Florida teams also have the advantage of 0 income tax - a $10m contract elsewhere is pretty equal to an $8.5m contract in FL.
- jt19

This is an advantage but not as big, I believe, as we make it out to be. I’m of the understanding that all professional athletes get taxed at the state’s going income tax rate whenever they play a road game in whatever state they find themselves in. Therefore, the actual tax benefit would be about half of what we expect it to be. Anyone know if this is correct or not?

Max Contract a player can get is 20% of the salary cap.

When Stamkos Signed that would have been $14.6 Million Per.

His contract took up just over 11% of the cap when he signed. Compared to Toews and Kane, who took up over 15% each.
- BINGO!

Yeah there was really no statistical rationale for Toews and Kane getting those MAX deals because, when signed, neither Toews nor Kane had sniffed Top 5 in NHL scoring. Kane has since moved to the upper echelon of scoring from 2015 on as Toews has regressed horribly. It was a pure "Marketing" move and a boneheaded miscalculation of where the Salary Cap was heading. Bowman overpays literally everyone, even 7th defensemen get more money than they should when Stan Bowman is the "negotiator"

Besides Anchor bar,
Sophia's
749 Military Rd
Buffalo, NY 14216
- riozzo

THIS

Yeah there was really no statistical rationale for Toews and Kane getting those MAX deals because, when signed, neither Toews nor Kane had sniffed Top 5 in NHL scoring. Kane has since moved to the upper echelon of scoring from 2015 on as Toews has regressed horribly. It was a pure "Marketing" move and a boneheaded miscalculation of where the Salary Cap was heading. Bowman overpays literally everyone, even 7th defensemen get more money than they should when Stan Bowman is the "negotiator"
- EnzoD

Like, Kane's contract isn't really an issue. He's worth all that and more on the open market today, but the Toews one is just a mess handed out on reputation alone.

Find it interesting that Stan built in a European Assignment Clause into Jan Rutta's contract.

This is definitely a safety net for Rutta, who clearly doesn't want to play in the AHL / get toyed around with gong back-and-forth next year. However, it's also a safety net for Stan who, if he brings in other options on D (which he HAS to... right?), he can approach Rutta and let him know that he's giving him an out to head back to the Czech league.

Find it interesting that Stan built in a European Assignment Clause into Jan Rutta's contract.

This is definitely a safety net for Rutta, who clearly doesn't want to play in the AHL / get toyed around with gong back-and-forth next year. However, it's also a safety net for Stan who, if he brings in other options on D (which he HAS to... right?), he can approach Rutta and let him know that he's giving him an out to head back to the Czech league.
- Justin Lowe

You'd think... there's no way they go into next season with this D construction unless they intend on tanking.

There may be a sleeper that we’re missing, although he’s probably a couple years away in Blake Hillman at Denver!
- walleyeb1

Yep, I'm hoping that there's a sleeper in one of either Hillman at Denver or Gilbert at Notre Dame. Both seem to be developing as rugged stay-at-home defenders. We need more of those on the blueline so hopefully at least one of them pans out in the long term.

I believe someone on these boards has seen a lot of Gilbert play and likes how he has rounded out his defensive game after being more of a puck mover prior to college.

That Marchand play on Duclair was nauseating....

Im sure the Boston talking heads were saying he "tried to avoid the contact....
- nickmo2699

My two cents on this. My experiences in life tell me that when something totally unexpected is about to smash into you — such as turning on your skates and immediately being surprised by another player about to crash into you — the natural instinct is to pull limbs and head into the body as much as possible to protect vital organs and the body. Marchand’s reaction to trying to avoid contact that he didn’t see coming until it was too late was to open up his body and throw his hands towards Duclair’s head, which is the exact opposite of what I would have expected if he really was surprised. There is no way, in my estimation, that Marchand didn’t know Duclair wa there and Marchand just reacted sensing an opportunity to do some harm.

You'd think... there's no way they go into next season with this D construction unless they intend on tanking.
- BINGO!

If any money is spent on FA's this summer... it HAS to be on the backend. The young forwards took a step forward and you can piece together a lineup up front. It's the D that needs work.

Plus, you make the D better and create a rotation that's a little/lot more in sync... the forwards will look even better be able to create more offensively.

Like, Kane's contract isn't really an issue. He's worth all that and more on the open market today, but the Toews one is just a mess handed out on reputation alone.
- BINGO!

Agreed. Three years ago Toews would have commanded more than Tavares on the open market. It would s not even close today.

Like, Kane's contract isn't really an issue. He's worth all that and more on the open market today, but the Toews one is just a mess handed out on reputation alone.
- BINGO!

Agreed, I don't think anyone would've predicted Toews' offensive decline so quickly though.

Yep, I'm hoping that there's a sleeper in one of either Hillman at Denver or Gilbert at Notre Dame. Both seem to be developing as rugged stay-at-home defenders. We need more of those on the blueline so hopefully at least one of them pans out in the long term.

I believe someone on these boards has seen a lot of Gilbert play and likes how he has rounded out his defensive game after being more of a puck mover prior to college.
- AEL_Fox

I thought Ian Mitchell was higher on our prospect lists than Hillman? He's also at Denver and if I recall correctly was drafted higher.

Agreed, I don't think anyone would've predicted Toews' offensive decline so quickly though.
- ObeseOprah

True to an extent... But he wasn't worth that contract when he signed it, either.

