So who is playing with Provorov? Hakstol has had two years to put him with Gudas and hasn't done so yet.
- Feanor

Fans aren't going to like it but Manning played with him for a stretch of last season. I think they had their good and bad games but that experience and not wanting to mess with the rest of the line up could be major factors for Hakstol.

I myself want Morin in the line up. I can also understand the concern of playing 5 Dmen in their early 20s in the top 6 with not so by the book Radko.

Since Ghost is playing so well he would be the perfect mentor for Morin.

If Provorov-Hagg does well together as the top pairing, they might make MacDonald expendable to Hextall.
- Feanor

Assuming they call up and play Morin, and assuming he (and Hagg and Sanheim) plays well, it will be interesting to see what happens when Amac is healthy.

Yes must be awesome to have every moment in your life dictated for you. What you eat, what you do with your free time not to mention being away from you family for half a year. Also what they get is much lower than what we see. Once you account for their escrow, income tax, agent fees and cost of livving fees they lose a substantial chunk of money

For example a player making 1 mill would pay 18% to the NHL in Escrow(180,000)

Next comes income tax. Having paid escrow, the player is now taxed at a rate of around 50 per cent on $820,000, depending on where the player lives in Canada. A player in Montreal, Toronto or Ottawa pays the government $410,000.

Players pay their agents between three and six per cent depending on the amount of services provided by the agent. The agent’s fee is calculated after escrow is paid. If a player pays his agent four per cent of $850,000 (after escrow) it would be $34,000.

players will spend around $70,000 a year for hockey-related expenses – things such as agent fees, personal trainer, disability insurance, trainer tips, supplements, workout equipment, etc.

It is estimated players need to budget $50,000 for rent and utilities assuming one can get a 10-month lease. A young player who takes on a roommate to split costs, it could be less than $50,000. If you are an older guy renting a house in New York or California it will be closer to $100,000
.
I know guys who are renting in Chicago or New York for $15,000 a month

For basic living expenses (food, clothing etc.) $3,000 a month and budgets another $3,000 a month for miscellaneous expenses (entertainment, gifts etc.). That works out to a combined $72,000. Also $25,000 a year for car expenses which includes monthly payments and insurance.

At the end of the day the player is left with a net savings of around $240,000.

So is $240,000 a year worth having to spend a lot of your time working out, having to eat based on your job, all the traveling and not being able to sleep in your own bed and putting your body on the line every night and possibly your permanent health?
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

That is roughly five times what I make in a year. So yes it is worth it. He also has the summer off. He plays a sport for a living. Please stop it with the pity party for professional athletes. AMac will be just fine with his $1.25mil (your math) this year.

If I was AMac, having to play a game for just over $1M per year take-home, not having to pay for lodgings/meals while I'm traveling around the continent (with not too much free time), I might just off myself.

Not saying it's good that the guy's injured, but these guys aren't exactly starving, either, and they see their families just as much or more than a guy who's a traveling salesman 12 months a year.
- jmatchett383

You are paid the money you are paid to play a game. The risk is understood. The fees and living expenses is something that is understood.

I really don't understand the pity people feel for someone who goes into playing a game with the understanding of what they are getting into.

If you want to talk about AHL players and how they have it hard, sure. But NHL players or any other professional sports league, sorry you are barking up the wrong tree.

That is roughly five times what I make in a year. So yes it is worth it. He also has the summer off. He plays a sport for a living. Please stop it with the pity party for professional athletes. AMac will be just fine with his $1.25mil (your math) this year.
- mickel25

But he might get hurt, something that guys on construction sites making $50,000 a year never have to deal with.

The irony of this post is off the charts.
- JFlyers00

There is zero irony. I don't respond to people as you did. If I disagree with someone, I respond with content stating why I disagree with someone.

No, it's not a waste of space. He obviously copied that from somewhere, and I think feeling sorry for any of these players and their financial situation is not warranted. When someone responds the way that you did, with zero substance, that's usually the guy who is full of you know what.
- MJL

It is the AHL/ECHL guys that don't make enough to live off of. Anyone in the NHL makes enough

- PhillySportsGuy

It is the AHL/ECHL guys that don't make enough to live off of. Anyone in the NHL makes enough
- YuenglingJagr

I believe some ECHL guys actually have to get "real" jobs to get by as well. And keep in mind, the ECHL is actually one of the top tier professional hockey leagues in North America.

That is roughly five times what I make in a year. So yes it is worth it. He also has the summer off. He plays a sport for a living. Please stop it with the pity party for professional athletes. AMac will be just fine with his $1.25mil (your math) this year.
- mickel25

Agree that even with the deductions that players are still well compensated but professional athletes no longer have the summer off. They're either rehabbing injuries or training hard for the next season.

Assuming they call up and play Morin, and assuming he (and Hagg and Sanheim) plays well, it will be interesting to see what happens when Amac is healthy.
- jmatchett383

Traded for a washing machine.

If I was AMac, having to play a game for just over $1M per year take-home, not having to pay for lodgings/meals while I'm traveling around the continent (with not too much free time), I might just off myself.

