Not strictly true.

The contracts went into effect for the 2015-16 season - true, nothing since - but they were signed in July, 2014 - and they went on to win a Cup the next season (still under the old contracts).
- StLBravesFan

I'd also add that there are teams with guys on some mega deals who are doing alright. I mean, last season 3 of the 8 highest AAV players were just in the cup final against each other. Pens have 3 guys in the top 16 cap hit.( 8 million plus)

Even this year, a lot of people like Tampa's chances and Stamkos/Hedman are both being paid handsomely.

Heading to Buffalo this weekend for the game. Anybody have any recommendations out there for bars/restaurants?
- bigcube75

Besides Anchor bar,
Sophia's
749 Military Rd
Buffalo, NY 14216

fair enough...the extension were signed but the 10.5 over 8 (largest contracts in the nhl at the time) began in 2015-16; those cap hits meant goodbye eventually to saad, sharp, etc...
- bogiedoc

OK - I was responding to your comments about the play of the individuals who signed the big contracts.

In any case, I wouldn't only look at the super large deals, but would look at players who signed contracts for good money that would likely be the last contracts they would sign.

Looking at Chicago, I would include the Keith (13 year contract effective 2010-11 season, $5.5MM AAV), Hossa (12 year contract effective 2009-10, $5.275MM AAV) - they certainly performed after signing these deals.

Some facts:

1. No one in Rockford, and no one under 25 on the current roster has anything but bottom six potential. We can cheer on guys like Hayden and Duclair all we want, but they are not transformational talent.

2. Toews and Seabrook are untradeable unless we take equal poop contracts in return. And, their talents either need to have a miraculous return to the ice going forward, or you have to have more of those type of guys in the pipeline. They don't have them now.

3. The only way out is through high draft picks and time to ready them for the NHL.

4. Even if Crawford comes back solid next year, his deal is almost over, and no way they sign him again. So now you need an A goalie on top of everything else.

5. The impending strike will stop the league for an extended period of time, and a new CBA should allow for a better cap structure - maybe even buyout chances.

6. With a pending expansion draft for Seattle as well, the Hawks also need to be wary of who to keep and who to allow to be eligible.

I say just dump salaries, get picks wherever possible, tank for this year and next, get two decent 1st round picks in those two years, decide what kind of team they want to be, and start filling those roles.

Gonna be a long next three years.

Some facts:

1. No one in Rockford, and no one under 25 on the current roster has anything but bottom six potential. We can cheer on guys like Hayden and Duclair all we want, but they are not transformational talent.

2. Toews and Seabrook are untradeable unless we take equal poop contracts in return. And, their talents either need to have a miraculous return to the ice going forward, or you have to have more of those type of guys in the pipeline. They don't have them now.

3. The only way out is through high draft picks and time to ready them for the NHL.

4. Even if Crawford comes back solid next year, his deal is almost over, and no way they sign him again. So now you need an A goalie on top of everything else.

5. The impending strike will stop the league for an extended period of time, and a new CBA should allow for a better cap structure - maybe even buyout chances.

6. With a pending expansion draft for Seattle as well, the Hawks also need to be wary of who to keep and who to allow to be eligible.

I say just dump salaries, get picks wherever possible, tank for this year and next, get two decent 1st round picks in those two years, decide what kind of team they want to be, and start filling those roles.

Gonna be a long next three years.
- Return of the Roar

At this point I can't use DeClair and talent in the same sentence. He's going to have to do a lot more to stick here in my opinion. Feel bad for him after getting collared over the weekend, but still...

before we get so enamored with trading anisimov:

he has 20 goals with 11 on the pp; most of those are within 5 feet of the net off rebounds and tips; kane has 5 but he is your set up guy with 20 pp assists

look at many of the other goals they score and you see 15 in the picture (just like shaw) providing a screen..ya don't get assists for those; the guy probably contributes to 5-7 additional goals

they don't have ANYBODY..who can to the net and produce like that...and spare me; know its not hayden..
- bogiedoc

If they trade Anisimov, I will GUARANTEE you that you will hear rants about how the Hawks need a center with size. Toews is the largest center and that's not good enough ... ya da ya da. And the ones doing most of the ranting, will be the ones that wanted him traded. I agree with you

I'd also add that there are teams with guys on some mega deals who are doing alright. I mean, last season 3 of the 8 highest AAV players were just in the cup final against each other. Pens have 3 guys in the top 16 cap hit.( 8 million plus)

Even this year, a lot of people like Tampa's chances and Stamkos/Hedman are both being paid handsomely.
- breadbag

agree..its not all one way bad...but crosby and stamkos deals are more cap friendly

pens are going to be gagging on those deals in a year or 2; bolts held firm on stamkos and he finally signed for a mere pittance cap hit of 8.5 mildo

If they trade Anisimov, I will GUARANTEE you that you will hear rants about how the Hawks need a center with size. Toews is the largest center and that's not good enough ... ya da ya da. And the ones doing most of the ranting, will be the ones that wanted him traded. I agree with you
- chuckdahammer

One thing is consistent with this board, every move is wrong and scrutinized with some portion of the contributors...

agree..its not all one way bad...but crosby and stamkos deals are more cap friendly

pens are going to be gagging on those deals in a year or 2; bolts held firm on stamkos and he finally signed for a mere pittance cap hit of 8.5 mildo
- bogiedoc

Florida teams also have the advantage of 0 income tax - a $10m contract elsewhere is pretty equal to an $8.5m contract in FL.

