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Updates and Rumours from around the League

Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

I don't think he really wants that. Thing is, if the league doesn't allow the kind of deal he wants today, it will probably never happen on this side of the pond. I don't expect the next CBA to be more permissive in that area. In fact it's pretty obvious Bettman wants it LESS permissive, and there's a good chance they'll put some kind of term restriction on the table.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

He just really wants a $100 million deal.

Its silly. Just take the $80 or $90 million. He's going to leave $10 mill on the table anyway in this last one.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

who are the Devils actually competing with here? The Kings balked at going longterm at a high number and there doesn't seem to be another suitor out there...why such a crazy contract when there appears to be no serious bidding war?
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Wouldn't matter.

He'd still count. 35+ contract.


I'm not sure this applies. If memory serves, the 35+ rule only counts if the players signs the contract when they are over that age.

Could someone please clarify, preferably with a link to the CBA?
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

I'm not sure this applies. If memory serves, the 35+ rule only counts if the players signs the contract when they are over that age.

Could someone please clarify, preferably with a link to the CBA?

That's true, but he did sign it when he was 35 (born Feb/73, contract came into effect July 1/2008).
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

That's true, but he did sign it when he was 35 (born Feb/73, contract came into effect July 1/2008).

Thanks for the clarification.

In reading the thread, I thought they were discussing the end years of the Kovalchuk deal and not the Rolston contract. My bad.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

No way the NHL can approve this latest one.

What is it, $10M total over the last five years? No can do, not when the yearly average for the first 10 years is $10M per.

It's still total circumvention.

They need to come up with a rule to cap contract length depending on age. That would put the brakes on this bullshit. 10 years max if you're over 25 years old. 7 years max if you're over 30.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

I'm not sure this applies. If memory serves, the 35+ rule only counts if the players signs the contract when they are over that age.

Could someone please clarify, preferably with a link to the CBA?

well in that case the rule would apply. since he signed the contract when he was 35.

so, yes, you have it right. the 35+ rule applies to players that sign when they are 35+.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

No way the NHL can approve this latest one.

What is it, $10M total over the last five years? No can do, not when the yearly average for the first 10 years is $10M per.

It's still total circumvention.

They need to come up with a rule to cap contract length depending on age. That would put the brakes on this bullshit. 10 years max if you're over 25 years old. 7 years max if you're over 30.

They'll clean it up in the next CBA. Either they'll limit the min year to half the max or something like that, or they'll make sure that all years after 35 are guaranteed, instead of only if the deal is signed when they're 35+, or throw in something like if a player retires, then only their salary comes off the cap (so in Kovalchuk's case if he retires at 40, then NJD would still have a 3.6M/2.6M cap hit as that's the diff between salary and cap hit in those years). The last one would be the most fair, since then in every case, the total payout to a player will equal their total cap hit.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Eliminate the retirement rule, make every year's cap-hit count toward a teams salaries.

You want to stretch a contract out to reduce the cap-hit, then you'll account for every dollar of every season.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

no, that's a bad idea unless you work in some contingency for injury.

i like uw's idea. i think it's very feasible and makes a lot of sense.

but just having every dollar count -- it can become really unfair in the event that a player is forced into retirement by injury.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

DownGoesBrown: Khabibulin sentenced to 30 days in jail. He appeals, explains that he plays for the Oilers, and asks for a sentence of eight months instead.

:smilielol5:
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Contrary to what others think here, I'd be shocked if the league rejects this deal. I am no lawyer but I don't think they can legally argue that 10 million dollar is not enough to ensure the player plays right till the end of the contract. The Devils removed a couple of years off the contract, and they added money to the end of it. Still trying to cheat but this time I think they've done a good job at it. (the trouble is that this is not even cheating unfortunately).

I'd hate to be in Gary B's position right now. I dislike him overall but have been trying to come to terms with that given the fact that he stood his grounds and implemented a salary cap. Every league needs a hard cap.

