Michael Pachla: Rasmus Dahlin could end up being a Buffalo Sabre for next decade

At 8x8 the Sabres should jump on it.
Kid is good but will be Hedman/Karlsson like valuable.

If covid blows over and the NHL is back on track in a year or two, there’s nothing to stop salaries to blow up yet again and high profile/superstars will command 10-12mil a year.

Michael Pachla: Rasmus Dahlin could end up being a Buffalo Sabre for next decade
- Michael Pachla

Deaths are not reaching unprecedented levels. There will be a lockdown once Biden takes office. This is not surprising.

Michael Pachla: Rasmus Dahlin could end up being a Buffalo Sabre for next decade
- Michael Pachla

Nice column, Pachyderm. I always enjoy your thoughtful analysis.

The one thing I'm still wondering about is will corporate support dry up if we enter a prolonged recession?

I had assumed that revenues would dip, but that doesn't seem to be the case from the last market crash.

https://www.statista.com/...ue-of-the-nhl-since-2006/

Advertising and sponsorships are probably safe, but the one thing I'm wondering about is luxury boxes. How many companies are going to want to shell out the big bucks to entertain clients if many clients won't want to go?

We really are in uncharted territory here.

Nice blog.

Id like the max deal now. In about 4 years, Eichel will still be in his prime and Dahlin will be into his. Assuming they make a combined $18m, I believe those two will look very underpaid.

I see the logic in a bridge though.

At 8x8 the Sabres should jump on it.
Kid is good but will be Hedman/Karlsson like valuable.

If covid blows over and the NHL is back on track in a year or two, there’s nothing to stop salaries to blow up yet again and high profile/superstars will command 10-12mil a year.
- halo63

It's for this exact reason I see most upper-echelon players wanting to sign bridge deals.

Bottom six? Grab onto whatever you can.

Nice column, Pachyderm. I always enjoy your thoughtful analysis.

The one thing I'm still wondering about is will corporate support dry up if we enter a prolonged recession?

I had assumed that revenues would dip, but that doesn't seem to be the case from the last market crash.

https://www.statista.com/...ue-of-the-nhl-since-2006/

Advertising and sponsorships are probably safe, but the one thing I'm wondering about is luxury boxes. How many companies are going to want to shell out the big bucks to entertain clients if many clients won't want to go?

We really are in uncharted territory here.
- Atomic Wedgie

thx, wedgie, and i'm with you on all fronts...i will add this, there's a new tv contract coming up and it was looking like a real windfall for the league...question is, will that windfall be there and will there be enough to offset at least some of those financial drags you mentioned?

Nice blog.

Id like the max deal now. In about 4 years, Eichel will still be in his prime and Dahlin will be into his. Assuming they make a combined $18m, I believe those two will look very underpaid.

I see the logic in a bridge though.
- jcragcrumple

pre-pandemic i was with you...however, now i see a pretty good opportunity to lock him up for a total of 10 years, which is very appealing to me

I really enjoy your columns but if I can offer a slight critique, readers already have way too many sources for reading about COVID if that’s their goal , not to mention just setting foot outside ones front door...I don’t presume to speak for everyone but for me I come to this site to get away from COVID (as much as possible) and read about hockey.

I really enjoy your columns but if I can offer a slight critique, readers already have way too many sources for reading about COVID if that’s their goal , not to mention just setting foot outside ones front door...I don’t presume to speak for everyone but for me I come to this site to get away from COVID (as much as possible) and read about hockey.
- nikel

point taken

thx, wedgie, and i'm with you on all fronts...i will add this, there's a new tv contract coming up and it was looking like a real windfall for the league...question is, will that windfall be there and will there be enough to offset at least some of those financial drags you mentioned?
- Michael Pachla

The dramatic drop in tv ratings for the playoffs scares the hell out of me.

But I always chuckle at fans who worry about lack of growth in revenues - at the end of the day, it doesn't really affect us as fans.

If the salary cap doesn't go up, are the Leafs screwed? Yes, but so are 30 (soon to be 31) other teams. Everyone will be forced to make the adjustments, and the parity of the league will continue.

What if 8 teams fold? Well, I'm still going to get 82 regular season games and four rounds of playoffs. it's a bit of a douchy statement from a Leafs fan, but hey, I still find a way to cheer for the Bills every week, with no home team of my own.

