off topic I know...but lets look at the bolts as another example of the idiocy of the salary cap the owners and bettman have imposed on themselves...

bolts have drafted well and developed alot of young talent..they are loaded..unfortunatley they have not a won a cup to sooth their coming cap woes

2016-17 UFA: stamkos, RFA: kucherov, kilhorn, namestikov, paquette, brown
2017-18 UFA: hedman, bishop, boyle, RFA: palat, johnson, vasilesky

2/3 of their team will be UFA or RFA this summer and next

plus they have 4 aging dmen with 4-5 mil contracts

so what does stevie y do...stamkos has said no so far to 8.5 per for 8 years...if he wants 10 plus do they let him walk??

Schmaltz ,ya can't blame the kid for putting Education first. Plenty of time for hockey! Get that degree first young man. Also he mayyyyy bee keepin an eye on what the landscape of the team looks like, what his opportunity looks like for playing time, the money he can make. Don't be surprised if he opts not to sign but rather go the college FA route after college. There are other NHL teams on the come that may provide a better future that don't have 21 million bucks tied up in 2kids .
My point is as much as we want to believe this is the most desired location to play, then if there is any dis function in the front office ,Rocky needs to take care of it.
Because other cities offer a hell of a good show with young talent in the pipeline.

Hey now, us Polacks are born take the body, get to the net, skate your drills, win puck battles bottom 6 guys and we like it that way.
- Mr Ricochet

Brother I'm as polish as it gets. I come from a family of Oleshkos.

off topic I know...but lets look at the bolts as another example of the idiocy of the salary cap the owners and bettman have imposed on themselves...

bolts have drafted well and developed alot of young talent..they are loaded..unfortunatley they have not a won a cup to sooth their coming cap woes

2016-17 UFA: stamkos, RFA: kucherov, kilhorn, namestikov, paquette, brown
2017-18 UFA: hedman, bishop, boyle, RFA: palat, johnson, vasilesky

2/3 of their team will be UFA or RFA this summer and next

plus they have 4 aging dmen with 4-5 mil contracts

so what does stevie y do...stamkos has said no so far to 8.5 per for 8 years...if he wants 10 plus do they let him walk??
- bogiedoc

Cost certainty.

Saving the owners from themselves.

At least theoretically giving small-market (in hockey terms) teams a chance at developing a competitive roster.

The cap is far from a self-imposed idiocy.

Socialism on the buy side, unregulated capitalism on the sell - the perfect economic situation. (Except, of course, for the fact that revenues in general are too low.)

Cost certainty.

Saving the owners from themselves.

At least theoretically giving small-market (in hockey terms) teams a chance at developing a competitive roster.

The cap is far from a self-imposed idiocy.

Socialism on the buy side, unregulated capitalism on the sell - the perfect economic situation. (Except, of course, for the fact that revenues in general are too low.)
- StLBravesFan

You are missing the real problem with the NHL. It's not the restrictive salary cap, it's the lack of real TV revenue.

The two main deals in place are from Rogers Cable in Canada - 12 years 5.2 billion, and NBC - 10 years 2 billion.

The total the NHL gets per year from these deals is $630 million and change. Just for the sake of this exercise, if the NHL front office did not take a dime of this - and distributed it to the 30 NHL clubs, that would come to just a little over $21 million per team, but we all know the league office gets a cut of this.

So if you take the Blackhawks, for instance, the TV revenue from the league only covers the two contracts for Toews and Kane. That really is not a lot - especially when you compare it to what the NFL and the NBA make. It's really a joke.

This is why local TV deals and merchandising are SO important to each team. And if the teams don't have a LOT of merchandise sales and local viewership, they do nothing but hurt this league.

And I will tell you this, if the NHL expands to Las Vegas and one other city, and they have to split revenues even further, this will be a tipping point for another lengthy lockout, and then contraction within the next ten years - and they will only have themselves to blame.

Cost certainty.

Saving the owners from themselves.

At least theoretically giving small-market (in hockey terms) teams a chance at developing a competitive roster.

The cap is far from a self-imposed idiocy.

