Anyone else read about the allegations the Bruins are pulling a 'Kucherov' with Hall?

There is chatter he is ready to play but the Bruins can't fit him in and be cap compliant due to them acquiring Bertuzzi so they are going to just wait it out until Playoffs start.

Not sure how the league could possibly prove that to be true even if it is.

He doesn't have a point, but he has reportedly played well. In the first game, Minnesota won 9-2 with 4 PPG. Knies was even with 3 shots on net. In the second game, they won 4-1. He had 2 shots, a penalty for interference and was +3 - and while not appearing on the score sheet, was apparently a contributor in maintaining puck possession and creating room for plays.

I think he will be a great addition to this team - just maybe not great this year.
- Monkeypunk

We will not know until he is given his chance.

But the people saying he won't get a game in the NHL this season(unless he gets a bad injury) are out to lunch.

Extremely common for college players of all talent levels to come in and burn that year and get an NHL shot.

Gadreau is an example of an elite player, Abruzesse is an example of a middling prospect.

But people hoping he goes on a calder cup run are out to lunch based on what agents, players want. History shows it is quite clear he is going to suit up for the Leafs for at least a game here.

And then we can all talk about if he is ready to be one of the top 13 forwards.

Anyone else read about the allegations the Bruins are pulling a 'Kucherov' with Hall?

There is chatter he is ready to play but the Bruins can't fit him in and be cap compliant due to them acquiring Bertuzzi so they are going to just wait it out until Playoffs start.

Not sure how the league could possibly prove that to be true even if it is.
- Cush29

They can not.

Only thing they can do is change the rule.

I think they should make it that if a player goes on LTIR and misses a certain amount of games post TDL they should be ineligible to play game 1 of playoffs, or even 2 games.

So if they want to pull that bs play the damn player 3 days earlier at the final game of the season or he misses the first couple games. They don't even have to play him, just dress him for the game.

They can not.

Only thing they can do is change the rule.

I think they should make it that if a player goes on LTIR and misses a certain amount of games post TDL they should be ineligible to play game 1 of playoffs, or even 2 games.

So if they want to pull that bs play the damn player 3 days earlier at the final game of the season or he misses the first couple games. They don't even have to play him, just dress him for the game.
- Santo_44

In MLB you have to appoint your MLB roster prior to starting a playoff series.

They don't have a hard cap, but a similarly structured rule could be introduced ensuring there's cap compliance with a roster prior to the stat of a round.

So if you expect Hall or Kucherov or Riley Nash or whomever to return in the first
round and play in that series, then you have to compliant with that player prior to the start of the round. Something akin to, "These are the 26 players we intend to dress during this series - and no combination of 20 of those 26 players can exceed the cap." If a horrible spate of injuries occurs, emergency call-ups can be used.

The NHL needs to address this goofiness. Like Boston - with the 4th best record in NHL history - should be tarnishing such a brilliant season with this type of muckery? It's an embarrassment.

I'm pretty sure that I heard on the radio that Knies doesn't have a point in the tournament, and they think he may be nursing an injury.

Did I hear that correctly?
- Atomic Wedgie

I think his coach said he’s a bit banged up

Anyone else read about the allegations the Bruins are pulling a 'Kucherov' with Hall?

There is chatter he is ready to play but the Bruins can't fit him in and be cap compliant due to them acquiring Bertuzzi so they are going to just wait it out until Playoffs start.

Not sure how the league could possibly prove that to be true even if it is.
- Cush29

All the league can do is have independent docs review his medical records. That’s what they did with Kucherov. It’s pretty hard to prove he’s ready if the doctors are saying he’s not.

We will not know until he is given his chance.

But the people saying he won't get a game in the NHL this season(unless he gets a bad injury) are out to lunch.

Extremely common for college players of all talent levels to come in and burn that year and get an NHL shot.

Gadreau is an example of an elite player, Abruzesse is an example of a middling prospect.

But people hoping he goes on a calder cup run are out to lunch based on what agents, players want. History shows it is quite clear he is going to suit up for the Leafs for at least a game here.

And then we can all talk about if he is ready to be one of the top 13 forwards.
- Santo_44

I am certain he gets a game or two or three in with the Leafs. We've clinched, but still have not clinched home ice. It would be nice in the next 5 of the remaining 8, if we could seal the deal enough that putting a kid like Knies in for an audition could be stress free.

If my math is correct, any combination of points to a total of 8 where we gain and Tampa loses is the magic number for home ice. Tampa has 6 left (3H / 3A, 4 against playoff teams: NYI, @NYR, @NYI, @Ott, Tor, Det). Toronto has 8 left (3H / 5A, 3/maybe 4 against playoff teams: @Ott, Det, Cmb, @Bos, Mtl, @Fla, @TB, @NYR).

