Dee Karl: NHL LTDs an OP ED I know, all blogs are opinion pieces, I just liked the way all the letters looked.

Happy July 7th everyone!!!

Dont party too hard

XxNYIxX

This is an awesome "Hockey" article! Wish Dee put out more of these. I'd like to know who Dee thinks should be considered with the remaining free agents. Lets talk hockey Dee!

This was a GREAT piece Dee. Well done!

I particularly like how you were able to remind all those who bash our Isles that we may have been the ones to start the LTDs with the Yashin and DiPietro deal, but no one in Vancouver was laughing at Gillis when he signed Luongo. No one laughed at Lou when he signed Kovalchuk.

Well done and thanks for taking the time. It gets a fist bump on my twitter page

This was a GREAT piece Dee. Well done!

I particularly like how you were able to remind all those who bash our Isles that we may have been the ones to start the LTDs with the Yashin and DiPietro deal, but no one in Vancouver was laughing at Gillis when he signed Luongo. No one laughed at Lou when he signed Kovalchuk.

Well done and thanks for taking the time. It gets a fist bump on my twitter page
- HyeDray

Good read although it's interesting that the isles started these long term deals yet now pull out of the running for Ida's when these come up. Maybe they've realized now it's a bad idea.

The Islanders were the first to sign a player to a long term deal but I don't think you can necessarily blame them for the way things have gone. NHL executives aren't stupid. They would have figured out how to circumvent the cap sooner or later.

The notion that the Isles started this is not true.

In the old CBA unrestricted free agency did not begin until age 31, a lot of teams signed some of their vets to long term deals. Yashin got his deal to keep him from going UFA, same for Peca.

Bryan Trottier got a ten year contract.

DiPietro's contract is not front-loaded like all these other players, his contract puts the burden to play on him or he losses his 4.5m every single year until he's forty.

That makes his deal far different than these other contracts.

If DiPietro got 10m a year for the last four or five years and most of his salary was already in his bank account it would be like these other players getting signed who are all getting a million or less in the final years.

DiPietro's contract was structured like Brodeur, not Luongo or Quick.

Dee...I was planning on writing on this subject today - but you hit the nail on the head and all I will have to do is link to this post, well done.

I went on a Twitter rant the other day how the Isles were the laughing stock of the league when they signed DP for 15 years, but then soon watched Hossa, Keith, Kovalchuk, Parise, Suter, CROSBY, Luongo, etc get their 10+ year deals.

Some argue that the underlying difference is that DP wasn't a proven all-star and that these guys were. But my point is that they are all human and just as vulnerable to sustaining a career threatening (or ending) injury as the next guy. Sidney is a perfect example of a dumb, long contract. He hasn't played more than 41 games in two seasons now due to concussions and you want to lock him up for 10 years?

The new CBA should put a max limit on contract years. End it at 7. There is nothing wrong with signing a player for 5-7 years as opposed to 10-15.

...I didn't realize Luongo was under contract until he's 43...unbelievable.

The new CBA should put a max limit on contract years. End it at 7. There is nothing wrong with signing a player for 5-7 years as opposed to 10-15.
- Rob McGowan

Easy to say, tough to implement. When Wild owner Craig Leipold complains about money in April, then decides to give two players 200m dollars over 26 years how does anyone take him seriously who's counterparts then go and do the same thing which keeps resetting the market.

I thought Parise was an E5 to go to the Penguins? That is what Pierre Mcguire kept saying throughout the playoffs.

The notion that the Isles started this is not true.

In the old CBA unrestricted free agency did not begin until age 31, a lot of teams signed some of their vets to long term deals. Yashin got his deal to keep him from going UFA, same for Peca.

Bryan Trottier got a ten year contract.

DiPietro's contract is not front-loaded like all these other players, his contract puts the burden to play on him or he losses his 4.5m every single year until he's forty.

That makes his deal far different than these other contracts.

If DiPietro got 10m a year for the last four or five years and most of his salary was already in his bank account it would be like these other players getting signed who are all getting a million or less in the final years.

DiPietro's contract was structured like Brodeur, not Luongo or Quick.
- NYI

It really is sad that Wang wanted to sign DP for 15 years strictly because of his "talent." It had nothing to do with cap circumvention.

