Risk/Reward and Hossa could very well be like Selanne.
- Al

But will he be happy playing several years at $1,000,000 per - far away from his old Slovakian home?

A few rules changes will be made for next year to increase overtime scoring, etc.


http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=724046

Some highlights:

If it becomes official, the new overtime format would require the teams to switch ends for the five-minute extra period, creating the long-change factor that exists in the second period, historically the period that features the most goals. The arena ice crew will also be required to do a dry scrape of the ice before overtime rather than before the shootout.

If the game goes to a shootout, under the approved changes, coaches would not be required to give a list of shooters but instead could go down the bench and pick players as the shootout progresses. Players would still be allowed to shoot only one time.

The League and the NHLPA are discussing the possibility of making the spin-o-rama illegal in shootouts. The Board of Governors also approved the recommendation to give the Situation Room in Toronto more latitude to review goals that may not fit one of the review categories but clearly were not scored in a legal fashion.

And my favorite and it's about damn time:

Also subject to change pending approval by the NHLPA Executive Board are rules governing faceoffs after an icing. One player on the offending team would be eligible to take the faceoff after an icing and a second violation would result in a two-minute penalty.
- Hemingways

Bettman also said they're still negotiating with the NHLPA about the cap for 2014-15: the Minnesota GM said ""The League is working all those details right now, but probably high 60s is what we're assuming and we'll see how it works out,"

High-60s (68? 69?) instead of 70 or 71 would have a dramatic effect on the Hawks - and on what the have to do to get a high-priced center like Kesler/Spaezza/etc.

12 mill a piece?? Ummm sorry but no. 19 maybe but 88?? Let em know it takes 4 lines, 6-7 D and a G. Team game boys. Hope it's smoke and the real $ comes in at 9 or so. Or pay em and become the Penguins west. That's crazy money. How much does a person need really? Sorry I'm sure response isn't popular but good grief. Be reasonable. Get paid well (9 mill), get C help. Win some more cups and enjoy nhl historic achievements ala oiler and islander type dynasties. Or become the penguins. These contracts could really handcuff how this team gets put together. 12?? Insane.

Hossa has 2 more seasons making actual salary of $7.9 mil, then one of $4 mil, then 4 at $1 mil. He's likely looking at playing only 2-3 more seasons, I would think. I would also think those final 4 seasons were never expected that he would play any of those.

Whenever he does retire I'll miss him. He's my favorite Hawk simply because he busts his ass 24/7, with and without the puck. He's been a great tutor and role model for the young players, especially Toews.

12 mill a piece?? Ummm sorry but no. 19 maybe but 88?? Let em know it takes 4 lines, 6-7 D and a G. Team game boys. Hope it's smoke and the real $ comes in at 9 or so. Or pay em and become the Penguins west. That's crazy money. How much does a person need really? Sorry I'm sure response isn't popular but good grief. Be reasonable. Get paid well (9 mill), get C help. Win some more cups and enjoy nhl historic achievements ala oiler and islander type dynasties. Or become the penguins. These contracts could really handcuff how this team gets put together. 12?? Insane.
- z1990z

So you're going to tell Kane that you refuse to pay him what Toews gets? Kane already is under Toews' shadow here. You'd be writing a one way ticket out of town and might as well trade him this summer if that's the plan because he would not resign here.

the price of happiness has went up... to think it was only 'wanting to see a cup in my lifetime' not long ago
- Sconnie

No poop, eh? Talk about changes. 6/9/10 then 6/24/13 changed me. NOW, its at the point I AM GREEDY as a fan. I want to see a cup every year.

So you're going to tell Kane that you refuse to pay him what Toews gets? Kane already is under Toews' shadow here. You'd be writing a one way ticket out of town and might as well trade him this summer if that's the plan because he would not resign here.
- Hemingways

Just saying that's insane money. If that's the case then Stan really has issues on fitting this under the cap and getting the roster the help it needs.

Eric Stephens ‏@icemancometh (Anaheim Ducks beat writer for the Orange County Register)

Appears to be divide between Ducks and Canucks/Senators over pieces in package for a Kesler/Spezza deal.

One more sleep till draft day..........



Two more sleeps till "We like.our team..."
- mrpaulish

NOOOOOO......!

I really have a problem with the legality of the league punishing a team for a contract the league already approved. Not a lawyer here, but that doesn't seem on solid ground to me, if it were to be challenged that is.
- grinder10

Thats why teams were given compliance buyouts.

Ok, it's not about whether or not Hossa is tradeable or not. He absolutely is tradeable and his cap hit is actually very attractive for a player as productive as him.

The issue is that his contract was front loaded, making $10M ACTUAL dollars during the first 2 years, then goes to 7.9M ACTUAL dollars for the next 3-4, then 4M for a year, followed by 3 years at 1.0M.