Socialism on the buy side, unregulated capitalism on the sell - the perfect economic situation. (Except, of course, for the fact that revenues in general are too low.)
- StLBravesFan

I agree with your 1st 3 points. The idiocy part is a team drafts and develops players becomes a playoff team even a cup contender and then has to sell off parts for their efforts.

Your final point is dead on...a bifurcated structure/process vs the buy/sell side...

You are missing the real problem with the NHL. It's not the restrictive salary cap, it's the lack of real TV revenue.

The two main deals in place are from Rogers Cable in Canada - 12 years 5.2 billion, and NBC - 10 years 2 billion.

The total the NHL gets per year from these deals is $630 million and change. Just for the sake of this exercise, if the NHL front office did not take a dime of this - and distributed it to the 30 NHL clubs, that would come to just a little over $21 million per team, but we all know the league office gets a cut of this.

So if you take the Blackhawks, for instance, the TV revenue from the league only covers the two contracts for Toews and Kane. That really is not a lot - especially when you compare it to what the NFL and the NBA make. It's really a joke.

This is why local TV deals and merchandising are SO important to each team. And if the teams don't have a LOT of merchandise sales and local viewership, they do nothing but hurt this league.

And I will tell you this, if the NHL expands to Las Vegas and one other city, and they have to split revenues even further, this will be a tipping point for another lengthy lockout, and then contraction within the next ten years - and they will only have themselves to blame.
- dahawks8819

NBA national TV revenues (ESPN and Turner) will go from $900MM per year to $2.6 Billion next year - and the cap from $70MM to $89MM next year to over $100MM in 2017-18.

NBA national TV revenues (ESPN and Turner) will go from $900MM per year to $2.6 Billion next year - and the cap from $70MM to $89MM next year to over $100MM in 2017-18.
- StLBravesFan

This is what I have said in previous posts - the NBA TV deals make in one year what NBC pays the NHL in 10 years!!!!!!

And Bettman kisses the behinds of NBC on almost every point.

NBC wanted teams in Florida, Southern California and Arizona - top TV markets, and Bettman made it happen - no matter how much these teams are costing the league.

And just because these teams can put 15,000 people in their buildings on a given night, that does NOT make them profitable. The merchandise sales are in the toilet for at least 12 teams. Their local TV ratings are awful - and NOT going to get better.

The NHL gifted two Stanley cups to the Kings with lackadaisical officiating - and their local ratings are still worse than most sports broadcast there - and NOT going to get better. And to compound the problems, the AHL moved four teams to that area - I guarantee at least three will be either begging to move within five years - or be forced to fold. They cannot sustain business with less than 5,000 people a night attending - and the NHL cannot afford to subsidize them like the NBA does with the WNBA.

Cost certainty.

Saving the owners from themselves.

At least theoretically giving small-market (in hockey terms) teams a chance at developing a competitive roster.

The cap is far from a self-imposed idiocy.

Socialism on the buy side, unregulated capitalism on the sell - the perfect economic situation. (Except, of course, for the fact that revenues in general are too low.)
- StLBravesFan

The cap is brutal for teams that do things well, spend where it won't be regulated by the cap by spending for first rate scouting, evaluating, coaching and facilities. But when much of the fruits of their labor are destined to leave in their prime the system needs tweaked.

Even as a Hawk fine I'm fine with A cap. IMO it's good for the game from a parity stand point and to protect the owners from themselves but changes or tweaks like stipulations to more easily keep your own drafted and developed players, maybe lower the max contracts so money is more spread out and more easily buyout bad contracts would allow the big money markets that bring ratings and exposure for the league to stay competitive.

Look at the horrid ratings this year with no Canadian teams in the playoffs or big market US teams in the conference finals.

Cost certainty.

Saving the owners from themselves.

At least theoretically giving small-market (in hockey terms) teams a chance at developing a competitive roster.

The cap is far from a self-imposed idiocy.