It really is sad that Wang wanted to sign DP for 15 years strictly because of his "talent." It had nothing to do with cap circumvention.
- Dedshark

The Islanders were the first to sign a player to a long term deal but I don't think you can necessarily blame them for the way things have gone. NHL executives aren't stupid. They would have figured out how to circumvent the cap sooner or later.
- PeteM

NHL executives aren't stupid?! Most everything they do would suggest otherwise.
Excellent blog Dee.

Honestly, I still don't understand why Yashin didn't remaiin on Long Island until his contract is done. I always liked him from day one. Heck I still have his jersey. I know that most of you were glad that he was gone. I know that he was just another typical player who tends to shoot and hardly play defense. You know what? to us, he was an all star caliber who could produce everyday with his quick shot. I wonder what it would be like if he played with Tavares. Surely Yashin would be moved to lw or rw. However. to this upcoming season, I liked the moves Snow made. He made small moves to make it up. I know that everyone didn't understand why Snow didnt pay for Parentau at 4 million but I don't blame him. Look at Jason Blake and what happened after he got big bucks. I like Parentau but is he worth it? Nah! He can be replaced. I feel that Boyes will be a steal. I like what I see in our defense. Visnyosky and Carkner. Nice. I wonder if Reinhart will play this year or whatnot. Let's go Islanders. I hope we would land someone before season starts. Maybe a winger

Dee, it's impossible for quick to become the second coming of dipietro. Because quick IS an elite goaltender, and he accomplished more at the age of 26 than dipietro ever will. Quick has been a vezina finalist, won the conn smythe trophy, and the stanley cup.

This was a GREAT piece Dee. Well done!

I particularly like how you were able to remind all those who bash our Isles that we may have been the ones to start the LTDs with the Yashin and DiPietro deal, but no one in Vancouver was laughing at Gillis when he signed Luongo. No one laughed at Lou when he signed Kovalchuk.

Well done and thanks for taking the time. It gets a fist bump on my twitter page
- HyeDray

Wasn't Gretzky's deal from 1982/3 - 1999? Hence his number? Does anyone remember?
So, we did NOT invent the first ridiculously long NHL contract, as everyone usually says...........

Honestly, I still don't understand why Yashin didn't remaiin on Long Island until his contract is done. I always liked him from day one. Heck I still have his jersey. I know that most of you were glad that he was gone. I know that he was just another typical player who tends to shoot and hardly play defense. You know what? to us, he was an all star caliber who could produce everyday with his quick shot. I wonder what it would be like if he played with Tavares. Surely Yashin would be moved to lw or rw. However. to this upcoming season, I liked the moves Snow made. He made small moves to make it up. I know that everyone didn't understand why Snow didnt pay for Parentau at 4 million but I don't blame him. Look at Jason Blake and what happened after he got big bucks. I like Parentau but is he worth it? Nah! He can be replaced. I feel that Boyes will be a steal. I like what I see in our defense. Visnyosky and Carkner. Nice. I wonder if Reinhart will play this year or whatnot. Let's go Islanders. I hope we would land someone before season starts. Maybe a winger
- ISLES1119

All i can say is... Yes!!



XxNYIxX

Wasn't Gretzky's deal from 1982/3 - 1999? Hence his number? Does anyone remember?
So, we did NOT invent the first ridiculously long NHL contract, as everyone usually says...........
- jmo16

he had a contract from 79-89 that was a personal services contract. But that was it.. nothing that lasted till 1999



XxNYIxX

was looking at capgeek I forgot JT was signed for the next six years at only 5.5 million per year. That is an absolute steal. Best contract in the NHL. WOW

Honestly, I still don't understand why Yashin didn't remaiin on Long Island until his contract is done. I always liked him from day one. Heck I still have his jersey. I know that most of you were glad that he was gone. I know that he was just another typical player who tends to shoot and hardly play defense. You know what? to us, he was an all star caliber who could produce everyday with his quick shot. I wonder what it would be like if he played with Tavares. Surely Yashin would be moved to lw or rw. However. to this upcoming season, I liked the moves Snow made. He made small moves to make it up. I know that everyone didn't understand why Snow didnt pay for Parentau at 4 million but I don't blame him. Look at Jason Blake and what happened after he got big bucks. I like Parentau but is he worth it? Nah! He can be replaced. I feel that Boyes will be a steal. I like what I see in our defense. Visnyosky and Carkner. Nice. I wonder if Reinhart will play this year or whatnot. Let's go Islanders. I hope we would land someone before season starts. Maybe a winger
- ISLES1119

Yashin leaving was all because of the fans. He was soft and didn't produce like he should have. One of the most hated Isles in recent history by the fanbase.

