5 Best Things About This Season

[Erndog]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

I was talking about the off season that's just passed.

Ah gotcha.  Agreed. 

I had a huge discussion with all my buddy's this weekend and we've basically all agreed that with the lack of cap space, lack of top end talent in the pipeline AND the poor UFA crop Burke's hands are REALLY tied going into next season. 

The season after though, we should have loads of cap space, a fantastic UFA crop, and a very good prospect (whoever we draft this summer)... the problem is, if Burke misses the playoffs again next year, does he get another year?

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

I was talking about the off season that's just passed.

Ah gotcha.  Agreed. 

I had a huge discussion with all my buddy's this weekend and we've basically all agreed that with the lack of cap space, lack of top end talent in the pipeline AND the poor UFA crop Burke's hands are REALLY tied going into next season. 

The season after though, we should have loads of cap space, a fantastic UFA crop, and a very good prospect (whoever we draft this summer)... the problem is, if Burke misses the playoffs again next year, does he get another year?

His 5 year deal will be up then right? He was not re-signed by the Canucks after accomplishing a lot more so I don't know.

 

[Deebo]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

I was talking about the off season that's just passed.

Ah gotcha.  Agreed. 

I had a huge discussion with all my buddy's this weekend and we've basically all agreed that with the lack of cap space, lack of top end talent in the pipeline AND the poor UFA crop Burke's hands are REALLY tied going into next season. 

The season after though, we should have loads of cap space, a fantastic UFA crop, and a very good prospect (whoever we draft this summer)... the problem is, if Burke misses the playoffs again next year, does he get another year?

That fantastic UFA crop will start to resemble this years UFA crop more and more begining July 1 of this year.

 

[Erndog]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

I was talking about the off season that's just passed.

Ah gotcha.  Agreed. 

I had a huge discussion with all my buddy's this weekend and we've basically all agreed that with the lack of cap space, lack of top end talent in the pipeline AND the poor UFA crop Burke's hands are REALLY tied going into next season. 

The season after though, we should have loads of cap space, a fantastic UFA crop, and a very good prospect (whoever we draft this summer)... the problem is, if Burke misses the playoffs again next year, does he get another year?

That fantastic UFA crop will start to resemble this years UFA crop more and more begining July 1 of this year.

Of course some guys will re-sign, no doubt... but this year there are exactly 2 good impact UFAs:  Suter and Parise.  I think there will be several more next summer.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

I was talking about the off season that's just passed.

Ah gotcha.  Agreed. 

I had a huge discussion with all my buddy's this weekend and we've basically all agreed that with the lack of cap space, lack of top end talent in the pipeline AND the poor UFA crop Burke's hands are REALLY tied going into next season. 

The season after though, we should have loads of cap space, a fantastic UFA crop, and a very good prospect (whoever we draft this summer)... the problem is, if Burke misses the playoffs again next year, does he get another year?

That fantastic UFA crop will start to resemble this years UFA crop more and more begining July 1 of this year.

Of course some guys will re-sign, no doubt... but this year there are exactly 2 good impact UFAs:  Suter and Parise.  I think there will be several more next summer.

With Brian Burke's track record at signing UFAs I'm not gonna get very excited.

 

[bustaheims]

That fantastic UFA crop will start to resemble this years UFA crop more and more begining July 1 of this year.

It might, but, the fact that seemingly half the players in the league will be UFAs in 2013 is hardly a coincidence - it will be the first full off-season governed by the new CBA (unless, by some sort of miracle, the league and the PA get something done by July 1st instead of just before the Sept 15th deadline). Without knowing how the new CBA will shake out, a lot of teams will be hesitant to commit to players in the summer, and, once the new CBA is in place, there could be a bunch of teams that are forced to bite the bullet and make a number of hard decisions in letting guys test the UFA market.

 

[Deebo]

It might, but, the fact that seemingly half the players in the league will be UFAs in 2013 is hardly a coincidence - it will be the first full off-season governed by the new CBA (unless, by some sort of miracle, the league and the PA get something done by July 1st instead of just before the Sept 15th deadline).

There are literally twice as many UFA's this year than next year, and thats before any of next years UFA crop are even allowed to re-sign. (according to cap geek). It's also before any 1 year deals are signed this off season.

Without knowing how the new CBA will shake out, a lot of teams will be hesitant to commit to players in the summer, and, once the new CBA is in place, there could be a bunch of teams that are forced to bite the bullet and make a number of hard decisions in letting guys test the UFA market.

No doubt, teams will be forced to let players go, but I doubt teams will let the real bona-fide franchise types go because of CBA uncertainty.

 

[Zee]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

That's using this past season's cap number though.  I heard them talking on the hot stove on Saturday and they were saying the cap is being projected to be north of $69M for next season.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

They also said that if the PA exercise the option they have to increase the cap on top of the 69, it could rise to 72 million.

 

[cw]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

That's using this past season's cap number though.  I heard them talking on the hot stove on Saturday and they were saying the cap is being projected to be north of $69M for next season.

It's very likely to go back down with the new CBA. According to a TSN discussion of the league meetings, GMs have been warned they'll be no CBA transition relief if they get themselves into a cap pickle.

There is talk of the players % of league revenue for payrolls dropping from 57% to about 50% to get them in line with the other major pro team sports. So that $69 mil cap in June could be $60.5 mil (~$63 mil with the option if that survives the CBA) by the time the league starts up in September - which is about a $4 mil ($1 mil with option) drop from where the cap is now.

Obviously, that's all chatter and it's a long way from a done deal. But I think it's safe to say the cap won't be anywhere close to $69 mil (or $72 mil if the players elect the option). There's going to be some sort of "correction" to bring them closer into line with the other leagues. I can't see the players going for a lockout to stop it.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

5)  Only 1 more year until we have cap space again.

