I think Ladd may have cost himself some money. 6 x 6 and he says no holy Frick.
- The_Kuze

Probably just wants out of Winnipeg. When you're gonna get a contract that pays you over $25 million on top of what you've already earned then leaving Winnipeg is probably worth sacrificing some cash, especially if you'll recover some of that in tax breaks in the US.

If you waive all of your existing vets and send them to the minors you'll have a difficult time attracting new ones.
- golfingsince

Like Clarkson?

So keep them and turn the team into a country club (not open to youth) like it has been for the last decade? Let them grow old together and digress? I'm okay with things as they stand.
- VanHockeyGuy

Wether or not fans like it, NTC's were bargained in good faith. It's not the player's fault if he has one. If he waives it, that's great. If he doesn't, you can't really force him to.

If you waive all of your existing vets and send them to the minors you'll have a difficult time attracting new ones.
- golfingsince

Not necessarily. With 13 regulation wins in 52 games this current crop of 'vets' has pretty much been exhausted. With the exception of Hamhuis and the Sedins there is nothing more any other vet could accomplish here. Nor do they deserve it.

Wether or not fans like it, NTC's were bargained in good faith. It's not the player's fault if he has one. If he waives it, that's great. If he doesn't, you can't really force him to.
- golfingsince

Not the players fault, it was the last GM's. That's why he's not here and Nonis isn't in Toronto.

Not the players fault, it was the last GM's. That's why he's not here and Nonis isn't in Toronto.
- VanHockeyGuy

That doesn't mean you can disrespect your players and expect FA's to sign here. You have to be careful is all i'm saying.

Carol made Botchfords Provies.

http://blogs.theprovince....-night-the-playoffs-died/
- LeftCoaster

Not sure why folks would worry about $7,100,000 cap space buried in Utica. So it restricts JB giving him less cap space to maneuver at the TDL. So what? This team ain't making the playoffs so why does cap management at this particular time in the season mean a thing. This is like a 'bridge' season; positioning the team to be better in the future, not today.

Having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline (so the GM can improve the depth of the team going into the playoffs) is a sign of solid team management. But considering where the canucks are in their development cycle, the money buried in Utica doesn't mean a (frank)ing thing.

That doesn't mean you can disrespect your players and expect FA's to sign here. You have to be careful is all i'm saying.
- golfingsince

Benning's job is to fix the other GM's (frank) ups, he's accountable to his bosses. He's trying to create a new culture (as Toronto is).

Not sure why folks would worry about $7,100,000 cap space buried in Utica. So it restricts JB giving him less cap space to maneuver at the TDL. So what? This team ain't making the playoffs so why does cap management at this particular time in the season mean a thing. This is like a 'bridge' season; positioning the team to be better in the future, not today.

Having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline (so the GM can improve the depth of the team going into the playoffs) is a sign of solid team management. But considering where the canucks are in their development cycle, the money buried in Utica doesn't mean a (frank)ing thing.
- bloatedmosquito

Hear hear!

People are going to find something to complain about either way. Most of that "cap mismanagement" is off the books at the end of the season, so why the hell should we care? That, plus having so many kids on ELCs, doesn't really mean too much of anything.

Hear hear!

People are going to find something to complain about either way. Most of that "cap mismanagement" is off the books at the end of the season, so why the hell should we care? That, plus having so many kids on ELCs, doesn't really mean too much of anything.
- NewYorkNuck

Exactly

Benning's job is to fix the other GM's (frank) ups, he's accountable to his bosses. He's trying to create a new culture (as Toronto is).
- VanHockeyGuy

In case you hadn't noticed before, i'm not a Leaf fan.

If you waive all of your existing vets and send them to the minors you'll have a difficult time attracting new ones.
- golfingsince

Why? There seems to be more and more vets sitting out waiting to be signed these days as teams move to more youthful rosters. Experienced vets like Scottie

Upshall signed a 1 year, two way contract for $700,000.

Lee Stempniak signed a 1 year, $850,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils.

These contracts don't sound like they were negotiated from a position of strength. Hockey players want to play, they want a guaranteed contract, and they don't give a (frank) about history.

Not sure why folks would worry about $7,100,000 cap space buried in Utica. So it restricts JB giving him less cap space to maneuver at the TDL. So what? This team ain't making the playoffs so why does cap management at this particular time in the season mean a thing. This is like a 'bridge' season; positioning the team to be better in the future, not today.

Having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline (so the GM can improve the depth of the team going into the playoffs) is a sign of solid team management. But considering where the canucks are in their development cycle, the money buried in Utica doesn't mean a (frank)ing thing.
- bloatedmosquito

It means there wasn't a demand for the players via trade and when available on the waiver wire, they cleared.

lost their spot in the lineup.

I like the idea that if you earn a roster spot, you play and you have to play well enough to hold onto that roster spot or you won't be playing. how else do you effect change.

more change is coming.

In case you hadn't noticed before, i'm not a Leaf fan.
- golfingsince

Not sure why folks would worry about $7,100,000 cap space buried in Utica. So it restricts JB giving him less cap space to maneuver at the TDL. So what? This team ain't making the playoffs so why does cap management at this particular time in the season mean a thing. This is like a 'bridge' season; positioning the team to be better in the future, not today.

