sherwood921

This looks interesting. Seems like the type of thing some people here would be interested in. It's also free. https://bwbchi.eventbrite.com/?nomo=1

He has no bargaining power right now. If he'd have initially told the Hawks he'd sign for $2mil for 1-year I'm sure they're have brought him back. Instead, Zito tried to get a big payday and lost. He'd better hope Niemi has a good year.

Looks like Niemi's going to the Sharks and Wilson's plan of attack on getting Hammer or Niemi worked out in the end. Link

Looks like Huet will be loaned to a Swiss team, but only for one year. This means that we'll need to loan him again next year, or potentially just buy out the contract since it will be the last year. Link

Then just make it a rule that the highest and lowest annual salaries in a multi-year contract cannot be X percentage in difference. I just think its funny that they sign these "career" contracts, which have large salary drops during years when a players talent falls off. So they are still being paid what they are worth most likely. If they retire the rest of the deal is off. I understand the fact that it's obvious they are trying to circumvent the salary cap, but I can't believe the Devils couldn't win with the argument that they are signing a contract that guarantees the player will remain a Devil for life whether he plays until 35 or 45. The issue with that type of contract is that Kovalchuk won't be playing 17 years from now for any of it to matter. He'll have already gotten his money and he'll be in his mid 40s. Signing him "for life" isn't nearly as important as being able to average in 6 years of sub $1mil salary so that his cap hit is only $6.5mil instead of the $10-11mil that he'll be making during his prime years. What would the argument be, "We are paying him peanuts in 2026 because we want him to retire a Devil?"

Umm...the contract has already been voided and the decision upheld by an arbitrator and all parties have publically moved on. I'm gonna say it's been voided. Sorry, I was referring to the Hossa deal in the 2nd paragraph.

I call farce. I do believe that NJ knew this contract wouldn't hold up when they signed him initially. See here. There's no way the NHL voids Hossa's. The little loophole in the CBA was a way for the large market teams to have a leg up on the smaller market teams while all abiding by the same cap. The Nashville's of the world aren't out there handing out front loaded contracts because they can't afford them. It's Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philly, etc (aka teams the NHL needs to succeed to rake in more $$$). I really think all this little "investigation" does it provide some lip service to those teams who aren't/can't afford these huge front loaded deals.

I think Kyle Beach just made this team. Very interested to see what happens with Niemi now. I still think he goes to San Jose, especially since Setoguchi signed for such a small deal.

Stan Bowman announces a press conference for 6pm Central time...

That stinks, I thought it was 90%. You're right, I could see San Jose/Philly offering him at least 81% of the award should the Hawks walk away. I know the Arbitrator gets 48 hours and then the Hawks get 48 hours, but does anyone know if it's typical for the arbitrator to take that much time? This weekend's convention presents the possibility of some interesting questions.

I still think we'll get Niemi for somewhere between $2.5-3.25mil and will be able to squeeze him in. Don't think this team will be carrying Beach, as some have assumed previously. i'm not assuming that we're carrying beach at all. i would like to, though. Yeah, I think he'd definitely be interesting. I think he for sure gets carried if they go with Crawford/Toivonen, but otherwise I could see him getting the Skille treatment since his cap hit is so high. The best part of all the competition among the bottom 6 forwards is that guys like Dowell, Bickell, Skille had to be thinking "If I sign for less, there's a better chance I'm on the Hawks getting paid rather than sitting in Rockford making $60k."

This is where things are interesting. There's really not a huge market for him out there. My best guess would be maybe San Jose clearing space for him, but I'm fairly certain there is a rule that if he signs for a deal that is something like 90% or less than the arbitrator awards, the Hawks can match that deal. So for example, he gets awarded $3.5mil and the Hawks walk away. He becomes a UFA and gets offered a $2.75 mil deal with San Jose. According to something I read the other day, I think the Hawks could match that. Unfortunately, I can't find where I read that.

I still think we'll get Niemi for somewhere between $2.5-3.25mil and will be able to squeeze him in. Don't think this team will be carrying Beach, as some have assumed previously.

Great point. Didn't realize the Angels had struggled so much.

Hawks dealt Marty Reasoner to Florida for Jeff Taffe today. Saves about $500,000. Every penny counts. I still think Niemi's staying...