We have 2 b2b series in there - this weekend Ottawa/Detroit, and April 10/11 in Florida and Tampa. Tampa does have one B2B remaining against NYI / NYR.

Obviously for the kid to play in playoff hockey, he needs to play with pressure, but it would be better for him if played in games that meant something (Florida, Tampa, Rangers) but that wouldn't cost us if he struggles.

In MLB you have to appoint your MLB roster prior to starting a playoff series.

They don't have a hard cap, but a similarly structured rule could be introduced ensuring there's cap compliance with a roster prior to the stat of a round.

So if you expect Hall or Kucherov or Riley Nash or whomever to return in the first
round and play in that series, then you have to compliant with that player prior to the start of the round. Something akin to, "These are the 26 players we intend to dress during this series - and no combination of 20 of those 26 players can exceed the cap." If a horrible spate of injuries occurs, emergency call-ups can be used.

The NHL needs to address this goofiness. Like Boston - with the 4th best record in NHL history - should be tarnishing such a brilliant season with this type of muckery? It's an embarrassment.
- Monkeypunk

Seems to me the easiest way to stop these shenanigans is to say that the cap applies to the playoffs, too.

Is there a downside to this that I'm not seeing?

Anyone else read about the allegations the Bruins are pulling a 'Kucherov' with Hall?

There is chatter he is ready to play but the Bruins can't fit him in and be cap compliant due to them acquiring Bertuzzi so they are going to just wait it out until Playoffs start.

Not sure how the league could possibly prove that to be true even if it is.
- Cush29

I heard rumblings because they don't have the cap space to bring him of LTIR as you pointed out

Seems to me the easiest way to stop these shenanigans is to say that the cap applies to the playoffs, too.

Is there a downside to this that I'm not seeing?
- Atomic Wedgie

What will PA ask for if they move to open up the CBA? I think the rationale (or part) for the cap not counting is that players aren’t paid. Would they push for playoff salaries?

Either way, GMs have said they don’t see this as a problem.

We will not know until he is given his chance.

But the people saying he won't get a game in the NHL this season(unless he gets a bad injury) are out to lunch.

Extremely common for college players of all talent levels to come in and burn that year and get an NHL shot.

Gadreau is an example of an elite player, Abruzesse is an example of a middling prospect.

But people hoping he goes on a calder cup run are out to lunch based on what agents, players want. History shows it is quite clear he is going to suit up for the Leafs for at least a game here.

And then we can all talk about if he is ready to be one of the top 13 forwards.
- Santo_44

Perhaps you're the one who out to lunch on Knies playing in the NHL this year.
a- there is really no room for him
b- I'd prefer he play with Marlies as I'm selfish and don't want to burn a year of his ELC.

open your mind to other possibilities and nothing is quite clear that he will suite up for the Leafs

I am certain he gets a game or two or three in with the Leafs. We've clinched, but still have not clinched home ice. It would be nice in the next 5 of the remaining 8, if we could seal the deal enough that putting a kid like Knies in for an audition could be stress free.

- Monkeypunk

I seem to recall that putting a kid in at the end of the year burns a year off his ELC, so teams do it as an enticement to sign (and leave the NCAA), as opposed to doing it because they think they are ready for the NHL.

I'm hoping the final three games are garbage time. But I also heard on the radio that the final three Leafs games are on the road, with no practices, so it's not a great way to judge him for playoff readiness.

If my math is correct, any combination of points to a total of 8 where we gain and Tampa loses is the magic number for home ice. Tampa has 6 left (3H / 3A, 4 against playoff teams: NYI, @NYR, @NYI, @Ott, Tor, Det). Toronto has 8 left (3H / 5A, 3/maybe 4 against playoff teams: @Ott, Det, Cmb, @Bos, Mtl, @Fla, @TB, @NYR).

- Monkeypunk

Magic number is 9, which would ensure we are free and clear.

At 8, it then goes to a tie-breaker. First one is wins in regulation - we are currently one up on Tampa, but that can of course change.

We have 2 b2b series in there - this weekend Ottawa/Detroit, and April 10/11 in Florida and Tampa. Tampa does have one B2B remaining against NYI / NYR.

Obviously for the kid to play in playoff hockey, he needs to play with pressure, but it would be better for him if played in games that meant something (Florida, Tampa, Rangers) but that wouldn't cost us if he struggles.
- Monkeypunk

Call me a grumpy old man, but I just don't see this kid playing in the playoffs, and I've never actually seen him play.

I heard rumblings because they don't have the cap space to bring him of LTIR.
- dmnted

According to this article:

https://bostonhockeynow.c...hall-injury-report-false/

They do have the cap room.

Consider the source, of course, but there you are.

