Hockey Night in DSP-Season 2011-12

[LAking]

Quick has agreed in principle to a 10 year extension with the Kings. Word is it's front loaded (obviously) and the cap could be less than 6 mil.

What was this talk about the kings not being able to keep this team together? Stoll has signed for LESS than what he was making before. Fraser has signed for the same amount and now Quick is signed long term to a relatively cap friendly contract.

The only question mark left is Penner and he stated repeatedly that he would love to stay with the team even at a significant discount. It's just up to DL and DS if they want to keep him and believe he will perform to his playoff standards for an entire season. I imagine they will also kick the tires on Parise to see if he will take less to play on a young contending team for years to come. Not holding my breath on that one.

[MizzouRah]

We will kick the Kings ass next year!

[10spro]

Sid Crosby is set to sign a 12 year extension with the Pens for $104 millions, which averages pretty much to what he's making here days. Ray Shero continues to do it right for his team.

[Feanor]

A lot of money for a player with so many concussion problems.

[Naples39]

As the NHL free agent "frenzy" is painstakingly slow right now, with all the speculation on Suter and Parise and their "short-lists", I just saw the line of the day;

"Parise down to two teams. Team Edward and Team Jacob."

[10spro]

Beware of the Wild.

[Jimmydeicide]

Beware of the Wild.

Wow very cool for the Wild. Happy for them, Great hockey state.

[pk500]

Beware of the Wild.

They're still not as good as L.A., Vancouver or Chicago. Hope ownership is happy to spend $200 million to become the fourth-best team in the West.

[10spro]

Beware of the Wild.

They're still not as good as L.A., Vancouver or Chicago. Hope ownership is happy to spend $200 million to become the fourth-best team in the West.

Agree, but they are certainly a much more entertaining team for their loyal fans. Suter adds that depth that they always lacked in D and they have two solid keepers that can breathe easier in Backstrom and Harding. Up front, Parise will be the leader, they just added Konopka for some needed grit and once their young core develops fully, they'll be serious contenders in a couple of years.

One thing for sure for Canucks' fans, it won't be a cakewalk for them any longer in the West.

And your Oilers will be a fun team to watch for sure.

[pk500]

And your Oilers will be a fun team to watch for sure.

Fun, because they'll need to score at least four goals per night to have a chance to win. The 80s revival!

But it won't be that much fun to see big, physical teams run the Oil all over the rink. Lowe and Tambi -- the worst front-office tandem in the league -- have a propensity for drafting a bunch of talented Smurfs.

Sorry, I'm not sold yet.

[XXXIV]

Until Betman has an "accident" nothing will ever really change. What a cowardly piece of s***.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012 ... suspension

"Bettman reduced Raffi Torres’ suspension from 25 games to 21 because, I guess, Marian Hossa didn’t die right there on the ice after Torres launched himself at the Blackhawks winger, aimed at Hossa’s head, completely disregarded the puck, and knocked him unconscious"

[Naples39]

The offseason transactions this season are moving at a glacial pace.

-Will Nash ever get traded? Howson is way overplaying his hand IMO.

-Shane Doan is the best UFA left? I just saw on twitter he got an offer from an eastern team for 4 years, $30m+

-Still waiting on the Luongo trade too. Sounds like Leafs or FL for him, and now Bernier is on the block and could go to the Leafs or Oil.

[10spro]

The offseason transactions this season are moving at a glacial pace.

-Will Nash ever get traded? Howson is way overplaying his hand IMO.

-Shane Doan is the best UFA left? I just saw on twitter he got an offer from an eastern team for 4 years, $30m+

-Still waiting on the Luongo trade too. Sounds like Leafs or FL for him, and now Bernier is on the block and could go to the Leafs or Oil.

Tough to say for Nash. He's the one that asked for a trade and if Howson doesn't get what's best for his franchise, he may still sit for awhile. Besides, there's only a handful of teams that he's willing to go to.

S. Doan despite his age would be a huge boost for any team that is interested in his services including the Canucks. But I wouldn't be prepared to commit to a four year deal for sure. Wonder if that team in the East are the Rangers. His first choice I think would still be the Yotes, and comes Monday he'll have a more clear vision of where PHO will be playing.

Bernier would be a great pick up for any team involved and before the season starts, Luongo will be a Panthers again.

[XXXIV]

Sadly Bettman is still here

[10spro]

Sadly Bettman is still here

He's looking into reducing player salaries from 58% to 46%, players would have to wait 10 years minimum before UFA, maximum 5 years deals and no more front loaded contracts like the ones Luongo, Hossa received among others.

Just initials proposals, you can guess where this is going...

[XXXIV]

Sadly Bettman is still here

He's looking into reducing player salaries from 58% to 46%, players would have to wait 10 years minimum before UFA, maximum 5 years deals and no more front loaded contracts like the ones Luongo, Hossa received among others.

Just initials proposals, you can guess where this is going...

Lock out? Strike? both?

[Naples39]

Initial offer, aka wishlist. I have no idea how ominous these far-fetched requests are in the context of a very early CBA negotiation. I'm hoping it's just what you do in these things.

[XXXIV]

Initial offer, aka wishlist. I have no idea how ominous these far-fetched requests are in the context of a very early CBA negotiation. I'm hoping it's just what you do in these things.

I am also hoping its just sports number one worm asking for the moon.

[Naples39]

This got me wide-awake in the morning--Flyers signed Weber to 14 year, ~$110m offer sheet.

After some though, I think it's a good move. It promotes the Flyers from longshots in a trade bidding war, and gives them a strong chance at getting him. It also blocks all rivals from any chance at Weber, as either he's a Flyers or he stays in Nashville (Nashv can't trade him for 1 year after matching offer).

I'm thinking Nashville will probably match, but who knows.