Having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline (so the GM can improve the depth of the team going into the playoffs) is a sign of solid team management. But considering where the canucks are in their development cycle, the money buried in Utica doesn't mean a (frank)ing thing.
- bloatedmosquito

7.1 buried in Utica doesn't concern me but the fact that this mgmt group has been overpaying mediocre players and using assets to acquire mediocre players is a concern for the future.

Perhaps it's part of the learning process.

That said I'm glad Benning had the guts to waive some guys who haven't worked out in favor for some kids. There is also an argument to be made that Higgins, Prust, Weber actually have more value now in the AHL because a playoff team can acquire some depth for playoffs that can be called up without passing through waivers.

Not sure why folks would worry about $7,100,000 cap space buried in Utica. So it restricts JB giving him less cap space to maneuver at the TDL. So what? This team ain't making the playoffs so why does cap management at this particular time in the season mean a thing. This is like a 'bridge' season; positioning the team to be better in the future, not today.

Having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline (so the GM can improve the depth of the team going into the playoffs) is a sign of solid team management. But considering where the canucks are in their development cycle, the money buried in Utica doesn't mean a (frank)ing thing.
- bloatedmosquito

It's because if you're able to afford a short term dump contract, from a contending team like Washington, when you're selling, you get a better return....that's why.

Also, it shows poor decision making on Bennings part....poop happens but that's $3,650,000 dollars in dead cap space that could get you a really good pick or prospect.

It means there wasn't a demand for the players via trade and when available on the waiver wire, they cleared.

lost their spot in the lineup.
- hillbillydeluxe

Exactly. The GM showed faith in these players and they didn't perform. Not the GMs fault. Players need to contribute or GTFO. This is a pro sports business not an alumni rec league.

So Jim's made room for other players that might be able to step up and fill a void. Maybe not. But I appreciate that management is trying to determine who in their organization has the ability to handle themselves in bigs (i.e. Hutton).

I just wish that management would give a few more rookies a try out rather than playing Vey or Cracknell all the time.

Alexander Ovechkin joins Wayne Gretzky and Mike Gartner as only players with at least 30 goals in each of their first 11 seasons.

One of those seasons was only 48 games.

Exactly. The GM showed faith in these players and they didn't perform. Not the GMs fault. Players need to contribute or GTFO. This is a pro sports business not an alumni rec league.

So Jim's made room for other players that might be able to step up and fill a void. Maybe not. But I appreciate that management is trying to determine who in their organization has the ability to handle themselves in bigs (i.e. Hutton).

I just wish that management would give a few more rookies a try out rather than playing Vey or Cracknell all the time.
- bloatedmosquito

Exactly. The GM showed faith in these players and they didn't perform. Not the GMs fault. Players need to contribute or GTFO. This is a pro sports business not an alumni rec league.

So Jim's made room for other players that might be able to step up and fill a void. Maybe not. But I appreciate that management is trying to determine who in their organization has the ability to handle themselves in bigs (i.e. Hutton).

I just wish that management would give a few more rookies a try out rather than playing Vey or Cracknell all the time.
- bloatedmosquito

Hopefully a few vets get dumped at the deadline and then we get an extended look at Shink and Pedan.

It's because if you're able to afford a short term dump contract, from a contending team like Washington, when you're selling, you get a better return....that's why.

Also, it shows poor decision making on Bennings part....poop happens though.
- LeftCoaster

Not all trade negotiations involve trading bad contracts. So a GM looks for trading partners who have given themselves cap space at the TDL. Teams heading to the playoffs have a tendency to start clearing cap space as the TDL approaches.

So your point that JB should clear cap space to accept another team's garbage so you might get a slightly better deal doesn't scream good management to me either.

As for the poor decision making I said this from the very start of the Linden/Benning era; Meddling owner, rookie president, rookie GM, rookie head coach. We were bound to see some glaring mistakes and that's exactly what we are seeing. To expect anything more would be sheer fantasy.

Looks like the writing is on the wall.

Here's today's new blog:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...Gotten-Its-Wish/194/74579

Not all trade negotiations involve trading bad contracts. So a GM looks for trading partners who have given themselves cap space at the TDL. Teams heading to the playoffs have a tendency to start clearing cap space as the TDL approaches.

So your point that JB should clear cap space to accept another team's garbage so you might get a slightly better deal doesn't scream good management to me either.

As for the poor decision making I said this from the very start of the Linden/Benning era; Meddling owner, rookie president, rookie GM, rookie head coach. We were bound to see some glaring mistakes and that's exactly what we are seeing. To expect anything more would be sheer fantasy.
- bloatedmosquito

It's an option that's available with cap space, and not without it, not a big deal but it's a part of why you give yourself some wiggle room IMO.

7.1 buried in Utica doesn't concern me but the fact that this mgmt group has been overpaying mediocre players and using assets to acquire mediocre players is a concern for the future.

Perhaps it's part of the learning process.

That said I'm glad Benning had the guts to waive some guys who haven't worked out in favor for some kids. There is also an argument to be made that Higgins, Prust, Weber actually have more value now in the AHL because a playoff team can acquire some depth for playoffs that can be called up without passing through waivers.

- belcherbd

It's definitely learning. As I wrote to Lefty, what can we expect?