Socialism on the buy side, unregulated capitalism on the sell - the perfect economic situation. (Except, of course, for the fact that revenues in general are too low.)
- StLBravesFan

I really think the NHLPA will soon be split on how to allocate maximum contracts. More socialism is coming to the players who will be further denied the right to sell their services to the top bidders. What's the limit on a contract now? 20% of the salary cap? Didn't Toews and Kane both ask for $14M to start? Look for that number to decrease to 15% or lower in the next CBA. The owners will want this, and I think the non-superstar players will agree.

Schmaltz ,ya can't blame the kid for putting Education first. Plenty of time for hockey! Get that degree first young man. Also he mayyyyy bee keepin an eye on what the landscape of the team looks like, what his opportunity looks like for playing time, the money he can make. Don't be surprised if he opts not to sign but rather go the college FA route after college. There are other NHL teams on the come that may provide a better future that don't have 21 million bucks tied up in 2kids .
My point is as much as we want to believe this is the most desired location to play, then if there is any dis function in the front office ,Rocky needs to take care of it.
Because other cities offer a hell of a good show with young talent in the pipeline.
- wonthecup10

This worries me a little bit. He won a National Championship. You can always go back to school.

I'm spooked I guess because of Hayes, but every time a kid like him and Hayden don't sign and get into the system in the AHL, it worries me.

Maybe they are all on the same page, they don't have the spots this year, so don't start the ELC yet, hope so.

This worries me a little bit. He won a National Championship. You can always go back to school.

I'm spooked I guess because of Hayes, but every time a kid like him and Hayden don't sign and get into the system in the AHL, it worries me.

Maybe they are all on the same page, they don't have the spots this year, so don't start the ELC yet, hope so.
- vabeachbear

Starting the ELC sooner rather than later is to his financial benefit.

Who knows his reason for returning to college. Maybe he has a girlfriend he doesn't want to leave. Maybe he doesn't think he's ready for the NHL yet and doesn't want to struggle his first year. Or, maybe he wants to play for another organization and is willing to wait 2 more years for that. Who knows? Maybe if another college prospect pulls a K.Hayes it will cause the Hawks to refocus more on the talent rich CHL, which would be a good thing in my opinion.

This worries me a little bit. He won a National Championship. You can always go back to school.

I'm spooked I guess because of Hayes, but every time a kid like him and Hayden don't sign and get into the system in the AHL, it worries me.

Maybe they are all on the same page, they don't have the spots this year, so don't start the ELC yet, hope so.
- vabeachbear

Yes. We passed on Fabbri and could end up with a 2nd round compensatory pick. That would hurt.

This worries me a little bit. He won a National Championship. You can always go back to school.

I'm spooked I guess because of Hayes, but every time a kid like him and Hayden don't sign and get into the system in the AHL, it worries me.

Maybe they are all on the same page, they don't have the spots this year, so don't start the ELC yet, hope so.
- vabeachbear

Understand the worry, maybe he's worried he may not be good enough for the NHL and wants to have that degree so he has something to fall back on.

This worries me a little bit. He won a National Championship. You can always go back to school.

I'm spooked I guess because of Hayes, but every time a kid like him and Hayden don't sign and get into the system in the AHL, it worries me.

Maybe they are all on the same page, they don't have the spots this year, so don't start the ELC yet, hope so.
- vabeachbear

I am worried too, also because of what Kevin Hayes did prior. My thinking is these kids see what the lay out is here, take a step back, get thru the mental aura of the National Anthem, 3cups, Red Carpet, PR stuff, 21 million for 1goal between 2players in the playoffs, rolling the dice overseas knowing not everyone is gonna be Panerin an instead like maybe, Yakupov, Vrobiev, Marha era, then think maybe I'll wait this out. I hope not but my thinking is like Hayes, Schmaltz had something slam dunk, he's signing. And for the record I am 1fan that was hoping Kevin Hayes would have signed here.I think he is gonna be a better NHL player than his brother.

