Chicago IS Going To Deal…

It has been confirmed, as I wrote about earlier, that CHI is being held in check by the CBA tagging rule.

Now, this is getting a lot of ink lately, but few have truly examined the complexities of this issue, and trust me, it is very complex.  Making this amount of signings, on a team already facing cap issues is extremely difficult, and there is no way this can be done without a move being made, absolutely no way, despite what some seem to claim.  CHI is pushing the extremes of the salary cap to make these moves, and people (NHL, NHLPA,  and other teams) are watching, very closely.

It’s not just next years cap that has to be considered, and this is a point many people just don’t seem to understand.  If this is done poorly, CHI could be crippled not just next year, but this year too.

A key aspect of this tagging rule is that, even if they clear up enough space to make the signings, they must make sure they leave enough room to account for injuries.

With the “tagging” rule you actually use up your current year cap space when “tagging” salaries, therefore, if you just get under the salary cap for next year, you’ve used up the remainder of your current year cap space.  I know, it’s very complicated.

And this is no small factor.

This effectively means, not only does CHI have to get under the cap next year, but they have to get under it by enough to leave themselves sufficient current year cap space to manage potential injuries.  You see, when you call up players, to cover non IR or LTIR injuries, these salaries go against the cap space for the duration of their playing time.  So, if you have no cap space, and a player goes down to injury, you cannot call up a player to replace them unless the injured player qualifies for IR or LTIR.

In order to qualify for IR, the player must be deemed to be sufficiently injured to render them unable to play for a minimum of 7 days from the date of the injury.  As soon as you place that player on IR, they are immediately ineligible to play for those 7 days.  This is why teams avoid using IR unless they know that player is in fact injured enough to definitely be out 7 days (also, this can be challenged by the NHL is they think the player isn’t that badly injured).  Why risk losing them longer than needed, right?  IR can be claimed retroactively, if the injury proves to be bad enough that they actually missed 7 days.

Then there’s the wild card.  After a certain date (sorry, can’t remember for sure), you cannot use IR to replace salaries, you must use cap space.  This is what happened to CGY last season, when they played with only 18 skaters.  They did not have the cap space to replace injured players.  A team must dress 18 skaters, who fit within the salary cap restrictions, or forfeit the game.  No doubt CGY was playing bodies that would otherwise have been sitting out.  Is it really worth the risk to suffer a key injury in an effort to avoid forfeiting a game?

This is the hard reality CHI is facing when trying to extend Toews, Kane and Keith.

It is possible, at this moment, for CHI to announce these deals, and not be over the cap, but it would preclude being able to return Hossa to the line-up when he comes off of LTIR.  This leaves me to believe CHI is either shopping Hossa (which I doubt, but you never know), or sufficient salary to accomodate for his return, @ 6M.

That’s a hell of a lot of salary, and one would have to think moving this amount of money, in season, is not going to happen without being on the losing side of the deal.  I would think the mentality around the CHI boardroom table is “we’re trading 6M in contracts for Toews, Kane and Keith, they’re the return, not what they get out of the trade itself”, therefore a bag of pucks in return is a bonus, any salary is a negative.

Don’t be surprised to see TOR going heavy in this, as they have a large number of expiring contracts, and these contracts would not count against next years cap.  unfortunately they have no picks of note to trade as compensation to sweeten the deal.

Something like Stempniak for Versteeg is possible, but TOR would have to throw in a good pick, or prosect, of which they have neither (except Kahdri or Schenn).

Would Burke move Schenn?  That would be monumental, and further prove how much that team is in disarray, and just grasping at straws.

GN

The Ripple Effect.

The fall-out of Kuba returning to the active roster continues.

The latest victim being Ryan Shannon.

Up until now, Shannons ability to play the point on the PP has kept him on the ice, ahead of Donnovan, but with Kuba back in, and Alfie manning the point in practice, Shannon has been made the odd man out.

I’m all for this.  Shannon has been good on the point, often getting a shot off, and making solid plays both to his defensive partner, and into the offensive zone, but he’s been ineffective 5-5.

The only question now is, how long until Shannon gets the nod ahead of Cheechoo?

For a few games Cheech looked like he was rounding back into form, then it all fell apart vs. NSH.  I’m not sure if it’s confidence, chemistry, health, or fitness, or a nasty combination of some, or all of the above.  But the fact remains, the clock is ticking on Cheechoo’s viability as a top 6 player, and salary be damned, if he doesn’t soon step it up, he may well find himself riding the buses in the AHL.

But that’s a losing proposition for all, and the desire remains that Cheechoo can start to pull it back together.

Here’s hoping.

GN

A Muddy Situation Just Got Muddier.

So now, with Carks locked up for another 2 years, it’s plainly obvious he’s not likely to be sent down to the minors.  But, with Picard, Campoli, Karlsson, Carkner, Phillips, Volchy, and Kuba, the blue line is simply too crowded, without even factoring in Lee, Cowan, and Weircioch.

Something’s gotta be done.

Somethings gonna be done.

What, I’m not sure, but something IS going to be done, and signing Carks may well be the opening salvo.

Keep your heads up folks, cause there’s a buzz in the air.

GN

Sparks On Ice.

Neiler and Spez have a set-to today at practice.

apparently it was an exchange of two handers, followed by a hasty retreat by Spez after Neil tossed the gloves.

