Red Wings sign Marian Hossa

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by JohnSpringer

I never said spending up to the cap means it would be a success but it would show me teams can actually afford to do it. Teams can't afford to do that right now and that's a problem in the sport.

It's not that they can't afford to do it. It's that there is enough quality talent out there to justify every team spending $56 million. Young teams that are rebuilding don't want or need Jagr or any of the other old farts out there. He's only valuable to teams that are championship contenders.

You don't spend $$$ just because you can. This years FA list is littered with guys who got WAY overpaid their last time around. Martin Lapointe & Darius F'ing Kasparitus to name just two. If a team is looking to build a solid foundation & then add FA's to push them over the top, then it would naturally be well under the cap during the first several years.

[wingfanjim]

Originally Posted by JohnSpringer

I never said spending up to the cap means it would be a success but it would show me teams can actually afford to do it. Teams can't afford to do that right now and that's a problem in the sport.

Do you have numbers supporting this besides the fact they aren't spending up to the cap? How can teams not afford to spend up to a cap if the cap is based on revenue? If the cap goes up because revenue went up then the team has an issue with overhead that they need to address internally.

[PRStoetzer]

Originally Posted by wingfanjim

Do you have numbers supporting this besides the fact they aren't spending up to the cap? How can teams not afford to spend up to a cap if the cap is based on revenue? If the cap goes up because revenue went up then the team has an issue with overhead that they need to address internally.

The cap goes up because league wide revenue goes up - not necessarily that individual team.

[Heat Miser]

Originally Posted by wingfanjim

Do you have numbers supporting this besides the fact they aren't spending up to the cap? How can teams not afford to spend up to a cap if the cap is based on revenue? If the cap goes up because revenue went up then the team has an issue with overhead that they need to address internally.

HockeyBuzz.com

Many teams are well under the cap & will probably have to throw $$$ at inferior players just to make the floor.

[Redwingenator]

Originally Posted by Snoop

Yeah, I would imagine Lidstrom retires at the end of this contract. Of course, that would free up 7.45M to sign another stud defenseman and Holmstrom.

The other beauty of it is that they have a stable of solid young blueliners to bring up within the system.

All that said, there is no replacing Lidstrom ... but they are well suited to lessen the blow a bit.

Lidstrom has 6 Norris trophies, Bobby Orr has 8. Lidstrom will be a favorite to win it next year which puts him only 1 away from Orr, and 1 more away from winning more Norris Trophies than anyone in the history of the NHL. I could see Lidstrom just signing single year deals after his current contract expires. He has stayed remarkably healthy and Detroit is poised to win several more Stanley cups with the core of players they have.

[Z.Cavaricci]

It is so scary that somehow this team got BETTER in the offseason. I am just amazed still.

[newlander]

doesn't mean squat. Gotta have the desire and keep that edge. I'd like to see a wily old vet like Drake that hasn't won the cup signed, give them another reason to really go balls out next season: especially if Dallas retires.....just a thought.

[jreid19]

Originally Posted by Snoop

Trust me, Buffalo had the money ... they were just too dang stubborn and waited WAY too long to negotiate new deals with these guys. It got to the point where Briere and Drury said "f-u" and jumped ship.

I work with 2 hard-core Buffalo fans and they assure me that they had plenty of money to spend.

Partially correct. They could've signed Briere to a 5yr/$25mil which reports suggested he would have taken after he was rewarded 1/$5 from arbitration. They gave him the arb but balked at the "long-term" deal. Then they didn't contact Danny or his agent until after Drury had left but by then the damage was done. Drury is even better. The Sabres policy was not to negoitate during the season feeling it may disrupt the team. Fortunately they didn't follow that with Drury. Unfortunately after agreeing in principle to a deal worth $35mil over 5 years they never presented him a contract to sign. All of which came out after he signed with the Rangers.

Originally Posted by JohnSpringer

Then why haven't they spent it on other players? They had to spend it on Vanek or would have lost him but they haven't been going after anybody.