Yashin leaving was all because of the fans. He was soft and didn't produce like he should have. One of the most hated Isles in recent history by the fanbase.
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

This is back when Wang cared what the fans wanted.

Yashin leaving was all because of the fans. He was soft and didn't produce like he should have. One of the most hated Isles in recent history by the fanbase.
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

Four playoffs in five years with Claude Lapointe, Kip Miller, Oleg Kvasha, Randy Robitaille, Weinhandl, Bates, Czerkaswski, Chris Simon and Blake or Richard Park as his wings and Yashin did not produce as he should have and is hated?

Maybe he should have changed his name to Holik, Lindros, Bure, Messier, Leetch, Carter and all the teams with double the payroll he kept beating out for playoff spots in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007.

One playoff they had him take shifts with Wiemer and Godard. Anyone remember that double over time game against Ottawa, Isles had like ten powerplays, Yashin kept feeding Robitaille who could not score to save his life.

He was on a 90 point pace his final year and had Blake on a forty goal pace before he hurt his knee with Chris Simon on left wing in December. He rushed back, got hurt again and played eighteen games on one leg before Nolan ripped him and he finally sat.

Go look at his last ten games in 06-07, without his ten points no playoffs.
He finished with fifty points in fifty eight games.
Zednik and Satan did nothing against Buffalo either.

Four playoffs in five years with Claude Lapointe, Kip Miller, Oleg Kvasha, Randy Robitaille, Weinhandl, Bates, Czerkaswski, Chris Simon and Blake or Richard Park as his wings and Yashin did not produce as he should have and is hated?

Maybe he should have changed his name to Holik, Lindros, Bure, Messier, Leetch, Carter and all the teams with double the payroll he kept beating out for playoff spots in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007.

One playoff they had him take shifts with Wiemer and Godard. Anyone remember that double over time game against Ottawa, Isles had like ten powerplays, Yashin kept feeding Robitaille who could not score to save his life.

He was on a 90 point pace his final year and had Blake on a forty goal pace before he hurt his knee with Chris Simon on left wing in December. He rushed back, got hurt again and played eighteen games on one leg before Nolan ripped him and he finally sat.

Go look at his last ten games in 06-07, without his ten points no playoffs.
He finished with fifty points in fifty eight games.
Zednik and Satan did nothing against Buffalo either.
- NYI

Not sure why you always have to bring up the Rangers in your posts. I understand their hated rivals but its an obsession with you. You actually make many valid points about Yashin. Unfortunately I think the fans hated the contract and how much money he was making and took it out on him. Fair or unfair I think it played a big part.

Four playoffs in five years with Claude Lapointe, Kip Miller, Oleg Kvasha, Randy Robitaille, Weinhandl, Bates, Czerkaswski, Chris Simon and Blake or Richard Park as his wings and Yashin did not produce as he should have and is hated?

Maybe he should have changed his name to Holik, Lindros, Bure, Messier, Leetch, Carter and all the teams with double the payroll he kept beating out for playoff spots in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007.

One playoff they had him take shifts with Wiemer and Godard. Anyone remember that double over time game against Ottawa, Isles had like ten powerplays, Yashin kept feeding Robitaille who could not score to save his life.

He was on a 90 point pace his final year and had Blake on a forty goal pace before he hurt his knee with Chris Simon on left wing in December. He rushed back, got hurt again and played eighteen games on one leg before Nolan ripped him and he finally sat.

Go look at his last ten games in 06-07, without his ten points no playoffs.
He finished with fifty points in fifty eight games.
Zednik and Satan did nothing against Buffalo either.
- NYI

Yashin's biggest problem just like DP now was/is the contract. They are unfairly hated for contracts they were given.
Yashin played very well when he was here.

XxNYIxX

was looking at capgeek I forgot JT was signed for the next six years at only 5.5 million per year. That is an absolute steal. Best contract in the NHL. WOW
- mighty13duck

JT probably assumed Snow would take the extra cash and bring some talent in to help him out..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRmc9IPGmiA