Just seeing a couple of posts on players & endorsements. Over here we have a cap for rugby league (yes no one cares ), any payment made to player for anything is counted on the cap. That includes endorsements &/or sponsorship payments. There are 'some' third party payments that are allowed to be given to a player & not counted against the cap but it is very strict. It stops teams signing players for unders & then getting a rich supporter to pay him more money, also, stops team sponsors paying the better players more money.

CHOOSE THE FORM OF THE DESTRUCTOR!



Yzerman is truly building something special in Tampa - from the blueprint of the Detroit dynasty years of Steve's playing days.
- GalacticStone

I'd say he has already built it. You should have won at least 1 cup by now with the team you have & have had these past 4 years. Cooper needs to go.

Edit: Vic, this isn't a troll, I really believe Cooper is why Tampa hasn't won a Cup recently. Just like AV & the Rangers. So off.

The biggest advantage that FL, TX, NV, and TN have in signing players is the signing bonus. All signing bonus money is only taxed at the default rate and for Florida that is 39.20 percent and its exempt from "jock" tax because its paid out in one lump sum at the beginning of the NHL fiscal year which is July 1st. Once they get the lump sum then if they are smart the players are investing and making money off their money. Tavares took advantage as well he has 70M signing bonus, 7M salary over his contract, so even other teams are using the signing bonus to their advantage. The next CBA if there is a work stoppage or not this will definitely be on the agenda - capping or setting guide lines for signing bonuses.

So if a team isn't a contender their contracts aren't an issue. It's only when they are & really good players benefit from a perk that it becomes an issue. Everyone knows these teams have a benifit every year. As has been mentioned, the bigger cities have their advantages as well. It's not as if Tavares has signed there, Kuch has been with the organisation since being drafted. Good luck to them.

Based on this calculator the 9.5 with Tampa is worth more than 12 million in New York.

NYR would have to pay 12.4 to equal Tampa's 9.5 offer based on this calculator. That's incredible.
- RedDog18

As someone who lives in the tri state area I can tell you its not just the state income tax, but property tax as well... In Westchester, Rockland or Bergen a million dollar + house could pay 40-100G s per year. The town house I rent out is 7500 a year! Its insane!

I'd say he has already built it. You should have won at least 1 cup by now with the team you have & have had these past 4 years. Cooper needs to go.

Edit: Vic, this isn't a troll, I really believe Cooper is why Tampa hasn't won a Cup recently. Just like AV & the Rangers. So off.
- Aussiepenguin

Haha I actually agree with you for once. With that roster, four straight years of pretty much only getting better every year and only one SCF appearance? Things are stale in TB and it would be a farce to move out any of those players that make up the core. I have no idea if Cooper's actually a good coach or not, but its time for a coaching change there.

Any chance the Penguins enter the Karlsson sweepstakes?

I'd say they would let Ottawa choose one of our signed D-man + Hagelin and Oleksiak signed and something else.

I don't doubt at all Rutherford might have called them.

Haha I actually agree with you for once. With that roster, four straight years of pretty much only getting better every year and only one SCF appearance? Things are stale in TB and it would be a farce to move out any of those players that make up the core. I have no idea if Cooper's actually a good coach or not, but its time for a coaching change there.
- Victoro311

He (Coop) gets bailed out by his talent too often, Yzerman also makes some really bad signings too but his drafting and prospect developing is (frank)ing amazing so it balances out his horrendous contracts. He's amazing at signing his studs, but when it comes to depth, he is really bad... Callahan, Carle, Coburn, Girardi, etc. have been signed to some really bad contracts.

Any chance the Penguins enter the Karlsson sweepstakes?

I'd say they would let Ottawa choose one of our signed D-man + Hagelin and Oleksiak signed and something else.

I don't doubt at all Rutherford might have called them.
- Barnaby36

Pens don't have the assets for Karlsson, it would take like Dumoulin+Sprong+Cap dump+1st+more... although... I'd probably (frank)ing do it if Ottawa was willing to take it and the Pens could some shed salary for an extension, but I don't think that'd be possible.

