Cap Shmap.
- Ogilthorpe2

I hate it more each and every year.

Meanwhile. EK's thread is comedic gold as always.

Best part is its usually the same people in there everyday complaining about Ek's rumors.

And he's the fool.

Meanwhile. EK's thread is comedic gold as always.

Best part is its usually the same people in there everyday complaining about Ek's rumors.

And he's the fool.
- Elbows15

Kinda like the same people in here every day complaining that we're off topic. Jag-offs.

Kinda like the same people in here every day complaining that we're off topic. Jag-offs.
- Ogilthorpe2

THEY COMPLAIN WHEN WE ARE ON TOPIC!


I am outie, Peace my brother.

Stan missed out on another one...

@NHLFREEAGENTS: Former Minnesota Wild Pierre-Marc Bouchard signed by ZUG of the NLA (Swiss) to a one year contract #NHL #NLA

Meanwhile. EK's thread is comedic gold as always.

Best part is its usually the same people in there everyday complaining about Ek's rumors.

And he's the fool.
- Elbows15

Kinda like @hockey insider

I understand why people talk about moving Sharp and his $5.9m cap hit for 3 more years.

But, Hossa is on the books until 2021 with a $5.275 cap hit. Sharp's contract will fix itself in three years. What is the reason that there is not a greater demand to seek a solution by moving Hossa? Is it a cap recapture issue? If so, that will be exactly the same two or three years from now. It seems to me that the Hossa contract only becomes more problematic every year forward from here.

I know everyone was debating this last night - in regard to the cap hits for the wonder twins - so here's a link to the video from Sportstalklive. I know some of our regulars here are from out of state so enjoy...


http://www.csnchicago.com...blackhawks-have-left-make

It's Kap, Zawaski (the Score), Adam Jahns from the Suntimes, and Adam Greenberg (Espn 1000). Kap can be a bit overbearing at times, but as someone mentioned last night he's dialed in with the Cubs and others. I like Jahns - used to be the Hawks beat writer.

Larry Storch!

Agarn, right?
- HawkintheD

Ay

I understand why people talk about moving Sharp and his $5.9m cap hit for 3 more years.

But, Hossa is on the books until 2021 with a $5.275 cap hit. Sharp's contract will fix itself in three years. What is the reason that there is not a greater demand to seek a solution by moving Hossa? Is it a cap recapture issue? If so, that will be exactly the same two or three years from now. It seems to me that the Hossa contract only becomes more problematic every year forward from here.
- spatso

Last season that was a hot topic here with him being the player many targeted as being a potential compliance buyout.

The recapture issues have been talked about and I think like you say could potentially be an issue.

I think people want to move Sharp vs Hossa for the following: Sharp's contract is more movable, Hossa gives you better 2 way play, hard to predict but many feel Hoss can keep this level of play up for at lease another 2-3 yrs and then slide back into a 3rd line role for the remainder of his contract.

Hossa supposedly keeps himself in great shape so it's not unreasonable to think he could play to the end of his contract which would be when he's 42, I believe.

Also, Saad looks ready to take another step and replace some if not most of what Sharp currently gives the team. There's nobody in RFD that replaces what Hossa does.

Last season that was a hot topic here with him being the player many targeted as being a potential compliance buyout.

The recapture issues have been talked about and I think like you say could potentially be an issue.

I think people want to move Sharp vs Hossa for the following: Sharp's contract is more movable, Hossa gives you better 2 way play, hard to predict but many feel Hoss can keep this level of play up for at lease another 2-3 yrs and then slide back into a 3rd line role for the remainder of his contract.

Hossa supposedly keeps himself in great shape so it's not unreasonable to think he could play to the end of his contract which would be when he's 42, I believe.

Also, Saad looks ready to take another step and replace some if not most of what Sharp currently gives the team. There's nobody in RFD that replaces what Hossa does.
- HawkintheD

But - is Hossa - in three years - going to be playing for $1MM per year? That's his salary beginning in 2017-18.

But - is Hossa - in three years - going to be playing for $1MM per year? That's his salary beginning in 2017-18.
- StLBravesFan

That's the $64,000 ?.

Last season that was a hot topic here with him being the player many targeted as being a potential compliance buyout.

