Follow me on Twitter
Detroit still doesn’t have a top 6 right shot forward. The market isn’t flooded with obvious candidates either. Lucas Raymond carries the hope of GM Steve Yzerman and co as being able to fill a spot in the future. For now, it may just be a void that doesn’t get filled.
On to today’s news. Detroit is requesting 3.65 million in arbitration, Vrana is asking for 5.7. For the team, this is a bit like long range archery. If you’ve ever seen someone working on an insanely long shot, there is a shooter and there is a coach with binoculars. However far the the shot is off, an adjustment is made. The two working together look for a bullseye.
Since arbitration still lands somewhere in the middle, it would appear that 4.7million to 5 million is the likely award. It will then be either a one or two year deal. I’d guessed earlier that it would be around 5 million (possibly a little more). With Bertuzzi coming in at 4.75, that would put Vrana in between he and Nielsen (5.25) with Larkin as the top earning forward at 6.1 million.
Yzerman continues to keep deals manageable and short. Only Rasmussen is still signed after next season at this point. It is a huge amount of flexibility in this market. The cap could well stay flat into the 2025 season at this point. IF there is another shutdown and fans are unable to attend in some markets, that could push even farther. The 5 billion dollar target for revenue (slightly higher now with another team in the league) counts on ticket sales for half of that number. With a nearly 5 billion dollar shortfall over the past 2 seasons, owners want to see some of those funds regained before any significant jumps in the cap.
Just a quick reminder, the current cap is still based on the 5 billion dollar mark hit a few seasons ago. Escrow is the “make good” tool that keeps revenues at 50/50. However, with the massive losses due to shutdowns and bubbles, a memorandum of understanding was signed last year to limit escrow at 20% for a few seasons with a huge drop down to 6%. (There was also an additional 8% of player salary, 10% of 80%, withheld last season).
With NBC walking away from the table, ESPN (Disney) grabbed a big piece of the national broadcasts. We’ve yet to see if “the mouse” can grab similar ratings to the peacock, since there is no “local” or non subscription version of ESPN currently available. It’s all interesting, to say the least.
Other clubs haven’t been shy about handing out long term deals with the uncertainty. Defensemen, in particular, did very well this off season. Nurse, Hamilton, Werenski and Jones all got long term deals at 9million or more. It will be interesting to see how those deals look in three seasons if the cap doesn’t move.
I’m waiting to hear if the 6% escrow lock will be challenged by owners. When this was put in place, it was under the assumption that the playoffs would have fans in the seats. It also assumed that this past season would be wide open. Some clubs never opened their doors during the season. Those who did, for the most part, had limited (some very ) seating. That would mean that the season tickets had to be refunded (again) or pushed off until the next season. The “boost” in season tickets is how a lot of owners cover the fist few paychecks and bonuses.
Regardless, Yzerman’s ability to keep the roster “wide open” during some very strange economic times is admirable. I expect Hronek could buck the trend, but that would still only leave 2 players on the roster after 22/23. That is an enviable amount of flexibility.
We’ve only seen one set of “hard feelings” after arbitration in the last little while. Hurdler walked away from a settlement to play overseas. He came back the next season. For the most part, this is business. I’ve heard it’s uncomfortable during the “hearing”, but it all quickly melts away. While I don’t know if Yzerman and Vrana are working on something else, at least by mid week we’ll know for certain what the dollar amount and term will be. No stress, no mess. All jus the business of hockey.
Check out some of my previous posts:
Detroit still doesn’t have a top 6 right shot forward.
The second line continues to inch toward improving.
I have high (possibly too high) hopes for the top line this year.
The Griffins are worth the drive, at least I think so.
My third “looking forward” looked at Pius Suter.
My second “looking forward” focused on Alex Nedeljkovic.
My first “looking forward” talked about Moritz Seider.
Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne have filed for arbitration.
I posted “The Winged Wheel season 3, ep 1”
I posted Yzerman’s Zoom call
I posted Pius Suter’s Zoom call
I did a wrap up of the “Frenzy”.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»