I am worried too, also because of what Kevin Hayes did prior. My thinking is these kids see what the lay out is here, take a step back, get thru the mental aura of the National Anthem, 3cups, Red Carpet, PR stuff, 21 million for 1goal between 2players in the playoffs, rolling the dice overseas knowing not everyone is gonna be Panerin an instead like maybe, Yakupov, Vrobiev, Marha era, then think maybe I'll wait this out. I hope not but my thinking is like Hayes, Schmaltz had something slam dunk, he's signing. And for the record I am 1fan that was hoping Kevin Hayes would have signed here.I think he is gonna be a better NHL player than his brother.
- wonthecup10

I guess the Hawks are still in an OK position. I would hope Stan would be able to read the kids intentions and trade him if they think he isn't going to sign.

Maybe Schmaltz knows Vessey is signing and he doesn't want to come in this year

I guess the Hawks are still in an OK position. I would hope Stan would be able to read the kids intentions and trade him if they think he isn't going to sign.

Maybe Schmaltz knows Vessey is signing and he doesn't want to come in this year
- vabeachbear

Are we gettin Vessey? I know I am rough about some of the moves and some of the players that dressed inthe playoffs but I am still holding onto a ray of hope that Stan ,and maybe I am reaching here can somehow make a mega trade, unloadBickells money and somehow come back with JVR , the kid Percy andmeybe the goalie Bernier ,Hate to think what would be going the other way though, maybe either of our goalies and prolly Shaw and or TT? But if TT survives the summer , then JMO , kid, you ain't playin center, your going right on the wing withTazer and JVR! Wishful thinking Huh?

Are we gettin Vessey? I know I am rough about some of the moves and some of the players that dressed inthe playoffs but I am still holding onto a ray of hope that Stan ,and maybe I am reaching here can somehow make a mega trade, unloadBickells money and somehow come back with JVR , the kid Percy andmeybe the goalie Bernier ,Hate to think what would be going the other way though, maybe either of our goalies and prolly Shaw and or TT? But if TT survives the summer , then JMO , kid, you ain't playin center, your going right on the wing withTazer and JVR! Wishful thinking Huh?
- wonthecup10

Vesey going to sign with Boston. Bank on it. Schmaltz just finished his sophomore year in college. Motte will need time in the AHL. No one at the Rock is NHL ready let alone a replacement for anyone on the roster now.

Any new adds to the NHL roster will come from Europe or trades.

Are we gettin Vessey? I know I am rough about some of the moves and some of the players that dressed inthe playoffs but I am still holding onto a ray of hope that Stan ,and maybe I am reaching here can somehow make a mega trade, unloadBickells money and somehow come back with JVR , the kid Percy andmeybe the goalie Bernier ,Hate to think what would be going the other way though, maybe either of our goalies and prolly Shaw and or TT? But if TT survives the summer , then JMO , kid, you ain't playin center, your going right on the wing withTazer and JVR! Wishful thinking Huh?
- wonthecup10

I don't think so, thus the at the end of the sentence.

NBA national TV revenues (ESPN and Turner) will go from $900MM per year to $2.6 Billion next year - and the cap from $70MM to $89MM next year to over $100MM in 2017-18.
- StLBravesFan

That's 100 million over 12/14 guys

It is Eklund... but his latest article is a debate that we've been having on the boards for a while now:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...p-Goalie-Outdated/1/77260

Vesey going to sign with Boston. Bank on it. Schmaltz just finished his sophomore year in college. Motte will need time in the AHL. No one at the Rock is NHL ready let alone a replacement for anyone on the roster now.

Any new adds to the NHL roster will come from Europe or trades.
- Return of the Roar

I am very Leary of this Eurpean crap, Panerin was 1thing but my take is if they aren't drafted by now and they are mid 20's , they prolly aren't much(Svedberg,Gus,ras ,ect)
As far as the kids, man can't cry over spilled milk but last year cost us 4 good size pieces for the future in exchange for 7 extra games. I would have been ok if he would have stood pat, roll the dice , now going forward with Dano, Danault, Johns and this years 1st rounder, vs, no Dano, Danault, Ladd, Johns and prolly add Shaw to that list plus Weise and Flieschman aren't re signing here either.
And there are those that think that kid Bowman signed last we can replace Shaw? What, 1fight under his belt overseas, that must look be like to women swinging purses at each other, they don't chuck em over there like they do here. shawgives ya everything