Not saying it's good that the guy's injured, but these guys aren't exactly starving, either, and they see their families just as much or more than a guy who's a traveling salesman 12 months a year.
- jmatchett383

Interesting fact of the day: Suicide is actually a luxury good, so he's more likely to off himself than we would be.

Agree that even with the deductions that players are still well compensated but professional athletes no longer have the summer off. They're either rehabbing injuries or training hard for the next season.
- Baxter27

Okay, they work out every day for a few hours 3 months out of the year. Better than hauling around heavy wood and metal for 8-10 hours a day during those 3 months when temperatures are in the 90s.

There is zero irony. I don't respond to people as you did. If I disagree with someone, I respond with content stating why I disagree with someone.
- MJL

Over half this board would disagree. Your track record of getting banned quite frequently would also disagree

Aren't you overdue for a ban anyways?

Agree that even with the deductions that players are still well compensated but professional athletes no longer have the summer off. They're either rehabbing injuries or training hard for the next season.
- Baxter27

Dude I will agree he is not "off" the whole summer. However, I would hardly call training work. It truly is physically taxing. However, in the grand scheme of things he gets paid to be in fantastic shape. That's a little different than those Monday morning TPS reports.

I would take that at my current salary any day of the week.

Also, I respect all pro athletes. They have a set of skills that people are willing to pay them millions for. Good for them.

Over half this board would disagree. Your track record of getting banned quite frequently would also disagree

Aren't you overdue for a ban anyways?
- JFlyers00

Stop being so wrong, MJL has never done anything ban-worthy and is a shining model of chivalry and is a first-rate gentleman who has never antagonized any individuals or groups of individuals in his life. I will not have you besmirching his great character on here sir.

You bash MacDonald but still defend Luke, who is also a role-playing, shot-blocking D type (just of a different sort) who was once miscast as a top-of-the-lineup guy. The way today's NHL is, for better or worse, the MacDonald type in that role is the guy who is preferred. And, again, I'm not a Schenn basher.
- bmeltzer

Hang on.

I'm 90% sure that haven't brought up LUKE Schenn since he was traded. The norm is, if I'm critical of any player on this team (especially Radko Gudas), the response is "Well he's no Luke Schenn, is he you Flyers hating SOB (something along these lines) and dismissed instantly.

I didn't bring up Luke Schenn now, nor can I remember the last time had to or could use Luke Schenn to make an argument.

Over half this board would disagree. Your track record of getting banned quite frequently would also disagree

Aren't you overdue for a ban anyways?
- JFlyers00

I rest my case.

I believe some ECHL guys actually have to get "real" jobs to get by as well. And keep in mind, the ECHL is actually one of the top tier professional hockey leagues in North America.
- jmatchett383

If it's a professional sport they should make a liveable wage. I don't feel ant sympathy for any nhl player. League minimum took me 10 years and a 120k of debt to achieve. Kids at 18 on am elc are already upper middle class

I would never wish an injury on anyone but with this said, with Mac in the line up, there is never an opportunity to explore different options when it comes to our most gifted defensemen. One season after Timonen sits out, Mac takes his place next to Coburn. Ghost is called up, he rips up the league and Mac is instantly out with him. Provorov enters the league, no better option to pair with Provorov than Andrew MacDonald.

I have to correct myself and own this mistake. In the last five years to my twenty years as a Flyers fan. I've never heard a great respect than I have of two players. Whether it be rumblings from the dressing room, through media and fans alike. I've never heard a more greater respect for Andrew MacDonald and NHL legend Jaromir Jagr.

I apologize in advance if this upsets the over night Mac fans.
- SuperSchennBros

You're really creating a narrative from the 2015-2016 season that didn't exist. AMac was in the minors for over half the season. I don't think he was ever paired with Coburn except maybe pre-season. He was called up and paired with Ghost due to injuries. That is when he showed he can be a steady partner for younger D. Something both Provorov and Ghost have praised him for.

If it's a professional sport they should make a liveable wage. I don't feel ant sympathy for any nhl player. League minimum took me 10 years and a 120k of debt to achieve. Kids at 18 on am elc are already upper middle class
- Tfaehner

I do think the point is valid for ECHL players. Most AHL players make what 75K? What does an ECHL player make?

Some would say that even if you're not getting rich doing it, doing something you love to do makes you rich.

Agree that even with the deductions that players are still well compensated but professional athletes no longer have the summer off. They're either rehabbing injuries or training hard for the next season.
- Baxter27

Everyone is probably different. Personally, I'd love to get paid well to spend 8+ hours a day in the gym.

But yeah, that is a really common misconception among the general public. Athletes usually get 3-4 weeks off at most between seasons.

If it's a professional sport they should make a liveable wage. I don't feel ant sympathy for any nhl player. League minimum took me 10 years and a 120k of debt to achieve. Kids at 18 on am elc are already upper middle class
- Tfaehner

"Professional sport" players don't always make hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are a lot of "professional" sports leagues where players are making what the average middle class player makes. Granted, they have less expenses that the NHL/MLB player, but their sacrifices are as bad (and in most cases, worse) than the upper-echelon league players.

I do think the point is valid for ECHL players. Most AHL players make what 75K? What does an ECHL player make?
- MJL

The ECHL has a salary cap of $12,400 a week, meaning the average player salary is roughly $550 a week.