Just as important otherplayers will need to accept substantial cuts in pay just to get an NHL contract (Stahl, Ladd).

Spasto

I think the news on the salary cap potentially dropping below $70m is an absolute stunner. Hoping that the NHLPA is going to bail out the league by approving the 5% inflation escalator is highly problematic. The inflator is what triggers the escrow holdback (15%+ of a players salary) and it is universally despised by players and agents.

This is going to put many teams at risk. It will knock most of those teams out of the UFA bidding market, including any chance they will be able to bid for their own players (no way LA can offer Lucic a deal or Boston can retain Ericsson). Stamkos is a bit more complex because he is in a UFA class all of his own and Tampa has a boatload of young skilled players they can move as incentives to off load another big salary (Bishop).

The talk about Detroit moving salary to bid on Stamkos is just fluff. Rangers will not be able to move Nash. St Louis will lose some good players. Just as important otherplayers will need to accept substantial cuts in pay just to get an NHL contract (Stahl, Ladd). Guys who thought they would get a huge pay day (e.g. Yandle) will need to curb their expectations.

So, think in terms of as many as 10 top teams having to shed salary. Also, there is a group of young teams (e.g.., Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa) that are fast approaching cap thresholds. They are not really in a position to take on much more in long term salary. If they want to be able to cover their own player contracts in the next few years they need to be careful.

Colorado is the poster boy for a team that looks like it is okay when it is not. It appears to only have a cap hit of $52m. for 14 contracts. But if you look closer they need to sign Mackinnon and Barrie this summer. And, they need to add as many as 7 other contracts for a full roster of 23.

I think the potential for huge deals is phenomenal, but teams will pay very little for taking on a big dollar contract. We may be surprised to see movement of some very high profile players.
- spatso

very interesting... but you could have just said that there are several teams that need to invest in an island.... where overpriced veterans go to retire.

I could see leafs sending Bozak to the wild or Devils. Wild are looking for scoring and leafs are looking for a young dman to groom; could see dumba and a contract coming back.

Lou will try and pry Larson and or Kinkaid from the Devils. I could really see something like Bozak and a second or a prospect like Percy going the other way.
- Kinggilmour

I believe Bozak goes to the Rangers or the Flyers - as part of prospect/young player and CAP dump acquisitions.

give him credit here... he didn't mention that Laine is better than Matthews.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Way to go (frank)face, now he next post will....

I think the news on the salary cap potentially dropping below $70m is an absolute stunner. Hoping that the NHLPA is going to bail out the league by approving the 5% inflation escalator is highly problematic. The inflator is what triggers the escrow holdback (15%+ of a players salary) and it is universally despised by players and agents.

This is going to put many teams at risk. It will knock most of those teams out of the UFA bidding market, including any chance they will be able to bid for their own players (no way LA can offer Lucic a deal or Boston can retain Ericsson). Stamkos is a bit more complex because he is in a UFA class all of his own and Tampa has a boatload of young skilled players they can move as incentives to off load another big salary (Bishop).

The talk about Detroit moving salary to bid on Stamkos is just fluff. Rangers will not be able to move Nash. St Louis will lose some good players. Just as important otherplayers will need to accept substantial cuts in pay just to get an NHL contract (Stahl, Ladd). Guys who thought they would get a huge pay day (e.g. Yandle) will need to curb their expectations.

So, think in terms of as many as 10 top teams having to shed salary. Also, there is a group of young teams (e.g.., Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa) that are fast approaching cap thresholds. They are not really in a position to take on much more in long term salary. If they want to be able to cover their own player contracts in the next few years they need to be careful.

Colorado is the poster boy for a team that looks like it is okay when it is not. It appears to only have a cap hit of $52m. for 14 contracts. But if you look closer they need to sign Mackinnon and Barrie this summer. And, they need to add as many as 7 other contracts for a full roster of 23.

I think the potential for huge deals is phenomenal, but teams will pay very little for taking on a big dollar contract. We may be surprised to see movement of some very high profile players.
- spatso

Which is a good problem to have if your the Leafs. We don't have to rush into anything but be patient and let this all unfold. I wouldn't be paying a high price for a goalie right now as the problem with the salary cap situation and expansion means we can sit back and get one on the cheap.

I believe Bozak goes to the Rangers or the Flyers - as part of prospect/young player and CAP dump acquisitions.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Well You would have to add a (frank)ing boatload to pry Larsson from us just look at the minutes he played for us he is a legit NHL top Pairing defender and many might not of noticed it this past season but I bet they do this year. Keep in mind Larsson has gotten next to no time on the pp to get points to look sexy to the fans who don't watch him.

I think the news on the salary cap potentially dropping below $70m is an absolute stunner. Hoping that the NHLPA is going to bail out the league by approving the 5% inflation escalator is highly problematic. The inflator is what triggers the escrow holdback (15%+ of a players salary) and it is universally despised by players and agents.

This is going to put many teams at risk. It will knock most of those teams out of the UFA bidding market, including any chance they will be able to bid for their own players (no way LA can offer Lucic a deal or Boston can retain Ericsson). Stamkos is a bit more complex because he is in a UFA class all of his own and Tampa has a boatload of young skilled players they can move as incentives to off load another big salary (Bishop).