I'll ramble on about it more on my blog for the Flyers fans.

[Diablo25]

This got me wide-awake in the morning--Flyers signed Weber to 14 year, ~$110m offer sheet.

After some though, I think it's a good move. It promotes the Flyers from longshots in a trade bidding war, and gives them a strong chance at getting him. It also blocks all rivals from any chance at Weber, as either he's a Flyers or he stays in Nashville (Nashv can't trade him for 1 year after matching offer).

I'm thinking Nashville will probably match, but who knows.

I'll ramble on about it more on my blog for the Flyers fans.

Man I hope the Preds don't match. Weber is a young stud. With the Pronger situation still up in the air he would bring some serious fire power. Gotta wait it out now.

[toonarmy]

The Preds would be morons not to match. Weber is their main guy, and after not bringing Suter back the fan base will be livid if they lose Weber too. If the Preds do not match then Philly has a steal on their hands. Weber is better than Suter and is truly an elite defenseman. That is a damn good price for Weber and is a good length contract as well. I've watched a lot of Preds games and Weber is phenomenal. Philly will be scary good with Weber.

[Naples39]

The more I think about it, the more I think Nashville may not match. From a hockey perspective, matching is a no brainer. From a real finances perspective, not so much.

Nashville is reportedly losing millions each year. It seems merely reaching the cap floor causes them to lose money.

The Weber deal calls for him to be paid $27m in his first year, and $53 over the first 3 seasons. Can Nashville afford to be losing $20m+ a year for the next few years?

[10spro]

The more I think about it, the more I think Nashville may not match. From a hockey perspective, matching is a no brainer. From a real finances perspective, not so much.

Nashville is reportedly losing millions each year. It seems merely reaching the cap floor causes them to lose money.

The Weber deal calls for him to be paid $27m in his first year, and $53 over the first 3 seasons. Can Nashville afford to be losing $20m+ a year for the next few years?

It's for the reasons that you described that I think D. Poile should match the Flyers' offer. Historically, they are not a big spending franchise but after losing Suter to FA it' s not like they cannot afford to sign that extension to Shea which IMO it's quite fair to a player of his caliber given what Suter and Parise just signed for in Minny. And remember, they were also in the running for those two players.

With an uncertain CBA the question is can the Preds afford to lose even more money if they let Weber go and start building from scratch all over again when they've been quite competitive for the last few years with a well balanced team and no prima donna players asking for the moon.

It seems implausible the Preds won't match the offer but not impossible. While they may not be happy with all the money payed up front thrown at #6, at least they can have him signed for a long term at market value and build the team around him and Rinne for years to come.

[Naples39]

The more I think about it, the more I think Nashville may not match. From a hockey perspective, matching is a no brainer. From a real finances perspective, not so much.

Nashville is reportedly losing millions each year. It seems merely reaching the cap floor causes them to lose money.

The Weber deal calls for him to be paid $27m in his first year, and $53 over the first 3 seasons. Can Nashville afford to be losing $20m+ a year for the next few years?

It's for the reasons that you described that I think D. Poile should match the Flyers' offer. Historically, they are not a big spending franchise but after losing Suter to FA it' s not like they cannot afford to sign that extension to Shea which IMO it's quite fair to a player of his caliber given what Suter and Parise just signed for in Minny. And remember, they were also in the running for those two players.

With an uncertain CBA the question is can the Preds afford to lose even more money if they let Weber go and start building from scratch all over again when they've been quite competitive for the last few years with a well balanced team and no prima donna players asking for the moon.

It seems implausible the Preds won't match the offer but not impossible. While they may not be happy with all the money payed up front thrown at #6, at least they can have him signed for a long term at market value and build the team around him and Rinne for years to come.

No, that's exactly the case--the Preds, as a business cannot afford it. Either they let Weber get away, which is terrible from a hockey perspective, or they match and have huge losses the next few years. It's basically an ownership decision if they can swallow the loss, because make no mistake, they are going to be millions of dollars (double-digits) in the red.

In November 2007, the Nashville Predators franchise was sold for $172 million to a group of buyers. The purchase price included over a $60 million investment to cover the organization's debt. A group of locally-based buyers owns 73 percent, while minority partners own the rest. Last year, Canadian businessman W. Brett Wilson bought a 5 percent interest.

The group now faces an untenable situation with franchise player Shea Weber. It is easy in theory to say "We'll match ANY offer sheet" and quite another to actually come up with the money to do it.

Let's put it this way: If the Predators ownership group gives David Poile the go-ahead to match the offer, they will be on the hook for $80 million to Weber over the next six years. Add that to Pekka Rinne's $42 million over the same span, and the small market franchise would have to commit $122 million dollars --- 70.9 percent of their original purchase price of a debt-riddled franchise -- simply to keep TWO players on the roster over six seasons.

Nashville's biggest hope out of the new CBA is that the cap floor will be lowered, so they aren't forced to spend into the red. Even if they get that, their payroll would be Rinne and Weber consuming ~30% of their entire payroll. That's not a winning formula either.

Nashville still holds the cards on Weber's future, but this is a more painful decision for them than people want to acknowledge.

It's also come to light that the Flyers and Preds were already in serious trade talks before the offer, so it sounds like Nashville has already come to the conclusion that's it's better to add young talent than break the bank for Weber, and that was before the heavily front-loaded offer sheet.

Lastly, mind you this was the team that rejected a deal to keep Weber for 3 years @ ~$7m before last season.

[Diablo25]

I'm with Naples here. The Preds are between a rock and a hard place in this situation. The way the Flyers structured the offer...mainly the initial years...is what makes the offer so tough for the Preds to deal with. Tim Panaccio has a good column this morning covering it.

http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philade ... feedID=704