Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils Going Nowhere + Would you Give Sykora a 2 Year Deal?

Sure give him a two year so Lou can buy out the second year

If its only for about a million per then yeah give him the 2 years. Worst case he ends up in the pressbox.

No, the Devils either need to "trade" for a top 6 forward or fill within...they do NOT need another aging forward way past his prime. Lets start getting some youth on this team. Remember. Skyora had a good beginning but died down the stretch and was bench most on the time.

Don't minimize this, when you can't pay your bills things start to disappear.
I think the ownership situation has an impact on what is going on with signing players, besides why should Sykora sign there with all this financial BS, I wouldn't. Really curious in how the league will handle this, another bail out like Phoenix? Once the new CBA is in place and the league takes over the Devils they should be forced to get to the league minimum in payroll, if they can't pay their bills without a bail out or early revenue sharing streams then they should be forced to cut cut cut......tired of watching this hypocrisy, when other teams actually can pay their own way don't make the playoffs and a team that is sinking financially gets help and is allowed to maintain a high payroll and even add salary at the trade deadline. Seems odd.....

Don't minimize this, when you can't pay your bills things start to disappear.
I think the ownership situation has an impact on what is going on with signing players, besides why should Sykora sign there with all this financial BS, I wouldn't. Really curious in how the league will handle this, another bail out like Phoenix? Once the new CBA is in place and the league takes over the Devils they should be forced to get to the league minimum in payroll, if they can't pay their bills without a bail out or early revenue sharing streams then they should be forced to cut cut cut......tired of watching this hypocrisy, when other teams actually can pay their own way don't make the playoffs and a team that is sinking financially gets help and is allowed to maintain a high payroll and even add salary at the trade deadline. Seems odd.....
- TheFreep

Another internet no it all, answers to everything

I think the ownership situation has an impact on what is going on with signing players, besides why should Sykora sign there with all this financial BS,
- TheFreep

Really?! It's not like he's going to sign a multi million $$ contract.

What if we signed him, 2 years and a nicer way of saying benched we could "rest" him a little more in the beginning of the year so he doesnt burn at the end of the year? Guy can still put up some points and wasn't exactly a Liability .

Don't minimize this, when you can't pay your bills things start to disappear.
I think the ownership situation has an impact on what is going on with signing players, besides why should Sykora sign there with all this financial BS, I wouldn't. Really curious in how the league will handle this, another bail out like Phoenix? Once the new CBA is in place and the league takes over the Devils they should be forced to get to the league minimum in payroll, if they can't pay their bills without a bail out or early revenue sharing streams then they should be forced to cut cut cut......tired of watching this hypocrisy, when other teams actually can pay their own way don't make the playoffs and a team that is sinking financially gets help and is allowed to maintain a high payroll and even add salary at the trade deadline. Seems odd.....
- TheFreep

The devils don't get revenue sharing. Your grasp on this situation is weak.

Another internet no it all, answers to everything
- Bowkes

The devils don't get revenue sharing. Your grasp on this situation is weak.
- rmdevil313

So would it be fair to say that it is Freep that doesn't get revenue sharing?

Do you see what I did there?

So would it be fair to say that it is Freep that doesn't get revenue sharing?

Do you see what I did there?
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes. Most people don't know that teams in the largest markets can't get revenue sharing, they just assume that its the poor teams. I know the Devils, Islanders, Ducks, don't see a penny.

I would in a heartbeat. He would be a great mentor for some of the young kids we have coming up; Huberdeau, Howden, Bjugstad. Plus, if he still has an offensive spark and can provide 10-18 goals playing on the third line, he is worth it all day long.

As for this relocation crap, I know how you Devils' fans feel. Since I'm a Panthers' fan, I hear this garbage all the time. The fact of the matter is, no one knows what is going to happen until it happens. That goes for you guys, us, the Islanders, Thrashers, Coyotes, etc.. keep your heads up.

Yes. Most people don't know that teams in the largest markets can't get revenue sharing, they just assume that its the poor teams. I know the Devils, Islanders, Ducks, don't see a penny.
- rmdevil313

Apparently the owner's first proposal to the NHLPA on the new CBA has a revised revenue-sharing plan, which will spread the wealth a little more.

Should be interesting to see.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils Going Nowhere + Would you Give Sykora a 2 Year Deal?
- Todd.Cordell

If it was a two-year deal at 1 million per, Lou would've already pulled the trigger.

He's probably asking for 2 years at 2-3 million per. Quite honestly, he has the numbers to back it up, as 20g 20a usually warrants that type of salary, but then again, there's a lot of question marks with him, especially pertaining to can he keep it up, as there were times last year where he had some very bad games.

No, the Devils either need to "trade" for a top 6 forward or fill within...they do NOT need another aging forward way past his prime. Lets start getting some youth on this team. Remember. Skyora had a good beginning but died down the stretch and was bench most on the time.
- Gambi99

I doubt we get a top-six forward without giving up one of our better prospects. We don't exactly have the greatest prospect pool behind Tedenby, JJ, Urbom, Gelinas, and Merrill, and none of them are close to NHL-ready. Maybe we can pry a Mason Raymond type player for one of our excess defensemen, but that's about it.

The thing is, at this point in time, we have two top-nine spots open. Likely, Tedenby should take one of them. We don't exactly have any young guys that are NHL-ready. The "best" we might have is a Matt Anderson or a Steve Zalewski, not exactly the guys you want to see in your top-nine. Either that, or use one of the fourth liners.