The talk about Detroit moving salary to bid on Stamkos is just fluff. Rangers will not be able to move Nash. St Louis will lose some good players. Just as important otherplayers will need to accept substantial cuts in pay just to get an NHL contract (Stahl, Ladd). Guys who thought they would get a huge pay day (e.g. Yandle) will need to curb their expectations.

So, think in terms of as many as 10 top teams having to shed salary. Also, there is a group of young teams (e.g.., Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa) that are fast approaching cap thresholds. They are not really in a position to take on much more in long term salary. If they want to be able to cover their own player contracts in the next few years they need to be careful.

Colorado is the poster boy for a team that looks like it is okay when it is not. It appears to only have a cap hit of $52m. for 14 contracts. But if you look closer they need to sign Mackinnon and Barrie this summer. And, they need to add as many as 7 other contracts for a full roster of 23.

I think the potential for huge deals is phenomenal, but teams will pay very little for taking on a big dollar contract. We may be surprised to see movement of some very high profile players.
- spatso

expansion could help some of these teams

Monday...

damnit

Way to go (frank)face, now he next post will....
- .HOHO.

like he needs any encouragement

The only way that the Leafs would take Laine, would be if they took Matthews second.
The Jets would be nuts to deal the #2 pick, but stranger things have happened. Still I'd doubt that Lou would be the sort of show-boat to try to pull off such a deal.
It might not be impossible, but it would likely be a lot bigger than the original Kessel deal from Boston to Toronto.
Would the Jets consider Nylander and Pittsburgh's #1 plus some other prospect? Maybe, but would that prove anything for Toronto? Laine could be a dominant player. While Nylander may be a star, but he's unlikely to carry a team on his back. So maybe you consider rolling that dice? Most likely though, everybody stands pat in the top 2.
- doktordave

I would love that but it would take much more. I think maybe dangling Nylander to Jim Benning for Van's pick would be closer. I would love to get my hands on tkatchuk

I would love that but it would take much more. I think maybe dangling Nylander to Jim Benning for Van's pick would be closer. I would love to get my hands on tkatchuk
- sparky

oh

oh
- senstroll

Trading Nylander again?

Seems like a bad idea

I am tired of the Kessel haters claiming he is only successful now because he is on the third line.

he was a top 10 scorer in the league when the Leafs had only 1 line.
He has produced in the playoffs with the Leafs the one and only time they were in, on the first line.

Just stop the bull Mike.

Trading Nylander again?

Seems like a bad idea
- WingmanWillie

Just because you'd need a new username and avatard

I am tired of the Kessel haters claiming he is only successful now because he is on the third line.

he was a top 10 scorer in the league when the Leafs had only 1 line.
He has produced in the playoffs with the Leafs the one and only time they were in, on the first line.

Just stop the bull Mike.
- Rang

It helps that he's facing relatively weaker competition more regularly.

It helps that he's facing relatively weaker competition more regularly.
- A_Tree

he faced top competition in toronto and was a top 5 offensive player over a 3-4 year period.

Just because you'd need a new username and avatard
- AdamFrench

And because trading away young, skilled players does not work out very often

I am tired of the Kessel haters claiming he is only successful now because he is on the third line.

he was a top 10 scorer in the league when the Leafs had only 1 line.
He has produced in the playoffs with the Leafs the one and only time they were in, on the first line.

Just stop the bull Mike.
- Rang

Kessel is having more success in Pitt simply because he's not playing against the other team's top line like he was in Toronto.

Kessel is having more success in Pitt simply because he's not playing against the other team's top line like he was in Toronto.
- .HOHO.

kessel's point per game pace was lower this year than it was in any season with toronto

Kessel is having more success in Pitt simply because he's not playing against the other team's top line like he was in Toronto.
- .HOHO.

It was a really smart move by Pittsburgh to slot him there. They've got serious scoring threats through all 3 lines and their 4th is contributing too.

he faced top competition in toronto and was a top 5 offensive player over a 3-4 year period.
- daeth

I'm not saying he's not up to the task. Clearly he's very talented. I also believe that seeing significantly less minutes on average has helped his game through a lengthy playoffs.

Kessel is having more success in Pitt simply because he's not playing against the other team's top line like he was in Toronto.
- .HOHO.

No, if you go by the numbers he's having less success in Pittsburgh.

He does however have a team around him that's significantly better, and a coach who has a clue, hence the fact that he's now two wins away from a ring...

It was a really smart move by Pittsburgh to slot him there. They've got serious scoring threats through all 3 lines and their 4th is contributing too.
- markmark

Yeah, it's tough to ice a better forward group than what the penguin's have right now.

I'm not saying he's not up to the task. Clearly he's very talented. I also believe that seeing significantly less minutes on average has helped his game through a lengthy playoffs.
- A_Tree

I think Ottawa could see a really useful Phaneuf as well if they keep him in lower minutes. I always thought his game was MUCH better when he was closer to 20min a game rather than 30. Although who knows how they will use him.