The recapture issues have been talked about and I think like you say could potentially be an issue.

I think people want to move Sharp vs Hossa for the following: Sharp's contract is more movable, Hossa gives you better 2 way play, hard to predict but many feel Hoss can keep this level of play up for at lease another 2-3 yrs and then slide back into a 3rd line role for the remainder of his contract.

Hossa supposedly keeps himself in great shape so it's not unreasonable to think he could play to the end of his contract which would be when he's 42, I believe.

Also, Saad looks ready to take another step and replace some if not most of what Sharp currently gives the team. There's nobody in RFD that replaces what Hossa does.
- HawkintheD

There's not anyone, on most if not all, AHL teams who does what Hossa does. Whenever he retires, LTIR or whatever they have figured out happens, he will be missed, and in many ways that you didn't realize. A generational player, just glad we have him while we do.
I do question if he'd play for 1 mil. Never know though, I have him on such a pedestal that I believe he'll be as good as he is now, all the way to 42 and play those last years for a mil.

There's not anyone, on most if not all, AHL teams who does what Hossa does. Whenever he retires, LTIR or whatever they have figured out happens, he will be missed, and in many ways that you didn't realize. A generational player, just glad we have him while we do.
I also question if he'll play for 1 mil. Never know though.
- vabeachbear

Some have said that potentially Saad gives you some of what Hoss does and may develop into that kind of player. Maybe/maybe not but I like Saad's development and am interested to see if he can take another step this year.

To me, Bowman's plans are rather obvious. Will just take some time to play out because they don't have to be done immediately.

Morin, McNeill, Danault, Hartman, TT, Dahlbeck, Johns, Johns, Van R are all pencilled in to play much sooner than later. Clendening and Carey are iffy to ever play. Why all those guys? Because they are home grown, cheap and will be playing on entry level deals or on 1st time RFA contracts where they have no leverage to get big $$ that will upset the team cap number.

Sharp - gone elsewhere well before his contract is completed.
Hossa - buy him out when the cost of the remaining years are cheap.
Seabs - will probably be traded before he gets another big contract from the Hawks.
Oduya - no new contract, may be gone before current one is completed.
Versteeg - may survive this off season, not another one.
Rozsival - will be fortunate to be in Chicago in September
Leddy - gone before he starts asking for $4 - $5M per season

Outside free agents - no expensive ones any time soon.

Bowman will keep this team young even if he has to force feed it to Q. Good lesson can be learned from Bill Torrey - he admitted letting the Islanders get old out of loyalty to the players who won all those Cups. Can't let that happen.
- RickJ

According to Capgeek, the following scenarios on a Hossa off seasons retirement are the following:
2014 (this) offseason: 1.875m x 7 years
2015 (next) offseason: 2.625m x 6 years
2016 offseason: 3.575m x 5 years
2017 or after offseason: 4.275m for each of the remaining contract years.

Then check out the buyout calculator for Hossa in any offseason on June 20th of that year. After the next three years (where Hossa makes more than $1m), the buyout numbers are $4.6-5.8 million depending on the year of the buyout.

I think Hossa could play through the end of his contract (like Teemu), but if doesn't, it's most beneficial to the team's cap hit for him to just retire. In addition, let's consider a hypothetical: Hossa's play declines immensely this next year. Then you have to look at the situation being where Hossa becomes a 3rd- or 4th-liner and PK specialist with a cap hit of 5.275m. Would it be better for him to retire after this next year? Then with the 2.6m extra dollars (5.275-2.625), could you find another player, or pay Brandon Saad? Just thinking...

Some have said that potentially Saad gives you some of what Hoss does and may develop into that kind of player. Maybe/maybe not but I like Saad's development and am interested to see if he can take another step this year.
- HawkintheD

I can see where people would think that. His development has been better than I expected, especially in the playoffs.

A real 2C and Kane on the other wing, he's certainly going to put up points, its all the intangibles, D, back checking that Hoss brings to the table. Saad hustles his butt off though, so no reason to believe he can't get close. Just think Hoss is extra special guy and player.