Haha I actually agree with you for once. With that roster, four straight years of pretty much only getting better every year and only one SCF appearance? Things are stale in TB and it would be a farce to move out any of those players that make up the core. I have no idea if Cooper's actually a good coach or not, but its time for a coaching change there.
- Victoro311

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-in-tampa-bay/c-281134864

Stamkos is the new Ovi. The team is better than that 1 in 2016 & didn't even get to the scf last season.

The NHL should NOT change any rule, cap, salary based on states lower income tax,cost of living, etc... thats so stupid.

These NHL players have a job just like rest of country. And just like the rest of country they are free to move wherever they like. Plenty of people choose to move to areas that cost less. Why should athletes not have that right? Or why should teams in those states get penalized because their state is run differently.

This us the US of America, not some socialist poop hole country where everything has to be equal.

The NHL should NOT change any rule, cap, salary based on states lower income tax,cost of living, etc... thats so stupid.

These NHL players have a job just like rest of country. And just like the rest of country they are free to move wherever they like. Plenty of people choose to move to areas that cost less. Why should athletes not have that right? Or why should teams in those states get penalized because their state is run differently.

This us the US of America, not some socialist poop hole country where everything has to be equal.
- Leniwm1

As I said in my earlier post I am sure it will be talked about it but I agree with you, I think the player's association will as well. If the owner of the team can afford to payout lump sums in signing bonuses the team should have that right to use it as a tool.

You know it's a slow off-season when you have a three page thread talking about taxes.

http://www.post-gazette.c...g-co/stories/201807020171

Something really needs to be done with Texas and Florida teams. The advantage gained by not having state income tax isnt fair to other teams in league, especially when trying to lure FAs. I understand Kuch isn't a FA, but it's not like he signed an extension at that $$ because Yzermaan is some sort of magician.

Some formula must be factored in on contracts for teams who operate in non state tax states . He would be getting 11 mill anywhere else.
- rrentz

You're joking , right?

The biggest advantage that FL, TX, NV, and TN have in signing players is the signing bonus. All signing bonus money is only taxed at the default rate and for Florida that is 39.20 percent and its exempt from "jock" tax because its paid out in one lump sum at the beginning of the NHL fiscal year which is July 1st. Once they get the lump sum then if they are smart the players are investing and making money off their money. Tavares took advantage as well he has 70M signing bonus, 7M salary over his contract, so even other teams are using the signing bonus to their advantage. The next CBA if there is a work stoppage or not this will definitely be on the agenda - capping or setting guide lines for signing bonuses.
- stammerman

I don't see players budging on that.

As I said in my earlier post I am sure it will be talked about it but I agree with you, I think the player's association will as well. If the owner of the team can afford to payout lump sums in signing bonuses the team should have that right to use it as a tool.
- stammerman

I think that rule will change. So will the mega deals that pay players 1m at the end of their contracts. The Hossas (I'm not saying, just implying), that have been paid millions over a long period & gets to the end & says (frank) paying me cents on the $$ throw me on Ltir. How was ROR's structured? I remember people saying is was buyout proof??

In my opinion these teams trading for contracts that either pay less actual than the cap or are on ltir are bad for the NHL. The cap is there for a purpose & trading for players on ltir is circumvention in my opinion. Yes ok they might get an asset with the contract, but 1. It's still circumventing the cap & 2. That same player would be available as the team trading the ltir contract probably can't keep the player.

Any chance the Penguins enter the Karlsson sweepstakes?

I'd say they would let Ottawa choose one of our signed D-man + Hagelin and Oleksiak signed and something else.

I don't doubt at all Rutherford might have called them.
- Barnaby36

They could, but the Pens would most likely have to give up too many key pieces. I'd try for Schultz, Sprong & 2019 1st. That might not be as much as other teams have to offer.