There is a reason fans began calling Tom Golisano, Cheap-isano.

Originally Posted by Snoop

Part ego ... part frugality ... part fear. Buffalo ownership doesn't like negotiating with hockey players ... they like to make a nice profit ... and they are afriad of risk.

Ding

Originally Posted by PRStoetzer

Unless you are over the cap under the limited exceptions (bonuses and Long Term Injury Exception).

During the 2006-07 season, the Wings took a cap hit $400,000 for bonuses paid to Steve Yzerman during the 2005-06 season because those bonuses pushed Detroit over the cap. The Wings also were over the cap in 2005-06 due to Jiri Fischer's LTI.

The Long Term Injury Exception was used on Tim Connolly that season.

Originally Posted by StorkMSU

I live in Buffalo (and listen to sports radio every morning...god am I sick of the Bills and the Sabres), so I have some insight into this argument...

1.) Though the Sabres sell-out most games, their ticket prices are lower than most in the NHL. In 06-07, Sabres tickets (at an average of $30.07) were third cheapest in the NHL (St. Louis - $28.23 and Phoenix - $25.41 were the only teams lower) and they were the President's Trophy winner that season. For reference, Wings tickets were $43.13 (which was also the league-wide average...surprisingly) and the most expensive tickets were in Vancouver at $58.96 (nearly double those in Buffalo).

2.) The corporate support for the Sabres is not what it is for other teams (suites are a large portion of arena revenue). Remember, the Sabres were near bankrupt in 2002 after the Adelphia fiasco (essentially the same year Hasek essentially forced the trade out of Buffalo). Corporate box sales are up again with the Sabres' recent sucess, but fan trust in owner Tom Golisano and GM Darcy Rieger is quickly waning.

3.) Buffalo has the 2nd lowest metro-area population (1.25M) of any U.S. based NHL team (Raleigh, NC is the lowest at 0.99M) and is thus a true "small market team."

4.) Not only is Buffalo a relatively small city, it is also a "rust-belt" city that did not have the same revival that other rust-belt cities saw in the 90's. The Sabres actually rely on a lot of support from southern Ontario to fill arena seats.

That being said, the Sabres can probably afford to spend more than they are right now. I assume they are holding some money for next season so they can push to re-sign Ryan Miller() and Jason Pominville (similar to the Wings holding money to re-sign Z and Mule).

Ding, all points on point and correct. The only question is do you actually get Bills and Sabres talk in the morning or do they still talk Lost, Survivor, and American Karaoke? Sorry I had to, I used to love listening to WGR but rarely listen to anything other than Sirius now. Even when I do listen to regular radio its Brad Riter and not WGR, and that was even while I was still employed by them.

[Snoop]

Originally Posted by Redwingenator

Lidstrom has 6 Norris trophies, Bobby Orr has 8. Lidstrom will be a favorite to win it next year which puts him only 1 away from Orr, and 1 more away from winning more Norris Trophies than anyone in the history of the NHL. I could see Lidstrom just signing single year deals after his current contract expires. He has stayed remarkably healthy and Detroit is poised to win several more Stanley cups with the core of players they have.

Lidstrom has 2 years left on his contract ... so he could tie Orr.

Regardless, I don't think that this will be a factor in his decision either way. He was contemplating retiring a few years ago to spend more time with his family. He's ready to hang 'em up in two years.

Besides, can you imagine the look on his wife's face when he says "Honey, I love you and the kids and all ... but breaking Bobby Orr's record comes first."

There would be 2 hits ... her hitting him and him hitting the floor.

[Spartan4ever]

Some Pen fans are starting to question why Crosby cannot keep a winger for more than a year. He lost Guerin last year and now he is losing Hossa after this season.

I always have mixed emotions about these signings. On paper if looks great and makes the Wings stronger, but I worry that the guy might disrupt the chemistry of the team or end up being a bust. Here's to hoping everything will turn out for the good.