Some have said that potentially Saad gives you some of what Hoss does and may develop into that kind of player. Maybe/maybe not but I like Saad's development and am interested to see if he can take another step this year.
- HawkintheD

Saad showed great progress last season and may be growing into a Hossa-like 2-way player. But like someone said earlier, NO ONE does what Hoss does as consistently and as quietly as he does it. All we can hope for is that our younger players watch and learn. His puck possession is almost unrivaled, and his gap instincts on takeaways help make up for whatever half step he may have lost over the past few years (although I don't see it). I've also heard that he is a workout beast in the offseason and hopefully his back isn't a chronic issue that becomes a bigger problem.

He is another generational player on this team that we can all be thankful that we were around to see him play.

I can see where people would think that. His development has been better than I expected, especially in the playoffs.

A real 2C and Kane on the other wing, he's certainly going to put up points, its all the intangibles, D, back checking that Hoss brings to the table. Saad hustles his butt off though, so no reason to believe he can't get close. Just think Hoss is extra special guy and player.
- vabeachbear

No doubt about it. It's not hard to like what he does. I think my favorite Hossa moment was when he killed another team's 5 on 3 pp pretty much by himself.

Saad at times possesses the puck like Hoss and is pretty good in his own zone. He seems to be going to the net more and at times in the playoffs I saw him deliver some nice hits. Would love to see that continue.

Some have said that potentially Saad gives you some of what Hoss does and may develop into that kind of player. Maybe/maybe not but I like Saad's development and am interested to see if he can take another step this year.
- HawkintheD

Yep, he's gonna be a good one. Thought he kind of got pushed back a year playing right wing. This should be a big year for him.

But - is Hossa - in three years - going to be playing for $1MM per year? That's his salary beginning in 2017-18.
- StLBravesFan

After playing he may get groomed by the hawks to be a head coach

Yep, he's gonna be a good one. Thought he kind of got pushed back a year playing right wing. This should be a big year for him.
- Q...argh

Yeah, see.

Welcome back!

After playing he may get groomed by the hawks to be a head coach
- molly2522

Was thinking along those lines or maybe European scout or something. He seems like the kind of guy they'd like to keep in the organization.

Non hockey post, but:

How can a pitcher with these stats not be on the all-star team (even tho he missed several starts):

8-1
ERA = 2.16
WHIP = 0.87
WAR for 13 starts = 3.7

According to Capgeek, the following scenarios on a Hossa off seasons retirement are the following:
2014 (this) offseason: 1.875m x 7 years
2015 (next) offseason: 2.625m x 6 years
2016 offseason: 3.575m x 5 years
2017 or after offseason: 4.275m for each of the remaining contract years.

Then check out the buyout calculator for Hossa in any offseason on June 20th of that year. After the next three years (where Hossa makes more than $1m), the buyout numbers are $4.6-5.8 million depending on the year of the buyout.

I think Hossa could play through the end of his contract (like Teemu), but if doesn't, it's most beneficial to the team's cap hit for him to just retire. In addition, let's consider a hypothetical: Hossa's play declines immensely this next year. Then you have to look at the situation being where Hossa becomes a 3rd- or 4th-liner and PK specialist with a cap hit of 5.275m. Would it be better for him to retire after this next year? Then with the 2.6m extra dollars (5.275-2.625), could you find another player, or pay Brandon Saad? Just thinking...
- DMChi2010

My guess is that they have a deal with Hossa, that if he wants to hang them up, it will be claimed that it's because of his disc problem in his back. That way, no buyout, no recap penalty, Hossa gets every dime and gets put on LTIR (just like Marc Savard and Chris Pronger) and his cap hit gets freed up.

My guess is that they have a deal with Hossa, that if he wants to hang them up, it will be claimed that it's because of his disc problem in his back. That way, no buyout, no recap penalty, Hossa gets every dime and gets put on LTIR (just like Marc Savard and Chris Pronger) and his cap hit gets freed up.
- Tanuki

Sounds like a win-win plan. unless the NHL asks for a note from his doctor .

But I also think that would only happen if Hoss doesn't think he's contributing or that he's no longer able to play at a high level, perhaps legitimately due to a chronic back problem. He's a hockey player - I don't see him walking away just because he's down to $1M per year. I see him being loyal to the team that front-loaded the deal.

We'll take him as long as we can have him.