via Twitter...

Preds match.

via Twitter...

Preds match.
- Al

Not a surprise, but the Preds will still be a weaker team next season (compared to last year).

Not a surprise, but the Preds will still be a weaker team next season (compared to last year).
- DarthKane

I just tweeted...

...Pay a lot now or lose even more for years to come.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

I think his faceoffs have gotten worse after back surgery and only if he tunes things up can Bolland be over 50%...he probably can't get down low enough.

That said, there is absolutely no reason why another Pk/faceoff center hasn't been brought in....Unless the GM feels he is already in good shape.
- Al

08-09 : 46.5%
09-10 : 49.4%
10-11 : 45.1%
11-12 : 48.4%

Means hes going to irritate a lot of people this year.

I just tweeted...

...Pay a lot now or lose even more for years to come.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I agree, and assuming there's a salary rollback it won't be so bad for the Preds from a cash flow perspective.

I wonder what Philly will do now? Doan?

You've got to wonder why players are taking such long deals when the cap has been increasing rapidly. Either their afraid theres going to be a serious decrease or they might just be trying to get as much money as possible since its mostly guaranteed. Just seems strange you would take a 10-14 year deal when you could be making 10 mil per season(cap hit at least) in like 6 years.

I just tweeted...

...Pay a lot now or lose even more for years to come.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Yeah in a few years that deal will look nice. Top 5 defender for a modest cap-hit. Owners will just have to eat a little money for a while. Nashville can attempt to grow some young players for a couple of years. Maybe sell off some older guys at the TDL for top prospects.

A lot of the top MMA guys either came out of jiu jitsu or use it heavily in their training
- John Jaeckel

I have a friend that fights in the UFC, and has done a ton of jiu jitsu training since signing there, and has become a much better fighter because of it.

You've got to wonder why players are taking such long deals when the cap has been increasing rapidly. Either their afraid theres going to be a serious decrease or they might just be trying to get as much money as possible since its mostly guaranteed. Just seems strange you would take a 10-14 year deal when you could be making 10 mil per season(cap hit at least) in like 6 years.
- Walky

That is because there will be a cap on contract length in the new CBA. The league wants it at five years. The reason these players want these long term deals is because they are front loaded and are guaranteed. If Weber took a one year deal and then went to UFA next summer, he's looking at a lot less money at a much shorter term. Also, don't count on the salary cap going up like it has because after the owners get a more favorable split, likely 50/50, that will greatly affect where the cap will be set. I wouldn't be surprised to see the cap shrink for possibly a few years until it reaches a level around where it will stay.

You've got to wonder why players are taking such long deals when the cap has been increasing rapidly. Either their afraid theres going to be a serious decrease or they might just be trying to get as much money as possible since its mostly guaranteed. Just seems strange you would take a 10-14 year deal when you could be making 10 mil per season(cap hit at least) in like 6 years.
- Walky

Money is guaranteed.

100 million dollars +/- 15 million dollars is really not a life style change.

That is because there will be a cap on contract length in the new CBA. The league wants it at five years. The reason these players want these long term deals is because they are front loaded and are guaranteed. If Weber took a one year deal and then went to UFA next summer, he's looking at a lot less money at a much shorter term. Also, don't count on the salary cap going up like it has because after the owners get a more favorable split, likely 50/50, that will greatly affect where the cap will be set. I wouldn't be surprised to see the cap shrink for possibly a few years until it reaches a level around where it will stay.
- hawks2010

I feel like it will go down initially but will continue to rise as the league gains popularity. I know the deals enable them to get more money now, but in 8 years they're making 3 million a year despite the fact that they are probably worth more, especially with the cap going up. Although like was mentioned, it is GUARANTEED money. If they get injured or lose a step they won't make more then.

Money is guaranteed.

100 million dollars +/- 15 million dollars is really not a life style change.
- fattybeef

Maybe when you're older. But when you're middle aged thats a lot of extra spending money. Trust funds for kids/help the parents out plus plenty of nice toys, a nice house, fun trips whenever. I'd take a 15% pay increase any day of the week.

Maybe when you're older. But when you're middle aged thats a lot of extra spending money. Trust funds for kids/help the parents out plus plenty of nice toys, a nice house, fun trips whenever. I'd take a 15% pay increase any day of the week.
- Walky

True, but I'd always take a guaranteed $100 million over the long term vs risk making more money in a series of short term deals. What happens if Torres does to Weber what he did to Hossa or worse and he can't play anymore? Guaranteed money is always the way to go.