OK - I was responding to your comments about the play of the individuals who signed the big contracts.

In any case, I wouldn't only look at the super large deals, but would look at players who signed contracts for good money that would likely be the last contracts they would sign.

Looking at Chicago, I would include the Keith (13 year contract effective 2010-11 season, $5.5MM AAV), Hossa (12 year contract effective 2009-10, $5.275MM AAV) - they certainly performed after signing these deals.
- StLBravesFan

they did...but those were signed in the prv CBA which allowed front loading to "get around the cap"...those were considered good deals for both the player and the team with the expectation said player would prb retire before the contract expires...

alas comes the new cba and those brilliant owners penalize themselves for having those contracts...

Florida teams also have the advantage of 0 income tax - a $10m contract elsewhere is pretty equal to an $8.5m contract in FL.
- jt19

also translated into canadian $, they take a bit of the hit...

it seems baseball GM's grabbed some sanity by not giving a 32 year old arieta a huge long term deal...he finally signed for 3 years with huge incentives and an opt out for "disgustingly" low and "unlivable" wage of 25 mildo per...

no way i would give that guy 7 years at 25-30 per...

Florida teams also have the advantage of 0 income tax - a $10m contract elsewhere is pretty equal to an $8.5m contract in FL.
- jt19

More like FL 10.0 = IL 9.5. the IL tax rate is not 15%, hell even CA is only 13...

lets consider player performance and team performance after mega stars sign those huge 7-8 year contracts:

hawks with kane and toews: toews output is down and kanes is level or up; the team has gone nowhere

ducks with perry/getzlaf: performance for both is down; team has gone nowhere

wild with parise/sutter; meh and meh

weber with nashville: traded to canadians; with canadians meh and meh and injured

price with canadians: bad and bad and injured .

caps with ovie: ovie continue to fill the net but the team still can't get past the 2nd round

rangers and the king: ugh

on and on it goes; probably missed a few....

do ya see a pattern here
- bogiedoc

This is exactly correct.
Stankos is an interesting contrast to this trend. He's scored more points this year since the 2011-12 season. He also could have earned a more in free agency but chose to stay and give a hometown discount in order to keep the team competitive.

If they trade Anisimov, I will GUARANTEE you that you will hear rants about how the Hawks need a center with size. Toews is the largest center and that's not good enough ... ya da ya da. And the ones doing most of the ranting, will be the ones that wanted him traded. I agree with you
- chuckdahammer

I think Anisimov is fine value for his cap hit, he has net front presence, decent speed (crap acceleration), and can somewhat cycle.

I would probably still move him for the right offer.

80 mil is best case...players will continue to approve the escalator...

the option to reopen the CBA will be taken and expect a lockout or player "work" stoppage after next year..
- bogiedoc

If the NHLPA doesn't trigger any growth factor, the cap is projected to rise to $78 million. A 2.5 percent inflator leads to a projected cap of $80 million and a 5 percent inflator results in a projected $82 million cap. The growth factor can be anywhere from 0-5 percent. For 2017-18, a growth factor of 1.6 percent raised the salary cap from $73 to $75 million.

Stamkos never won anything either. Toews and Kane won 3 cups.

As far as Crosby having a friendly deal....now is the key word.

At the time of signing, he and Malkin's cap percentage ate up the same percentage 88 &19's contract did.

Some facts:

1. No one in Rockford, and no one under 25 on the current roster has anything but bottom six potential. We can cheer on guys like Hayden and Duclair all we want, but they are not transformational talent.

2. Toews and Seabrook are untradeable unless we take equal poop contracts in return. And, their talents either need to have a miraculous return to the ice going forward, or you have to have more of those type of guys in the pipeline. They don't have them now.

3. The only way out is through high draft picks and time to ready them for the NHL.

4. Even if Crawford comes back solid next year, his deal is almost over, and no way they sign him again. So now you need an A goalie on top of everything else.

5. The impending strike will stop the league for an extended period of time, and a new CBA should allow for a better cap structure - maybe even buyout chances.

6. With a pending expansion draft for Seattle as well, the Hawks also need to be wary of who to keep and who to allow to be eligible.

I say just dump salaries, get picks wherever possible, tank for this year and next, get two decent 1st round picks in those two years, decide what kind of team they want to be, and start filling those roles.