Honestly the league doing an independant doc analysis on the player and ensuring the doctors diagnosis is there, that's really good enough. I think some of this is people looking for that Kucherov boogey man to pin something on a team, in this case especially because it is Boston and because of the season they are having.

Every team is playing the cba rule bending game lets be honest so not like anyone standing in that glass house should be screaming too loudly. Hell Arizona has how many on the shelf to avoid actually spending money and putting a decent roster on the ice?

Other than yeah maybe trying to get the PA to put the cap all the way through or some hard capped end rule there to lock rosters, not much to do about it so meh, why sweat it?

According to this article:

https://bostonhockeynow.c...hall-injury-report-false/

They do have the cap room.

Consider the source, of course, but there you are.
- Atomic Wedgie

It's also Dredger too, guy tends to stir the pot as best he can to be relevant. Not as bad as Kypreos but close

What will PA ask for if they move to open up the CBA? I think the rationale (or part) for the cap not counting is that players aren’t paid. Would they push for playoff salaries?

Either way, GMs have said they don’t see this as a problem.
- Canada Cup

You're clearly mistaking "what should be done" with "what the NHL will actually do."

If the point of the salary cap is to ensure that all teams have equal resources, how is it possibly fair to allow one team to be $18M over the cap in the playoffs?

It was an embarrassment to a league that seems to seek out new ways to embarrass itself.

And yes, you and I have been on this merri-go-round 100 times before, with you maintaining that the league couldn't do anything.

Bettman can do anything he franking wants. He disallowed the Kovalchuk contract, even though it was CBA-compliant. He changed the rules and made new ones to punish teams that had signed players to CBA-compliant contracts, that the league accepted.

I doubt the NHLPA would have a problem with making the salary cap apply to the playoffs. Sure, they'd ask for something, but I doubt it would be a big ask.

I seem to recall that putting a kid in at the end of the year burns a year off his ELC, so teams do it as an enticement to sign (and leave the NCAA), as opposed to doing it because they think they are ready for the NHL.

I'm hoping the final three games are garbage time. But I also heard on the radio that the final three Leafs games are on the road, with no practices, so it's not a great way to judge him for playoff readiness.



Magic number is 9, which would ensure we are free and clear.

At 8, it then goes to a tie-breaker. First one is wins in regulation - we are currently one up on Tampa, but that can of course change.


Call me a grumpy old man, but I just don't see this kid playing in the playoffs, and I've never actually seen him play.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed.
He may get a few throwaway games as the season closes out, but these playoffs are everything to dubas right now, huge pressure to advance...this isnt at all like when Caufield joined the habs (who had no pressure to win).
Lots pressure to win for the leafs and co. Not the best position to put the kid in.
Unless he is a beast

Perhaps you're the one who out to lunch on Knies playing in the NHL this year.
a- there is really no room for him
b- I'd prefer he play with Marlies as I'm selfish and don't want to burn a year of his ELC.

open your mind to other possibilities and nothing is quite clear that he will suite up for the Leafs
- dmnted

I think it’s understood that he will burn the first year. I would imagine that his agent would insist on it or else they tell Dubas to stick it.

I think it’s understood that he will burn the first year. I would imagine that his agent would insist on it or else they tell Dubas to stick it.
- shack67

I dont imagine the agent has much leverage here to be telling Dubas to stick anything.

I dont imagine the agent has much leverage here to be telling Dubas to stick anything.
- Fakepartofme

Only the fact that he doesn’t have to sign with the leafs.

Only the fact that he doesn’t have to sign with the leafs.
- shack67

Then he doesnt sign and sits....or goes back to college.
Onto next year.

Then he doesnt sign and sits....or goes back to college.
Onto next year.
- Fakepartofme

If he doesn’t sign he will become a UFA

No guarantee to him playing but I can see him getting signed to practice. Doesn’t guarantee any game time tho, especially not on a top 5 cup contender.

I’ll still stick to my 50/50 odds lol

Then he doesnt sign and sits....or goes back to college.
Onto next year.
- Fakepartofme

He has all the leverage, Dubas really wants him signed and they will gladly burn the first year to get it done.

But you do you. Talking to you is like being on a high school debate team. You just keep choosing the opposite for the sake of arguing.

He has all the leverage, Dubas really wants him signed and they will gladly burn the first year to get it done.

But you do you. Talking to you is like being on a high school debate team. You just keep choosing the opposite for the sake of arguing.
- shack67

Signed yes, guaranteed game time no.

We’ll see.

Seems to me the easiest way to stop these shenanigans is to say that the cap applies to the playoffs, too.

Is there a downside to this that I'm not seeing?
- Atomic Wedgie

How about when declared on LTIR til seasons end it’s confirmed by an independent NHL doctor. It is very strange any doctor can pick a time that coincides with a season ending. Change strange to convenient even blatant once trades gaining cap occur. Any dummy can smell something is rotten.