Just caught up to the thread. Going back to the Oduya trade, why didn't Stan give up '12 picks? You would think the picks being a year sooner would have more value for Winnipeg and Stan would have had better flexibility for this summer.

Apparently Weber wants a NTC. If I'm the Preds and there's any ability for me to say "no and theres nothing you can do about it" I do that. Weber doesn't deserve a NTC after pulling that on them. As I saw somewhere else, hope he likes playing for a bottom rung team that needs to make the floor in 10 years.

Apparently Weber wants a NTC.
- Walky

Under the current CBA terms he can't re-negotiate the contract he just signed.

I agree, and assuming there's a salary rollback it won't be so bad for the Preds from a cash flow perspective.

I wonder what Philly will do now? Doan?
- DarthKane

Shea it ain't so


My understanding is signing bonuses are unaffected by rollbacks..... so lets say a 20% rollback for Weber in season one would be $13 million in SB (unaffected) + $800,000 in salary (20% off of $1,000,000). Same in year 2. That was the whole point of the contract... or the poison pill.


As for Philly - I'd be fine entering camp with the same team - sign voracek and MAB and call it a day. Rumors have Bobby Ryan and Shane Doan as the next up on their list.

Apparently Weber wants a NTC. If I'm the Preds and there's any ability for me to say "no and theres nothing you can do about it" I do that. Weber doesn't deserve a NTC after pulling that on them. As I saw somewhere else, hope he likes playing for a bottom rung team that needs to make the floor in 10 years.
- Walky

ha ha - he can sting them more by taking the $13 million signing bonus and deciding to sit out the season (losing only $1 million in income and decreasing his trade value) before deciding to play next season and collecting another $13 million signing bonus. In a fit of anger I had already thought of that

I agree, and assuming there's a salary rollback it won't be so bad for the Preds from a cash flow perspective.

I wonder what Philly will do now? Doan?
- DarthKane

Bobby Ryan is my guess...maybe both.

Under the current CBA terms he can't re-negotiate the contract he just signed.
- shruew

That's the risk you take with an offer sheet..big bucks but no NTC. Suck it up buttercup.

If Weber really wanted a NTC he shouldn't have signed the offer sheet....Which would have been stupid.

He isn't going to be traded, at least until his the front end money is paid.

Can't have everything....And sitting out a year isn't really an option.

>Thousands of posts later, so many issues remain -- here are a few:
>What style of play are the Blackhawks rostered to play and play well? (Anybody know?)
>Why can't the GM and Coach get on the same page? And if they can't, why isn't one or both them gone already? (see White Sox last year vs this year)
>Can the head coach get his team to play 60 minute games? (happened maybe six times last year)
>Will the coaching staff study the best power plays worldwide and at all levels of hockey to create a truly innovative power play?
>Will Hawk players actually give the effort needed on power plays and the PK?
>Will the Hawk goalie be their best penalty killer? (Bad goalies give up lots of PK goals in addition to ill-timed softies.)
>Why can't the Hawks be one of the best face-off teams in the NHL? (Centers 1-4, not just riding Toews' stats.)
>Does Rocky realize the connection between the current management structure and the on-ice product? (When you are creating something, anything, the structure that creates it DETERMINES what is created.)

ha ha - he can sting them more by taking the $13 million signing bonus and deciding to sit out the season (losing only $1 million in income and decreasing his trade value) before deciding to play next season and collecting another $13 million signing bonus. In a fit of anger I had already thought of that
- moylander

If Weber were to sit out, I can't see how he'd get a nickel. I would think that Nashville would have a grievance for lack of performance.

Talk about fits of anger...I'd think Nashville ownership would go ballistic.

I'm trying to picture Weber signing the matched contract, taking the 13M check, depositing it in the bank, driving to the airport and leaving for the south Pacific for the season.

Money is guaranteed.

100 million dollars +/- 15 million dollars is really not a life style change.
- fattybeef

Aren't NHL contracts ALL guaranteed?

Aren't NHL contracts ALL guaranteed?
- StLBravesFan

Yes, I believe they are...

...I suppose the only question is how the new CBA effects contracts going forward, things like rollbacks. Anything guaranteed NOW won't be effected.