Personally, I think the Pens could fit him in, but they would need to run on quite a few rookie & vet minimum contracts to make that happen. Could go back to being too top heavy again though.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2018/07/03/john-tortorella-jack-johnson-blue-jackets-jim-rutherford-penguins-rivalry-pittsburgh-clothing-co/stories/201807020171
- madmike71

This is gold lol I gotta get one

I think that rule will change. So will the mega deals that pay players 1m at the end of their contracts. The Hossas (I'm not saying, just implying), that have been paid millions over a long period & gets to the end & says (frank) paying me cents on the $$ throw me on Ltir. How was ROR's structured? I remember people saying is was buyout proof??

In my opinion these teams trading for contracts that either pay less actual than the cap or are on ltir are bad for the NHL. The cap is there for a purpose & trading for players on ltir is circumvention in my opinion. Yes ok they might get an asset with the contract, but 1. It's still circumventing the cap & 2. That same player would be available as the team trading the ltir contract probably can't keep the player.
- Aussiepenguin

If an SPC is in the front-loaded category, there are essentially two variability rules: no more than 35% year-to-year, and no more than 50% ever. For the first one: let's say you're making $4.0M in the first year of your deal. In the second year, your salary can't go past either 35% more--$5.4M—or 35% less---$2.6M. (Even NHL teams sometimes miss this. The league recently rejected the first version of Mikkel Boedker's SPC for breaking this rule.) For the second one: the stated player salary and bonuses in the lowest year can't be less than 50% of that in the highest. If at the peak of the deal, you're making $6.0M, you can't be making less than $3.0M in the lowest year. Easy.

https://www.pensionplanpu...rd-player-contract-primer

They could, but the Pens would most likely have to give up too many key pieces. I'd try for Schultz, Sprong & 2019 1st. That might not be as much as other teams have to offer.

Personally, I think the Pens could fit him in, but they would need to run on quite a few rookie & vet minimum contracts to make that happen. Could go back to being too top heavy again though.
- MacPatty

Ottawa is looking at blue chip prospects like Sergachev, Glass, and Heiskanen.

Pens simply don't have the assets to make it happen.

They could, but the Pens would most likely have to give up too many key pieces. I'd try for Schultz.
- MacPatty

Nope. Not trying to be a Richard, but I can guarantee you that's a non-starter. Jboyd mentioned Dumoulin and I don't even think that's a starting point. I'm not sure the Pens even have something they want.

Now, if the Pens were a team that could take on Ryan(which they're not), then yeah, you might be able to start with Dumo or Maatta.

Karlsson is not in the cards for the Pens. I've said this a few times, but IMO Letang would need to be the piece going out along with a 1st for real value. I just don't think OTT wants someone like Letang. They want a younger Letang.

Nope. Not trying to be a Richard, but I can guarantee you that's a non-starter. Jboyd mentioned Dumoulin and I don't even think that's a starting point. I'm not sure the Pens even have something they want.

Now, if the Pens were a team that could take on Ryan(which they're not), then yeah, you might be able to start with Dumo or Maatta.

Karlsson is not in the cards for the Pens. I've said this a few times, but IMO Letang would need to be the piece going out along with a 1st for real value. I just don't think OTT wants someone like Letang. They want a younger Letang.
- Rinosaur

This part is the most likely scenario.

Barring some extreme situation of a season ending injury early on, the Pens are likely done once they sign Oleksiak.

I still maintain that while this Penguin team was lackluster in the playoffs last year, they will be night & day better having finally had a real summer off to rest, recuperate and get some real motivation back.

I just don't think they need to do much yet.

Ottawa is looking at blue chip prospects like Sergachev, Glass, and Heiskanen.

Pens simply don't have the assets to make it happen.
- Feds91Stammer

Everyone is focusing on prospects Ottawa might want, but I think Dorion is only looking to save face and get the best total return.

Important to keep in mind that he traded away their #1 pick next year. He might be inclined to make a trade that will help the team a bit right now rather than going tank mode in a year they don't have their own 1st.

Granted, if you can get Heiskanen or Sergachev with other add ins that could be worth it to them.