Hmmm…Interesting.

GN

Thanks TSN, We Needed That!

I’d like to extend a big thank-you to the myopic, Leaf pandering, TSN “analysts” for placing the Leafs ahead of the Sens in their predicted final rankings of the eastern conference.

Apparently the new Leafs, with their all star offense, and “truculence” will miss the post season (9th), but still finish ahead of the lowly, talentless Sens (10th).

Look, I’m not about to say the Sens are a lock for the post season, but even a mouth breathing meth head could recognize the Sens will be icing a far better team than the Leafs.

But, I guess if Leafs fans paid my salary, I’d be willing to ignore reality too.

All I can do is hope every Sen watched that “pre-view” and walked away with something to prove.

I like the fact this years team is being dismissed as D.O.A .before the season even begins, it’s what they need, a little something to prove, a little something to play for.

So again, thanks TSN, and believe me, I’ll be happy to remind you of your prediction come April.

GN

Kelly On The Move?

In a recent conversation, it became clear to me Kelly is being shopped around, and you might be surprised to read who is very interested.

The Leafs.

Yup, apparently Kelly is earning a long look from the Leafs who are in need of some improvement on the defensive side of the puck.

Obviously it would take a decent return for Murray to mitigate improving a team within his own division, and with most of their decent picks already traded away, Burke would have to offer up a prospect of some note, say, Tlusty?

GN

Baum Threats Working?

Has Baum cajoled the final offer from both sides?

It seems that way.

Today, during an emergency session to explore Moyes request for court ordered arbitration, Balsillie all but matched the NHL’s offer in all but letter.

In an attempt at appealing to the city of Glendale, like the NHL, Balsillie has guaranteed one year of attendance at the Jobbing.com arena before exploring moving the team, presumably to Hamilton.

Although Balsillie has been up-front that he wishes to move the ‘Yotes, the NHL has been non committal in their willingness to maintain the franchise in its current Glendale digs, which, if Baum is any sort of professional (which by all acount he certainly appears to be), he can only take as another seriptitious attempt at looking like a white knight.  But, considering the other absurd claims by the NHL, namely that they had controlling interest in the team, or that multiple offers were pending to buy the club, or that Balsillie represented a “character” below that acceptable within the NHL, Baum no doubt has no reason to give the NHL the benefit of the doubt when comparing their bid to Balsillies vis-a-vis maintaining the club in Glendale.

Baum will no doubt be dropping his decision soon.

GN

Hitting The Sore Spot & Learning From The Best.

With the pre-season off and running with a whimper, Sens fans are reliving the nightmares of games past.

Lack of offense, and weak goals against.

The witches brew that saw this team plummet in the standings last season, and for the first time in over a decade miss the post season.

It’s fair to say we’re all a little tender.

But that’s just it, being hyper sensitive is not always a great state of mind for fairly judging a situation.  The fact remains that there does exist solid excuses for the offense to have struggled, and the goaltending to have wavered;

1. It’s only pre-season, with only 2 practices under their belts.

2. The number of new faces up front, and in goal, is astounding.

3. In game one, Ottawa dressed an entirely rookie laden line-up.

When one considers the fact that Leclair hadn’t played a single game in almost a year, that Elliott is facing the pressure of earning a full time NHL role, and that the forward ranks are still at the meet and great stage, a one game loss (one by Leclair, one by the top 6 forwards) is hardly an anchor to tie the upcoming season to.

Would I have preferred wins?  Sure, why not, but I also remember Bochensky, and know full well a strong pre-season is not much to base a career on.

King Karlsson?

Well, that’s a moniker a long ways off, but if positive role models have any influence on its happening, Erik Karlsson will be influenced by one of the best.

I’m loving the fact that Erik will be billeting with the Alfredssons.  The y are a great family to introduce him to life in Canada, and Daniel represents the epitome of a professional athlete, both on and off the ice.

I believe this marks a very positive first step in Karlssons development as an NHL player.

GN

Slante From The Republic.

I’m going to try to write a few blogs while in Ireland, but, honestly, the haze of Guinness induced stupidity may be too much to overcome, please forgive me in advance!
So DDH has made his arrival. While at the OTT INT. I spoke with TSN as they hung around for days on end hoping to land an exclusive of the Delusional one arrival. Waste of time I would suspect, unless one is interested in another “options” focused diatribe.
Hopefully I’ll get a chance to poke around the hockey world some time today, and then met out my spin on the goings on.
Please do keep up the comments folks, and don’t let my absence quell the hockey talk at the start of this new season.
GN

Trade “Winds” Blowing & No “End” Date…Hmmm.

I have been hearing tonnes about Heatley.

Apparently, according to the rumour mill, a number of teams (VAN, DAL, NYR, CHI, SJS) have been in contact with the Senators about what it would take to land Heatley.

The team getting the most broad recognition has been CHI, and if the deal I’m hearing (Sharp, Barker & Aliu) is true, I have no doubt Murray is finding the talent he’s looking for.

I’ve had one person go so far as to say the windy city deal is done but, I’ve heard that before.  Fool me 1000 times…

Let’s hope, if this is going to get done (notice Murray has not mentioned the end date) before camp, it can be with a Western team, and yield a decent return.

Also, it seems Balsillie has upped his bid, tossing in a few extra mil. for the good folks in Glendale.

A little sugar helps the medicine go down…

GN