If any money is spent on FA's this summer... it HAS to be on the backend. The young forwards took a step forward and you can piece together a lineup up front. It's the D that needs work.

Plus, you make the D better and create a rotation that's a little/lot more in sync... the forwards will look even better be able to create more offensively.
- Justin Lowe

I agree they need to improve the back end but I also wouldn't mind if they found one more good C (if they are still trying to move AA). I'd still like to see the team get that additional C that can win draws and play a good under your skin 3C role.

I thought Ian Mitchell was higher on our prospect lists than Hillman? He's also at Denver and if I recall correctly was drafted higher.
- ObeseOprah

Two entirely different type of players, Hillman is more of a physical, hard hitting defensive minded shutdown player. Where Mitchell is more offensive minded and yes he has more potential.

This is an advantage but not as big, I believe, as we make it out to be. I’m of the understanding that all professional athletes get taxed at the state’s going income tax rate whenever they play a road game in whatever state they find themselves in. Therefore, the actual tax benefit would be about half of what we expect it to be. Anyone know if this is correct or not?
- Spec41971

It is dependent upon where your primary residence is. Some states may require that a portion of any income produced in their state be subject to income tax, but I'm not to sure about that.

For instance, I travel for work, but I don't have to pay state income tax on money that I make while working in other states (that specific state's income tax). However, I owe Illinois income tax on all of my income since my primary residence is in Illinois.

Two entirely different type of players, Hillman is more of a physical, hard hitting defensive minded shutdown player. Where Mitchell is more offensive minded and yes he has more potential.
- walleyeb1

Thanks, was going to say something similar.

If they trade Anisimov, I will GUARANTEE you that you will hear rants about how the Hawks need a center with size. Toews is the largest center and that's not good enough ... ya da ya da. And the ones doing most of the ranting, will be the ones that wanted him traded. I agree with you
- chuckdahammer

Probably the same ones who complain about our power play. Makes a lot of sense to trade away your top power play goal scorer. That should really improve the power play!

If any money is spent on FA's this summer... it HAS to be on the backend. The young forwards took a step forward and you can piece together a lineup up front. It's the D that needs work.

Plus, you make the D better and create a rotation that's a little/lot more in sync... the forwards will look even better be able to create more offensively.
- Justin Lowe

I do not totally disagree with looking to add D this off season. But I think that all this piling on in our criticism of our defencemen is not totally justified either. I did not play hockey at a high level, but I still remember defencemen attacking the forward group in the dressing room when things were not going well. It is so easy to blame the last line of defence, but how many of our forwards make you pay in your end like Jamie Benn does? How much goal support have our forwards supplied for our defence this year?

One thing is consistent with this board, every move is wrong and scrutinized with some portion of the contributors...
- riozzo

I think that all of the negativity is one reason that so many former contributors to this blog are just that -- FORMER contributors.

I think that all of the negativity is one reason that so many former contributors to this blog are just that -- FORMER contributors.
- BMWChiFan

Or banned for posting links to enhance readers understanding of the game. Horribly mistaken as competition - Free the WIZ!

I agree they need to improve the back end but I also wouldn't mind if they found one more good C (if they are still trying to move AA). I'd still like to see the team get that additional C that can win draws and play a good under your skin 3C role.
- breadbag

We'd all better hope Crow recovers, or the deficiencies on defense or at center will pale in comparison to the problems in goal.

My two cents on this. My experiences in life tell me that when something totally unexpected is about to smash into you — such as turning on your skates and immediately being surprised by another player about to crash into you — the natural instinct is to pull limbs and head into the body as much as possible to protect vital organs and the body. Marchand’s reaction to trying to avoid contact that he didn’t see coming until it was too late was to open up his body and throw his hands towards Duclair’s head, which is the exact opposite of what I would have expected if he really was surprised. There is no way, in my estimation, that Marchand didn’t know Duclair wa there and Marchand just reacted sensing an opportunity to do some harm.
- Spec41971

I was going to make a similar comment after I saw the hit. Anyone who has followed hockey for a considerable amount of time has seen similar collisions where two guys make sharp turns and are surprised to see the other player coming at them. They always tuck their forearms into their chest and twist their bodies, or they try to duck out of the way. NEVER have I seen a player flail his arms above shoulder level to avoid a hit. We'll never know if Marchand calculated that move, but I believe that it is part of his despicable core to instinctually throw his forearms towards a vulnerable player's head.

Just ran across this on Twitter:

I've broadcasted almost 100 games over my four years at Illinois, but the ACHA National Championship will obviously be the biggest. I have the play-by-play call at 7 p.m. ET on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_kwXz2zVNnA

Find it interesting that Stan built in a European Assignment Clause into Jan Rutta's contract.

This is definitely a safety net for Rutta, who clearly doesn't want to play in the AHL / get toyed around with gong back-and-forth next year. However, it's also a safety net for Stan who, if he brings in other options on D (which he HAS to... right?), he can approach Rutta and let him know that he's giving him an out to head back to the Czech league.
- Justin Lowe

I am surprised that Rutta had that clause since i believed he was better than the group of others who could be considered third pair/depth. Furthermore, i figure that Rutta himself is a candidate to be traded perhaps Rutta "+" for a defenseman who plays a more physical game.

This mystery dman must skate ok.. I just do not know whom fits the description of the type dman we need. Whom could be had for what we can realisticly offer is an isdue. Receiving a defenceman better than the one we ship off, is not an easy endeavor to accomplish.