His cap hit is 5.75. That means for every year there was a vast difference between his actual dollars vs his cap hit, if he retires early....the Hawks are on the hook for the difference. Can you imagine 20M in wasted cap space over 5 years?
- eburgio

Go to capgeek and check out the cap re-capture calculator. There's even a list for these players including Hoss. Think if retires in '17, the 'Hawks are on the hook for $4+ cap penalty for the subsequent 4 seasons. He earns $7.9Mx7, $4Mx1 and $1Mx4. It's those last 4 years that are the killer. New CBA I think allows for a $max/$min=2 across the contract.

Not caught up yet, so forgive me if this has been stated already...

Love all the fans of other teams chiming in to tell us how screwed we'll be when Toews and Kane are making $12.0 each.

#theywishtheyhadthis"problem"


If either signs for $12, I'll buy Source 5 DTC T-shirts.

Risk/Reward and Hossa could very well be like Selanne.
- Al

FINGERS CROSSED. Love Selanne, Love Hoss....

We are talking about a league and player's association, not a democracy.
Bettman made sure the big market teams would pay for the break they got with front loading contracts.

No matter if it is Carolina or Columbus every Governor has one vote....And there were more teams looking for front loaded deals to be dealt with in this fashion.
- Al

In this battle of small market owners vs large market owners, small won. It's always about large vs small markets, not owners vs players.

It was the most tipped contract and the last one allowed to be so front loaded...

If Hossa wakes up one day in the next couple of three years and decides he wants to retire the cap consequences are horrendous.
- Al

Retirement will never happen. Hoss would visit the LTIR window and then be bought out 3 seconds after he was cleared to play.

This thread had so many comments so fast now its all quiet..

Have to have a valid medical reason that can be substantiated to put a player on LTIR.
- Al

Sure you do

yup gonna be called a troll.... but for those of us who said enjoy it wehile it lasts (ahem, me) toews and kane gonna put yins in the same situation os the pens... though you seem to have better amanagement so maybe it wont be as bad

Ok, it's not about whether or not Hossa is tradeable or not. He absolutely is tradeable and his cap hit is actually very attractive for a player as productive as him.

The issue is that his contract was front loaded, making $10M ACTUAL dollars during the first 2 years, then goes to 7.9M ACTUAL dollars for the next 3-4, then 4M for a year, followed by 3 years at 1.0M.

His cap hit is 5.75. That means for every year there was a vast difference between his actual dollars vs his cap hit, if he retires early....the Hawks are on the hook for the difference. Can you imagine 20M in wasted cap space over 5 years?
- eburgio

When he's ready to retire, trade him to a bottom dweller needing to hit the cap floor. That team only pays him the $1.0 in actual salary the last few years, and gets to claim the higher cap hit to make the floor. He gets "injured" in camp before the first $1.0 season, and is never heard from again.

Easy peasy.

yup gonna be called a troll.... but for those of us who said enjoy it wehile it lasts (ahem, me) toews and kane gonna put yins in the same situation os the pens... though you seem to have better amanagement so maybe it wont be as bad
- ChrisMS

Very original thought. Thanks for sharing.

Very original thought. Thanks for sharing.
- Ogilthorpe2

welcome, anytime

yup gonna be called a troll.... but for those of us who said enjoy it wehile it lasts (ahem, me) toews and kane gonna put yins in the same situation os the pens... though you seem to have better amanagement so maybe it wont be as bad
- ChrisMS

Cap problems for the Pens aren't necessarily Malkin and Crosby - Letang's deal is a noose and he should have been traded instead of re-signed.

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but by the time Hossa is ready to retire there will be a rule that allows a team to buy out a player that has been injured/concussed due to a hit that a player player has been suspended for that caused such injury/concussion.

12 mill a piece?? Ummm sorry but no. 19 maybe but 88?? Let em know it takes 4 lines, 6-7 D and a G. Team game boys. Hope it's smoke and the real $ comes in at 9 or so. Or pay em and become the Penguins west. That's crazy money. How much does a person need really? Sorry I'm sure response isn't popular but good grief. Be reasonable. Get paid well (9 mill), get C help. Win some more cups and enjoy nhl historic achievements ala oiler and islander type dynasties. Or become the penguins. These contracts could really handcuff how this team gets put together. 12?? Insane.
- z1990z

10.5M each x 10 seaons and incentives each for major award and cup should suffice. They have earned the right to set the market. Hawks know that those numbers will never be worn by another Hawk ever again and the next contract keeps those sweaters in the rafters in another 11 years or so. It makes hockey sense. It makes marketing sense. Get it done.

10.5M each x 10 seaons and incentives each for major award and cup should suffice. They have earned the right to set the market. Hawks know that those numbers will never be worn by another Hawk ever again and the next contract keeps those sweaters in the rafters in another 11 years or so. It makes hockey sense. It makes marketing sense. Get it done.
- HealthyScratch1

8 years is the Max term. I'm still hoping they come in under $10 each. Something like 8 x $9-9.5