Or we could just wait for him to be a FA next summer...
- mochoson

In today's hockey world...so few "stars" make it to the FA market. Seems most of them are dealt beforehand or re-signed. Teams talk to the players more now, stress the issue -- and know intentions

Meh philly isnt that much better at all ,just because our very young team stumbled a bit last season doesnt mean a damn thing
- top shelf 15

But their owner isn't afraid to spend money.

In today's hockey world...so few "stars" make it to the FA market. Seems most of them are dealt beforehand or re-signed. Teams talk to the players more now, stress the issue -- and know intentions
- jerseyleaf

Wouldn't argue any of that.

Difference is were talking about a player that will likely go to FA and inevitably sign here, so it's sort of irrelevant.

We're all being pretty negative on Canadian teams and markets lately. I disagree fully that finances are a concern for UFAs to play in Canada for a couple of reasons:
1. The exchange rate issues are not a factor despite what many of you believe. We (Canada) are in a trough phase at the moment and not looking that bad overall:

https://encrypted.google....ei=jgDEU_jnJJKcyASW1oHgDw

The currency still gets you 90% to the US dollar, which to a multi-millionaire like most big name NHL players is irrelevant (and, as said, NHL contracts are paid in US dollars). If anything Canadian teams can use this as a sales pitch because they can argue you'll get more bang for your buck making $US dollars in Canada than the other way around. This really only matters to players investing heavily in US property, but again, they are paid more than enough to afford a very large home anywhere in the US outside of Malibu and Manhatten, and even then they could afford it.

2. Taxes, despite what people like Tim Thomas would say, are not a concern to anyone playing in the NHL. If it were the case, Florida, Nashville, TB, Arizona and Carolina would be the teams that sign all the big name players, but Canada is actually more competitive now as a tax jurisdiction than it has been since we signed on to NAFTA. And, I can speak from first hand experience on this, when you get to the six or seven figure income levels, tax is largely irrelevant unless you are a petty, cheap and greedy douchebag because you can already afford anything you would ever want outside of a landed gentry estate in Europe somewhere or owning your own professional soccer team. People making millions are more concerned about issues like the community they would live in, quality of schools for their kids, nightlife and culture/food, and how much privacy they would have (THIS is where Canada has an issue over the US, we won't leave these guys alone on their down time). Tax is a secondary consideration because what you spend in a day is made up by 9:30 the next morning on your next paycheque.

I remember when Gonchar signed here on his $5.5 mil contract, he said the thing that he really like about Ottawa was the great living environment and how welcoming and easy it was to move into the community. Money did not even register at all as an advantage to these guys.

In Ryan's case, I don't think the Sens budget issues are a concern. We've liquidated our books of all bad contracts except for Greening and Philips (who will be gone the year after Ryan resigns, we can use the money from Philips' contract to give Ryan his raise- I think $7.6-7.7 per year is a fair salary offer for Ryan in the context of the Kane and Toews extensions). I doubt the taxes paid in Ontario are such a concern for him, it would more be about having to be taxed double because he is a US citizen and their laws changed recently where expats would owe additional money to the IRS on what they earn in Canada in light of the new tax compliance treaties Canada has with the US.

I would be confident he extends, probly just waiting for final details of the contract and Murray to get well enough to deal with the PR and other issues associated with extending him.

I have faith...

We're all being pretty negative on Canadian teams and markets lately. I disagree fully that finances are a concern for UFAs to play in Canada for a couple of reasons:
1. The exchange rate issues are not a factor despite what many of you believe. We (Canada) are in a trough phase at the moment and not looking that bad overall:

https://encrypted.google....ei=jgDEU_jnJJKcyASW1oHgDw

The currency still gets you 90% to the US dollar, which to a multi-millionaire like most big name NHL players is irrelevant (and, as said, NHL contracts are paid in US dollars). If anything Canadian teams can use this as a sales pitch because they can argue you'll get more bang for your buck making $US dollars in Canada than the other way around. This really only matters to players investing heavily in US property, but again, they are paid more than enough to afford a very large home anywhere in the US outside of Malibu and Manhatten, and even then they could afford it.