[TripleGreen]

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

HockeyBuzz.com

Many teams are well under the cap & will probably have to throw $$$ at inferior players just to make the floor.

Then over-spend and just sign shorter term contracts that won't tie down a franchise for years on end. There are ways that a team can meet the floor limit while maintaining some cap flexibility.

[PRStoetzer]

[StatsETC]

Originally Posted by Packer487

My next call would be to Mats Sundin. "Mats, Ken Holland here. As you've heard, we signed Marian Hossa. If you want a Cup, you know where to come. We've got 2 million in cap room left. If you want it, it's yours. Otherwise, I'd suggest grabbing the money from Vancouver because you're not winning the Cup anywhere else. Let me know."

Will be interesting to see what Mr. Sundin decides to do.

[JohnSpringer]

Originally Posted by Spartan4ever

Some Pen fans are starting to question why Crosby cannot keep a winger for more than a year. He lost Guerin last year and now he is losing Hossa after this season.

I always have mixed emotions about these signings. On paper if looks great and makes the Wings stronger, but I worry that the guy might disrupt the chemistry of the team or end up being a bust. Here's to hoping everything will turn out for the good.

Guerin has never in his life played with Crosby.

[Redwingenator]

Originally Posted by Snoop

Lidstrom has 2 years left on his contract ... so he could tie Orr.

Regardless, I don't think that this will be a factor in his decision either way. He was contemplating retiring a few years ago to spend more time with his family. He's ready to hang 'em up in two years.

Besides, can you imagine the look on his wife's face when he says "Honey, I love you and the kids and all ... but breaking Bobby Orr's record comes first."

There would be 2 hits ... her hitting him and him hitting the floor.

I think most NHL players over the age of 32 think about retirement at the end of a long season, especially with the longest most grueling playoff in sports. Lidstrom thinks about breaking that record every single time he laces up his skates. He is one of the best defensmen of all time because he strives to be the best and although Stanley Cups are what ultimately drives players, I could see having a chance to break Orr's record a reason to play one more year.

[ConQueso™]

Originally Posted by Snoop

Lidstrom has 2 years left on his contract ... so he could tie Orr.

Regardless, I don't think that this will be a factor in his decision either way. He was contemplating retiring a few years ago to spend more time with his family. He's ready to hang 'em up in two years.

Besides, can you imagine the look on his wife's face when he says "Honey, I love you and the kids and all ... but breaking Bobby Orr's record comes first."

There would be 2 hits ... her hitting him and him hitting the floor.

His wife is a hockey wife...if that record is important to him, she won't step in his way and stop him from playing. No way.

[PRStoetzer]

I have never been involved in a deal and seen a player get so excited to take $85 million less than he was offered elsewhere," Hossa's agent Ritch Winter told The Canadian Press, hinting at the Oilers offer.

The Canadian Press: Top free agents Hossa and Sundin both say 'No' to big bucks on Day 2

[SCOTT'S BLOATED LIVER]

Originally Posted by PRStoetzer

The Canadian Press: Top free agents Hossa and Sundin both say 'No' to big bucks on Day 2

I know it may be a little far fetched but Holland went on record saying he will work on giving Hossa a long tern deal after he gets deals done with Zets & Franzen....given the amount of time to work on this and perhaps some players willing to take a little less I could see this happen...

[PRStoetzer]

Originally Posted by SCOTT'S BLOATED LIVER

I know it may be a little far fetched but Holland went on record saying he will work on giving Hossa a long tern deal after he gets deals done with Zets & Franzen....given the amount of time to work on this and perhaps some players willing to take a little less I could see this happen...

It could, but we'll have to see how much NHL revenue grows next year to see if the Wings will have cap room to keep everyone.

[ChuckNorris]

Originally Posted by ConQueso™

His wife is a hockey wife...if that record is important to him, she won't step in his way and stop him from playing. No way.

I bet she's encouraging him to do it.

[ChuckNorris]

Originally Posted by newlander