Gonna be a long next three years.
- Return of the Roar

Some facts:

1. No one in Rockford, and no one under 25 on the current roster has anything but bottom six potential. We can cheer on guys like Hayden and Duclair all we want, but they are not transformational talent.


5. The impending strike will stop the league for an extended period of time, and a new CBA should allow for a better cap structure - maybe even buyout chances.

6. With a pending expansion draft for Seattle as well, the Hawks also need to be wary of who to keep and who to allow to be eligible.

.
- Return of the Roar

1. I assume you left off Schmaltz and deBrincat in error....

5. With the pending expansion into Seattle, I'm assuming the league will be trying very hard NOT to have a work stoppage, putting a $650MM (isn't that what it is this time around) windfall in jeopardy. I think at least some of the negotiating power in this round would be with the players.

Stamkos never won anything either. Toews and Kane won 3 cups.

As far as Crosby having a friendly deal....now is the key word.

At the time of signing, he and Malkin's cap percentage ate up the same percentage 88 &19's contract did.
- PatShart

I'd argue that the Chicago Blackhawks won the 3 Cups and Toews/Kane were key players. A poster recently summed it up perfectly saying...."Toews is dodging Hossa's calls and texts bc Marian wants half of Johnny's $10.5mil." Team sport, Hawks were a great TEAM, and the contacts to 19, 88, & 7 forced the Hawks to bleed talent, and now they are a bad team.

1. I assume you left off Schmaltz and deBrincat in error....

5. With the pending expansion into Seattle, I'm assuming the league will be trying very hard NOT to have a work stoppage, putting a $650MM (isn't that what it is this time around) windfall in jeopardy. I think at least some of the negotiating power in this round would be with the players.
- StLBravesFan

this i agree with...bettman will not get his way...
oh i look so foward to hearing and seeing this guy again...



boy do these two ever deserve each other...

This is exactly correct.
Stankos is an interesting contrast to this trend. He's scored more points this year since the 2011-12 season. He also could have earned a more in free agency but chose to stay and give a hometown discount in order to keep the team competitive.
- matt_ahrens

not sure about that he got 8 years with TB the max he could get else where was 7; and the teams that could afford him at the time were not very good: detroit in decline and toronto in rebuild...and florida tax break upped the worth to between 9 and 10. Plus they structured it with 90% counted as bonus

i don't think stevie "sacrificed" all that much...

Well that is as good an explanation anyone could not expound better. I do think Q has a method to the madness we all see - perhaps some of us see certain things that are particularly irksome. But Q is all about winning so he just tries different combo's. They often do not work, or not work for long. Rutta and Forsling worked well enough, i suppose, for a while.

But in reality you need or usually desire to have one offensive and one defensive knock em down, push away from goaltender duo. Samuelson's ideas pretty much a carbon copy as much as possible throughout NHL and juniors is really not full throttle embraced in the NHL but more and more teams look toward the quickness quick react which Forsling is best at - at speed. When he can improve in other areas, and should he have a correct partner, we might just be glad what he brings.

The best third pair guy would actually be Rutta if he was supported. Smart, experienced pro but he may want out of Chicago.

I say it bears watching: all these prospects on "D" is not so impressive. I would say it is fair to hope Forsling and the Finn could eventually have 2nd pair possibility. But Kyrs and Snuggerud are probably very good offensively yet third pair type. We have plenty of that type now. A couple of them actually might become experienced third pair depth and so it is all good if one dsy the defense could be like Arizona is brimming or Boston shows (albeit Chara is age 40).

Yeah know about Mitchell and maybe Hillman. A freshman and junior, respectively: let us wait on them and see how they might fit...could be a while if both stay in collegiate fifedom.

How might they draft. Got to be pissed if another offensive dman. But yeah a true qb rushing dman is nice..still i really wish for a move up for top power forward type....which is not likely to happen.
- jhawk59

There may be a sleeper that we’re missing, although he’s probably a couple years away in Blake Hillman at Denver!

not sure about that he got 8 years with TB the max he could get else where was 7; and the teams that could afford him at the time were not very good: detroit in decline and toronto in rebuild...and florida tax break upped the worth to between 9 and 10. Plus they structured it with 90% counted as bonus

i don't think stevie "sacrificed" all that much...
- bogiedoc

Max Contract a player can get is 20% of the salary cap.

When Stamkos Signed that would have been $14.6 Million Per.

His contract took up just over 11% of the cap when he signed. Compared to Toews and Kane, who took up over 15% each.

One thing is consistent with this board, every move is wrong and scrutinized with some portion of the contributors...
- riozzo

Well, if every move is wrong, then Stan just needs to learn to do the exact opposite of what his decisions are and everything’s no will be perfect. This approach should yield 6 more cups in the next six years. And he probably even goes home with the lady from the diner.

Besides Anchor bar,
Sophia's
749 Military Rd
Buffalo, NY 14216
- riozzo

Spent a lot of time in the Anchor Bar in Pusan, South Korea. Anyone else been there?