2. Taxes, despite what people like Tim Thomas would say, are not a concern to anyone playing in the NHL. If it were the case, Florida, Nashville, TB, Arizona and Carolina would be the teams that sign all the big name players, but Canada is actually more competitive now as a tax jurisdiction than it has been since we signed on to NAFTA. And, I can speak from first hand experience on this, when you get to the six or seven figure income levels, tax is largely irrelevant unless you are a petty, cheap and greedy douchebag because you can already afford anything you would ever want outside of a landed gentry estate in Europe somewhere or owning your own professional soccer team. People making millions are more concerned about issues like the community they would live in, quality of schools for their kids, nightlife and culture/food, and how much privacy they would have (THIS is where Canada has an issue over the US, we won't leave these guys alone on their down time). Tax is a secondary consideration because what you spend in a day is made up by 9:30 the next morning on your next paycheque.

I remember when Gonchar signed here on his $5.5 mil contract, he said the thing that he really like about Ottawa was the great living environment and how welcoming and easy it was to move into the community. Money did not even register at all as an advantage to these guys.

In Ryan's case, I don't think the Sens budget issues are a concern. We've liquidated our books of all bad contracts except for Greening and Philips (who will be gone the year after Ryan resigns, we can use the money from Philips' contract to give Ryan his raise- I think $7.6-7.7 per year is a fair salary offer for Ryan in the context of the Kane and Toews extensions). I doubt the taxes paid in Ontario are such a concern for him, it would more be about having to be taxed double because he is a US citizen and their laws changed recently where expats would owe additional money to the IRS on what they earn in Canada in light of the new tax compliance treaties Canada has with the US.

I would be confident he extends, probly just waiting for final details of the contract and Murray to get well enough to deal with the PR and other issues associated with extending him.

I have faith...
- ahjnkn

Nice writeup - well said

But your team did stumble, and Philly is still better regardless of how you want to word it.
- mochoson

I dont see it sorry other than Giroux ,who we counter with EK .Where are you better ??Down the middle ??defense?? goaltending??Simonds and Voracek,are good players Read isnt bad .But i dont see where philly is some sort of powerhouse

Probably come down to taxes.

The Canadian teams are really working on an uneven playing ground. It seems like no free agents want to sign in Canada. The primary reasons have to be media, weather and taxes. Taxes being the most important factor.

I think the league needs to address this at some point, although I can't see Bettman being too concerned with having all the Canadian teams handicapped.
- Aetherial

but there's a difference between acquiring players and retaining them. in fact the difference is such that they cannot even be compared. Canadian teams do not have trouble retaining UFAs for the most part. Vancouver, Sedins. Leafs, Phaneuf and Kessel. Habs, Markov.

where it concerns acquiring players, i don't believe weather is a factor. Minnesota seems to have no trouble landing UFAs and they experience winters every bit as harsh as we do in Canada. Boston and Buffalo experience brutal winters as well and they manage to attract players. i think the biggest factor is media attention/scrutiny combined with lack of competitiveness. why would a player willingly subject themselves to the attention to finish 10th in the conference? i've said this many times: you want to see stars WANT to play in Canada, then Canadian teams need to start putting better teams on the ice. ONE Canadian team made the playoffs last year. and it would shock no one if 6 miss out this year once again.

But their owner isn't afraid to spend money stupidly.
- TimBits

fixed,yes EM needs to spend but there is no more hiding, from what he said last season about saving money for our talent.He has maintained he will spend ,if it makes sense

I would trade him to Philly. Tell Philly, straight up trade for Simmonds - DONE!

I would consider a package deal of Read, 2015 1st, good prospect....

Either way, if he doesn't sign before the season starts, he has to go, before the season starts! Cant have this hanging around all year... Most definitely cannot risk him getting hurt and walking for nothing.
- BodyCheckRadio

Why would we ever trade for him when he's gonna be UFA who wants to pay for Philly? Don't have to give up anything

USA Today June 24 2012

Ryan concedes he'd love playing on a line with Flyers star center Claude Giroux, who finished third in the league in scoring last season with 93 points and added 17 points in 10 postseason games.
- jerseyleaf

Haha. So would I. And so would you. And so would just about any player in the league.

I dont see it sorry other than Giroux ,who we counter with EK .Where are you better ??Down the middle ??defense?? goaltending??Simonds and Voracek,are good players Read isnt bad .But i dont see where philly is some sort of powerhouse

- top shelf 15

I didn't say they were a power house, just better than the Senators.