Not to get to philamasophimical here, but I'm wondering if this pandemic is going to put professional sports into a new perspective here. It's fun to watch, but do we really need to be so fanatical about it?

I really enjoy your columns but if I can offer a slight critique, readers already have way too many sources for reading about COVID if that’s their goal , not to mention just setting foot outside ones front door...I don’t presume to speak for everyone but for me I come to this site to get away from COVID (as much as possible) and read about hockey.
- nikel

Agreed. “Facts” are not as easy at that either.

I really enjoy your columns but if I can offer a slight critique, readers already have way too many sources for reading about COVID if that’s their goal , not to mention just setting foot outside ones front door...I don’t presume to speak for everyone but for me I come to this site to get away from COVID (as much as possible) and read about hockey.
- nikel

With all due respect, it's the number one subject for the NHL right now, and nothing else even comes close.

I think Michael did a very nice job here of sticking to how it affects the upcoming NHL season and beyond, without straying into the contentious issues.

The dramatic drop in tv ratings for the playoffs scares the hell out of me.

But I always chuckle at fans who worry about lack of growth in revenues - at the end of the day, it doesn't really affect us as fans.

If the salary cap doesn't go up, are the Leafs screwed? Yes, but so are 30 (soon to be 31) other teams. Everyone will be forced to make the adjustments, and the parity of the league will continue.

What if 8 teams fold? Well, I'm still going to get 82 regular season games and four rounds of playoffs. it's a bit of a douchy statement from a Leafs fan, but hey, I still find a way to cheer for the Bills every week, with no home team of my own.

Not to get to philamasophimical here, but I'm wondering if this pandemic is going to put professional sports into a new perspective here. It's fun to watch, but do we really need to be so fanatical about it?
- Atomic Wedgie

great point

Stuff

The dramatic drop in tv ratings for the playoffs scares the hell out of me.

But I always chuckle at fans who worry about lack of growth in revenues - at the end of the day, it doesn't really affect us as fans.

If the salary cap doesn't go up, are the Leafs screwed? Yes, but so are 30 (soon to be 31) other teams. Everyone will be forced to make the adjustments, and the parity of the league will continue.

What if 8 teams fold? Well, I'm still going to get 82 regular season games and four rounds of playoffs. it's a bit of a douchy statement from a Leafs fan, but hey, I still find a way to cheer for the Bills every week, with no home team of my own.

Not to get to philamasophimical here, but I'm wondering if this pandemic is going to put professional sports into a new perspective here. It's fun to watch, but do we really need to be so fanatical about it?
- Atomic Wedgie

I dont see contraction happening. If it got that dire, I think there would be bailouts either on a governmental level or banks refinancing debt. I could definitely see 1-3 relocations within the next 3 years. I think maybe a franchise or two that were considering it will pull the trigger faster than they would have before.

I'm really starting to miss Sabres hockey. I wish they would do some sort of intra-organizational mini tourney or a European barnstorming tour.

I know there are covid-19 reasons it won't happen but holy poop it's been almost a year for us

Nice read Pach's, I was on the fence to with Dahlin, but this could be a good time to lock him up.

Deaths are not reaching unprecedented levels. There will be a lockdown once Biden takes office. This is not surprising.
- login

you are correct...the blog has been edited to omit that...

thank you for bringing it up

you are correct...the blog has been edited to omit that...

thank you for bringing it up
- Michael Pachla

all good. I Enjoy your blogs.

all good. I Enjoy your blogs.
- login

thanks...self-editing is tough so it's good to have people pointing out misses for correction

I dont see contraction happening. If it got that dire, I think there would be bailouts either on a governmental level or banks refinancing debt. I could definitely see 1-3 relocations within the next 3 years. I think maybe a franchise or two that were considering it will pull the trigger faster than they would have before.

I'm really starting to miss Sabres hockey. I wish they would do some sort of intra-organizational mini tourney or a European barnstorming tour.

I know there are covid-19 reasons it won't happen but holy poop it's been almost a year for us
- jcragcrumple

I think you are more likely to see the 2020-2021 Season get cancelled before you see teams fold

Stuff
- jochfr

This is bullpoop.

Fake.

Liar.

This is bullpoop.

Fake.

Liar.
- Der Kaiser

Harsh and fair

This is bullpoop.

Fake.

Liar.
- Der Kaiser

How ya been bud?

Harsh and fair
- jochfr

That was letting you off easy......