I am very Leary of this Eurpean crap, Panerin was 1thing but my take is if they aren't drafted by now and they are mid 20's , they prolly aren't much(Svedberg,Gus,ras ,ect)
As far as the kids, man can't cry over spilled milk but last year cost us 4 good size pieces for the future in exchange for 7 extra games. I would have been ok if he would have stood pat, roll the dice , now going forward with Dano, Danault, Johns and this years 1st rounder, vs, no Dano, Danault, Ladd, Johns and prolly add Shaw to that list plus Weise and Flieschman aren't re signing here either.
And there are those that think that kid Bowman signed last we can replace Shaw? What, 1fight under his belt overseas, that must look be like to women swinging purses at each other, they don't chuck em over there like they do here. shawgives ya everything
- wonthecup10

Johns was gift wrapped to a division rival in the Sharp "trade"...aka the great Larsony of Jim Nill. Stan Bowman basically gave Dallas the depth to be a playoff team with Sharp, Johns+ Oduya. I'm glad StanBo was bold at the TDL, but agitated by Q's refusal to play Weise more than 5 shifts a game.

I am very Leary of this Eurpean crap, Panerin was 1thing but my take is if they aren't drafted by now and they are mid 20's , they prolly aren't much(Svedberg,Gus,ras ,ect)
As far as the kids, man can't cry over spilled milk but last year cost us 4 good size pieces for the future in exchange for 7 extra games. I would have been ok if he would have stood pat, roll the dice , now going forward with Dano, Danault, Johns and this years 1st rounder, vs, no Dano, Danault, Ladd, Johns and prolly add Shaw to that list plus Weise and Flieschman aren't re signing here either.
And there are those that think that kid Bowman signed last we can replace Shaw? What, 1fight under his belt overseas, that must look be like to women swinging purses at each other, they don't chuck em over there like they do here. shawgives ya everything
- wonthecup10

Not the best position to be in for sure, but low draft slots and weak prospects are one price of success.

Shaw's health (back issues) is likely the greatest obstacle to a re-signfor him. Also, unless he were to get an NMC as a part of any new longer term deal, a healthy re-signed Shaw would also be an expansion draft target.

I dont sweat any of the losses to the roster but perhaps Johns, and even he needs more time to get his NHL game together. I think Dano was let go for a reason, Danault....still has learning to do, and Ladd supposedly DOES want to get paid good money for his last deal.

I dont envy the job the FO has in front of them. Every $5MM plus contract on the roster is not moveable for any net advantage. The cap has basically forced the FO to trade one of those players, but cause an equal or worse hole elsewhere in the lineup, or they must commit to developing a couple of younger players.

No team is going to do a "dynasty" any favors either.

So I think the hope will be that Kempny can become a respectable 4D, Panik will become at worst a solid third liner, Lundberg can play a role on the bottom six, and the $6-7MM in cap they will have left after buying out Bickell at least gets them Shaw on a discount deal for one year, and they find another forward with some sandpaper on the boards and some speed for a good price to bring back two top six scoring line threats.

They also longer term have to find the dollars for Panarin the following season.

I think if they take things one season at a time, they will find a way to retool a competitive team. Combine that with a healthier 7, 81, and 16 and maybe even a contender again.

Johns was gift wrapped to a division rival in the Sharp "trade"...aka the great Larsony of Jim Nill. Stan Bowman basically gave Dallas the depth to be a playoff team with Sharp, Johns+ Oduya. I'm glad StanBo was bold at the TDL, but agitated by Q's refusal to play Weise more than 5 shifts a game.
- EnzoD

I am feelin something could be in the works with the Leafs,keep comin back to JVR, the CAPTIAN had a lot to say deep in the bowels I would think about another 1st line LW come camp, this Panik bullshut won't fly with him come sept. Babcock absolutely wants in the playoffs next year, as much as I don't want to see Crow leave, ...and Toronto wants a goalie, ....goin back to, ?.......Crawford, Shaws contract,Bickell's money and????? For JVR, a young Tornto D man, Jonathen Brenier +? ,,,, enough going each way? Hawks with a strong team could win with Bernier? darling is a BACK UP goalie, nothing more, Hmmmm.