Ottawa has several things going for it in regards to resigning Ryan. One thing is he wants to be THE MAN. Now that everyone of note has left he would be the face of the team.
He also wants to build his own brand. That BR9 hat he wears would have never worked in Anaheim. He also has a media throng in Ottawa. He loves the attention.
The only roadblock is money. He wants to be paid with the elite players on the league and the Toews/Kane contracts upped the ante. If Ottawa pays him, he'll stay.

I like Ryan as a player, not a great fan of the trade when it happened. But you have to deal with the reality of the situation. Only Ottawa can offer Spezza like money ($60m over 8 years). It will likely take that kind of deal.

If you cannot get the deal done before the season starts you are better to deal him now. My first choice would be a straight up deal with San Jose for Couture. San Jose is loaded at center. Thornton is going nowhere and they just signed Wingel. But as strong as they may be down the middle they need help on the wing.

Don't believe any of the Flyer stuff. Ryan lives in Montana in the summer, Giroux has his home and business in Ottawa during the off season.

I didn't say they were a power house, just better than the Senators.
- mochoson

Not by much ,if at all though.Dont confuse us being one of the youngest teams with being one of the worse.We shed our old core and seasoned our kids under it ,players like Zbad/ceci/cowen/lehner/stone/Lazar etc .Are ready to take the team over ,this is a good thing for us bad news for the east

I like Ryan as a player, not a great fan of the trade when it happened. But you have to deal with the reality of the situation. Only Ottawa can offer Spezza like money ($60m over 8 years). It will likely take that kind of deal.

If you cannot get the deal done before the season starts you are better to deal him now. My first choice would be a straight up deal with San Jose for Couture. San Jose is loaded at center. Thornton is going nowhere and they just signed Wingel. But as strong as they may be down the middle they need help on the wing.

Don't believe any of the Flyer stuff. Ryan lives in Montana in the summer, Giroux has his home and business in Ottawa during the off season.
- spatso

Yep he will be a sen soon

Ottawa has several things going for it in regards to resigning Ryan. One thing is he wants to be THE MAN. Now that everyone of note has left he would be the face of the team.
He also wants to build his own brand. That BR9 hat he wears would have never worked in Anaheim. He also has a media throng in Ottawa. He loves the attention.
The only roadblock is money. He wants to be paid with the elite players on the league and the Toews/Kane contracts upped the ante. If Ottawa pays him, he'll stay.
- duxcup07

8 YEARS 56 MIL

8 YEARS 56 MIL

- top shelf 15

8 years $60m or even $64m.

8 years $60m or even $64m.
- spatso

But he likes ottawa......
Yep ,ottawa needed and still needs him,EM cant whine about how much he will cost because he put us into this situation to begin with

Bobby Ryan for ROR (Remember he can play LW too)

Bobby Ryan for ROR (Remember he can play LW too)
- DDM-Coga

Thats fair value tbh ,but we both have the same issues both want rockstar money

Thats fair value tbh ,but we both have the same issues both want rockstar money

- top shelf 15

I would give Ryan the money, I just dont want to pay ROR for how he has handled his contract talks.

Love him as a player, soured on him as a person off the ice.

There are not many (if any) teams spending near the cap this year that will be able to clear $8m to sign Ryan next year. Cap situation is going to be a lot tougher next year. Remember the biggest change in contracting is not the demands of UFAs. It is the demand for top money by RFAs (ROR, Subban, Johannson).

Teams like the Flyers have been shut out of the UFA market because they can't even give away their bad contracts (LaCavalier). Toronto could not retain some good players because they did not have the cap flexibility. Chicago is likely going to get a small return for a good player like Sharp.

The much more difficult question is does Ottawa want to pay Ryan in a range that could run in excess of $8m?

How can you exclude the fact that Bobby Ryan has openly said he wants to play for the flyers and with Claude giroux. He wants to play for the team he loves growing up and closest to his home. At least have some mention about that since may try to sign with us
- arichardson22

He has never said that, but keep drinking the orange kool-aid. He said he would like to paly with Giroux when some Philly reporter asked him.

Why does anyone think Ryan would want to go back to Cherry Hill? Do you people know anything about his childhood? It wasn't like he had a great time in the Philly area, he was there as a little kid and had to RUN FROM THE LAW.

lmao.

Bobby Ryan for ROR (Remember he can play LW too)
- DDM-Coga

Fair deal, ROR is better age fit for Senators. But, Couture makes even more sense.

Fair deal, ROR is better age fit for Senators. But, Couture makes even more sense.
- spatso

No way SJ deals him ,i would love to see him here but we would be adding alot to make that happen