yet Lebrun later talks about the cap charge affecting both the original team and the current team the player may be playing on...I don't get his conclusion...

But still, I'd be fine trading him for a good deal, and as was mentioned before, conditional picks in the future depending on when he may retire and/or be traded. Sounds like a very convoluted deal would need to be made.
- stashu

Basically, the earlier you trade a massive contract, the more you are on the hook for should the player retire. The team that receives the contract is basically treated like it is a brand new contract for "penalty" purposes (though not for cap purposes).

My first rule of reading the CBA is not to read the CBA.
- ImThatGuy

exactly

My first rule of reading the CBA is not to read the CBA.
- ImThatGuy

hehe, yeah...and the sad part is that wasn't even the CBA, it was "basic" wording of the proposal...so who knows what the true CBA language reads....blech