Bah... We'll screw that up too.

I thought we had plenty of cap space this off season. Burke screwed it up by bringing two stiffs on board in Lombardi and Connoly.

Plenty?

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

We have about $6.5M and that DOESN'T include Kulemin, Frattin, Franson, and a goalie.  It's basically nil once those gutys are signed at this point.

Team L.A.C.K (Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, and Komisarek) are really killing our cap space.

That's using this past season's cap number though.  I heard them talking on the hot stove on Saturday and they were saying the cap is being projected to be north of $69M for next season.

It's very likely to go back down with the new CBA. According to a TSN discussion of the league meetings, GMs have been warned they'll be no CBA transition relief if they get themselves into a cap pickle.

There is talk of the players % of league revenue for payrolls dropping from 57% to about 50% to get them in line with the other major pro team sports. So that $69 mil cap in June could be $60.5 mil (~$63 mil with the option if that survives the CBA) by the time the league starts up in September - which is about a $4 mil ($1 mil with option) drop from where the cap is now.

Obviously, that's all chatter and it's a long way from a done deal. But I think it's safe to say the cap won't be anywhere close to $69 mil (or $72 mil if the players elect the option). There's going to be some sort of "correction" to bring them closer into line with the other leagues. I can't see the players going for a lockout to stop it.

Any chance the league negotiates the amnesty clause like NBA just did?

 

[Tigger]

According to a TSN discussion of the league meetings, GMs have been warned they'll be no CBA transition relief if they get themselves into a cap pickle.

Does that translate into no 'free' buyouts and/or rollbacks?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

 

[Tigger]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Something has to give, I agree.

 

[Zee]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Yeah, why would the league negotiate a new cap system and screw their own teams over who might be near the cap already?  Really makes no sense at all.

 

[cw]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Just prior to the lockout, Detroit and the Rangers had $78 mil payrolls. A number of teams back then were in the $65 mil +/- range. They had to come down to $39 mil - nearly 50% for the top payroll teams. The cap was obviously a brand new thing. So the transition at that time was pretty major for the bigger payrolls in the league and help was easily justified because without it, it could not be done with the contracts they had.

If the cap drops $1mil-$4mil (which is a fair guess for the worst case), given the league has warned the GMs, I don't see the teams getting much cap relief/buyout amnesty. As part of the current CBA, they're supposed to allow for a revenue dip of that sort of cap magnitude (which didn't happen but).

There's a big difference between where they were during the lockout and where they are today in terms of team payrolls relative to the cap. A 1.5%-6% adjustment is expected - not cutting a payroll by 50% as some teams had to in '05-06.

 

[cw]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Yeah, why would the league negotiate a new cap system and screw their own teams over who might be near the cap already?  Really makes no sense at all.

For the smaller market teams or those who abided by the league warnings, how are they getting "screwed over"? To some extent, they would be if the big market teams get another break because they get to shed the worst big contract on their club for nothing. And can the smaller payroll teams not say to the big payroll teams "You have a mechanism to get under the cap right now (that has to survive in the new CBA in some form in a cap system): it's called a buyout. You were warned this was coming. Now pony up and pay for your mistake in managing your payroll. Just because you spent like a drunk, why should my team be less competitive because you got a freebee to dump a bad contract?"

 

[bustaheims]

No doubt, teams will be forced to let players go, but I doubt teams will let the real bona-fide franchise types go because of CBA uncertainty.

Not many of them, no, but, I imagine there will a few guys who make it free agency next summer that will surprise us.

 

[ZBBM]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Yeah, why would the league negotiate a new cap system and screw their own teams over who might be near the cap already?  Really makes no sense at all.

For the smaller market teams or those who abided by the league warnings, how are they getting "screwed over"? To some extent, they would be if the big market teams get another break because they get to shed the worst big contract on their club for nothing. And can the smaller payroll teams not say to the big payroll teams "You have a mechanism to get under the cap right now (that has to survive in the new CBA in some form in a cap system): it's called a buyout. You were warned this was coming. Now pony up and pay for your mistake in managing your payroll. Just because you spent like a drunk, why should my team be less competitive because you got a freebee to dump a bad contract?"

"Because we shared revenue with you?"

 

[cw]

All this talk of the cap coming down, sure, but if people think it's coming down without a significant rollback/buyout amnesty or other such "mistake correction" measure, then they are completely kidding themselves.

Yeah, why would the league negotiate a new cap system and screw their own teams over who might be near the cap already?  Really makes no sense at all.

For the smaller market teams or those who abided by the league warnings, how are they getting "screwed over"? To some extent, they would be if the big market teams get another break because they get to shed the worst big contract on their club for nothing. And can the smaller payroll teams not say to the big payroll teams "You have a mechanism to get under the cap right now (that has to survive in the new CBA in some form in a cap system): it's called a buyout. You were warned this was coming. Now pony up and pay for your mistake in managing your payroll. Just because you spent like a drunk, why should my team be less competitive because you got a freebee to dump a bad contract?"

"Because we shared revenue with you?"

And for those teams who did not receive revenue sharing or paid for it but stayed within the league advice?

Even for those who receive some revenue sharing, they're beneficial to the league overall - or they wouldn't exist.  And the some of the league's revenues overall for things like broadcasting and merchandising benefit from exposure to those smaller markets and some of that benefit finds it's way back to the big market owners. In other words, those at the lower scale of revenue contributing are probably still ahead of the game.

So I agree to your point in a rather limited way - for a handful of larger revenue contributing teams who broke the leagues advice.