Now the owners have found a way around it. I don't think he can do much about it till the next CBA negotiations. I hate to be in his position right now cause 1- he has approved similar deals before 2- if he rejects this, he risks losing a star player 3- if he rejects this, then he has to punish the other teams too 4- if he rejects this, he has to prepare for a hard day at court, with a decision that can be a new precedence 5- if he accepts this, then he has automatically given the green light to all teams with free agents to be on their teams to do the exact same thing as they please 6- if he accepts this, then guys like myself, as well as many team executives will complain as the Devils are basically cheating. etc.

just an awful situation. I still can't believe they never figured this out during the negotiations. I know I am looking at it after the fact, but a bunch of high profile guys putting a CBA together should have predicted this.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Contrary to what others think here, I'd be shocked if the league rejects this deal. I am no lawyer but I don't think they can legally argue that 10 million dollar is not enough to ensure the player plays right till the end of the contract. The Devils removed a couple of years off the contract, and they added money to the end of it. Still trying to cheat but this time I think they've done a good job at it. (the trouble is that this is not even cheating unfortunately).

I'd hate to be in Gary B's position right now. I dislike him overall but have been trying to come to terms with that given the fact that he stood his grounds and implemented a salary cap. Every league needs a hard cap.

Now the owners have found a way around it. I don't think he can do much about it till the next CBA negotiations. I hate to be in his position right now cause 1- he has approved similar deals before 2- if he rejects this, he risks losing a star player 3- if he rejects this, then he has to punish the other teams too 4- if he rejects this, he has to prepare for a hard day at court, with a decision that can be a new precedence 5- if he accepts this, then he has automatically given the green light to all teams with free agents to be on their teams to do the exact same thing as they please 6- if he accepts this, then guys like myself, as well as many team executives will complain as the Devils are basically cheating. etc.

just an awful situation. I still can't believe they never figured this out during the negotiations. I know I am looking at it after the fact, but a bunch of high profile guys putting a CBA together should have predicted this.

Good post.

I also can't see the grounds for the NHL to reject the deal. They'll have to plug their noses and sign off on this.

The worst problem for Bettman is that he'll be trying to fix this in the next CBA and will likely be staring across the table at Donald Fehr to get it done...good luck with that!
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Bettman has already given his seal of approval over deals like this before with allowing the Hossa, Depietro deals to go through. Now suddenly he has a problem.

I have no sympathy for him.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Good post.

I also can't see the grounds for the NHL to reject the deal. They'll have to plug their noses and sign off on this.

The worst problem for Bettman is that he'll be trying to fix this in the next CBA and will likely be staring across the table at Donald Fehr to get it done...good luck with that!

Yeah exactly! IMO, Bettman has his chance to prevent this and has allowed it to happen. Now the chance to correct is no longer there with the new union boss Fehr in charge.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

Bettman has already given his seal of approval over deals like this before with allowing the Hossa, Depietro deals to go through. Now suddenly he has a problem.

I have no sympathy for him.

I have a bit of sympathy for him post CBA negotiations. The Depietro deal is just fine, decent money for that type of goalie, spread out equally long term. If a team wants to risk it, then go ahead. I have no issue with that. That contract is as fair as they come.

Hossa's deal, and others like it, however, are clear attempts by teams to go around the cap. I have a bit of sympathy for Gary because those deals simply weren't bad enough to stand an appeal by the NHLPA. Kovy's original deal however was simply outright cheating and the league took the opportunity to set a precedence.

Gary receives no sympathy because he didn't see this coming. I guess these guys aren't as smart as their resume's make us think they are.
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

RealKyper

Word now of behind scenes Kov talks. Executive with knowledge says "don't rule out possible resolution betw'n Bettman/Fehr moving forward".
 
Re: Trade Updates and Rumours from around the League

RealKyper

West coast source has confirmed Antti Niemi will sign with the Sharks as early as tomorrow. I hear 2M base, possibly for just the 1 year.
 
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