Quite honestly, Sykora gives us that versatility (C/W) and the depth scoring we need. He gives us one more reliable, set in stone option in the top nine who can score. As much as we hope, we haven't seen the latter from Tedenby or Josefson all that often and we can't guarantee one of the fourth liners can do it either.

Apparently the owner's first proposal to the NHLPA on the new CBA has a revised revenue-sharing plan, which will spread the wealth a little more.

Should be interesting to see.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup. I think it will be interesting if the cap drops significantly.

I doubt we get a top-six forward without giving up one of our better prospects. We don't exactly have the greatest prospect pool behind Tedenby, JJ, Urbom, Gelinas, and Merrill, and none of them are close to NHL-ready. Maybe we can pry a Mason Raymond type player for one of our excess defensemen, but that's about it.

The thing is, at this point in time, we have two top-nine spots open. Likely, Tedenby should take one of them. We don't exactly have any young guys that are NHL-ready. The "best" we might have is a Matt Anderson or a Steve Zalewski, not exactly the guys you want to see in your top-nine. Either that, or use one of the fourth liners.

Quite honestly, Sykora gives us that versatility (C/W) and the depth scoring we need. He gives us one more reliable, set in stone option in the top nine who can score. As much as we hope, we haven't seen the latter from Tedenby or Josefson all that often and we can't guarantee one of the fourth liners can do it either.
- _Zippy_

I think Tallinder can still get a decent return. He can log a lot of minutes, is a great mentor, and fairly mobile. A lot of teams are looking for extra

Yup. I think it will be interesting if the cap drops significantly.
- rmdevil313

It's too high. It should be like 55-60. No higher.

I think Tallinder can still get a decent return. He can log a lot of minutes, is a great mentor, and fairly mobile. A lot of teams are looking for extra
- rmdevil313

Okay then.

If Tallinder is the guy to go, then what could be the return. Realistic destinations are probably Detroit, Edmonton, maybe St. Louis. Only thing of interest, to me, from Detroit is Helm. From Edmonton is maybe Paajarvi possibly Gagner, however do those both have higher value than Tallinder? From St. Louis, D'Agostini, Berglund, Stewart could be trade bait, and the latter two probably have more value that Tallinder.

When it really comes down to it, our defensemen aren't going to warrant a return we would want or need. We would have to add something of significance, and we don't have first round picks to toss around or top-end prospects either.

It's too high. It should be like 55-60. No higher.
- _Zippy_

Canadian original six teams with no red in their uniforms should get an additional $20 million in cap room.

Just an idea I'm throwing out there...

It's not as crazy as it sounds. You know we would just squander it anyways.

It's too high. It should be like 55-60. No higher.
- _Zippy_

Its a tricky situation. The players don't want to give up money (or at least not a lot), which keeps the cap going up. There will always be teams that spend money to that cap, but then you have teams who can't even get to the floor without being in the red. I could see it being similar to last years cap, in which case there will be quite a few players available. With a 64 million dollar cap, the sharks would be over by a few 100k, while teams like Philly, Calgary, Boston, Minnesota, and Vancouver would need to drop 3 mill+..

Its a tricky situation. The players don't want to give up money (or at least not a lot), which keeps the cap going up. There will always be teams that spend money to that cap, but then you have teams who can't even get to the floor without being in the red. I could see it being similar to last years cap, in which case there will be quite a few players available. With a 64 million dollar cap, the sharks would be over by a few 100k, while teams like Philly, Calgary, Boston, Minnesota, and Vancouver would need to drop 3 mill+..
- rmdevil313

The owners are actually asking for a drastic reduction. When you factor in that they want overall revenues to be calculated differently, they are looking to drop player salaries to 43% of total revenues.

I just don't see how that is possible without a corresponding rollback of salaries on existing contracts. Just like last time.

Bottom line: don't be expecting any hockey before US Thanksgiving.

At the earliest.

Its a tricky situation. The players don't want to give up money (or at least not a lot), which keeps the cap going up. There will always be teams that spend money to that cap, but then you have teams who can't even get to the floor without being in the red. I could see it being similar to last years cap, in which case there will be quite a few players available. With a 64 million dollar cap, the sharks would be over by a few 100k, while teams like Philly, Calgary, Boston, Minnesota, and Vancouver would need to drop 3 mill+..
- rmdevil313

If they drop the cap, there will be subsequent rollbacks. They have to. They would devise some sort of plan so that the rollback is like proportional from the 70.2 million cap ceiling to the current cap ceiling. For example, the rollbacks would be 91% (64/70.2) of the current contract. That way, any team that would've been at the cap ceiling is now at the cap ceiling under the new cap.

The owners are actually asking for a drastic reduction. When you factor in that they want overall revenues to be calculated differently, they are looking to drop player salaries to 43% of total revenues.

I just don't see how that is possible without a corresponding rollback of salaries on existing contracts. Just like last time.

Bottom line: don't be expecting any hockey before US Thanksgiving.

At the earliest.
- Atomic Wedgie

If there's any solace, it's that I highly doubt the league would want to miss the Winter Classic. There's probably a great chance the season starts up and the first game is the Winter Classic. That would give them three months and change for a season. Factor that in for 15/16 games in January, February, and March, and 6 or 7 in April, and the league could realistically do a 50 game season, or shorter.